Patents by Inventor Eric J. Woelfle

Eric J. Woelfle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8128224
    Abstract: A flat or curved photochromic laminate structure and a plastic photochromic lens blank can be produced in a simple and efficient manner from relatively low-cost polymeric sheet materials. These laminates can be used to provide goggles, face shields, windows, window coverings, skylights, and optical lenses having efficient, uniform and high quality photochromic properties. The use of a polyesterurethane as the binder for the photochromic material has been found to improve the performance of the photochromic material. There may be a desire to have a protective exterior layer (e.g., an abrasion resistant layer) in combination with the lens system, but that may be provided in various methods. In the case of using the laminate in a goggle application, the laminate may be hard coated on one or both outer surfaces with an abrasion resistant coating, antireflective coating, and/or an anti-fog hard coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Insight Equity A.P.X, LP
    Inventors: Alan D. Maki, Eric J. Woelfle, Darrell B. Kroulik, Thomas J. Moravec, Edward A. Travnicek, Martin L. Hage
  • Patent number: 7377639
    Abstract: A functional wafer of the present invention is disclosed to solve manufacturing difficulties involved in the production of optical elements such as polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses. The functional wafer may include a front layer, a functional layer, and a back layer, whereas the front layer and the back layer are bonded to the functional layer with or without additional adhesive. Said functional layer is smaller than at least the front layer by about 0.5 mm to 5 mm along the perimeter edge. A functional wafer of this construction can be conveniently and effectively incorporated into a lens through an insert injection molding process, in which said back layer will be in contact with the lens material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Insight Equity A.P. X, LP
    Inventors: Michael S. Boulineau, Eric J. Woelfle, Xuzhi Qin, Hideyo Sugimura, Derek Harris
  • Patent number: 7077985
    Abstract: A flat or curved photochromic laminate structure and a plastic photochromic lens blank can be produced in a simple and efficient manner from relatively low-cost polymeric sheet materials. These laminates can be used to provide goggles, face shields, windows, window coverings, skylights, and optical lenses having efficient, uniform and high quality photochromic properties. The use of a polyesterurethane as the binder for the photochromic material has been found to improve the performance of the photochromic material. There may be a desire to have a protective exterior layer (e.g., an abrasion resistant layer) in combination with the lens system, but that may be provided in various methods. In the case of using the laminate in a goggle application, the laminate may be hard coated on one or both outer surfaces with an abrasion resistant coating, antireflective coating, and/or an anti-fog hard coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Vision-Ease Lens
    Inventors: Alan D. Maki, Eric J. Woelfle, Darrell B. Kroulik, Thomas J. Moravec, Edward A. Travnicek, Martin L. Hage
  • Patent number: 7036932
    Abstract: A functional wafer of the present invention is disclosed to solve manufacturing difficulties involved in the production of optical elements such as polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses. The functional wafer may include a front layer, a functional layer, and a back layer, whereas the front layer and the back layer are bonded to the functional layer with or without additional adhesive. Said functional layer is smaller than at least the front layer by about 0.5 mm to 5 mm along the perimeter edge. A functional wafer of this construction can be conveniently and effectively incorporated into a lens through an insert injection molding process, in which said back layer will be in contact with the lens material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Vision-Ease Lens
    Inventors: Michael S. Boulineau, Eric J. Woelfle, Xuzhi Qin, Hideyo Sugimura, Derek Harris
  • Publication number: 20040125337
    Abstract: A functional wafer of the present invention is disclosed to solve manufacturing difficulties involved in the production of optical elements such as polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses. The functional wafer may include a front layer, a functional layer, and a back layer, whereas the front layer and the back layer are bonded to the functional layer with or without additional adhesive. Said functional layer is smaller than at least the front layer by about 0.5 mm to 5 mm along the perimeter edge. A functional wafer of this construction can be conveniently and effectively incorporated into a lens through an insert injection molding process, in which said back layer will be in contact with the lens material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Vision-Ease
    Inventors: Michael S. Boulineau, Eric J. Woelfle, Xuzhi Qin, Hideyo Sugimura, Derek Harris
  • Publication number: 20030214080
    Abstract: A flat or curved photochromic laminate structure and a plastic photochromic lens blank can be produced in a simple and efficient manner from relatively low-cost polymeric sheet materials. These laminates can be used to provide goggles, face shields, windows, window coverings, skylights, and optical lenses having efficient, uniform and high quality photochromic properties. The use of a polyesterurethane as the binder for the photochromic material has been found to improve the performance of the photochromic material. There may be a desire to have a protective exterior layer (e.g., an abrasion resistant layer) in combination with the lens system, but that may be provided in various methods. In the case of using the laminate in a goggle application, the laminate may be hard coated on one or both outer surfaces with an abrasion resistant coating, antireflective coating, and/or an anti-fog hard coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: BMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Maki, Eric J. Woelfle, Darrell B. Kroulik, Thomas J. Moravec, Edward A. Travnicek, Martin L. Hage