Patents Examined by William Watkins, III
  • Patent number: 5436057
    Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery that the perceived softness of embossed tissue can be increased greatly while avoiding prior art nesting problems if a particular pattern is embossed into the tissue. This pattern combines relatively shallow stitchlike debossments with deeper more sharply defined signature debossments. The stitchlike debossments are rounded and arranged in wavy flowing intersecting lines. The signature debossments are arranged in regions framed by the intersecting wavy flowing lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: James River Corporation
    Inventor: Galyn A. Schulz
  • Patent number: 5387456
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing extruded, optical-quality, transparent panel units having integral flange members for joining to adjacent, similar panel units. The method includes the steps of extruding a substantially flat strip of suitable plastic material, calendering the extruded strip by pulling it in the still hot, pliable state through a calender, at least the central portion of the strip being smoothened to an optical-quality transparency and the marginal portions of the strip being provided with at least one sawtooth-like, continuous projection on at least one face of the marginal portions, controllably heating the strip at a limited zone on the one face to render the zone pliable, using bending rolls to bend the marginal portions at substantially a right angle, so as to turn them into flange members, the inside corners formed by the bending rolls between the central portion and the marginal portions being rounded, and finally, cutting the flanged panels to required length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Dan Pal
    Inventors: Nir Ben-Zvi, Shaul Giovoni
  • Patent number: 5368903
    Abstract: A self-supporting structural element for cladding, decorating, protecting and/or sealing housings or bodywork of vehicles with at least one axial end which is integrally molded without any transition and is made up of a strip or panel-like synthetic plastics body having webs bearing on the housing and which includes an integrated reinforcement of hard material and also softly resilient bearing elements, the reinforcement consisting of narrow strips of metal plate coated with a hard synthetic plastics material and of a mineral fiber reinforced material or a hard synthetic plastics material which on the inside of the webs of the structural element which bear on the housing or the like are connected to these latter in the same substance and which have at least one lip of softly resilient material which bears on the housing or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventor: Lothar Trier
  • Patent number: 5366788
    Abstract: A compact cassette is provided with substantially rectangular plastic support liner(s) between tape roll(s) and cassette wall(s), having at least one longitudinal bend, and the deflections of the support liners in a defined load range should be not more than a factor of 2 greater in the case of exposure to heat at about 85.degree. C. compared with no exposure. Suitable liner materials are those having glass transition temperatures equal to or greater than 85.degree. C., for example consisting of polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyarylether ketones, polyetherimides, and/or blends and/or copolymers thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: BASF Magnetics GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Manzke, Juergen Ahlers
  • Patent number: 5366785
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulosic fibrous structure, particularly a consumer product such as toilet tissue, facial tissue or a paper towel. In a first embodiment, extending outwardly from each face of the cellulosic fibrous structure is a plurality of protuberances. The protuberances extend bilaterally outwardly from the plane of the cellulosic fibrous structure in both directions. The bilaterally extending protuberances increase the caliper and texture of the consumer product embodied in the cellulosic fibrous structure. In a second embodiment, the protuberances extend outwardly, and are induced by fluid embossing, rather than mechanical embossing. Also disclosed is a fluid embossing process for making such cellulosic fibrous structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Albert H. Sawdai
  • Patent number: 5344690
    Abstract: Self-supporting ceramic bodies comprising a polycrystalline material comprising the oxidation reaction product of a parent metal and having therein one or more channels which inversely replicate the geometry of the configured fugitive metal are formed. These self-supporting bodies may be utilized as articles for regulating and facilitating the passage of a fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Lanxide Technology Company, LP
    Inventors: Danny R. White, Michael K. Aghajanian
  • Patent number: 5338595
    Abstract: Retroreflective appliques comprising a monolayer of retroreflective elements partially embedded in and protruding from the front surface of a binder layer and an optional layer of adhesive on the rear surface of the binder layer, wherein the binder layer, the adhesive layer, or both contain a metal-azo dye to camouflage the color of any exposed portions of said binder layer. Appliques comprising micropheres with aluminum reflectors as retroreflective elements and a black metal-azo dye in the binder layer will exhibit a pleasing silver appearance even after portions of the binder layer have been visibly exposed due to degradation of the aluminum reflectors, typically as a result of subjecting the applique to harsh laundering conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Wu-Shyong Li
  • Patent number: 5326617
    Abstract: In order to avoid misfeeds from tray-loaded film, a lateral slit is provided through a backing sheet of composite media in a middle portion of a leader region where the film is adhered on both sides of the lateral slit to the backing sheet, thereby allowing the backing sheet to expand or contract at a different rate than the adjacent film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Wright, John A. Underwood
  • Patent number: 5324565
    Abstract: Accumulated dimensional variations in fuel cells and electrolysis cell assemblies can reduce the efficiency of the assembly and provide leakage paths for fuel and oxidant. An elastomeric compression pad comprised of an oil adsorbent sheet surrounding an elastomeric material with expansion pathways and electrical pathways, that utilize a conductive powder and elastomeric binder compensates for component dimensional variations, improves inter-cell conductivity, and allows high pressure operation up to about 3,000 psig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei Leonida, Lawrence C. Moulthrop
  • Patent number: 5324566
    Abstract: A water- and oil-repelling adsorbing film formed on a material having active hydrogen such as hydroxyl group, imino group and amino group at the surface. This film is a chemically adsorbed film having surface irregularities exceeding 10 nanometers. It is directly or indirectly covalently bonded to the material surface and includes a monomolecular film or a polymer film with the molecules thereof containing a fluorocarbon group and a --Si-- bond. The surface irregularities which exceed the molecular level are at least either those formed on the material surface itself, those due to particles formed on the substrate surface or those due to particles present in the chemically adsorbed film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Ogawa, Mamoru Soga
  • Patent number: 5320893
    Abstract: A method of protecting a metal layer of a solar reflecting coating on a heat-shrinkable substrate, which are components of a prelaminate for a laminated window, from atmospheric corrosion. The prelaminate is cut partially through its thickness adjacent the edge and when the region of the cut is later exposed to elevated temperature, preferably during the laminating process forming the window, the substrate shrinks to create a channel into which flows plasticized polyvinyl butyral (PVB) to block the edge wall of the coating inward of the channel from the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventor: Brett W. Floyd
  • Patent number: 5320895
    Abstract: An absorbent pad for use with meat and poultry products in retail sale packages has a laminated tissue absorbent mat sandwiched and sealed between upper and lower plastic sheets. The pad is perforated by penetration of perforating pins entirely through the pad to develop a series of holes for the passage of liquid from the meat package into the absorbent mat inside the pad. A myriad of outwardly projecting tufts of tissue material are developed along the underside of the pad by the perforating pins. These tufts develop a wicking effect which enhances the capillary action of the tissue layers inside the pad. Methods of fabrication of the individual pads and continuous linear absorbent sheet material are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Paper-Pak Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel M. Larsonneur, Stanley E. Schilcher
  • Patent number: 5316821
    Abstract: A partition plate for multiple-stage adsorption separator includes a planar body member having opposing external surfaces and a peripheral edge with conduits providing fluid communication between the opposing surfaces and different points on the peripheral edge. Each of the opposing surfaces is provided with a peripheral rim and covered with a perforated plate whereby an open chamber is defined between the body member and a perforated plate at each of the external faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignees: NKK Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation
    Inventors: Seiya Otani, Hiroaki Taniguchi, Kei Yokoyama, Yoshimi Shiroto, Mitsunori Shimura, Osamu Akimoto, Masayoshi Notoya