Patents Examined by Michele K. Yoder
  • Patent number: 5545283
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for bonding wafer pairs. The apparatus includes a heated platen surrounded by a pressurization vessel. The heated platen includes channels connected to a hole which runs through the heated platen. Wafer pairs are placed on the top surface of the platen, a rubber mat is placed over the top of the wafer pairs, and a vacuum is drawn through the hole and the channels. The rubber mat compresses the wafer pairs. The platen is heated for the bonding process. The pressurization chamber is pressurized supplying additional bonding pressure to the wafer pair. Once sufficiently heated, the heated platen is liquid cooled completing the bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Collins, Daniel E. Kuhman, Herman A. Hermanson
  • Patent number: 5545284
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of manufacturing laminate for honeycomb structure. The invention includes first and second adhesive agent applying units, each of which applies an adhesive agent to a material strip in parallel strips, first and second pressing rolls corresponding to each of said adhesive agent applying units, and a layering table reciprocated by a predetermined stroke. The second stripes of the adhesive agent are displaced transversely by a half pitch from the first stripes of the adhesive agent. The adhesive agent applying units and the pressing rolls are disposed immediately above the layering table and the rolls press the material strip being fed onto the layered material strip, and are moved between an operating position and an inoperative position with relation to the movement of the layering table. The layering table is movable and a roll stand housing the pressing rolls moves in a direction opposite to that of the layering table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Oji Kenzai Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriyasu Miura
  • Patent number: 5534097
    Abstract: The method includes using a contoured mold (22) with copper tubing (40) coiled and embedded beneath the contoured surface. The fabric or trim cover (14) and an adhesive film (16) is placed on the mold (22) and drawn by a vacuum in to contour with the mold (22). The foam cushion (12) is placed thereon in compression. The adhesive film (16) includes a polyamide resin doped with micron sized ferromagnetic particles. Copper coil tubing (40) is energized by an oscillatory radio frequency generator (50) to produce a magnetic flux to induce eddy currents in the ferromagnetic particles to generate heat to thereby melt the polyamide resin. The adhesive film melts, creating a bond between the trim cover (14) and the foam cushion (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Clarice Fasano, Jeffrey J. Frelich
  • Patent number: 5531852
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a sealed end portion of a carton wherein at least one surface of the carton is formed from a material that functions as an adhesive when heated to a predetermined temperature and wherein each open end portion is sealed by folding minor flaps to close at least a portion of the open end portion, moving the carton by a relatively fixed elongated reinforcing strip of material, heating the material in at least a portion of a first major flap to the predetermined temperature, folding the first major flap so that at least a portion of the elongated reinforcing strip of material is located between fold lines of the folded minor flaps and the folded first major flap, folding a second major flap to a superposed relationship with the first major flap and applying pressure to the first and second major flaps against the elongated reinforcing strip of material while continuing the movement of the carton until the first and second major flaps are sealed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Walsh, Robert L. Conatser
  • Patent number: 5529658
    Abstract: The invention is an improved membrane press, and method of elevating a workpiece above the supporting surface of a work base. The membrane press includes a work base having a supporting surface for carrying the workpiece, and a foil-pressing frame positioned above the workpiece for heating and applying the laminating foil to the workpiece. The improvement in the membrane press includes a plurality of workpiece-lifting pedestals residing substantially beneath the supporting surface of the work base. A piston is located beneath each pedestal, and responds to the placement of the workpiece onto the supporting surface of the work base. The piston imparts an upward force on certain ones of the pedestals residing adjacent to and beneath the workpiece to raise the pedestals and workpiece upwardly above the supporting surface of the work base. The raised pedestals permit the top surface, corners, and peripheral borders of the elevated workpiece to be laminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: Hartmut Diekwisch
  • Patent number: 5529653
    Abstract: The invention provides an expandable double-walled sleeve whose space between the walls is filled with curable material and which is designed for the local support and/or reinforcement of a body vessel, absorbent material being provided between its walls which are fabricated from an essentially non-extensible material. This achieves the advantage that the curable material remains uniformly distributed between the walls of the sleeve even if the sleeve is rolled around a still unexpanded PTA balloon in order to be brought to the desired position by means of said balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Industrial Research B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrik Glastra
  • Patent number: 5527420
    Abstract: The protection of the straight edges of multilayer panels (10), such as spacecraft thermal protection panels or heat shields, is ensured by an adhesive protection edging (14) having two adhesive, lateral zones bonded to the faces of the panel and a non-adhesive zone (18) placed on the edge of the panel. Following the removal of a non-adhesive protection (30b), a first adhesive, lateral zone (20b) is brought onto a working plane (22), through a slot (32), and is progressively bonded to the lower face of a panel (10) moving on said plane. The second lateral, adhesive zone is then turned down and pressed onto the upper face of the panel, after which the non-adhesive protection (30a) of said zone is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventors: Daniel A. Mauduit, Gerard Sisani
  • Patent number: 5525290
    Abstract: A decorated helmet is formed by applying a decoration to a side of a plastic sheet. The plastic sheet is heated and applied to a helmet shell with the decoration between the plastic sheet and the helmet shell. A vacuum is applied to the heated plastic sheet to stretch the plastic sheet and mold the plastic sheet directly about the helmet shell with the decorations sandwiched between the plastic sheet and the helmet shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignees: Wes Carpenter, Tina Carpenter
    Inventor: Waylin J. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 5522478
    Abstract: The invention is an improved membrane press, and method of elevating a workpiece above the supporting surface of a work base. The membrane press includes a work base having a supporting surface for carrying the workpiece, and a foil-pressing frame positioned above the workpiece for heating and applying the laminating foil to the workpiece. The improvement in the membrane press includes a plurality of workpiece-lifting pedestals residing substantially beneath the supporting surface of the work base. A piston is located beneath each pedestal, and responds to the placement of the workpiece onto the supporting surface of the work base. The piston imparts an upward force on certain ones of the pedestals residing adjacent to and beneath the workpiece to raise the pedestals and workpiece upwardly above the supporting surface of the work base. The raised pedestals permit the top surface, corners, and peripheral borders of the elevated workpiece to be laminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Smartech LLC
    Inventor: Hartmut Diekwisch
  • Patent number: 5516396
    Abstract: An incontinence electrode for controlling urinary incontinence in women is made of alternating bands of conductive and non-conductive polymers molded to form a tubular body. Electrical receptacles, formed in the molding process at the interior circumferential surface of the conductive polymer bands, accept metal contacts attached to electrical leads to make a secure and durable, mechanical and electrical connection between the conductive polymer bands and the leads. The leads are coupled to a controller and carry electrical current to and from the metal contacts which then distribute the current to the conductive polymer bands to cause a contraction of the vaginal muscles responsible for controlling urinary incontinence in women.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Empi, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Maurer, Alexander Kipnis
  • Patent number: 5514238
    Abstract: The protection of the straight edges of multilayer panels (10), such as spacecraft thermal protection panels or heat shields, is ensured by an adhesive protection edging (14) having two adhesive, lateral zones bonded to the faces of the panel and a non-adhesive zone (18) placed on the edge of the panel. Following the removal of a non-adhesive protection (30b), a first adhesive, lateral zone (20b) is brought onto a working plane (22), through a slot (32), and is progressively bonded to the lower face of a panel (10) moving on said plane. The second lateral, adhesive zone is then turned down and pressed onto the upper face of the panel, after which the non-adhesive protection (30a) of said zone is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventors: Daniel A. Mauduit, Gerard Sisani
  • Patent number: 5507901
    Abstract: Labels with release liners, including integrated labels, are manufactured in a simple manner that does not require two webs of material. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied (e.g. patterned coated) in a first strip on a second face of a web of label material (e.g. bond paper). Then silicone release material is applied in a second strip on the second face of the web of label material so that the second strip is adjacent, but spaced from, the first strip and substantially parallel to it, a line of demarcation (about 1-25 mm wide) provided between the first and second strips, and each strip is at least about one inch wide. Then the label material is folded (e.g. plow folded while on a Webtron press) about the line of demarcation so that the first and second strips come into face-to-face contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Limina, Paul M. Cummings
  • Patent number: 5501758
    Abstract: A reusable and collapsible container having a collapsed configuration for storage and shipment and an assembled configuration for containing a product. The container is formed from a polymeric sheet and has substantially flat panels, hinges connecting adjacent panels, and releasable fasteners on at least some of the panels for holding the panels in an assembled configuration. The sheet has opposing walls separated by longitudinally extending webs. A portion of the hinges cross the longitudinally extending webs and are formed by hot compression of at least one wall of the sheet. Another portion of the hinges are longitudinally extending and are formed by cold compression of at least one wall of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: North America Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Larry E. Nitardy
  • Patent number: 5501762
    Abstract: A hot plate for a double facer used in the manufacture of corrugated paperboard includes a substantially all copper construction which enhances thermal conductivity and heat transfer efficiency. Steam for heating the plates is provided through an array of copper tubes extending between manifolds on opposite sides of the hot plate, all in a manner which obviates the need for heavy pressure vessel construction. The hot plate is allowed to float on its supporting frame in a manner which accommodates lateral thermal expansion, and the lateral ends are tied vertically to the supporting frame to prevent thermal bowing characteristic of prior art systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Marquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Marschke, Larry M. Krznarich
  • Patent number: 5500070
    Abstract: A method of preparing a multilayered wood panel from thin boards is discld. The thin boards are produced by from square timber by a knife cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Firma Gebruder Linck Maschinenfabrik "Gatterlinck" GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Josef Traben, Siegmar Goenner
  • Patent number: 5498304
    Abstract: Corrugated paperboards are prepared for corrugation and adhesive bonding of mediums and liners by exposing the mediums liners and adhesives to radiant energy from a thermal source ranging from 1100.degree. C. to 2300.degree. C. and emitting a dominant wavelength in the range of 2.1 to 1.0 microns. The speed of adhesive bond development is increased. Polymeric adhesives may be used as alternatives to conventional starch based adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Amcor Ltd.
    Inventors: Neil W. Shaw, Zsolt V. Padanyi, Frederick J. Mutimer
  • Patent number: 5496427
    Abstract: An elongated electroluminescent light strip is provided. The electroluminescent light strip includes a lighting element which includes a phosphor matrix layer. The lighting element or lamp is encapsulated in a moisture impervious material. A process for manufacturing an elongated electroluminescent light strip is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: The Standard Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Gustafson, Marc A. Brookman
  • Patent number: 5496431
    Abstract: A product order specification change system for a corrugation machine having a slitter-scorer device and a plurality of cutoff devices for producing corrugated board sheets having various widths and lengths, includes a cutting apparatus wherein at an order change where specifications for the sheet width are changed from one order to the next, a region is formed between the leading end of the new order sheets and the trailing end of the old order sheets, wherein a transitional slit groove is cut connecting a slit groove of the old order sheets with a slit groove of the new order sheets. As a result, the web can be stably transferred through stages of the machine, the cutting dimension accuracy can be maintained precisely, and faults such as jamming can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Hirakawa, Yukuharu Seki, Makoto Ando
  • Patent number: 5492585
    Abstract: A five-piece expanding pocket having front inner and outer panels secured to each other by cohesive glue, rear inner and outer panels secured thereof by cohesive glue, and a gusset having outer edge portions with cohesive glue and opposite sides thereof bonded between edge portions of the front and rear inner and outer panels which are bonded to each other. A fixture for assembling a five-piece expanding pocket including locating plates for retaining front and rear inner panels in a predetermined position, a positioning member for locating a gusset relative to the front and rear inner panels on the locating plates and permitting the gusset to be secured to cohesive glue on the front and rear inner panels, and the locating plates also permitting the locating of the front and rear outer panels relative to the front and rear inner panels, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Inventor: Thomas J. Corey
  • Patent number: 5492588
    Abstract: A sleeve forming method and apparatus where sleeves are formed by use of overlapping webs. The webs are twisted in one direction to form a seal at one side of a sleeve and later twisted in the opposite direction to form the seal at the opposite side of a sleeve, such that all of the sleeves are oriented in the same direction, such as with the large openings of the sleeves facing upwardly and the smaller openings of the sleeves facing downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Highland Supply Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Frank Craig