Patents Examined by David A. Simmons
  • Patent number: 7927446
    Abstract: Multicolored film composites are produced by laminating a support film with at least two different-colored top films. The surface of the top films or of the film composite is provided with a surface structure. The support film is a film of thermoplastic foam material, and the top films are laminated on in temporal succession and in overlapping relationship onto the support film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Benecke-Kaliko AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Rost, Siegfreid Höfchen, Matthias Reik
  • Patent number: 7918955
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a flexible tubular duct includes a mandrel, and a substrate feeding assembly for feeding a strip of flexible substrate material to the mandrel. Apparatus is provided for bending the strip of substrate material to have a rounded encapsulating portion, into which is fed a stream of loose fibrous insulating material. A mechanism is further provided for delivering an elongate reinforcing element onto the strip of flexible substrate material. In operation, the rounded encapsulating portion and the reinforcing element are wound in a helical path around the mandrel so that the loose fibrous material is encapsulated as a core in the helically wound rounded encapsulating portion the reinforcing element is also encapsulated by the strip of substrate material, whereby to form a reinforced flexible tubular duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Nova-Duct Technologies Pty Ltd
    Inventor: William James Donnelly
  • Patent number: 7918956
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polymeric inner liner for a storage tank, particularly a hydrogen storage tank, comprising: providing a cylindrical body of polymer material, having a first open end and a first peripheral connection tab at the first open end, the cylindrical body comprising a structural layer and a barrier layer; providing a dome-shaped end cap of polymer material having a base with a cross-section essentially corresponding to a cross-section of the first open end of the cylindrical body and having a second peripheral connection tab at a peripheral end portion of such end cap; placing the end cap with its base onto the first open end of the cylindrical body and with the first and second peripheral tabs in contact with each other; and welding both peripheral connection tabs together. A storage tank made using such liner. Use of such tank for storing hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (S.A.)
    Inventors: Saurin Mehta, David Hill, James Edward Thompson
  • Patent number: 7849902
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a spunbond web has a foraminous deposition belt, a system for depositing fibers on the belt such that some of the fibers engage through the belt, and an output roller over which the belt is spanned for normally advancing an upper stretch of the belt in a transport direction toward the output roller. The output roller has a radially outwardly directed outer surface engaging the belt and formed with a profiling in turn formed by high spots contacting the belt and low spots out of contact with the belt so that fibers engaged through the belt are only pinched between the belt and the output roller at the high spots. The web is pulled downstream off the belt at the output roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Reifenhauser GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Kühn
  • Patent number: 7842148
    Abstract: A method for determining the operating parameters of a device for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread (1) laid directly in its final position by projecting lengths of thread (10) onto a receiving surface (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Martin, Jean-François Verjat, Dominique Cordaillat
  • Patent number: 7833373
    Abstract: Device for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread laid directly in its final position by spraying lengths of the thread onto a receiving surface. The thread lengths are delivered from a conduit to a guide as the conduit rotates about an axis. The guide includes deflectors forming therebetween a slot having a thread inlet orifice and a thread spray (discharge) orifice spaced apart along the guide's height. The separation between the deflectors narrows toward the spray orifice, wherein the deflectors form therebetween an angle in the range of 3° and 7° when measured at any point along the height of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Martin, Dominique Cordaillat
  • Patent number: 7799157
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3 is formed on a release treated surface of a release liner 4, and gas from holes 40 in the release liner 4 is made to move to the outside of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3, thus forming through holes 31 in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3 and a base material 2 having provided therein gas-passing channels that communicate to the outside of the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet are then laminated together such that the gas-passing channels in the base material 2 and the through holes 31 in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3 communicate with one another, thus obtaining a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1. According to the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1, air entrapment and blistering can be prevented or eliminated while securing adequate adhesive strength and with no marring of the appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Kiichiro Kato, Kazuhiro Tsuda, Osamu Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 7087161
    Abstract: A resin cultivating base serves as seedling beds for vegetation which are planted and are partially immersed in a river, lake, marsh, pond or waterway. The resin cultivating base is a three-dimensional structure constituted by long and short filaments of thermoplastic resin. The long and short filaments are curled or looped at random, and contacted, entwined and gathered, thereby forming a low density portion and a high density portion. Vegetables planted on the low density portion of the resin cultivating base suck nutritious salt such as phosphor and nitride. Microorganisms living in the resin cultivating base decompose organisms in the water, thereby purifying the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventors: Sadao Nishibori, Takeyasu Kikuchi, Maki Shirai, Yuichiro Nakamura, Emi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6764535
    Abstract: Commonly available carbon dioxide may contain unacceptable amounts of compounds containing greater than about ten carbon atoms, sulfur-containing materials, and nitrogen-containing materials which are particularly detrimental to semiconductor and silicon wafer processing-related uses of carbon dioxide. These impurities can be effectively removed by an apparatus containing a combination of metal oxide, silica gel, and activated carbon, thus permitting an on-site, on-demand, convenient, and economic method of purifying carbon dioxide ranging from laboratory scale operations to tank car scale operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: VICI Mat/Sen Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lansbarkis, Jon S. Gingrich
  • Patent number: 6740147
    Abstract: A filter includes at least two different adsorptive media. First, chemisorptive media, which is porous and includes an acidic functional group, is used to remove molecular bases, including ammonia, organic amines, imides and aminoalcohols, from the atmosphere used in semiconductor fabrication and other processes that require uncontaminated gaseous environments of high quality. Second, physisorptive media is able to adsorb condensable contaminants, particularly those having a boiling point greater than 150 degrees C. The physisorptive media can include untreated, activated carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Extraction Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Oleg P. Kishkovich, Devon Kinkead, Anatoly Grayfer, William M. Goodwin, David Ruede
  • Patent number: 6630007
    Abstract: An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine facilitates is made compact and maintenance work for cleaning or replacing the cleaner element of the same. An air cleaner case (14) holding a cleaner element (13) is a three-part structure essentially consisting of a body (16) having opposite open ends and provided with an air inlet (40), a bottom wall (15) detachably joined to one of the opposite open ends of the body (16) and connected to the air intake passage of the carburetor (5), and a cover (17) detachably joined to the other open end of the body (16). The bottom wall (15), the body (16) and the cover (17) are fastened together by a stud bolt (25) and a fastening nut (37). The cover (17) has a concave part (44) defining a space for receiving the fastening nut (37) and provided with drain holes (50). When the air cleaner (4) is disposed above the carburetor (5), the drain holes (50) are positioned right above the fuel flow adjusting screws (11) of the carburetor (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Hirano, Tetsuaki Shirai, Shinya Yoshidome
  • Patent number: 6623540
    Abstract: A filter apparatus for deployment over a duct end in a forced air heating/ventilating/air conditioning system is described. The apparatus has been specifically designed for easy installation, and also for convenient cleaning and maintenance by occupants of the structure where the apparatus is employed. The apparatus preferably overhangs the duct end, thereby allowing improved filtration efficiency and reduced air pressure drop across the filter apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventors: Robert L. Clayton, Michael T. Hodge
  • Patent number: 6616723
    Abstract: A fiber spinning device and process for manufacturing a web of fibers including a homogeneous mixture of fibers of different characteristics. Monocomponent fibers of different polymers can be extruded side-by-side from the same die system. Sheath/core bicomponent fibers can be alternated with monocomponent fibers formed of the same core polymer as used in the bicomponent fibers. Bicomponent fibers having a common core polymer and different sheath polymers can be extruded from alternate spinneret orifices in the same die plate. Multiple distribution plates are provided with surface grooves or depressions to direct polymer materials from independent sources to only selected spinneret openings in an array of spinneret openings while maintaining the polymers segregated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Filtrona Richmond, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Berger
  • Patent number: 6613115
    Abstract: A cartridge dust collector for maximizing the filtration of the air and removal of the pollutants and contaminants from the air stream. The cartridge dust collector including a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, and a transverse wall. The housing further including a chamber. Conical shaped dust collector cartridges are mounted in the chamber between the air inlet and the air outlet with each dust collector cartridge in alignment with an access opening in a side wall of the housing. Provided in the housing in alignment with each access opening are spaced apart slide rails. The dust collector cartridges including a conical shaped media pack and a head plate secured to the upper end. Each head plate is carried on the slide rails, with the slide rails being spaced apart sufficiently to receive the media pack there between. Interlocking means are privide on adjacent head plates fo that the cartridges can be assembled and removed from the housing end groups, rather than individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen H. Moore
  • Patent number: 6610117
    Abstract: A filter pack includes a filter construction and a sealing system for sealing the construction within a duct or housing. The filter construction has first and second opposite flow faces and is configured for a straight-through flow. The sealing system includes a frame construction and a compressible seal member. The compressible seal member is molded around a portion of the frame construction. The compressible seal member is sufficiently compressible to form a radial seal between and against the frame construction and a surface of a housing when the filter pack is inserted within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Scott Gieseke, Carolyn J. Finnerty
  • Patent number: 6610125
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the relative concentration of a target molecule in a gas stream, so that it can be more easily detected by a semiconducting metal oxide based sensor. A gas stream is passed through an adsorbent, the stream containing molecules of the target molecule in a mixture containing molecules of at least one non-target molecule. Both the target and non-target molecules are adsorbed on the adsorbent. Another gas stream containing molecules of a chemical displacer is passed through the adsorbent, the molecules of the chemical displacer adsorbing on the adsorbent to selectively displace the target molecules from the adsorbent while leaving the non-target molecules adsorbed. The chemical displacement causes the displaced target molecules to enter the gas stream. The gas stream can then be passed through a semiconducting metal oxide based sensor to detect the target molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Carl P. Tripp, Sofian M. Kanan
  • Patent number: 6605211
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pool filters. An underdrain design is disclosed that primarily relies on a peripheral ring rather than lateral projections to transfer the water to the sand. The ends of the ring are not joined so that the ring is not closed. The ring is also bent into a helical shape which allows the ring to be screwed into an opening with a smaller diameter than that of the ring. The ring is radially slotted so that water flows radially from it in all directions both toward the center of the tank and away from the center, as well as straight up and down. Since the water transfer takes place primarily along an arc located relatively near the mid-point between the center and the perimeter of the tank, the disadvantages inherent in the concentration of the water flow at the center of the tank are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Jacuzzi Leisure Products
    Inventor: Herbert N. Slopack
  • Patent number: 6602311
    Abstract: A fiber spinning device and process for manufacturing a web of fibers including a homogeneous mixture of fibers of different characteristics. Monocomponent fibers of different polymers can be extruded side-by-side from the same die system. Sheath/core bicomponent fibers can be alternated with monocomponent fibers formed of the same core polymer as used in the bicomponent fibers. Bicomponent fibers having a common core polymer and different sheath polymers can be extruded from alternate spinneret orifices in the same die plate. Multiple distribution plates are provided with surface grooves or depressions to direct polymer materials from independent sources to only selected spinneret openings in an array of spinneret openings while maintaining the polymers segregated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Richard M. Berger
  • Patent number: 6599341
    Abstract: A portable, light-weight exhaust fan that can be easily and quickly carried to and set up in a localized area to safely, efficiently and substantially remove airborne materials thereby overcoming the above and other drawbacks of conventional exhaust fans. Exhaust fans in accordance with aspects of the present invention may be used to ventilate a localized area such as an enclosed room and may be placed in any aperture such as a window or doorway to remove airborne material from the air passing therethrough, and to exhaust filtered air directly or indirectly to the surrounding environment. The exhaust fan can be constructed such that air traveling along an exhaust path through the fan is prevented from contacting components of the fan that can be damaged by exposure to the airborne materials. This enables the exhaust fan to efficiently remove airborne materials from a localized area while preventing the same materials from adversely affecting the operation of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Michael E. Goyetche
  • Patent number: 6599350
    Abstract: A filtration device for use in filtering air used to purge a vapor storage canister used in connection with a fuel vapor recovery system of an automobile. The device includes a housing. In some instances, the housing may be integral to another component. The housing has a chamber having an arcuate inner surface. Air flowing into the chamber through an inlet port strikes the arcuate interior surface and is redirected such that the air rotates in said chamber. The centrifugal force of the rotating air filters out any contaminants of sufficient mass contained therein. The filtered air is removed via an outlet port positioned near the longitudinal-axis of the chamber. Contaminants removed from the air fall due to gravity or a secondary air flow pattern into a collection portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hi-Stat Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James Rockwell, Mason B. Mount