Patents Examined by Jeff H. Aftergut
  • Patent number: 7419563
    Abstract: Methods of making medical devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for welding together two components is described. The two components are non-coaxial and contact one another. A fixture holds the two components in a desired configuration. Electromagnetic radiation is directed at an area where the two components are in contact. The radiation causes the two portions to fuse together. The fixture has an open area or a transmissive material in the path of the electromagnetic radiation so that at least a portion of the radiation impinged up on the two components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Holman, Afsar Ali, Stacie Depner
  • Patent number: 7418991
    Abstract: A substrate bonding apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes stages, wherein the degree to which the stages are bent is minimized by the presence of elastic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Seok Lee, Young Kug Lim, Jong Han Kim
  • Patent number: 7419561
    Abstract: A method of casting a sail comprising supplying a carrier film, supporting the carrier film along a support mechanism, forming a sail form with the support mechanism, pulling the carrier film across the support mechanism, forming a first coating, wiping the resin to control resin amount for forming the first coating, applying a yarn on the first coating in a pattern, applying a yarn on the first coating in a second pattern, dispensing a resin onto the carrier film to form a second coating covering at least one of the first pattern and the second pattern, wiping the resin to control the resin amount for forming the second coating, applying an additional element to at least one of the first coating and the second coating, applying a top film on the second coating, calendering the first and second coating, and curing the resin of the first and second coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Ward Omohundro
  • Patent number: 7416626
    Abstract: A trim part for use with a vehicle includes a substrate and a trim cover overlaying the substrate. The trim cover has first and second portions that are folded together to form a flexible edge seal that is engageable with the vehicle. A method of making such a trim part is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Dooley, Robert J. Adams, Glenn A. Cowelchuk
  • Patent number: 7416627
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cushioned blown film including a first blown film layer, a second blown film layer, and a plurality of cushioning cells defined between the first blown film layer and the second film layer. The cushioned blown films may be bonded to a fibrous web to make film nonwoven laminates. Processes for making the cushioned blown film and the film nonwoven laminates are also disclosed. Such laminates are highly useful for use in personal care products, protective wear garments, medical care products, mortuary and veterinary products and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryon Paul Day, Ann Louise McCormack
  • Patent number: 7416010
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus for fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes a vacuum chamber for bonding first and second substrates together, an upper stage and a lower stage oppositely arranged in an upper space and a lower space of the vacuum chamber, and a pressure application system coupled to one of the upper and lower stages for applying first and second pressures to different parts of the one of the upper and lower stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Sang Byun, Sang Seok Lee, Sang Ho Park
  • Patent number: 7413098
    Abstract: To provide a fiber reinforced resin sleeve that is superior in mechanical strength in low cost and easily without enlarging the sleeve and increasing the weight of the sleeve, a method for manufacturing an internal pressure container in which both end portions of a fiber reinforced resin sleeve 1 formed by continuously winding a fiber in a filament winding method with both ends having larger diameters are closed by closure lids 2, and the closure lids 2 are supported by retainer rings 3 coupled to the sleeve 1, comprising the following steps of: continuously winding the fiber, impregnated with the resin, on a mandrel substantially in a perpendicular direction to an axial direction of the mandrel to form a first layer F; setting the first layer F so that a distal end is located in a position at a predetermined position L from an end of the sleeve 1 and a proximal end is located in a position inside of the closure lid 2 and the retainer ring 3; subsequently continuously winding the fiber on the first layer F at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Arisawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Sugano, Yuichi Kawai, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7413623
    Abstract: A two roll impregnator for impregnating fiber reinforcement for use in filament winding operatives contains two abutting rolls, at least one and preferably both having an elastomeric surface. Resin is constrained within a bath whose lower surfaces are defined by the abutting rollers and side dams. Fiber reinforcement is drawn over a first roller through the resin bath and between the closed nip of the abutting rollers, where full impregnation is fostered, excess resin removed, and the impregnated fiber degassed. Substantially dripless operation can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: RSE Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Raday
  • Patent number: 7410550
    Abstract: The present invention relates to flexible cylindrical sleeves for use in protecting wires or conduits from excess heat and/or abrasion. In particular, the present invention provides a flexible sleeve made of multiple bands that are continuously spirally wrapped around each other to form a tube of any desired length. The sleeve generally includes at least two bands, an outer band and an inner band. The outer band and the inner band are laminates in that each is formed of multiple layers. The outer band includes an outer layer of metal foil and the inner band has an innermost layer of woven heat resistant fabric. In another embodiment, one or more additional bands may be wrapped between the inner band and the outer band depending upon the specific application in which the sleeve will be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventor: Michael J. Sherwin
  • Patent number: 7399375
    Abstract: A component of a fluid handling system has a wall that separates an interior of the component from an exterior of the component. A channel passes completely through the wall for receiving a conduit therein. A trough is formed on an exterior of the component. A sidewall of the trough has an opening that aligns with the channel. The opening is for receiving the conduit therethrough before the channel receives the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventors: Judson Leiser, Eric S. Dod, Shell Whittington, Karen St Martin
  • Patent number: 7395846
    Abstract: A flexible board bonding method is a method in which a flexible board is bonded to a head holding member having a bent projection, provided with a load beam and a flexible member. The flexile board is sucked by a main suction head and a sub suction head positioned on the flexible board, and then the sub suction head is shifted in such a way that the sub suction head remains within an area defined by a rotation center located substantially at the main suction head and a rotation radius extending substantially between the main suction head and the sub suction head. Then, the flexible board is bonded to the head holding member at the main suction head side under the state in which the flexible board is kept away from said the bent projection by bending of the flexible board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Miyakawa, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Akimasa Nakao
  • Patent number: 7393425
    Abstract: Methods for providing a cable closure enclosing a cable splice include wrapping a flexible wrap including a gel layer and a flexible support layer around the cable splice with the gel layer adjacent the cable splice. The gel layer may have an adhesion-reducing substance applied on at least part of a surface of the gel layer facing away from the flexible support layer and a removable cover layer may be applied to a surface of the gel layer facing away from the flexible support layer on which the adhesion-reducing substance is not applied. The wrap is gathered into overlapping wrinkles around at least one longitudinal end of the cable splice without applying heat, other external energy source or catalytic agent to allow the gel layer to seal the at least one longitudinal end of the cable splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem NV
    Inventors: Valere Buekers, Dirk Deroost, Thomas E. McNeal, Dirk Roosen, Els Timmermans, Filip Vandeputte
  • Patent number: 7390454
    Abstract: A thermoforming methodology for laminated thermoplastic sheets which preserves the class “A” finish and high gloss thereof. A thermoformer has a vacuum box component which includes a mold, and a pressure box component which is selectively sealable in relation to the vacuum box component. A heated laminated thermoplastic sheet is placed in the thermoformer, the class “A” side thereof facing away from the mold, and the thermoformer sealed. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum box component and simultaneously air pressure is applied to the pressure box component, including application of chilled compressed air, resulting in forming of the sheet on the mold and controlled cooling of the sheet which preserves its class “A” finish and high gloss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Catherine A. Ostrander, Steven J. Schmidt, Charles Calvin Mentzer, Jr., Michael A. Szymberski, Charles K. Buehler
  • Patent number: 7389803
    Abstract: A manufacturing line has a feeder for feeding a hoop substrate, a bake oven for heating and drying the fed hoop substrate, a die bonding device for applying an adhesive to a predetermined position on the dried substrate to mount an IC chip, and a cure oven for bonding the IC chip to the hoop substrate by heating and curing the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hisao Takemura
  • Patent number: 7387147
    Abstract: A method of inserting z-axis reinforcing fibers into a multi-layer composite laminate. Layers of material made up of z-axis fiber and y-axis fibers are automatically transported into a z-fiber deposition machine having a housing with upper and lower surfaces. Z-axis apertures are formed in the respective upper and lower surfaces. An elongated solid rod having a tapered front tip is aligned in close proximity to the aperture in the bottom surface. The rod is first rotated by a motor and then actuated upwardly completely through the thickness of the layer of x-y material by an actuator. A first hollow tube having a z-axis is axially aligned with the aperture in the top surface and a fiber bundle is threaded downwardly through a first hollow tube to a position adjacent its bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Ebert Composites Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Johnson, Scott A. Garrett, James M. Hooks, Stephen G. Moyers
  • Patent number: 7384492
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming hybrid and composite filters, which are more durable than that of the prior art. The method of forming a hybrid tubular filter includes wrapping a first layer of fiber, wrapping a filtering material and then wrapping a second layer of fiber. A mandrel is retained in a lathe chuck or the like and an end of fiber is attached to the mandrel. A fiber guide moves parallel to a length of the mandrel according to the direction of a control device. The method of forming a composite tubular filter includes wrapping a first layer of fiber around a mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventors: Richard G. Reinders, Jr., R. Scott Mattson, Oliver Luebker
  • Patent number: 7374632
    Abstract: Methods of forming a hermetic seal between fuel system components are provided. One of the methods can be achieved by passing a light beam through a wall of a polymeric member to an inner surface of the wall that surrounds an outer surface of a polymeric body and defines an internal passage for a flow of fuel; and welding the inner surface of the polymeric member to the outer surface of the polymeric body to provide a hermetic seal at the respective inner and outer surfaces against the flow of fuel. Another method can be achieved by disposing an adhesive on an inner surface of polymeric member that surrounds an outer surface of a polymeric body and defines an internal passage for a flow of fuel; and activating the adhesive to bond the polymeric member to the polymeric body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 7374629
    Abstract: A hollow telescopic fishing rod has a rod body made from resin and reinforcing fibers. The rod body has an inner circumferential surface, wherein concave surface portions and convex surface portions are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the rod body. The reinforcing fibers are applied to the convex surface portions in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Morimoto, Nobuyoshi Utsuno, Isamu Tokuda
  • Patent number: 7367372
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler for printing and applying labels and for printing tags. The labeler has a keyboard, a display, a scanner, and a battery-containing handle. The labeler is user-friendly and compact. The labeler can be easily loaded with label and tag webs of different widths. The labeler has a discharge chute for the carrier web which can be slid to a position outside the labeler for easy cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Paxar Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent E. Goodwin, Thomas P. Keller, James A. Makley, Mark W. Moore
  • Patent number: RE40288
    Abstract: A machine which inflates and seals pillows in packaging is compact in overall size, can be conveniently operated to produce varied lengths of strips of inflated pillow-type packaging as needed, can begin production of inflated pillow-type strip packaging immediately after being held out of a production cycle for some period of time, and applies a heated sealing element directly to and in sliding contact with a web of film to securely seal the inlet port of an inflated pillow while the pillow is under pressure and as the web of film is continuously and uninterruptedly advanced through the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Free-Flow Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Perkins, Oliver M. Reyes, Philipp Borchard, Nicholas P. De Luca