Patents Examined by Russell E Sparks
  • Patent number: 10667068
    Abstract: A method for joining sides of a speaker enclosure includes affixing a speaker grill element to a substructure element, where the speaker grill element has a depth that is shorter than its length and width, includes a first surface and a second surface parallel to each other, and includes hole openings, where the substructure element has a depth that is shorter than its length and width, includes protrusions above its front surface, and includes openings larger than the openings in the speaker grill element, and where the speaker grill element is aligned lengthwise to a first plane, inserting the joined speaker grill element and substructure element into a mould, where in combination with portions of the speaker grill element and the substructure element, a surface of the mould forms a mould cavity, and injecting molten plastic into the mould cavity to form an injection moulded side element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Long, Brandon Holley, Sivarupan Sivasubramaniam
  • Patent number: 10660360
    Abstract: The present application relates to a rod article distribution apparatus (10) for distributing rod articles (50) between at least two storage columns. The apparatus (10) has a rod article infeed (20), a rod article distributor (30) having an epicyclic drum arrangement, and at least two rod article receiving channels (41). The rod article distributor (30) is configured to distribute rod articles (50) between the at least two rod article receiving channels (41). The present application also relates to a rod article making apparatus and a method of distributing rod articles between at least two storage columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventor: Gary Fallon
  • Patent number: 10631576
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an atomizing device and an electronic cigarette provided with the atomizing device. The atomizing device includes a liquid storage housing and a sealing plug, and the liquid storage housing is provided with a liquid storage chamber and a liquid injection channel connecting the liquid storage chamber and the external environment. The sealing plug is detachably inserted into the liquid injection channel to open or seal the liquid storage chamber. An end of the sealing plug away from the liquid storage chamber forms a magnetic attraction surface with magnetism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SMISS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiatai Chen, Chengzhi Zhao, Shuiming Deng, Ningbo Qiu, Ming Chen, Wanxiang Zou
  • Patent number: 10625892
    Abstract: A packaging machine is for forming a product cavity in a web including a forming die box defining a recess into which the product cavity is formed. An insert is axially movable in the recess to thereby vary a depth of the recess. A variable depth mechanism selectively moves the insert to vary the depth of the recess. The packaging machine includes a latching mechanism that moves the forming die box into and between a first position in which the forming die box is spaced apart from the die box base and a second position in which the forming die box is supported by the die box base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Alkar-RapidPak, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Bonneville, Matthew John Doll
  • Patent number: 10618270
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: PAXIS LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Knecht, Michael G. Littrell
  • Patent number: 10611074
    Abstract: A dimension in a Y-direction of a slit section (26) decreases gradually as a distance from an inflow port (23) in an X-direction increases. A cross-section of a manifold section (25) that is orthogonal to the X-direction decreases gradually as a distance from the inflow port (23) in the X-direction increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventor: Takahide Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10609954
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a smoking article filter element includes arranging a corrugated laminate web around a portion of filter material having an elongate shape and a longitudinal axis, such that the grooves and ridges of the laminate web run in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the filter material. A method of fabricating a smoking article involves the same method as that of fabricating a smoking article filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventor: Gary Fallon
  • Patent number: 10603837
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object printing system improves the leveling of an object during object printing and removal of waste material during leveling. The printing system includes a material applicator configured to expel material, a member configured to move in a process direction to a position opposite the material applicator to enable the material applicator to expel material onto the member, and a belt assembly. The belt assembly includes a first roller, a second roller, and a continuous belt entrained about the first roller and the second roller. The belt assembly is configured to remove a portion of the material ejected onto the member. The belt assembly is further configured to move the removed portion of the material away from the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Rosdahl, Jr., Richard P. Ficarra, Christine A. Steurrys
  • Patent number: 10596756
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a supply unit, a leveling unit, and an ejection unit to repeat a set of processes of supplying powder, forming powder layer, and ejecting shaping liquid to shape a three-dimensional shaped object corresponding to the shaping target. The control unit is configured to stop the set of processes in response to reception of a stop signal, and in response to reception of a resume signal after the reception of the stop signal, control the supply unit, the leveling unit, and the ejection unit to eject the shaping liquid onto at least a part of a dot region on a surface of an outermost powder layer, the dot region being formed by at least one dot formed at the outermost powder layer, and then resume the set of processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohta Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10588340
    Abstract: Embodiments provides treated tobacco material having a pH of at least 9 and a moisture content of no more than 20% based on the dry weight of the tobacco. Embodiments also provide a process for treating tobacco material to increase its pH to at least 9, the process comprising applying a basic solution to the tobacco material to be treated, and drying the material to produce a treated tobacco material with a moisture content of no more than 20%. Embodiments also provide devices comprising the treated tobacco material, and uses of the treated tobacco material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Sally Bell, Mark Forster, Jeremy Phillips
  • Patent number: 10589450
    Abstract: In a method for determining at least one parameter for the description of the compression behavior of a material processed in a molding machine, at least a part of the processed material is introduced into a mold cavity via a distribution system and a gate, and the processed material solidifies in the mold cavity. A compression test is performed in which a volume storing the material is modified and a measurement of the resulting pressure modification is conducted or a pressure applied onto the material is modified and a measurement of the resulting modification of the volume is conducted. A parameter for the description of the compression behavior is calculated based on the result of the compression test by using a mathematical model. The compression test is conducted when the gate is at least substantially solidified or when the hot runner is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Engel Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Pillwein, Ruth Markut-Kohl
  • Patent number: 10589886
    Abstract: A packaging machine is for forming a product cavity in a web including a forming die box defining a recess into which the product cavity is formed. An insert is axially movable in the recess to thereby vary a depth of the recess. A variable depth mechanism selectively moves the insert to vary the depth of the recess. The packaging machine includes a latching mechanism that moves the forming die box into and between a first position in which the forming die box is spaced apart from the die box base and a second position in which the forming die box is supported by the die box base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Alkar-RapidPak, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Bonneville, Matthew John Doll
  • Patent number: 10538032
    Abstract: Provided in one example herein is a three-dimensional (ā€œ3Dā€) printing method, comprising: (A) forming a layer comprising particles comprising a thermoplastic; (B) disposing over at least a portion of the layer a coalescent agent, which is radiation-absorbing and has a thermal decomposition temperature lower than or equal a melting temperature of the thermoplastic; (C) forming an object slice of a 3D object by exposing the coalescent agent to a radiant energy such that at least some of the coalescent agent thermally decomposes while causing at least some of the particles to fuse, wherein the object slice comprises the fused particles, and wherein the thermally decomposed coalescent agent is not radiation-absorbing; and (D) repeating (A) to (C) to form the 3D object comprising multiple object slices bound depth-wise to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Henryk Birecki, Krzysztof Nauka, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan
  • Patent number: 10532511
    Abstract: In an aspect, infilling includes one or more the following characteristics: (i) adjacent rows and columns, which may be overlapping or non-overlapping; (ii) no sharp angle turns, i.e., no turns of ninety degree or less; and (iii) intersecting between infill patterns occurs from layer to layer (i.e., at offset z-axis positions). An infilling technique may also or instead include rotating the infill pattern about ninety degrees in some alternating fashion from layer to layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MakerBot Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Andrey V. Patrov
  • Patent number: 10525642
    Abstract: A preform is infused with a resin to form a composite laminate. The preform is placed between a mold and a vacuum bag. An offset tool is placed to permit the vacuum bag to lift away from a surface of the preform in a controlled amount. A charge of the resin is injected between the vacuum bag and the preform to lift the vacuum bag off the surface of the preform and move the vacuum bag toward the offset tool, so that the resin occupies a volume between the vacuum bag and the preform. The preform is infused with the resin by applying a super-atmospheric pressure to an outer surface of the vacuum bag to transport the resin from the volume between the vacuum bag and the preform into a volume within the preform. The resin in the preform is cured, forming the composite laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Services Structures LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Feeney, Steven Hayse, David A. Rogozinski
  • Patent number: 10518447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a film body, a method for the back-injection molding of a film body and a back-injection molding tool therefor. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the back-injection molding of layer electrodes (1) for producing touch-sensitive sensors for example for touch screens. Parts of the layer electrode (1), which after the back-injection molding should still be able to move freely, are covered by a sacrificial film (3) before and during the back-injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Walter Fix
  • Patent number: 10509559
    Abstract: A computer produces a digital model that efficiently describes a dense array of many micro-pillars. The digital model achieves this efficiency by describing an entire micro-pillar with only a few parameters. For example, an entire micro-pillar may be described by two of more of the following parameters: height, base thickness, profile and tilt. The computer outputs instructions to fabricate the micro-pillar array, in accordance with the digital model. A 3D printer fabricates the micro-pillar array, based on the instructions. Applying vibration to a directional array of micro-pillars may cause the array of micro-pillars to actuate motion of a passive object that is touching the array. Also, a sensor may measure sounds caused by swipes against a micro-pillar array, and output signals indicative of the measurements. A computer performs a machine learning algorithm that takes the measurements as an input, and classifies the swipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jifei Ou, Gershon Dublon, Chin-Yi Cheng, Liang Zhou, Hiroshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 10499684
    Abstract: Methods of forming pyrazines from reactants derived from a plant of the Nicotiana species, including receiving an aqueous reactant solution including at least one tobacco-derived cellulosic sugar and at least one tobacco-derived amino acid, heating the reactant solution to a reactant temperature and holding the reactant solution at the reactant temperature for a reactant time to produce a reactant product including at least one tobacco-derived pyrazine, and isolating the at least one tobacco-derived pyrazine from the reactant product. Tobacco products incorporating the tobacco-derived pyrazines are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, William Monroe Coleman, III, Chelsea Allison Cooke, Courtney Guenther Culbert
  • Patent number: 10463071
    Abstract: A container for a consumable recipient product. The container also contains a non-consumable donor product carrier which contains a donor product which emits a substance to impart a characteristic to the recipient product in the container. The donor product carrier includes a barrier layer, disposed between the donor product and the recipient product, through which the substance can travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: David Rushforth, Paul Gibson, Eva Sommarstrom
  • Patent number: 10457000
    Abstract: A flow aid for an infusion structure for infiltrating fiber material with resin to produce a fiber composite component includes a resin-impermeable upper layer and a lower layer which are joined together in a peripheral region of the flow aid and provide a flow space between the two layers. The lower layer provides an outlet for discharging resin out of the flow aid into an interior of the infusion structure. The flow aid includes an inlet for feeding the resin into the flow space, thereby facilitating uniform distribution of the resin over all of the fiber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Filsinger, Michael Steinhilber