Patents Examined by David R Sample
  • Patent number: 7964268
    Abstract: An electrical insulator comprises an elongate shank and one or more sheds disposed along the length of the shank. The surface of the insulator comprises longitudinally extending flutes, the depth of which are varied along the length of the insulator such that the circumferential distance of all transverse sections along the length of the insulator is substantially constant or controlled. Instead of flutes, the surface may be formed with an array of protuberances and/or concavities. The insulator thus provides a defined perimeter and surface area along its length, such that areas of the surface are not preferentially heated by surface currents to form dry bands and thereby cause arcing. Such topography also renders the insulator less susceptible to the degrading effects of surface pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: University College Cardiff Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Waters, Abderrahmane Haddad
  • Patent number: 7959999
    Abstract: A stent is formed by encasing or encapsulating metallic rings in an inner polymeric layer and an outer polymeric layer. At least one polymer link connects adjacent metallic rings. The stent is drug loaded with one or more therapeutic agent or drug, for example, to reduce the likelihood of the development of restenosis in the coronary arteries. The inner and outer polymeric materials can be of the same polymer or different polymer to achieve different results, such as enhancing flexibility and providing a stent that is visible under MRI, computer tomography and x-ray fluoroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Santosh Prabhu
  • Patent number: 7960009
    Abstract: A porous ceramic substrate includes a first phase of microcracked cordierite ceramic material and a second phase of non-cordierite metal oxide particles dispersed in the cordierite ceramic, wherein at least a portion of the interface between the first and second phases is wetted by glass and the particles of the second phase have a size in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Monika Backhaus-Ricoult, Christopher Raymond Glose
  • Patent number: 7960017
    Abstract: The invention describes a polymeric sheet that has at least one layer that comprises an ionomer or ionomer blend that incorporates a partially neutralized alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid component and is useful in glass laminate applications. The ionomer or ionomer blend contains one or more monovalent metal ions in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 60%, preferably about 10 to about 55%, and more preferably about 15 to about 50%, and one or more polyvalent metal ions in an amount ranging from about 40 to about 99%, preferably about 45 to about 90%, and more preferably about 50 to about 85%. This ratio range of monovalent and polyvalent metal neutralization ions provides synergistically greater adhesion to glass than found for either the monovalent or the polyvalent metal neutralization ions alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Steven C. Pesek, Sam Louis Samuels, Charles Anthony Smith, Stephen J. Bennison, Richard Allen Hayes
  • Patent number: 7960011
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a visually identifiable diffractive pattern on a substrate by subjecting the substrate to pressure by bringing it into contact with a surface of an embossing plate. An imprinted paper or paperboard sheet, which is varnished at the contacting area of the embossing plate and the substrate is used as a substrate for the embossing. The invention relates also to a product manufactured using the described method. The method is applicable, for example, for common packaging materials, which contain a paperboard, imprinting and a varnish layer for producing a visually attractive and unique marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: M-real Oyj
    Inventors: Teppo Sahlberg, Timo Kallio, Tuomas Mustonen
  • Patent number: 7951446
    Abstract: There is provided a hard-to-sinter constraining green sheet and a method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic substrate using the same. The hard-to-sinter constraining green sheet disposed at least one of top and bottom surfaces of a non-sintered multi-layer ceramic substrate, the hard-to-sinter constraining green sheet including: a first constraining layer having a surface to be positioned on the multi-layer ceramic substrate, the first constraining layer including a first organic binder and a first inorganic powder having a spherical shape or a quasi-spherical shape; and a second constraining layer bonded to a top surface of the first constraining layer and including a second organic binder and a second inorganic powder having a flake shape, the second constraining layer having a powder packing density lower than that of the first constraining layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Beom Joon Cho, Jong Myeon Lee, Myung Whun Chang
  • Patent number: 7943227
    Abstract: A heat shield includes a ceramic composite heat shield panel having a generally concave first surface and a generally convex second surface and a pair of thickened panel edge portions provided in the heat shield panel. A heat shield assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Connelly
  • Patent number: 7939163
    Abstract: A decorative laminate (10) includes a polymer or engineered film with fluorine (100), a decorative pattern (20) visible through the polymer film (100), and a substrate (200) supporting the polymer film (100) and decorative pattern (20). An embossing layer (70) may be included between the polymer film (100) and substrate (200). The embossing layer (70) or substrate (200) or both may contain one or more fire retardant materials such as halogens. The decorative laminate (10) has a resistance to sustained ignition rated as at least M1 according to French Epiradiateur Test NFP 92-501, and a smoke index value of 80 or less, a classification of F3 or better according to French standard NF F-16-101 based on French Tests NF X 70-100 and NF X 10-702, and a resistance to graffiti in a range of G0-G1 as measured by French Graffiti test NF F 31-112.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Schneller LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Pierson, Dale Onderak, Mark D. Tennant
  • Patent number: 7939144
    Abstract: An artificial turf filament has a cross-section that includes a central area and two wing areas integral with said central area. Further a bundle of a plurality of artificial turf filaments is proposed, wherein the artificial turf filaments are held together by one or more wrapping filaments wrapped around said artificial turf filaments. The wrapping filaments cross each other at cross points, and are bonded, preferably releasable bonded, to one another at said cross points. Also the wrapping filaments are bonded, preferably releasable bonded, to said artificial turf filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Mattex Leisure Industries
    Inventor: Marc Verleyen
  • Patent number: 7906202
    Abstract: A tear resistant solar control multilayer film article is disclosed. The multilayer film article includes an infrared light reflecting multilayer film having alternating polymeric layers of a first polymer type and a second polymer type and the alternating polymeric layers cooperate to reflect infrared light; an infrared light absorbing nanoparticle layer including a plurality of metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in a cured polymeric binder, the infrared light absorbing nanoparticle layer being adjacent the infrared light reflecting multilayer film, and a tear resistant polymeric film disposed adjacent to the infrared light reflecting multilayer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Raghunath Padiyath, Stephen J. Strauss, Christopher A. Haak, Douglas A. Huntley
  • Patent number: 7901758
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible laminate of films of thermoplastic polymer material mainly for applications in which relatively high yield strength and ultimate tensile strength is required, and a method and apparatus for its manufacture. The laminate comprises a monofilm formed or multifilm-formed ply (A) and another monofilm-formed or multifilm formed ply (B) both mainly consisting of orientable thermoplastic polymer material, in which A has a fluted configuration and B on a first side is adhesively bonded in bonding zones to the crests on a first side of A, in which B also has a fluted configuration, the flute direction of B forming an angle from generally about 30° up to and including 90° to the flute direction of A and the said bonding zones being on the crests of the first side of B to produce spot bonding with the crests on the first side of A, the wavelengths of the flutes in A and/or B are no longer than 5 mm, and the wavelengths of the flutes in both A and B are less than 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: Ole-Bendt Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7903336
    Abstract: A reflective metrological scale has a metal tape substrate and a scale pattern of elongated side-by-side marks surrounded by reflective surface areas of the substrate. Each mark has a furrowed cross section and may have a depth in the range of 0.5 to 2 microns. The central region of each mark may be rippled and darkened to provide an enhanced optical reflection ratio with respect to surrounding surface areas. A manufacturing method includes the repeated steps of (1) creating a scale mark by irradiating the substrate surface at a mark location with overlapped pulses from a laser, each pulse having an energy density of less than about 1 joule per cm2, and (2) changing the relative position of the laser and the substrate by a displacement amount defining a next mark location on the substrate at which a next mark of the scale is to be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: GSI Group Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Pelsue, Stuart A. Dodson, II, Bradley L. Hunter, Donald V. Smart, Pierre-Yves Mabboux, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
  • Patent number: 7901524
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods for actuating variable stiffness material (VSM) structures and achieving deformation of the structures. The apparatus and the associated methods use internal embedded actuation elements and/or externally attached elements to the VSM structures to achieve the desired deformation. In particular, the actuation can be changed due to the variable stiffness nature of the materials. That is, the invention provides the ability to control the deformation of structures using local stiffness control over subregions of the component in addition to or in substitution for actuation. Furthermore, the invention exploits the variable stiffness properties of the VSM structures to enable new functionalities impossible to realize with conventional constant stiffness materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey McKnight, Bill Barvosa-Carter, Chris Henry, Andrew Keefe, Richard Ross, Guillermo Herrera
  • Patent number: 7901775
    Abstract: Disclosed is a C/C composite material precursor which gives a C/C composite material by calcination including: carbon fiber, a matrix, and void-forming core which is burnt out or reduces the volume thereof at lower temperatures than temperature of the calcination and forms a void which has openings on the surface of the C/C composite material after calcination. Also disclosed is a method for producing a C/C composite material by calcination of the precursor; and the composite material obtained by the calcination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7901530
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fabric seam in a fabric for use as papermachine clothing, the fabric having loops at each of the fabric's transverse ends adapted for interconnection by way of a pintle to make the fabric endless, including the steps of bringing the ends into end-to-end disposition in order to interdigitate the loops, inserting a pintle in the interdigitated loops, heat setting to fix base yarns and the loops of the fabric in place, inserting at least one stuffer yarn, at least a part of which includes a low melt component, into selected void areas in the loops adjacent the pintle, adhering at least one batt layer to the seam by needling, and further heat setting to at least partially melt the stuffer yarn such that it deforms to substantially take on the shape of the void areas at the pintle joint, to bind fibers of the batt needled into the void areas and to bind adjacent yarns of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Voith Fabrics Patent GmbH
    Inventor: William D. Aldrich
  • Patent number: 7901762
    Abstract: A pultruded composite component includes a matrix material comprising a thermosetting polyurethane resin, and fibers provided within the resin matrix. All of the fibers within the resin matrix are oriented in substantially a single direction and the matrix material has an elongation-to-failure that exceeds that of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Milgard Manufacturing Incorporated
    Inventors: Randall Jay Brown, Semen Kharchenko, Harry D. Coffee, Icheng Huang
  • Patent number: 7897246
    Abstract: A man-made, molded article is provided. The article includes a profile including a planar wall, and an adjacent integral molded depression having a contoured wall extending downwardly from the planar wall. The contoured wall includes a bead portion, a cove portion, and a ledge between the bead and cove portions. The articles are stackable, one above another for transport, in a nestable relationship in which multiple contact zones are present between the contoured walls of an adjacently stacked pair of the molded articles. The contact zones include an arcuately extending contact interface zone between the bead exterior and interior surfaces. The depression has a substantially uniform thickness varying by no more than about +1 percent to about ?11 percent in relation to a thickness of the planar wall. Related methods and assemblies are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventor: Steven K Lynch
  • Patent number: 7897243
    Abstract: A surface shape and physical properties required for a structure having an antireflection performance of light and an improved performance of light permeability have been found, particularly the structure having surface scratch resistance is provided, a composition capable of forming the structure having such a particular structure and physical properties is provided, and further a composition which can easily form the structure which is excellent in antireflection performance of light and an improved performance of light permeability and has a large aspect ratio is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Inctec Inc.
    Inventor: Tsukasa Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7897240
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric that is not easily damaged during use is provided. A fiber web supported by a predetermined supporting member from the lower face side is blown with fluid, mainly composed of gas, from the upper face side of the fiber web to move fibers that constitute the fiber web, thereby forming at least a plurality of open areas. The nonwoven fabric includes a plurality of open areas continuously formed along a predetermined direction with a predetermined interval and a plurality of joining portions, each of which are formed between the open areas adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Noda, Hideyuki Ishikawa, Satoshi Mizutani, Koichiro Tani, Akihiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7897230
    Abstract: One or more types of ink retention layers for a one-way vision display panel and methods are provided. In one example, a one-way vision display panel assembly includes a perforated panel formed of a flexible material. The perforated panel having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of through holes extending from the front surface to the rear surface. An ink retention layer is located adjacent to the perforated panel. The ink retention layer includes material that retains or absorbs residual ink from an image applied to the front surface of the perforated panel. The one-way vision display panel may further include a releasing layer or a backing layer, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Clear Focus Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Ross