Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Wilhelm Law Services
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Patent number: 6655248Abstract: A cutter, preferably a cheese cutter, for cutting food into consumer-size chunks. The cutter comprises a feed conveyor, slab drive apparatus for driving a slab along the feed conveyor, and a cutting harp adjacent the discharge end of the feed conveyor. The cutting harp has cutting devices which make cuts extending across an opening. A slab discharged from the conveyor passes through the central opening, and the cutting devices cut the food product in the direction of advance of the slab. Transverse harp drive apparatus drives the harp transverse to the direction of advance of the slab, severing chunks of product from the slab. A take-away conveyor takes the severed chunks away from the cutting harp, to a weighing device which weighs the chunks. A controller receives weights from the weighing device, and sends adjustment instructions to the slab drive apparatus to adjust subsequent weights of product cut from such slabs.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Inventor: Charles H. Johnson
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Patent number: 6655351Abstract: An engine control unit, and method of use, uses a power curve or algorithm to pro-actively adjust fuel flow rate to an engine, optionally in combination with a reactive power curve or algorithm, thereby to adjust engine power, in anticipation of changes in loads being imposed on the engine, as well as to respond to engine speed changes. The ECU has a power curve or algorithm stored in memory which responds to certain predetermined operating conditions other than sensed engine speed, by providing a sequence of pro-active change inputs, at predetermined rates of change, in rate of delivery of fuel to the engine combustion chambers, independent of engine speed change, thereby to produce pro-active incremental changes in power output of the engine. Such pro-active incremental power changes are effected in anticipation of changes in load demand on the engine, and correspond generally with expected incrementally progressive changes in load demand on the engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Alan David Sheidler, Kyle John Tingle, Kenny L. Hennings, William A. Brockmann, Mark Peter Sahlin
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Patent number: 6641692Abstract: The invention relates to methods of fabricating an absorbent article. In one method of the invention, combination containment flaps and leg cuffs are formed on a common substrate. A plurality of elastomeric elements are included in the combination article to assist in forming containment flaps. Discrete leg cuff pieces are applied to the substrate at longitudinally spaced locations. In some embodiments, a cutting device slits the substrate substantially along a center line extending the length of the substrate, forming two continuous substrate portions. A glue gun applies adhesive to the substrate portion. The substrate portions are folded lengthwise, using the adhesive to form integral containment flaps and leg cuffs in a composite substrate. The composite substrate is secured to an absorbent article web sausage in forming absorbent articles. In another embodiment, the substrate is a first substrate which supports elastomeric elements used in forming leg cuffs and containment flaps.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Gary Mack Reynolds, Robert Eugene Vogt
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Patent number: 6609590Abstract: In-line exhaust systems comprise an exhaust pipe, and a sound-attenuating baffle in the exhaust pipe. The baffle has one or more baffle plates extending across the gas flow channel, at least one at an oblique angle. Each plate has an array of apertures therethrough. The plates are joined to each other, preferably in edge-to-edge relationship, preferably forming included angles with each other and forming preferably different, oblique angles to the longitudinal axis. In preferred embodiments, plate aperture area increases, plate-to-plate, along the direction of advance of gases in the exhaust system. A backwash valve can lie over one of the baffle plates. The exhaust system can include a water jacket, and optionally an outer sound attenuation chamber. The baffle is preferably 36 or less inches long, the exhaust system reducing noise by at least 3 decibels.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Inventor: Joseph Raymond Zelinski
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Patent number: 6588861Abstract: Novel wheel assemblies for use in track drive systems in a tracked vehicle, in support of improving uniformity of pressure distribution across the width of the track, between the track and the underlying ground surface, where track installed on the vehicle is wider than the wheel bodies which are supplied as original equipment with the tracked vehicle. Such improved uniformity of pressure is achieved by adding, to the wheels of such tracked vehicle, auxiliary wheel bodies which extend the widths of the wheels to widths more reflective of the width of the track being used in such vehicle. In cases where different track widths are sequentially employed on a given vehicle, auxiliary wheel assemblies of respective different widths can be sequentially mounted, removed, and the like to reflect the widths of the tracks being employed.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Eric Brian Smith, Craig Edward Rehmert
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Patent number: 6582556Abstract: This invention pertains to security paper and methods of making such security paper. The invention comprises a light-colored base paper having a non-protection area of a first thickness, and a protection area of a second thickness on at least one major surface of the base paper wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The base paper comprises colorant whereby the protection area exhibits a translucence when viewed using transmitted light, and exhibits the colorant as a darker color indication, relative to the non-protection area, when viewed using reflected light. Transmission of light through a combination of paper fibers and the colorant of the invention, both being disposed at the protection area, is discernibly different from transmission of light through the non-protection areas of the base paper, when viewed with a human eye.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2002Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Appleton Papers Inc.Inventors: Adam Vincent Missell, Joseph John Tremblay, Kathleen Elizabeth Wyles
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Patent number: 6576598Abstract: Compositions and methods for ballistic conditioning firearm projectiles, firearms, and firearm components such as bores of barrels, by applying to such items a conditioning composition selected from the group consisting of hexagonal boron nitride, graphite, tungsten disulfide, antimony trioxide, talc, mica, and mixtures thereof, suspended in a carrier comprising a volatile solvent, and a binder selected from the group consisting of cellulosic-, alkyd- and acrylic-resins.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Inventor: David Thomas Brown
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Patent number: 6564791Abstract: A quiver has arrow-holding cells, holding arrows, each cell closed along a top wall, a bottom wall, and one or more longitudinal closure sidewalls, as well as having one or more open sides. The cells pivot with respect to each other, on hinges. The quivers have an enclosing configuration, and an open configuration, preferably a plurality of potential open configurations. In open configurations, closure side walls can have free edges adjacent each other, or closure side walls bearing free edges are adjacent each other, or open side walls provide access to arrows about substantially a full circle about the longitudinal axis of the quiver, or the quiver exposes more than 180 degrees of open wall, and/or arrow holders hold the arrows against unintended falling out at any orientation of the quiver.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Inventor: Paul W. Hammen
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Patent number: 6564496Abstract: Ice fishing tip ups which comprise a support structure, a collar, a shaft, a spring, a stop, a spool and a signal device. When the tip up is set for catching fish, the spool can rotate about its axis a limited distance before the spring jerks the shaft upwardly to set the hook. The spool is generally restrained from rotation while the spring is jerking the shaft upwardly. The spool can freely rotate and pay out line after the spring jerks the shaft upwardly. The tip up structure comprehends a plurality of set positions, including a plurality of notches defining such set positions, and either rolling engagement or sliding engagement of a stop with respect to the notches. In preferred embodiments, the spring and stop are cooperatively sized, configured and mounted such that spring and stud freely move with ongoing interaction with each other without deleteriously impeding each other's activity.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: BBJ Outdoor Innovations, LLC.Inventor: Benjamin Scott Scherg
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Patent number: 6565686Abstract: This invention pertains to fabricating composite personal care article products on a fabrication line, and sensing assembly quality characteristics of such personal care article products so fabricated, using infrared image sensing apparatus, and signal processing apparatus for processing the infrared energy so sensed, to fabricate visual displays of the composite images sensed by the infrared sensing apparatus. By using infrared imagery, and sensing the various temperatures of elements being placed and worked on the fabrication line, elements of the personal care articles which are hidden from visual observation can be sensed by sensing the infrared radiation emitted from such articles. Elements which are available for visual observation can likewise be sensed where temperature of such elements is suitable for detection, by infrared-sensitive receptors.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Arthur Bett, Jean Louise Krueger-Justinger, Tanakon Ungpiyakul
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Patent number: 6564735Abstract: A folding pontoon boat which can be folded to a lesser width unfolded to a greater operating width. The boat can be launched in the folded configuration, unfolded on the water, and subsequently refolded to the reduced width on the water. The boat comprises pontoons, deck members, jamb plates at the inner sides of the deck members, and a hinge connecting inner sides of the deck members to each other. The jamb plates provide sufficient structure that the deck members are self-supporting and can support normal deck loading at the hinge without additional superstructure above the deck to support the hinge structure. A motor mount at the rear of the boat maintains a constant orientation as the boat is folded and unfolded between the reduced width configuration and the greater width configuration.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Inventor: Carl L. Jackson
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Patent number: 6553270Abstract: Apparatus and methods controlling a process producing segments of product wherein a destabilizing event of a particular type periodically destabilizes the process, resulting in product or process deviation from a target parameter associated with a number of segments of the product, from segment number 1 to segment number n. The method associates, with respective ones of the n units of product, deviation amounts corresponding to historical deviation amounts for the respective so-numbered units of product in past occurrences of the particular type destabilizing event, and applying to selected ones of the n segments of product correction factors derived from respective associated historical deviation amounts for the respective units of product, thereby making pro-active adjustments to respective ones of the n units of product, upon occurrence of the destabilizing event. Preferred methods include applying the correction factors to each of the n units of product.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Alain Christian Houle, Michael Earl Pennings, Andrew Norman, Glen Everett Lashbrook, John Gerard Hein
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Patent number: 6548147Abstract: Apparatus for continuously producing a web (1) which is corrugated from a thin sheet material which is elastic at least in a transverse direction of the web. The apparatus includes a guide bed (2) which has grooves extending parallel or inclined to each other in the direction of movement of the material. The apparatus also has holding-down devices (5) arranged opposite the grooves of the guide bed (2) so as to urge the web passing between the surface of the guide bed (2) and the holding-down devices (5) into the grooves of the guide bed (2) to obtain corrugations in the web. Finally, at the outlet end (4) of the guide bed (2) is an apparatus or substance which substantially prevents the formed corrugations from springing back to the original condition. A process for producing a strip and an absorbent article containing corrugated strips are included.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Maria Raidel, Jan Ullmann, Franz Aschenbrenner
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Patent number: 6544926Abstract: Dual shell microcapsule aggregate particles and copy materials coated therewith, such aggregate particles having inner shells surrounding chromogenic nucleus material, and outer shells encompassing multiple such inner shells to form aggregate particles thereof. The inner shells are derived from polar pre-polymer compositions. The outer shells are derived from complex colloids such as gelatin and gelatin derivatives. The outer shell material causes agglomeration of the inner shells into aggregate particles, thus increasing the sizes of the particles without increasing the sizes of the respective inner-shell microcapsules which contain the chromogenic material.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Appleton Papers Inc.Inventors: Jerome Robert Bodmer, Chandrakant Bhailalbhai Patel, Troy Ronald Seehafer, Todd Arlin Schwantes
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Patent number: 6540854Abstract: Apparatus and methods for effecting ultrasonic bonds in sequentially advancing workpiece segments, in a nip defined by a rotary ultrasonic horn and rotary anvil roll. The ultrasonic bonding apparatus comprises support structure comprising anvil support apparatus and horn support apparatus. A closed loop control apparatus is connected to one or both of the anvil support apparatus and horn support apparatus. The closed loop control apparatus comprises a programmable logic controller, a load cell, and an adjustor. Information output from the load cell triggers the closed loop control apparatus through the programmable logic computer and the adjustor to move one or both of the anvil support apparatus and horn support apparatus toward or away from the other in dynamic response to the information output from the load cell, thereby regulating pressure in the nip with ongoing real-time adjustments to distance between the anvil support apparatus and the horn support apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Jack Lee Couillard, Michael Lee Lohoff, Scott Gerald Chapple
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Patent number: 6537401Abstract: This invention pertains to apparatus and methods for creating ultrasonic bonds in sequentially advancing absorbent article workpiece segments, in a bonding nip. The ultrasonic bonding apparatus comprises a frame, anvil support apparatus, horn support apparatus, closure apparatus, a load cell support member, and a load cell. The ultrasonic horn and the anvil roll collectively are mounted and configured such that the ultrasonic horn and the anvil roll can be brought together, via the closure apparatus, to define the nip therebetween. The load cell is mounted to the load cell support member such that force representative of force exerted on the anvil roll at the nip is detected by the load cell. In preferred embodiments, the invention includes outputting information from the load cell and adjusting force in the nip in response to the information received from the load cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2000Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Jack Lee Couillard, Kent William Abel, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Michael Lee Lohoff, Robin Kurt Nason, Dan James Sorensen
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Patent number: 6531032Abstract: This invention pertains to security paper and methods of making such security paper. The invention comprises a light-colored base paper having a non-protection area of a first thickness, and a protection area of a second thickness on at least one major surface of the base paper wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The base paper comprises colorant whereby the protection area exhibits a translucence when viewed using transmitted light, and exhibits the colorant as a darker color indication, relative to the non-protection area, when viewed using reflected light. Transmission of light through a combination of paper fibers and the colorant of the invention, both being disposed at the protection area, is discernibly different from transmission of light through the non-protection areas of the base paper, when viewed with a human eye.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2002Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Appleton Papers Inc.Inventors: Adam Vincent Missell, Joseph John Tremblay, Kathleen Elizabeth Wyles
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Patent number: 6527902Abstract: This invention pertains to a machine and process for cutting discrete workpiece components from webs of material, precisely registering them with respect to one another, and depositing them with precise registration onto a constantly moving web of material, the webs of material optionally all moving at different speeds. In a particular embodiment of the invention, a process for manufacturing a multi-component absorbent personal hygiene article is described.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Gregory John Rajala
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Patent number: 6523595Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for separating a discrete element from a first substrate web, moving at a first speed, and placing the discrete element on a second substrate web, moving at a second speed. The apparatus includes a first station, wherein perforations are made in the first substrate web, and a second station, wherein the discrete element is separated from the first substrate web at a line of perforations and the discrete element is transferred to a positioned on the second substrate web. The first station includes a perforation cutter assembly and conveyer assembly. The perforation cutter assembly includes first and second rollers with a cutting blade, with a discontinuous edge, and an anvil surface, respectively, to make perforations in the first substrate web. The second station includes a separation and transfer mechanism having separation and transfer segments for separating and transferring the discrete element from the first substrate web to the second substrate web.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: James Dell Milner, Robert Herrick Collins, James Grant Lee, David Allen Palzewicz
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Patent number: 6520236Abstract: This invention pertains to a machine and process for cutting discrete workpiece components from webs of material precisely registering them with respect to one another, and depositing them with precise registration onto a constantly moving web of material, the webs of material optionally all moving at different speeds. In a particular embodiment of the invention, a process for manufacturing a multi-component absorbent personal hygiene article is described.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Gregory John Rajala