Patents Examined by Travis Figg
  • Patent number: 9362018
    Abstract: An impregnated fiber tow comprising multiple unitary graphene-based continuous graphitic fibers impregnated with a matrix material, wherein at least one of the continuous graphitic fibers comprises at least 90% by weight of graphene planes that are chemically bonded with one another having an inter-planar spacing d002 from 0.3354 nm to 0.4 nm as determined by X-ray diffraction and an oxygen content less than 5% by weight, wherein the graphene planes are parallel to one another and parallel to a fiber axis direction and the graphitic fiber contains no core-shell structure, has no helically arranged graphene domains or domain boundary, and has a porosity level less than 5% by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z Jang
  • Patent number: 9359060
    Abstract: A laminated composite radius filler for a composite structure has a stacked ply assembly having a plurality of stacks of laminate radius filler plies cut to a desired width and having a desired ply orientation. The laminated composite radius filler further has a geometric shaped filler element positioned at a desired location on a first portion of the stacked ply assembly. The geometric shaped filler element deforms a second portion of the stacked ply assembly stacked over the geometric shaped filler element, such that the laminate radius filler plies of the second portion of the stacked ply assembly change direction and have a component of direction including a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The laminated composite radius filler having a shape substantially corresponding to a radius filler region of the composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kirk B. Kajita, Douglas A. Frisch
  • Patent number: 9363932
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated graphene film-enhanced display device, comprising: (a) a display device which comprises one or multiple heat sources and a back surface where a localized area is at a higher temperature than an adjacent area; and (b) a heat spreader which comprises at least one sheet of integrated graphene film having two major surfaces, wherein one of the major surfaces of the heat spreader is in thermal contact with one or multiple heat sources and further wherein the heat spreader itself reduces the temperature difference between locations on the display device. The integrated graphene film, either a graphene film obtained from a graphene oxide gel or a graphene composite film formed of graphene oxide gel-bonded nano graphene platelets (NGPs), exhibits highest thermal conductivity and highest effectiveness in reducing hot spots in various kinds of display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingchao Wang, Wei Xiong, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 9314818
    Abstract: A superhydrophobic surface includes a plurality of microfeatures disposed on a substrate and a gas generator disposed within the microfeatures, the gas generator configured to generate a gas within the microfeatures. Gas is generated within the microfeatures when at least a portion of the microfeatures is in a wetted state to restore the microfeatures to a dewetted state. Gas generation is self-regulating in that gas generation automatically starts when a wetted condition exists and stops when sufficient gas has been generated to recover a dewetted state that restores superhydrophobicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Chang-Jin Kim, Choongyeop Lee
  • Patent number: 9291060
    Abstract: A joint between a first preform component and a second preform component that are constructed for ultimate use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. A plurality of extended fibers may be integral with the first preform component and be at least partially enveloped by the second preform component. A method for making the component is also disclosed. In one embodiment the method provides a first preform component having extended fibers integral therewith, and supplying a second preform component. The method further includes inserting the extended fibers at least partially into the second preform component body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Joseph Lazur
  • Patent number: 9290855
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for electrophoretic deposition of a three-dimensionally patterned green body includes suspending a first material in a gelling agent above a patterned electrode of an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) chamber, and gelling the suspension while applying a first electric field to the suspension to cause desired patterning of the first material in a resulting gelation. In another embodiment, a ceramic, metal, or cermet includes a plurality of layers, wherein each layer includes a gradient in composition, microstructure, and/or density in an x-y plane oriented parallel to a plane of deposition of the plurality of layers along a predetermined distance in a z-direction perpendicular to the plane of deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus A. Worsley, Joshua D. Kuntz, Klint A. Rose
  • Patent number: 9278577
    Abstract: A decorative fabricated covering includes a first piece of vinyl. A first ink layer is printed on the first piece of vinyl and a textured layer is printed on top of the first ink layer. A second ink layer is printed on a second separate piece of vinyl. The first and second pieces of vinyl are then laminated together. An overprint layer may be printed on top of the textured layer and a second textured layer may be printed on top of the overprint resin layer. A domed layer may be formed on top of the second ink layer and a reflective material, such as glitter, may be mixed in the second textured layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Artscape, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Hicks
  • Patent number: 9221403
    Abstract: An interior part for a vehicle includes a body member including protrusions and depressions, a first member having a flat sheet shape and attached to one side of the body member, and a second member having a flat sheet shape and attached to another side of the body member. An edge of the side end of the first member is fixed with an edge of the side end of the second member in a convex manner via an edge of a side end of the body member. The edges of the first member, the body member and the second member are processed by a chamfer treatment to form an inclined portion outwardly inclined from the second member toward the first member. According to the interior part, unpleasant feeling to be brought to a user when touching the inclined portion is drastically restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: MEIWA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Yamamoto, Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9150760
    Abstract: Provided is a flame retardant adhesive sheet having an adhesive agent layer on at least one surface of a base material, which even when the adhesive agent layer does not contain a flame retardant agent, has both excellent flame retardant properties and adhesive properties. The present invention is concerned with a flame retardant adhesive sheet including an adhesive agent layer on at least one surface of abase material, wherein the base material has flame retardant properties adapted to VTM-0 in a test according to the UL94 standard; a thickness per surface of the adhesive agent layer is 0.6 ?m or more, and a total thickness of the adhesive agent layer is not more than 2.2 ?m; the adhesive agent constituting the adhesive agent layer does not contain a flame retardant agent but contains (A) an acrylic copolymer and (B) a specified urethane resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: LINTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Ohata, Youichi Inao
  • Patent number: 9133351
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to an inks, printed articles, and related methods. In one example, the a neutral gray reflective ink can include an aqueous liquid vehicle, iron oxide reflective particles having an average particle size from 3 nm to 180 nm dispersed in the aqueous liquid vehicle, and a dye system solvated in the aqueous liquid vehicle. The iron oxide particles and the dye system are present at relative concentrations to provide a reflective ink that is neutral gray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Vladek Kasperchik, Vladimir Jakubek
  • Patent number: 9133031
    Abstract: A carbon nanostructure that is free of a growth substrate adhered to the carbon nanostructure can include a plurality of carbon nanotubes that are branched, crosslinked, and share common walls with one another. Carbon nanostructures can be agglomerated with one another and densified to form a carbon nanostructure layer in which at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes in each carbon nanostructure are aligned substantially parallel to one another. Methods for forming a carbon nanostructure layer can include providing a plurality of carbon nanostructures that are free of a growth substrate adhered to each carbon nanostructure, and forming a carbon nanostructure layer by depositing the carbon nanostructures on a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Applied NanoStructured Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Han Liu, Tushar K. Shah, Jess Michael Goldfinger
  • Patent number: 9067560
    Abstract: The method relates to a trim part with an airbag cover, in particular for use in a motor vehicle, comprising a carrier and a haptics layer which are weakened along a tear line delimiting the airbag cover, and a decor layer of leather which covers the carrier and the haptics layer, wherein additionally a reinforcement layer is arranged between the haptics layer and the decor layer. According to the invention, the decor layer and the reinforcement layer have a constant thickness. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a trim part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Walter, Wolfram Bühler
  • Patent number: 9050773
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, which includes: a dicing tape including a base material layer, a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer stacked in this order, and a film for semiconductor back surface stacked on the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the dicing tape, in which a peel strength Y between the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is larger than a peel strength X between the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the film for semiconductor back surface, and in which the peel strength X is from 0.01 to 0.2 N/20 mm, and the peel strength Y is from 0.2 to 10 N/20 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiteru Asai, Goji Shiga, Naohide Takamoto
  • Patent number: 9028957
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the preparation of colloidal dispersions or suspensions of inorganic materials with nano-sized and nano-structured morphologies, preferably the nanosheet form, compositions produced by this method, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Tina T. Salguero, Darrah Johnson-McDaniel, Christopher A. Barrett
  • Patent number: 9012006
    Abstract: A multi-layer assembly, such as a sound damping metal laminate used in the automotive industry, having first and second rigid layers and an adhesive layer in between. A retention feature in the form of a raised embossment may be formed in one or more of the rigid layers and may be located near a fastening hole, which accommodates a nut and bolt or some other type of fastening device. The retention feature may impart rigidity and improved stiffness to the multi-layer assembly in the area surrounding the fastening hole, and it may also create a space between the rigid layers that is generally devoid of adhesive from the adhesive layer. This, in turn, can improve the long term performance of the multi-layer assembly by addressing issues such as compression set, spring back and/or stress relaxation. Methods of manufacture and other embodiments are also provided, including ones that accommodate multiple fastening holes, have discontinuous retention features, and use welds in place of nuts and bolts, to name a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Shiloh Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Fisk, Daniel J. Driscoll, James F. Keys
  • Patent number: 8980418
    Abstract: A plasma etch resist material modified by an inorganic protective component via sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and methods of preparing the modified resist material. The modified resist material is characterized by an improved resistance to a plasma etching or related process relative to the unmodified resist material, thereby allowing formation of patterned features into a substrate material, which may be high-aspect ratio features. The SIS process forms the protective component within the bulk resist material through a plurality of alternating exposures to gas phase precursors which infiltrate the resist material. The plasma etch resist material may be initially patterned using photolithography, electron-beam lithography or a block copolymer self-assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
  • Patent number: 8974903
    Abstract: Porous cross-linked polyimide-urea networks are provided. The networks comprise a subunit comprising two anhydride end-capped polyamic acid oligomers in direct connection via a urea linkage. The oligomers (a) each comprise a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine and a terminal anhydride group and (b) are formulated with 2 to 15 of the repeating units. The subunit was formed by reaction of the diamine and a diisocyanate to form a diamine-urea linkage-diamine group, followed by reaction of the diamine-urea linkage-diamine group with the dianhydride and the diamine to form the subunit. The subunit has been cross-linked via a cross-linking agent, comprising three or more amine groups, at a balanced stoichiometry of the amine groups to the terminal anhydride groups. The subunit has been chemically imidized to yield the porous cross-linked polyimide-urea network. Also provided are wet gels, aerogels, and thin films comprising the networks, and methods of making the networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Ohio Aerospace Institute, The United States of America, represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, Baochau N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8968862
    Abstract: A double-sided polarizer includes a polarizing film, a first adhesive layer formed on one surface of the polarizing film, a second adhesive layer formed on the other surface of the polarizing film, a first transparent film formed on the first adhesive layer, and a second transparent film formed on the second adhesive layer, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are formed of an active energy line-curable adhesive and the first adhesive layer is 0.1 ?m to 3 ?m thick, and there is also provided an optical device including the double-sided polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-Mi Seo, Hwa-Sub Shim, Jee-Hyon Min, Nam-Jeong Lee, Kyun-Il Rah, Jun-Wuk Park, Eun-Soo Huh, Yi-Rang Lim
  • Patent number: 8929792
    Abstract: A fuser member having a substrate and a polyimide aerogel layer disposed on the substrate is shown. The polyimide aerogel layer has a porosity of from about 50 percent to about 95 percent. A fluoropolymer surface layer is disposed on the polyimide aerogel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Qi, Nan-Xing Hu
  • Patent number: 8895135
    Abstract: A main body member, a first member, and a second member are joined together to form a laminate. A first edge of a first peripheral portion of the first member and a second edge of a second peripheral portion of second member are welded to each other along a parting line. A height position of the parting line in a thickness direction of the laminate is different between first and second portions defined in a peripheral direction of the laminate. Each of a first curvature radius of a curved shape of the first peripheral portion and a second curvature radius of a curved shape of the second peripheral portion is different between the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Meiwa Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nonaka