Patents Examined by B. Hamilton Hess
  • Patent number: 6890883
    Abstract: Methods for using biaxially stretched polyester as a photo-receptive layer for dye sublimation printing are disclosed. Two-sided sublimation printing on polyester is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: EdiZONE, LC
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Patent number: 6872446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a white, biaxially oriented film made from a crystallizable thermoplastic with high whiteness, the thickness of the film being in the range from 10 to 500 ?m. The film comprises at least one rutile-type titanium dioxide as pigment and an optical brightener, with or without other additives, and has at least one additional functionality. The expression “additional functionality” includes UV resistance, yellowing resistance, photooxidative stability, flame retardancy, and sealability. This film may have one or more of the functional properties. All of these films are capable of cost-effective thermoforming, have good orientability, and have very good optical and mechanical properties. The invention further relates to a process for its production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH
    Inventors: Ursula Murschall, Ulrich Kern, Klaus Oberlaender, Thorsten Kiehne
  • Patent number: 6869908
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal recording material, which includes at least one recording layer containing an electron donating dye precursor and an electron accepting compound, and additionally, the recording layer includes a polymerizable compound having an ethylenic unsaturated bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiki Ueki, Kazumori Minami
  • Patent number: 6869909
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dye combination and a thermal dye transfer yellow donor element containing the combination of dyes useful for forming a light stable yellow image comprising a yellow dye having the formula: wherein: R1 and R2 each independently represents an alkyl group of from 1 to 10 carbons atoms or a cycloalkyl group of from 5 to 7 carbon atoms; R3 and R4 each independently represents hydrogen, or an unsubstituted lower alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; each Y independently represents halogen, or a lower alkyl or alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and m is 0 to 4. Such a dye combination and element provide improved color and stability, especially for proofing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ruizheng Wang, Linda A. Kaszczuk, Ann L. Carroll-Lee, Derek D. Chapman, Charles H. Weidner
  • Patent number: 6869907
    Abstract: In a color image-forming medium, a substrate is coated with a color-developing layer which is composed of at least one kind of heat-sensitive color-developing component, and a plurality of pressure-sensitive microcapsules. Each of the pressure-sensitive microcapsules is filled with a dye exhibiting a first single-color, and features a pressure/temperature characteristic to be broken when being subjected to a predetermined pressure within a first temperature range. The heat-sensitive color-developing component features a thermal color-developing characteristic to develop a second single color within a second temperature range defined by a first critical temperature and a second temperature. The first critical temperature is in the first temperature range, and the second critical temperature exceeds an upper limit temperature of the first temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6867167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a recording medium provided with colored image information, notably an identification card or value card. The colored image information is applied to a surface (A) of a polycarbonate layer which is treated to give it adhesive properties. The colored image information is notably applied by means of a thermal method and the surface (A) is preferably treated by application of an adhesive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: TRUB AG
    Inventors: Paul Christen, Stephan D. Hofstetter
  • Patent number: 6863968
    Abstract: A non-asbestos-based friction material for brakes, clutches or the like for automobiles, large-size trucks, railway cars and various industrial machines. The friction material has excellent friction and rust preventive characteristics, and attacks the plane it faces to a limited extent. The non-asbestos-based friction material is produced by forming and then curing the non-asbestos-based friction material composition comprising a fibrous base, binder and filler as the major ingredients. The composition contains at least one type of steel fibers selected from the group consisting of iron, special dead soft steel and dead soft steel, containing carbon (C) at 0.13% or less at specific contents, in the fibrous base at 1 to 50% by volume of the whole friction material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeo Nagata, Jun Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6858277
    Abstract: An information recording medium having such a recording material layer on a substrate where reversible phase change between electrically or optically detectable states can be caused by electric energy or electromagnetic energy. The recording material forming the recording layer is either a material having a crystal structure including lattice defects in one phase of the reversible phase change or a material having a complex phase composed of a crystal portion including a lattice defect in one phase of the reversible phase change and an amorphous portion. Both portions contain a common element. A part of the lattice defects are filled with an element other than the element constituting the crystal structure. The recording medium having a recording thin film exhibits little variation of the recording and reproduction characteristics even after repetition of recording and reproduction, excellent weatherability, strong resistance against composition variation, and easily controllable characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Yamada, Rie Kojima, Toshiyuki Matsunaga, Katsumi Kawahara
  • Patent number: 6855397
    Abstract: An image receiving material for electrophotography having, on a support, one or more structural layers including a toner image receiving layer, wherein at least one layer of said structural layers comprises plasticizer, and wherein a flow starting temperature of said toner image receiving layer is at 30° C. or higher that is, as well, lower than a temperature of a flow starting temperature of toner resin+10° C., is disclosed. Using the image receiving material can provide formation of toner reflected images similar to photographs with respect to smoothness (glossiness) and also provide no image degradation by image roughness or removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Tateishi, Yoshisada Nakamura, Mitsuru Ito, Masataka Murata
  • Patent number: 6855384
    Abstract: The present invention provides a selectively thermally transferable blend capable of forming the emissive layer of an organic electroluminescent device. The blend includes a light emitting polymer and an additive selected to promote selective thermal transfer of the blend from a donor element to a proximately located receptor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Manoj Nirmal, Ha T. Le, Martin B. Wolk, Erika Bellmann, Fred McCormick
  • Patent number: 6852672
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a dye-receptive layer transfer sheet which has a good balance between the adhesion to an object, on which a sublimation transferred image is to be formed, and the releasability of a print from a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer at the time of printing of an image, using the thermal transfer sheet, on the object with a dye-receptive layer transferred thereon from the dye-receptive layer transfer sheet. The dye-receptive layer transfer sheet comprises: a substrate sheet; and a transferable dye-receptive layer provided separably on one side of the substrate sheet, the transferable dye-receptive layer comprising an epoxy-modified silicone, a methylstyrene-modified silicone, and a polyether-modified silicone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Tomita, Kazuya Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6849332
    Abstract: A string binder is disclosed which is useful for making reinforcing articles for use in the manufacture of molded composite articles. The string binder comprises a fibrous carrier substrate covered with a solidified coating comprising a binder resin material having an acid value of less than about 30 mg KOH/g of resin. Additionally, the fibrous carrier substrate may be coated with at least one layer of a pre-coating or post-coating comprising a catalyst composition. The string binder may be co-roved with one or more ends of a separate fibrous reinforcing material to make a product suitable for use in various molding applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian William Ables, William G. Hager, Timothy W. Ramey, Jay J. Beckman, Diane M. Hulett
  • Patent number: 6849331
    Abstract: A string binder is disclosed which is useful for making reinforcing articles for use in the manufacture of molded composite articles. The string binder comprises a fibrous substrate with chemical treatment, applied thereto, comprising a polyester resin, a curing agent, a film former, and a thickener. Additionally, the string binder may be co-roved with one or more ends of a separate fibrous pre-form material to make a product suitable for use in various molding applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin C. Flautt, James R. Priest
  • Patent number: 6841253
    Abstract: In order to obtain curable molding compositions and shaped plastics articles produced therefrom which have an improved hot-pot resistance, it is proposed that a curable molding composition for the production of shaped plastics articles contains, in addition to a liquid monomeric acrylate component and a particulate inorganic material, the latter in a concentration ranging from 45 to 85 wt % and preferably from 55 to 75 wt %, based on the molding composition, an additional portion comprising a particulate hydrophobic and/or oleophobic plastics material in a concentration of 0.5 wt % or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignees: Blanco GmbH & Co. KG, Schock & Co. GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hajek, Stefan Harke, Josef Geier, Klaus Hock
  • Patent number: 6841272
    Abstract: A film for optical applications comprising (A) a hard coat layer which comprises a metal oxide and a substance cured by heat or by an ionizing radiation and has a thickness in a range of 2 to 20 ?m and (B) a low refractivity layer which comprises porous silica and a polysiloxane-based polymer and has a refractive index in a range of 1.30 to 1.45 and a thickness in a range of 40 to 200 nm, layers (A) and (B) being successively laminated at least on one face of a substrate film. The film exhibits an excellent property for preventing reflection of light and excellent scratch resistance and can be produced at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shoshi, Yutaka Onozawa, Shigenobu Maruoka, Yoshitaka Takesako
  • Patent number: 6841231
    Abstract: Fibrous composite articles and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The preferred fibrous materials have average fiber lengths of less than about 2 millimeters, and are obtained from industrial hemp hurd, kenaf hurd, and/or the culms of various species of vegetable bamboo. The fibers are combined with a binder resin and, optionally, a sizing agent to form a mat that is consolidated under heat and pressure to form the composite articles. The formed articles exhibit strength and durability characteristics at least roughly equivalent, if not superior, to those of conventional wood-based fibrous composite articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Bei-Hong Liang, Roger E. Koch, John Peter Walsh, Bob Allen, Hanmin Dong, Wen-Ning (Sally) Chan
  • Patent number: 6838161
    Abstract: A non-asbestos friction material is obtained by molding and curing a composition which includes a fibrous base other than asbestos, a binder and a filler wherein the fibrous base contains no inorganic fibers having a length of at least 5 ?m, a diameter of up to 3 ?m and an aspect ratio greater than 3, and the binder includes a resin having a flow of at most 27 mm at 125° C. The friction materials having a porosity of 8 to 20% exhibit a good braking performance and stability, are endowed with good resistance to fade and wear, provide enhanced safety and hygiene during production, and have minimal impact on the human body from dust generated during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Fumihiko Tadokoro, Takayuki Ohe, Takeo Nagata, Jun Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6833089
    Abstract: A surface of a glass plate is coated with a first n-type semiconductor film which is a 50 nm-thick niobium oxide film as a primer layer. The primer layer is coated with a 250 nm-thick photocatalyst film comprising titanium oxide. Thus, an article having a photocatalytically active surface is obtained. The two coating films can be formed by sputtering. The first n-type semiconductor film as the primer layer is selected so as to have a larger energy band gap than the titanium oxide. Due to this constitution, more holes are generated near the film surface. This article can be free from the problem of conventional titanium oxide films having photocatalytic activity that it is difficult to generate many surface holes contributing to photocatalytic activity, because electrons and holes generated by charge separation recombine within the film, making it impossible to effectively heighten catalytic activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kawahara, Kazuhiro Doushita, Hiroyuki Inomata, Etsuo Ogino, Kenji Mori, Yoshifumi Kijima, Hiroaki Tada
  • Patent number: 6830803
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for printing an image on a substrate. An image is printed onto a carrier substrate that has been coated with a receptive layer having at least two layers: a transferable skin layer and an absorptive layer. The image is then transferred to a final substrate using heat and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: DataCard Corporation
    Inventors: Utpal Vaidya, Felix P. Shvartsman, Roman T. Knipp
  • Patent number: 6830790
    Abstract: A recording medium comprising on a base material an ink-receiving layer containing an alumina hydrate, said ink-receiving layer being formed by applying a coating liquid containing said alumina hydrate to said base material followed by drying to form a layer to be said ink-receiving layer, swelling said layer to be said ink-receiving layer again, and pressing the swollen layer to a heated mirror-finish drum for drying, the glossiness of the surface of the recording medium on the side of the ink-receiving layer as measured at 20° being 20% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Misuda, Kenji Onuma, Nobuyuki Hosoi, Kenji Shinjo, Masanobu Asaoka, Ako Takemura