Patents Examined by James Lowe
  • Patent number: 5387388
    Abstract: A method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in strapping packages and the like is passed between a pair of cylinders or rollers placed closely together at a desired nip for reducing the thickness of the sheet. One roller is rotated at a faster lineal rate of speed than the other, and the rollers rotate in opposite directions. This method achieves milling and stretching of the material substantially simultaneously at the nip of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez, Donald W. Noren
  • Patent number: 5340518
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing corrugated sheet from a supply of material having low melt strength at the forming temperature includes a heater, a pair of interdigitated thermo-forming rollers for corrugating the sheet as it exits the heater and a closely coupled calibrator at the outlet end of the thermo-forming rollers. A carrier maintains lateral tension on the sheet as it is heated, thermo-formed and calibrated so as to maintain its uniform lateral width. The thermo-forming rollers and calibrator form and maintain the corrugations until the material cools to below the glass transition temperature. A method for producing the corrugations is likewise disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: William C. Paul
  • Patent number: 5340523
    Abstract: A fiber drawing process and apparatus in which the fibers are drawn in small increments by passing the fibers in multiple wraps over on rotatably mounted spaced apart spindles having discrete circumferential microterraced surfaces which support the fiber. The terraced surfaces are parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindles and each microterraced surface having a continually increasing radius. The number of microterraces is equal to or less than the number of wraps of the fiber about the spindle. Cylindrical rolls in tandem with the microterraced spindles permit fine adjustments of the draw ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventor: Martin V. Sussman
  • Patent number: 5332535
    Abstract: A dielectric multilayer filter applicable to optical communication systems is disclosed, as is a fabrication method therefor, and an optical element incorporating the same. The disclosed dielectric multilayer filter includes a fluorinated polyimide base layer with a dielectric multilayer formed thereover. According to the disclosed fabrication method, a fluorinated polyimide layer is formed by applying liquid fluorinated polyimide material over a smooth surface to a predetermined thickness followed by drying and hardening, after which a dielectric multilayer is formed over the fluorinated polyimide layer by an ion assist vapor deposition method, and then stripping the fluorinated polyimide layer away from the underlying smooth surface. The disclosed dielectric multilayer filter can be easily and economically produced at a suitably small thickness with no need for grinding, exhibits highly uniform physical and optical properties, and is exceedingly durable and resistant to curling and warping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Taisuke Oguchi, Hiroaki Hanafusa, Juichi Noda, Yamada Noriyoshi, Shiro Nishi, Nobuo Tomita
  • Patent number: 5326505
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for directing accelerated electrons to at least part of one surface of one ophthalmic mold piece prior to filling with monomer and lens polymerization. In particular it has been found that generation of the ionized oxygen by means of a corona treatment electrode sufficiently increases the adherence of the polymer to the mold piece so treated. In the preferred embodiment, the flange around the convex, male piece of the lens mold is corona treated so that when the mold pieces are separated after lens polymerization, the flashing of excess polymerized material surrounding the lens cavity adheres to that male, convex piece flange while the lens is removed with the female, concave piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Adams, Edmund C. Rastrelli, John C. Heaton
  • Patent number: 5326506
    Abstract: A method for making a composite intraocular lens having an optic portion and haptic portion. The method includes the steps of forming a core of a high refractive material suitable for use as an intraocular lens optic, swelling the core, placing a polymerizable material capable of forming an intraocular lens haptic about the core, and polymerizing the polymerizable material. The method further includes the step of machining the resulting composite rod in order to form a composite intraocular lens having an optic portion and a haptic portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventor: David P. Vanderbilt
  • Patent number: 5324560
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a novel liquid cast urethane rubber object that exhibits dimensional stability when subjected to temperature fluctuations comprising the steps of casting a liquid urethane polymer with curing agent in a heated mold and then subjecting the cast polyurethane part to compression in a second mold while heating (typically above 17.degree. F. and preferably 212.degree. F.) followed by cooling (typically below 40.degree. F. and preferably 32.degree. F.), thus inducing a low temperature set in the final cured product. Such a method is useful to mold a polyurethane object (e.g., a wear ring for marine jet pumps and the like) to exacting tolerances without machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventors: M. Duane Oblander, Gregory F. Menges
  • Patent number: 5324470
    Abstract: Gasket formed in place on a surface of an article by producing an initial elongated bead of a selected cross-sectional area and bringing a mold cavity having the same cross-sectional area into contact with the surface to produce the final shape of the bead on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Norton Company
    Inventors: Ahmet Comert, Dominique Petit
  • Patent number: 5322648
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a shaped article from aqueous collagen-containing materials. A dispersion containing collagen and a surfactant is cast upon a mold of thermoplastic material and dried by a ramped drying profile under controlled conditions of relative humidity and temperature. The controlled drying allows for initial renaturation of the collagen dispersion then drying at high humidity to form a product with minimal residual stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Vitaphore Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory S. Dapper
  • Patent number: 5322649
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for fabricating biocompatible implants. In particular, the present invention process involves punching out implants from sheet stock. In the exemplary embodiment, the implant is an intraocular lens, wherein the lens haptic is punched from ribbon stock fed through a punch press. The punching operation can be accomplished in a planar punch and die arrangement, or the die can be situated on cooperatively rotating drums. In an alternative embodiment, the entire intraocular lens is punched from sheet stock. In this process, the lens optics are formed first in the sheet stock to provide individual convex or concave hemispheres, spaced along the length and width of the sheet. The sheet stock is aligned with a die, and the die punches out the lens such that the lens optic coincides with the hemispheres and the lens haptics are punched therealong simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Kabi Pharmacia Ophthalmics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Rheinish, Allan R. Tonks, Thomas P. Richards
  • Patent number: 5316700
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for molding the front and rear surfaces of a contact lens in one step is disclosed. Two mold halves matable to form a contact-lens-shaped cavity and a cavity for excess lens forming material surrounding the cavity are provided. The improvement comprises providing the cavity for excess lens forming material with at least two openings and producing differential gas pressure across the openings to remove excess lens forming material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Wesley-Jessen Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Soye, Samuel Loshaek
  • Patent number: 5316702
    Abstract: A method of casting an ophthalmic optic is described. A mold, an optical preform and a polymerizable resin are provided. The resin is disposed between the mold and the optical preform. The preform and the resin interact to produce a contact angle between the resin and preform of from about 20 degrees to about 45 degrees; or the mold and the resin interact to produce a contact angle between the mold and the resin of from about 45 to about 75 degrees; or both. The polymerizable resin is then cured.Another method of casting an ophthalmic optic is also described. A mold, an optical preform and a polymerizable resin are provided. The optical preform is supplied with a surface having a regular pattern of grooves that comprise a grid formed by intersecting curves or lines imprinted on the surface of the optical preform. The polymerizable resin is provided between the optical preform and the mold such that the polymerizable resin contacts the regular pattern of grooves on the optical preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: InnoTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, Amitava Gupta, Steve Bennington
  • Patent number: 5316704
    Abstract: Expansile hydrogel intraocular lenses are heated above their elastic deformation temperatures and deformed into an elongated configuration having at least one reduced dimension suitable for insertion through a small surgical incision. The lenses are allowed to cool in this configuration and retain the deformed shape prior to surgical implantation. Following implantation the lenses hydrate into an enlarged elastic form reassuming the original lens configuration of full capsule size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Kabi Pharmacia Ophthalmics Inc.
    Inventors: Yading Wang, Stephen O. Zhou, Thomas P. Richards
  • Patent number: 5314647
    Abstract: A method of making cellulose ester photographic film base employing microwave radiation for removing the final portion of solvent present in the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: John E. Rieth
  • Patent number: 5310510
    Abstract: An optical cable has segment-like chamber elements with openings receiving a stack of waveguide bands characterized by the bands of each stack having a different length to compensate for stresses created by stranding the elements in an optical cable. To obtain the different lengths for each of the waveguide bands in a stack, the cable element is guided over a curved path, such as on a periphery of an insertion disc and the waveguide bands are then introduced into the chamber of the chamber element while in this curved position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Pascher
  • Patent number: 5308555
    Abstract: Molding optical components from a mold that is produced using the same type of optical fibers that will be interconnected by the optical components. The outer diameter of a silica optical fiber varies only by approximately .+-.1 micron and the outer surface of a silica optical fiber has an optical finish. Thus by using optical fiber to fabricate molds, molds can be produced which have the required accuracy and finish for the production of optical components. The outer coating of the optical fibers used to fabricate the mold is only removed within and in close proximity to a combination region in a splitter/combiner resulting in the capability to pigtail optical fibers attached to a splitter/combiner molded from the resulting mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Lee L. Blyler, Jr., Gary J. Grimes
  • Patent number: 5308567
    Abstract: A method is proposed for the preparation of a resin membrane suitable for use, for example, as a covering pellicle of a photolithographic mask for patterning of semiconductor devices in the electronic industry. The method comprises the steps of: (a) coating a continuous-length substrate with a solution of the resin by using a roller coater to form a coating layer of the resin solution; (b) drying the coating layer by evaporating the solvent to form a dry resin film on the substrate surface; and (c) peeling the resin film from the surface of the substrate, preferably, in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meguru Kashida, Yoshihiro Kubota, Yoshihiko Nagata, Hitoshi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 5300263
    Abstract: A method of making a microlens array and mold, and the articles made therefrom. The method involves forming a plurality of adjacent receptacles on a surface and partially filling the receptacles with a hardenable liquid, thereby forming a meniscus in each receptacle. A lens material can then be applied to the menisci, thereby forming an array of generally spherical microlenses. In one embodiment, the perimeters of the microlenses are modified rectangles in that each edge of the lens is a symmetrical elliptical arc, the ends of which terminate at the corners of the rectangle, and the middle of which curves toward the center of the rectangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Timothy L. Hoopman, David J. W. Aastuen
  • Patent number: 5300262
    Abstract: The process of reproducibly making a wholly spuncasted, non-truncated, ballasted soft contact lens containing a compound anterior surface. The process comprises spincasting a polymer-forming, lens forming monomeric mixture in a cavity mold having a surface that is offset to allow for generation of a prismatic ballast, a compound curvature and a central axis that is symmetrical to the peripheral edge of the lens being formed. This is done by rotating the monomer mixture in the mold whereby the mixture replicates the mold's surface while at the same time undergoes polymerization and forms a prismatic lens with the central axis of its posterior surface symmetrical to its peripheral edge, a corneal bowl free of the compound curvature and possessing a thickness profile that is asymmetrical with respect to its geometric center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Glick
  • Patent number: 5298096
    Abstract: A method of producing a high-precision lens system, such as a stepper lens, involves the following steps: (a) attaching a metal frame to the radial periphery of each of a plurality of lens elements at a prescribed distance from the optical axis of the element; (b) positioning the periphery of each metal frame at a prescribed radial distance from a reference axis to align the optical axis of each lens element along the reference axis; and (c) securing the individual lens sections together. Adjustment of the eccentricity of the individual lenses is accomplished by measuring the displacement of the lens-frame periphery from the reference axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Hisakazu Yoshino, Yukio Ishiba, Kunihiro Hayashi