Patents by Inventor Michael W. Mills

Michael W. Mills 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).

  • Publication number: 20140239112
    Abstract: A compressible reel that includes two flanges, a flange connector, and two core wraps, where the flange connector and core wraps include scoring such that the compressible reel may be compressed substantially flat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Michael W. Mills
  • Patent number: 7686925
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sputter coating an insulated wire with a silicon and metal alloy, to provide the wire with sufficient surface conductivity to protect against build-up of electrostatic charge. A sputtering target of silicon has a metal plate positioned close enough to the sputtering site on the target to permit metal atoms to be dislodged by sputtered silicon, and deposited with the silicon to form an alloy. In the disclosed form of the invention, the wire is insulated with a polyimide material and the metal alloyed with silicon in the sputtered coating is stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel C. Sutton, Michael W. Mills, Craig R. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20080035272
    Abstract: This invention relates to a loop fabric laminate bearing a graphic image and methods for printing such images on the back surface of the backing layer of the laminate. The loop fabric laminate is characterized by the presence of recessed and unrecessed areas in the backing layer, and the presence of ink deposited and retained in place in the recessed and unrecessed areas, with void defects of greater than 0.5 mm in largest dimension being present at a frequency of less than one void defect per square centimeter of printed area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Michael W. Mills, Shou-Lu G. Wang
  • Patent number: 6484371
    Abstract: A mechanical fastener is provided which is lightweight, thin, flexible, and strong, and whose holding power is as great as, or greater than, the holding power of conventional hook and loop type fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Walter R. Romanko, Hang N. Tran, Ronald W. Ausen, Curtis L. Larson, William C. Unruh, Michael W. Mills, Kirit C. Mody
  • Publication number: 20020162197
    Abstract: A mechanical fastener is provided which is lightweight, thin, flexible, and strong, and whose holding power is as great as, or greater than, the holding power of conventional hook and loop type fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Walter R. Romanko, Hang N. Tran, Ronald W. Ausen, Curtis L. Larson, William C. Unruh, Michael W. Mills, Kirit C. Mody
  • Patent number: 6337413
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for solubilizing polystyrene in a fatty acid ester, whereby the resultant polystyrene fatty acid ester composition can be used in a variety of polymeric applications, including forming an improved polyester. The present invention also relates to the resultant polystyrene fatty acid ester composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventors: Shubhen Kapila, Virgil J. Flanigan, Michael F. Maples, Michael W. Mills
  • Patent number: 6160663
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a film bounded by a frame, the film having a first thermal expansion coefficient along a first direction parallel to the film and a second thermal expansion coefficient along a second direction parallel to the film, wherein thermal expansion of the film compared to that of the frame is greater along the first direction than along the second direction, and wherein the film has a shape at an ambient reference temperature different from that of the frame, the shape of the film being selected to reduce clearance while allowing sufficient room between the film and the frame for thermal expansion in the first direction for temperatures up to a predetermined elevated reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William W. Merrill, John C. Harvey, Reney R. Langlois, Michael W. Mills, Rosalind E. Peebles, Fred J. Roska
  • Patent number: 6056840
    Abstract: A heated blade arrangement in a press is brought down on a plastic work piece of heavy corrugated plastic held on the bed of the press to compress the work piece along fold lines. The work piece may then be folded up to form a box-like structure. The arrangement includes heaters to heat surfaces of the work piece to be pressed together for adhesion. A frame is provided, about which the box-like structure may be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Mills Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Mills, Richard Carter
  • Patent number: 4731934
    Abstract: Metrological apparatus is provided with a turntable (4) which is movable horizontally and pivotally for centering and levelling. The turntable (4) is supported at three points (A,B,P), one (P) of which is fixed and the other two (A,B) of which are vertically movable by motorized jacks. Centering and levelling is achieved automatically by means of a computer (72) which calculates the required horizontal and pivotal movements of the turntable (4) from data obtained by sensing the workpiece surface with a transducer (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Rank Taylor Hobson Limited
    Inventors: Anthony B. Barnaby, Michael W. Mills
  • Patent number: D500671
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael W. Mills, Robert D. Kampfer
  • Patent number: D527102
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael W. Mills, Mark A. Peltier
  • Patent number: D527818
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael W. Mills, Mark A. Peltier