Patents Examined by Monica A. Huson
  • Patent number: 11919219
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Significant increases in production speeds are achieved with improved film quality over an increased range of tubular film sizes, down to a minimum size which occurs when operating at zero internal to molten film tube pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Addex, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
  • Patent number: 11912496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements for the manufacturing of a wave-cut bag of polymeric film, more specifically a wave-cut bag with a body having improved shock, tear and puncture resistance. The polymeric film has an embossed pattern of a plurality of embossed regions that are comprised of a plurality of parallel, linear embosses. Further disclosed is a process for intermittently applying the embossed pattern to a collapsed tube of a blown film extrusion process. The collapsed tube with the intermittently applied embossed pattern is particularly well suited for constructing wave-cut trash bags with the embossed pattern applied to a central body of the wave-cut bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Poly-America, L.P.
    Inventor: Brad A. Cobler
  • Patent number: 11911877
    Abstract: An article including an inorganic compound according to the present invention includes a porous part and a no-porous frame body surrounding the porous part in a plane direction, and includes a stress relaxation part between the porous part and the frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kanako Oshima, Nobuhiro Yasui, Hiroshi Saito, Yoshihiro Ohashi
  • Patent number: 11897181
    Abstract: A method includes identifying first geometry of a first mold associated with a first dental arch and a second geometry of a second mold associated with a second dental arch. The method further includes determining, based on the first geometry and the second geometry that the first mold and the second mold are to be used for simultaneous forming of a first dental appliance and a second dental appliance on a plate in a dental appliance manufacturing system. The method further includes causing, based on the first geometry and the second geometry, one or more portions of the dental appliance manufacturing system to be configured to form the first dental appliance and the second dental appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Carlos Martínez González, Rowan Fernando Garcia Saucedo, Mario Alfonso Rito Martinez, Ismael Núñez García, René David Alfaro, Shiva P. Sambu
  • Patent number: 11890792
    Abstract: A solid state foamed microcellular foam sheet for use in forming a container is provided. The solid state foamed microcellular foam sheet includes a central foamed section defining a foam layer within the microcellular foam sheet having a first population of cells within which are interspersed a second population of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Dart Container Corporation
    Inventor: Chengtao Li
  • Patent number: 11884025
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) printer and technique for integrating additive and non-print manufacturing operations is disclosed. In an aspect, the 3-D printer includes an energy source and a powder bed regions for selectively fusing layers of a build piece. The 3-D printer further includes a robotic arm. The 3-D printing is interrupted responsive to instructions from a controller, upon which the robotic arm may perform one or more non-printing operations using the build piece such as milling, casting, molding, pressing, and the like. Following the non-printing operations, the 3-D printing operation continues, and a resulting assembly including the build piece is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John Russell Bucknell, Broc William TenHouten, Eahab Nagi El Naga
  • Patent number: 11884019
    Abstract: A method of encoding information in an object that may allow for enhanced tailorability of the encoding during the processing and/or also enhance the amount of information encoded in the object. More particularly, the method of encoding the object enables the magnetic characteristics at different spatial locations of the object to be modified to form a spatial array of the different magnetic characteristics for representing the encoded information. The method can be used to permanently embed a magnetic signature in a non-magnetic object, for example. More specifically, the method allows different portions of the object to exhibit different magnetic characteristics at each spatial location of the object in three dimensions, and more particularly configuring the magnetic vectors of those portions in many possible orientations with a 4n steradian solid angle and/or with different intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Andrew M. Wilds, Ryan D. White, Craig O. Shott
  • Patent number: 11878476
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composite article that may include a plastic component, and a silicone component bonded the plastic component. The plastic component and the silicone component may be bonded at an intersecting region between a first surface of the plastic component and a first surface of the silicone component. The intersecting region may include at least one of an acetone content of not greater than about 0.2 ppm, an MEK content of not greater than about 0.2 ppm, or a trimethylsilanol content of not greater than about 0.2 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jianfeng Zhang, Scott R. Johnson, Heidi Lennon
  • Patent number: 11878457
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing heat to a three-dimensional article are disclosed. The method can include inserting at least a portion of the article over a form. The method can further include inserting the form and article at least partially within an article container and moving the form and article into engagement with a flexible membrane where the membrane and the article container form an airtight chamber. The method can further include exposing the airtight chamber to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure to pull the membrane against at least a portion of the article and exposing the membrane to a heated deformable media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Mirko Bianconi
  • Patent number: 11878501
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include articles incorporating fibrous fragments of mats of silica fibers and methods for producing such articles. The fiber mats may be formed via electrospinning of a sol gel produced with a silicon alkoxide reagent, such as tetraethyl ortho silicate, alcohol solvent, and an acid catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: American Nano LLC.
    Inventor: Mitch Dellinger
  • Patent number: 11872742
    Abstract: A method to produce a container made of a plastic composition having an inner coating with a higher mechanical stability and/or a better adhesion to the container, includes preparing a plastic composition with at least one base polymer material and at least a first additive comprising globe-like particles having a hardness on the Mohs scale of at least 4, and extrusion blow molding of a container. The globe-like particles, which located on the inner surface of the container, increase the surface area and the hardness of the inner surface of the container. The method also includes applying the at least one metal layer of the inner coating onto the inner surface of the container, wherein the applied metal layer bonds to the globe-like particles of the first additive located on the inner surface of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TitanX Coating Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Angst
  • Patent number: 11872556
    Abstract: Disclosed are a general-purpose fluorescent fluid photochemical microreactor and a manufacturing method therefor by means of 3D printing, belonging to the technical field of photochemical reactor research. By using a transparent photosensitive resin and the strong space building capacity of 3D printing, a photochemical microreactor having both a light-collecting channel and a reaction channel is prepared. By means of introducing a light-collecting substance in a fluid form into a light channel, not only can play the role of light collection and wavelength conversion, which solves the difficulty of traditional photochemical reactors of light source matching, but also the light-collecting substance can be flexibly changed so as to meet the requirements of different photochemical reactions in the reaction channel, which greatly expands the application range of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Lijing Zhang, Shengyang Tao, Zhigang Zhu, Wenbo Yang
  • Patent number: 11865762
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for transforming plastic preforms into plastic containers having at least one transforming station which has a blow molding device, within which the plastic preforms are able to be transformed into the plastic containers by application with a flowable medium, having an application device which applies the flowable medium to the plastic preforms and having a stretching device which has a rod-like body which is able to be introduced into the plastic preforms, in order to stretch the plastic preforms at least temporarily during their transforming process in the longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the stretching device has a drive device for moving the rod-like body as well as a control device for controlling the drive device and wherein the apparatus has a valve arrangement which controls the application of the plastic preforms with the flowable medium with at least two different pressure levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Eduard Handschuh, Klaus Voth
  • Patent number: 11865764
    Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a frame, a pair of platens, and a platen drive assembly. The platens are carried by the frame on opposite sides of a sheet line each configured to carry a respective die. One platen has a proximal die surface adjacent the sheet line and a rear surface distal the sheet line. The platen drive assembly is interposed between the frame and the one platen and has at least one reciprocating kinematic linkage and a drive motor configured to reciprocate the one platen to and fro relative to another platen. The kinematic linkage has a plurality of links interconnected pivotally together with respective rotation joints and interposed between the frame and the one platen. An outboard-most rotation joint is provided proximate one end of the frame and an inboard-most rotation joint intermediate the rear surface and the proximal die surface. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Irwin Research and Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale L. Vantrease, Jere F. Irwin
  • Patent number: 11866223
    Abstract: An improved open mouthed container having a profiled upper periphery about the mouth, and comprising a base, and a peripheral sidewall extending generally upwards from the base, wherein the profiled upper periphery comprises a rim region, and the rim region extending outwardly and downwardly from the peripheral sidewall of the improved open mouthed container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ALTO PACKAGING LIMITED
    Inventor: Ronald George Starnes
  • Patent number: 11858679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method comprising, as method steps, a) providing a container blank comprising a blank wall at least partly surrounding a blank interior, comprising i) a multitude of particles, and ii) a liquid in a first proportion of liquid; and b) shaping the container blank thereby obtaining a container comprising a container wall which at least partly surrounds a container interior and comprises a container layer comprising i) the particles of the multitude of particles, and ii) the liquid in a further proportion of liquid; wherein the further proportion of liquid is less than the first proportion of liquid. The invention further relates to a container obtainable by the above method; to a container having a container layer; to a method of filling and closing one of the aforementioned containers; to a closed container obtainable by said method; to an apparatus; and to uses of a filling machine, of one of the aforementioned containers, of the apparatus and of a multitude of fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventor: Volker Appel
  • Patent number: 11857025
    Abstract: A method for forming a molded article having an insert includes temporarily protecting features of the insert during a molding process using a malleable plugging material. In one step, the method includes disposing a plug including the plugging material within a receptacle of the insert, where each receptacle includes an engagement feature. The insert and the plugging material are placed into a mold, and a liquid molding material is applied to an exterior surface of the insert. The liquid molding material is solidified, forming the molded article including the insert embedded in the solidified molding material. The molded article is removed from the mold, and the plugging material is removed from the receptacle of the insert that is embedded in the molded article to expose the engagement feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Bartel, Michael A. Hofmann, Sam Lacey, Geun Rok Park, Manki Park
  • Patent number: 11845019
    Abstract: A tubular depth filter element has three or more concentric zones. Each zone is made of an essentially continuous melt blown filament. The filament of an outer zone preferably has a larger diameter than the filaments of other zones. The outer zone overlaps with at least 85%, and preferably all, of another zone. Optionally, one or more additional filaments may traverse through all of zones. The depth filter element is made by spraying filaments onto a rotating mandrel to form a filament mass in contact with a conical press roller. The filaments are sprayed from three or more nozzles which are spaced apart along the length of the mandrel. One of the filaments is formed in a spray pattern that is angled towards an adjacent spray pattern so as to overlap with at least 50 or 85%, and preferably all, of the adjacent spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Travis Gerald Stifter, Thomas Martin Aune
  • Patent number: 11840007
    Abstract: Provided are a handle-orienting preform feeding mechanism and orienting preform feeding method for a bottle preform with a handle. Under the combined action of the axial rotation of a plastic bottle preform and a handle positioning structure on a preform feeding tray, the handle of the plastic bottle preform with an integrated handle (especially a PET plastic bottle preform with an integrated handle) is positioned so that the plastic bottle preform with an integrated handle enters a heating machine and a bottle blowing machine of the next process according to the predetermined orientation. Accordingly, the wrong orientation of the integrated handle of the plastic bottle preform is avoided so that a mechanical arm can grasp the plastic bottle preform correctly and place the plastic bottle preform at the correct position of a bottle blowing mold. Thus the plastic bottle preform can be blown successfully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU TECH-LONG PACKAGING MACHINERY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Zhijun Deng, Daqun Zou, Kuiwei Song, Dong Li
  • Patent number: 11834226
    Abstract: The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform and a method for making it. The bag-in-container has an inner layer forming the bag and an outer layer forming the container, and a mouth fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere. The container further has at least one interface vent fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the at least one vent runs parallel to the interface between inner and outer layers and opens to the atmosphere at a location adjacent to, and oriented coaxially with the bag-in-container's mouth. Processes for manufacturing a preform and a bag-in-container as defined above are defined too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Sarah Van Hove, Daniel Peirsman, Rudi Verpoorten