Patents Examined by Sam C. Yao
  • Patent number: 7998300
    Abstract: Two paper webs, saturated with a B-phase phenolic resin and dried, are conveyed through separate low melting point metal alloy baths, one web after being corrugated, to convert the resin to a fully cured phase, whereafter the webs are joined to form a structurally rigid waterproof single face corrugated web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Michael B. Hladilek, Carl R. Marschke
  • Patent number: 7993480
    Abstract: A ply placement device uses a ply guide to place plies on a curved substrate surface. The ply guide includes a guide surface and a guide edge that are each curved to match the contour of the substrate so that the ply transitions smoothly from its planar form to a curved form as the ply is placed onto the substrate. The ply guide may be flexible or segmented to allow reconfiguration of the guide surfaces to match various substrate contours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Anderson, Charles M. Richards, Barry P. VanWest, Jeffrey M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7976660
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread laid down directly in its final location by projecting lengths of the thread onto a receiving surface (S). The apparatus has feed means for feeding thread from a source of thread, a rotary conduit (2) receiving the thread, thread-cutting device has a roller fixed with respect to the thread, and a moving cutter acting on the thread in collaboration with said roller so as, for each revolution of the rotary conduit, to release a length having a free end at the cutting means end. The apparatus also has a buffer positioned in the path of the free end so that, during the operation, the free end strikes the buffer before coming into contact with the receiving surface (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Martin, Jean-Louis Souche
  • Patent number: 7972457
    Abstract: A device for draping and pre-shaping curved profiled structural components of fiber materials includes at least one shaping tool having a curved shaping face which has a profiled cross-section and which defines the outer contour of the profiled structural component. The device also includes a plurality of unwinding devices each for discharging a web-like fiber material, a device for performing a relative movement between the shaping tool and the plurality of unwinding devices for tangentially winding the web-like fiber materials onto the curved shaping face under tension, and a fixing device for finally fixing the shape of all of the web-like fiber materials wound on the curved shaping face. A method of draping and pre-shaping curved profiled structural components of fiber materials is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Schoppmeier, Rolf Sundermann, Holger Purol, Axel Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7954530
    Abstract: At least one guide roller is provided for guiding a moving cable or conduit. At least one tamping device comprising at least one tamping pad is provided for applying at least one label onto the moving cable or conduit. A guide shoe assembly comprising at least one guide shoe is provided for pressing the at least one label directly against at least one side of the moving cable or conduit. A method for applying labels is also provided. A method comprising guiding a cable or conduit to a labeling unit with a set of guide rollers, affixing a label to the cable or conduit with at least one tamping device, and pressing the label against at least one side of the cable or conduit using at least one guide shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Bennett, William Thomas Bigbee, Jr., Steve Griffin
  • Patent number: 7955463
    Abstract: A method for connecting shell parts (01, 02), which have been formed from sheet metal, for example by deep drawing. The shell parts (01, 02) may be any desired workpieces of a chassis part in the form of semifinished items or other components that are suitable for a folded seam connection. For this, the shell parts must have edges which are arranged lying one against the other in the connecting position. The method according includes first arranging the shell parts (1, 2) that are to be connected in a position envisaged for the shell parts (01, 02) in the connected state. Subsequently, the edge (03) of the first shell part (01) is folded around the edge (04) of the second shell part (02), so that a folded seam (06) is formed. After the folding operation, according to the invention the folded seam (06) is heated and subsequently once again pressed together. As a result, a positive and gap-free folded seam connection is achieved, with which the shell parts (01, 02) are permanently firmly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Raphael Fischer, Ralf Hund
  • Patent number: 7951254
    Abstract: A film bearing advertising can be applied to a moving handrail for a set period of time. The film bearing the advertising can include a first film layer and a first layer of adhesive on the underside of the first film layer, the film being generally elongated and having a width corresponding to a width of the moving handrail. The film can be aligned and adhered, continuously and progressively, to the handrail. The advertising can include a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the length of the film. The advertising can include at least one of text, images and logos. After the set period of time, the film can be removed. After removing the film, the surface of the handrail can be cleaned. A second film bearing second advertising can be applied for a second set period of time. First and second advertisers can be charged different advertising rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: EHC Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald H. Ball, Jeno Eppel, John McLeod
  • Patent number: 7950432
    Abstract: A graphic transfer assembly is disclosed. The graphic transfer assembly includes an inflatable member that is capable of expanding to fill the interior of an article of footwear. The graphic transfer assembly can include a fluid pump for filling the inflatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
  • Patent number: 7951256
    Abstract: In a method of making a vacuum vessel having a pair of plates including a face plate and a rear plate bonded to each other using a bonding member, a bonding member is applied to a periphery of at least one of a pair of plates, the plates are placed in contact with each other through the bonding member disposed therebetween, parts of sides of the plates are fastened to each other using a positioning jig made of bimetal, the plates are separated from each other by placing the plates in an atmosphere and by thermally deforming the positioning jig, and the plates are fixed to each other around the entire peripheries thereof using the bonding member by performing cooling so as to reduce thermal deformation of the positioning jig and making the plates contact each other through the bonding member disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kou Komatsu, Tokutaka Miura, Mitsutoshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7935206
    Abstract: A pressure vessel is provided including an inner tank formed from a tank liner surrounded by a wound layer of composite filaments. A protective jacket is disposed on the inner tank that facilitates stacking and portability of the pressure vessel and helps to define an air passage for convective heat transfer between the hybrid tank and the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: AMTROL Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Tiago Oliveira, Joao Carlos V. Antunes Guimaraes, Eduardo J. Alves
  • Patent number: 7935208
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced composite sabot for use in APFSDS (Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot), wherein both Band lamination and Hoop lamination are used in manufacturing a polymer based FRP(Fiber Reinforced Plastic) for use in the sabot in order to prevent the prepreg delamination in the circumferential direction caused by the radial lamination. The method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced composite sabot of the present invention comprises the steps of a sub-segment forming step, a piece forming step and a sabot forming step, and the lamination is carried out with improved segment lamination form preventing the damage in the 120 degree surface in the process of treating the sabot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Agency for Defense Development
    Inventors: In-Seo Park, Jin-Seok Kim, Seung-Un Yang, Young-Jun Jeon
  • Patent number: 7935202
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling a polymeric membrane to a structure are described herein. In some instances, the systems and methods for coupling polymeric membranes to structures is applicable to mounting structures onto polymeric membranes forming part of roofing structure. Particularly, the methods and systems described herein may be applicable to securing external structures, such as photovoltaic cells to a polymeric membrane, such as a thermoplastic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: Joel A. Stanley
  • Patent number: 7927445
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite tower, includes at least partially filling a form with a curable resin; at least partially curing the resin in the form; raising the form partly over the at least partially cured resin; and at least partially filling the raised form with more curable resin applied against the cured resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, Lawrence D. Willey, Wendy W. Lin
  • Patent number: 7875148
    Abstract: An adhesive tape attaching method for attaching an adhesive tape to the back side of a wafer, the wafer having a device area where a plurality of devices are formed on the front side of the wafer and a peripheral marginal area surrounding the device area, wherein the back side of the wafer is formed with a circular recess corresponding to the device area and an annular reinforcing portion surrounding the circular recess so as to correspond to the peripheral marginal area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventor: Azumi Kondo
  • Patent number: 7862675
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a reinforced beam having a bonded tensile reinforcement member includes assembling a tensile reinforcement member to a beam, wherein adhesive is disposed between the tensile reinforcement member and the beam. A load is applied to the tensile reinforcement member to define a pre-tensioned tensile reinforcement member. A force is applied to urge the beam and the pre-tensioned tensile reinforcement member together. The load is released on the pre-tensioned tensile reinforcement member prior to the adhesive becoming cured, allowing longitudinal ends of the tensile reinforcement member to slide relative to the beam at longitudinal ends of the beam, and thereby forming a reinforced beam having a bonded tensile reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Howard M. Gray, Habib J. Dagher
  • Patent number: 5421937
    Abstract: A drum for a photoplotter has a base having a partially cylindrical recess formed therein which recess being defined by in part by a plurality of elevated surfaces providing a support bed on which is mounted a sheet of material providing an exposed surface for supporting a substrate thereon. The drum is formed by a method whereby a tool is provided about which the sheet material is drawn and is moved into engagement with the bed and is caused to maintain this shape by an adhesive interposed therebetween. A method for mechanically compensating for surface irregularities by fixing the scanner relative to the support surface after displacements have been made is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Gerber Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Menard, Dana W. Seniff, Kenneth R. Petersen