Patents Examined by Jeff H. Aftergut
  • Patent number: 7731815
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for nonlinear laying of components such as elastics on a continuous web is provided. In an apparatus embodiment, the apparatus comprises a diverter and a combining roll. The apparatus can be configured to vary an elastic profile of the elastic member on a continuous web by oscillating a rotation of the diverter. The method and apparatus can be used for making absorbent articles such as diapers and training pants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Eckstein, Bradley E. Walsh
  • Patent number: 7727350
    Abstract: Articles (12) made by winding of filamentary material (11), such as yarn and thread, are especially suitable for providing brushes and pile weatherstripping. In order to enable the yarn (11) to be unwound and payed out of spools (24) disposed in a stationary or static array, the yarn is fed from the spools (24) through a rotating spindle (30). A frame (14) located at the beginning of the path and may be provided by laterally spaced pairs of wire (52) which travel around posts (36) provided by rollers on a stationary bracket (38). In order to support the bracket (38) and the frame (14), a shaft (28) reciprocates a pair of support rods (100, 102) in synchronism with the rotation of the spindle (30). Bindings (60, 62) are applied to the ends of the loops (54) as they leave the winding station (14). Slitters (20) divide the loops (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Ultrafab, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Hawkins, Grant E. Wylie
  • Patent number: 7721781
    Abstract: An inflatable web, and method and apparatus for inflating the web, which generally includes two sheets having inner surfaces sealed to each other in a pattern defining a series of inflatable chambers of predetermined length, each of the chambers having at least one change in width over their length; an inflation port located at a proximal end of each chamber, the inflation ports being formed by intermittent seals between the sheets; and longitudinal flanges formed by a portion of each of the sheets that extend beyond the inflation ports and intermittent seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation
    Inventors: Charles R. Sperry, Suzanne Scott
  • Patent number: 7718028
    Abstract: A process for forming fluid filled units is disclosed. In the process, a web having a series of side connected pouches are fed to an inflation station. The pouches are connected by a line of perforations. First perforations of the line of perforations that extend from an inflation opening of each pouch are shorter than second perforations of the line of perforations that extend from the first perforations toward a side edge of each pouch. The pouches filled with fluid and sealed to form fluid filled units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hershey Lerner, Dana Liebhart
  • Patent number: 7703495
    Abstract: A compact fiber placement apparatus includes a fiber placement head, an articulated wrist apparatus, and a wrist mounting adapter for connecting the compact fiber placement apparatus to a fiber placement machine. The components of the compact fiber placement apparatus are operatively connected to one another by a wrist rotation torque motor, a head rotation torque motor, and a wrist pivot torque motor, to provide pivoting and rotating motion. A redirect arrangement includes a pivot redirect element driven by the wrist rotation torque motor at one half of the rotational speed at which a first and second wrist element of the articulated wrist apparatus pivot with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7699953
    Abstract: A method and a product of one-time enveloping silicone gel with plastic films. The surfaces of two films to be in contact with the silicone gel are treated by a plasma casing process (crosslinking by activated species of inert gases) or an electron beam process in advance so as to improve the wetting capability thereof. Thereby the films and the silicone gel are able to tightly combine together without the fear of separation. The operation is carried out under a vacuum environment so that no bubble will be generated therein and the leakage of the silicone gel on welding portions will be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Hui-Mei Chen
  • Patent number: 7699954
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a unique nonwoven fabric which has the appearance of a woven fabric includes a supply station for parallel warp yarns, a support structure for orienting the parallel warp yarns into a cylindrical orientation, a weft yarn applicator for wrapping weft yarns around the cylindrically oriented warp yarns after an adhesive scrim has been overlaid onto the warp yarns, a heating station for activating the adhesive and a cooling station for setting the adhesive, and a cutter for severing the cylindrically formed fabric laminate so that it can be flattened and wrapped onto a take-up roller. The weft yarn applicator including a rotating drum wherein a plurality of spools of weft yarn material are mounted in circumferentially spaced relationship and a tensioner is provided for applying the weft yarn material around the warp yarns in a predetermined tension which may be the same as, greater than, or less than the tension in the warp yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Paul G. Swiszcz, David Hartman
  • Patent number: 7691219
    Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing a body, a device for implementing the method, and products obtained by the method. In the method, at least a first heated composite strip is introduced into at least one die, and at the same time, at least one molten material is introduced into the die in contact with the first composite strip, to obtain at least one second composite strip, and the second composite strip is wound around a support rotating about its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: OCV Intellectual Capital LLC
    Inventors: Guy Zanella, Christophe Ducret, Jacques Voiron
  • Patent number: 7686054
    Abstract: An apparatus for everting a pipe-lining material for rehabilitating an existing pipe. The apparatus has a storage container for storing a pipe-lining material in an un-everted state, an eversion nozzle for everting the pipe-lining material, and a mounting pipe for removable connection between the storage container and the eversion nozzle. The everting nozzle has a nozzle opening to which the un-everted pipe-lining material is attached and which confronts an opening of the pipeline to be rehabilitated during use of the apparatus. The mounting pipe has an exterior surface, an interior space, a side portion provided with at least one opening communicating the exterior surface with the interior space, and an upper portion with an open end through which the un-everted pipe-lining material is inserted for attachment to the nozzle opening of the eversion nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Shonan Gosei-Jushi Seisakusho K.K.
    Inventors: Takao Kamiyama, Koji Kaneta, Kenji Fujii, Ryoichi Goto
  • Patent number: 7686908
    Abstract: An assembly and method for manufacturing a composite reinforcement for unitizing a structure are provided. According to one embodiment, the assembly includes a base having a plurality of pins extending outwardly therefrom to define a structure about which a composite fiber is wound to define a composite reinforcement preform. The assembly also includes a plurality of mandrels positioned adjacent to the base and at least a portion of the composite reinforcement preform, and a cap that is positioned over at least a portion of the plurality of mandrels. The cap is configured to engage each of the mandrels to support the mandrels and the composite reinforcement preform during a curing process to form the composite reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David T. Misciagna, Jessica J. Fuhrer, Robert S. Funk, William S. Tolotta
  • Patent number: 7686617
    Abstract: The invention shows the method to create a high accuracy topographical scale model for the purpose of science by using multi layered/laminated materials. The invention is based on and involves the following steps: The geometry and the data of terrain are measured, collected, and recorded; The data is entered into a computer and design components are added, if needed; Based on these data a three-dimensional surface is created; A block of multi-layered/laminated materials made of a combination of veneers, or machinable dividers/layers, laminated one on the top of another, is constructed. Based on the three-dimensional surface, a program for a C.N.C machine is generated; Based on the program, the C.N.C. machine cuts/removes the excess material from the block of multi-layered materials. The three-dimensional surface, contour lines, elevations, outlines, and edges are then exposed automatically and are easy visually measurable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventors: Adam Wcislo, Zofia Anna Sawkiewicz
  • Patent number: 7681615
    Abstract: A replaceable tow alignment path kit for a tow placement device may include a tow alignment tray to guide a predetermined width of tow along a tow path of a tow placement head. The tow alignment tray may include a channel having a width corresponding to the predetermined width of tow and a connector to releasably engage the tow placement head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Peter D. McCowin
  • Patent number: 7678218
    Abstract: A production method for an electroacoustic transducer diaphragm includes producing an adhered sheet by adhering a sheet member on a surface of a wooden sheet having a thickness of from 0.01 mm to 3 mm, and the sheet member being made of a material different from the wooden sheet, immersing the adhered sheet into one of a solution including 0.01-1 wt % of a penetrating agent and a solution including 0.01-1 wt % of penetrating agent and 0.01-20 wt % of a wetting agent, and molding the adhered sheet obtained by the immersing step so that the immersed adhered sheet has a predetermined shape of the electroacoustic transducer diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Tomoaki Ogata, Yoshiaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7670447
    Abstract: A method for coating a substrate and a coating device used therein that can smoothly form an adhesive layer on the surface of a substrate without roughening, is provided which do not require a drying process and is free of various problems such as sick house syndrome stemming from use of organic solvents. In addition, a method of producing a laminated object using the coating method and the laminated object obtained thereby are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiko Minamida, Tomoaki Harada, Toyokuni Fujiwara, Takayoshi Ito, Nobuhiko Endo
  • Patent number: 7670451
    Abstract: A cable is installed in coiled tubing for use in. downhole wells; the cable having an expandable jacket (22) extruded around it. After being installed in the coiled tubing, and the expandable jacket is caused to expand, securing the cable in the coiled tubing. The expandable jacket is caused to expand by the application of heat or by the application of a liquid hydrocarbon. The expandable jacket may be discontinuous along the length of the power cable, discontinuous portions being provided by interspersing the expandable jacket with sections non-expandable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Artificial Lift Company Limited
    Inventor: Philip Head
  • Patent number: 7662251
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite riser section with a liner assembly comprises holding the liner assembly in a horizontal position, bowing the liner assembly upward, and winding resin impregnated fibers about the liner assembly to form a structural composite overwrap. Another method of manufacturing a composite riser with a liner assembly comprises holding the liner assembly in a horizontal position between two supports, and winding resin impregnated fibers about the liner assembly to form a structural composite overwrap. A system for manufacturing a composite riser section with a liner assembly having a longitudinal axis comprises a first support and a second support that hold the liner assembly in a horizontal position therebetween, and a plurality of rollers that rotate the liner assembly about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Mamdouh M. Salama, Brian E. Spencer
  • Patent number: 7654296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a single facer corrugator belt having a base structure. The base structure includes an inside and an outside surface and a machine or running direction and a cross machine direction. The base structure is formed by machine direction yarns and cross machine direction yarns and has grooves formed in a surface of the base structure. Alternatively, the corrugator belt may include includes holes formed in a surface of the base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Alan L. Billings, Gregory Zilker
  • Patent number: 7651578
    Abstract: A guidewire and methods for making and using the same. The guidewire may include a core wire and a polymer jacket attached to the core wire. The guidewire may be manufactured by advancing the core wire, polymer jacket, and a tooling tube through a heated die assembly so as to heat and compress the polymer jacket onto the core wire. Optionally, the tooling tube may be removed from the jacket after advancing the components through the die assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Sharrow, Brian R. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7648607
    Abstract: Disclosed are composite laminates that can exhibit high strength and/or low dielectric loss and can also be lightweight. The laminates include layers formed of high modulus polyolefin fiber. The fibers can be woven or knit to form a fabric or can be included in a nonwoven fabric that can be one or more layers of the composite structures. The layers including the high modulus polyolefin fibers can include other fibers, such as fiberglass. The composites can also include layers of other materials, for instance layers formed of polyaramids, fiberglass, or carbon fiber wovens or nonwovens. The composites can advantageously be utilized in low loss dielectric applications, such as in forming circuit board substrates, or in applications beneficially combining strength with low weight, such as automobile and boat materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Innegrity, LLC
    Inventor: Brian G. Morin
  • Patent number: 7640961
    Abstract: A 360° tool for making a one-piece composite tubular structure, such as a skin of an acoustic liner, is adjustable between a molding position and a non-molding position. The tool includes a base, a fixed segment mounted to the base, first and second doors hingedly connected on either side of the fixed sector, and third door hingedly connected to the second door. The third door has a circumferential extent that is less than one-fourth that of either the first or second door. Sealing members are provided between the doors. Collectively, the fixed sector, and the first, second and third doors have a predetermined shaped surface that corresponds to a portion of the contour of the tubular structure to be formed. After composite material is applied on the outer surfaces of the fixed sector and the doors, a vacuum bag is formed to surround the composite material and also the joint areas on the inner surface of the tool. The entire tool may be placed in an autoclave for curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: ROHR, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Stubner, Joseph Irrgang, Steve Holt, Alan Douglas