Patents Examined by John Goff
  • Method for producing a stiffener on a surface of an element to be stiffened
    Patent number: 8940126
    Abstract: A method for the production of a stiffener on a surface of an element that is to be made rigid, whereby at least one of the two is made of a composite material that is not completely polymerized, whereby the stiffener includes—in a transverse direction—two contact zones with the surface between which the stiffener and the element to be made rigid form a cavity that empties out at least one of the ends of the stiffener, includes using a core that is placed in the cavity and removed from the cavity after polymerization. The core has a first part that has a low expansion coefficient to ensure the geometric precision required and at least one second part that has a significant elongation coefficient to make possible the extraction of the part by traction on one of the ends of the second part so as to cause a contraction of its cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Florent Guille, Gregory Leroux, Claude Bretecher
  • Structural element and method for the production thereof
    Patent number: 8940125
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a structural element comprising a fiber-reinforced plastic. According to the invention, a flexible hose is provided with a tubular woven fabric and shaped into the desired form. A plastic that is preferably in liquid form is applied to the tubular woven fabric and is subsequently cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: superTEXcomposites GmbH
    Inventor: Valentine Troi
  • Machine for producing a cup
    Patent number: 8939187
    Abstract: A machine uses a method for producing a cup from an outer shell and inner cup. For this purpose, the machine includes first holding devices that are arranged on a first rotatably housed star- or wheel-like holding device carrier, and second holding devices arranged on a second rotatably housed star- or wheel-like holding device carrier. Further, a first working station arranged at least in the region of the first holding devices for carrying out first working steps and at least one second working station arranged in the region of the second holding devices for carrying out second working steps are provided. Finally, the machine includes a transfer station for transferring a finished outer shell from a first holding device to a second holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: Rundpack AG, Michael Hörauf MaschinenfabrikGmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Riethmueller, Uwe Messerschmid
  • Method of molding fiber-reinforced plastic hollow part
    Patent number: 8932421
    Abstract: There is provided a method of molding a fiber-reinforced plastic hollow part that is capable of molding, with ease and at low costs, a fiber-reinforced plastic hollow part, which has a varying cross-section or a bent portion, in a state in which its weight is sufficiently reduced and in a state where its wall thickness is substantially uniform. A reinforcing fiber (21) and a matrix resin (24) are laminated on the outer circumference of a preformed hollow resin core (10) to obtain a hollow laminate (20). A pressurizing bag (30) is inserted and positioned inside that hollow resin core (10). The hollow laminate (20) is positioned inside a mold (40). Next, heat is applied while pressure is applied to the inside of the pressurizing bag (30) of the hollow laminate (20) positioned inside the mold, thereby integrating the resin and the reinforcing fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Koichi Inazawa, Natsuhiko Katahira, Fujio Hori
  • Multi-piece board and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 8926785
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-piece board having a frame section and a multiple piece sections connected to the frame section includes forming a frame section from a manufacturing panel for the frame section, sorting out multiple acceptable piece sections by inspecting quality of piece sections, forming notch portions in the frame section and the acceptable piece sections such that the notch portions allow the acceptable piece sections to be arranged with respect to the frame section, provisionally fixing the piece sections and the frame section in respective positions, injecting an adhesive agent into cavities formed by the notch portions when the frame section and the piece sections are provisionally fixed to each other, and joining the acceptable piece sections with the frame section by curing the adhesive agent injected into the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yada
  • Composite panel and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 8926786
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite panel is described. The method includes pre-stabilizing a honeycomb core with at least one layer of a pre-stabilizing material, surrounding the honeycomb core with at least one composite laminate skin layer, and curing the at least one composite laminate skin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Rapp, James F. Ackermann, Gregory R. Gleason, Ken M. Tanino
  • Composite thermoplastic matrix airframe structure and method of manufacture therefore
    Patent number: 8920594
    Abstract: A thermoplastic matrix airframe structure section includes a multitude of thermoplastic matrix frame members and a multitude of thermoplastic matrix beam members which form a substructure, which receives a thermoplastic matrix inner cap grid structure, a thermoplastic matrix outer cap grid structure, and a thermoplastic matrix skin which are in-situ co-bonded to the substructure to significantly strengthen and unify the substructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Carstensen, William V. Forster, Christian A. Rogg
  • Small flat composite placement system
    Patent number: 8919410
    Abstract: A fiber placement system for producing small sized flat laminates having a length and width that extends in the X and Y axes, and a constant height measured in the Z-axis includes a fixed creel for delivering fiber used by the system, and a fixed bracket attached to the creel. A fiber placement head is supported by the fixed bracket and a movable table for supporting a tool is positioned under the fiber placement head. The fiber placement head is fixed in the X, Y, and Z-axis during the application of fiber to the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fives Machining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall A. Kappesser, Michael A. Noel, Richard A. Curless, Daniel D. Janka
  • Method and apparatus for applying strips to surfaces
    Patent number: 8915284
    Abstract: A method of applying a strip to a surface is disclosed. The strip is laid out spaced apart from a path guide. The path guide is referenced with least two longitudinally spaced apart reference guides to guide an applicator transversely spaced from the reference guides over the strip. The strip is lifted upstream of the applicator with a strip guide longitudinally spaced from the applicator to space the strip from the surface. Heat is applied to at least one of the strip or the surface in a location longitudinally between the applicator and the strip guide. The applicator is moved along the strip to apply pressure to the strip against the surface to bond the strip to the surface. A related apparatus for applying a strip to a surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Duro-Last, Inc
    Inventors: Gregory A. Korf, Keith Gere
  • Assembly bonded to a structural adhesive and method and applicator for making it
    Patent number: 8916020
    Abstract: The invention provides an assembly comprising at least one substrate being bonded to a structural adhesive wherein the structural adhesive is obtained by curing a precursor comprising a cross-linkable polymer, wherein a surface area of the substrate bonded to the structural adhesive comprises at least one metal, said surface area being treated with a liquid activator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jan D. Forster, Dirk Hasenberg, Siegfried R. Goeb, Christopher J. Campbell
  • Method of forming a (rutile) titanium dioxide-coated platelet-like pigment
    Patent number: 8916236
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming (rutile) titanium dioxide-coated platelet-like pigments in which hydrous titanium dioxide is deposited on platelet-like particles followed by calcining, comprising (a) effecting the titanium deposit in the presence of an ?-hydroxy carboxylic acid, especially glycolic acid, or oxalic acid, and an amino acid, especially glycine, alanine, valine, aspartic acid (?-, ?- and ?-form); or an amino acid; to the pigments obtained by the method and the use thereof. The method can work in the absence of exogenous metal and Ti(III). The rutile TiO2-coated substrate of the present invention has at least the same advantages and characteristics of a tin containing product which includes luster, color, color homogeneity and few small particle formation during manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ciba Corporation
    Inventor: Patrice Bujard
  • Integral double bag for vacuum bagging a composite part and method of using the same
    Patent number: 8911584
    Abstract: Composite parts such as plastic laminates are formed using a pre-assembled, integral double bag to vacuum bag the part. The double bag is formed of two sheets of bag material that are cut to pre-determined width dimensions, with the width of one sheet being less than that of the other. The bag sheets are prealigned and then attached to each other by spaced apart bonds between the sheets which hold the bag sheets in registered relationship to each other when the double bag is placed over the part and sealed to a tool base. The attachment bonds may be formed by ultrasonic welding, heat sealing or an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Kulesha
  • Contoured fluid-filled chamber
    Patent number: 8911577
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may be incorporated into footwear and other products. The chamber is formed from a polymer material that defines a first surface, a second surface located opposite the first surface, and a sidewall surface extending around a periphery of the chamber and between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of bonds are spaced inward from the sidewall surface and join the first surface and the second surface, and the bonds are distributed to form a regularly-spaced array, such as a hexagonal array. In some configurations, the first surface and the second surface may define elliptically-shaped structures between the bonds. In addition, the bonds may be formed to have a slope that is an average of slopes of the first surface and the second surface in areas proximal the bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Holt, Troy C. Lindner, Christopher W. L. Brandt
  • Machine and methods for the manufacture of air-filled cushions
    Patent number: 8905110
    Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for forming air filled cushions. The device includes a drive mechanism to move inflatable tubing through the apparatus, and an injector, optionally including an outlet, located continuously within, or within a portion of, the tubing. This arrangement can permit the formation of air filled cushions in a continuous stream. Also disclosed is a roll of plastic tubing that is sealed transversely at a succession of intervals, with each pair of seals stopping just short of a longitudinal center line of the tubing. Such tubing might be used in conjunction with the apparatus, the central gap between the seals allowing passage of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Pregis Innovative Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: John Stuart Greenwood, Neil Glynn Price
  • Systems, tools, and methods for forming composite tubular stringers and stiffened composite structures having composite tubular stringers
    Patent number: 8906179
    Abstract: Systems, tools, and methods for forming composite tubular stringers and stiffened composite structures having composite tubular stringers are disclosed. Systems include a tool, a supply of pliable blanks for forming composite tubular stringers with the tool, a supply of skin segments for forming a skin, and a layup mandrel for receiving the composite tubular stringers and the skin to form a stiffened composite structure. Tools include a wrapping mandrel for forming from a pliable blank a tubular structure with a first circumferential profile, and a transition mandrel for conforming the tubular structure to a second circumferential profile. Methods include wrapping a pliable blank around a wrapping mandrel to define a tubular structure having a first circumferential profile, and transitioning the tubular structure from having the first circumferential profile to having a second circumferential profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brad Andrew Coxon, Daniel M. Rotter, Brian G. Robins, Wallace C. H. Chan, Bernhard Dopker, Stephen Keith Kirchmeier
  • Bias fiber control during wrapping of a fabric preform for a composite component
    Patent number: 8900392
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of directing bias tows of a fabric to be wrapped around a form to create a fabric preform. The fabric includes at least a first set of bias tows that are generally parallel with one another and a second set of bias tows that are generally parallel with one another but that are not parallel with the first set of bias tows. An edge strip is attached to ends of the first set of bias tows at a first lateral edge of the fabric relative to a feed direction of the fabric onto the form. The edge strip is moved to direct the first set of bias tows. The fabric is wrapped around the form by rotating the fabric and form relative to one another about the central axis of the form to create the fabric preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Services Structures, Corp.
    Inventor: Steven Robert Hayse
  • Decorative element with TPU film and method of its manufacture
    Patent number: 8894788
    Abstract: A method for producing a decorative element includes the steps of: (a) preparing a thermoplastic polyurethane (abbreviated TPU) film, at least one ornament, and a releasing film coated with a glue layer on a plane thereof; (b) disposing the plane of the releasing film coated with the glue layer facing the ornament; (c) arranging the ornament located between the TPU film and the releasing film to form a stacked array; and (d) hot pressing the stacked array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Jah Yih Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Shih Lee
  • Dual-tip straight pin and method of use
    Patent number: 8888946
    Abstract: A dual-tip straight pin is disclosed. The pin includes a main shaft having a first tip and a pin leg extending from the main shaft, having a second tip. The pin is suitable for temporarily retaining a plurality of assembly components, such as wood, cloth and the like, to an assembly support workstation retaining the plurality of assembly components in a precisely aligned relationship to each other. The main shaft is located proximate a first side of the assembly component. The first tip extends beyond the second tip enabling the user to insert the main shaft into the workstation and use the main shaft as a pivot to position the pin leg against the second side of the assembly component. The pin is inserted into the assembly support workstation to a depth where a transverse segment of the pin leg engages with an upper surface of the assembly component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Gordon
  • Automated drape-forming device
    Patent number: 8871050
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automated device for implementing a drape-forming step to form a laminated fibrous preform, which is then impregnated with resin to produce a part made of composite material. The invention relates more particularly to the production of preforms for manufacturing parts such as panels, in particular very thick panels, that extend basically in two dimensions. The device of the invention comprises a manipulator able to move and orient in space a tape laying head, said tape laying head comprising: a drum comprising a suction orifice leading to its surface and able to individually grasp a length of fabric on a mounting outside the tool and the tape laying head; means designed to subsequently place this length of fabric on the preform comprising means of compacting; and means of heating the length of fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Philippe Blot, Dominique Guittard, Jeannick Dubillot, Stephane Chene, Cedric Gauthier, Jean-Louis Fournier
  • Winding method and apparatus
    Patent number: 8851137
    Abstract: A winding apparatus comprises a rotating winding drum, a lay down station, a cutting station, a web assembly hold down element and a wound assembly discharge station. The rotating winding drum further comprises a plurality of winding stations. Each winding station comprises a winding mandrel, a winding nip, a web stabilizing bed and a cutting anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Dale F Bittner, Christopher R Lyman