Patents Examined by John L. Goff
  • Patent number: 8293051
    Abstract: A collapsible bladder has flexible outer walls and at least one strut inside the enclosure. The strut is connected to the outer walls and controls the shape into which the enclosure may be collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John D. Morris, Michael A. Lee, Kenneth L. Brook
  • Patent number: 8293053
    Abstract: Plastic microfluidic structures having a substantially rigid diaphragm that actuates between a relaxed state wherein the diaphragm sits against the surface of a substrate and an actuated state wherein the diaphragm is moved away from the substrate. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic structures formed with this diaphragm provide easy to manufacture and robust systems, as well readily made components such as valves and pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Rheonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Lincoln C. Young, Peng Zhou
  • Patent number: 8287680
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bag (20) for the cryopreservation of thermolabile liquids. The manufacturing method is characterized by being versatile, simple and inexpensive and allows to manufacture single and multi-compartment bags without modifying the main sealing molds (31, 32). The relative size and the number of the compartments (28) can be modified without change in the molds. Only a closure sealing tool (50) must be adjusted as a function of the number of chosen compartments (28). The process is compatible with standard high frequency sealing processes. This method provides bags (20) with uniformly thick walls and with a predetermined bag volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Biosafe S.A.
    Inventors: Bertrand Marcel Alexandre Foucaut, Claude Fell
  • Patent number: 8273204
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for joining a first acoustic panel (2), having a cellular structure of the honeycomb type, with a second acoustic panel (2), wherein said method comprises the steps of: inserting at least one mandrel, (5, 8) having a shape adapted to the cells (3), into at least one cell (3) located in the vicinity of a junction edge (6) of the acoustic panel; passing a roller (12) on said junction edge of the acoustic panel; joining the junction edge of the acoustic panel together with a junction edge (6?) of the second panel and connecting the same by applying a linking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Aircelle
    Inventor: Jean-Bernard Vache
  • Patent number: 8267139
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminated mould part, preferably of a mould part for the inner trim of a vehicle, consisting of a shape-stable carrier part and a visible-side lamination connected to this, of film, fabrics or similar decorative lamination materials, with which a heated blank of a mat-like or plate-like semifinished product of fibre materials containing binding agent, is moulded into a mould part in a moulding tool, and thereby simultaneously is connected to the lamination (one-shot method). The lamination is regionally connected with the help of “rams” before the moulding procedure or lamination procedure with the semifinished product, in order to achieve an exact positioning of a seam or likewise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Schellhase, Jochen Gassan, Carsten Nickel
  • Patent number: 8268105
    Abstract: A method relates to the production of paper rolls for examination tables, obtained from a tape (100) of embossed paper, having two layers (10, 20), joined together. The band (100) is obtained in known way from two continuous webs (1, 2), subjected to subsequent steps of embossing, glue (C) application, coupling and stabilization. The method includes applying measured quantities of a sanitizing and/or disinfectant substance (S) between the two layers of embossed paper (10, 20) before their joining; preferably, the substance (S) is applied to the same continuous web (1) that is aimed at receiving the glue (C), after the embossing step and contemporarily with the glue (C) application, by spot-application of a mixture (M) in aqueous solution containing suitable percentage of the glue (C) and sanitizing substance (S) to the tops (11A) of the embossing relieves (11.) In this case, the application means (240) for sanitizing substance (S) are formed by the same means (220) for applying the glue (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Andrea Bernacchi
  • Patent number: 8257535
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an absorbent article according to the present invention includes the steps of a leg circumference forming process of forming a leg circumferential region on a web which is continuously fed in an MD, in a conveyance device, and a folding process of folding the web in two after the leg circumference forming process, so that a second half region on one divided by a center line in a CD comes closer to or overlaps a first half region on the other side. In the folding process, the first half region is conveyed on a conveyance belt which drives horizontally in parallel to an installation surface of the conveyance device (for example, a folding device) and the second half region is folded towards the first half region by a guide unit that guides the second half region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8241454
    Abstract: In a corrugating machine and a method of producing corrugated cardboard, provision is made for a marking device by means of which a color mark is applied by rubbing off a solid coloring agent, the color mark being detected by means of a detection device in order to easily and precisely mark and cut out joining points. The applied and detected color mark enables a web length of a web of single-faced corrugated cardboard in a storage device to be determined, thus allowing an electronic control device to operate a cross-cutting device in an easy and precise manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Kraus, Jürgen Hammer
  • Patent number: 8236121
    Abstract: A process for making a corrugated stretch laminate comprising the steps of providing a first carrier web having a first surface and a second surface; applying a first elastomeric composition in a fluid or molten state to the first surface of the carrier web to form at least one first elastic member; incrementally stretching in a first direction at least a portion of the carrier web to form a stretch composite preform; elongating the stretch composite preform in the first direction; joining a first substrate to the elongated stretch composite preform; and allowing the elongated stretch composite preform to recover to form said corrugated stretch laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Arman Ashraf
  • Patent number: 8226788
    Abstract: A method of molding an inexpensive door skin with stylized panels using machined wooden strips which extend around the panel areas to simulate the appearance of a solid wood door. Wood veneer sections are placed on the mold around the wood strips and in between the panel areas and the laid up assembly is compressed by molding to form a door skin having the appearance of a solid wood door surface with raised panels. A backing of fiberboard such as MDF or similar material is placed against the back of the laid up assembly prior to compression. In another embodiment a door blank is shaped and veneer and strips are laid up on a mold. The door blank and mold are compressed to form a door with a finished surface. The shaped door blank serves as a mold component and as the interior of the finished door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Edward Quinif
  • Patent number: 8225837
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles, and more particularly, apparatuses and methods utilizing multiple processing stations for processing absorbent articles and being configurable to move along various predetermined travel paths defined by radii that may be constant or variable. Particular embodiments of apparatuses and methods of manufacture include a processing wheel having a plurality of processing stations which orbit around a rotation axis. The processing stations may be configured to perform various types of operations associated with the manufacture of absorbent articles while the processing stations orbit around the rotation axis. The processing wheel can be configured to adjust the path along which the processing stations orbit as the processing wheel rotates around the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Uwe Schneider
  • Patent number: 8215363
    Abstract: An automatic machine for producing corrugated sheet elements, particularly for packaging, thermal insulation, soundproofing and the like, comprising elements for continuously corrugating a first ribbon that moves longitudinally, a feeder for feeding a second flat ribbon in step with the first ribbon, and a device for joining one another the first and second ribbons in discrete regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Interwave S.R.L.
    Inventors: Fabio Angelo Gritti, Roberto Gritti
  • Patent number: 8201606
    Abstract: A device (10) and a method for transverse sealing of a tube (12) of thermoplastic coated packaging material are provided. The tube is formed by sealing of an overlapping joint (14) between two mutually opposing edge sections (26, 28) of a sheet of packaging material. The device comprises first and second opposing jaws (16, 18) having first and second main sealing surfaces (20, 22), respectively. The tube is arranged to be flat-laid and squeezed between these main sealing surfaces to heat the thermoplastic there between and obtain a transverse seal along a main sealing line (24) of the tube. The device is characterized in that it is arranged to penetrate the outer edge section (28) of the overlapping joint along the main sealing line prior to sealing to allow the first main sealing surface (20) to contact the inner edge section (26) of the overlapping joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Klaus Specht, Salvatore Capasso, Kenneth Larsson
  • Patent number: 8187404
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plate-shaped peeling member having a thin metal plate and a resin sheet adhered thereto by wrapping the resin sheet around a leading edge of the thin metal plate. The plate-shaped peeling member peels paper from a roller or a belt of an electrophotographic apparatus, with a leading edge of the thin metal plate in contact with or being adjacent to the roller or the belt. The method includes the step of stacking an adhesive agent-applied resin sheet to one main surface of a thin metal plate without pulling both end portions of the adhesive agent-applied resin sheet in a longitudinal direction thereof, with an unstuck portion left on the adhesive agent-applied resin sheet in a widthwise direction thereof and with the adhesive agent-applied resin sheet being pressurized in a longitudinal direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: NTN Corporation, Seed Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Ohta, Satoru Fukuzawa, Masaki Ohashi, Kazuo Hirose
  • Patent number: 8187403
    Abstract: Decorated three-dimensional articles (64, 78, 82, 86) may be produced having wall structure (66-72) with distortion-free images (40a, 40b) appearing through the inner and outer surfaces of the wall structure (66-72). Preferably, a sheet of paper stock (38) is imprinted on both faces with mirror images (40a, 40b), and the stock (38) is applied to a light-transmitting substrate (44) so that the image (40b) appears through the substrate (44), thereby yielding a blank (50). A plurality of lines of weakness (54) are formed in the blank (50) by laser ablation extending through the image (40a) and stock (38), but not through the image (40b), in order to define spaced apart bend areas (56). The substrate (44) is then heated along the bend areas (56), and the blank (50) is formed about a mandrel (62). If desired, the formed blank (50) may be completed by addition of a base (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Barton Nelson, Inc.
    Inventor: Gunnard Nelson
  • Patent number: 8181686
    Abstract: The disclosure relates an apparatus and method for assembling at least two webs of tissue paper with or without marking of the webs. The apparatus and method utilize a multi-marrying roller configuration, which allows for assembling of the at least two webs of tissue paper by passing between the marrying roller and the second marrying roller. The apparatus and method make it possible to produce a conventional embossed product, or a smooth product without marking, having combined plies. In addition, the apparatus and method make it possible to easily move from one production mode to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific France
    Inventors: Joel Hungler, Yves-Michel Malecot
  • Patent number: 8182629
    Abstract: Apparatus for orienting containers which have at least one ear on a side of the container is disclosed. Such apparatus is especially suited for use in combination with labeling equipment for applying a label to the oriented container so that at least one opening in a label registers with the at least one ear on the container. The apparatus comprises a star wheel with pockets which permit relatively free rotation of containers positioned within the pockets, an ear bump associated with each pocket in the star wheel and a releasable container hold down to prevent containers in the star wheel pockets from tilting while they are being oriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Larry A. Seifert
  • Patent number: 8157941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing plastic packaging in tubular form, which process comprises a wrapping step during which a laminate (11) is wrapped, an abutting step during which the edges (8, 9) of the laminate (11) are butted together and a fastening step during which said edges (8, 9) of the laminate (11) are welded together, characterized in that a bead (12) of plastic in the molten state is extruded and deposited on the internal face of the packaging so as to cover at least the weld zone (10) defined between the edges. The energy needed to produce the weld (10) comes from the plastic bead (12). The invention also relates to packaging obtained from the aforementioned process and to a device for implementing said process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Aisapack Holding S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Voigtmann
  • Patent number: 8147470
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable pants-type diaper including on a crotch region thereof a separator adapted to prevent feces from coming in contact with the wearer's skin. A basic structure has the crotch region, which is provided with a folded sheet piece attached thereto so as to form the separator. The folded sheet piece is obtained by folding back the sheet piece along a first transverse center line thereof to define a first half and a second half placed upon each other and bonding end edges of these two halves to each other at responsive middles of these end edges in a transverse direction. With the first transverse center line brought close to a second transverse center line, the folded sheet piece is placed upon the crotch region and the lateral edges of the first half are bonded to the crotch region while a region of the first half defined by the lateral edges is kept to be spaced from the crotch region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 8142590
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable panty, subassemblies of the panty, and an apparatus and methods for making the panty and subassemblies. The panty is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The panty may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user, the panty provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The panty includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable panty, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the panty, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Rajala, Steven C. Gehling, Paul D. Suke