Patents by Inventor Fred M. Shofner

Fred M. Shofner 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).

  • Apparatus and methods for testing tension-elongation or cross-sectional properties of single fibers and multiple fiber bundles
    Patent number: 5203206
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing fibers includes a single fiber preparation and separation device for separating fibers from a sample of multiple fibers and producing an output of single fibers. A fiber transport means, preferably an air conduit, receives the single fibers and transports them to a removed location where at least one fiber is sampled from the transport means. In the preferred embodiment, the sampler is a hook that is inserted into, and removed from, an air conduit to hook and remove single fibers carried in a stream of air inside the air conduit. A testing apparatus associated with the sampler then determines at least one characteristic of the sampled fiber, such as strength, tension as a function of elongation, or cross sectional characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Zellweger Uster, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred M. Shofner, Youe-T Chu, Christopher K. Shofner, Mark G. Townes, Joseph C. Baldwin, David B. Patelke