Patents Examined by William Bell
  • Patent number: 9889615
    Abstract: This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing a media insert with an energy source to an ophthalmic lens. The energy source is capable of powering a component included within the ophthalmic lens. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast molded from a silicone hydrogel and the component includes an electro-optical lens portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Pugh, Frederick A. Flitsch, Daniel B. Otts, James Daniel Riall, Adam Toner
  • Patent number: 9826875
    Abstract: To provide a production method for a cleaning tool and a cleaning body with which the attachment of a holding tool to the cleaning body is facilitated. Provided is a production method for a cleaning tool provided with a cleaning sheet, and a holding tool for holding the cleaning sheet. The cleaning sheet is provided with: a base part; and a first fiber assembly which is bonded to the base part. The production process includes a step in which tensile force imparted to the first fiber assembly is released, and fibers in a state of having been stretched by the tensile force are shrunk to form bent regions in the base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomokazu Suda
  • Patent number: 9797500
    Abstract: Two laminating sheets each formed by laminating a carbon fiber sheet and a film of a thermoplastic resin are set on heating in an area of a mold corresponding to a tubular portion of a rack housing. The mold is clamped, the carbon fiber sheet is impregnated with the thermoplastic resin of the film, each of the two laminating sheets is pressed into a shape with a half tube corresponding to a half circumference of the tubular portion and connection portions at both ends of the half tube in a circumferential direction, and two half tubes are bonded together at the connection portions thereof to form the tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Kunishima
  • Patent number: 9788604
    Abstract: Various articles, such as footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, watchbands, and the like, and methods of forming those articles are presented. The articles are generally formed, in whole or in part, using rapid manufacturing techniques, such as laser sintering, stereolithography, solid deposition modeling, and the like. The use of rapid manufacturing allows for relatively economical and time efficient manufacture of customized articles. Portions of the articles may be manufactured using rapid manufacturing and those portions may be joined with portions formed using conventional, non-rapid manufacturing techniques. The methods may also include performing a scan of an appropriate body part of a user, such as a foot, in order to create a customized article of footwear for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly B. Jarvis
  • Patent number: 9770872
    Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, ?45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Robert D. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9764519
    Abstract: A device for the production of structural components from a fiber composite material, the components being three-dimensionally arched over a large surface, including a jig having a convex mounting surface having receiving channels for the insertion of structural components, wherein the loaded jig interacts with a laminating bonding device having a corresponding shape for forming the structural component under pressure, wherein the mounting surface includes a plurality of individually elastically deformable mounting shell parts arranged adjacent to each other along at least one longitudinally extending pitch line and attached to a plurality of elastically deformable supporting frame elements extending on the interior of the shell at a right angle to the pitch line, and a plurality of actuators for deforming the mounting surface between an extended position (A) and at least one retracted position (B) to move the jig from the bonding device relative to the receiving channels without undercuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Lonsdorfer, Adrian Wachendorf, Remo Hinz, Niels Deschauer, Adam Andrä
  • Patent number: 9751290
    Abstract: A device and to a method for the production of essentially two-dimensionally arched large-area structural components from a fiber composite material, including a jig having a convex mounting surface which has longitudinally extending receiving channels for the insertion of construction components and which can be loaded with auxiliary materials, wherein the loaded jig interacts with a laminating bonding device having a corresponding shape for forming the structural component under pressure, wherein the jig includes a mounting shell that at the edge can be elastically deformed inwards, which mounting shell, by way of a plurality of actuators that are articulated to the inside, can be moved between an extended position (A) and at least one retracted position (B) in which the jig can be moved relative to the longitudinally extending receiving channels from the laminating bonding device without undercuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Lonsdorfer, Remo Hinz, Adrian Wachendorf, Niels Deschauer, Adam Andrä
  • Patent number: 9751243
    Abstract: A method for producing a molding, the shape of which is adapted to an initial mold, in which method a plurality of layers are deformably placed on top of one another such that the layers can be joined to each other by heat. The layers are deformed by being pressed onto the initial mold and in order to join the layers. Heat is applied in the deformed state. In the arrangement made of layers, at least one converter element is introduced that transforms supplied energy into heat energy and with which at least parts of the layers are heated to join the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Olaf Kroll-Orywahl, Gordon Siewert, Michael Nolte, Michael Ottleben
  • Patent number: 9744710
    Abstract: An assembly and process for forming a two stage extruded pipe having a central inner sleeve and a pair of outer attached lobes. The central sleeve shaped (also termed a grout receiving tube) is produced in an initial extrusion operation, following which it enters a cross head operation where a pair of outer lobes are attached to cross sectional exterior surface locations according to a second stage extrusion operation so as to be integrally formed therewith. Other steps include cooling of the dual stage extruded pipe, as well as sectioning and stacking the pipe. Additional steps include forming elongated slots or apertures into the central sleeve portion of the finished extrusion, such in non-interfering fashion with the individual passageway defining and lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: U.S. Farathane Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Porter, Timothy John Brown
  • Patent number: 9744755
    Abstract: A method of making absorbent foam composites and absorbent foam composites produced therefrom. The method comprises casting an absorbent foam layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side onto a barrier layer having a first side and second side opposite the first side, where the second side of the absorbent foam layer is in contact with the first side of the barrier layer; joining a second absorbent layer to the second side of the barrier layer before, during, or after the casting step; and breaching the barrier layer after the casting step so that the foam layer and second absorbent layer are in fluid communication. The absorbent foam composites can be used in a variety of applications, including personal hygiene articles, medical bandages, pet pads and agricultural pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Delton R. Thompson, Jr., Timothy V. Stagg, Thomas R. LaLiberte, Leigh E. Wood
  • Patent number: 9694524
    Abstract: A method for making and decorating top and bottom surfaces of a transparent timepiece component, the method including: depositing a first decoration on a male pattern; moving the male pattern, covered or not covered by a preform, into an injection chamber and injecting a transparent material therein to coat the male pattern to obtain a compound including the top face with the first decoration, on the bottom face; polymerizing the first compound in the injection chamber and then removing therefrom; depositing another material and/or second decoration in a cavity and held by gravity, and deposited on the top surface via a relative motion in the direction of gravity, to obtain a second compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Christian Poffet, Philipp Gaechter
  • Patent number: 9687752
    Abstract: A sculpting kit is provided that allows individuals with a means to sculpt a three-dimensional object. Components which form the armature of the three-dimensional object may be adfixed to a planar surface as two-dimensional elements. The sculptured object may be prepared by using the kit to lay down successive layers of structures in a pre-arranged fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventors: Gayle W. Clark, Brian J. Mahan
  • Patent number: 9688848
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laminar shaped article comprising a heterogeneous blend of (a) a composition comprising a vinyl halide or vinylidene halide polymer and optionally an ethylene copolymer containing carboxyl and/or carbon monoxide moieties, and (b) a polyolefin functionalized with a comonomer selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, maleic acid diesters, maleic acid monoesters, itaconic anhydride, itaconic acid diesters, itaconic acid monoesters, fumaric acid diesters, fumaric acid monoesters, or combinations thereof as a compatibilizer; and (c) a polyamide wherein the polyamide is present in the vinyl halide or vinylidene halide polymer as a multitude of overlapping layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: David D Zhang, Elizabeth R Griffin
  • Patent number: 9623620
    Abstract: Curing cauls formed of a one-piece three-dimensional resiliently shape-retentive fiber-reinforced body are provided, whereby the body includes a fibrous sheet coated with at least one layer of a cured elastomeric resin. The fibrous sheet may be embedded within the cured elastomeric resin, with the body having a stiffened perimetrical edge region and a stiffened ridge region vertically spaced from the edge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: EMBRAER S.A.
    Inventors: Fabricio Brizon, Lallo Kametada Nou
  • Patent number: 9623641
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reinforcing an end portion of a deformable tool configured for use in forming a composite object. An insert may be placed within a hollow portion of the end portion of the deformable tool in which the insert substantially conforms to a cross-sectional shape and a size of the hollow portion of the end portion of the deformable tool. A side of the end portion of the deformable tool may be reinforced by the insert located within the hollow portion of the end portion of the deformable tool during a curing process used to form the composite object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael R. Chapman, Khanh M. Pham
  • Patent number: 9616461
    Abstract: Discussed are a roll mold, a method for fabricating the same and a method for fabricating a thin film pattern using the same, which can prevent dimensional variation of the mold and simplify the overall process. The method for fabricating a thin film pattern includes providing a roll mold having a base roller provided with a light source, an adhesive resin layer formed on the base roller, a buffer layer formed on the adhesive resin layer, and a mold surface layer having a groove-protrusion shape formed on the buffer layer; forming a printing liquid on the roll mold or the substrate; and rolling the roll mold over the substrate to form a thin film pattern on the substrate. Also, the mold surface layer and the adhesive resin layer can be cured through light emitted from the light source arranged in the base roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nam-Seok Lee, Chul-Ho Kim, Shin-Bok Lee
  • Patent number: 9610711
    Abstract: A tooling system may include a cure tool and a biasing element. The cure tool may have a cure tool coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and may be configured for curing a composite article formed of two or more components having dissimilar component CTEs. The biasing element may be fixedly attached to the cure tool and has a biasing element CTE that may be different than the cure tool CTE. The biasing element may be configured such that a combination of the cure tool CTE and the biasing element CTE causes a heat-up displacement in the cure tool when heated and the composite article is cured in a distorted shape. When the cured composite article is cooled, the cured composite article may substantially assume an as-designed shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert T. Loftus, Jr., Jason M. Robinson, Mitchell J. Lee
  • Patent number: 9579856
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for molding and joining composite parts are disclosed herein. An example method includes positioning a base mandrel over a tool base, laying up plies of material over the base mandrel and the tool base to form a support structure base layup, curing the support structure base layup to form a support structure base, removing the support structure base from the tool base and the base mandrel, and configuring the support structure base to be a first support structure for use with a first radar assembly or a second support structure for use with a second radar assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Schmier, II
  • Patent number: 9579855
    Abstract: A cure tool assembly and method of manufacturing a composite part. The cure tool assembly may include a rigid cure tool having a cutter groove and a securing groove formed therein. The cutter groove may be spaced apart from and formed around the cutter groove. The securing groove may be slanted inward, away from a peripheral edge of the rigid cure tool. The cure tool assembly may also include a first sacrificial material located in the cutter groove and a second sacrificial material located in the securing groove. Composite material placed onto the outer surface of the rigid cure tool may bond with the second sacrificial material during cure, creating a desired hold-down force to keep the composite material in place. The resulting cured part may be cut along the cutter groove, thus cutting through the composite material and into the first sacrificial material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaise Francis Bergmann, Joseph Lynn Michelucci
  • Patent number: 9572402
    Abstract: Various articles, such as footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, watchbands, and the like, and methods of forming those articles are presented. The articles are generally formed, in whole or in part, using rapid manufacturing techniques, such as laser sintering, stereolithography, solid deposition modeling, and the like. The use of rapid manufacturing allows for relatively economical and time efficient manufacture of customized articles. Portions of the articles may be manufactured using rapid manufacturing and those portions may be joined with portions formed using conventional, non-rapid manufacturing techniques. The methods may also include performing a scan of an appropriate body part of a user, such as a foot, in order to create a customized article of footwear for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly B. Jarvis