Patents Examined by Stephen J. Lechert, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6752941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a plank product and related components having a controllable and realistic wood-grain appearance, the planks and related components having at least one accent color, the method including the steps of: a) introducing into an extruder a powdered or pelletized base material and accent color pellets, the base material containing less than about 75% by weight wood flour, and having a vicat softening temperature, the accent color pellets (i) having a higher vicat softening temperature than said base material, and (ii) including a styrene polymer having a high vicat softening temperature and a melt flow index of greater than or equal to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Arnold Hills
  • Patent number: 6753073
    Abstract: A decomposable product fabrication method includes the steps of a) preparing a plant powder obtained by crushing plant fibers and a viscous fluid additive containing a bonding agent, (b) mixing the prepared materials into a viscous mixture, c) drying the viscous mixture by baking, d) using a compression molding machine to mold the viscous mixture into a green ware and discharging steamy air out of the mold during compression molding, e) covering the green ware with a layer of waterproof coating, and f) baking the semi-finished product thus obtained from step e) to a dry status, so as to obtain a finished product after cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Jung-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 6752939
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating small compacts of formulations of a drug candidate, and a method for determining if a drug candidate, alone or in a formula mix, is suitable for dry granulation by a roller compactor based on physical measurements generated in part from such small compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: George W. Gereg
  • Patent number: 6752943
    Abstract: Uniformly sized granules are formed using the present extruder and granulation process. The extruder contains a spiral worm screw for guiding a granulation material to an apertured plate. The spiral worm screw is rotated within a chamber and is formed from a guiding slant which terminates at a blunt edge near the apertured plate. The blunt edge rubs the granulation material against the apertured plate which softens the material foming a semi-solid material. The semi-solid material is then gently pushed through the apertured plate using just the required pressure. The granules are formed when the semi-solid material hardens after exiting the apertured plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: United Phosphorus, Ltd.
    Inventors: Prakash Mahadeo Jadhav, Jai Shroff
  • Patent number: 6749793
    Abstract: Method of, and apparatus for, treating concrete blocks (10) in order to carry out an artificial aging process. For the mechanical treatment of the concrete blocks (10), the latter are positioned in a desired formation on a table top (14). Treatment bodies (17) are moved over the top side of the concrete blocks (10) with the table top (14) inclined. In this case, the concrete blocks (10) are arranged obliquely relative to one another, with the result that projecting edges and corners are partially removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: SF-Kooperation GmbH Beton-Konzepte
    Inventor: Gerhard Hagenah
  • Patent number: 6743313
    Abstract: Relative coarse flakes fabricated from used and manufacturing scrap asphalt shingle material are finish processed into ground cover and/or erosion control products. Processing of the flakes include (i) softening the surface of the flakes, (ii) embedding a surface treatment material into the softened surface of the flakes, and either (iii) supplying the flake as loose ground cover, or (iv) compressing the flakes into a portable mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: American Builders & Contractors Supply Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Mischo
  • Patent number: 6743511
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods for manufacturing large PTFE parts by compression molding followed by sintering. The method comprises layering modified and unmodified PTFE in a mold, and compressing the layers to form a preform part. Once the preform parts are formed, they are assembled such that the areas of preform parts which are to be bonded together are the modified PTFE sections. The parts are then sintered and the modified PTFE sections bond together creating a strong, durable, bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Coltec Industrial Products LLC
    Inventors: Roxanne Dittrich, Taggart William Albert Mills
  • Patent number: 6743382
    Abstract: A method of installing a refractory lining in a coreless or channel electric induction furnace. For installation of a refractory lining in a furnace wall, the method comprises the steps of providing a dry refractory material between a liner form placed within the furnace and a furnace wall, placing at least one variable frequency/amplitude electric vibrator in operational communication with an element selected from a structural member of the furnace, the liner form, and a vibrator rig placed within the furnace, inducing flow of the dry refractory material by operating at least one variable frequency/amplitude vibrator in a first operational mode having a high amplitude, low frequency vibration, and compacting the dry refractory material by operating at least one variable frequency/amplitude vibrator in a second operational mode having low amplitude, high frequency vibration after inducing flow of the dry refractory material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Allied Mineral Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Opatt, Douglas K. Doza
  • Patent number: 6743386
    Abstract: A vibratory apparatus and method for agglomerating chopped bundles of wet fiberglass strands into uniform segments includes a container having a curved inner surface disposed about a generally horizontal axis where the container is mounted on a plurality of springs. The chopped bundles of wet fiberglass strands to be agglomerated are placed onto the curved inner surface at an input end of the container. A vibratory force is produced to cause the chopped bundles of wet fiberglass strands to be moved from the input end toward an output end of the container. The vibratory force causes the chopped bundles of wet fiberglass strands to be directed in a rising and falling path of rolling movement within the container. As a result of the rolling movement of the chopped bundles within the container which is produced by the vibratory force, the chopped bundles of wet fiberglass strands are converted into uniform segments by reason of agglomeration of the wet fiberglass strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel T. Lease
  • Patent number: 6740272
    Abstract: A method and system for pressing lignocellulosic and/or cellulosic materials to produce composite products such as medium density fiberboard subjects a mat of material to a alternating or vibratory force normal to the top face of the mat. The frequency of the alternating forces may be between 0.2 Hz and 2 Hz. This vibratory pressing action serves to cause heat to be transferred more quickly to the core of the mat from the surface, and reduces the pressing time required for thermosetting resins within the mat to cure. The system has a press for accepting the mat; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the core of the mat; a control system for accepting a first signal from the temperature sensor and in response to that signal causing the press to apply vibratory forces to the mat normal to the surface of the mat when the core of the mat is below a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Forintek Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Xixian Deng, Yongqun Xie
  • Patent number: 6733528
    Abstract: A method for forming an implant having a desired shape includes the steps of (a) forming a layer of ingredient powder having a predetermined thickness composed of an ingredient powder, and (b) applying an reactant liquid to the layer in accordance with the desired shape of the implant, portions of the ingredient powder reacting with the reactant liquid being hardened. The above steps are repeated to stack a plurality of the layers having hardened portions, respectively, to form a three-dimensional implant formed by a stack of the hardened portions of the layers of the ingredient powder. The ingredient powder is a powder including at least one of a-tricalcium phosphate and tetracalcium phosphate, and a Ca/P ratio of the powder is within a range of 1.40 through 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignees: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Abe, Masanori Nakasu, Ichiro Ono
  • Patent number: 6726866
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a friction member used for a vibration wave driving apparatus including a vibration member, a contact member which is brought into frictional contact with the vibration member and relatively moved by vibrations produced in the vibration member, and the friction member formed on one of friction portions of the vibration member and contact member, a molded member is formed by compression molding of a plastic powder and an additive, a sintered member is formed by sintering the molded member, a sheet is formed by cutting the sintered member in the form of a sheet, and a modified layer formed by cutting is removed from the friction surface of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kitajima, Yutaka Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6719936
    Abstract: A solid compacted pellet of organic material for use in a vapor deposition source, and a method of making same is disclosed. The solid compacted pellet includes: a support member for permitting rotation of the pellet, or transmitting cooling fluid, or both; and a compacted solid core of organic material molded onto and about the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donn B. Carlton, Syamal K. Ghosh, Tukaram K. Hatwar
  • Patent number: 6720278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the abrasion resistance of a spun-bonded nonwoven without substantially adversely affecting its hand or drape characteristics, by incorporating low melt binder fibers into the web during the laydown phase of the spun-bonded nonwoven production process. More specifically, improved abrasion resistance is achieved by intimately blending continuous binder fibers with the primary extruded fibers in a spun-bonded nonwoven web. Also encompassed within this invention is a spun-bonded nonwoven fabric having improved abrasion resistance and comprised of primary extruded fiber and low melt binder fiber such that the binder fiber comprises between about 1 and about 50 weight percent on weight of the spun-bonded nonwoven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Dave E. Wenstrup
  • Patent number: 6709619
    Abstract: An apparatus for slush molding a thin shell having an outer layer and an inner layer. The apparatus includes two tubs alternately movable to a cast position for dispensing their respective material contents into a mold cavity. According to another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a diverter valve configured to alternately open a passage from each of two tubs to the mold cavity to selectively dispense charge materials from the respective tubs into the mold cavity. In addition, a method is provided for forming a thin shell having an outer layer and an inner layer. A first polymer material is cast and allowed to melt on a heated mold surface to form an outer layer. A second polymer material is then cast and allowed to melt and form an inner layer on the inner surface of the outer layer. The shell is then removed from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Textron Automotive Company Inc.
    Inventors: John MacDonald, Michael Conroy, MaryLou Smith LeCoz, Marvin Nelson
  • Patent number: 6706346
    Abstract: A process for production of polyimide molded bodies which comprises a step in which a polyimide resin powder obtained by polymerization and imidation of p-phenylenediamine with 3,3,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, its ester or its dianhydride and 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, its ester or its dianhydride is molded at a pressure of approximately 800-5,000 kgf/cm2, a step in which the pressurized body is subjected to calcination at about 450-550° C. under low pressure, a step in which the calcined molded body is vacuum encapsulated into a metal capsule, and a step in which the encapsulated molded body is isotropically subjected to hot compression at approximately 460-550° C. in an inert gas atmosphere such as argon. The polyimide molded bodies obtained thereby have a density in the range of 1.44-1.38 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Tsumiyama
  • Patent number: 6706227
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a combustion resistant and water resistant large container is disclosed. A starch or cereal powders are mixed with water at a certain ratio, and the mixture is heated to a certain temperature so as to form a glue. A drying is carried out, a powderizing is carried out, and then it is mixed with powders of a natural resin (rosin). Then this mixture is mixed with water, and then, it is fabricated by using a fabricator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventors: Young Bok Kim, Myung Ja Kim
  • Patent number: 6706226
    Abstract: A method of compacting moisture-sensitive organic material adaptable for making an organic layer on a structure which will form part of an organic light-emitting device, includes placing such a desiccant material in a powder form inside a die cavity and applying a pressure to such a desiccant powder in the die cavity sufficient to compact into a porous desiccant bed; providing moisture-sensitive organic material in a powder form; and placing such moisture-sensitive organic material inside the die cavity over the porous desiccant bed, and applying sufficient heat to the moisture-sensitive organic material in the die cavity to cause moisture to escape from the moisture-sensitive organic material and be absorbed by the porous desiccant bed, and then applying sufficient pressure to compact the moisture-sensitive organic material into a solid organic pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Syamal K. Ghosh, Donn B. Carlton, Tukaram K. Hatwar
  • Patent number: 6702969
    Abstract: A wood composite board or panel, such as particleboard, fiberboard, oriented strand board or waferboard and a method of producing the same. The composite board or panel comprises a plurality of wood pieces, thermoset resin to bind the wood pieces and a filler having a high thermal conductivity. Examples of such a filler include natural and synthetic graphites, metal, carbon, silicon carbide and other similar compounds and their mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological University
    Inventors: Laurent Malanda Matuana, Julia A. King
  • Patent number: 6699414
    Abstract: Described is wet-spun plural-end elastane yarn having a yarn linear density of up to 2500 dtex, high surface luster and a ribbony cross section and formed from bonded-together individual filaments having an oval to circularly round cross section, the width of the elastane yarn in cross section being at least four times the thickness of the elastane yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Bayer Faser GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Reinehr, Tilo Sehm, Wolfgang Anderheggen, Toni Herbertz, Günter Spilgies