Patents Examined by Daniel Stemmer
  • Patent number: 5908522
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for repairing a worn helicopter rotor blade made of composite materials by adhesively securing a supplemental leading edge abrasion wear strip made of nickel to the leading edge of the rotor blade. The periphery of the bonding surface of the leading edge of the rotor blade is masked. The bonding surfaces of the supplemental leading edge strip and the rotor blade are cleaned with a medium-grit scrubbing pad, grit-blasted with aluminum oxide and then rinsed with DI water. A strip of a structural adhesive film is hot bonded to the bonding surface of the supplemental leading edge strip using vacuum and a high temperature oven cure. The side of the structural adhesive film bonding surface which will be secured directly to the rotor blade bonding surface is first abraded and then wiped with a solvent. An epoxy adhesive mix is applied to the bonding surfaces of the rotor blade and the structural adhesive film of the supplemental leading edge strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Composite Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sven R. Lofstrom, Troy E. Penny
  • Patent number: 5904277
    Abstract: The machine of the present invention makes single or double transverse folds in segments cut from a continuous web. It includes feeder and cutter mechanisms to transfer segments to the surface of a central folding drum. A controlled vacuum source selectively applies vacuum to leading and trailing portions of the segments during advancement and folding. Segment portions are held by vacuum applied through ports arranged in pre-selected patterns that include transverse fold lines. An air blast directed through apertures in the drum surface urges leading portions of the segment upward to project radially before fold completion by contact with a stationary plate. Air blast can be used alone or in combination with mechanical means to complete the folds. Selective placement and operation of vacuumized ports and air blast apertures in combination with mechanical means are used to achieve multiple transverse folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: William P. Niedermeyer
  • Patent number: 5904802
    Abstract: The machine of the present invention fabricates briefs having an openable front panel from two continuous half width webs. The first and second web paths are transversely spaced. It includes feeding and folding devices to add a V-folded reinforcing strip along the edge of one web. Feeder and tensioning devices are included for elastomeric strands that shirr the briefs and to add a re-closable tape across the front panel opening. One of the webs is printed with adhesive at spaced intervals to bond portions of the two overlapped webs in central areas of overlap that become the rear panel after the web is cut into segments and transversely folded. The machine attaches components of the brief and cuts leg apertures and side flaps on each web while the advancing overlapped webs are continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: William P. Niedermeyer
  • Patent number: 5902433
    Abstract: In a process for the production of a transdermal therapeutic system for the administration of active substances to the skin in the form of a plane multichamber or multichamber-channel system an active substance-containing layer is introduced between top layer and bottom layer; subsequently top and bottom layer are squeezed at individual and/or coherent sites under displacement of the intermediary sites of the active substance-containing layer and formation of active substance-containing chambers or channels, and at the same time or after that top layer and bottom layer are bonded permanently at the squeezed places.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Becher, Walter Muller
  • Patent number: 5900101
    Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of fastener components comprises providing a composite web which includes a web of hook material. The hook material includes a hook base layer which has first and second longitudinally extending side sections and has a plurality of hook elements which are integrally formed with the base layer and extend away from a base plane of the hook base layer. The hook elements are configured to operably engage a selected, cooperating loop material to provide an operative fastening, and the web of hook material has an extending section of carrier web material attached to extend laterally outboard from each of the side sections of the web of hook material. Each section of carrier web material has an extending web of panel material attached to extend laterally outboard from each section of carrier web material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: David Andrae Justmann
  • Patent number: 5897731
    Abstract: A three dimensional cellular shade 20 attached to a roller. The cells 28 of the shade expand outward as the shade is unrolled. The shade is made from two sheets of fabric. One of the fabrics is decorative 24, the other fabric 22 is more functional. The decorative fabric 24 is longer in length than the functional fabric 22. The two fabrics are joined together along a plurality of joints 26 extending down the length of the shade. These joints are uniformly displaced from one another. The ratio of decorative fabric to functional fabric between any two joints is greater than one. This ratio is important for ensuring that the cells will expand outward as the shade is unrolled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Raymond A. Auger
  • Patent number: 5897725
    Abstract: A patch is placed at one end of a repaired long crack in a windshield to prevent the repaired long crack from being overstressed and separating under load, which may be caused by flexing or differential thermal expansion. The patch spans the crack laterally and is placed adjacent an end of the crack, generally very near the edge of the windshield. The patch is bonded to the glass to reinforce the crack by carrying loads tending to separate the crack. The patch material is preferably at least as rigid as the glass and is bonded to the glass by a strong adhesive such as an epoxy resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Frank D. Werner
  • Patent number: 5895547
    Abstract: A method and apparatus providing a process of laminating tape with a thin integral primer to a release liner. The apparatus of the present invention comprises multiple extrusion dies and adjustable driven rollers having an arrangement that supplies a stream of molten adhesive and a separate stream of primer that is laminated between a film of base material and a release liner, which is laminated between cooled rollers to form a tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: TC Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Donald H. Kathrein, Victor A. Tyler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5895536
    Abstract: A method of adhering roof tiles to a roof utilizes a one-component adhesive and in particular, a one-component polyurethane adhesive foam applied to the undersurfaces of the roof tiles in a discontinuous patterns. The adhesive is applied in the form of separate deposits at opposing corners of the undersurfaces of the roof tiles and the roof tiles are laid on the roof in serial fashion and overlapping courses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Insta-Foam Products
    Inventors: Cris Damon Starr, Gary Grunauer
  • Patent number: 5894029
    Abstract: A dried, puffed pat food composed of farinaceous and proteinaceous materials and flavoring ingredients,, such as seasonings, smoke flavoring, and spices; and additives; such as, cyclodextrin, emulsifiers, preservatives, trace minerals, vitamins, and optionally medications, nutrients, and supplements as an inner puffed core matrix encapsulated within an outer shell composed of flavoring ingredients; such as, smoke flavoring, spices and seasonings; and additives; such as, cyclodextrin, vitamins, and optionally medications, nutrients, and supplements is disclosed. This pet food is low fat, low cholesterol and low calorie and provides a healthy, nutritional pat snack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Purebred Pet Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Brown, Pamela N. Coe
  • Patent number: 5893963
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for producing preselected lengths of rope from a supply of thermoplastic rope, and includes a rope feed system for advancing rope longitudinally along a rope path and a guillotine assembly coupled to the feed system. The guillotine assembly has a thermally conductive blade support mounted for reciprocal movement orthogonally with respect to the rope path, and a thermally conductive blade removably attached to the blade support. The blade is in good thermal contact with the blade support and movable with the blade support between a first position clear of the rope path and a second position in which the blade crosses the rope path. An electrical heating element is attached to the blade support to heat the support and thereby heat the blade to a temperature sufficient to fuse the rope locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Frederick C. Bagshaw
  • Patent number: 5891282
    Abstract: The joint between two drywall panels is taped with a paper tape which is backed with a pressure sensitive adhesive. After burnishing the applied tape with a metal or other stiff blade, a water-soaked sponge is moved along the burnished tape to soak the outwardly facing paper surface. The drywall mud is then applied to the wetted paper tape to bridge the joint between the panels without raised or protruding portions of the paper tape, thereby presenting a more continuous and aesthetically satisfying bridge between the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: E-Z Taping System, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Stough, Edward A. Thompson, Gary L. Kozloski
  • Patent number: 5891295
    Abstract: A flexible sheet to which manufacturing processes are to be applied is tensioned within a carrying fixture having tacky surfaces to which the flexible sheet is fastened. One version of the fixture includes an "L"-shaped attachment surface on a frame member and two tensioning members deflected toward the frame member in mutually perpendicular directions. When the flexible sheet has been fastened to the carrying fixture, the tensioning members are allowed to return toward their undeflected positions while applying tensioning forces to the flexible sheet. Another version of the fixture includes "L"-shaped attachment surfaces on both a frame member and a tensioning member. A loading station includes a stack of unprocessed flexible sheets, a fixture for deflecting tensioning member(s) within the carrying fixture, and a robot arm moving a transport fixture capable of carrying a flexible sheet and a carrying fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Albert Barringer, Alfred Stanley Decker
  • Patent number: 5888334
    Abstract: A fixture (structural element) is readily mounted to a surface of a substrate (such as concrete) by embedding and adhering an internally-threaded anchoring element (sleeve) in a hole in the substrate. Preferably, the anchoring element is recessed below the surface of the substrate ("embedded"). To aid in inserting the anchoring element into the hole, an insertion tool may be employed. The system is re-usable, in the sense that the fixture can be removed and replaced, or the fixture can be removed and the hole in the substrate covered. In the latter case, a gauge element may be inserted into the anchoring element prior to sealing over the hole. A template is provided to ascertain the depth that the anchoring element is embedded within the substrate, as determined by the cross-sectional dimension of the gauge element at the surface of the substrate. Alternatively, the insertion tool can remain in place, within a bore in a substrate, mated to the anchor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: Frederic C. Abraham
  • Patent number: 5888329
    Abstract: A method of making a reinforced insulating panel which includes the steps of covering insulating material, such as urethane foam of a regular size with glass fiber textiles, quilting the insulating material and the glass fiber textiles together so as to produce an integral middle member, covering the inner covering of the glass fiber of the middle member with an outer covering of the glass fiber and impregnating the covered member with a thermosetting resin and hardening the impregnated member. The glass fiber reinforced panel produced has excellent fire retardant and water repelling properties, has improved compressive strength and does not deform or delaminate easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Gye Chan Cho
    Inventors: Se Hyun Cho, Sam Tae Jeong, Key Wook Jang
  • Patent number: 5882756
    Abstract: The strength of composite patches is improved over conventional bolted or bonded patches by including Z-pins in the patch/parent structure interface to provide a mechanical link with small stress concentration between the patch and the parent structure. In some cases, we achieve a stronger repair removing the pins to leave holes that fill with resin from the patch during the curing or bonding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Alston, Joseph P. Brown, James J. Childress
  • Patent number: 5879609
    Abstract: The synthetic resin at a projecting end portion (5) projected from a clamping device (9) is heated to melt, then the projecting end portion (5) is positioned in a press molding space, which comprises an opening between an aluminum foil layer (3c) of a laminated aluminum tube and a molding wall of the press molding space. The projecting end portion (5) is pressed and molded into a sealed portion in the press molding space. The tube produced with this method has a sealed portion (8) with a desired shape, the aluminum foil layer (3) at the sealed portion (8) being completely covered and encapsulated with the synthetic resin, and the density of the sealed portion (8) improves providing excellent sealing quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Fujita
  • Patent number: 5879490
    Abstract: A canister including an elongated hollow plastic body having a wall with inner and outer surfaces, an edge portion on the wall defining an open end, an end on the edge portion extending transversely to the inner and outer surfaces, a porous plastic member having an outer edge portion extending across the open end and fused to the end, an inner portion on the porous plastic member located radially inwardly of the outer edge portion and extending into the body and fused to the inner surface of the wall adjacent the end thereof, and a gas-treating material in the body. A method of fabricating the above canister including the steps of applying pressure and vibratory welding energy to the porous member to thereby cause the member which was originally planar in shape to have its outer edge compressed against the end of the body and fused thereto and the central portion inwardly of the outer edge forced into the body and its outer edge fused to the inner surface of the body adjacent the end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lora L. Berger
  • Patent number: 5876541
    Abstract: An original equipment type seal for recharged toner cartridges can be installed without splitting the cartridge itself, by screening a border of "hot-melt" type adhesive, preferably wax-based, onto a strip of polyester, the adhesive being capable of softening or melting at a temperature above the softening or coagulating point of the toner powder itself, but below the softening points of the plastic components of the cartridge. The polyester seal is inserted into the cartridge with the aid of a room temperature or even cold, metallic insertion tool, preferably made of a high magnetic permeability steel. Heating this cold tool, or subsequently inserting a hot tool, will cause the adhesive to melt and seal the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Costa G. Chitouras
  • Patent number: 5876540
    Abstract: Prefabricated composite detail parts use precured strips that include Z-pin reinforcement along the bond line. Each strip has Z-pin stubble protruding from opposed faces so that the pins are embedded into the detail parts when the joint forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Shawn D. Pannell