Patents Examined by Michael Tolin
  • Patent number: 9849040
    Abstract: A method for making a disposable absorbent core comprises depositing absorbent particulate polymer material from a plurality of reservoirs in a printing roll onto a substrate disposed on a grid of a support which includes a plurality of cross bars extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another so as to form channels extending between the plurality of cross bars. The plurality of reservoirs in the first peripheral surface are arranged in an array comprising rows extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another. A disposable absorbent article and apparatus for making an absorbent article are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Harald Hermann Hundorf, Miguel Brandt Sanz, Holger Beruda, Horst Blessing, Peter Dziezok, Axel Krause, Mattias Schmidt, Lutz Stelzig
  • Patent number: 9834875
    Abstract: A method of making mounting mats comprising the steps of: (i) supplying inorganic fibers through an inlet of a forming box having an open bottom positioned over a forming wire to form a mat of fibers on the forming wire, the forming box having rollers for breaking apart clumps of fibers and an endless belt screen; (ii) capturing clumps of fibers on the endless belt; (iii) conveying captured clumps of fibers on the endless belt so as to enable captured clumps to release from the belt and be broken apart by the rollers; (iv) transporting the mat of fibers out of the forming box by the forming wire; and (v) compressing and restraining the mat of fibers to thereby obtain a mounting mat having a desired thickness suitable for mounting a pollution control element in a pollution control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ulrich E. Kunze, Lahoussaine Lalouch, Claus Middendorf, Harald H. Krieg
  • Patent number: 9833979
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a container seal having an integral pull tab comprises providing a surface layer, an elastic layer, a top layer, an aluminum foil intermediate layer, and laminating a sealing adhesive layer of an adhesive thermoplastic resin or viscous agent to the intermediate layer. An adhesive surface and a non-adhesive portion are added to the thermoplastic resin layer, and placed on the aluminum foil to form a container seal laminate. The container seal laminate is cut to conform with an opening of the container to be sealed. The seal has an integral pull tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Seman Wi
  • Patent number: 9828800
    Abstract: A base structure and associated method for converting the base structure into an operable vane on a shade for an architectural opening. The base structure includes a back sheet and a front sheet attached together in engagement regions spaced along the length of the back sheet and front sheet. The front sheet is separated into front strip sections having a free end. Operating elements are positioned along the back sheet and situated so as to move relative thereto. The operating elements are attached adjacent to a free end of the front strip. Movement of the operating elements actuates the free end of the front strip to move from a closed position to an open position as desired by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Holt, Marcus Long, Kelly Q. Rahn, Jason T. Throne, Stephen T. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 9789704
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pattern includes providing a pattern of a first liquid on a medium, applying a powder material to the provided pattern, and providing a second liquid to the powder material applied to the first liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taniuchi
  • Patent number: 9791085
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Robert J. Morrow
  • Patent number: 9790626
    Abstract: Methods for forming a touch fastening material are described as including: providing a lengthwise-incoherent layer of staple fibers supported directly on a bed of bristle tips of a brush; needling the layer of staple fibers by cycling needles through the layer of staple fibers and into the brush; then, while the needled layer of staple fibers remains supported on the brush, fusing portions of the staple fibers by at least partially melting resin of the fibers disposed outside the brush; and then pulling the layer of fibers from the brush as a lengthwise-coherent touch fastening material having exposed fastening loops pulled from between the brush bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Christopher M. Gallant, James R. Barker, Gregory K. Kopanski, David Erick Fuller
  • Patent number: 9783331
    Abstract: An apparatus for bundling containers includes a linear conveyor, a guide element, conveying elements, and application elements, each of which applies adhesive to a portion of a container surface, The conveying elements are driven and controllable to travel along the conveyor and to circulate along the guide element. Each conveying element has a container guide that rotates relative to the conveying element. The guide element has a feed strand with central, transition, and end sections that merge into each other. The central section is further from the central axis than the end section. The distance from end section to central axis is such that containers circulating on the end section are brought into contact with adhesive on a surface of an adjacent container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Nitsch
  • Patent number: 9775457
    Abstract: A dimensionally stable universal floor covering includes a tufted textile substrate and a reinforcement layer to provide dimensional stability for the entire floor covering. Vacuum, mixing, and injection of compressed air assists in preparing an adhesive and fiber composition to be in the preferred condition and position before the application of pressure to form the reinforcement layer. The universal floor covering is selectively cut and transported in a roll for installation, and it can be conveniently recycled if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Higgins Research & Development, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth B. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9757904
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depositing one- or two-dimensional fiber structures in order to form a two- or three-dimensional fiber structure, in particular a fiber structure in the form of a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) or FRP semi-finished product, using a production machine including at least one depositing device and at least one fiber support. The one- or two-dimensional fiber structures have at least one unidirectional fiber layer. The depositing device deposits the one- or two-dimensional fiber structures onto the fiber support in a depositing direction in a controlled manner such that the fiber directions of the deposited one- or two-dimensional fiber structures assume an angle ?>20°, preferably ?>60°, and a maximum of ?=90°, relative to the depositing direction. The one- or two-dimensional fiber structures are deposited on the fiber support in a substantially tension-free manner with respect to the fiber direction of the fiber structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jaromir Ufer, Marco Göttinger
  • Patent number: 9758961
    Abstract: A continuous process for preparing insulation panels having thick (0.2 mm to 1 mm) metal facing panels and a fiber-reinforced polymer foam core is disclosed. In the process, a bottom metal facing panel (2) is continuously supplied. A mat (10) of reinforcing fibers and a foamable resin composition (19) are applied to the bottom facing panel. A flexible barrier layer (5) is applied atop the foamable resin composition, and the assembly is passed through nip rolls (12,13) to compress the assembly and force the resin composition into the fiber mat. An adhesive layer (4) and top metallic facing layer (1) are then applied on top of the flexible barrier layer, and the resulting assembly is gauged and cured by passing it through a double band laminator (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Luca Lotti, Maurizio Guandalini, Luigi L. Bertucelli, Paolo Golini
  • Patent number: 9759357
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing tubular bodies (1) exhibiting an inner circumferential surface (8) and outer circumferential surface (7) for packaging tubes out of a strip-shaped film substrate (2), which exhibits at least one weldable plastic layer (3) or consists of the latter, and which encompasses a first edge face (5) extending in the longitudinal direction of the film substrate (2) or a second edge face (6) spaced apart from the first edge face (5) by the width of the film substrate (2), wherein the first edge face (5) runs at a first angle (?) relative to a first thickness extension direction on a first radially innermost border (9) of the first edge face (5), and the second edge face (6) runs at a second angle (?) relative to a second thickness extension direction on a second radially outermost border of the second edge face (6), and wherein the first and second edge faces (6) are placed opposite each other and joined together during exposure to heat, wherein the first angle (?) and second angle (?) differ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: PACKSYS GLOBAL (SWITZERLAND) LTD.
    Inventor: Julius Läubli
  • Patent number: 9720363
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
  • Patent number: 9693582
    Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 9695084
    Abstract: A system and method of forming fiberglass air filtration media is disclosed which does not require the use of oil additives. A mixture of resin binder, polymer, and dry adhering agent is formed and applied to the fiberglass as it spins onto the drum. Additionally, the fiberglass filtration media density can vary such that the fiber on the air inflow is less dense than the fiber on the air outflow. After oven curing, the finished air filtration media has an improved ability to attract and hold dust and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventors: Charles Douglas Spitler, Rodney Ray Wilkins
  • Patent number: 9695531
    Abstract: Consolidated carbon nanotube or graphene yarns and woven sheets are consolidated through the formation of a carbon binder formed from the dehydration of sucrose. The resulting materials, on a macro-scale are lightweight and of a high specific modulus and/or strength. Sucrose is relatively inexpensive and readily available, and the process is therefore cost-effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Godfrey Sauti, Jae-Woo Kim, Emilie J. Siochi, Kristopher E. Wise
  • Patent number: 9681768
    Abstract: A dimensionally stable floor covering, comprising a tufted textile substrate and a reinforcement layer wherein vacuum is used to move adhesive into stitch portions of the yarns and into the back side of the primary backing substrate to provide increased dimensional stability for the entire floor covering. Mixing of reinforcement fibers and adhesive takes place before in situ filtration of the adhesive and fibers. Further, compressed air is injected into the adhesive/fiber composition to provide spaces between the fibers before application of pressure to the composition. The vacuum, mixing, and injection of compressed air assist in preparing the adhesive and fiber composition to be in the preferred condition and position before the application of pressure to the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Higgins Research & Development, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth B. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9664443
    Abstract: An oven for baking a thermally curable binder in a mat of mineral fibers, including plural compartments through which the mat of fibers passes successively, the mat being compressed and transported through the compartments by gas-permeable upper conveyors and lower conveyors, each compartment having a length along a direction of movement of the mat and including a mechanism introducing a hot air flow, located either below or above the fiber mat, and a mechanism extracting the air after having passed through the mat, respectively arranged either above or below the opposite face of the mat, so that the binder is progressively brought to a temperature higher than its curing temperature. In one compartment the mechanism introducing hot air includes air inlets that open partly on openings formed on a first lateral side of the compartment and partly on openings formed on the opposite lateral side of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVER
    Inventors: Pierre Celle, Bernard Baudouin
  • Patent number: 9648904
    Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 9636898
    Abstract: A method of fusing without contact the ends of thermoplastic filaments grouped together to form at least two tufts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THE GILLETTE COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Jochen Ganninger, Jia-Wei Chiu, Karl Herzog