Patents by Inventor Keith D. Weiss
Keith D. Weiss has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10052850Abstract: An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having an encapsulation for aesthetic purposes and to enhance the sealing of the glazing panel to the vehicle is presented. This method includes the steps of forming a plastic panel having an A-side and B-side; printing an opaque border from an ink with the border being in contact with the B-side of the panel and substantially encircling the perimeter of the panel; curing the ink of the opaque border; applying a weatherable layer on the printed border and the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; depositing an abrasion resistant layer on the weatherable layer; placing the plastic panel into a mold having a soft gasket; injecting an elastomeric material to form an encapsulation that substantially encircles the perimeter of the plastic panel and encompasses the A-side; B-side and edge of the plastic panel; and removing the plastic panel from the mold.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: EXATEC, LLCInventors: Keith D. Weiss, Steven M. Gasworth, Sunitha K. Grandhee, Wilfried Hedderich
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Publication number: 20150367612Abstract: An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having an encapsulation for aesthetic purposes and to enhance the sealing of the glazing panel to the vehicle is presented. This method includes the steps of forming a plastic panel having an A-side and B-side; printing an opaque border from an ink with the border being in contact with the B-side of the panel and substantially encircling the perimeter of the panel; curing the ink of the opaque border; applying a weatherable layer on the printed border and the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; depositing an abrasion resistant layer on the weatherable layer; placing the plastic panel into a mold having a soft gasket; injecting an elastomeric material to form an encapsulation that substantially encircles the perimeter of the plastic panel and encompasses the A-side; B-side and edge of the plastic panel; and removing the plastic panel from the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Keith D. Weiss, Steven M. Gasworth, Sunitha K. Grandhee, Wilfried Hedderich
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Patent number: 9139242Abstract: An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having an encapsulation to enhance the sealing of the glazing panel to the vehicle is presented. This economical method includes the steps of forming a plastic panel having an A-side and B-side; printing an opaque border from an ink with the border being in contact with the B-side of the panel and substantially encircling the perimeter of the panel; curing the ink of the opaque border; applying a weatherable layer on the printed border and the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; depositing an abrasion resistant layer on the weatherable layer; placing the plastic panel into a mold having a soft gasket; injecting an elastomeric material to form an encapsulation that substantially encircles the perimeter of the plastic panel and encompasses the A-side; B-side and edge of the plastic panel; and removing the plastic panel from the mold.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: EXATEC LLCInventors: Keith D. Weiss, Steven M. Gasworth, Sunitha K. Grandhee, Wilfried Hedderich
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Patent number: 9125247Abstract: A plastic window including a transparent plastic substrate having first and second sides. Bonded to the first side of the substrate is a plastic film, the film being thinner than the substrate. An electrically conductive grid, including at least one conductive connector location, is encapsulated between the substrate and the film. Extending into the substrate, at least one electrical connector is positioned in electrical contact with the conductive mounting so that an electrical voltage supply can be connected to the conductive mounting and an electrical current can be caused to flow through the conductive grid.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: EXATEC LLCInventors: Chengtao Li, Juan Velasquez, Todd Adkins, Keith D. Weiss, Yana Shvartsman
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Publication number: 20140367028Abstract: An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having an encapsulation to enhance the sealing of the glazing panel to the vehicle is presented. This economical method includes the steps of forming a plastic panel having an A-side and B-side; printing an opaque border from an ink with the border being in contact with the B-side of the panel and substantially encircling the perimeter of the panel; curing the ink of the opaque border; applying a weatherable layer on the printed border and the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; depositing an abrasion resistant layer on the weatherable layer; placing the plastic panel into a mold having a soft gasket; injecting an elastomeric material to form an encapsulation that substantially encircles the perimeter of the plastic panel and encompasses the A-side; B-side and edge of the plastic panel; and removing the plastic panel from the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Keith D. Weiss, Steven M. Gasworth, Sunitha K. Grandhee, Wilfried Hedderich
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Patent number: 8653419Abstract: A window defroster assembly having a transparent panel and a defroster. The defroster includes a conductive layer applied over the panel and an electrically conductive heater grid formed integrally with the transparent panel. The heater grid includes a series of grid lines and at least a portion of the conductive layer is located between adjacent ones of the grid lines.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2005Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Exatec LLCInventor: Keith D. Weiss
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Patent number: 8450660Abstract: A system for effectively defrosting a plastic window includes a transparent plastic panel, a heater grid having a plurality of grid lines that are integrally formed with the plastic panel, and equalizing means for equalizing the electrical current traveling through each of the grid lines.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Exatec LLCInventors: Keith D. Weiss, Yana Shvartsman
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Patent number: 8361601Abstract: An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having a decorative marking and/or opaque border printed from a UV curable ink is presented. This economical method includes the steps of forming a plastic panel; printing an opaque pattern from an ink, the pattern having an A-side and a B-side with the B-side being in contact with the plastic panel; curing the ink in the shape of the printed pattern using UV radiation directed at the ink from both the A-side and B-side; applying a weatherable layer on the A side of the pattern and on the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; and depositing an abrasion resistant layer onto the weatherable layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Exatec LLCInventors: Christophe Lefaux, Nandakumar Menon, Korey Stellmach, Sunitha K. Grandhee, Keith D. Weiss, Ken Foster
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Publication number: 20110268931Abstract: Disclosed is a transparent plastic automotive panel comprised of a plastic substrate, a non-black ink overlying a portion of the plastic substrate forming a printed substrate and a protective coating system overlying the ink.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2008Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: EXATEC, LLCInventors: Eric F.J.M. van der Meulen, Sunitha Grandhee, Christophe Lefaux, Keith D. Weiss
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Patent number: 7811656Abstract: An automotive window panel including a substantially transparent substrate with a protective coating system disposed thereon, and an ink applied onto the protective coating system is disclosed. The formulation of the ink includes an adhesion promoter and is adaptable to adhere to the surface of the protective coating with the adhesion promoter.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Exatec, LLCInventors: Sunitha Grandhee, Keith D. Weiss, Judith Na
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Publication number: 20100252545Abstract: A system for effectively defrosting a plastic window includes a transparent plastic panel, a heater grid having a plurality of grid lines that are integrally formed with the plastic panel, and equalizing means for equalizing the electrical current traveling through each of the grid lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: EXATEC, LLCInventors: Keith D. Weiss, Yana Shvartsman
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Patent number: 7781705Abstract: A system for effectively defrosting a plastic window includes a transparent plastic panel, a heater grid having a plurality of grid lines that are integrally formed with the plastic panel, and equalizing means for equalizing the electrical current traveling through each of the grid lines.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Exatec, LLCInventors: Keith D. Weiss, Yana Shvartsman
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Patent number: 7732041Abstract: The present invention involves an automotive glazing panel having an ink that adheres to a plastic substrate and is compatible with a hard-coat system. The plastic substrate comprises an ink printed thereon and a hard-coat system applied on the ink. The ink has a synthetic resin which is a polycarbonate resin, a polyester resin or mixtures thereof. The hard-coat system includes a solvent having greater than 10 weight percent water and includes either a glycol ether, a ketone, an alcohol or an acetate. The ink is adaptable to adhere to the surface of the substrate and be compatible with the hard coat system.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2004Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Exatec LLCInventors: Sunitha Grandhee, Keith D. Weiss, Hua Ning
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Patent number: 7573630Abstract: A window assembly having photochromatic properties is described. The window assembly includes a substrate being adjacent to a coating. A photochromatic film is located between the substrate and the coating, whereby the photochromatic film darkens when the window assembly is exposed to ultraviolet light.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Exatec, LLCInventors: Wilfried Hedderich, Christophe Lefaux, Keith D. Weiss
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Publication number: 20080280503Abstract: A plastic panel system including a transparent plastic panel and an electrically conductive grid. The panel includes a substrate and the grid is provided on the panel so as to overlie the substrate. Including with the grid is at least one conductive mounting location. An electrical connector, which includes a plastic portion and an electrically conductive portion, is secured to the panel by ultrasonically welding the plastic portion to the panel. As a result of the retention of the connector with the panel, the conductive portion of the panel is in electrical contact with the mounting location of the conductive grid. The electrical system of an automotive vehicle can be attached to the connector of the panel system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventors: Eric F.J.M. van der Meulen, Robert A. Schwenke, Keith D. Weiss
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Publication number: 20080280060Abstract: A process for flow, dip, or curtain coating a plastic panel with a weather resistant coating system of relatively uniform thickness is presented. More specifically, the process includes the step of rotating the plastic panel by about 180 degrees between the application of subsequent coating layers in order to minimize the variation in thickness measured near the top and bottom of the coated panel. The coatings are applied to the plastic panel at a predetermined coating angle (?).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventors: Jason P. Beaudoin, Keith D. Weiss, Jonathan R. Sargent, Ken Foster, Sunitha K. Grandhee
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Publication number: 20080274652Abstract: A plastic window including a transparent plastic substrate having first and second sides. Bonded to the first side of the substrate is a plastic film, the film being thinner than the substrate. An electrically conductive grid, including at least one conductive connector location, is encapsulated between the substrate and the film. Extending into the substrate, at least one electrical connector is positioned in electrical contact with the conductive mounting so that an electrical voltage supply can be connected to the conductive mounting and an electrical current can be caused to flow through the conductive grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Inventors: Chengtao Li, Juan Velasquez, Todd Adkins, Keith D. Weiss, Yana Shvartsman
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Publication number: 20080272613Abstract: An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having an encapsulation for aesthetic purposes and to enhance the sealing of the glazing panel to the vehicle is presented. This economical method includes the steps of forming forming a plastic panel having an A-side and B-side; printing an opaque border from an ink with the border being in contact with the B-side of the panel and substantially encircling the perimeter of the panel; curing the ink of the opaque border; applying a weatherable layer on the printed border and the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; depositing an abrasion resistant layer on the weatherable layer; placing the plastic panel into a mold having a soft gasket; injecting an elastomeric material to form an encapsulation that substantially encircles the perimeter of the plastic panel and encompasses the A-side; B-side and edge of the plastic panel; and removing the plastic panel from the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Inventors: Keith D. Weiss, Steven M. Gasworth, Sunitha K. Grandhee, Wilfried Hedderich
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Publication number: 20080274321Abstract: An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having a decorative marking and/or opaque border printed from a UV curable ink is presented. This economical method includes the steps of forming a plastic panel; printing an opaque pattern from an ink, the pattern having an A-side and a B-side with the B-side being in contact with the plastic panel; curing the ink in the shape of the printed pattern using UV radiation directed at the ink from both the A-side and B-side; applying a weatherable layer on the B-side of the ink and on the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; and depositing an abrasion resistant layer onto the weatherable layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Inventors: Christophe Lefaux, Nandakumar Menon, Korey Stellmach, Sunitha K. Grandhee, Keith D. Weiss, Ken Foster
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Patent number: 7423240Abstract: A window defroster system that includes a heater grid and a controller. The controller includes a pulse width modulator configured to provide a driving signal to the heater grid. The driving signal has an initial heating portion and a pulsed portion. The initial heating portion provides an initial voltage that is greater than an optimal operating voltage of the heater grid, the pulsed portion provides a pulsed signal with a pulsed high voltage that is greater than the optimal operating voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2006Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Exatec LLCInventors: Robert Schwenke, Keith D. Weiss