Patents Examined by Jeff H. Aftergut
  • Patent number: 7523776
    Abstract: A device for the dimensionally accurate application of an elastoplastic spacer strip onto a glass pane is disclosed. The device includes a compensating or tailback section between a first adjustably driven pair of rollers and a second adjustably driven pair of rollers, as well as a sensor for recognizing the position of the strip in the compensating section. The device is designed such that the spacer strip is not withdrawn from the storage drum but, instead, is unwound in a manner free from any tensile stress. The spacer strip, furthermore, is kept free from tensile and shearing stresses on the route up to being pressed onto a glass pane, despite the fact that the application speed will inevitably fluctuate several times between zero and a maximum value while edges of the glass pane are covered mechanically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Technopat AG
    Inventor: Peter Lisec
  • Patent number: 7524388
    Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric substrate comprises contacting a liquid crystalline polymer fibrous web having a thickness of 5 mils (127 micrometers) or less with a resin composition to form a dielectric composite. Contacting is carried out under vacuum, followed by pressure. The dielectric substrate is useful in circuit materials, circuits, and multi-layer circuits, economical to make, and has excellent dielectric strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: World Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Clifford Roseen, Jr., Murali Sethumadhavan
  • Patent number: 7517421
    Abstract: Process for the continuous manufacture of tubular composite or multi-layer membranes comprising a porous sub layer (support layer), mainly determining the mechanical strength of the membrane, and adjacent to the support layer a second layer of a material of different chemical nature (separation layer), mainly determining the separation properties of the membrane, winding a respective flat sheet composite membrane lengthwise or spirally around a mandrel or shaft, into a tube or hose, the separating layer of the composite membrane facing to the inside of the tube or hose, gluing or welding the edges which may overlap or form a butt seam, and applying to said seam or overlapping area from the inside of the tube or hose a sealing material which can be solidified, and finally solidifying said sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut E. A. Bruschke, Wolfgang Schafer, Nicholas Patrick Wynn, Frank-Klaus Marggraff
  • Patent number: 7513969
    Abstract: A process for making a corrugated stretch laminate comprising the steps of delivering a first elastomeric composition to a print device so as to form an elastic member; removing an elastic member from the print device; elongating the elastic member in a first direction; joining the elastic member to a first substrate; and allowing the elastic member to recovery to form said corrugated stretch laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Arman Ashraf
  • Patent number: 7513970
    Abstract: A method for fabrication of a bent reinforcing rod in a composite material is described, where the reinforcing rod is composed of longitudinal fibers and a sheathing layer of fibers or foil, comprising the steps: to moisten fiber thread with a binding agent, to reel the moistened fiber thread to a bundle with a closed, approximately circular shape, consisting of a layer of longitudinal, parallel fibers of a desired thickness, whereby all the fibers in the layer obtain an approximately equal axial tightening, and to envelope an outer layer of fiber threads, and/or foil, or other suitable material, around the layer of longitudinal fibers, and that the fabricated blank is given a final form in a second forming process. The invention also relates to a device (10) for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Spilka International AS
    Inventor: Kare Stafset
  • Patent number: 7513285
    Abstract: A gluing device of an end edge of a log in a machine for producing logs, wherein logs (14) delivered from being formed are fed on an inclined surface (13) disposed under an upper conveyor belt (17) towards a suction roller (18), connected to a vacuum source, the gluing device having a glue applicator (23, 24) disposed downstream of the suction roller (18), in which device the glue applicator comprises a glue picking up member (24) in a container below (23), which can move engaged between a position immersed in the glue and a position engaged with an end edge (19) of a log (14) disposed unwound on the suction roller (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: Giovanni Gambini
  • Patent number: 7507311
    Abstract: Heat-sealed articles formed from polymer film portions heated-sealed together in selected areas forming a heat seal pattern, by passing the film portions together in a partial wrap about a heated sealing roller having a cylindrical outer surface that supports the film portions in a smooth cylindrical configuration about the roll. The cylindrical outer surface of the roller comprises a first surface portion defining a configuration corresponding to the heat seal pattern and formed of a first material having a first thermal conductivity, and a second surface portion formed of a second material having a second thermal conductivity lower than the first thermal conductivity such that only areas of the film portions in contact with the first surface portion are heat sealed together, the first and second surface portions being substantially flush with each other at the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventor: Robert O'Dowd
  • Patent number: 7497921
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for securing a plurality of stringers to a mandrel during lay-up is provided, the plurality of stringers and mandrel forming a lay-up surface. The apparatus includes a vacuum source and a first vacuum attachment assembly in communication with said vacuum source to tightly secure the first vacuum attachment assembly down against the lay-up surface. A second vacuum attachment assembly is provided in communication with the vacuum source to force it tightly down against the lay-up. A flexible spacer is in rigid communication with the second vacuum attachment assembly and includes an extended end in communication with the first vacuum attachment assembly such that the flexible spacer presses one of the stringers against the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrell D. Jones, Kurtis S. Willden, Michael A. Lee, Richard B. Evans
  • Patent number: 7497919
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pressure vessel includes the steps of obtaining a metal liner and applying a first layer of adhesive to an outer surface of the metal liner. The metal liner is then placed into a vacuum bag and a vacuum is applied, thus securing the adhesive to the outer surface of the metal liner. After curing of the adhesive, a filamentary material is wound around the liner, where the filamentary material adheres to the first layer of adhesive forming an overwrap layer on the outer surface of the metal liner, forming the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Arde, Inc
    Inventor: Kirk Sneddon
  • Patent number: 7497917
    Abstract: One side of a metal sheet is joined to a polymer layer by applying heat to a joining area on the opposite side of the metal. The heat flows through the thin metal to activate a thermoplastic material or heat setting polymer into a bond with the metal. The method can be used to bond the metal sheet to a plastic body or another metal member. It is preferred to use a friction or friction stir tool to heat the metal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-Lung Chen, Peter H. Foss, Mark W. Verbrugge, Xiaohong Q. Gayden
  • Patent number: 7491289
    Abstract: Laminate structures and methods for forming same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a laminate structure includes a metal-polymer composite lamina. The metal-polymer composite lamina has a first face and a second face spaced apart, and extends to a terminal edge. The lamina includes a ply of fiber-reinforced polymer that extends between the first face and the second face and has an interior edge. The interior edge defines at least one cutout. A ply of metal foil extends between the first face and the second face substantially from the interior edge filling the at least one cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Willard N. Westre, David W Evans, Edward Li, Marc J. Piehl, Eric Sager
  • Patent number: 7490650
    Abstract: A workpiece processing device (10) for processing a workpiece (60; 20, 36) comprises: a surface protection film peeling means (50) for peeling a surface protection film (110), which is adhered to a front surface (21) of a workpiece, with a peeling tape (4); a bar code adhering means (11) for adhering a bar code (65) corresponding to the workpiece to the workpiece; and a movable support table (72) for supporting the workpiece. A peeling operation for peeling the surface protection film conducted by the surface protection film peeling means and a adhering operation for adhering a bar code conducted by the bar code adhering means are given to the workpiece while the workpiece is being supported by the support table. Due to the foregoing, it is possible to avoid failures when adhering the bar code to the workpiece, such as a wafer. The bar code adhering means may adhere the bar code, which corresponds to character information of the workpiece read out by an optical reading means, to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Kawashima, Hideshi Sato, Hideo Kino, Minoru Ametani
  • Patent number: 7488436
    Abstract: An optical disk is constructed such that a thin film including a reflective layer is formed on a substrate, or on a thermoplastic resin layer on the substrate. A stamper having an asperity pattern corresponding to information signals is directly pressed against the thin film to transfer the asperity pattern on the thin film. Heat-pressing the stamper against the thin film makes it possible to further accurately transfer the asperity of the stamper to the reflective layer with less pressing force, in the case where the reflective layer is formed on the thermoplastic resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Inoue
  • Patent number: 7476287
    Abstract: A soluble rivet tape is provided. The tape includes a soluble film and an adhesive coating that is applied to one or more sections of the soluble film. A plurality of rivets are inserted into place on a product, such as an airplane. The soluble rivet tape is applied to the product over the placed rivets. The plurality of rivets are set and the soluble rivet tape is removed. Any remaining rivet tape on the product is dissolved during a washing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Frederic P. Berg
  • Patent number: 7476289
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for bonding a sputtering target to a backing plate. In one embodiment, a sputtering target is vacuum bonded to a backing plate using an elastomeric adhesive and a metal mesh. The vacuum pulls the backing plate and sputtering target together while also removing air pockets that inevitably form within the adhesive during adhesive deposition and backing plate attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. White
  • Patent number: 7476288
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an elastomeric nonwoven laminate including a plurality of elastic strands joined to a nonwoven web in a controlled distribution is provided. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a plurality of elastic strands onto a cooled surface of a rotating drum, which transports the strands in parallel alignment to a nip formed between two rollers rotating about parallel axis. The drum transfers the plurality of strands to the nip in a controlled distribution where it is bonded with the nonwoven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Uwe Schneider, Christoph Johann Schmitz, Martin Geoffrey Scaife
  • Patent number: 7472736
    Abstract: A composite item is fabricated with a device. The device includes and end effector and a positioning device. The end effector places a tow. The end effector includes a spindle, compaction device, and a path. The spindle detachably secures a spool of tow and the path is disposed from the spool to the compaction device. The positioning device positions the end effector. The end effector is detachably secured to the positioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Kisch, Robert A. Kramp, Matthew K. Lum, Robert R. Wampler
  • Patent number: 7469735
    Abstract: To fabricate a composite item, a device places a composite ply on a curved form at about 0° relative to a longitudinal axis of the form. The form includes a web surface and a cap surface. The device includes a web compaction roller and a set of guides. The web compaction roller compacts a composite material upon the web surface and generate a web ply. The set of guide rollers urges against the cap surface. The compaction roller is directed along the form by the guide rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Brown, Darrell D. Jones, Andrew E. Modin
  • Patent number: 7468116
    Abstract: A thin ribbon spirally wound polymer conduit and method of forming, wherein a helical reinforcing bead is interposed adjacent overlapping layers of ribbon. Further, a method of continuously forming spirally wound conduit wherein a sacrificial layer, preferably having a different base polymer to that of the conduit, is first applied to the former before the conduit is formed overtop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Daniel John Smith, Nathan Lee Gray, Blair Victor Skelton
  • Patent number: 7465367
    Abstract: A process for forming a multi-strand elastic laminate comprising the steps of: (a) providing a multi-strand elastic feed (1); (b) feeding the multi-strand elastic via a feed nip roll (2) for further processing; (c) imparting a tension to the multi-strand elastic feed; (d) separating the multi-strand elastic feed into strands (4) separated in the cross-direction; (e) applying a hot melt adhesive to both surfaces of each strand separated in the cross-direction to give adhesive coated separated strands (6); and (f) sandwiching the adhesive coated separated strands between two further layers of material (7) whereby the further layers of material are adhered to either side of the adhesive coated elastic strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Elastics Limited
    Inventor: Victor Spencer Day