Patents Examined by Mary F Theisen
  • Patent number: 8425817
    Abstract: A mold assembly (100) for forming an object, the mold assembly comprising: a first mold portion (110) comprising an internal surface (112), an external surface (114) and an opening (116) leading from the internal surface to the external surface; and a second mold portion (120) positionable with respect to the opening (116) to cover the opening; wherein the first and second mold portions define an interior (130) for receiving a material to be molded into the object; and wherein the second mold portion comprises a surface (122) adapted to face the interior of the mold assembly and form a feature on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Michael N Wybrow
  • Patent number: 8425812
    Abstract: A method of making a dental blank comprises the steps of independently compacting a first and second zone of a quantity of ceramic particles. During compacting, the first and second zones have different compaction factors in at least one stage. Such blanks may be pre-sintered and used in the manufacture of dental restorations. The method may help in controlling the homogeneity of the material structure during manufacturing the blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ingo W. Wagner, Martin Goetzinger, Thomas Sprengart
  • Patent number: 8425809
    Abstract: A method of forming granules, the method including forming a suspension of a nanopowder such as a nano zirconia powder containing yttria. The powder is formed from a suspension, and freon is added directly to the suspension as an additive. The suspension is then granulated by spray freeze drying, and the freon subsequently removed by heat treatment. The voids left by the vacated freon provide meso, micro and macro flaws or structural defects in the granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Loughborough University
    Inventors: Annapoorani Ketharam, Balasubramaniam Vaidhyanathan, Bala Praveen Chakkravarthy Raghupathy, Jonathan Graham Peel Binner
  • Patent number: 8425717
    Abstract: Inorganic-organic composite articles and methods for producing them using inorganic acidic/alkaline precursor components as inorganic adhesives is provided. Articles prepared therefrom provide improved flexibility, zero flame spread, no release of volatile organic compounds, and low carbon foot print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Latitude 18, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun S. Wagh, Sameerkumar Vasantlal Patel, Anand Paul Mangalam
  • Patent number: 8425811
    Abstract: Sulfur seeds may be produced by spraying liquid molten sulfur from a sulfur spray nozzle into a moving stream of liquid. Some of the sulfur may pass through the liquid and some of the sulfur may be entrained in and transported by the stream of liquid, or all of the sulfur may be entrained in the stream of liquid. The sulfur droplets that are entrained in the stream of liquid may be carried by the liquid to a cooling tank, which may be a spiral dewaterer tank with an angled bottom and a screw conveyor. An opening may be made in the bottom surface of the screw conveyor housing of the spiral dewaterer tank for liquid to drain from the screw conveyor as it moves sulfur seeds from the tank to a the drum. A screen may be disposed across the opening, and a drain trough attached to the screw conveyor housing to capture any liquid and solids that move through the screen. A wash line may assist in moving solids that pass through the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Brimrock International Inc.
    Inventors: Sergio A. De Paoli, Jamsheed P. Irani
  • Patent number: 8419999
    Abstract: Provided is by the present invention is a method for producing an EVOH resin having sufficient long-run workability in melt molding and enabling prevention of coloring such as yellowing, an EVOH resin obtained by this method for production, and a laminate obtained from this resin. The present invention is a method for producing an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin, the method including a step of saponifying an ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer to obtain an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, in which the method is characterized by further including a step of irradiating the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer or the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with an infrared ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Tsuboi, Ray Jouett, Robert Armstrong, Yoshio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8414809
    Abstract: Stoppers made from composite material for sparkling wines consisting of two types of cork agglomerate which are closely bonded and produced from two ranges of granulates of different granulometry, where the joining surface between the two agglomerates is irregular due to their interpenetration. A production process of such stoppers by individual molding (piece by piece), where there is simultaneous feeding of two types of granulate and respective additives into a mold. The mold is then closed and the material compressed and heated for an appropriate time for polymerization. The granulates used are normally treated with a reactive agglomerant consisting of, for example, quasi-prepolymer based on TDI or quasi-prepolymer based on MDI base. After de-molding, the unfinished stopper is stabilized, and later machined to the final dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Pietec-Corticas, S.A., Istituto Superior Tecnico
    Inventors: Joao Carlos Moura Bordado, Jaime Noto, Antonio Manuel De Magalhaes Moreira Bastos
  • Patent number: 8409483
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing a three-dimensional body consisting of individual solidified layers, whereby a coating material is disposed on one of a carrier plate and an already-solidified layer of the body in a first layer thickness by slidably withdrawing a bottom plate of a storage container filled with the coating material, thereby allowing coating material to descend from the storage container onto the carrier plate or already-solidified layer of the body. The first layer thickness of the coating material is then reduced to a lesser second layer thickness by re-inserting the bottom plate through the coating material disposed on the carrier plate or already-solidified layer. The coating material is then solidified at predetermined locations in order to generate a desired layer contour of one solidified layer of the three-dimensional body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Fit Fruth Innovative Technologien GmbH
    Inventor: Carl Johannes Fruth
  • Patent number: 8404164
    Abstract: A composition for pelletized bitumen and a method for preparing the same is disclosed. The composition is comprised of: between approximately 30% to approximately 40% by weight of bitumen; between approximately 15% to approximately 30% by weight of stiffening compound; between approximately 35% to approximately 45% by weight of setting compound; and approximately 0.05% by weight of water. The stiffening compound is comprised of between approximately 10% to approximately 20% by weight of ground asphalt shingles; between approximately 5% to approximately 10% by weight of vulcanized rubber; between approximately 1% to approximately 2% by weight of uintahite; and up to approximately 0.5% by weight of zeolite. And the stiffening compound may be Type II Portland cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Phoenix Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Kelly Sockwell
  • Patent number: 8398915
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for a making a formed fibrous article and more specifically to method and apparatus for making a formed fibrous article useful as an absorbent core structure in a disposable sanitary article such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner, diaper or the like. The present invention also relates to a disposable sanitary article including a formed fibrous article according to the present invention as a core structure thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson do Brasil Industria e Comercio Produtos Paral Saude Ltda. Rodovia
    Inventors: Marco Antonio Alkmin, Livea Fujita Barbosa, José Francisco Cau, Jose Manoel Soares Coutinho, Ivair Luiz Duarte, Reinaldo Lourenço Faria, Francisco J. V. Hernandez, Manuela Leonel Martines, Francisco Antonio Rimoli, Francisco Savastano Neto, Alexandre Teixeira Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8398905
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a particle board comprising a lower and an upper surface layer (9, 11) having a finer fraction of particles (4), and between these surface layers (9, 11) an intermediate layer (13) having a coarser fraction of particles (5). The intermediate layer (13) has a varying density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Swedwood International AB
    Inventor: Bo Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8394316
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for a making a formed fibrous article and more specifically to method and apparatus for making a formed fibrous article useful as an absorbent core structure in a disposable sanitary article such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner, diaper or the like. The present invention also relates to a disposable sanitary article including a formed fibrous article according to the present invention as a core structure thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson do Brasil Industria e Comercio Produtos Para Saude Ltda. Rodovia
    Inventors: Marco Antonio Alkmin, José Francisco Cau, Jose Manoel Soares Coutinho, Francisco J. V. Hernandez, Francisco Antonio Rimoli, Francisco Savastano Neto
  • Patent number: 8394302
    Abstract: A method for producing a wood-fiber board, which has a pattern on the top, in that glued wood fibers are scattered at least one layer to form a fiber cake, and the fiber cake is subsequently compressed under pressure and temperature to form a board of the desired thickness, is characterized in that the pattern is applied to the fiber cake before compression. An installation for producing a wood-fiber board with a scattering device, by means of which a fiber cake comprising at least one layer of wood fibers glued with resin is scattered, and a conveyor device, which conveys the fiber cake in a process direction to a pressing device in which the fiber cake is pressed to form a board of the desired thickness, is characterized in that a printing device is arranged above the conveyor device between the scattering device and the pressing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Flooring Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Norbert Kalwa
  • Patent number: 8394303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing wood fiber insulating boards, wherein wood fibers are mixed with thermoplastic plastic fibers as binders and a fiber mat is produced therefrom, wherein multi-component fibers composed of at least one first and one second plastic component having different melting points are used as plastic fibers, wherein the fiber mat is heated in such a way that the second component of the plastic fiber softens and wherein the fiber mat is cooled down to produce the insulating board, characterized in that a steam/air mixture having a specified dew point flows through the fiber mat to heat the fiber mat and that multi-component plastic fibers are used as binders, the first component of which has a melting point above the dew point and the second component of which has a melting point below the dew point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Siempelkamp Maschinen—und Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karsten Lempfer
  • Patent number: 8382465
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for test pressing tablets with at least two layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fette GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Schmidt, Ulrich Gathmann, Bernd Malner
  • Patent number: 8377352
    Abstract: A medical catheter tube containing a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which has a wall thickness of 0.1 mm or below and exhibits a tensile strength (S1) at 1.0 mm displacement of 5.0 N/mm or above; and a process for the production of medical catheter tubes, characterized by molding a composition both a tetrafluoroethylene polymer and a lubricant having high affinity for the polymer by paste extrusion. The invention provides thin-wall medical catheter tubes excellent in elongation resistance, kink resistance and internal cavity lubricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Inamoto, Fumihiko Nakao, Mitsuharu Korogi, Tsuyoshi Mihayashi
  • Patent number: 8372324
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for binding of particulate materials to manufacture articles including continuous panels or sheets. Particulate feed materials are mixed with a heat curable binder and the mixture is fed to and compressed in a die. A radio frequency (RF) field is applied across electrodes between which the mixture is held compressed to inductively or dielectrically heat and cure the binder. Prior to entering the die the mixture is first fed to an intake zone where the mixture is shaped into substantially the same shape as the shape of the mixture in the die so that any curing of the binder due to heating of the mixture in the intake zone occurs while the mixture is in the desired final shape. Operating parameters including shape and dimensions of the intake zone, mixture advancement lengths, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panel Board Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Richard Laurance Lewellin
  • Patent number: 8372320
    Abstract: A method of producing dried cellulose nanofibrils includes atomizing an aqueous suspension of cellulose nanofibrils and introducing the atomized aqueous suspension into a drying chamber of a drying apparatus. The aqueous suspension is then dried, thereby forming substantially non-agglomerated dried cellulose nanofibrils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Douglas J. Gardner, Yousoo Han, Yucheng Peng
  • Patent number: 8361375
    Abstract: A forming mold or electroforming mother die including a mold or mother die, and a release layer composed of an organic thin film on a mold surface or mother die surface which is formed by contacting the mold or mother die with an organic solvent solution including a silane surfactant represented by formula [1] Rn—Si—X4-n??[1] where R represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or halogenated hydrocarbon having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a hydrocarbon group or a halogenated hydrocarbon group having a linking group which has 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X represents a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an acyloxy group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 3; and a catalyst capable of interacting with the silane surfactant, and a production method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Hidaka, Norifumi Nakamoto, Yoshitaka Fujita
  • Patent number: 8361367
    Abstract: A method of forming a simulated combustible fuel element for simulating a semi-burned combustible fuel element, including, first, covering a surface of the semi-burned combustible fuel element with a material selected to produce a resiliently flexible mold, and second, after the selected material has set, removing the semi-burned combustible fuel element from the mold. Next, a predetermined amount of liquefied body material is introduced into the mold, and a body is produced resembling the semi-burned combustible fuel element with one or more cavities therein and an exterior surface simulating the surface of the semi-burned combustible fuel element, the body including one or more light passages. After the body material is cured, the mold is removed from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Dimplex North America Limited
    Inventors: Kristoffer Hess, Martyn Champ, Michael Jach, Kelly Stinson