Patents Examined by Jeffery R. Thurlow
  • Patent number: 5718862
    Abstract: A method for preparing a medical device having the steps: (1) treating an ionically crosslinked hydrogel to strip a substantial amount of the ionic crosslinks while retaining the hydrogel in a desired shape; and (2) ionically re-crosslinking the treated hydrogel of step (1) while retaining the hydrogel in the desired shape. In an exemplary embodiment, a ureteral stent is made by mounting a length of extruded calcium or barium alginate tubing onto a shaping jig and performing secondary shaping to form coil-shaped ends by soaking the mounted robing in a stirred potassium chloride bath, and then soaking it in a calcium chloride bath. The ends readily return after elastic deformation to their coil shapes, with the stent having a permanent memory imposed by the secondary shaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: Samuel Anthony Thompson
  • Patent number: 5716574
    Abstract: A process for the co-extrusion of an outer layer, a middle layer, and an inner layer, each layer including a thermoplastic resin, around a conductive medium in three extruders, one extruder for each layer, connected by a triple crosshead, each of said extruders having an extrusion zone comprising a die plate and, downstream of the die plate, a die, and, downstream of the extrusion zone, a common crosslinking zone, comprising passing the thermoplastic resins through the extrusion zones, under extrusion conditions including an extrusion temperature in the range of at least 150 degrees C. to below the decomposition temperature of the organic peroxide referred to hereinafter, and passing the extrudate into the crosslinking zone, under crosslinking conditions, the improvement comprising introducing an organic peroxide having a half life of one minute at a temperature of about 150 to about 200 degrees C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Unicar Company Limited
    Inventor: Youichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5716566
    Abstract: A method for making a mottled and patterned pen barrel is disclosed, wherein a tube is preformed to have two ends and an intermediate portion, At least one mold cavity is provided in a mold for forming the pen barrel. A pair of positioning members are sleeved respectively around two ends of the tube, and the positioning members are positioned in the mold cavity so as to center the tube in the mold cavity and so as to create, in the mold cavity, a molding space surrounding an entire peripheral surface of the intermediate portion. A liquid coating composition is poured into the molding space to form a cover integral with the entire peripheral surface of the intermediate portion. Finally, the covered tube is removed from the mold cavity and the positioning members are removed from the covered tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Alvin Lee Jewelry, Inc.
    Inventor: Yeou-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 5716573
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for surface treatment of a weather strip, by which a surface appearance almost identical to an embossing process is obtained in a simplified way without requiring any post-treatment by, for example, an embossing roll, wherein a thin film compressed and deformed by causing thermoplastic resin powder grains 5, which are mixed with thermoplastic base resin 4 and are not completely melted at an extrusion molding temperature, to pass through a flow path 6 of die 1, is extrusion-molded on the surface of glass run 2, and the thin film portion is applied as a sliding plane 3 for door glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Kamei
  • Patent number: 5709941
    Abstract: A process for rapidly improving the flowability, in pellet form, of a molding composition is disclosed. Accordingly, the crystalline content of an amorphous or a semi-amorphous version of a crystallizable thermoplastic resin is increased by subjecting the resin to infra-red radiation to an extent which induces the formation of crystals in the irradiated amorphous resin or the increase of the level of crystals in the semi-amorphous irradiated resins. The resin modified by the inventive process is rendered more suitable for processing: in dried, pellet-form, the modified resin is characterized by its improved flowability. An article molded from the thus modified resin exhibits better properties than does a corresponding article made from a unmodified resins which has been subjected to similar drying conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventor: James P. Mason
  • Patent number: 5705111
    Abstract: Methods related to coextrusion of heat-sensitive polymer materials. The sensitive melt stream element (12) is encapsulated in a second polymeric melt stream element (16). Transport means (36) is preferably employed between the encapsulating means (20) and the die (42). A third melt stream element (68) is joined to one or both opposing surfaces (70) of the second melt stream element (16) between the encapsulating means (20) and the die (42). In the die (42) the encapsulated melt stream element (12) becomes an interior layer (46) between encapsulating layers (48A, 48B) derived from the second melt stream element (16). The third melt stream element (68) forms layers (72, 74) positioned outwardly of the encapsulating layers (48A, 48B). The positioning, on the interior of the extrudate, of edges (54) of layer (46) is adjusted independently of the combined thicknesses of a layer derived from the third melt stream element (68) and an adjacent layer (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Robert John Blemberg, John P. Eckstein, Kevin J. Curie
  • Patent number: 5702664
    Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus includes a die head with first, second, third and fourth annular nozzles. An adhesive extruder is connected to the first and third nozzles, a barrier extruder is connected to the second nozzle and a reclaimed material extruder is connected to the fourth nozzle. Inner and outer main material flow passages are connected to a main material extruder, as well. The annular nozzles and the main material flow passages are connected to an extrusion nozzle for forming a parison. The barrier material extruder has a cylinder which is connected to the second nozzle. A screw lies within the cylinder. The second nozzle has a ridge opposite an end of the screw, for dividing the extruded barrier flow material, mitigating stagnation of the barrier material as it passes through the second nozzle. A method of forming a parison is described, as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Yamada, Shigeaki Sano, Toshiji Yoshida, Toshio Kagitani
  • Patent number: 5702656
    Abstract: Processes for fabricating substantially void-free polymeric articles are provided. In one embodiment, a polymer melt is formed followed by extrusion through a die to form a polymeric extrudate. The polymeric extrudate is directly discharged vertically upward into an open-ended mold the open-ended mold having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially vertically. The polymeric article is cooled and removed from the mold. In a further embodiment, a mold is loaded with polymeric particles. The mold is oriented such that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical. A vacuum is drawn on the loaded mold followed by heating the loaded mold above the melting point of the polymeric particles. After the polymeric particles are melted, the loaded mold is charged with an inert gas to above ambient pressure to collapse any remaining voids. The loaded mold is slowly cooled to form a polymeric article. Oriented polymeric bioabsorbable cannulated surgical articles and a method of making same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignees: United States Surgical Corporation, Biomet, Inc.
    Inventors: David Sarver, Keith D'Alessio, Raymond A. D'Alessio
  • Patent number: 5702659
    Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die including a feed section having a plurality of feedholes for the input of an extrudable material, a discharge section including a discharge opening for discharging the extrudable material as a channeled honeycomb body, and a multilayer transition section disposed between the feed section and the discharge section for conveying and conditioning the extrudable material from the feed to the discharge sections, is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Harry A. Kragle, Floyd E. Stumpff, David R. Treacy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5700413
    Abstract: A die for the preparation of a toner resin in an extruder having a housing defining a housing aperture therein and a conveyor for conveying the resin through the housing aperture to form a stream of resin is provided. The die includes a member connected to a first end of the housing. The member defines an opening therethrough. The member includes a splitter disposed adjacent the opening for splitting a stream of resin passing through the opening in a first direction into two separate streams of resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Fumii Higuchi, John J. Ianni, Fraser S. Smith, Michael G. Hawkins, Joseph L. Leonardo
  • Patent number: 5700412
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making laminar articles by blending multicomponent pellets of a heterogeneous blend of a barrier resin, typically a condensation polymer, and a compatibilizer with a polyolefin. The pellets advantageously prevent segregation of the barrier resin and the compatibilizer during processing. This provides uniform, reproducible laminar articles with improved barrier properties and mechanical properties. The articles exhibit good fluid barrier and mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Vinodkumar Mehra, Robert Benham Fish, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5698237
    Abstract: An apparatus for granulating thermally unstable synthetic plastic material includes a tip-driven plasticizing screw positioned in a housing. The screw conveys the synthetic plastic material through exit openings in the housing, wherein granulating knives slidably engaged with the housing exit openings cut-off pellets of synthetic plastic material. The drive mechanism for the plasticizing screw is disposed at the exit opening side of the screw with the orbit of the granulating knives disposed between the exit openings and the drive mechanism. The drive shaft of the plasticizing screw is detachably coupled to the front, or exit, end of the screw. A conveyor blower cools the pellets as they are severed from the exit openings, and further operates to convey the pellets to a storage bin for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventors: Helmut Bacher, Helmuth Schulz, Georg Wendelin
  • Patent number: 5695698
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous solid state forming of semicrystalline polymers using roll-drawing is disclosed. The output of an extruded thick polymer profile is stabilized by a gear pump. The profile is passed through a die for the desired geometry and a cooling calibrator. The profile is heat conditioned in heating tunnels to a temperature below the melting point prior to deformation between sets of rolls. A plurality, e.g. four pairs of rolls apply both compression and tension to the polymer profile. The tension applied on the profile, the roll gap, the linear speed of the profile and its temperature are monitored and controlled for the amount of polymer deformation and relaxation allowed. High tensile modulus and strength, both in the longitudinal and transverse direction of the polymeric strip, can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: Abdellah Ajji, Michel M. Dumoulin, Jacques Dufour
  • Patent number: 5693276
    Abstract: A method for extruding synthetic welding material using a welding device for synthetic welding material for the purpose of producing welding seams is characterized by the following features:a) A plastic wire is drawn by a feed device into the welding device (11, 12, 38) for synthetic welding material;b) The plastic wire is fed by the feed device (11, 12, 38) with a specific advancement into a cutting device (26, 36) of the welding device for synthetic welding material;c) In the cutting device (26, 36), pieces are cut consecutively from the plastic wire while forming essentially even cutting surfaces;d) The advancement of the plastic wire and the cutting frequency of the cutting device (26, 36) are in such a ratio to each other that the cut-off length of the pieces is in the same magnitude as the mean diameter of the plastic wire;e) The pieces are then heated until they are plastified;f) The plastified synthetic material is ejected as synthetic welding material from the welding device for synthetic welding mat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Wegener GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Weissfloch
  • Patent number: 5690872
    Abstract: A method for the casting of highly filled plastics containing polymethyl methacrylate, the method involving:preparing a filler suspension by combining from 30 to 80 wt %, based on the amount of filler suspension, of at least one particle-shaped, inorganic filler with a polymer precursor under high-speed stirring, wherein the polymer precursor is made from methyl methacrylate and a polymethyl methacrylate prepolymer, wherein the filler suspension further contains from 1 to 20 parts by weight, based on the amount of filler suspension, of a colored, filled, comminuted polymer material having a density precisely adapted to the density of the filler suspension and wherein the comminuted polymer material contains a polymer component which is highly crosslinked; andpolymerizing the filler suspension by contacting the filler suspension with at least one radical initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Roehm GmbH Chemische Fabrik
    Inventors: Manfred Krieg, Guenther Ittmann
  • Patent number: 5690875
    Abstract: A high-quality molded surface fastener is manufactured by extruding molten thermoplastic resin, in a predetermined width, from an extrusion nozzle to a circumferential surface of a die wheel having a multiplicity of engaging-element-forming cavities, driving the die wheel for rotation, and molding a multiplicity of engaging elements integrally with a plate-like substrate sheet. At the same time, pseudo elements are molded integrally with the substrate sheet along opposite side edges, using pseudo-element-forming cavities in opposite side circumferential surfaces of the die wheel simultaneously. With the pseudo elements, the molded surface fastener is peeled off the die wheel under a uniform peeling force through the entire width of the substrate sheet. Thus the high-quality surface fastener can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakakibara, Ryuichi Murasaki, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5688590
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for preparing SRIM molded article. The process broadly requires the use of a fiber reinforcement mat which is placed inside the mold cavity, and then a polyurethane reaction system is injected into the mold. The system comprising a polyisocyanate and a blend of active hydrogen containing compounds requires aldimines as part of the blend of active hydrogen containing compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: E. Haakan Jonsson, Kristen L. Parks, Harald Pielartzik, Philip E. Yeske, Douglas A. Wicks
  • Patent number: 5688456
    Abstract: A process for preparing a multilayer film having at least one polyamide layer include the steps of forcing out from a T-die by co-extrusion a multi-layer film having a layer containing about 50 to about 95% by weight of a crystalline polyamide and about 50 to about 5% by weight of an amorphous polyamide, and stretching the film at least in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Gunze Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Kuriu, Akira Mita, Kazufumi Ueno, Yoshinori Matsumoto, Yoshihiro Wada, Masaaki Iwami
  • Patent number: 5688459
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a high water-containing elastomer medical catheter and a urinary catheter prepared by the process. The process is carried out by a) heating a mixture consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, water, sulfoxide and linear alkane, in a sealed vessel with agitating; b) pouring the resulting homogeneous fluid into a mould; c) solidifying the fluid by cooling; d) releasing the solidified fluid from the mould; and e) heat-treating the resulting medical catheter and washing with a polar organic solvent. The medical catheter and the urinary catheter of the present invention have excellent lubricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Chin Rehabilitation Research Center
    Inventors: Lijiang Mao, Yuanjie Hu, Dongxu Piao
  • Patent number: 5688455
    Abstract: A method of making a cellulose triacetate photographic film support by forming a dope solution of cellulose triacetate in a first solvent, passing the dope solution under pressure through a sheet forming die zone having an upper and lower surface and two edge surfaces, injecting a second solvent into the dope solution at the edge surfaces within the die zone in an amount sufficient to form a slip layer at the two edge surfaces, exiting the dope solution from the sheet forming die zone and separating the solvent from the cellulose triacetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Randall Joseph Kehl, Eric Eugene Arrington