Patents Examined by Blaine Copenheaver
  • Patent number: 6455148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved composite panel that is suitable for architectural and display applications and an advantageous method for making the composite panel. The composite panel comprises a foamed plastic core and two metallic skin layers bonded to the plastic core. The composite panel exhibits an effective bond strength sufficient to prevent peeling of the skin layers under normal use conditions, at least one visually flat surface substantially free of surface defects, and a stiffness to weight ratio of at least about 500 lbf-in/lbm/ft2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventors: Robert Preston Spears, Burwell Lewis Lafoon, Jr., Joe C. Peace, Jr., Karl-Heinz Johannes Reilmann
  • Patent number: 6455165
    Abstract: The invention is a laminate structure comprising two or more layers of one or both of a) a polymeric layer containing olefinic unsaturation; and b) a polymeric layer having active hydrogen atoms; wherein, c) an adhesive layer is located between the layers derived from one or more compounds having one or more nitrile oxide moieties; wherein a portion of the nitrile oxide moieties, or derivatives thereof, is reacted with olefinic unsaturation of layer a), the active hydrogen atoms of layer b or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Philippe M. Knaub, Zenon Z. Lysenko, Debkumar Bhattacharjee, David E. Schiff
  • Patent number: 6455145
    Abstract: This invention intends to provide a friction member which is high in an anti-fading character and low in mate attacking character. For such purpose, in a friction member composed of a fiber containing substrate, a bonding agent and a filling agent, an accumulated blow hole rate of blow holes having hole diameter not less than 3.5 &mgr;m is selected to be not larger than 2 volume %, and an accumulated blow hole rate of blow holes having hole diameter from 0 to 3.5 &mgr;m is selected to be not less than 3 volume %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: Aisin Kako Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Mizuno, Osamu Shimase, Katsumi Uemura, Satoshi Narazaki
  • Patent number: 6455144
    Abstract: A laminate for reinforcing a structural member having a plurality of side walls comprises a carrier having at least one inclined support surface. Each support surface has an outer edge disposed toward a respective side wall. A layer of extruded uncured structural foam is on each support surface and terminates inwardly of the outer edge. The foam expands when cured and tumbles down the inclined support surface of the carrier to become bonded to the side wall as well as the carrier. By being spaced from the outer edge of the support surface, the tendency for the foam to wipe against the side wall is minimized as is the tendency for a worker to touch the foam when the worker places the carrier into the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Henkel Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph S. Wycech
  • Patent number: 6451716
    Abstract: Provided is a leatherlike sheet material which has a base material (I) comprising a nonwoven fabric (A) constituted with ultrafine-fiber bundles having single fineness of no greater than 0.2 de, a high molecular elastomer (B) and a high molecular elastomer (C), and in which a grained surface layer (II) comprising a high molecular elastomer (C)-constituted surface porous layer (D) and a surface finishing layer (E) is formed on at least one side of the surfaces of the base material (I), wherein the leatherlike sheet material is characterized in that the apparent density of the base material (I), the weight ratio of the nonwoven fabric (A) to the high molecular weight elastomer (B) and the high molecular elastomer (C) in the base material (I), the thickness of the grained surface layer (II), and the ratios of 20%-elongation load (&sgr;20)/5%-elongation load (&sgr;5) in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the leatherlike sheet material satisfy their own specific ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Kunihiko Sasaki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6451419
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing material composed of an expansion-molded article of polypropylene resin particles is excellent in shock-absorbing property and impact resilience compared with shock-absorbing materials composed of other resin materials, but has not been said to be satisfactory in stiffness and energy absorption efficiency. The present invention relates to a shock-absorbing material composed of an expansion-molded article produced by using foamed particles comprising, as a base resin, a polypropylene homopolymer obtained by using a metallocene polymerization catalyst. The base resin has a tensile modulus of at least 15,000 kgf/cm2, and the expansion-molded article has a crystal structure that an inherent peak a and a high-temperature peak b appear as endothermic peaks on a DSC curve obtained by the differential scanning calorimetry of the molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Tsurugai, Hisao Tokoro
  • Patent number: 6447894
    Abstract: A silicon carbide composite which is a flat composite comprising a porous preform of silicon carbide and a metal containing aluminum as the main component, infiltrated into the porous preform, said composite having a warpage of at most 250 &mgr;m per 10 cm of the principal plane length of the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Hirotsuru, Kenji Nomura, Ryuichi Terasaki, Mitsuaki Saito, Kazuyuki Hiruta, Akira Miyai
  • Patent number: 6444308
    Abstract: A microwave binder is used in conjunction with paper tape which is coated with one or more formulations of encapsulated, fast setting, water soluble adhesives to bind pages of a book. The tape spine adhesive is of sufficient thickness to allow it to penetrate into the edges of the pages of the bound edge. The microwave heating causes the capsules to rupture, releasing the adhesives to flow into the bound edge of the book.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: John L. Ferrante
  • Patent number: 6444303
    Abstract: A fabric-less part and a method of making same are disclosed. The fabric-less part may include a flexible polyurethane foam body, a high-density polyurethane foam backing layer bonded to the foam body, and a polyurethane elastomer skin bonded to the backing layer. Alternatively, the backing layer may be eliminated and the polyurethane elastomer skin is directly bonded to the flexible polyurethane foam body. The fabric-less part may be an automotive interior part such as a pillar trim, headrest, trim panel, instrument panel, door panel, armrest, or part of an automotive seat such as a seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Asad S. Ali, Terri L. Tahnoose
  • Patent number: 6440568
    Abstract: A plastic lens having a primer layer made from a polyurethane resin obtained through a reaction between a polyester polyol containing isophthalic acid as a main component and a polyisocyanate. A plastic lens having excellent resistance to scratch and impact resistance can be obtained by further forming a hard-coat layer and an anti-reflection layer on the primer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Arc Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisayuki Kayanoki, Fujio Sawaragi
  • Patent number: 6440550
    Abstract: There is provided an array of fluoro-substituted silsesquioxane thin film precursors having a structure wherein fluoro groups are bonded to the silicon atoms of a silsesquioxane cage. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a composition comprising a vaporized material having the formula [F—SiO1.5]x[H—SiO1.5]y, wherein x+y=n, n is an integer between 2 and 30, x is an integer between 1 and n and y is a whole number between 0 and n. Also provided are films made from these precursors and objects comprising these films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Nigel P. Hacker
  • Patent number: 6440530
    Abstract: Lids, for example, lids for machine-lidding of, e.g., beakers, dishes, menu dishes, goblets, small packages, etc., containing a substrate material featuring, with respect to a container on which the lids are used, a smooth outward facing surface bearing printing. On the inward facing side of the lid is a sealing layer deposited by extrusion laminate coating. The sealing layer exhibits on the free surface embossing with a depth of roughness of up to 50 &mgr;m. The embossing is transferred to the sealing layer in the form of a roughness pattern on the cooling roll on depositing the laminate coating of the substrate material and extruded sealing layer. The free side of the substrate material is smooth and exhibits no embossing. Printing on the free surface is therefore of higher quality. The extruded sealing layer on the substrate material exhibits embossing on the free side. If the lids are drawn from a stack of lids, for example, in a filing machine, the embossing allows them to be separated individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventor: Wilfried Jud
  • Patent number: 6436508
    Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent article such as sanitary napkins and panty liners comprising a topsheet, absorbent core, and backsheet which are breathable by the incorporation of a breathable backsheet and have a reduced tendency to exhibit garment wet through. The backsheet comprises at least one air permeable layer such as an apertured formed film or fibrous layer which is applied and preferably coated with a non-soluble, liquid swellabe material, such as polyvinyl alcohol. Upon contact with fluid discharge, the material swells and closes the apertures of the layer, thereby reducing air permeability and preventing the passage of liquid through the layer and thus through the backsheet onto the garment of the wearer of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Fabio Ciammaichella, Michael Divo, Italo Corzani
  • Patent number: 6432544
    Abstract: Described are articles having an aminoplast resin photochromic coating prepared from an aminoplast resin, component(s) having at least two different functional groups and photochromic substances. The coatings exhibit a Fischer microhardness of from 45 to 180 Newtons per mm2 and desirable photochromic properties, i.e., the formation of darker activated colors and faster rates of photochromic activation and fade when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Also described are photochromic aminoplast resin articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Stewart, Jeanine A. Conklin, Cletus N. Welch, James B. O'Dwyer, Shanti Swarup
  • Patent number: 6432512
    Abstract: A foam plank laminate of thermoplastic material comprises at least two expanded foam sheets, both partially perforated, and laminated with the perforated surfaces facing each other and the smooth non perforated surfaces as the outer plank surfaces. The foam plank laminate can be obtained by an industrially acceptable production method as the partial perforation of the forming foam sheets accelerates the removal of a majority of the blowing agent from the foam structure, thus drastically reducing the curing time, and at the same time it has impermeability, good mechanical properties, and an attractive appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventor: Maurizio Brandolini
  • Patent number: 6432525
    Abstract: In the present invention, for the production of a blow-molded foam, there is used a base resin which is mainly composed of a polypropylene resin and has, at 230° C., a melt tension (MT) of 10 gf or over and a melt flow rate (MFR) of 0.5 g/10 minutes or over. A foaming agent is added to the base resin, followed by melt kneading by means of an extruder under high temperature and high pressure conditions to provide a foamable melt. This melt is subjected to extrusion from a circular die 5 and expanded to form a cylindrical foamed parison 4. Thereafter, molds 6, 6 are clamped, and the parison 4 in a softened condition is placed in the molds 6, 6, and a pressurized gas is blown into the parison 4 from a gas blowing port 7 for blow molding in the form of a hollow shape conforming to the mold profile to produce a blow-molded foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Gokuraku, Naochika Kogure, Takashi Kitahama
  • Patent number: 6432524
    Abstract: An electrode for control of an electric field strength in a gaseous electrically insulating medium at the surface of the electrode and in the vicinity of the electrode, comprising an electrically conducting inner electrode (1′) and an electrically non-conducting layer (8) on at least parts of the surface of the inner electrode, wherein the thickness of the non-conducting layer is at least 5% of the mean diameter of the inner electrode and that the relative dielectric constant of the non-conducting layer is smaller than 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Udo Fromm, Mats Leijon, Li Ming, Dan Windmar
  • Patent number: 6426139
    Abstract: An adhesive blank for decorating articles such as pencils and the like. In one embodiment, the sticker has a first decal and a second decal that are connected together by a bridge. The sticker is preferably symmetrical about a central axis. One surface of the sticker is provided with an adhesive that is exposed when a protective backing sheet is removed. Thus, upon wrapping the bridge about an appropriately sized object, the decals meet in even alignment to create a decorative tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Funky Girlz Production
    Inventor: Jamil Ezra
  • Patent number: 6423402
    Abstract: A bulletin board includes a generally planar polyfoam layer having a front surface and a back surface, wherein the back surface includes a recessed surface portion formed therein having an integrally disposed generally planar stiffening member held in place by the polyfoam. The planar stiffening member is preferably a cardboard piece and the polyfoam penetrates a portion of the corrugation from peripheral edges thereof inward. A method of forming the bulletin board is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory F. Ali
  • Patent number: 6423386
    Abstract: The magnet powder-resin compound particles substantially composed of rare earth magnet powder and a binder resin are in such a round shape that a ratio of the longitudinal size a to the transverse size b (a/b) is more than 1.00 and 3 or less, and that an average particle size defined by (a/b)/2 is 50-300 &mgr;m. They are produced by charging a mixture of rare earth magnet powder and a binder resin into an extruder equipped with nozzle orifices each having a diameter of 300 &mgr;m or less; extruding the mixture while blending under pressure though the nozzle orifices to form substantially cylindrical, fine pellets; and rounding the pellets by rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Iwasaki, Kazunori Tabaru