Patents Examined by William P. Watkins, III
  • Patent number: 9289944
    Abstract: A method for fixing an attached component made of plastic, such as a trim, to a periphery of a glazing or to a portion of a molding fixed to the periphery of the glazing. The attached component includes a rear face including a fixing mechanism fixing it to the glazing or to the molding. The rear face includes appendages each of which enters a hole created in the molding or in the glazing and which is open at its two ends onto two opposite faces of the molding or glazing respectively. The distal end of each appendage projects beyond a rear face of, respectively, the molding or glazing delimiting the hole, and the distal end of each appendage is deformed by temporary softening, for example through application of ultrasound, to come into contact with the rear face of the molding or glazing at the periphery of the hole or around the entire periphery of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Adele Verrat, Loic Froissard
  • Patent number: 9276679
    Abstract: An insert-molded fiber optic transmission component has at least one insert and a main body portion. The main body portion has at least one adjoining surface, a portion of the at least one adjoining surface lying in a first plane. The insert has an engaging face disposed against the outer edge surface and a reference surface adjacent the engaging face, where the reference surface lies in a second plane, and the adjoining surface is adjacent the engaging face of the at least one insert and the first and second planes being parallel to and offset from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: U.S. Conec, Ltd.
    Inventors: Darrell R. Childers, Russell Granger, Myron Yount
  • Patent number: 9238322
    Abstract: A molding die for molding a substrate to be included in a microchip includes a first die and a second die contactable with and separable from the first die. One of the first die and the second die includes a ridge for molding the groove and a columnar first protrusion for molding at least a smallest diameter portion of a hole in the substrate, the portion having the smallest inner diameter. The other of the first die and the second die includes a second protrusion which is formed to be columnar having a diameter larger than the diameter of the first protrusion and contacts with a distal end of the first protrusion to mold the hole so as to extend through the substrate in cooperation with the first protrusion. A microchip also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignees: WAKO PURE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kanji Sekihara
  • Patent number: 9238593
    Abstract: There is provided a ceramic member which is a sintered body containing enstatite and boron nitride as constituents, in which boron nitride is oriented in a single direction, a probe holder formed using the ceramic member, and a manufacturing method of the ceramic member. In the ceramic member, an index of orientation degree is not less than 0.8. In so doing, it is possible to provide a ceramic member which has a free machining property, a coefficient of thermal expansion which is close to that of silicon, and high strength, and a probe holder which is formed using the ceramic member, and a manufacturing method of the ceramic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nakamura, Kohei Suzuki, Shinya Miyaji, Shinji Saito
  • Patent number: 9227377
    Abstract: A one-piece plastics material mesh structure, particularly a geogrid, is produced by stretching a plastics sheet starting material formed with an array of holes and comprises a plurality of generally parallel rib structures extending longitudinally in a first direction parallel to the stretch direction and a plurality of generally parallel bar structures extending in a second direction transverse to the rib structures. The rib structures and said bar structures are interconnected by junctions. The rib structures have rib segments oriented in the first direction along their lengths and orientation in this direction extends across the junctions connecting two such oriented rib segments. The bar structures are such that their overall stretch ratio in the second direction is a maximum of 1 and all locations along the length of the bar structures have a maximum orientation of 1.5 in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TENSAR TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Anthony Thomas Walsh
  • Patent number: 9216774
    Abstract: A reinforcement includes a material layer disposed on a carrier that includes integrally formed support features, such as ribs, holes, pins, or a combination thereof, and/or a connector pin that deforms to secure the material layer to the carrier. The support features reduce the weak interface between the material layer and the carrier by improving bonding of the material layer to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sika Technology AG
    Inventors: Vincent Belpaire, Nicolas Brichet
  • Patent number: 9206309
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a composition, system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, and/or user interface adapted for, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise, after removing a cast device from a stack-lamination-derived mold, said cast device formed from a molding composition, applying a desired shape to said cast device to form a shaped cast device, said molding composition comprising: a ceramic composition comprising silica; an cycloaliphatic epoxy binder composition, said cycloaliphatic epoxy binder composition present in said molding composition in an amount up to 30% by weight of said molding composition; a silicone composition comprising a siloxane resin, said silicone composition present in said molding composition in an amount up to 30% by weight of said molding composition; and a solvent composition adapted to dissolve said cycloaliphatic epoxy binder composition and said silicone composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Mikro Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Appleby, Iain Fraser, John Paulus
  • Patent number: 9204679
    Abstract: Provided is a protective insert to be received into a pocket of a protective athletic headwear. The protective insert includes an outer layer, at least one pliable middle layer, and a pliable inner layer. The outer layer includes an arrangement of first openings that extend at least partially through the outer layer. The at least one pliable middle layer has at least one arrangement of openings that extend at least partially through the at least one pliable middle layer. The outer layer, the at least one pliable middle layer and the pliable inner layer are sealed such that the openings form sealed air pockets in the at least one first pliable middle layer between the outer layer and the pliable inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Robert E. Cleva
  • Patent number: 9205593
    Abstract: Active texturing systems adapted for selectively and reversibly modifying the texture of a surface utilizing a variably foldable structure in communication with the surface, and active material actuation to enable and/or cause folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Keefe, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Christopher P. Henry, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9193131
    Abstract: A thermal shield material comprises a laminate of a homogeneously blended fiber mat of fiberglass, polyester and bi-component polyester, a plurality of tufts disposed on only one side of the laminate mat, the tufts formed by needling the laminate mat from a single side, first and second pressure sensitive adhesive layers disposed on first and second sides of the blended fiber mat, a foil layer on at least one of the first and second pressure sensitive adhesive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CTA Acoustics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Jose Guzman, Matthew Bargo, II, Demetrio Bellocido Borja, James Joseph Pike
  • Patent number: 9175427
    Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis and systems and methods for making the prosthesis are provided. In one example, a patterned graft material for a prosthesis includes a network of electrospun fibers. The network of electrospun fibers may include a plurality of continuous electrospun fibers. The fibers may be collected on a collector plate using an electrospinning process to form the network of fibers. The patterned graft material also may include a plurality of openings in the network of electrospun fibers. The plurality of openings may be arranged in a pattern. The network of electrospun fibers may include a plurality of edges, each surrounding a corresponding one of the plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of edges may include at least one electrospun fiber of the network of electrospun fibers. A majority of the electrospun fibers of the plurality of edges may be continuous at the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Haselby, Keith R. Milner, Sara M. Sherman, Seoggwan Kim, Richard A. Swift
  • Patent number: 9163397
    Abstract: An insulated exterior wall assembly combining insulating material and reflective surface insulation coupled with an air gap. A wall assembly according to this invention includes wall support studs defining insulation cavities between them, sheathing boards facing the building exterior, an insulating material such as cellular plastic material or fibrous insulation applied from the exterior sheathing partly through the depth of the insulation cavities, a foil-backed gypsum-containing wallboard applied to the interior facing portions of the studs, with an air gap between the foil backing of the wallboards and the surface of the foam along the depth of the studs. The wall assembly according to this invention provides comparable thermal resistance compared to a deep layer of insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: National Gypsum Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer M. Willson, David W. Yarbrough, John Wade Mixson
  • Patent number: 9146897
    Abstract: A Thumbtrap is an ipad accessory, that enhances individual and multi-player game play. It is a non-permanent, reusable vinyl cling that sticks to the smooth glass screen of the ipad without use of adhesives. When placed over an onscreen game control button, a Thumbtrap acts like a small fence that prevents the thumb drift that inevitably occurs during intense game play, and guides the thumb into specified zones over an onscreen button for better button contact accuracy. Thumbtraps can be used with several existing ipad games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventor: John William Picha
  • Patent number: 9119476
    Abstract: A system for removing moisture from a user's skin includes a casing having a first portion made of a material including hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers configured to convey a liquid and/or vapor from outside to inside. The first portion configured to contact, or be near, a user's body part. The casing includes a second portion not configured to contact the body part, and at a third portion joining the first and second portions. The second and/or third portions are made of material configured to convey a liquid and/or vapor from inside to outside the casing. Padding, enclosed between the first and second portions, has a porous structure enabling the inside to be ventilated by vapor exiting the casing by contraction of a volume of the padding causing air to enter the casing by expansion in the volume of the padding. The porous structure has a resiliently compressible variable volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SYNERGY BUSINESS & FINANZA SOCIETA′ A RESPONSABILITA′ LIMITATA
    Inventor: Gabriele Zecca
  • Patent number: 9114423
    Abstract: Technologies described herein are generally related to repairing graphene on a porous support. In some examples, a method is described that may include receiving a graphene layer on a support. The graphene layer may include a hole and a pore. The method may further include applying a first reactive material to a first side of the graphene layer. The first reactive material may include molecules larger than the pore. A second reactive material may be applied through the support to a second side of the graphene layer. The second reactive material may include molecules larger than the pore. The first and second reactive materials may react in the hole to produce a plug in the hole and to repair the graphene layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Seth Adrian Miller, Gary L. Duerksen
  • Patent number: 9096012
    Abstract: Active texturing systems adapted for selectively and reversibly modifying the texture of a surface utilizing a plurality of discrete mechanisms in communication with the reconfigurable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Keefe, Christopher P. Henry, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9096031
    Abstract: A thermally broken hollow polycarbonate sheet or vessel for day-lighting or sky-lighting applications. The hollow polycarbonate sheet comprises of an internal cavity walls that are thermally broken by thermal breaks and, or, a continuous thermal break component. The hollow polycarbonate sheet is a two sheet component. The two sheets are connected by means of the thermal break or breaks. In another embodiment of the invention, the hollow sheet is a one part sheet. Panels can be connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Robert James Showers
  • Patent number: 9079653
    Abstract: In the case of a fiber composite component for energy absorption in the event of a crash for an aircraft or spacecraft, the fiber composite component is formed as a laminate construction made of CFRP layers and at least one integrated metal foil portion which is corrosion-resistant with respect to the CFRP layers. A fuselage structure portion of an aircraft or spacecraft is formed using at least one fiber composite component of this type. An aircraft or spacecraft comprises a fuselage structure portion of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Tacke, Thorsten Roming
  • Patent number: 9056446
    Abstract: An absorbent food pad having an active agent positioned selectively in a pad architecture to provide superior performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Paper-Pak Industries
    Inventors: Sayandro Versteylen, Richard Beu, Lindsay A. Riehle
  • Patent number: 9056442
    Abstract: A ceramic multilayer substrate includes a ceramic substrate including a plurality of ceramic layers and electrodes (surface electrodes and internal electrodes) disposed on or in the ceramic layers, which are stacked on each other. A recessed portion is defined on a principal surface of any of the ceramic layers by the electrode and the surrounding ceramic layer. The electrodes (surface electrodes and internal electrodes) are buried or embedded in the ceramic layers. A peripheral portion of the surface electrode is preferably covered with a covering ceramic layer so as to prevent short-circuiting between adjacent electrodes even if surface electrodes and internal electrodes are disposed at narrow intervals and at high density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihito Otsubo