Patents by Inventor W. Craig Brossman

W. Craig Brossman 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).

  • Patent number: 7510675
    Abstract: Disclosed is both a method and apparatus for controlling and measuring an embossed texture on a decorative article. The embossed textured article includes both peaks and valleys that are measured and quantified to determine a profile of the textured article. Typically, the textured article comprises both chemically and mechanically embossed areas. The method uses moving average subtraction and peak/valley determinations to eliminate web flutter that often distorts the quantification of the mechanically embossed texture. The resulting profile may then be used to control a desired embossed profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventor: W. Craig Brossman
  • Patent number: 7235197
    Abstract: Disclosed is both a method and apparatus for controlling and measuring an embossed texture on a decorative article. The embossed textured article includes both peaks and valleys that are measured and quantified to determine a profile of the textured article. Typically, the textured article comprises both chemically and mechanically embossed areas. The method uses moving average subtraction and peak/valley determinations to eliminate web flutter that often distorts the quantification of the mechanically embossed texture. The resulting profile may then be used to control a desired embossed profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventor: W. Craig Brossman
  • Patent number: 7101606
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: W. Craig Brossman, Steven F. Hynicka, Lisa Moyer, William J. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 7022272
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: W. Craig Brossman, Steven F. Hynicka, Lisa Moyer, William J. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 6866737
    Abstract: Disclosed is both a method and apparatus for mechanically embossing a surface covering. The apparatus includes an embossing tool comprising a slurry. The slurry includes both a filler and binder. The method includes printing a slurry onto a surface covering and compressing the slurry onto the surface covering to create a mechanically embossed texture onto the surface covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: Ralph W. Wright, W. Craig Brossman, William B. Saporetti
  • Publication number: 20040012109
    Abstract: Disclosed is both a method and apparatus for controlling and measuring an embossed texture on a decorative article. The embossed textured article includes both peaks and valleys that are measured and quantified to determine a profile of the textured article. Typically, the textured article comprises both chemically and mechanically embossed areas. The method uses moving average subtraction and peak/valley determinations to eliminate web flutter that often distorts the quantification of the mechanically embossed texture. The resulting profile may then be used to control a desired embossed profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: W. Craig Brossman
  • Publication number: 20030173696
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Craig Brossman, Steven F. Hynicka, Lisa Moyer, William J. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 6613256
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: W. Craig Brossman, Steven F. Hynicka, Lisa Moyer, William J. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20030056885
    Abstract: Disclosed is both a method and apparatus for mechanically embossing a surface covering. The apparatus includes an embossing tool comprising a slurry. The slurry includes both a filler and binder. The method includes printing a slurry onto a surface covering and compressing the slurry onto the surface covering to create a mechanically embossed texture onto the surface covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Ralph W. Wright, W. Craig Brossman, William B. Saporetti
  • Publication number: 20030021955
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Craig Brossman, Steven F. Hynicka, Lisa Moyer, William J. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20020114927
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a mechanically and chemically embossed surface covering having selectively textured surfaces. The method includes forming a web coated with a wear layer. The coated web is heated to a temperature at which the wear layer is cured, the foam layer expands, and the pattern is chemically embossed to form a surface covering having foamed regions and nonfoamed regions. The temperature gradient of the surface covering is adjusted such that there is a temperature gradient difference between the foamed and nonfoamed regions. A surface texture is then mechanically embossed into the wear layer and selectively set onto the wear layer substantially overlying the non-foamed regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: W. Craig Brossman, Steven F. Hynicka, Lisa Moyer, William J. Kauffman