Patents Examined by Matthew Hoover
-
Patent number: 11020949Abstract: The method of making a laminate (100) includes stretching a thermoplastic layer (102) so that it plastically deforms, relaxing the plastically deformed thermoplastic layer (102) to reduce its tensile strain, and subsequently laminating the thermoplastic layer (102) to a substrate (104) to make the laminate (100). The stretching, relaxing, and laminating are completed in-line. The thermoplastic layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, with the first surface of the thermoplastic layer bearing a plurality of male fastening elements. The second surface of the thermoplastic layer (100) is laminated to the substrate (104).Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Gilbert, Neelakandan Chandrasekaran, Todd L. Nelson, Michael R. Gorman, Mark A. Peltier
-
Patent number: 11020869Abstract: Method of manufacturing a substrate with a cut thermal film comprises obtaining an input digital image of a design to be transferred to the substrate; storing the input image in memory; rendering design elements of the design as a single output image; based upon a bleed size value, a maximum number of negative areas, a maximum number of positive areas, and attribute values: resizing the image to include a border for bleed; filling transparent areas of the image with the substrate attribute values; creating a cutting path; creating a mask image; inverting the mask image; modifying the mask image to adjust fill areas around details, to limit negative areas to be less than the maximum number of negative areas, and to limit positive areas to be less than the maximum number of positive areas; creating cutting path data in memory as a vector path outlining the mask image.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: ZAZZLE INC.Inventor: Young Harvill
-
Patent number: 11020934Abstract: A sublimation transfer sheet assembly including a first layer and an dye or ink layer positioned on a first side of the first layer. The first layer and the dye or ink layer being positioned such that when the sublimation transfer sheet assembly is wrapped about an object with the dye or ink layer facing the object, a first edge portion of the sublimation transfer sheet assembly is overlapped by a second edge portion of the sublimation transfer sheet assembly, and the first edge portion is interposed between the second edge portion and the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2020Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT, LLCInventor: Michael Circosta
-
Patent number: 11007723Abstract: A method can be used to attach a fabric member to a trim while forming a pattern in the fabric member. A trim has trim grooves formed in one side of the trim and a fabric member has a foam formed in one side of a skin material of the fabric member. A bonding member is coated to an outer surface of the foam and the fabric member is heated where the bonding member is coated. The heated fabric member is placed on the side of the trim where the trim grooves are formed. The fabric member is fixed to the trim by inserting edges of the fabric member into the trim grooves using insertion blades while pattern protrusions formed in a compression jig form a pattern by pressing the skin material of the fabric member.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Adient Automotive Interiors Korea Inc.Inventors: Dong Keun Yoo, Chang Dong Kim, Eun Ho Choi
-
Patent number: 11004606Abstract: The present disclosure provides advantageous composite films/coatings, and improved methods for fabricating such composite films/coatings. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved methods for fabricating composite films by trapping at least a portion of a layered material (e.g., hexagonal boron nitride sheets/layers) at an interface of a phase separated system and then introducing the layered material to a polymer film. The present disclosure provides for the use of boron nitride layers to increase the properties (e.g., dielectric constant and breakdown voltage) of polymer films. The exemplary films can be produced by an advantageous climbing technique. Exemplary boron nitride films are composed of overlapping boron nitride sheets with a total thickness of about one nanometer, with the film then transferred onto a polymer film, thereby resulting in significant increases in both dielectric and breakdown properties of the polymer film.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2018Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: University of ConnecticutInventors: Douglas H. Adamson, Zhenhua Cui, Andrey V. Dobrynin
-
Patent number: 10987827Abstract: An apparatus for curing concrete includes a multiple layer polyolefin film and an absorbent layer. The polyolefin film layer can include pH modifying components and antiskid components. The absorbent layer can also include pH modifying components. The absorbent layer can include nonwoven fabric. The apparatus can be applied to curing concrete after hydration water is applied to the curing concrete. The apparatus can also be used to enclose poured concrete members during transport of the members so as to continue the curing process during transport. The film can also be used as a barrier layer between the ground and poured concrete.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2021Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Transhield, Inc.Inventors: Seckin Ozol, Gregory L. Todt, Na Qi
-
Patent number: 10981789Abstract: The present invention provides a method for further uniformly drawing out a carbon nanotube web while inhibiting mixing of edge scraps. A carbon nanotube web is drawn out from a carbon nanotube array-in a state in which abutting members which abut on the carbon nanotube array are provided on respective outer sides of both edges of a boundary region between the carbon nanotube array and the carbon nanotube web.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATIONInventors: Norifumi Morihara, Tetsuya Inoue
-
Patent number: 10974452Abstract: To more efficiently manufacture a three-dimensional object shaped by layering a shaping material with a three-dimensional printer. A manufacturing method for a three-dimensional object according to an embodiment includes: a first shaping process (step S12) of layering a shaping material with a three-dimensional object shaping device (three-dimensional printer) to shape a first shaping portion including a recess opened in a layering direction of the shaping material; a closing process (step S15) of closing an open end of the recess of the first shaping portion; and a second shaping process (step S16) of layering the shaping material with the three-dimensional object shaping device (three-dimensional printer) on the first shaping portion, which open end of the recess is closed, to shape a second shaping portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasunori Yamazaki, Kunio Hakkaku
-
Patent number: 10953572Abstract: Methods, apparatus and system for decorating plastic articles having an uneven surface or hollow structure are disclosed. An assembly comprising a transfer pad and a flexible heat transfer die comprising a thermal interface material (TIM) replace the hard rubber die in a hot-stamping process to fuse indicia into the surface. The assembly modifies ordinary pad printing into a hot-stamping process that transfers indicia onto uneven surfaces. A pad printing machine or other robotics is used to move the assembly from a position of heating to a position of compressing the ink transfer to the surface of the article.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Inventors: Michael J. Stevenson, Robert A. Reeves, Corey R. Dibrom, Darren Gemmill
-
Patent number: 10940637Abstract: A process for producing a surface covering with an embossed printed surface is described. A substrate (16) is continuously moved through a production line, and this substrate (16) is first provided, in a printing equipment (12), with a printed pattern and thereafter, in an embossing equipment (14), with an embossed pattern, which is registered with the printed pattern. The printing equipment (12) produces the printed pattern in-line with the production of the embossed pattern. During printing in the printing equipment (12), the printed pattern is stretched or compressed, dynamically responsive to indicators of misalignments between the printed pattern and the embossed pattern, so as to correct or prevent the misalignments. A production line for carrying out this process is also proposed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2020Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: TARKETT GDLInventors: Klaas Kackmann-Schneider, Igor Brankov, Jean-Yves Simon
-
Patent number: 10926453Abstract: A method for producing a pre-insulated pipe, comprising inserting a length of jacket pipe (10) into a guide channel (110) having a front end (111) and a rear end (112); fixing said length of jacket pipe (10) in said guide channel (110); providing a first end (21) of a length of insulated inner piping (20), said length of insulated inner piping comprising a length of inner pipe surrounded by at least one layer of compressible insulation material (26); inserting, at said front end of said guide channel, into said length of jacket pipe, said first end of said length of insulated inner piping (20); applying an overpressure at least in an interior of said length of jacket pipe (10), around the inserted first end of the length of insulated inner piping (20); and moving said first end of said length of insulated inner piping (20) to said rear end of said guide channel (110); wherein said overpressure is such that said at least one layer of insulation material (26) is radially compressed; removing said overpressure tType: GrantFiled: June 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Watts Water Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Marc Wouters
-
Patent number: 10926483Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum fixture. The vacuum fixture may include a base plate assembly, a middle frame assembly, and a top plate assembly. The base plate assembly may have a first hinged edge. The middle frame assembly may be connected to the base plate proximate the first hinged edge and may define a void. The top plate assembly may have a second hinged edge connected to the first hinged edge, such that when the top plate assembly is in a closed position the middle frame assembly is located in between and contacts a first surface of the base plate assembly and a first surface of the top plate assembly, thereby forming a cavity in between the base plate assembly and the top plate assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Gerhard Sendlhofer, Kristoffer Malone Bejemino
-
Patent number: 10928553Abstract: One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide optical element transfer structures that include an optical element releasably coupled with a transfer medium and methods of making and using the optical element transfer structures. The optical element transfer structures can be used to dispose an optical element onto an article, whereby the optical element imparts a structural color to the article.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Jennifer Bee, Jeremy Gantz, Kim Kovel
-
Patent number: 10927543Abstract: An acoustic attenuation structure comprises a gas permeable composite facesheet, a cellular core, and an impermeable backing. The gas permeable composite facesheet has a designated porosity. The designated porosity causes the permeability of the gas permeable composite facesheet. The gas permeable composite facesheet comprises a carbon fiber fabric. The cellular core is bonded to the gas permeable composite facesheet using a resin of the gas permeable composite facesheet without any additional adhesive. The impermeable backing is connected to the cellular core.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Geoffrey Allen Butler, Justin Honshune Lan
-
Patent number: 10919181Abstract: An apparatus for curing concrete includes a multiple layer film and an absorbent layer. The film can include pH modifying components and antiskid components. The absorbent layer can include pH modifying components. The apparatus can be applied to concrete after hydration water is applied. The apparatus can enclose concrete members during transport so as to continue the curing process during transport. The film can be used as a barrier layer between the ground and poured concrete. The apparatus can be manufactured by heating a film to its crystalline softening point, applying adhesive material to an absorbent material, and adhering the film to the absorbent material. A method of curing concrete includes pouring concrete, waiting for the concrete to reach the bleed stage, providing hydration water, adding a pH modifying component to the hydration water, and applying the hydration water with the pH modifying component to the poured concrete.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Transhield, Inc.Inventors: Seckin Ozol, Gregory L. Todt, Na Qi
-
Patent number: 10913253Abstract: A process for making an elastomeric laminated product including the steps of laminating an elastomeric film between a first spunbond nonvowen layer and a second spunbond nonwoven layer so as to form a laminated web, transporting the laminated web through intermeshing rollers so as to strain portions of the laminated web to form activated regions in the laminated web, and transporting the activated laminated web to a first portion of a rotating wheel, the first portion of the wheel having a cross direction width that is smaller than a cross direction width at a second portion of the wheel, so that the laminated web follows rotation of the wheel and is stretched in the cross direction at the second portion of the wheel before separating from the wheel at the first portion in a relaxed state.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: First Quality Baby Products, LLCInventors: Jeremy A. Doyle, Richard Eugene Kelley, Jr., Pierluigi Cappellini
-
Patent number: 10907886Abstract: A method of forming an insulated structure for an appliance includes forming a structural enclosure having an outer wrapper and an inner liner and an insulating cavity defined therebetween, forming an insulating powder material, compacting the insulating powder material to form a pre-densified core material, disposing the pre-densified core material within an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity is defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner and expressing at least a portion of the gas contained within the insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity is hermetically sealed to define a vacuum insulated structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2020Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Berhanu Allo, Mohamed Alshourbagy, Lakshya J. Deka, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
-
Patent number: 10894370Abstract: A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: WOODWELDING AGInventors: Jörg Mayer, Mario Lehmann, Joakim Kvist, Patricia Poschner
-
Patent number: 10889914Abstract: The exemplary embodiments describe techniques for a controlled chemical vapor deposition growth and transfer of arrayed TMD monolayers on predetermined locations, which enable the formation of single crystalline TMD monolayer arrays on specific locations. The unique growth process includes the patterning of transition metal oxide (e.g., MoO3) on the source substrate contacting the growth substrate face-to-face, where the growth of single crystalline TMD monolayers with controlled size and location, exclusively on predetermined locations on the growth substrates is accomplished. These TMD arrays can be align-transferred using a unique process that combines the wet and stamping transfer processes onto any target substrate with a pin-point accuracy, which dramatically enhances the integrity of transferred TMDs.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF THE STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Eui-Hyeok Yang, Xiaotian Wang, Kyungnam Kang, Siwei Chen
-
Patent number: 10883026Abstract: The present invention relates to an adhesive producible from an aqueous polyurethaneurea dispersion comprising an amorphous polyurethaneurea (V1) obtainable by reacting at least A) one aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or araliphatic polyisocyanate component having an average isocyanate functionality of ?1.8 and ?2.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AGInventors: Marc-Stephan Weiser, Sascha Plug, Sebastian Doerr