Patents Examined by Karen Aftergut
  • Patent number: 5616291
    Abstract: A method for forming an elongated concrete structure (20) which extends in a first direction and includes at least one outer surface (26) with a textured pattern having concave and convex portions which extend other than in just the first direction. The system comprises one or two elongated planar forms (32 or 32a/32b) having a reverse image of a textured pattern on one side (202) thereof, a conventional slip former (30), and a side arm assembly (150) coupled to the slip former for supporting the one form(s). The form(s) is erected prior to formation of the structure, remains standing during formation of the structure, and is disassembled a predetermined period of time after the concrete structure has been formed. The side arm assembly (150) slidingly engages the outer surface of the form(s) as the slip former (30) is moved in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: John-Wayne Construction Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Belarde
  • Patent number: 5611980
    Abstract: An apparatus for slip casting includes a pouring pipe for supplying slip, to which each mold is connected by way of a pouring hose having a pouring valve. A slip discharge pipe is provided in the vicinity of the pouring pipe. The pouring pipe and the slip discharge pipe are connected by a by-pass pipe which includes a rising pipe, a traverse pipe, a connecting pipe and an atmosphere pipe. Slip is fed from the pouring pipe to each mold. After a body is formed with a predetermined thickness in each mold 1, pressurized air is fed to the slip discharge spaces to discharge surplus slip to the slip discharge pipe. The height of the rising pipe is set so that the pressure of discharging the surplus slip and the head pressure of the slip within the rising pipe balance each other when the surplus slip is discharged to the slip discharge pipe. This allows the pressure within the slip discharge spaces to be stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Eto, Masaharu Yasui, Hidetoshi Ohtani, Taiichi Aso
  • Patent number: 5611979
    Abstract: A tunnel liner used for a shield tunneling method for a tunnel having a diameter of 1.5 to 7 m is fabricated by dividing a ring-shaped liner into a plurality of parts in the circumferential direction. The tunnel liner is required to be excellent in the dimensional accuracy with respect to the outer peripheral surface, to be tight, to be high in strength, and to be high in water tightness at the abutment between the adjacent liners. The tunnel liner is fabricated by a method of filling each arcuate enclosed hollow form with concrete, vibro-compacting concrete, molding the end surfaces of the tunnel liner, mounting the forms within a centrifugal molding drum, and tightly molding the outer peripheral surface of the forms by applying of a centrifugal force. According to this fabrication method, it is possible to effectively fabricate an excellent tunnel liner at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignees: Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Nippon High Strength Concrete Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Hayashi, Mitsuo Ishitani
  • Patent number: 5611974
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing or repairing a machine foundation by using a hollow form which surrounds vertically extending reinforcement rods and is filled with a fortifying material to secure the hollow form to a slab. The form is preferably made of an aggregate filled thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin which are corrosion and chemical resistant materials free from fluid attack such as the liquids in the machine, for example, in a pump the fluids being either the lubricating fluids or the fluids being pumped. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a hollow form which may be used either to prepare a machine foundation or to repair a degraded slab or foundation and preferably is a single form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Welch-Sluder IP Partners
    Inventors: William L. Welch, Don W. Sluder, Wallace D. Hill
  • Patent number: 5609811
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a press belt includes the following steps: laying a plurality of crosswise reinforcing yarns inside a cylindrical casting cylinder; casting a surface layer of an elastomeric material over the crosswise yarns; laying a plurality of lengthwise yarns onto the still wet surface layer of the elastomeric material; and casting an inner layer of elastomeric material over the lengthwise yarns. The inner and outer layers of elastomeric material merge together to form an integral elastomeric entity which encases both the crosswise and lengthwise yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Tamfelt Corp.
    Inventor: Olli A. Jermo
  • Patent number: 5607635
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavities of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • Patent number: 5595692
    Abstract: In a method and system for repairing a resin-impregnated article having one or more dry spots or resin-depleted areas, a mold release is used to coat all surfaces of the defective article, except for the resin-depleted areas and a border area surrounding and contiguous to each resin-depleted area. The coated article is then placed within a mold cavity defined by a two-piece mold and corresponding in shape and size to the article. A plurality of shims are interposed in the parting line between the two halves of the mold, creating a first gap within the parting line and a second gap between the surfaces of the article and the walls defining the mold cavity. A gasket is also seated between the two halves of the mold to seal the mold cavity, and a vacuum pump is coupled to the mold cavity to evacuate the cavity to a negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Folsom, Paul DiMora
  • Patent number: 5591286
    Abstract: A method of making a combination concrete panel wall, concrete window frame, and concrete sash glazing frame. The sill, lintel, and jambs of the window frame are fiber-reinforced concrete extrusions. The hardened frame is placed in a concrete panel molding frame to locate and define a window opening. The concrete panel wall grout is then poured and dovetail-type mortise and tenon joints are precast in the exterior faces of the window frame which abut the poured concrete wall panel plastic grout, to permanently mold and interlock the window frame to the panel wall. The sash members are fitted about a window pane which is located in interior grooves in the sash members and then glazed. Sealing means interconnects the sash to the window frame to provide a condensation-resistant, water-tight, air-tight, heat and fire-resistant concrete wall closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignees: Kajima Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha FRC
    Inventors: Tatsuo Suenaga, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Shin Terauchi, Takeo Kikuchi, Shinnosuke Aiba, Mikio Kobayashi, Yutaka Katsuta, Kenji Ago, Katsumi Kosuge, Yasuyuki Matsubara, Masato Tanaami, Shunichi Sugishita, Hideki Ikeda, Toshio Furuya, Shigeyuki Akihama, Takahiro Arai
  • Patent number: 5589124
    Abstract: A method of using a masonry block mold includes the steps of loading the mold with block fill through the top of a cavity formed in the mold, drawing excess block fill from the top of the cavity, compressing the block fill within the mold with a compression head moving into the cavity from top to bottom of the cavity. The mold includes opposing sidewalls which each have at least one step formed on their respective top edge to retain additional block fill proximate thereto and assist in the formation of a flange or other structural feature on the formed masonry block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Block Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Woolford, Dick J. Sievert
  • Patent number: 5585141
    Abstract: Cast iron pipe and other elongated hollow articles are lined with a cementitious mortar for certain applications, such as the transmission of potable water or sewage. To improve the resistance to attack from acids and to provide a crack and void spot free cement lining, a calcium alumina cement is used to line the article. A plasticizer such as fireclay is added to the calcium alumina cement prior to its application. The cement lined article is then coated with an asphaltic based coating and then cured in a high humidity environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Amsted Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: C. Gilmer Loving, Steven Farkas
  • Patent number: 5582899
    Abstract: In order to cut soft concrete before it has completely hardened, or about 12 to 18 hours after finishing, a rotating cutting blade and its drive motor are mounted on a wheeled support platform. The blade extends through a slot in the platform, and also through a skid plate depending from the platform, in order to cut the concrete below the skid plate. The slot and the skid plate are sized to support the concrete as it is being cut and to inhibit cracking and chipping of the concrete during cutting. The slot preferably has as little space as possible between the sides of the slot and the adjacent sides of the cutting blade. An extendable handle allows the device to be used beyond the physical reach of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventors: Edward Chiuminatta, Alan R. Chiuminatta
  • Patent number: 5580409
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for manufacturing containers from sheets having a hydraulically settable matrix. Suitable compositions are prepared by mixing together a hydraulic binder, water, and appropriate additives (such as aggregates, fibers, and rheology-modifying agents) which impart predetermined properties so that a sheet formed therefrom has the desired performance criteria. Hydraulically settable sheets are formed from the mixture by extrusion, then calendering the sheets using a set of rollers and then drying the sheets in an accelerated manner to substantially harden the sheets. The resulting hydraulically settable sheets may have properties substantially similar to sheets made from presently used materials like paper, cardboard, polystyrene, or plastic. The sheets can be laminated, corrugated, coated, printed on, scored, perforated, cut, folded, rolled, spiral wound, molded, assembled and seamed to mass produce articles of manufacture from the sheets such as food and beverage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: E. Khashoggi Industries
    Inventors: Per J. Andersen, Simon K. Hodson
  • Patent number: 5575963
    Abstract: A method of selective clogging of failed hollow fibers of a membrane module, including a pack or bundle of fibers in a shell-side and bore-side arrangement which includes failed fibers and non-failed fibers, comprises the steps of: clogging bores of all of the fiber at one end of the pack or bundle of the fibers; substantially evacuating the membrane module both at the shell-side and at the bore-side; filling the bore-side and the shell-side with a non-permeant gas; subsequently-holding the membrane module vertically, disconnecting the bore-side of the membrane module from a supply of the non-permeant gas and dipping another end of the membrane module opposite to the clogged end into a reservoir containing a liquid sealant; applying a reduced pressure to the shell-side for a period of time sufficient to permit suction of sealant into the bores of the failed fibers through a failure of which vacuum is applied to the bore-side; allowing the sealant to solidify at least partially to clog the bores of both the fa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignees: Rotem Industries, Ltd., AGA Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Abraham Soffer, Shlomo Saguee, Dan Golub, Haim Cohen, Moshe Azariah
  • Patent number: 5575870
    Abstract: A method of making a combination concrete panel wall, concrete window frame, and concrete sash glazing frame. The sill, lintel, and jambs of the window frame are fiber-reinforced concrete extrusions which are cut to length and cemented together. The hardened frame is placed in a concrete panel molding frame to locate and define a window opening. The concrete panel wall grout is then poured and dovetail-type mortise and tenon joints are precast in the exterior faces of the window frame which abut the poured concrete wall panel plastic grout, to permanently mold and interlock the window frame to the panel wall. The sash members are fitted about a window pane which is located in interior grooves in the sash members and then glazed. Sealing means interconnect the sash to the window frame to provide a condensation-resistant, water-tight, air-tight, heat and fire-resistant concrete wall closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignees: Kajima Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha FRC
    Inventors: Tatsuo Suenaga, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Shin Terauchi, Takeo Kikuchi, Shinnosuke Aiba, Mikio Kobayashi, Yutaka Katsuta, Kenji Ago, Katsumi Kosuge, Yasuyuki Matsubara, Masato Tanaami, Shunichi Sugishita, Hideki Ikeda, Toshio Furuya, Shigeyuki Akihama, Takahiro Arai
  • Patent number: 5571464
    Abstract: A mold box is flexibly mounted to a product forming machine having upper and lower vertically displaceable beams. A feed drawer dispenses concrete material into the mold box while a vibration system vertically vibrates the mold box while dampening horizontal vibration. The vibration system is driven by a single drive shaft that actuates first and second vibrator rods while at the same rotating a counter-weight in a counter-rotating direction. A set of alignment brackets lock the mold box into a predetermined aligned relationship while being mounted in the product forming machine. The bottom side of each mold box is mounted to the product forming machine in the same relative position to reduce machine readjustments. A set of telescoping legs hold the feed drawer assembly variable distances above the mold box. A unitized pallet feeder quickly moves pallets one at a time from an "on-deck" position to a "receiving" position underneath the mold box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventors: Allen Aaseth, Robert A. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 5569418
    Abstract: Like-new golf balls are made from used golf balls by first reducing the diameter of the used ball, to provide an intermediate ball, and then molding a new dimpled cover on the ball. The diameter of the used ball is uniformly reduced by compression molding or by grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventor: Robert F. Russo, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5567375
    Abstract: Method and apparatus including a powder box and heatable shell tool are disclosed for forming a thermoplastic automotive air bag cover skin with a lesser strength thermoplastic tear seam strip insert wherein the latter is initially formed with a protruding rib on one side and a pointed ridge on an opposite side. A heat resistant elastomeric transfer socket attached to the powder box interior receives and holds the insert rib and thereby the insert in a prescribed tear seam configuration and then positions the tear seam strip insert against a heated skin defining mold surface on the shell tool when the powder box is joined with the latter. The skin is formed by casting thermoplastic powder from the powder box against the heated mold surface and about the tear seam insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Filion, John D. Gray, William M. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 5565152
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing artificial tooth veneer restorations for natural teeth composed of a ceramic core by pressing and sintering ceramic powder. The core is preferably manufactured from a high strength densely sintered ceramic material by copy milling from an impression of the prepared tooth surface to a compacted body, a presintered body or a sintered body. Alternatively, the core is manufactured by compacting the ceramic powder against a body, which surface is copy milled from a model of the prepared tooth surface. During the copy milling, the sintering shrinkage is considered by enlargement of that body. The tooth veneer restorations are given their final shape by shaping the external surface of the compacted, presintered or sintered ceramic body. After the final sintering, the external surface can be shaped before a veneer material is attached to the external surface of the core by firing of dental porcelain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: Sandvik AB, Nobelpharma AB
    Inventors: Agneta E. Od en, Matts K. G. Andersson
  • Patent number: 5565217
    Abstract: A windshield repair apparatus and method are provided wherein a quick connect/disconnect bayonet mounting arrangement mounts an injector to a support apparatus which holds the injector relative to a windshield for repair. A ramp surface may be provided with respect to the bayonet mounting arrangement for selective adjustment of the position of the injector relative to the support apparatus. A rubber stopper with two passages is provided with the injector, one passage central to the stopper for receipt of a mechanical probe, and one passage offset from the central passage for receipt of pressures greater than or less than atmospheric pressure during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: TCG International Inc.
    Inventors: Adolf F. Beckert, Jonathan P. Thomas
  • Patent number: RE35484
    Abstract: A method of effecting the coloration of a restoration to be mounted on a tooth including the steps of forming a mixture of powdered dental porcelain and a photonucleable silicate glass and shaping the mixture into a dental restoration. The dental restoration is heated in an oven to its fusing temperature and allowed to cool. Selected areas of the restoration are exposed to ultra-violet light. The dental restoration is reexposed to high energy while the color of the selected areas changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Gerald G. McLaughlin