Patents Examined by Larry Thrower
  • Devices and method for draw blow moulding a container and the corresponding use
    Patent number: 8944807
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for blow molding a container from a parison, comprising a blowing cylinder (11) and a blowing nozzle (12) mounted thereon, in which the parison (R) can be fixed and with a stretching rod (13), enclose by the cylinder (11) and which may be passed through the nozzle (12), wherein the nozzle (12) can be supplied with compressed air via openings (14) in the cylinder (11). The station (10) is characterized in that the stretching rod (13) is driven by a single tubular electric linear motor (15) the stator (15-1) of which is mounted on the cylinder (11) and the armature (15-2) of which is connected to the stretching rod (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Eugen Seitz AG
    Inventor: Joachim Schmidt
  • Method and system for creating an apertured web-shaped material
    Patent number: 8945457
    Abstract: A method for creating apertures with melted edges in a web shaped material including feeding a web-shaped material through a nip between a rotational ultrasonic horn and a rotational anvil roller, so as to create melted regions in the web-shaped material, while the web is residing on the anvil roller having a rotational speed. The method further includes controlling the rotational speed of the ultrasonic horn to a speed other than that of the anvil roller, such that a speed difference is created between the horn and the anvil roller. The speed difference is selected such that a stress created in the web acts to rupture the centers of the melted regions in the web-shaped material, whereby the apertures with melted edges are created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Marcus Lehto
  • Method of producing anode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
    Patent number: 8945445
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing an anode material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having battery characteristics equivalent to those of a conventional product by simpler production steps than those of a conventional method. A thermally-polymerized petroleum based or coal based pitch is cooled to the softening point or below so that the pitch is solidified to obtain a solidified pitch. The solidified pitch is ground to form a fine pitch powder having an average particle size (median size) of 60 ?m or smaller. Then, the fine pitch powder is compression molded at a pressure of 20 to 100 MPa or 0.1 to 6 MN/m to form a porous compression molded pitch. The porous compression molded pitch is subjected to infusibilization treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kureha Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Komatsu, Kenjiro Hara, Michihisa Miyahara
  • Mold release sheet
    Patent number: 8944795
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold half for making an ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens, wherein the mold half comprises a release sheet removably arranged on the mold surface of said mold half to separate a lens forming material from the mold surface, as well as to a method for applying a removable mold release sheet to said mold half. The mold half of the invention comprises a vacuum means to removably attach said release sheet to said mold surface, and preferably the mold half further comprises a pinch-off rim for forming the edge of said ophthalmic lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Axel Heinrich, Halina Heidrich, Alexander Bayer, Karsten Straube, Peter Hagmann, Stephan Pirl, Jan Bernard, Matthias Braun
  • Container made from expanded plastic film
    Patent number: 8945459
    Abstract: A plastic film preform is expanded to form a container. The preform has a longitudinal axis that extends from an open top to a closed bottom. The preform is pressurized with a first pressure sufficient to cause side walls of the preform to expand outwardly and the bottom of the preform to be drawn inwardly thereby reducing a length of the preform along the longitudinal axis. Side molds are closed around the side walls of the preform, the closed side molds being larger than the expanded side walls. A bottom mold is closed to be adjacent to the bottom of the preform after pressurizing the preform with the first pressure. The preform is pressurized with a second pressure sufficient to expand the preform to fill the closed molds. The preform is thereby significantly stretched in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and minimally stretched along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Smart Bottle Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Wilkes
  • Techniques for sensing material flow rate in automated extrusion
    Patent number: 8944799
    Abstract: An extrusion construction system may include an extrusion nozzle, a channeling element coupled to the extrusion nozzle and to a source of construction material, the channeling element configured to transport the material to the extrusion nozzle for extruding the material onto a surface, wherein a surface of the channeling element comprises a transparent substrate such that a flow of the material is viewable through the substrate, an imaging device configured to capture a plurality of images through the substrate of the material flow, and a controller configured to estimate a flow rate based on the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventor: Behrokh Khoshnevis
  • Production of useful articles from waste material
    Patent number: 8940205
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process of using waste material comprising absorbent material and a thermoplastic material, such as from the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles, to produce useful articles. The process includes shearing the waste material, chopping the waste material, pelleting the waste material, and extruding or injection molding the pelleted material to create a useful article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Strandex Corporation
    Inventor: Brian D. Keller
  • Synthetic opal and photonic crystal
    Patent number: 8936683
    Abstract: A colloidal suspension of particles is rapidly self-assembled with a minimum number of defects into a densely packed array of particles on a substrate under simultaneous sedimentation and annealing forces. The particles may be ordered as an opal structure. Optionally, the synthesized structure may incorporate an electrolyte and be used as a sacrificial form for micromolding an inverse structure. The inverse structure may exhibit a photonic band gap. Optionally, necking between particles may be adjusted after micromolding. Furthermore, a shell may alter physical properties, such as protecting a thermally stimulated photonic band gap device. These low cost methods allow more applications to become commercially viable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Robert A. Marshall
  • Methods for laser cutting glass substrates
    Patent number: 8932510
    Abstract: A method for cutting a glass article from a strengthened glass substrate having a surface compression layer and a tensile layer includes forming an edge defect in the surface compression layer on a first edge of the strengthened glass substrate. The method further includes propagating a through vent through the surface compression and tensile layers at the edge defect. The through vent precedes a region of separation along a cut line between the glass article and the strengthened glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Xinghua Li, Lisa Anne Moore
  • Multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, its production method, and battery separator
    Patent number: 8932748
    Abstract: (1) a combination of a microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin and a microporous layer made of polypropylene and a heat-resistant resin having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of 170° C. or higher, or (2) a combination of a microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin and a microporous layer made of polypropylene and inorganic filler having an aspect ratio of 2 or more provides a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane with well-balanced permeability, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance, shutdown properties and meltdown properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shintaro Kikuchi, Kotaro Takita
  • Method for programming a shape memory polymer while defining the switch temperature by selection of the programming temperature
    Patent number: 8926884
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for programming a shape memory polymer, which comprises at least one switching segment having at least one thermal phase transition and covalent and/or non-covalent cross-linking points such that the shape memory polymer after the programming thereof is in a position to transition from a programmed temporary shape into the permanent shape thereof, following a temperature increase to a temperature that at least corresponds to a switching temperature (Tswitch, T?max).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material-und Küstenforschung GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Kratz, Andreas Lendlein, Ulrike Voigt, Wolfgang Wagermaier
  • Forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8926883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method of forming a material, including the steps of, presenting a formable material to a space from where the material can be carried by and/or between opposing surfaces of the space, as the opposing surfaces advance in an advancing direction. Also pressurising, as the opposing surfaces advance, the material between the opposing surfaces in a reduced space between the opposing surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone. The reduced space between the opposing surfaces being maintained at least substantially constant until such time as the form of at least one of the opposing surfaces is profiled into the material and is retainable thereon. Thereafter releasing the now profiled material from between the opposing surfaces, as the space increases between the opposing surfaces as the surfaces advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Leo Haynes, Christopher John Nicholls, Gabriel Ioan Giurgiu, Samuel Gwynn Buckingham
  • Method of producing liquid crystal polyester composition
    Patent number: 8920695
    Abstract: A method of producing a liquid crystal polyester composition, the twin-screw extruder including a cylinder having a supply port for supplying the liquid crystal polyester, a first addition port for adding the filler other than fibrous fillers and a second addition port for adding a fibrous filler which are provided downstream of the supply port, and a screw provided with kneading portions on the upstream side and downstream side of the first addition port, a resin temperature (T1) of the liquid crystal polyester after kneading in the nearest upstream kneading portion satisfying formula (1), and a resin temperature (T2) of the liquid crystal polyester after kneading in the nearest downstream kneading portion satisfying formula (2): FT?100(° C.)?T1?FT+20(° C.)??(1) FT?100(° C.)?T2?FT+30(° C.)??(2) wherein FT represents the flow starting temperature of the liquid crystal polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Maeda, Yasuo Matsumi
  • Method of making a reinforced resin structure
    Patent number: 8916075
    Abstract: A method of making a reinforced resin structure is disclosed. A volume of uncured resin compound is placed on a first outer surface of a carrier structure comprising a plurality of fibers. The uncured resin compound and the carrier structure are pressed between two cooperating plates to disperse the resin compound into and through a plurality of passages between the plurality of fibers. The dispersed resin compound is cured to fix the resin within the plurality of passages and around the plurality of fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Oehler, Wayne J. Caillouette
  • Self-retaining sutures with retainers formed from molten material
    Patent number: 8916077
    Abstract: Provided herein are sutures to be used in a procedure applied to tissue, and methods for forming such sutures. A suture can include an elongated suture body having a periphery, and a plurality of retainers formed from molten material applied to portions of the periphery. The retainers can extend from and be arranged along at least a segment of the elongated suture body. The retainers can be formed by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexei Goraltchouk, Lev Drubetsky, Gerald F. Cummings, Robert A. Herrmann, Alexander Naimagon
  • Method and device for manufacturing materials from hydrophobic hollow natural fibres, and use thereof
    Patent number: 8916083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing hydrophobic hollow natural fibers, in particular vegetable hollow natural fibers and more particularly kapok fibers, to form material, and to a material obtainable by such a method. The invention furthermore relates to “the use of such a?naterial as absorption medium for apolar substances and a device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventors: Marco Hendrikus Bernardus Achtereekte, Sheila Adimargono
  • Method of blow molding a bulk metallic glass
    Patent number: 8916087
    Abstract: A very low pressure gas or blow forming process for shaping a bulk metallic glass (BMG) in its supercooled liquid state that avoids the fractional stick forces experienced by conventional shaping techniques by engineering the expansion of a pre-shape or parison of BMG material such that substantially all of the lateral strain required to form the final article is accomplished prior to the outer surface of the parison contacting the surface of the shaping apparatus is provided. The capability offered by the inventive shaping process to avoid the frictional forces exerted by the shaping apparatus surface allows for the formation of precision net-shape complex multi-scale parts and components using processing conditions inaccessible by conventional processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Jan Schroers, Thomas Mackenzie Hodges
  • Method for producing a vessel closure
    Patent number: 8916078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a vessel closure for vessels comprising an opening that is to be closed by the vessel closure, an inner diameter of more than two cm and surrounds a polymer-based sealing element that is arranged in the vessel closure in such a manner that it sealingly rests on the opening of the vessel in the closed state. A polymer material becomes sufficiently free-flowing by warming and is applied to the vessel closure in the region of the sealing element that is to be produced, and optionally, is mechanically formed into the desired shape which it maintains after cooling. The invention also relates to a metal or plastic vessel closures for vessels for receiving drinks or food, and comprises a sealing insert, the material thereof being selected so that the migration of material components into the drink or food, that are a health risk, is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Actega DS GmbH
    Inventors: Christiane Poel-Asendorf, Rüdiger Wittenberg, Georg Schlenk
  • Wrinkled adhesive surfaces and methods for the preparation thereof
    Patent number: 8906284
    Abstract: A wrinkled adhesive surface is prepared by swelling a laterally confined elastomer layer with a polymerizable monomer composition. Swelling the elastomer layer spontaneously produces a wrinkled surface, and the wrinkles are then stabilized by polymerizing the polymerizable monomer composition. The stabilized wrinkled surfaces prepare by the method can exhibit substantially enhanced adhesion relative to smooth surfaces of the same material. The stabilized wrinkled surfaces can also exhibit adhesion that is repeatable through many cycles of contact with and separation from another surface. The adhesive characteristics of the stabilized wrinkled surfaces can be tailored by manipulating the size of the wrinkles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Alfred J. Crosby, Edwin P. Chan, Ryan C. Hayward
  • Polyolefin composition, its production method, and a battery separator made therefrom
    Patent number: 8906539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polyolefin composition. The polyolefin composition can be in the form of a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a first microporous layer containing 7% or less by mass of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 1×106 or more, and having a structure in which a pore size distribution curve obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry has at least two peaks, and a second microporous layer containing 8% or more by mass of the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Shintaro Kikuchi