Processes Patents (Class 69/21)
  • Patent number: 11926878
    Abstract: A leather burnishing tool is described. The tool comprises a first end disposed opposite a second end and a body portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The first end includes a first channel and a top portion. The second end comprises a second polished channel configured to accept an edge of a piece of leather therein and a bottom portion configured to be flush with a horizontal surface. The tool is continuously slid along the edge of the piece of leather to shape the edge of the piece of leather. In examples, the leather burnishing tool is configured to engage a tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Christopher Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10648047
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing breathable leather material including the following steps: a leather-based material is provided; the leather-based material is perforated; a support body is provided; a finishing is applied to the support body such that a later visible side of the finishing is facing the support body and the finishing is transferred to the surface of the perforated leather-based material and removed from the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Schwaighofer, Florian Langlechner
  • Patent number: 9820593
    Abstract: A plurality of interlocking stackable foam pillow segments together with a head and neck support and an elongated generally cylindrical resilient neck support member. The pillow segments are generally rectangular defining interlocking members which facilitate the stacking and interlock of the pillow segments in a vertical stack. The head and neck support defines a pillow resting surface and a head resting surface. The head resting surface further defines an ear clearance cavity surrounded by a face support surface. The head and neck support further includes a flexible mesh fabric ear coupling having an outer edge joined to and surrounding the face support surface and encircling the ear-receiving cavity. The ear-receiving cavity is sized to receive the user's ear into the ear coupling and is elastically constricted to close upon the user's ear between the ear and head surface to captivate the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Adams
  • Patent number: 9532663
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a combination of a support device (1, 33) and a holding device (7), the support device comprising an attachment surface having rows (5) with elongated slot openings (3, 3?), and the holding device comprising an attachment part (9) and a carrier part (11). The attachment part is intended to be attached to the support device by being partly inserted into a first slot (3), such that the holding device can take up a load directed in the plane of attachment surface, and the carrier part (11) being capable of supporting an item to be stored. A stem part (13) interconnects the attachment part and the carrier part and the stem part includes a fin (15) that fits into a second slot (3?) which is located under said first slot (3). This provides a more reliable connection to the support device. A holding device suitable for this combination is also considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ELFA INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventor: Peter Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20150020557
    Abstract: Devices and methods for removal of animal hair are provided. The devices and methods can include one or more rotating bodies that form pinch regions for mechanical removal of animal hair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Israel Jessop
  • Publication number: 20140373577
    Abstract: The present invention is a hair controller for mounting on a stretching machine used for stretching a pelt on a pelt board. The stretching machine has at least one holder for engaging the pelt. The hair controller includes a device for moving hair aside to expose a selected area of leather on the pelt, in particular the area of leather engaged by the holder. Also disclosed is a method for moving the hair of a pelt aside before the pelt is fixed by a holder in a stretching machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Soren Frolund
  • Patent number: 8893533
    Abstract: A machine for cutting leathers has a bearing structure and an operating element exhibiting a rotation axis and three distinct work planes each arranged about the rotation axis and provided with an aspirating plate that is activatable/deactivatable such as to retain or release the leathers. The operating element successively positions each work plane at three successive and distinct positions with respect to the bearing structure: a first position in which the leathers can be positioned and stretched above the work plane and held stretched thereon, a second position in which the work plane with the leathers stretched and retained thereon is located below a cutter, and a third position wherein the leathers can be unloaded from the work plane by force of gravity following deactivation of the respective aspirating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Teseo S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianni Gallucci
  • Publication number: 20140311193
    Abstract: A variety of products may incorporate cultured leather, which is produced in vitro. Examples of products that may incorporate cultured leather include footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, furniture, handbags or any other consumer or industrial product that commonly incorporates conventional leather or synthetic leather.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Pamela S. Greene
  • Publication number: 20140260438
    Abstract: A leather punching device 1 has a receiving mold 21 formed with receiving holes 22, a pressing mold 31 formed with storing holes 32 which communicate with the receiving holes 22 when joined with the receiving mold 21, and a moving member 45 provided with punching pins 5 which are stored in the storing holes 32 of the pressing mold 31, pressing projections 35 are provided around the storing hole 32 of the pressing mold 31, a leather 3 is disposed between the receiving mold 21 and the pressing mold 31, the pressing projections 35 of the pressing mold 31 come into pressure-contact with the leather 3, and the punching pins 5 project from the pressing projections 35 by the movement of the moving member 45 to one side to form punch holes 9 in the leather 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Kensaku Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8776554
    Abstract: A method of processing a leather material. The method may include providing a tanned and dried leather material and pre-stretching the leather material after the leather material is dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Pusheng Chen, Thomas A. Welch, Sr., Louella Ann Patterson, Ashford Allen Galbreath, Paul S. Severinski
  • Publication number: 20140137610
    Abstract: A method of processing a leather material. The method may include providing a tanned and dried leather material and pre-stretching the leather material after the leather material is dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pusheng Chen, Thomas A. Welch, SR., Louella Ann Patterson, Ashford Allen Galbreath, Paul S. Severinski
  • Publication number: 20140101974
    Abstract: A coated leather, in particular split cowhide leather, has a preferably nubuck-like appearing surface structure. The coating is formed with a surface layer formed with a mechanically and moisture-stable polymer and bonded to the surface of the leather or split leather by a polymer-based bonding layer. The outer layer is notable for inner smoothness and is formed with soft polyurethane. It includes in the non-embossed region microdepressions which are essentially closed in the direction of the leather but are open towards the outside, have an internal width of less than 130 ?m and are arranged close-packed to each other in the manner of soapy foam cells. The microdepressions are each separately bounded by thin mutually crosslinked stays which have on the outside a matt or finely fibrous fine-roughness structure surface, and have an essentially semispherical-shaped concave inner surface which faces outward and is smooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
  • Publication number: 20140000088
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method (HV) for producing finished leather (FL) for covering components with leather, wherein the following process steps for treating a leather hide (LH) are performed on a raw hide (RH) as an initial product for producing the finished leather (FL) as an end product of the method: mechanical process steps in which the leather hide (LH) is treated using mechanical tools, and chemical process steps in which the leather hide is treated with chemicals, wherein both mechanical and chemical modes of action are combined in individual process steps, it is envisaged that, in a process step of retanning, synthetic and/or vegetable tanning materials, fattening agents, microencapsulated auxiliary agents based on ammonium, phosphate, phosphorus and the ester compounds thereof and natural additives based on rubber and milk products are used, and in a process step of reducing the thickness of the leather hide, the leather thickness of the leather hide (LH) is reduced by splitting and/or scraping witho
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Wollsdorf Leder Schmidt & Co. Ges.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Gregor Ackermann, Manuel Zottler
  • Publication number: 20130183538
    Abstract: A method for shaping animal hide into a desired form that is unlike the shape of the base used to support the animal hide during the shaping process. The process includes the steps of wetting a natural hide side of an animal hide; chemically treating a substantially wetted natural hide side of the animal hide with a sizing and shaping a chemically treated animal hide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventor: Lidia Amirova
  • Publication number: 20120295505
    Abstract: Disclosed are a reducing leather and a method for preparing the same. The leather is mainly made by three-dimensionally interweaving the collagen fibres obtained through fibre disintegration of a leather material, with an apparent density of 0.35 g/cm3-1.4 g/cm3. The method for preparing the leather comprises the steps of preparing collagen fibres by fibre disintegration of a leather material, laying, spunlacing, and wet-hot shrinking setting. The reducing leather approaches to a natural leather in the weaving structure and the apparent density, and each of the strength criteria, as well as the wear resistance. The advantages of the leather are that the leather piece is big and regular so that it can be arbitrarily tailored, and the weaving apparent density is consistent. The scraps in the leather industry are mainly used as the raw materials for the reducing leather. The preparation method facilitates to reutilizing the resources in the leather industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: ZHEJIANG HONGZHAN NEW MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Liwen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120231249
    Abstract: Provided are a car-seat split crust leather and leather. A hide already subjected to pretreatment and subjected to tanning treatment is split into leather including a grain surface and into split leather with a thickness of 4 mm to 2.3 mm, the taken-out split leather is arranged so that a flesh side of the split leather can be located on an upper side and that a grain side of the split leather can be located on a lower side, split leather with a thickness of 2.6 mm to 1.8 mm is made, next, the flesh side of the split leather is shaved to thereby set the thickness of the split leather to 2.0 mm to 1.1 mm, and a car-seat split crust leather with a thickness of 1.6 mm to 1.0 mm is manufactured, which is then subjected to tanning and re-tanning treatment, and has a coating film formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: MIDORI HOKUYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Fukukawa, Yoshihiro Abe, Shinji Kashiwagura
  • Publication number: 20120192597
    Abstract: A leather groove forming apparatus includes: a blade holder 43 holding a blade 35 for forming a groove 9 in one surface in a thickness direction of a held leather 5 held in a flat sheet state; blade holder moving unit for moving the blade holder in an in-plane direction of the one surface in the thickness direction of the held leather 5; and blade holder positioning unit for positioning the blade holder 43 in a direction intersecting with the in-plane direction with the blade holder 43 placed on a guide member 55 in formation of the groove in the held leather 5 by moving the blade holder 43 using the blade holder moving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: MIDORI TECHNOPARK CO., LTD.,
    Inventors: Seiichi Kobayashi, Yukihiro Murakami
  • Publication number: 20120192598
    Abstract: A method for reducing a burned odor characteristic of lased leather is provided. Lased leather having a burned odor characteristic is heated, and the heated lased leather is subjected to a forced gas flow to reduce the burned odor characteristic of the lased leather. A system and a method for producing laser-marked leather with reduced burned odor characteristic are also provided. The system features laser marking equipment for producing laser-marked leather having a burned odor characteristic, and treatment equipment for heating and subjecting the laser-marked leather to forced gas flow to reduce the burned odor characteristic of the laser-marked leather.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: William Frederick DEGROOT
  • Publication number: 20120129695
    Abstract: A method of producing a plant biostimulant includes hydrolyzing bacterial cells to obtain a hydrolysate and formulating the hydrolysate as a plant biostimulant for foliar application or application as a soil adjuvant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO NORTH AMERICA, INC
    Inventors: Shinya TACHIBANA, Paul SUMMER, Jessica EWING, Tetsuya MIWA, Daisuke KITAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20120107571
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method for producing a composite body comprising a flexible decorative material for use as decorative trim having a visible surface in a motor vehicle. The method comprises first joining a plurality of material pieces to form a material block, and then severing one or more composite bodies from the material block. The severing is carried out such that the severed composite body contains several of the material pieces. Thereafter, the severed composite body is applied to a visible surface of a decorative trim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Christian Schlemmer, Rudolf Aichner
  • Publication number: 20110281998
    Abstract: The invention relates to new, hydrolysis-stable, aqueous polyurethane-polyurea dispersions based on polycarbonate-polyols, to a process for preparing them and to their use in coating materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicants: BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE AG, BAYER MATERIAL SCIENCE LLC
    Inventors: Lyubov Gindin, Peter Schmitt, Ronald Konitsney, William Corso, Thorsten Rische, Thomas Feller, Thomas Michaelis
  • Patent number: 7954346
    Abstract: A cutting machine, particularly for leather and similar materials, comprising a cutting area provided with one or more cutting heads and with an area for unloading the cut parts, the areas being arranged along a conveyor belt, material detection means being provided in order to detect the position of the material before cutting it, the machine further comprising a detection area, arranged upstream of the cutting area, the material detection means being arranged in the detection area in order to detect the position of references provided on the material to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Comelz S.p.A.
    Inventor: Stefano Zorzolo
  • Patent number: 7882717
    Abstract: An ABCITE® reinforced leather and a method for producing the ABCITE® reinforced leather for use in making shoes, gloves and garments are shown. ABCITE® pellets are ground into a fine powder and floated in a carrier so that they penetrate the fiber structure of a tanned skin. The ABCITE® particles bond to the fiber structure and provide enhanced abrasion resistance and tensile strength to the leather. This ABCITE® impregnated leather can be used to make gloves, shoes and garments. Also, ABCITE® powder can be added to the surface to make the surface more durable and abrasion resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bali Leathers, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Widdemer
  • Publication number: 20100263412
    Abstract: A leather-marking method and its device mainly includes a marking machine combined with a special marking needle having ball shaped needle head such that the marking needle will be punched on the leather with a certain degree of force to form the indents but not penetrate through. And, the marking needle will be displaced through an automatic control method to create the continuous or intermittent indented lines sequentially on the leathers and become the distinct symbols that can conveniently be provided for the subsequent processing procedures of leathers to obtain the practicability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: CHIEH HUANG CHANG
  • Publication number: 20100263235
    Abstract: A coated leather, in particular split cowhide leather, has a preferably nubuck-like appearing surface structure. The coating is formed with a surface layer formed with a mechanically and moisture-stable polymer and bonded to the surface of the leather or split leather by a polymer-based bonding layer. The outer layer is notable for inner smoothness and is formed with soft polyurethane. It includes in the non-embossed region microdepressions which are essentially closed in the direction of the leather but are open towards the outside, have an internal width of less than 130 ?m and are arranged close-packed to each other in the manner of soapy foam cells. The microdepressions are each separately bounded by thin mutually crosslinked stays which have on the outside a matt or finely fibrous fine-roughness structure surface, and have an essentially semispherical-shaped concave inner surface which faces outward and is smooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Philipp Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20100058818
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for processing animal hides in a meat processing facility. In one embodiment, the system the system includes a grading station for determining hide grades, a measuring station for determining at least one hide dimension of the animal hide, a hide folding station, a stacking station adapted to deposit hides at a plurality of stacking sites, a conveyor system and a control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Ronn A. Houtz
  • Patent number: 7552605
    Abstract: A leather finishing process in which, in pertinent part, a warm water milling step is added after the base coat is applied to “crust” leather and cured. The warm water contains at least one dye fixation agent including but not limited to about 0.1-2.0% by weight of formic acid. Moreover, the base coat itself is an aqueous base coat containing at least two polymers such as an acrylic salt or a polyurethane salt. Between the polymeric constituents of the base coat, the acid fixation agent, and the use of the warm water milling step after the base coat has been applied and dried, a surprisingly natural feel to the leather is attained without loss of excellent adhesion, wear-resistance and other properties when the leather is completely finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Seton Company
    Inventor: Hermann Winkler
  • Publication number: 20080271344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the modification of goat and caprine leathers to render them suitable for use in the manufacture of sports shoes, and certain other items of footwear and apparel. Goatskin, while possessing some desirable properties, has poor wear and tear resistance. The present invention discusses the attachment of specific types of bonding layers to the non-grain face side to alter the overall performance of caprine leathers so that they may be used in durable footwear. Treatments to, and coatings on, the caprine leather are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Simon Jeremy Skirrow
  • Publication number: 20080134647
    Abstract: A riding saddle provided with a semi-rigid tree (1) is remarkable in that it includes a semi-rigid trapezium (2) facing the back (50) of the horse and on which the saddle is placed, which trapezium co-operates with the tree (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: SELLERIE DE NONTRON
    Inventors: Benjamin Stephen Pierre Dominique, Laurent Duray
  • Publication number: 20080120793
    Abstract: A method of leather processing which, without need of using a large amount of a hardener, etc., can yield a leather which can retain a three-dimensional shape, especially one with a fine, highly attractive design, for a long time and has high stretchability and high recovery while retaining the flexibility inherent in leathers; and a leather of a three-dimensional shape, especially a processed leather of a pattern and shape such as ones formed by wringing the leather together. The method comprises deforming a flat leather into a three-dimensional shape having recesses and protrusions and heating at least part of either or both of the protrusions (2) and recesses (1) to cure the heated parts and thereby cause the leather to retain the three-dimensional shape. More specifically, the protrusions and the recesses are partly heated while keeping the remaining parts being insulated from the heat to cure the heated parts only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Hideki Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 7378032
    Abstract: A paint composition for leather comprising a fluorine-containing resin and a silicone oil, and a paint composition for leather comprising a curable fluorine-containing resin, a curing agent and a silicone oil can have both soft feeling of a leather itself and film properties such as soil resistance and abrasion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Ueda, Masahiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 6957554
    Abstract: The use of lime and sodium sulfide in leather making creates a lot of environmental concern. However, there is no commercial beam house process that could totally eliminate the use of lime and sodium sulfide. In this invention, a novel bio-chemical process has been standardized employing specific enzymes and non-toxic chemical that could totally eliminate the use of lime and sodium sulfide in leather processing. It has been found that the extent of hair removal and opening up of fiber bundles is comparable to that of the conventional limed leathers. Performance of the leathers is shown to be on par with conventionally leathers. The process also enjoys reduction in chemical oxygen demand and total solids load compared to conventional process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Subramani Saravanabhavan, Palanisamy Thanikaivelan, Jonnalagadda Raghava Rao, Balachandran Unni Nair, Thirumalachari Ramasami
  • Publication number: 20040060330
    Abstract: By a new method for the fastening of pelts stretched on pelt-boards, the belt is secured in a stretched position on the pelt-board by means of a sleeve/bag which is drawn over and around the pelt, so that the pelt is pressed in and locked against the pelt-board by means of the sleeve/bag. The method gives rise to the need for the pelts to be stretched out longer on the pelt-board than has hitherto been possible without damaging the pelts, inasmuch as the pelts will have a tendency to shrink slightly more when they are not fastened to the pelt-board by means of the staples traditionally used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Jens Hedegaard
  • Patent number: 6708531
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an eco-friendly beam house process for de-hairing of leather using commercially available enzymes that obviates the use of lime and other alkalis. The present invention also provides an alternate process for opening the fibers of leather using commercially available enzymes. The present invention further provides a three-step process for tanning hide or skin in a narrow pH range of from about 7.5 to about 8.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Palanisamy Thanikaivelan, Jonnalagadda Raghava Rao, Balachandran Unni Nair, Thirumalachari Ramasami
  • Patent number: 6228300
    Abstract: Moldable products which conform to the size and shape of a particular object and methods of forming the same are provided. The products are made from a material selected from the group consisting of natural leathers, synthetic leathers, and mixtures thereof. The products and methods of the invention are particularly useful for manufacturing custom-fit footwear at a reasonable price. Methods in accordance with the invention comprise molding the starting material on and around a foot, wetting the material with a mixture comprising a leather stiffening or hardening agent, and drying the wetted material while still on the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: Roy L. Brown
  • Patent number: 5854321
    Abstract: The present invention relates to water-soluble, acid-groups-containing graft copolymers which are at least partially biodegradable and are based on sugars and monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids and/or phosphonic acids or the salts of said acids as well as optional further monomers. The present invention further relates to a process for producing the graft copolymers at temperatures of up to 200.degree. C. by means of radical polymerization initiators, in that a total mixture of 5-60%-wt. mono-, di- and oligosaccharides, the derivatives thereof or the mixtures thereof, and 95-40%-wt. of a monomer mixture comprising at least one monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, at least one monoethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acid, one monoethylenically unsaturated sulfuric acid ester and/or vinylphosphonic acid or the salts of said acids with monovalent cations, as well as optional further monomers is polymerized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Krause, Helmut Klimmek
  • Patent number: 5830238
    Abstract: Procedure to improve the area yield in the manufacture of leather consisting of a thermal treatment applied to the extended or stretched leather, before the operation of drying. During this treatment there should be no loss in the water content of the leather. The applicattion of this procedure in the manufacture of leather allows improvements to be obtained in the area yield of about ten percent and, when applied to dyed leathers, an improvement is obtained in the fixation of the products used in the wet phases and, therefore, an improvement in the fastness properties to rubbing at dry as well as wet conditions. The application of this procedure reduces the modulus of the leather for which its use can be especially interesting for leather destined for clothing, upholstery, and some types of footwear which require lower elasticity values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventors: Fernando Maldonado-Millan, Alfredo Garcia-Espantaleon Navas, Juan Salmeron Egea
  • Patent number: 5653130
    Abstract: A moving piece of leather on a bearing support will be moved parallel to a moving open-porous-structured, mesh-like (strainer) belt, the pores or meshes being filled with fluid. This fluid will be transmitted by pressure onto the leather surface.The pressure can be caused either by a pressure roll, or an oscillating zone of pressure, rotating bristle or a linear air or steam flow. The applied amount will be controlled by the relative speed between the leather surface and the mesh-like (strainer) belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventors: Magda Dokoupilova, Jiri Dokoupil
  • Patent number: 5539182
    Abstract: A leather layer is burned, preferably under a protective gas blanket, with a laser beam to increase the water vapor permeability for use of the leather in automotive vehicle seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Ludw. Lindgens GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Meurer
  • Patent number: 5480605
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing leather coin pouches. The method provides for wetting a leather assembly comprising a substantially flat, flexible leather cover laminated to a substantially flat, more rigid centerpiece, to soften the leather which facilitates the eventual forming of the leather. The method further comprises creasing the leather in a creasing die. After a preforming step designed to foldedly bias the leather assembly toward forming as desired, the leather assembly is formed into a foldedly raised leather assembly with an overlapping flap spiral closure. Finally, while its formed shape is retained, the leather assembly is dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Amity Leather Products Company
    Inventors: Peter L. Skaalen, Jr., Thomas W. Papez, Roy A. Scheunemann
  • Patent number: 5291759
    Abstract: A process for stretching leather and similar flat materials, characterized by at least one part of an initial surface of a piece of leather is placed on a bearing surface which is slidable with respect to the leather, the piece of leather being loaded with pressure forces, which are spread over at least one part of the bearing surface, working in the direction of the bearing surface, and the stretching forces for stretching the leather under strain relative to the bearing surface are put into effect over at least one part of a second surface of the piece of leather and being at least approximately tangential with reference to a leather surface as well as at least approximately polydirectional in the direction of the edge of the leather piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Inventor: Jiri Dokoupil
  • Patent number: 5050409
    Abstract: A method of handling skins or hides having a central line of increased thickness along the back of the skin or hide between a tail end portion and a front end portion comprises displacing the skin or hide to a workstation by means of two clamping pincers on a handling apparatus, in accordance with the following sequence of steps: the skin or hide is engaged at its tail and front portions by the pincers; the pincers are moved away from each other in order to put the skin or hide under tension along the backline of the hide; the skin or hide is raised so as to allow it to fold along the backline while it hangs freely; the skin or hide is then displaced to a workstation while hanging in the folded position; the folded skin or hide is then laid out flat under tension on a reception plane at the workstation; and the pincers are released from the tail and front portions of the skin or hide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Inventor: Roger Allamanche
  • Patent number: 5028285
    Abstract: Bonding of leather to leather without the use of any adhesives is achieved by pressing together the two leather portions to be bonded at a pressure of at least about 50 bar and at a bonding temperature of from about 60.degree. to about 200.degree. C. for at least 10 seconds and subsequently cooling them or allowing them to cool while maintaining a pressure of at least about 10 bar at any time during said cooling when the temperature is above about 85.degree. C., the entire process being conducted in an oxygen-poor environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: Adolf Wyler
  • Patent number: 5016452
    Abstract: A method of replicating a color photograph (11) onto a leather surface by transferring the photograph (11) to a xerographic copy (20), tracing the copy (20) onto the surface of the leather (50), using specialized leather working tools (30) to cut and raise the surface of the leather (50) and then applying colored leather dyes (81) to selected portions of the leather surface in accordance with the color scheme of the color photograph (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: Ronald Alexander
  • Patent number: 4959977
    Abstract: A machine for progressively roughing marginal portions of shoe bottoms comprising a shoe support (18) having toe support means (470) and a heel support arrangement including two sets of clamps (390, 392), one set (392) of which serves also as sensing means for sensing, by engagement with an off-set portion of the shoe last whether the shoe thus supported is a left or a right. An inductance sensing device (610) associated with the second set of clamps (392) supplies a signal to control means of the machine, the signal being dependent upon whether the shoe is a left or a right. The control means ensures that, in the operation of the machine, a roughing operation is carried out on the shoe bottom in such a manner that the inside waist region of the shoe bottom is traversed always in the same directiion, regardless of whether the shoe is a left or a right (and of course similarly the outside waist region is consistently operated upon).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: British United Shoe Machinery Ltd.
    Inventors: John Davies, Herbert W. Boot
  • Patent number: 4458509
    Abstract: Reversible treated hides are obtained by a process for treating animal skins. The process includes physiochemical operations, such as tanning, retanning, and finishing, to provide an aniline, semi-aniline, or pigmented hair-side appearance on the flesh side of the skin. By providing reversible skins in accordance with the process, finished leather articles can be manufactured without the necessity of providing linings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Tannerie Pechdo Sarl
    Inventor: Claude Pechdo
  • Patent number: 4458080
    Abstract: Imidazoline derivatives of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 designate C.sub.1 -C.sub.19 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.19 -alkenyl,m and n designate 2 or 3, andA.sup..crclbar. designates an anion, in particular formate, acetate, phosphate, phosphite, phosphonate, sulphonate, toluenesulphonate or benzoate,a process for their preparation, and their use as softeners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunther Boehmke, Klaus-Dieter Bode, deceased, Wilfried Kortmann
  • Patent number: 4450764
    Abstract: A frame forms a container having four vertical sides and a flat bottom plate. A hydraulically raised and lowered gate forms one of the sides. Wet hides are stacked on a pallet commonly used with a forklift. The gate is raised, and the loaded pallet placed on the bottom plate. The gate is lowered, and fillers are extended through side openings in the pallet into voids between the pallet top and bottom. A platen above the hides is hydraulically pressed downward within the container to compress the hides. A selected pressure on the hides is maintained for a desired compression period. The fillers within the voids limit deflections of the pallet top during compression of the hides, and consequently prevent damage to the pallet. The fillers are withdrawn, the gate raised, and the loaded pallet removed. The compressed, dry, cohesive hide bundles have a flat top and flat, vertical sides and are more efficiently packed for shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Inventor: Preston D. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 4416125
    Abstract: Equipment for letting out hides, in which the hides are cut several times obliquely to their lateral edges, the hide parts are then laterally offset and then sewn together again. A gripping tool is provided and is movable crosswise and lengthwise to the cutting line. After the sewing operation, the gripping tool seizes the cut edge and pulls the hide crosswise to the cutting line by the desired distance between cuts. Thereafter it moves the hide parallel to the cutting line, to obtain a constant distance between the sewing machine and the respective seam start on the hide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Pfaff Industriemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Dietrich
  • Patent number: 4330597
    Abstract: Advantages in the dressing of leather, especially of split leather, with a synthetic rubber latex are obtained if in the leather dressing, the rubber latex is reacted with from 0.5 to 50% by weight, based on solid rubber, of one or more oxides and/or hydroxides of one or more bivalent metals and the leather is treated with a non-polymerized rubber latex which is produced in a one-stage process up to a monomer conversion of from 70 to 95% by weight, by emulsion polymerization of:(A) from 1 to 10 parts by weight of one or more .alpha.,.beta.-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids; and(B) from 90 to 99 parts by weight of a mixture of(a) from 10 to 90 parts by weight of butadiene and(b) from 10 to 90 parts by weight of styrene and/or acrylonitrile, wherein the quantity of acrylonitrile in the mixture amounts to a maximum of 50 parts by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ferdinand Heins, Leo Tork, Wolfgang Hohne