Patents Examined by Angela Ortiz
  • Patent number: 6986853
    Abstract: A method for repairing fiber-reinforced composite structures while maintaining original EM and lightning protection using carbon nanotubes, fibers, and thermoset resins is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises preparing a damaged area for repair; preparing a repair patch for the damaged area, the repair patch comprising nanotubes; applying the repair patch to the damaged area; and curing the repair patch. A repair patch for a composite structure having a conductive layer is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the repair patch includes a binder and nanotubes. A repair resin for repairing a composite structure having a conductive layer is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the repair layer includes a resin and nanotubes. A putty for repairing a composite structure having a conductive layer is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Eikos, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Glatkowski, David H. Landis, Joseph W. Piche, Jeffrey L. Conroy
  • Patent number: 6986860
    Abstract: A method for producing a throttle valve unit, which is contained in a throttle device comprised of two housing halves. A receptacle housing for an adjusting drive mechanism that actuates the throttle valve unit is formed onto the throttle device. The throttle valve unit is produced in one piece in a single operation using an injection molding process in which a frame structure is produced, which encompasses a valve surface on both sides of a valve shaft that has bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schaefer, Markus Michels, Stefan Josten
  • Patent number: 6982051
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for use in a fusion process for conduit. The method includes the steps of: removably positioning a first terminal edge of a first conduit portion with a first terminal edge of a second conduit portion; facing the terminal edges of the first conduit portion and the second conduit portion; aligning the terminal edges of the first conduit portion and the second conduit portion; melting at least a portion of the terminal edges of the first conduit portion and the second conduit portion; engaging the melted terminal edge of the first conduit portion with the melted terminal edge of the second conduit portion; maintaining pressure between the engaged terminal edges, thereby creating a fused joint area; and removing at least a portion of the resultant external bead extending around the fused joint area. A fusion apparatus for employing this method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Underground Solutions Technologies Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan St. Onge, Henri St. Onge
  • Patent number: 6977055
    Abstract: An elongated electrical cable or flexible circuit board includes an electrically conductive path and an insulating body encompassing and electrically isolating the conductive path, the insulating body including an exposed surface having an array of fastener elements extending therefrom, the fastener elements arranged and constructed to engage mating fastener elements associated with a supporting surface to selectively secure the cable or flexible circuit board to the supporting surface. The fastener elements can be loop-engageable fasteners and/or loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Gallant, Michel Labrecque, Mark A. Clarner, John DeMain
  • Patent number: 6977056
    Abstract: An electromagnetic oscillating type pump for oscillating diaphragms connected to an oscillator through electromagnetic oscillation of the oscillator with magnetic body by utilizing magnetic interaction between an electromagnetic portion comprising one or a plurality of iron cores and the magnetic body. A frame portion of resin mold is formed by molding resin on an outer surface of the electromagnetic portion. It is possible to obtain electromagnetic oscillating type pumps capable of decreasing manufacturing costs and of exhibiting high acoustic insulating effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Techno Takatsuki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Ohya, Nozomu Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 6974554
    Abstract: A method of forming a pot for an array of hollow fiber membranes (7) is provided, including the steps of placing the ends (6) of the fiber membranes (7) in a mould (5); forming a first layer (20) of curable resin material in a non-cured state around the fiber membrane ends (6), applying a second layer (21) of a polyurethane resin material to the first layer (20) prior to full curing of the first layer, the polyurethane resin material layer being chemically reactive with the first layer material to form an adhesive bond therebetween; at least partially curing both layers and removing the pot formed from the mould (5), wherein the second layer material is of higher flexibility than the first layer material when each layer is fully cured. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignees: U.S. Filter Wastewater Group, Inc., Pall Seitzschenk Filtersystems GmbH
    Inventors: David John Cox, Georg Schnieder, Fufang Zha, Joachim Muller, Cinzia Lea
  • Patent number: 6974557
    Abstract: Optical windows for intracorporeal devices, intracorporeal devices comprising a window and a method for forming a window for an intracorporeal device are provided. The method comprises placing within a mold an assembly comprising a mandrel located within a pair of parts separated by a collar of window material, heating the window preform effective to cause the window material to soften, and applying force to urge together the pair of parts to deform the window material so as to form a window. The intracorporeal devices, such as imaging devices, include guidewires, catheters, endoscopes. In addition, the method is suitable for joining plastic parts to other parts, such as metal and ceramic parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovasculer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Webler, Michael D. Whitt, Marc M. Jalisi, Andrej M. Chudy, Kevin M. Phillips, Marc L. Speck
  • Patent number: 6969481
    Abstract: A method is described for producing a pipe end socket (3) made of thermoplastic material with a sealing ring (5) which engages in a form-fitting manner on the inside of the socket in a circumferential bead (4) and which comprises a sealing part (6) and a supporting part (7), with the sealing ring (5) being introduced into a preformed bead region and is then tightly held in a form-fitting manner in the circumferential bead (4) by a final forming of the preformed bead region. In order to provide advantageous process conditions it is proposed that the pipe end socket (3) with the circumferential bead (4) is preformed at a deformation temperature corresponding at least to the softening temperature with an overdimension which allows an insertion of the sealing ring (5), and after the cooling below the softening temperature and after inserting the sealing ring (5) said pipe end socket with the circumferential bead is pressed into the final shape by taking into account a cooling-induced shrinkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventor: Helmuth Schnallinger
  • Patent number: 6967000
    Abstract: This invention refers to a method and a device for use in connection with the fabrication of multilayer products (8) such as composites and bonded multilayer sheet products, ect. by means of the so-called “bagging technique,” to increase the compressive pressure (P) on the product being created beyond normal atmospheric pressure. In the bagging technique, which is used to join a plurality of different material layers with one another to form a unit via polymeric binder layers, atmospheric pressure is normally used to press the various objects together in that they are enclosed in a depressurized gas-impervious bag (9, 21) while the various layers are joined to form a unified product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Jan Vaara
  • Patent number: 6960315
    Abstract: Polyamides based on reaction products of C4-C18 dicarboxylic acids and diamines are suitable as molding compositions for the production of moldings in the low pressure injection molding process, and for adhesive sealing or filling in the production of electrical or electronic devices, in particular of plugs, cables, switches, sensors, transponders, modules, printed circuit boards or smart cards. In comparison with conventional molding compositions based in known hot melt adhesives, said polyamides exhibit higher strength values, higher abrasion resistance and higher chemical resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Bettina Becker, Angela Rossini, Thomas Moeller, Thomas Huver, Georg Schubert
  • Patent number: 6955778
    Abstract: Syntactic polyurethanes are prepared by mixing hollow microspheres with polyurethanes by a process in which, in a first step, the polyurethane system components are reacted and, in a second step, the feeding of the hollow microspheres is effected in a mixing apparatus, the mixing apparatus being free of dead space and comprising i) a mixing pot, ii) a feed for polyurethane, iii) a feed for hollow microspheres, iv) a stirring element and v) an outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Huntemann
  • Patent number: 6949217
    Abstract: The invention is a method of a sheet (134) of thermoplastic material between upper and lower molds (102, 104), heating the sheet to a plastic state using electromagnetic radiation and molding the sheet. The molds (102, 104) are preferably formed of silicon and infrared radiation is preferably used to heat the sheet (134).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6949709
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a dashboard subassembly comprising electrical and/or electronic components (1) connected to conductors (2) and attached to a rigid support (3). The invention is characterized in that it consists in: providing a flexible mat (4) provided with said conductors (2); mounting said components (1) on said mat (4), connected to said electrical conductors (2); rigidizing said mat (4) by overmoulding it with a material designed to form said support (3). The invention also concerns a dashboard subassembly, in particular a motor vehicle dashboard console, obtained by said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignees: Valeo, Visteon Systemes Interieurs
    Inventors: Didier Barat, Andrew Nash
  • Patent number: 6946090
    Abstract: A method for extruding a corrugation-free polystyrene foam with up to 100% carbon dioxide as the blowing agent by extruding the extrudate through an annular die opening so that it contacts a choke ring inner surface. A foam made with the apparatus according to the invention will have no visible corrugations and an average cell size of less than 0.35 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Dart Container Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne J. Myer, Blaine M. Kelley
  • Patent number: 6946089
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing a foamed body that allows simple control of the dimensions and gives foamed body with the desired dimensions in a stable manner. According to the invention, P2 is pressure at the point where pressure in the die begins to fall after casting a molding material containing no blowing agent into the die, ?P2 is the amount of reduction in pressure in the die from P2, P3 is the minimum pressure between the time of casting a molding material containing a blowing agent into the die completely cast and the time of beginning to increase the pressure in the die, ?P3 is the amount of increase in pressure in the die from P3, and ?P4 is the sum of ?P2 and ?P3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mizouchi, Katsuaki Morino, Junji Koujina
  • Patent number: 6939493
    Abstract: The method includes the preparation of a preimpregnated product that undergoes a heat treatment between 70 and 1100 deg. C., is embedded with an inert substance that comprises a charge and a polymeric binder in a quantity greater than the volume of the voids of the single-layer yarn which is calculated by means of the formula [1], where mn is the mass of inert substance, dn is the density of the inert substance, a is the length of the preimpregnated product, b is the width of the preimpregnated product, h is the thickness of the preimpregnated product, mpr is the mass of the preimpregnated product, and dfib is the density of the fiber, and is heated between 160 deg. C. and 200 deg. C., a pressure of between 1 and 5 MPa being applied simultaneously. m n = d n · ( a · b · h - m pr d fib ) .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Poligono Industrial Nicomedes Garcia—Naves BvC
    Inventors: Ricardo Blach Vizoso, Vladimir-Nikolaevich Fateev, Porembikiy-Vladimir Igorevich, Bogatchev-Eugeniy Akimovich, Tsypkin-Mikhail Alexandrovich
  • Patent number: 6932928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method of producing a resistor device comprising a PTC-polymer element 2 and a varistor element 4. Both elements are molded in a common molding process using one common mold. Preferred is co-injection molding. The invention further relates to the resistor device thus produced and a current limit means including the resistor device and a switch (FIG. 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Ralf Strümpler, Ruzica Loitzl-Jelenic, Joachim Glatz-Reichenbach
  • Patent number: 6932669
    Abstract: A system for molding a jointed linkage support system with joints that allow movement and bending in many directions and degrees of freedom. A chain-like linkage system made up of a series of joints is molded in a single step from materials having different melting temperatures in a series of alternating communicating mold cavities. The jointed linkage support system emerges from the mold fully assembled. An electrical switch may be provided within one of the joints between sleeves and rods whereby movement of the rod relative to the sleeve actuates the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: C.J. Associates, Ltd.
    Inventors: James S. W. Lee, Chiu-Keung Kwan
  • Patent number: 6929765
    Abstract: An electrically driven membrane process apparatus is provided comprising a first spacer having a perimeter having a surface with an inner peripheral edge defining an opening, and a recess formed on the inner peripheral edge, and an ion exchange membrane having an outer edge fitted within the recess. The spacer can further comprise a plurality of bosses and an ion exchange membrane having a corresponding plurality of apertures for receiving the bosses. The spacer can include a plastic mesh consisting essentially of polypropylene or polyethylene, and a perimeter surrounding the plastic mesh, the perimeter comprising material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastic elastomeric olefins. The spacer can have an upstanding seal member depending therefrom, received by groove within a corresponding frame member. A second spacer is also provided having a continuous flange depending from its surface and surrounding a throughbore, for pinching a portion of the first spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: E-Cell Corporation
    Inventors: Bill Cotton, Glenn Towe, Mathew J. Yagar, Eduard Erbiceanu
  • Patent number: 6929763
    Abstract: The invention provides an injection molding method comprising supplying a gas into a molten resin in a plasticizing cylinder and injecting the molten resin having the gas dissolved therein, wherein when the resin is being plasticized, a gas space with a predetermined gas pressure is formed within the plasticizing cylinder in a gas supply section and the pressure at the front end of the screw is adjusted to be at least equal to the gas pressure in the gas space and within a range where the gas space can be maintained within the plasticizing cylinder in the gas supply section. According to the invention, the necessary amount of gas can be dissolved in the molten resin with good reproducibility in a quantitative manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamaki