Patents Examined by Philip Tucker
  • Patent number: 9623289
    Abstract: An inflatable game ball and a method of constructing an inflatable game ball is described. Panel segments are formed from an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion having different sizes, with the inner panel portion being smaller than the outer panel portion. The inner panel portion and the outer panel portion are joined so that peripheral edges of the inner panel portion and the outer panel portion are aligned. Multiple panel segments are attached together to form a cover. Due to the differences in sizes between the inner panel portion and the outer panel portion, when an inflatable bladder within an interior of the cover is inflated to a fully inflated condition, variations in the dimensions of the ball caused by stretching of the cover may be reduced or minimized. In one embodiment, an alignment guide can assist with aligning the peripheral edges of the panel portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark McNamee
  • Patent number: 9624388
    Abstract: Described is a thixotropic para-aramid gel that includes a polymer resin, an alkali-soluble anionic thickener, an adhesion promoter, and para-aramid pulp fibers. The polymer resin includes at least one of an acrylate copolymer and a styrene-acrylate copolymer. Also described is a method of producing the para-aramid gel for plaster reinforcement. The method includes mixing the polymer resin, the alkali-soluble anionic thickener, and the adhesion promoter to create a thixotropic gel, and then spinning para-aramid pulp fibers into the thixotropic gel using a high shear mixer. A method of reinforcing a plaster ceiling is also described. The method includes inserting a plurality of fasteners into a visible surface of the ceiling, leaving a portion of each fastener exposed at or above the visible surface, and applying a layer of the para-aramid-reinforced thixotropic gel to the visible surface and encapsulating the portion of each fastener within the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Historic Plaster Conservation Products Limited
    Inventors: Roderick Milton Stewart, Mark Harnden, Ray Tiedemann
  • Patent number: 9623624
    Abstract: An insert is assembled to a base interior part at either an edge or a corner of the part that is later wrapped with a cut and sewn jacket cover. The assembly comprises a substrate, an insert and a cover. The substrate has a base edge and the insert has a contour defining edge attached to the substrate with the contour defining edge aligned with the base edge. The cover is wrapped over the insert and the substrate to provide a wrapped edge that covers over the contour defining edge. A method of manufacturing a covered interior part of a vehicle comprises securing an insert having a contour defining edge to the interior panel and wrapping the insert and the interior panel with a cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Hadley Muiter, Alan Curtis Moran, Jr., Shariq Alam
  • Patent number: 9616630
    Abstract: Methods of making a golf ball that includes a lattice reinforced layer, which is a layer made of at least two materials with different properties, includes various injection and compression molding steps. In some embodiments, the lattice reinforced layer is manufactured using a shutoff molding technique so that the entire lattice reinforced layer is molded in the same mold. In other embodiments, a grid for the lattice layer is formed first, then filled using an injection molding technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 9616649
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing dished laminated glazing including two sheets of glass, a separator layer made of polymer material arranged between the sheets of glass, and an electrical conductor, the method including the simultaneous thermal dishing of the sheets of glass in the paired state followed by their cooling and then the assembly of the laminated glazing by bonding of the sheets of glass to the separator layer on either side thereof, the cooling including a controlled cooling of the sheets of glass in the paired state, the controlled cooling including a general controlled cooling and a local controlled cooling of a cutting zone, the local controlled cooling being faster than the general controlled cooling, a cutting of one of the sheets of glass along a cutting line in the cutting zone to form a holed zone, the electrical conductor being placed between the sheets of glass and exiting from the laminated glazing through the holed zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Alexandre Hennion, Philippe Frebourg
  • Patent number: 9616616
    Abstract: A method for laminating a component by means of a laminating tool with a laminating element, wherein the component has a groove, wherein the component has a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface border on one another in the groove, wherein the method comprises the following steps: masking the first surface with a mask, wherein the mask has a resilient lip, pressing the resilient lip into the groove by means of the laminating tool, wherein the resilient lip is designed, after having being pressed into the groove, to mask within the groove a partial area of exclusively the first surface, laminating the second surface with the laminating element, wherein, due to the lamination, parts of the laminating element cover the mask, removing the parts of the laminating element which cover the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: FAURECIA INNENRAUM SYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Romain Rump, Maciej Czerkas
  • Patent number: 9610728
    Abstract: A composite laminate reinforcing tool may be used to form a reinforced joint at a bond line of a composite laminate structure. The tool may hold one or more clips having posts, and the tool may be positioned along the bond line between at least two composite laminate elements. Joint sections of the clip may be heated to increase a pliability of the joint section, and the tool may be actuated to drive the post through the at least two composite laminate elements. The posts, may deflect toward a base of the clip, thereby to seat the clip. The reinforced composite laminate structure may then be cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Kulesha
  • Patent number: 9610755
    Abstract: Packaging and a method of making the packaging is disclosed. The packaging includes a substrate with an asymmetrical coextrusion attached there to. The coextrusion includes an ethylene vinyl alcohol layer that is disposed toward the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Prolamina Midwest Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Knauf
  • Patent number: 9604441
    Abstract: A laminating body for laminating a foil onto a substrate includes a pressure area on which there is imprinted a structure which forms an embossing in the foil upon lamination of the foil onto the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GIESECKE & DEVRIENT GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Huber, Andreas Minks, Klaus Kohl
  • Patent number: 9598803
    Abstract: A method for forming cushions including the following four steps: (1) a compression step in which the structure (2) is compressed in a mold (3); (2) a thermal softening step in which the structure (2) is thermally softened by means of a heating medium; (3) a curing step in which the structure (2) directly undergoes forced cooling in a cooling medium, and is then cured; and (4) a mold release step in which the structure (2) is released from the mold (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: C-ENG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Takaoka
  • Patent number: 9593267
    Abstract: A composition comprising a base oil in an amount from 5 to 95 wt %, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin, and an ester-soluble tackifying resin; wherein the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin is present in an amount from 5 to 95 wt % based on the total weight of the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin and the ester-soluble tackifying resin is provided. Methods for assembling or lubricating turbine engines are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Ricky Loy Stamps
  • Patent number: 9592657
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for making a carbon fiber tubular component by sliding a carbon fiber sleeve and a fiber sleeve over a tubular mandrel. The sleeves overlying the tubular mandrel are saturated with a curable resin and inserted into a mold cavity of a compression mold. The cured carbon fiber tubular component is removed from the compression mold after the curing of the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventor: Nanette L. Hultgren
  • Patent number: 9592656
    Abstract: A seal formed of laminated films adhered to a peel strip. The seal includes a target area free of adhesive, and adhesive surrounding the target area. The seal is formed so that the target area is visually distinguished from the surrounding adhesive to facilitate accurate placement of the seal on a medical container by a user. The use of a large adhesive dot pattern enhances the peripheral edge of each adhesive dot to provide a prominent and visual lattice. The prominent and visual lattice distinguishes the adhesive areas of the seal from the non-adhesive areas. The lattice boundary surrounding each adhesive dot is still prominent and visible when a clear and transparent adhesive is applied to selected surfaces of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Winfield Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Davies, Christopher A. Davies
  • Patent number: 9589722
    Abstract: A method of making a cylindrical magnetic circuit which is able to prevent deformation of a cylindrical yoke for holding two or more magnets without increasing the thickness of the yoke more than required, A method of producing a cylindrical magnetic circuit (1) for generating a magnetic field in a space inside of plural annularly placed magnets (2), including: a cylindrical yoke (3) which is placed radially outside the magnets (2) and is fixed to the magnets directly or via an intermediate member or substance; and at least one nonmagnetic member (4) existing between pairs of circumferentially adjacent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuhito Doi, Dai Higuchi, Shingo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9586363
    Abstract: The present invention contemplates a method for the attachment of a component to a honeycomb structure comprising forming a cavity in the honeycomb structure whereby the cavity is formed within one or more honeycomb cells; placing an insert adapted to enable the attachment of the component to the honeycomb structure whereby a reformable epoxy resin adhesive is injected about the insert or an expandable reformable epoxy resin adhesive is overmolded onto the insert; heating the reformable epoxy resin adhesive; and hardening and adhering the reformable epoxy resin adhesive to one or more interior walls of the cavity upon cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ZEPHYROS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Siboni, John Blancaneaux
  • Patent number: 9579848
    Abstract: A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Carrie L. Davis
  • Patent number: 9580629
    Abstract: An improved adhesive composition having increased insulative properties is provided. The adhesive composition having improved insulative properties includes a starch component; an alkaline component; sodium tetraborate; water; and a plurality of expandable microspheres. Products having improved insulation capabilities and methods of making the products having improved insulation capabilities are also provided. The present adhesive and products including the adhesive is environmentally friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HENKEL IP & HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Tianjian Huang, Robert Sandilla, Daniel Waski
  • Patent number: 9574603
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a washer (11) for a female fastener (12, 12A), particularly a nut or collar, said washer comprising an annular base (15) and a substantially cylindrical skirt (13) of an outer periphery of the annular base, said annular base comprising a central orifice (18) coaxial with the axis (14) of the skirt, characterized in that the annular base is at least partially covered with a layer (21) of a viscous composition capable of forming a liquid-tight coating through polymerization. When installing a nut having such a washer onto a male fastener such as a pin (33), the spreading of the viscous layer makes it possible to fill in the gaps (36) of the assembly, the polymerization of the composition ensuring its leak-tightness afterwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: LISI AEROSPACE
    Inventors: Florent Verdier, Benoit Regnard
  • Patent number: 9572722
    Abstract: Provided are adhesive articles and assemblies that include a flat and at least partially elastic backing along with a patterned adhesive coating on each side of the backing. When viewed from directions perpendicular to the backing, the adhesive on one side of the backing does not substantially overlap the adhesive on the opposing side of the backing. As a result, it is possible to use a stretch removable adhesive article that uses, for example, an aggressive adhesive to provide a reliable bond but still remove cleanly and easily from delicate substrates that would otherwise be damaged or destroyed if bonded with conventional adhesive constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Leigh E. Wood
  • Patent number: 9573310
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating a panel from a molten composite material, and a panel product fabricated accordingly. Two platens in spaced relation define a gap which decreases uniformly from first ends of the platens toward second ends of the platens. Molten composite material is moved through the decreasing gap to compress the material between the platens. Cooling drums cool the composite panel shortly after extrusion. A mesh is rolled into a surface of the extruded panel; the screen remains partially exposed on the panel surface to provide a panel surface amenable to the application of adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Phil T. Archuletta