Patents Examined by Camie S Thompson
  • Patent number: 11052573
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a woven fiber preform that is impregnated with a matrix-precursor resin, the resin, in the raw state, presenting a glass transition temperature Tg0, includes: impregnating yarns or strands with the resin; feeding a loom with the impregnated yarns or strands maintained at a temperature in the range Tg0 to Tg0+10° C.; and weaving the yarns or strands in the loom in order to obtain the resin-impregnated woven fiber preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Vincent Bernard Serge Most, Marc-Emmanuel Jean François Techer
  • Patent number: 11046042
    Abstract: Light weight composites with high flexural strength comprise epoxy foam sandwiched between two layers of facing material have high strength and low weight and can be used to replace steel structures. The facing layer may be fibrous material especially glass or carbon fibres, the facing material is preferably embedded into the epoxy matrix. Alternatively they may be matching box structures or concentric metal tubes. The sandwich structures may be prepared by laying up the fibre; coating and/or impregnating the layer with epoxy resin, laying a layer of heat activatable foamable epoxy material, providing a further layer of the fibrous material optionally coated and/or impregnated with epoxy resin on the foamable material ad heating to foam and cure the epoxy materials. Alternatively they may be formed by extrusion of the foamable material between the surface layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ZEPHYROS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Le Gall, Frederic Ostrowsky, Denis Souvay
  • Patent number: 11040856
    Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car extending longitudinally along a length of the belt. An inner belt layer formed from a first material is bonded to the plurality of tension elements at a first side of the belt. The inner belt layer forms an inner belt surface interactive with a traction sheave of an elevator system. An outer belt layer formed from a second material is bonded to the plurality of tension elements at a second side of the belt. The plurality of tension elements are located between the first side and the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Wenping Zhao, John P. Wesson, Daniel A. Mosher, Scott Alan Eastman, Michael Paul Humbert, Mark Steven Thompson, Eric Jay Amis
  • Patent number: 11034806
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a resin composite that is excellent in water resistance and is capable of exerting sufficient strength even under wet conditions. The present invention relates to a resin composite comprising a resin, fibers having an ionic functional group, and a polyvalent ion. The fibers having an ionic functional group are preferably cellulose fibers having a fiber width of 1000 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: OJI HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tsutsumi, Koh Sakai, Yuichi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11034103
    Abstract: A production method for fiber-reinforced plastic, includes: a step in which a material (A) including a prepreg base material is obtained, said prepreg base material having cuts therein and having a thermoplastic resin impregnated in reinforcing fibers arranged in parallel in one direction; a step in which a pressurizing device is used that applies a substantially uniform pressure in a direction (X) orthogonal to the travel direction of the material (A) and the material (A) is caused to travel in the one direction and is pressurized while being heated to a prescribed temperature (T), an angle (?) of ?20° to 20° being formed between the orthogonal direction (X) and a fiber axial direction (Y) for the reinforcing fibers of the prepreg base material; and a step in which the material (A) pressurized by the pressurizing device is cooled and the fiber-reinforced plastic is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Tomioka, Takeshi Ishikawa, Takayuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11028244
    Abstract: A permeable laminate body containing at least one partially impregnated prepreg which includes at least component (A) containing a matrix of reinforcing fiber, component (B) containing a thermosetting resin, and, optionally, component (C) containing a particle or a fiber of a thermoplastic resin exhibits long out time processability with good storage stability, achieving when molded and cured a fiber reinforced composite having a low void ratio and providing excellent mechanical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Alfred P. Haro, Nobuyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 11027503
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber reinforced polymer composite material and a preparation method thereof, wherein the fiber reinforced polymer composite material comprises a polymeric resin matrix in a continuous phase, and chemical fiber fabric and reinforced fibers dispersed in the polymeric resin matrix, and the chemical fiber fabric covers the reinforced fibers so as to avoid exposure of the reinforced fibers to an outside surface of the composite material. The invention reduces or even avoids exposure of the reinforced fibers of the fiber reinforced polymer composite material, and can be used for manufacturing cable bridges, frames of doors, windows and curtain walls, etc. The method for preparing the fiber reinforced polymer composite material of the invention effectively improves the performance of the composite material and also reduces the cost of surface treatment and increases production efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: James Chen, Zhijiang Li
  • Patent number: 11028507
    Abstract: A fabric (e.g., carpet having a shadow effect) includes a backing fabric having binding warp yarns repeatedly crossing each other for providing weft receiving openings, tension warp yarns substantially extending in a warp direction, and weft yarns substantially extending in a weft direction through the weft receiving openings, pile warp yarns interlaced with weft yarns for providing piles extending out of the backing fabric, wherein, at least one weft yarn is positioned immediately adjacent to one of the crossings of the binding warp yarns provides an end weft yarn positioned at a back side relative to at least one weft separating warp yarn extending in the backing fabric substantially in the warp direction, and at least one intermediate weft yarn positioned adjacent to such an end weft yarn in the warp direction is positioned at the pile side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Vandewiele NV
    Inventors: Bram Vanderjeugt, Ludo Smissaert, Steven Debaes
  • Patent number: 11021811
    Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous method for the production of at least one polymeric yarn comprising the steps of: mixing a polymer with a first solvent generating a mixture; homogenizing the mixture; rendering the mixture inert; dosing the mixture to an extruder; immersing the mixture in a quenching bath (30), wherein an air gap is maintained before the mixture achieves the surface of the liquid of the quenching bath (30) forming at least one polymeric yarn; drawing at least once the at least one polymeric yarn; washing the polymeric yarn with a second solvent that is more volatile than the first solvent; heating the at least one polymeric yarn; drawing at room temperature, at least once, the at least one polymeric yarn; and heat drawing, at least once, the at least one polymeric yarn, wherein the mixture comprises: a polymer comprising ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, comprising an intrinsic viscosity of from 5 dL/g to 40 dL/g, and a polydispersity index of from 2 to 10; and a first solv
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Braskem S.A.
    Inventors: Marcos Roberto Paulino Bueno, Alessandro Bernardi, Harry Westfahl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11014857
    Abstract: Composite components having structurally reinforced contact interfaces are provided. In one example, the component can include an inner laminate formed of one or more inner plies having reinforcement fibers oriented along a reference direction within a matrix material. The component can also include an interface laminated positioned on the inner laminate along at least a portion of a contact surface of the component. The interface laminate is formed of one or more interface plies having reinforcement fibers oriented along a direction offset from the reference direction within a matrix material. Methods for fabricating such components are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Mark Weaver, Chad Daniel Kleinow, Brian Jared Agnew
  • Patent number: 11014328
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the elasticity of a work material, to a workpiece produced by this method, and to the use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
    Inventor: Till-Falco Boese
  • Patent number: 11007675
    Abstract: A discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite material including a discontinuous reinforcing fiber aggregate of a discontinuous reinforcing fiber having a number average fiber length of 3 to 100 mm and a matrix resin, the discontinuous reinforcing fiber aggregate including a plurality of discontinuous reinforcing fiber bundles having a predetermined number of unidirectionally-bundled single yarns of the discontinuous reinforcing fiber, wherein the discontinuous reinforcing fiber bundle has a cut surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to an orientation direction of the single yarn of the discontinuous reinforcing fiber bundle and has different fiber bundle lengths defined as a distance between both ends along the orientation direction of the single yarn of the discontinuous reinforcing fiber bundle, and the longer the fiber bundle length of the discontinuous reinforcing fiber bundle is, the smaller a tip angle defined as an acute angle at an end of a two-dimensional plane projection of the discont
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Miyoshi, Takafumi Hashimoto, Tetsuya Motohashi
  • Patent number: 11008428
    Abstract: Provided are an engineering plastic composite and a method for producing the same. The engineering plastic composite includes a carbon fiber having a surface modified by a hydrogen plasma and including a functional group and an engineering plastic. The carbon fiber is mixed with the engineering plastic to constitute a composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Dae-soon Lim, Eung-seok Lee, Choonghyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11001525
    Abstract: A sizing composition including water, a polyvinylpyrrolidone film former, a silane coupling agent, a lubricant, and a surfactant is provided. The polyvinylpyrrolidone film former constitutes from 30 wt. % to 50 wt. % of the dry solids of the sizing composition. Wet use chopped strand glass fibers for use in reinforcing gypsum board are also provided. The wet use chopped strand glass fibers include chopped glass fibers having the sizing composition applied thereto. The sizing composition improves fiber bundle integrity, fiber flow rate, fiber flow rate consistency, and dispersibility of the wet use chopped strand glass fibers in a gypsum matrix or slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Helen Huang, Mohammed Tazi
  • Patent number: 11001012
    Abstract: A molded article of a fiber-reinforced resin contains at least a bundled aggregate [A] of discontinuous reinforcing fibers and a matrix resin [M], wherein the average layer thickness h in the molded article of the fiber-reinforced resin is 100 ?m or less and the CV value of the average layer thickness h is 40% or less; and a compression molding method therefor. It is possible to reliably and greatly reduce the occurrence of stress concentration in the molded article and to thereby achieve higher mechanical properties and further reduce variation in the mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Motohashi, Takafumi Hashimoto, Chiasa Sato, Ichiro Taketa
  • Patent number: 11001013
    Abstract: A pre-preg product, such as a tape or sheet suitable for forming a composite having reinforcement fibers and a liquid crystal thermoset (LCT) precursor is provided. Further aspects of the invention are directed to a method for preparation of the pre-preg product and to composite products based on the pre-preg product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: ALLOTROPICA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Edward T. Samulski, Theodorus Jacobus Dingemans
  • Patent number: 11001681
    Abstract: A soft structure fiber reinforcement technology is provided. In an example embodiment, the fiber reinforced elastomeric sheet comprises a sheet of elastomeric matrix; and a fiber array comprising a plurality of fibers embedded within the elastomeric matrix. Each fiber of the array of fibers has a tensile modulus that is significantly greater than the tensile modulus of the elastomeric matrix. The fiber reinforced elastomeric sheets may be used in grasping or gripping robots, walking or jumping robots, artificial muscles, compliant prosthetics, impact and/or vibration dampening soft structures, passive soft structure configured to passively restrict deformation in an unwanted direction while allowing deformation in another direction, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael W. Krieg, Kamran Mohseni
  • Patent number: 10995427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of polysaccharide fibers having increased fibrillation tendency, which, as a fiber-forming substance, comprise a mixture of cellulose and ?(1?3)-glucan, as well as to the fibers made thereof and to their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NUTRITION & BIOSCIENCES USA 4, INC.
    Inventors: Franz Dürnberger, Sigrid Redlinger, Christoph Schrempf, Hartmut Rüf, Heinrich Firgo, Gert Kroner
  • Patent number: 10982044
    Abstract: A low-shrinkage polyester industrial yarn and a preparation method thereof are provided. The preparation method includes the following steps: subjecting the modified polyester to polycondensation, melting, measuring, extruding, cooling, oiling, stretching, heat setting and winding, wherein the content of the crown ether in the oil agent is 67.30-85.58 wt %. The material of the prepared low shrinkage polyester industrial yarn is a modified polyester, the molecular chain of the modified polyester includes a terephthalic acid segment, an ethylene glycol segment, and a branched diol segment, and the structural formula of the branched diol is as follows: Wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from a linear alkylene group having 1-3 carbon atoms, R3 is selected from an alkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms, and R4 is selected from an alkyl group consisting of 2-5 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: JIANGSU HENGLI CHEMICAL FIBRE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongwei Fan, Yiwei Shao, Lixin Yin, Fangming Tang
  • Patent number: 10980310
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to articles that include one or more coated fiber(s) (i.e., fiber(s) with a cured coating disposed thereon), where the coating includes a matrix of crosslinked polymers and optionally a colorant (e.g., pigment particles or dye or both). The cured coating is a product of crosslinking a coating composition including uncrosslinked polymers (e.g., a dispersion of uncrosslinked polymers in a carrier, wherein the uncrosslinked polymers are crosslinked to form the matrix of crosslinked polymers). The present disclosure is also directed to articles including the coated fibers, methods of forming the coated fibers and articles, and methods of making articles including the coated fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Bartel, Charles R. Edwards, Stefan E. Guest, Christian Alexander Steinbeck