Patents Examined by Barbara J. Musser
  • Patent number: 11963564
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide for automated manufacturing of garments using cutting, folding tools and adhesive dispensers operating on continuous webs of fabric webs to manufacture garments in an efficient manner while improving quality and overcoming material handling issues resulting from the properties of fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: CreateMe Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Khamvong Thammasouk, Yongqiang Li, Jinhwa Jung, Benjamin R. Waller, IV, Heng Li, Brett Jason Stern
  • Patent number: 11938707
    Abstract: A laminating device includes: a plate being bendable, having a resilience characteristic and for bearing the flexible substrate; a supporting base platform for supporting the plate and driving the plate and the flexible substrate on the plate to move; a bending assembly for applying stress to drive the plate and the flexible substrate on the plate to be bent towards a side, facing away from the flexible substrate, of the plate, and for releasing stress to allow the plate and the flexible substrate to rebound; and a fixing fixture for fixing the protective cover plate. The protective cover plate is used to be laminated to the flexible substrate, a shape of the fixing fixture is same as or similar to that of the protective cover plate, the fixing fixture is bent to form an accommodating space, and the protective cover plate is fixed in the accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xingguo Liu, Qiang Tang, Zhihui Wang, Wei Qing, Ce Wang, Shaokui Liu, Jia Deng, Jialin Wang, Zuquan Chen, Yuanyuan Chai
  • Patent number: 11931230
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an around-torso portion of a worn article, including the steps of; intermittently conveying a plurality of first sheets by a first drum; conveying a preceding second sheet, of a plurality of second sheets, toward a junction with the first drum by a first pad of a second drum, and conveying the preceding second sheet so that the male touch fastener at the rear end of the preceding second sheet overlaps with the female touch fastener at the front end of one first sheet, of the plurality of first sheets; and conveying a subsequent second sheet, of the plurality of second sheets, toward the junction with the first drum by a second pad of the second drum, and conveying the subsequent second sheet so that the male touch fastener at the front end of the subsequent second sheet overlaps with the female touch fastener at the rear end of the one first sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toyoshi Umebayashi
  • Patent number: 11932381
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a method of assembling a mandrel includes assembling a plurality of members via interlocking features arranged at opposing edges of each member of the plurality of members to form a compartment, the assembled members having a collective outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the spar. A support member is inserted into the compartment formed radially inward from the assembled members, the support member making contact with a portion of each member of the plurality of members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Dunn, Keith M. Schenone, Sven R. Lofstrom
  • Patent number: 11925538
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing an elastic composite structure for an absorbent sanitary product includes a bonding unit configured to bond a first web layer to a second web layer via a bond pattern that includes at least one bond line having at least one pair of adjacent bonds. The bonding unit secures an elastic thread within a passage defined by the at least one pair of adjacent bonds. The passage has a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the elastic thread in a non-tensioned state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Earl Andrews, David Edward Schuette, Jeffrey Wayne Fritz, Justin Marshall Lafferty
  • Patent number: 11897242
    Abstract: A method for producing a laminated embossed web includes the steps of: (a) providing a first web and at least a further web, (b) embossing the first web with a first pattern of embossments, each embossment comprising a top and a side, (c) providing an adhesive with an electrostatic charge, (d) directing the adhesive to the tops of the embossments, and (e) combining the webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventors: Cory L. Schubring, Joseph A. Blume
  • Patent number: 11897718
    Abstract: A tape applicator configured for applying a tape to a carton (e.g., for sealing and/or assembling the carton). The tape applicator may include an edge folder assembly having an edge folder roller operatively coupled to a support member that allows the edge folder roller to rotate around the support member. The edge folder assembly may also include an alignment assembly (e.g., a self-alignment assembly) that allows the edge folder roller to move axially along the support member. The alignment assembly may comprise one or more biasing members (e.g., springs, or the like) and/or one or more restraining members (e.g., washers, or the like) to aid in allowing the edge folder roller to rotate and/or move axially with respect to the one or more support members in order to account for shifting of the tape transversely through the tape applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Intertape Polymer Corp.
    Inventors: Gregory Russell, Endre Hivatal
  • Patent number: 11884027
    Abstract: Provided herein is a wind turbine blade mold system having built in precision pins to locate structural components (e.g. spar caps) during layup of composite segments. A plurality of pins can be inserted into apertures within the mold, with discs attached to the pins to maintain fixed relative distance to spar caps positioned relative to the pins to ensure precise positioning, thereby preventing/inhibiting movement of the spar cap relative to the mold. The pins can include a first extension that pierce through the layers of composite layups, and protrude above the B-surface of the blade skin. Additionally, the pins can include a marker tip releasably attached to the pin top to provide visual identification of the pin and underlying structural components. The pins can remain embedded within the final molded part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TPI COMPOSITES, INC.
    Inventors: Amir Salimi, Christopher Raine
  • Patent number: 11877915
    Abstract: The application relates to a method of and an apparatus for tucking a pair of opposing side seams (3, 4) into a body portion (2) of a hygiene pant (1), wherein the side seams (3, 4) are pushed between a front region (20) and a back region (21) of the body portion (2) a distance toward one another, and wherein the tucked side seams (3, 4) are connected in at least one connection region (7) with each other and/or to the body portion (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: OPTIMA nonwovens GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 11850130
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing layered tapes and a layered tape arrangement including a pair of layered tapes wound together. Each of the layered tapes is individually unbalanced as far as a number of layers in a cross direction, but the resulting tape arrangement is nevertheless balanced, allowing for a balanced rolling of the layered tapes in a coil, or balanced folding of the layered tape arrangement into a ply stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gabriele Sablone
  • Patent number: 11845204
    Abstract: A vacuum bag having an expandable pleat is provided. The vacuum bag includes a first surface region, a second surface region, and a third surface region between the first and second surface regions. The third surface region can be folded to bring the first surface region into proximity of the second surface region. The vacuum bag also includes a strip having a first attaching region at a first end of the strip, a second attaching region at a second end of the strip opposite the first end, and a central region between the first and second attaching regions. The first attaching region is fixed to the first surface region, and the second attaching region is fixed to the second surface region such that when the central region of the strip is in a non-expanded state, the first surface region is contiguous to the second surface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: AIRTECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: William James Wade
  • Patent number: 11848545
    Abstract: Proposed are a device which is used as both a taping device and a stripping device and is used for stripping or taping a coating of an extra-high-voltage wire in a live wire state and, more particularly, an automatic opening and closing stripping device for an indirect live wire having wire stripping and taping functions, and methods for stripping and taping an indirect live wire using the automatic opening and closing device. The automatic opening and closing stripping device for an indirect live wire having wire stripping and taping functions allows an insulation stripping or taping operation to be performed on a wire in a live wire state while not being close to the wire, thus securing safety, allows a stripping operation and various taping operations to be performed by using one equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: DAEWON ELECTRIC CO., LTD, DAEWON INDUSTRY COMPANY
    Inventor: Sae Won Kwon
  • Patent number: 11845234
    Abstract: A vacuum bag system (VBS) for forming pre-consolidated composite blanks has a blank enclosure for sealing around a periphery of the blank, while leaving a second side of the blank exposed, an articulated forming caul (AFC) with at least two facets, each facet effectively jointedly coupled to an adjacent facet, and having a respective, independently controlled, heater integrated with, or coupled to the facet. The VBS further has a forming enclosure for sealing around a periphery of a tool. The blank enclosure brings the blank and the facets into uniform thermal contact resistance and mechanical contact; and permits the articulated AFC to distribute thermal and mechanical load across the blank during forming, even as the facets move to align to faces of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Ali Yousefpour, Drazen Djokic, Simon Hind, Meysam Rahmat, Steven Roy, Marc-Andre Octeau, Jihua Chen
  • Patent number: 11833766
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing composite workpieces that include adding an expandable element to an internal volume of a constraining container proximate to a uncured composite workpiece supported on a rigid form, where the expandable element is configured to expand when a predetermined change is produced in an attribute of the expandable element; expanding the expandable element by producing the predetermined change in the attribute of the expandable element, so that an expansion of the expandable element applies pressure to the workpiece supported on the rigid form within the internal volume, and curing the composite workpiece while the resulting pressure is applied to the workpiece supported on the rigid form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Santiago, Xiaoxi Wang, Gary Ernest Georgeson
  • Patent number: 11820099
    Abstract: A corrugated cardboard plant has a corrugated cardboard production assembly having at least one device for producing at least one corrugated cardboard web which is laminated on one side, and a connecting device for generating a corrugated cardboard web which his laminated on both sides and which comprises the at least one corrugated cardboard web which is laminated on one side. The corrugated cardboard plant furthermore has a printed web/lamination web production assembly which has a printing device for printing a printed web, a printed web storage device, and a lamination web unwinding device for unwinding a lamination web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: BHS CORRUGATED MASCHINEN-UND ANLAGENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Hanauer, Maximilian Mark, Michael Bauernfeind, Karl Ruhland
  • Patent number: 11814553
    Abstract: Described herein is a two-part condensation curable adhesive composition suitable for adhering a front lens having an inner surface coated with an anti-haze coating to a lamp body to create a sealed lamp unit. In general, once cured in place, residual ingredients from the adhesive composition or by-products of cure reactions thereof do not visibly inhibit functionality of the anti-haze coating of the sealed lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DOW SILICONES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Hartmann, Thierry Dessilly
  • Patent number: 11806954
    Abstract: A composite charge is formed between two compression dies into a composite laminate stiffener. The stiffener is contoured along its length by contouring the dies. Wrinkle diffusers attached to, or embedded or incorporated into the tool surfaces of the dies, diffuse wrinkles formed on the inside radius of the stiffener during the contouring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gagandeep Saini, Ian Edward Schroeder, Kurtis Shuldberg Willden, Lisa Christina Carlson
  • Patent number: 11806953
    Abstract: An assembly for forming a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a layup tool including a main body extending along a longitudinal axis and a flange extending radially from the main body, the flange defining an edge face slopes towards the main body to an axial face. At least one compression tool has a tool body having a first tool section and a second tool section extending transversely from the first tool section. The first tool section is translatable along a retention member in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the edge face such that relative movement causes the second tool section to apply a first compressive force on a composite article trapped between the axial face of the flange and the second tool section. A method of forming a gas turbine engine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonas S. Banhos, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Michael Parkin
  • Patent number: 11806947
    Abstract: There is provided a forming system for forming a contoured composite structure having a complex curved configuration. The forming system includes a receiving station having a receiving assembly to receive a composite charge to be formed. The forming system includes a forming station having a forming assembly. The forming assembly includes a gantry assembly, an upper die assembly movably coupled to the gantry assembly, a lower die assembly coupled to a floor support beam positioned between the gantry assembly, and one or more pick-and-place devices movably coupled to the gantry assembly. The upper die assembly is separate from, and independently movable with respect to, the lower die assembly. The pick-and-place device(s) are designed to move the composite charge, and the contoured composite structure. The forming system includes a tray station having a tray assembly designed to receive the contoured composite structure from the forming station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Raviendra S. Suriyaarachchi, Darrell Darwin Jones, Antonio Martinez, Valentín Forte
  • Patent number: 11806220
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, said method comprising guiding a first sheet material along a rotating member, wherein a surface of said rotating member is provided with a pattern with at least one suction zone and at least one non-suction zone; applying an absorbent material on said first sheet material on the rotating member; locally removing the absorbent material applied on at least one attachment portion of the first sheet material located above the at least one non-suction zone, such that at least one remaining portion of the first sheet material located above the at least one suction zone is covered with absorbent material and substantially no absorbent material is present on the at least one attachment portion; applying a second sheet material on top of the absorbent material on the first sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Drylock Technologies NV
    Inventors: Werner Van Ingelgem, Steven Smet, Tom Derycke, Dries Verduyn