Patents Examined by Merrick Dixon
  • Patent number: 6451435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an interlayer product for laminated safety glass whereby multiple layers of interlocking interlayer film having the desired properties of thickness and melt fracture surface pattern are combined to meet a specific functional need. In the present invention, two or more rolls of sheeting comprising polyvinyl butyral as the primary component are simultaneously unwound and rewound together under controlled tension, line speed and temperature so that the edges of the respective layers are aligned and roll formation is normal, the tension on the respective sheets is equal, thickness is maintained and entrapped air is minimized. The resulting product is used to produce laminated safety glass with thick interlayer construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.
    Inventors: Guenter Klafka, Richard Wiemer
  • Patent number: 6450228
    Abstract: A film and a method of applying the film to a handrail of an escalator or moving walkway are provided. The film can be a single or double layered film. Printed matter, e.g. advertising, can be applied to or between the films. An apparatus and related method for applying the film are also included and rely on the motion of the handrail to unroll a supply of the film, with one or more rollers pressing the film onto the handrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Ronald H. Hall
    Inventors: John McLeod, Ronald L. Bugg
  • Patent number: 6451416
    Abstract: The present invention is a low density hybrid airfoil comprising a temperature resistant exterior layer and a tough, high impact resistant interior layer. Specifically, the airfoil comprises a monolithic ceramic exterior layer and a fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite interior layer. Both the monolithic ceramic and fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite are low density materials. Additionally, the monolithic ceramic is a high temperature resistant material, and the fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite is a relatively high impact resistant structure. Encapsulating the airfoil with a temperature resistant exterior layer protects the airfoil in a high temperature environment, and supporting the airfoil with a high impact resistant, fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite improves the overall impact resistance of the airfoil thereby resulting in a tough, high temperature resistant, low density airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Holowczak, Karl M. Prewo, Jayant S. Sabnis, William K. Tredway
  • Patent number: 6447927
    Abstract: A composite metal matrix formed of polycrystalline &agr;-Al2O3 fibers encapsulated within a matrix of substantially pure elemental aluminum, or an alloy elemental aluminum and up to about 2% copper is disclosed. The resulting materials are characterized by their high strength and low weight are particularly well suited for applications in various industries including high voltage power transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Colin McCullough, Andreas Mortensen, Paul S. Werner, Herve E. Deve, Tracy L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6447902
    Abstract: A joint and method for forming a joint between two spaced apart materials having dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion wherein the space is filled with a blended composite of twisted fibrils of the two materials, preferably quartz and carbon, and an adhesive, preferably an epoxy based adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventors: H. Landis Carter, Frank Christopher Malik
  • Patent number: 6447917
    Abstract: A friction material for brake including reinforcing fibers, a friction modifier, a lubricant, and a binder, characterized by containing, as a part of the component of the friction modifier, 2 to 5 wt % zeolite, 0.8 to 2 wt % antimony oxide and 0.2 to 1 wt % fluorine based polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Ogata, Yosuke Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6447905
    Abstract: Tire bead rubber compositions and tire beads made therewith are provided having good dimensional stability, processability and wire adhesion Tire bead rubber compositions containing crosslinked styrene butadiene rubber are also provided having good dimensional stability, processability and wire adhesion. Methods for manufacturing tire beads and tires using dimensionally stale compositions are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Pirelli Tire LLC
    Inventors: Benfei Hu, Stanley T. Esposito, Ronald E. Evans
  • Patent number: 6444293
    Abstract: A method for applying a bus bar to the peripheral edge region of a shaped substrate is disclosed. The method involves: 1) applying a protective coating to a blank substrate; 2) edging the blank substrate to shape; 3) applying a conductive coating to the peripheral edge region of the shaped substrate; and 4) removing the protective coating, along with excess conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Gregory, Harry L. Pinch, John E. Smarto
  • Patent number: 6440558
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for the manufacture of a composite fibrous strand comprising glass fibers. Glass fibers and an additive fibrous material (e.g., thermoplastic polymeric fibers) are each introduced separately into a substantially rotationally symmetric zone that is closed circumferentially except for a longitudinal introduction locale. The glass fibers and the fibers of the additive fibrous material are subjected to a vortex to form a homogeneous composite fibrous strand. Good admixture of the fibrous components is made possible thereby facilitating the ultimate production of composite articles wherein the glass fibers are disposed as reinforcement in a highly uniform manner. Such homogeneity and uniformity provides improved mechanical properties to the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Schuller GmbH
    Inventors: Michaela Klaus, Reinhart Dosch, Hans Georg Mann
  • Patent number: 6440593
    Abstract: A molded plastic article having improved electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. The article includes a plastic layer and an outer film layer over the plastic layer. The outer film layer has an inner surface adjacent to and bonded to the plastic layer and an outer surface opposed to the inner surface. The plastic layer and outer layer are electrically conductive. Preferably the outer layer has higher conductivity than the plastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: The University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Thomas M. Ellison, Arthur K. Delusky, Robert Lucke, Stephen P. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6440254
    Abstract: An improved method of bonding a layer of material to a substrate is provided in which a laser beam is used to generate heat in a local area on the composite. The heat from the laser beam activates an adhesive to bond the layer to the substrate. Alternatively, the heat from the laser beam locally melts either or both of the substrate and the layer to create the bond. When the bond is created along a closed path, the heat from the laser may also cause the layer to puff away from the substrate. The invention can be used for a variety of purposes such as creating decorative features on greeting cards to give them a novel look and feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Barbara J. Rich, Larry E. Williams
  • Patent number: 6440534
    Abstract: An interior trim component (100) for an automobile comprising a structure formed from at least one polyolefin material and reinforcement particles dispersed within the at least one thermoplastic olefin. The reinforcement particles comprise less than or equal to 10% of a total volume of the rigid structure. At least 40% of the reinforcement particles have a thickness less than about 50 nanometers. The interior trim component (100) is constructed and arranged to be devoid of any decorative coating layer disposed thereon in its final finished form for installation into a vehicle so that the trim component (100) is provided with an unpainted visible surface finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Magna International of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip S. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6440564
    Abstract: The invention relates to a relatively soft, largely planar, though three-dimensional product, obtainable by means of an embossing tool for converting a relatively soft, planar starting product as a result of embossing to the extent that an embossing pattern exists which comprises a plurality of “hinged parallelograms” that are limited by lines of compressed material such that when tractive forces are applied, this hinged parallelogram structure behaves like a pantograph and a secondary bulk is superimposed as a result of a stretching process on the primary bulk produced by the embossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products GmbH
    Inventors: John Dunn McLain, Brian Hunt, George Rutherford
  • Patent number: 6436557
    Abstract: (1) A flame retardant resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic resin, 100 to 250 parts by weight of metal hydroxide, and either 5 to 50 parts by weight of acetate or 5 to 80 parts by weight of calcium carbonate. (2) An insulated wire provided with an insulating layer made of the flame retardant resin composition. (3) A thin-wall high-strength insulated wire obtained by having a conductor with an outer diameter 1.0 mm or less covered with the flame retardant resin composition with a thickness from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. (4) An insulating tube and a heat-shrinkable tube obtained by molding the flame retardant resin composition into a tubular form. (5) A flat cable obtained by enclosing a plurality of conductors arranged in parallel in an insulating layer and the flat cable obtained by further laminating at least one face of the insulating layer with a film made of polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoaki Moriuchi, Hiroshi Hayami, Satoshi Shukushima
  • Patent number: 6436495
    Abstract: A flexible multilayer film suitable as a (food-)packaging material includes a first seal layer comprising principally a metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin, and a second seal layer comprising a copolymer of at least one oxygen-containing monomer and ethylene. The copolymer is set to have a crystal melting point lower than that of the metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin. The second seal layer may preferably have a thickness larger than that of the first seal layer. Because of the provision of the second seal layer adjacent to the first seal layer, the multilayer film is provided with an improved film-formability while retaining the good sealability of the metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Kureha Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Tsukamoto, Ichiro Kitada, Yoshiharu Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 6428868
    Abstract: A gyricon or twisting-particle display based on nonspheroidal (e.g., substantially cylindrical) optically anisotropic particles disposed in a substrate. The particles can be either bichromal or polychromal cylinders, preferably aligned parallel to one another and packed close together in a monolayer. A rotatable disposition of each particle is achievable while the particle is thus disposed in the substrate; for example, the particles can already be rotatable in the substrate, or can be rendered rotatable in the substrate by a nondestructive operation performed on the substrate. In particular, the substrate can be made up of an elastomer that is expanded by application of a fluid thereto so as to render the particles rotatable therein. A particle, when in its rotatable disposition, is not attached to the substrate. The close-packed monolayer configuration of particles provides excellent brightness characteristics and relative ease of manufacture as compared with certain other high-brightness gyricon displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas K. Sheridon, Joseph M. Crowley
  • Patent number: 6428890
    Abstract: A polymer matrix composite is provided including graphitized vapor grown carbon fiber mats. A mat comprises semi-continuous vapor grown carbon fiber. The preferred method of producing the composite includes the steps of providing at least one mat of vapor grown carbon fiber and infiltrating liquidized polymeric material into the interstices of the mat by a hot press process. The resulting polymer matrix composite has a thermal conductivity between 400 W/m-K and 700 W/m-K, a density between 1.10-1.40/cc, and an insulating surface, and is useful as a component it electronic devices, aircraft, spacecraft, portable electronics, and other thermal management applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventor: Jyh-Ming Ting
  • Patent number: 6428883
    Abstract: A composite resinoid/diamond dicing blade includes diamond particles and a dry lubricant dispersed in a resin binder. The dry lubricant can be in powdered form, and is preferably selected from graphite, talc, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, niobium disulfide, boron nitride, and ditellurides and diselenides of group V and VI metals, with molybdenum disulfide being particularly preferred. The dicing blade can be used in cutting a variety of substrates, such as in the production of ink jet printheads, electrical semiconductor chips, raster input scan (RIS) sensor bars, and magnetic heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. White
  • Patent number: 6426147
    Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate provided with a multilayer coating. The invention additionally relates to a process for its preparation, in which the body to be coated passes via the entry 1 into the pretreatment stage 2. This is followed by electrodeposition coating 3 and the baking 4 of the electrodeposition coat. In stage 5 preparation takes place for coating with powder coating material (stage 6). In stage 7 drying is carried out with IR irradiation. This is followed by the cooling stage 7. The powder coating material is applied to the powder coat in stage 9. Following passage through the intermediate drying stage 10 a protective coat is applied in stage 11 and then is baked in stage 12. The body is transported out of the unit via the exit 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Coatings AG
    Inventors: Klaus Holzapfel, Heinrich Wonnemann
  • Patent number: 6426133
    Abstract: A graphite material coated with silicon carbide which exhibits superior physical impact resistance and can be manufactured at low cost. The material includes a graphite substrate coated with a silicon carbide film with a thickness of 30-50 &mgr;m, wherein a mixed layer of graphite and silicon carbide with a thickness of 10-500 &mgr;m is provided from the interface of the graphite substrate and the silicon carbide film through the inside of the graphite substrate, and the silicon carbide film has a peel strength of 5 Mpa or more. The silicon carbide film is attached preferably by the CVD method and is suitably used as a material for an apparatus for drawing-up single crystals of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignees: Tokai Carbon Company, Ltd., Seh America, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Kondo, Neil Salstrom