Patents Examined by Monica A. Huson
  • Patent number: 11752684
    Abstract: An inductively heated mold system enables rapid heating of the mold and rapid cooling to reduce thermal cycling times by employing an inductive coil in a heater module that inductively heats a ferromagnetic layer configured on the mold body, such as around the outside perimeter of the mold body. A cooling channel may be configured between the inductive coil and the ferromagnetic layer on the mold body to allow a fluid to be passed between the mold body and the heater module to rapidly cool the mold body for removal of the molded part. A plurality of heater modules may be employed that can be coupled together such that the cooling fluid passes through the coupled cooling channels from one module to a second module. In this way heater modules can be combined to provide an inductively heated mold system for a variety of mold body sizes, or lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Blockwise Engineering LLC
    Inventor: Jeremiah J. Warriner
  • Patent number: 11753335
    Abstract: A method of making a glass mat includes providing an assembly of glass fibers, applying a binder composition to the assembly of glass fibers, wherein the binder includes an organic resin, and curing the binder composition while dimensionally constraining the assembly of glass fibers. Dimensional constraining includes directly contacting a first major surface and a second major surface of the assembly of glass fibers between two substantially parallel surfaces. Further provided is a glass mat that includes an assembly of glass fibers, wherein the assembly of glass fibers are substantially randomly oriented with a tensile anisotropy of less than about 6 in any two directions. The glass mat has a decreased surface roughness and a decreased caliper compared to an equivalent glass mat having an assembly of naturally packed glass fibers with an equivalent fiber diameter size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN ADFORS CANADA, LTD.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Peet, Nancy E. Brown, Tao Yu, Gary Charles Hildreth
  • Patent number: 11738902
    Abstract: A preform is provided for blow-molding to form a container. The preform includes a finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure to seal pressurized contents within an interior of the container. The finish portion comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to the interior and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge. A bevel at a beginning of the opening receives a plug seal of the closure. Multiple mirror polished surfaces beyond the bevel are configured to cooperate with the plug seal to seal the container. Mirror polished transition surfaces are disposed between diameter changes within the finish portion. In some embodiments, wherein the plug seal includes a sidewall profile that mates with the transition surfaces, an interior surface of the preform has a diameter that tightly compresses an end of the plug seal to contain pressurized contents within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Niagara Bottling, LLC
    Inventor: Jay Clarke Hanan
  • Patent number: 11731339
    Abstract: A thermoforming mould for producing cup-shaped articles from a heated film of plastic is provided. The thermoforming mould comprises a first mould part and a second mould part which are movable in relation to one another, wherein at least one cavity for moulding a cup-shaped article is formed in one of the two mould parts. The thermoforming mould also comprises a measuring device which is designed to determine a tilting of the first mould part and the second mould part with respect to one another. Furthermore, a thermoforming machine comprising the thermoforming mould and also a method for determining a tilting between a first mould part and a second mould part of a thermoforming mould are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Marbach Werkzeugbau GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Weibler
  • Patent number: 11731315
    Abstract: The invention concerns a preform for a container made of plastic material, comprising a cylindrical body that extends along an axis of revolution of the preform and a bottom that closes the cylindrical body. The bottom has an outer profile with a central portion and a curved portion joining the central portion to the cylindrical body. The central portion has, in longitudinal cross-section, a first concave section. The curved portion has successively, in longitudinal cross-section, from the first concave section towards the cylindrical body, a first convex or frustoconical section, a second concave section and a second convex or frustoconical section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventors: Christophe Bunel, Laurent Naveau
  • Patent number: 11731345
    Abstract: A method of producing multiple batches of objects by stereolithography, includes the steps of: (a) dispensing an initial or subsequent batch of dual cure resin into a stereolithography apparatus, the resin including a light polymerizable component and a heat polymerizable component; (b) producing an intermediate object by light polymerization of the resin in the apparatus, wherein the intermediate object retains excess resin on a surface thereof; then (c) separating excess resin from the intermediate object; (d) blending the excess resin with additional dual cure resin to produce a subsequent batch of dual cure resin; (e) repeating steps (a) through (c), and optionally repeating step (d), to produce additional object(s); and (f) baking the objects, together or separately, to produce multiple batches of objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney F. Converse, Allison Light, W. Ryan Powell, Mateusz Marek Wojtaszek
  • Patent number: 11731337
    Abstract: A blow molding device includes: a base; an injection molding unit manufacturing a bottomed preform made of resin; a blow molding unit; a support part supporting the preform; and a conveying unit conveying the support part to the blow molding unit. The blow molding unit includes: a blow mold; a movement unit capable of moving the blow mold relative to the support part; one mold opening and closing mechanism; and a pair of mold opening and closing plates connected to the mold opening and closing mechanism. The moving unit is configured to move the blow mold in a non-coupling state to a position between the pair of mold opening and closing plates, the blow mold in the non-coupling state being not coupled to the pair of mold opening and closing plates and not located between the pair of mold opening and closing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Horigome
  • Patent number: 11733740
    Abstract: A portable information handling system presents visual images with a flexible display disposed over separate housing portions rotationally coupled by a set of hinges having an opening defined between them. A multi-segmented support couples to the hinges in the opening to dispose a planar surface proximate the flexible display and extend plural parallel members up from the planar support between the hinges, the plural parallel members separating in response to rotation from a flat to a curved orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Gerald Rene Pelissier, Kevin M. Turchin, John Trevor Morrison, Yung-Fa Cheng
  • Patent number: 11724435
    Abstract: Improved separator film compositions, methods and systems for use in producing thermoformed dental appliances are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Bay Materials, LLC.
    Inventors: Ray F. Stewart, John Lahlouh
  • Patent number: 11712720
    Abstract: Provided are a wiper for a machine tool and a method for manufacturing a wiper for a machine tool, which can simplify a manufacturing process. A wiper for a machine tool mountable on a machine tool includes: a wiper body fixable to the machine tool, and made of a first elastic material having hardness of 80 degrees or more; and a sliding part made of a second elastic material containing a particulate reinforcing material and having hardness in a range of 50 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less which is smaller than the hardness of the first elastic material, the sliding part being provided integrally with the wiper body, wherein the wiper body and the sliding part are integrally formed without an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NITTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohisa Shimada, Hirofumi Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 11701831
    Abstract: A method of rendering data for addressable dispensing of material over a working surface, comprises: receiving input image data arranged grid-wise over a plurality of picture-elements; generating an initial map describing a distance field and having a plurality of map-elements each storing distance information corresponding to one picture-element; for each picture-element of at least a portion of the picture-elements: linearly scanning the map independently along a first axis and along a second axis, and updating a respective map-element based on values of map-elements visited during the scan. The distance field can include distances defined perpendicularly to the working surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Stratasys Ltd.
    Inventors: Nur Arad, Ore Shtalrid, Yossi Koren, Blake Zachary Courter, Stephen Demai
  • Patent number: 11697255
    Abstract: A ply transporting and compacting apparatus comprises a rigid frame, a top-layer sheet of flexible rubber material fastened to the frame, and a bottom-layer sheet of perforated flexible rubber material having openings. The apparatus also comprises a middle-layer sheet of flow media material disposed in a first plenum area that is defined between the top and bottom layer sheets. The apparatus further comprises a moving device coupled to the frame and arranged to lower the frame and sheets onto a composite ply at a trimming location to pick up the composite ply with a suction force when a vacuum is drawn in the first plenum area to create the suction force through the openings of the bottom-layer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Prause, Allen J. Halbritter, Andrew E. Modin
  • Patent number: 11697241
    Abstract: A blow mold system including a mold body and a base portion. The mold body includes a central bore extending from a first end of the mold body to a second end of the mold body along a longitudinal axis. The first end is configured to receive a mold preform. The base portion includes a recess, and the base portion is arranged at the second end of the mold body such that the central bore and recess define a blow mold cavity in which a container may be formed from the mold preform. In embodiments, the blow mold system has at least two interchangeable base portions that allow for containers with differently-sized or differently-shaped necks to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Silgan Plastics LLC
    Inventors: Randal D. Porter, Daniel M. Futral, John K. Silva, William J. Peek, Brian J. Benell, Laura A. Flanagan-Kent
  • Patent number: 11691326
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plastic container by internal pressure forming including positioning a tubular preform between the die parts of a molding die having a die cavity; closing the molding die and forming or preforming a container from the preform using internal pressure, wherein a peripheral portion of the preform is pressed out of the die cavity through a die gap; laterally withdrawing the peripheral portion pressed out of the die cavity, as a result of which the container is divided into two container halves; and thermally separating plastic bridges and/or plastic threads which arise during the lateral withdrawal of the peripheral portion. Also disclosed is a molding die suitable for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Claudia Mientkewitz, Ralf Berlin
  • Patent number: 11691490
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a body portion defining a mounting channel for receiving a vehicle flange. A base of the body portion defines an outer surface of the body portion with the outer surface defining a first axis of curvature adapted to correspond with a contour of the flange. The seal assembly further includes a sealing lip portion co-extruded with the body portion and defining a notch having a notch configuration, an element disposed in the notch and pre-formed to have an element configuration corresponding to at least a part of the notch configuration, and a molding material molded to a back surface of the element, secured to the sealing lip portion within the notch, and extending across the notch, with the element and the molding material defining a contour lip portion that in combination with the sealing lip portion defines an external sealing lip of the seal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Henniges Automotive Sealing Systems North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Thomson, Robert B. Krueger, Steven Paul Iatrow
  • Patent number: 11685101
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermoplastic container may include locally heating a middle zone of a thermoplastic tube; gripping the tube on either side by using retaining members; pulling the tube apart, causing a middle zone to narrow; pushing the inner wall of the middle zone against each other to obtain a closure; and cutting through the closed-off middle zone to obtain two separate tubular parts. Further is provided a system for pulling apart a tube, the system may include a first retaining member which is provided for insertion into the first zone via the first end and a second retaining member provided for insertion into the second zone via the second end, each retaining member being adjustable between a first position in which the retaining member fits inside the tube and a second position in which, in use, the retaining member exerts a pressure on the inner wall of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: VALUNORM BVBA
    Inventor: Alain Pierre Ormeggi
  • Patent number: 11685103
    Abstract: A pressure forming machine is provided. In one embodiment, the pressure forming machine integrates a heater in its pressure chamber, so the heater and pressure chamber are movable together with respect to a base of the pressure forming machine. The pressure chamber and base can contain locking mechanisms to create a seal between the pressure chamber and a plastic sheet used for forming. The base can also contain a separable air compressor component, so the air compressor can be physically distanced to reduce the noise experienced by a user. Other embodiments are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Mayku Ltd
    Inventors: Benjamin W R Redford, William B. DeBrett
  • Patent number: 11685083
    Abstract: There is disclosed a sealable, flexible membrane for encapsulating a part to be isostatically pressed at an elevated temperature. The membrane includes at least one first layer of polymeric film having a melting point above the elevated temperature, and at least one second layer disposed on the first layer. The second layer comprising a metal. In one embodiment, the metal comes into contact with the part to be isostatically pressed. The membrane, which typically has a thickness ranging from 10 to about 500 ?m, and is impermeable to the flow of liquids and gases when sealed, can be used to warm press parts up to about 350° C. and pressures ranging from 5,000 psi to 100.000 psi. Methods to isostatically press parts using this sealable, flexible membrane are also disclosed. Bags made from the sealable, flexible membrane that are used in isostatic presses are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: AMERICAN ISOSTATIC PRESSES, INC.
    Inventors: Rejendra Persaud, Salvatore Moricca
  • Patent number: 11673289
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for fabricating a component using 3D printing. A 3D printed piece is created including a body of the component, a support structure, and a first sacrificial interface region coupling the body of the component to the support structure. The body of the component is formed of a first metal or ceramic material and the first sacrificial interface region is formed at least partially of a second metal or ceramic material. The body of the component is then separated from the support structure by applying a chemical or electrochemical dissolution process to the 3D printed piece. Because the second metal or ceramic material is less resistant to the dissolution process than the first metal or ceramic material, the first sacrificial interface region at least partially dissolves, thereby separating the body of the metal component from the support structure, without dissolving the body of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Owen Hildreth, Abdalla Nassar, Timothy W. Simpson
  • Patent number: 11667056
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing plastic material preforms, includes at least two preform manufacturing devices configured for producing the plastic material preforms from a plastic material, wherein the preform manufacturing devices each having preform transport devices. The apparatus includes a main transport device which is configured for transporting the plastic material preforms produced by the preform manufacturing devices and transported by the preform transport devices continuously along a predetermined main transport path, wherein the plastic material preforms are transferred to the main transport device by the production devices after their production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventor: Jochen Hirdina