Patents Examined by Fred J. Parker
  • Patent number: 7704546
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a prosthesis. At least a portion of the prosthesis is made from a ceramic that is treated with ion implantation, which causes a controllable, bilateral compressive stress of the ceramic. A diamond-like-coating (DLC) can be coated on the ceramic and in the same chamber as the ion implantation. After treating by ion implantation and coating with DLC, the ceramic will be strengthened and have a low coefficient of friction and thereby be made much less likely to fracture under load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Geoffrey Dearnaley
  • Patent number: 7645485
    Abstract: There is provided a method for applying an improved chromium diffusion coating on an industrial item such as a turbine blade of a gas turbine engine. Chromium and other active metals are combined to form an alloy coating. Active elements include silicon, hafnium, zirconium, yttrium, tantalum, and rhenium. For producing the modified coatings through pack cementation chromium and a master alloy are mixed into a packing along with inert material and a halide activator. The packing surrounds a target in a diffusion box. The metals are then deposited by diffusion onto a target surface by pack cementation methods. The diffusion of the desired metals takes place during a coating thermal cycle. Alternatively, the diffusion can take place using an out-of-pack arrangement. Such modified coatings are utilized as improved performance coatings for environmental resistance applications over the current chromium diffusion coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Murali Madhava
  • Patent number: 7575773
    Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet producing apparatus produces an optical compensatory sheet having a liquid crystal layer. In the apparatus, a rubbing unit is supplied with resin film having a first layer including resin, and subjects the first layer to a rubbing process, so as to form an orientation layer. A dust remover removes dust from the orientation layer by use of liquid such as perfluorocarbon, to which the orientation layer is insoluble. A liquid crystal layer coater is disposed downstream from the dust remover, for coating the orientation layer with coating liquid including liquid crystalline compound, so that the liquid crystal layer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Ishizuka, Munehiro Ura, Tadashi Sugiyama, Kenji Nakajima, Kazuhiko Fujiwara, Naoyuki Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 7563481
    Abstract: A method of processing a polysilazane film includes a first heat process and a subsequent second heat process performed on a target substrate with a polysilazane coating film formed thereon. The first heat process is performed by supplying water vapor into a process area within a reaction container, which accommodates the target substrate, while setting the process area at a first temperature of from 390° C. to 410° C. The second heat process is performed by supplying water vapor into the process area, while setting the process area at a second temperature of from 600° C. to 800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shingo Hishiya, Kimiya Aoki, Masahisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7556839
    Abstract: A process for producing a semiconductor device, in which in the formation of a boron doped silicon film from, for example, monosilane and boron trichloride by vacuum CVD technique, there can be produced a film excelling in inter-batch homogeneity with respect to the growth rate and concentration of a dopant element, such as boron. The process includes the step of performing the first purge through conducting at least once of while a substrate after treatment is housed in a reaction furnace, vacuuming of the reaction furnace and inert gas supply thereto and the steps of performing the second purge through conducting at least once of after carrying of the substrate after treatment out of the reaction furnace, prior to carrying of a substrate to be next treated into the reaction furnace and while at least no product substrate is housed in the reaction furnace, vacuuming of the reaction furnace and inert gas supply thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Takaaki Noda, Kenichi Suzaki
  • Patent number: 7465473
    Abstract: A permanent, roughened or textured surface is applied to parts molded from polyolefins, particularly from polyethylene by applying to the surface of the part a coating mixture of a tackifier resin and polyolefin particles in a liquid carrier and incorporating a granular or particulate matter in the coating, either by application to the coating or by admixing the granular or particulate matter into the coating mixture. The coated surface is heated to the melt temperature of the polyolefin surface for a short time, sufficient to gel the polyolefin particles of the coating into the surface of the part, but insufficient to cause any thermal distortion of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventors: Michael J. Stevenson, Robert Alan Reeves
  • Patent number: 7410672
    Abstract: A water-resistant porcelain enamel coating and method of making the same is provided. The porcelain enamel coating is prepared using a borosilicate glass frit, and mill additions of silica and a zirconia compound. The mixture is applied to a metal substrate and fired, resulting in a water-resistant coating that resists cracking and crazing. The coating is particularly useful in water heaters. In one embodiment, the coating comprises a fine zirconia compound having a median particle size of less than 10 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: AOS Holding Company
    Inventors: James D Waters, Ray O. Knoeppel, Glenn Pfendt
  • Patent number: 7407688
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for recycling waste FRP which can simply and effectively reuse waste FRP. This process comprises the steps of mixing a cellulose fine powder derived from wood, a resin powder, and an FPR powder derived from waste FRP, to obtain a mixture; and melting and molding the mixture into a given shape to prepare a molded resin product containing 10-65% by weight of said cellulose fine powder, 25-40% by weight of said resin powder, and 10-30% by weight of said FPR powder on the basis of the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Misawa Homes, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kamite, Masami Kato
  • Patent number: 7387817
    Abstract: A method of masking a surface of a gas turbine engine component wherein the ability of a masking member to retain the shape of the surface to which it is applied is used as a primary fixing strategy to releasably hold the masking member in position over the surface of the gas turbine engine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Charles Becze, Brian Burgess, Terry Magdy, Kevin Sampson
  • Patent number: 7387818
    Abstract: When stacking stackable items in layers on pallets, intermediate layers of paper/cardboard/film are often used for preventing loss of the items during transport. Even though the intermediate layers ensure to a large extent that items do not fall off the pallet, it cannot be entirely prevented that some of the stacked items fall off because the stacked items slid on the intermediate layers. Special intermediate layers are known, having a surface coated with non-skid coating which highly counteracts the unwanted sliding of the items in the layers stacked on a pallet. However, the laying of intermediate layers with non-skid surfaces constitutes a problem as the individual pieces of non-skid coated intermediate layer will adhere to each other. Thus, there is provided a method and a sheet dispenser where pieces of intermediate layers are successively dispensed, and where these layers are coated with a non-skid coating during dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Dansk Mink Papir A/S
    Inventor: Jens Hedegaard
  • Patent number: 7384671
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for forming a coating on a substrate, including establishing a fluidised-bed having a fluidising gas and a powder coating composition, immersing the substrate wholly or partly in the fluidised bed, the substrate being either electrically isolated or earthed, providing an electrically conductive electrode, to which a voltage is applied, positioned to influence the extent to which charged particles adhere to a region of the substrate, withdrawing the substrate from the fluidised-bed and forming the adherent particles into a continuous coating over at least part of the substrates. The apparatus is arranged and the process is conducted such that the maximum potential gradient existing in the fluidised bed is below the ionisation potential of the fluidising gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel Coatings International B.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Jeffrey Kittle, Michele Falcone
  • Patent number: 7384670
    Abstract: A rotary atomizer (1) has a rotary atomizing head (4) driven by an air motor (2) at a rotational speed of 4,000˜5,000 rpm, for example. A coating material is supplied to a central portion of the rotary atomizing head (4) through a paint supply pipe (5). The atomizer (1) further includes a supersonic horn (6) having a vibration plane (6a) located adjacent to the outer circumferential perimeter of the rotary atomizing head (4). The vibration plane (6a) is an inclined plane gradually increasing its diameter forward. The coating material immediately after spattered from the outer circumferential perimeter of the rotary atomizing head (4) is exposed to supersonic vibration from the vibration plane (6a), and it is atomized by the supersonic vibration to particles of a uniform grain size. At the same time, the atomized coating material is driven forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Ransburg Industrial Finishing K.K.
    Inventors: Shinji Tani, Masahito Sakakibara, Michio Mitsui, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Kimiyoshi Nagai
  • Patent number: 7371425
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for coating substrates with a carbon-based material, comprising the steps of at least partially coating a substrate with a polymer film on at least one outside surface of the substrate and carbonizing the polymer film in an atmosphere that is essentially free of oxygen at temperatures in the range of 200° C. to 2500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Cinvention AG
    Inventors: Jorg Rathenow, Jurgen Kunstmann, Bernhard Mayer, Andreas Ban
  • Patent number: 7357959
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of components with a pre-determined surface appearance, in particular for front panels of kitchen units, whereby the components are printed with a pre-determined pattern by means of a printing method which may be programmed corresponding to the appearance achieved. The invention further relates to a device for the production of said components and a system in which groups of said components are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventor: Jörg R. Bauer
  • Patent number: 7354621
    Abstract: In a method for forming an adhesive layer on the surface of a workpiece before the formation of a coating film containing a powder on the workpiece, the present invention provides a method for forming the adhesive layer having a desired thickness. This object is achieved by the following method: An adhesive layer formation medium m1 coated with an adhesive material is made to collide with a workpiece W so that the adhesive material is transferred from the adhesive layer formation medium m1 to the workpiece W and forms an adhesive layer on the workpiece. An adhesive layer having a desired thickness can be formed on the workpiece by regulating the thickness of the adhesive material applied to the surface of the adhesive layer formation medium (i.e. the amount of the adhesive material held by a single adhesive layer formation medium). This enables the thickness of the powder coating as the final product to be controlled as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Intermetallics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Itatani, Masato Sagawa
  • Patent number: 7354626
    Abstract: A direct charging electrostatic flocking method is provided for the fabrication of a fibrous structure. Fibers are deposited directly on a first electrically conductive surface while a second electrically conductive surface with an adhesive thereon is disposed over the first surface. A vacuum is created in the space between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface. The vacuum is then filled with sulfur hexafluoride gas. An electric field is generated between the first and second electrically conductive surfaces. The fibers leave the first electrically conductive surface, accelerate through the electric field and sulfur hexafluoride gas, and are coupled on one end thereof to the adhesive. As a result of using sulfur hexafluoride rather than air there is an increase in fiber density of the fibrous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles J. Patrissi, Russell R. Bessette, Louis G. Carreiro, Yong K. Kim, Thomas M. Arruda, Craig M. Deschenes
  • Patent number: 7338685
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on at least one surface of the support thereof, wherein the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one surface of the support partly has projected spots of fibers. The projected spots of fibers are preferably raised spots of fibers that are raised from the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet is favorable for flooring material fixation. The pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet is produced according to a flocking method that comprises flocking the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one surface of the support to thereby form projected spots of fibers partly in the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Sano
  • Patent number: 7335399
    Abstract: A kit and a process for using it to impart wood grain appearances are provided. According to the method, a base coat comprising an opaque, pigmented, water-based paint emulsion is applied to a wood-grain textured substrate and dried. Then, a pigmented, water-based graining coat (most preferably a crosslinkable urethane/acrylic) is applied sparingly, preferably by use of a dampened foam/sponge pad or sprayed, in an amount sufficient to overcoat the base coat and color at least a majority of texture recesses in the substrate and drying. According to the kit aspect of the invention, the kit will comprise: an opaque, pigmented, water-based paint emulsion; a pigmented, water-based graining coat emulsion, optionally packaged in a bottle, such as one with a spray. Optionally, the kit can include an applicator or surface cleaner, a scraper, brush, cloth, sponge, or combination. The process of the invention can be completed within 3 to 12 hours at temperatures ranging from just over 55° F. up to over 85° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Grafted Coatings, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Bolton, Timothy J. Bolton, Louis R. Zayas
  • Patent number: 7335395
    Abstract: Methods of Using Preformed Nanotubes to Make Carbon Nanotube Films, Layers, Fabrics, Ribbons, Elements and Articles are disclosed. To make various articles, certain embodiments provide a substrate. Preformed nanotubes are applied to a surface of the substrate to create a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes. Portions of the non-woven fabric are selectively removed according to a defined pattern to create the article. To make a nanofabric, a substrate is provided. Preformed nanotubes are applied to a surface of the substrate to create a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes wherein the non-woven fabric is substantially uniform density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Ward, Thomas Rueckes, Brent M. Segal
  • Patent number: 7326434
    Abstract: Superconductor precursor solutions are disclosed. The precursor solutions contain, for example, a salt of a rare earth metal, a salt of an alkaline earth metal and a salt of a transition metal. The precursor solutions can optionally include a Lewis base. The precursor solutions can be processed relatively quickly to provide a relatively thick and good quality intermediate of a rare earth metal-alkaline earth metal-transition metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Martin W. Rupich, Thomas A. Kodenkandath