Patents Examined by Jodi C Franklin
  • Tire comprising an improved tread
    Patent number: 9919565
    Abstract: Tire tread has a central rib (411-413) and two lateral ribs (421-422) which are separated by circumferential grooves (141-144). A first lateral rib (421) adjacent to the outer axial edge of the tread and a central rib have a first portion (4211, 4111, 4121, 4131) the axial width of which exceeds 20% of the axial width of the relevant rib made from a first rubber composition containing an elastomer and a reinforcing filler consisting predominantly of carbon black, and an axially adjacent second portion (4212, 4112, 4122, 4132) made of a second rubber composition containing an elastomer and a reinforcing filler a minority proportion of which consists of carbon black. The second rubber composition has a tan d0 value which is less than the tan d0 value of the first rubber composition, the tan d0 values being measured at a temperature of 0 C and under a stress of 0.7 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Frédéric Bourgeois, François-Xavier Bruneau, Patrice Fraysse, Emmanuel Igier
  • Apparatus and method for thermal profile control in an isopipe
    Patent number: 9914657
    Abstract: A glass fusion draw apparatus for molten glass stream thermal profile control, including: a first enclosure; and a first isopipe situated within the first enclosure, the first enclosure can include at least one first heating element assembly integral with the wall of the first enclosure, and the at least one first heating element is in proximity to a portion of molten glass stream over-flowing the first isopipe within the enclosure. The apparatus can also include a proximity or temperature sensing system associated with the first enclosure that senses and controls the thermal gradient properties of the molten glass stream or streams in the first enclosure. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the fusion apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Frank Coppola, Vladislav Yuryevich Golyatin, John Jerry Kersting, Bulent Kocatulum, Monica Jo Mashewske, Piotr Janusz Wesolowski, Xi Xie
  • Fusion-splicing method and fusion splicer
    Patent number: 9897756
    Abstract: A method for fusion-splicing optical fibers and a fusion splicer are provided, which enable preventing a fusion spliced portion from disconnecting when the optical fiber is removed from the fusion splicer. A fusion-splicing method for optical fibers comprises: holding optical fibers and on optical fiber holding parts respectively provided on a pair of movable stages; butting ends of optical fibers by bringing the pair of movable stages mutually closer; fusion-splicing butted optical fibers to form a fusion spliced portion S; carrying out a proof test, the proof test including applying a tension to the fusion spliced portion S by moving the pair of movable stages so as to distance them from each other; and bringing the pair of movable stages mutually closer by a predetermined distance upon completion of the proof test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SEI OPTIFRONTIER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Miyamori, Hideaki Yusa, Toshihiko Homma
  • Glass sheet forming and annealing providing edge stress control
    Patent number: 9896369
    Abstract: Glass sheet forming and annealing disclosed provides control of edge stresses by maintaining a press formed glass sheet on an annealing ring (72) below a heated upper forming mold (58) within a forming station (12) for slow cooling toward the glass strain point temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventor: Terry A. Bennett
  • Pneumatic tire
    Patent number: 9884519
    Abstract: A middle land portion is divided into multiple middle blocks by first middle transverse grooves and second middle transverse grooves arranged alternately in the tire circumference direction. The first middle transverse grooves include a first groove portion which communicates with a crown main groove, and a second groove portion which communicates with a shoulder main groove and is less wide than the first groove portion; the second middle transverse grooves include a third groove portion) which communicates with the shoulder main groove, and a fourth groove portion which communicates with a crown main groove and is less wide than the third groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Iwasaki
  • Glass welding method
    Patent number: 9887059
    Abstract: A glass layer 103 containing a binder, a laser-light-absorbing pigment, and a glass frit 102 is irradiated with laser light L2, so as to gasify the binder and melt the glass fit 102, thereby fixing the glass layer 103 to a glass member 104. This allows the glass layer 103 fixed to the glass member 104 to let out the binder and enhance the laser light absorptance, so as to yield a uniform state. As a result, fusing glass members 104, 105 to each other with the glass layer 103 having such a stable state interposed therebetween allows the glass members 104, 105 to have a uniform fusing state therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventor: Satoshi Matsumoto
  • Transparent lithium glass-ceramic material, production and use thereof
    Patent number: 9862633
    Abstract: A lithium-containing, transparent glass-ceramic material is provided. The material has low thermal expansion and has an amorphous, lithium-depleted, vitreous surface zone. The zone is at least 50 nm thick on all sides and encloses a crystalline interior, which has high transmission. The material includes a transition region connecting the zone and the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Falk Gabel, Otmar Becker, Michael Glasenapp, Jan-Peter Ortmann, Petra Grewer, Veit Luther, Harald Striegler, Dietmar Wennemann, Thomas Schuler, Thoralf Johansson, Helga Goetz, Michael Bug, Guenther Siebenhaar, Gerhard Hahn, Friedrich-Georg Schroeder
  • Assembly and method for transfer molding
    Patent number: 9840432
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment of this disclosure relates to a transfer molding assembly. The assembly includes a die having a molding cavity interconnected with a reservoir. The assembly further includes a heater operable to heat the die, and a load plate configured to move under its own weight to transfer material from the reservoir into the molding cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: David C. Jarmon
  • Methods for measuring the asymmetry of a glass-sheet manufacturing process
    Patent number: 9840436
    Abstract: Methods are provided for measuring the asymmetry of glass-sheet manufacturing processes. The methods include subjecting glass sheets or test samples taken from glass sheets to an ion-exchange process and measuring warp values. Metrics for the asymmetry of the glass-sheet manufacturing process are then obtained from the warp values. In one embodiment, the metric is independent of the geometry of the glass sheets or the test samples (the BM1 metric); in another embodiment, the metric is independent of the geometry of the glass sheets or the test samples and substantially independent of the ion-exchange process used in the testing (the ASYM metric).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Douglas Clippinger Allan
  • Pneumatic tire
    Patent number: 9840116
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has inner mediate land portions and center land portion(s) that are divided into a plurality of blocks by lateral grooves. Each of the lateral grooves includes a pair of wide portions opening to a main groove and a narrow portion coupling the pair of the wide portions. one-side-closed sipes are formed in a bottom of each of the lateral grooves formed in the inner mediate land portions. The one-side-closed sipes are open at the wide portions and close at the narrow portion. a both-sides-open sipe is formed in a bottom of each of the lateral grooves formed in the center land portion or portions. The both-sides-open sipe is open at the wide portions and at the narrow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Fujioka
  • Method for producing titanium-doped synthetic quartz glass
    Patent number: 9796617
    Abstract: A method for producing titanium-doped synthetic quartz glass includes: (A) providing a liquid SiO2 feedstock material that comprises more than 60% by weight of the polyalkylsiloxane D4; (B) evaporating the liquid SiO2 feedstock material to produce a gaseous SiO2 feedstock vapor; (C) evaporating a liquid TiO2 feedstock material to produce a gaseous TiO2 feedstock vapor; (D) converting the SiO2 feedstock vapor and the TiO2 feedstock vapor into SiO2 particles and TiO2 particles, respectively; (E) depositing the SiO2 particles and the TiO2 particles on a deposition surface while forming a titanium-doped SiO2 soot body; (F) vitrifying the titanium-doped SiO2 soot body while forming the synthetic quartz glass, whereby the TiO2 concentration of the synthetic quartz glass is between 5% by weight and 11% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz Fabian, Stephan Thomas
  • Cigar flavoring method
    Patent number: 9788569
    Abstract: A novel cigar is provided with an elongated cigar puller device which extends into the interior of the cigar. By removing the cigar puller from the cigar, the tobacco fill material of the cigar is disrupted so as to improve the draw of the cigar. Once the cigar puller is removed from the tobacco fill material, a flavorant and/or aromatic can be infused into the less dense tobacco fill material which is provided upon the removal of the cigar puller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Jack B. Cooper
  • Off-road pneumatic tire
    Patent number: 9783007
    Abstract: An off-road pneumatic tire has a tread having an outer surface forming a tread surface, the tread including a body and multiple blocks projecting from the body substantially outward in radial direction. The blocks have a center block group, a pair of shoulder block groups and a pair of middle block groups. The center group includes center blocks at interval in circumferential direction on plane of equator. Each shoulder group includes shoulder blocks at interval in the circumferential direction on an edge of the tread surface. Each middle group includes middle blocks at interval in the circumferential direction between the center and one shoulder groups. The center group has units each having first, second, third and fourth center blocks in the order of the first, second, third and fourth blocks in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hikita
  • Optical fibers and preforms with one step fluorine trench and overclad and methods for making the same
    Patent number: 9776907
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes: forming a low-index trench region with a first density; forming an inner barrier layer comprising silica around the trench region at a second density greater than the first density; depositing silica-based soot around the first barrier layer to form an overclad region at a third density less than the second density; inserting a core cane into a trench-overclad structure; forming an outer barrier layer comprising silica in an outer portion of the overclad region at a fourth density greater than the third density; flowing a down dopant-containing gas through the trench-overclad structure to dope the trench region with the down dopant, and wherein the barrier layers mitigate diffusion of the down-dopant into the overclad region; and consolidating the trench-overclad and the core cane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Dana Craig Bookbinder, Ming-Jun Li, Jeffery Scott Stone, Pushkar Tandon
  • Electrically heated smoking system
    Patent number: 9775380
    Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a secondary unit capable of receiving a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element and an interface for connection to a primary power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one heating element during a pre-heating mode, to increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to an operating temperature. The secondary unit further includes a secondary power supply arranged to supply electrical power to the at least one heating element during a smoking mode, to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate at substantially the operating temperature. The secondary unit also includes secondary circuitry. The electrically heated smoking system optionally includes a primary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Fernando, Marc Robert Chemla, Fredrik Stahle
  • Basalt fibers produced from high temperature melt
    Patent number: 9771294
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for producing continuous basalt fibers, microfibers, and microspheres from high temperature melts are disclosed. A cold crucible induction furnace is used to super heat crushed basalt rock to form a melt. The melt is cooled prior to forming a fiber. The fiber produced from the superheated melt possesses superior properties not found with conventional basalt fibers produced in gas furnaces. In some implementations, the superheated melt is spun into continuous basalt fibers. In some implementations, the superheated melt is blown into microfibers and microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Americas Basalt Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Zubko, Yurii Zubko
  • Method for producing porous glass base material
    Patent number: 9731993
    Abstract: In a device for producing a large-sized porous base material by a VAD process, the cracking and variation of the outer diameter of the base material are suppressed by forming a smooth tapered part, without changing the length of a non-effective part. In producing the porous base material by a VAD process, the time for a gas to reach a flow amount of the gas in a steady state from starting of the deposition is extended more in a burner that deposits glass microparticles on a layer closer to the outside of the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshida, Yuhei Urata, Yuichi Matsunaga
  • Submerged combustion glass melting systems and methods of use
    Patent number: 9731990
    Abstract: Submerged combustion glass manufacturing systems and methods include a melter having a floor, a roof, a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, and one or more submerged combustion burners mounted in the floor, roof, and/or wall structure discharging combustion products including water vapor under a level of material being melted in the melter and create turbulent conditions in the material. The floor, roof, or wall structure may include fluid-cooled refractory material and an optional metallic external shell, or the metallic shell may include coolant passages. One or more conduits drain water condensed from the water vapor from regions of refractory material substantially saturated with the water, and/or from burner supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventor: John Wayne Baker
  • Molding machine, system comprising the same, and method for forming plastic piece
    Patent number: 9724856
    Abstract: A molding machine, which is operable to mold plastic granules into a plastic piece, includes a machine body, a platform, a heater, and a pressing unit. The platform is installed at the machine body and defines a molding cavity to receive the plastic granules. The heater is installed at the machine body adjacent to the platform. The pressing unit is installed at the machine body and disposed above the platform. The pressing unit includes a pressure cylinder, a telescopic rod driven by the pressure cylinder to extend downward and retract upward, and a pressing plate coupled to the telescopic rod and disposed to correspond in position with the molding cavity, and driven by the pressure cylinder to move relative to the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Green Point Enterprises Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Chun Cheng, Shun-Tien Hung
  • Method for producing a glass stopper for sealing bottles
    Patent number: 9718718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a glass stopper with a head portion for sealing bottles, more particularly bottles for wine and sparkling wine, wherein an upper mold and a lower mold are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Doctor Optics SE
    Inventors: Wolfram Wintzer, Lars Arnold, Hagen Goldammer, Sandro Plietzsch