Patents by Inventor William E. Hofmann

William E. Hofmann 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: 4431692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improving the scratch and abrasion resistance of glass surfaces, and especially the exterior surfaces of glass containers such as bottles, jars, tumblers, stemware, and the like. Hollow glassware for container use is subject to abrasive contact with similar articles as well as handling equipment in the normal processes of manufacturing, packaging, filling and shipping. This invention further relates to providing improved abrasion resistance to glass articles and particularly hollow glass containers which are treated by the present hot-end process while retaining considerable heat of formation. The articles are then able to be overcoated at a lower temperature such as by organic materials to further improve their lubricity and durability. The subject process of providing a primary coating is markedly more economical than presently known processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Hofmann, Louis C. Konst
  • Patent number: 4201562
    Abstract: This invention relates to the art of coating glassware while the ware is moving through an annealing lehr which is provided with a cooling section near the exit end of the lehr. The cooling section is of the continuous recirculation type providing an arrangement for generally cooling the ware to a relatively even temperature even though the ware is moving through the lehr in multiple rows and columns. The ware is moved through the lehr on a lehr belt which is formed as a webbed belt and constitutes a foraminous conveyor. A lubricious material in the form of a vapor or mist of an organic, non-metallic coating material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, fatty acids and their derivatives is injected into the recirculating cooling air in the cooling section of the lehr to thereby form a durable lubricious coating on the exterior surfaces of the glass article. The articles, at the time they are passed through the cooling section, will be at a temperature between 200.degree. F. and 400.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Hofmann, Alton W. Long
  • Patent number: 4150964
    Abstract: This invention relates to the art of coating glassware while the ware is moving through an annealing lehr which is provided with a cooling section near the exit end of the lehr. The cooling section is of the continuous recirculation type providing an arrangement for generally cooling the ware to a relatively even temperature even though the ware is moving through the lehr in multiple rows and columns. The ware is moved through the lehr on a lehr belt which is formed as a webbed belt and constitutes a foraminous conveyor. A lubricious material in the form of a vapor or mist of an organic, nonmetallic coating material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, fatty acids and their derivatives is injected into the recirculating cooling air in the cooling section of the lehr to thereby form a durable lubricious coating on the exterior surfaces of the glass article. The articles, at the time they are passed through the cooling section, will be at a temperature between 200.degree. F. and 400.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Hofmann, Alton W. Long