Patents Examined by Nasser Ahmad
  • Patent number: 7128956
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polymeric treatment for curved regions in shaft assemblies that increases curve retention without affecting the flexibility within these regions. More specifically, the present invention modifies the underlying crystalline morphology of a polymer in order to decrease crystal fracturing. In particular, the present invention treats polymeric materials suitable for catheter construction with a nucleating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Yiqun Wang, John Chen, Lixiao Wang
  • Patent number: 7125602
    Abstract: A frictional holding pad for removably attaching items, such as a cell phone, to a surface, such as a dash, to allow storage of items on the pad to prevent the items from shifting or sliding due to the movement of the support surface. A bottom surface of the pad is tacky to cling to the surface and a top surface is tacky to cling to the item. A lowermost contact surface of the pad can have a greater surface area than an uppermost contact surface. Indicia can be formed on the pad. The pad can be translucent or transparent. The pad can include an expanded vinyl material or a polyurethane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: American Covers, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan J. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 7118787
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising an alignment layer; and chemically bound to said alignment layer, a transport material. Also provided are methods for forming the liquid crystal alignment layer and the use thereof in displays for electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: University of Hull
    Inventors: Mary O'Neill, Stephen Malcolm Kelly, Adam Edward Alexander Contoret, Gary James Richards, David Coates
  • Patent number: 7118700
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting the growth of algae and like organisms in plastic water tanks exposed to sunlight comprises providing an outer tank surface operative to reflect off a substantial portion of sunlight that hits the tank off the outer tank surface; and providing an opaque inner tank layer operative to substantially prevent sunlight passing through the outer tank surface from entering an interior of the tank. A two layer tank is provided comprising a light colored outer layer and a dark sun-blocking inner layer, and is conveniently made by a rotational molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Bourgault Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Neil Eisner
  • Patent number: 7118791
    Abstract: A device for concealing a caulking joint formed between adjacent first and second surfaces comprising an elongated central strip having first and second edges and the strip having first and second sides; a first flap longitudinally connected to the elongated central strip along the first edge, the first flap having a first side adapted to be adhered to a first of the adjacent surfaces such that the first flap conforms to the first of the adjacent surfaces in a watertight manner; a second flap longitudinally connected to the elongated central strip along the second edge, the second flap having a first side adapted to be adhered to a second of the adjacent surfaces such that the second flap conforms to the second of the adjacent surfaces in a watertight manner; and the central strip being adapted to cover the caulking joint with the first side of the central strip facing the caulking joint when the first flap is adhered to the first surface and the second flap is adhered to the second surface, whereby the caulk
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: RCR International Inc.
    Inventor: Gaetan Martel
  • Patent number: 7115313
    Abstract: A self-adhering modified bituminous underlayment for metal roof assemblies that comprises an APP modified bitumen compound on the front side, and a factory-applied self-adhesive compound on the back side of a reinforcement carrier sheet, and a fabric at least partially embedded in the APP modified bitumen compound to provide a non-skid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Polyglass U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Natalino Zanchetta, Shaik Mohseen
  • Patent number: 7115311
    Abstract: This invention relates to ungrounded type flexible fabric container with a reduced energy of electrostatic discharge suitable for use in a combustible environment. A woven fabric is configured to form a flexible fabric container having sidewalls, a top feature and a bottom feature. The woven fabric flexible bulk container is made from a static dissipating fabric comprising fabric woven of non-conductive tapes, to which a plurality of bicomponent conductive staple fibers are added. The bicomponent conductive staple fibers have one or more longitudinal stripes of a carbon loaded conductive constituent on an outer surface of a non-conductive constituent. Preferably the staple fibers are woven into or coated onto the fabric at a spacing of from 3 mm to 100 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Central Products Company
    Inventors: Trevor Arthurs, W. Keith Fisher
  • Patent number: 7112358
    Abstract: A self-adhesive purge dam for retaining purge gas around a weld zone includes a base configured to substantially obstruct an air passage leading to the weld zone and an adhesive skirt extending from the base and configured to engage portions of the air passage. An adhesive on the adhesive skirt allows the skirt to be adhered to the air passage. An optional removable backing covers the adhesive prior to installation. The purge dam is installed by peeling the removable backing (if present) and exposing the adhesive for adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: Michael Hacikyan
  • Patent number: 7112356
    Abstract: A high-barrier liner for a composite container that is compatible with the use of RFID devices in the container includes a paper layer having an outer surface for attachment to an inner paperboard surface of a body wall of the container, and a metallized film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, the metallized film comprising a polymer film substrate having a vapor-deposited layer of metal applied to one surface of the substrate. The liner also includes a heat seal layer disposed on an opposite side of the metallized film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner. The metallized film can include a metallization-promoting material coated onto the substrate prior to metallization to improve the uniformity and continuity of the metal layer. The metal layer of the metallized film can have a protective coating applied over it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Nomula, Thomas J. Setty
  • Patent number: 7108911
    Abstract: To provide an adhesive composition which can effectively improve the thermal-peeling-easy properties and the adhesion properties at low temperature at the same time. An adhesive composition comprising a crystalline polymer which comprises polyol units formed from a crystalline polyol as repeating units in the molecule, and a tackifying polymer compatible with said crystalline polymer at a temperature higher than the melting point of said crystalline polymer, wherein the tackifying polymer has an alkyl group with 4 to 8 carbon atoms and a carboxyl group in the molecule, a content of the monomeric units having the alkyl group with 4 to 8 carbon atoms (repeating units derived from a starting monomer having the alkyl group) is 60 to 99 mole % of the whole monomeric units of the tackifying polymer, and the alkyl group includes a butyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Abe, Takeshi Koyama
  • Patent number: 7105216
    Abstract: A conductive resin coated steel pipe and an extrusion molding method for the steel pipe capable of using filler instead of carbon black and not only lowering a production cost but also further increasing an attractiveness; the resin coated steel pipe, wherein a regenerated resin (3) such as polyethylene, ABS, AAS, and the outer peripheral surface of a thin-walled steel pipe (2) is coated with polypropylene, and a conductive resin (4) such as polyethylene, ABS, AAS, and polypropylene mixed with filler on the outer peripheral surface of the coated resin (3) is axially uniformized in cross section by a double coated structure where the portion (4b) thereof having a wall thickness and a width necessary for developing the conductivity thereof are provided at one or more positions in the circumferential direction of a pipe body and the entire outer peripheral surface thereof is coated thinly with the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Industrial Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuji Yoshino
  • Patent number: 7101604
    Abstract: The invention is footwear having an outer sole(s) with an ergonomic gripping or traction surface. More particularly, the ergonomic gripping or traction surface is a gripping and traction pattern, formed as an integral part of a shoe sole, that is based on a natural footprint or hand print of a human. A footprint or hand print is not a flat surface, but a combination of various anatomical elements of differing size, shape, and contour. The present invention is molded as an integral part of an elastically deformable and compressible outer sole, and incorporates the elements and characteristics of the footprint or hand print, or combinations thereof. The sole has multiple projections which stand away from the base of the sole, thereby creating adjacent raised and recessed areas. The projections correspond to the actual anatomy of the human foot or hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Donald L. Minges
  • Patent number: 7097726
    Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation method of an identification card with utilizing a protective layer transfer foil having a peeling layer and a releasing layer laminated on the peeling layer, the preparation method comprising: adhering the transferring layer onto a card substrate; and peeling off the peeling layer to prepare the identification card. The peeling layer including a support and a releasing layer, the transferring layer including a photo-cured resin layer. A maximum electrostatic amount of the peeling layer at the peeling step is 0 to 30 kV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoji Hattori, Shigehiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7097891
    Abstract: A partitioning device for sealingly closing an opening in a working surface is provided. The partitioning device generally includes a panel having a sealing side including a perimeter portion. An adhesive trim is disposed about the perimeter portion on the sealing side. A package trim is removably attached to the adhesive trim, such that when the package trim is removed to expose the adhesive trim the partitioning device can be sealingly adhered to a wall surface surrounding a wall opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventor: Mark S Fenelon
  • Patent number: 7097892
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on at least one surface of the support thereof, wherein the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one surface of the support partly has projected spots of fibers. The projected spots of fibers are preferably raised spots of fibers that are raised from the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet is favorable for flooring material fixation. The pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet is produced according to a flocking method that comprises flocking the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one surface of the support to thereby form projected spots of fibers partly in the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Sano
  • Patent number: 7094455
    Abstract: A fastener tape for use in the manufacture of reclosable plastic bags is provided. The fastener tape comprises an intermediate layer and a reclosable fastener profile thereon. The intermediate layer includes three layers of co-extruded plastic, with not more than 4% EVA as the outer two layers and HDPE as the middle layer. The intermediate layer is folded so as to bring portions of the intermediate layer into an opposing relationship. These opposing portions are then sealed together by a pair of seal bars. By carefully controlling the sealing temperature, a consistent peel seal is created between the opposing portions of the intermediate layer without the need for an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James Johnson, Daniel T. Sullivan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7094454
    Abstract: A multi-color multi-ply note pad includes a plurality of note sheets, each of which has a perforated tear line that divides the note sheet into a stub portion and an inscribing portion, a binding member that binds the stub portions of the note sheets in a stack, and a repositionable adhesive layer provided on each of the note sheets at the inscribing portion of each of the note sheets and disposed adjacent to the tear line. The stub portions of the note sheets remain intact in the stack through the binding member when the inscribing portions of middle ones of the note sheets are removed from the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Taiwan Hopax Chems. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Tien Kuo, Jen-Rong Liu, Chin-Chung Tsai, Hsieh-Chang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7090907
    Abstract: An adhesive coated label includes indicia disposed on a facestock and layers of tactile coating selectively applied to discrete areas of the facestock to create distinct raised portions on the label. The tactile coating may be applied to correspond to the location of the indicia, wherein the raised portions overlie the indicia. A separate layer of primer may be applied to the facestock to cover substantially an entire side of the facestock. A plurality of such labels may be provided on a web of release liner which has been formed into a roll. The label may be applied to a container and the raised portions of the label provide tactile feel which enhances the aesthetic qualities of the label and container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Spear USA, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Fearn, Richard Spear
  • Patent number: 7087279
    Abstract: An adhesive article includes a release liner and an adhesive layer on the surface of the release liner. The release liner has a surface with an arrangement of structures thereon, wherein the structures extend downward from a plane of the surface. The structures have at least three sidewalls. A first sidewall makes an angle with respect to the plane of the surface of greater than about 0° and less than 90° and a second sidewall makes an angle with respect to the plane of the surface of greater than 0° and less than about 90°. The first sidewall angle differs from the second sidewall angle by more than about 10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Callahan, Yaoqi J. Liu
  • Patent number: 7083840
    Abstract: A multilayer adhesive tape having a backing based on an oriented thermoplastic film, whose upper face is coated, if desired, with a release coating and to whose lower face the following layers have been applied: a) a primer layer which is not applied over the full area and which anchors very well to the thermoplastic film, b) a release layer which is applied over the full area of the applied primer layer, and the free thermoplastic film surface, the release layer anchoring better to the primer layer than to the thermoplastic film, c) a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which is applied over the full area of the release layer and which is anchored better on the release layer than the release layer on the thermoplastic film, d) the release layer consisting of a styrene-butadiene latex and at least one further component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Tesa AG
    Inventors: Thomas Monschein, Ulrike Sutter