Patents Examined by Jimmy R Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12186981
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object comprises the steps of forming a layer of a particulate composition, selectively depositing a liquid composition onto the layer of the particulate composition in accordance with computer data corresponding to the shape of at least a portion of a three-dimensional object, and repeating the steps a plurality of times to form a three-dimensional object. The particulate composition comprises a plurality of first particles that comprise a resin component comprising a first resin, the first resin comprising a first resin polymerizable group. Either or both of the particulate composition and the liquid composition comprise an initiator capable of initiating polymerization of at least the first resin. At least the first resin undergoes melting and polymerization in a plurality of the locations where the liquid composition has been selectively deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Franz Gradus Antonius Jansen, Rudolfus Antonius Theodorus Maria Van Benthem, Paulus Franciscus Anna Buijsen, Franciscus Johannes Marie Derks, Mark Petrus Franciscus Pepels, Alfred Jean Paul Buckmann
  • Patent number: 12186942
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming and applying artificial fingernails is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus includes a housing; a rotatable carousel disposed at least partially within the housing, the rotatable carousel including a plurality of fingernail molds that are configured to be rotated with the carousel, the plurality of fingernail molds configured to form a plurality of different fingernail shapes using an artificial fingernail molding material; a dispensing device disposed at least partially within the housing, the dispensing device configured to dispense the artificial fingernail molding material onto a fingertip portion of a user within a selected one of the plurality of fingernail molds; and a curing device, the curing device configured to cure the artificial fingernail molding material on the fingertip portion of the user so as to form an artificial fingernail having a particular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventor: Cuong Phung
  • Patent number: 12172366
    Abstract: The disclosure provides systems for 3D printing. A 3D printer system includes one or more sources of actinic radiation characterized at least by a powered state and an unpowered state. A resin enclosure is transmissive to the actinic radiation. A temperature control system thermally communicates with the resin enclosure and maintains the resin enclosure at a predetermined sub-ambient chilled state. A control circuit is in electrical communication with the sources of actinic radiation and the temperature control system. The control circuit includes first non-transitory logic to switch the sources of actinic radiation to the powered state when one or more threshold criteria is satisfied including a requirement the temperature control system is in a predetermined state causing the resin enclosure to be below a temperature. A second non-transitory logic switches the sources of actinic radiation to the unpowered state when one or more threshold criteria is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas John Farrell Wallin, Lincoln Ghioni
  • Patent number: 12145311
    Abstract: A method of multi-material 3D printing is performed by an apparatus comprising at least one printhead device; a build platform; a light source; and a computing unit comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with program instructions for controlling the at least one printhead device; the build platform; and the light source to perform the method of multi-material 3D printing. In various embodiments, each printhead device comprises a coating section, a curing section, a cleaning section, and optionally, a post-curing section. Each printhead device is configured to perform each of these steps, with the multiple printheads engaged in fabricating a multi-material part layer-by-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Yong Chen, Huachao Mao
  • Patent number: 12129369
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process to produce a composition of polyethylene comprising post-consumer resin for the production of caps and closures, comprising the steps of providing from 20 wt. % to 85 wt. % of a component A being one or more polyethylene post-consumer resins having a melt index ranging from 0.8 to 3.0 g/10 min, and a density ranging from 0.940 to 0.965 g/cm3: providing a component B being a polyethylene resin having a melt index (MI2) ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 g/10 min. and a density ranging from 0.940 to 0.965 g/cm3: providing one or more antioxidants: and blending the components and the one or more antioxidants to form a composition of polyethylene having a melt index ranging from 1.0 to 3.2 g/10 min; wherein the composition of polyethylene is having a z average molecular weight (Mz) of at most 390.000 g/mol as determined by gel permeation chromatography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: TOTALENERGIES ONETECH BELGIUM
    Inventors: David Ribour, Jenny Arbon
  • Patent number: 12129046
    Abstract: According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed. The method includes forming one or more aircraft surfaces from at least one of one or more metal materials or metal composite materials; and forming a surface coating, at least partially covering the one or more aircraft surfaces, with one or more materials above a dielectric strength threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Phalgun Madhusudan
  • Patent number: 12128609
    Abstract: Devices, systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed that facilitate part layer curing by an additive manufacturing device wherein each element of the part layer is exposed to light from a light source until the element receives sufficient energy to cure. In an aspect, received energy is calculated based on both the light received directly from the light source and light received from surrounding elements due to dispersion and other effects. The present disclosure enables consistent curing across a part layer, facilitate the creation of sharp outer structures, and allow fragile structures to be built alongside larger structures without a loss of quality, clarity, or resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: B9CREATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Joyce
  • Patent number: 12122088
    Abstract: A production line for producing components to a high standard of cleanliness and sealed and protected in that state includes a loading device, a cleaning device, a detecting device, a pasting device, a heat-sealing device, a packing device, and transfer devices of the production line. The production line automatically processes the components for obtaining components with the high cleanliness. By the processes of protective film pasting, heat-sealing, and packing, the components may be further protected from subsequent pollution. A method for producing components with a high cleanliness applied to the production line is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Fulian Yuzhan Precision Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jian-Wen Gao, Ting-Ting Li, Chu-Hui Wu, Ai-Jun Tang, Hui Wang, Shi Chen, Bo Yang, Feng Zhang, Kun-Liang Lin, Jian-Gang Zhang
  • Patent number: 12109734
    Abstract: An imprint mold-forming substrate is manufactured by providing a starting imprint mold-forming substrate (1) having a patterned portion (2) and a non-patterned portion (5), providing a table (3) having a recess (4), bonding the substrate (1) to the table (3) such that the patterned portion (2) is received in the recess (4) of the table to define a space region (7) between the patterned portion (2) and the table (3) such that the patterned portion is not in direct contact with the table, and performing contour machining on the substrate (1) secured to the table (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamazaki, Daiyu Okafuji, Masaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 12097677
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shoe component may include injecting a material into a mold cavity to create a thin sheet of molded material formed as a single piece with molded holes extending through the molded material and formed as part of the injection molding process. The thin sheet of molded material may be in a shape that can be secured together to form a shoe upper including a vamp, a medial portion, and a lateral portion. The method may include removing, from the mold cavity, the sheet of molded material, folding the sheet of molded material, optionally cementing a first portion of the sheet of molded material to a second portion of the sheet of molded material, and cementing a third portion of the sheet of molded material to a sole to form a shoe. The completed shoe may also include an insole, a tongue, and laces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Crocs, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefano Ferniani
  • Patent number: 12083598
    Abstract: Examples of an apparatus for dispensing a powdered material are described. The dispensing apparatus comprises a dispenser with an inlet and a dispensing opening, and a vibrating system that is in communication to the dispenser and which provides a continuing periodic oscillation of the dispenser. The apparatus further comprises a controller in communication with a driver of the vibrating system to control a frequency, amplitude and duration of the vibrations such that the powdered material continuously flows out through the dispensing opening during vibration of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Inventor: Ralf Edinger
  • Patent number: 12083777
    Abstract: A honeycomb for curved surface lightweight components includes a plurality of elongate ribbons and connecting regions. The connecting regions are provided, respectively, between opposing ribbons to connect the ribbons together in a portion-wise manner in a firmly bonded relationship in a transverse direction. The connecting regions are arranged at regular spacings along the longitudinal direction of a ribbon. Honeycomb-like cells form cavities between the ribbons. With respect to three successive ribbons, a displacement of the connecting regions between first and second ribbons relative to the connecting regions between second and third ribbons toward a first side of the longitudinal direction is lesser than toward a second side of the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: EURO-COMPOSITES S.A.
    Inventors: Rolf-Mathias Alter, Willy Wintgens, Michael Willert, Ralf Schmitt
  • Patent number: 12083596
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for disassembling components are described. An apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a first component including a first adhesive interface, a second component including a second adhesive interface, a joint between the first and second adhesive interfaces, the joint comprising an adhesive bonding to the first adhesive interface and to the second adhesive interface, such that the first component and the second component are joined together, and at least one thermal element in the adhesive, wherein the at least one thermal element is configured to weaken the joint by heating the adhesive when an energy is applied to the thermal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Narender Shankar Lakshman
  • Patent number: 12075875
    Abstract: A lower mandrel for a cap logo applicator includes a structure having a curved surface and a first end and a second end, an extension extending from the first end to the second end, and a first pad positioned on an upper surface of the structure. The first pad extends radially beyond both the first end and the second end and below a lower surface of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Stahls' Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Robinson, Anton Galkin, Weiyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 12073962
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods related to a transparent conductive film are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of forming a transparent conductive member (e.g., a transparent conductive film) includes extruding a metallic nanoparticle composition from a capillary tube onto a temporary substrate to form an extrudate. The extrudate can include metallic nanoparticle lines. The method further includes sintering the extrudate and the temporary substrate, dispensing a photocurable polymer onto the temporary substrate, and laminating a second substrate to the photocurable polymer. The photocurable polymer and the extrudate are interposed between the temporary substrate and the second substrate. The method further includes curing the photocurable polymer to form a transparent polymer layer and separating the temporary substrate from the transparent layer to form the transparent conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: XTPL S.A.
    Inventors: Łukasz Witczak, Maciej Chrzanowski, Artur Podhorodecki, Filip Granek
  • Patent number: 12064833
    Abstract: A bracket presenter for an ultrasonic welder includes a one-piece first bracket portion and a one-piece second bracket portion mounted relative to one another. First and second tapered features are respectively provided by the first and second bracket portions and are nested relative to one another. The first and second tapered features engage in an extended position and are spaced from one another in a compressed position to provide a clearance enabling the first and second bracket portions to float lateral relative to one another. A spring biases the first and second bracket portions apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: T.A. SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Hendrik Stoltz, Theodore Robert Brown, Miso Todorovic
  • Patent number: 12059050
    Abstract: A cap logo applicator, and method of fabricating, includes a first mandrel having a front and a back, the first mandrel having a curved, non-cylindrical surface, and a relief space in the back such that when a cap is positioned on the first mandrel, a front of the cap is in contact with the non-cylindrical surface and a top of the cap extends over the relief space, and a second mandrel opposing the first mandrel and configured to apply pressure to the first mandrel. At least one of the first mandrel and the second mandrel includes a heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Stahls' Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Robinson, Anton Galkin, Weiyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 12053967
    Abstract: A screen protector installation tool for installing a screen protector on a screen of an electronic device, the tool includes a holding base and a pressing assembly, the holding base has a holding chamber for holding the electronic device and two guiding rails at two sides of the holding chamber, the pressing assembly includes a sliding element and a pressing element, wherein the sliding element includes two sliding portions which are respectively slidable along the two guiding rails, so as to allow the pressing element to move above the holding chamber to cause the screen protector positioned in the holding base to be installed on the screen of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignees: SHENZHEN YINGER TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD, SHENZHEN ICAREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yi Li
  • Patent number: 12053928
    Abstract: A stereolithography apparatus (100) has an exposure arrangement (110), comprising a radiative element (120); a masking element (130), having a substantially rectangular masking area (132); an optical path (140) between the radiative element (120) and the masking area (132), having a linear segment (145); and an intensity-unifying arrangement (150), having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth reflective surface (1521, 1522, 1523, 1524) The first and second reflective surfaces (1521, 1522,) are arranged on opposite sides of the linear segment (145), and the third and fourth reflective surfaces (1523, 1524) are arranged on opposite sides of the linear segment (145). In a cross section of the intensity-unifying arrangement (150) along any plane, perpendicularly intersecting the linear segment (145), the reflective surfaces (1521, 1522, 1523, 1524) follow a boundary (156) of a rectangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Inventors: Tero Rakkolainen, Juha Koivisto
  • Patent number: 12053923
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for layer-wise instruction of a shaped body by stereolithography in subsequent layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventors: Jörg Ebert, Stefan Geissbühler