Patents by Inventor John A. Gardner, Jr.

John A. Gardner, Jr. 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).

  • Publication number: 20240246332
    Abstract: An embossing device and method, which can produce traditional braille cells and crisp, well-defined, raised images of graphical subjects is disclosed. Embossing of sheet material is accomplished using punches which have embossing faces shaped to mate with recessed areas on the surface of a platen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: ViewPlus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. GARDNER, JR., Daniel Taylor GARDNER
  • Publication number: 20150332607
    Abstract: A system for producing tactile images from a drawing or graphics file includes an image scanner or input device for importing and creating a digital file, which may be operated upon by software in a computer. The software has edge detection and color detection functions that may be adjusted to create an image file that may be provided to an embossing machine, which in turn prints a tactile image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: VIEWPLUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John A. Gardner, JR., Christian Heinrich Otto Herden
  • Patent number: 7247382
    Abstract: An article including a panel structure mountable in an automobile vehicle to form a part of the vehicle interior thereof, and a process for making the same are disclosed. According to this process, an outer layer defining at least a portion of the exposed exterior surface of the structure is prepared by applying a first composition containing a thermoplastic polyurethane and a heat-activated crosslinking agent onto a mold surface and thereafter drying the composition. Next, a second composition comprising (i) a poly(vinyl chloride) resin and at least one plasticizer and/or (ii) a thermoplastic polyurethane resin material is gelled onto an inner surface of the outer layer while on the outer layer is retained on the mold surface. The gelled composition is then fused to form an inner layer interfacially chemically bonded to the outer layer. The layered composite structure is united with the reinforcing substrate so that the reinforcing substrate serves to reinforce the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Magna Interior Systems Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Gardner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6958190
    Abstract: An article including a panel structure mountable in an automobile vehicle to form a part of the vehicle interior thereof, and a process for making the same are disclosed. According to this process, an outer layer defining at least a portion of the exposed exterior surface of the structure is prepared by applying a water-dispersed composition containing a thermoplastic polyurethane and a heat-activated crosslinking agent onto a mold surface and thereafter drying the composition. Next, a composition comprising (i) a poly(vinyl chloride) resin and at least one plasticizer and/or (ii) a thermoplastic polyurethane resin material is gelled onto an inner surface of the outer layer while on the outer layer is retained on the mold surface. The gelled composition is then fused to form an inner layer interfacially chemically bonded to the outer layer. The layered composite structure is united with the reinforcing substrate so that the reinforcing substrate serves to reinforce the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Magna Interior Systems Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Gardner Jr.
  • Patent number: 6753057
    Abstract: A panel structure is mountable in a vehicle to form a part of the interior thereof in concealing relation to a secondary restraint system. The novel panel structure of this invention includes a layered composite structure and a reinforcing substrate having a door structure movable through the layered composite structure upon the operation of the secondary restraint system. The layered composite structure includes an outer layer and an inner layer adhered to the outer layer, the inner layer including a seam-defining structure. In one embodiment, the seam-defining structure is a narrow elongated structure configured to define an exteriorly invisible tear seam generally corresponding with portions of an outline of the door structure, and the inner layer has a reduced thickness portion along the exteriorly invisible tear seam by virtue of the presence of the narrow elongated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Magna Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Gardner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6656596
    Abstract: An article including a panel-like structure mountable in an automobile vehicle to form a part of the interior thereof, and a process for making the same are disclosed. According to this process, an outer layer defining at least a portion of the exposed exterior surface of the structure is prepared by applying a water-dispersed composition containing a thermoplastic polyurethane and a heat-activated crosslinking agent onto a mold surface and thereafter drying the composition. Next, a composition comprising (i) a poly(vinyl chloride) resin and at least one plasticizer and/or (ii) a thermoplastic polyurethane resin material is gelled onto an inner surface of the outer layer while on the outer layer is retained on the mold surface. The gelled composition is then fused to form an inner layer interfacially chemically bonded to the outer layer. The inner layer with the outer layer chemically bonded thereto is united with the rigid substrate so that the rigid substrate serves to reinforce the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Magna Interior Systems Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Gardner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6210614
    Abstract: An article including a panel-like structure mountable in an automobile vehicle to form a part of the interior thereof and conceal a secondary restraint system, and a process for making the same are disclosed. According to this process, an outer layer is established on a first mold surface, with the exterior surface of the outer layer having an opaque visual appearance and a configuration complementary to the first mold surface. A casting composition is then rotationally casted onto an inner surface of the outer layer to create an inner layer of a predetermined thickness while restricting the gel thickness along an elongated structurally weakened tear seam. The casting composition is then fused. The outer layer and inner layer collectively define a layered composite structure, with the outer layer presenting the same opaque visual appearance to the exterior surface thereof unaffected by change in the inner layer thickness so that the structurally weakened tear seam is hidden from view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Atoma International Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Gardner, Jr., Phillip S. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6017617
    Abstract: An article including a panel-like structure constructed to be mounted in an automobile vehicle to form a part of the interior thereof, and a process for making the same. According to this process, an outer layer defining at least a portion of the exposed exterior surface of the structure is prepared by applying a water-dispersed thermoplastic polyurethane composition and a heat-activated reactive crosslinking monomer onto a mold surface and thereafter drying the composition. Next, a rapidly reacting composition is sprayed onto an inner surface of the outer layer while the outer layer is retained on the mold surface to form a polyurethane elastomer inner layer that is interfacially chemical bonded to the outer layer. The inner layer with the outer layer interfacially chemically bonded thereto is then united with the rigid substrate so that the rigid substrate serves to reinforce the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Gardner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6013210
    Abstract: An article including a panel-like structure mountable in an automobile vehicle to form a part of the interior thereof, and a process for making the same are disclosed. According to this process, an outer layer defining at least a portion of the exposed exterior surface of the structure is prepared by applying a water-dispersed composition containing a thermoplastic polyurethane and a heat-activated crosslinking agent onto a mold surface and thereafter drying the composition. Next, a composition comprising (i) a poly(vinyl chloride) resin and at least one plasticizer and/or (ii) a thermoplastic polyurethane resin material is gelled onto an inner surface of the outer layer while on the outer layer is retained on the mold surface. The gelled composition is then fused to form an inner layer interfacially chemically bonded to the outer layer. The inner layer with the outer layer chemically bonded thereto is united with the rigid substrate so that the rigid substrate serves to reinforce the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Magna Interior Systems Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Gardner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5885662
    Abstract: An article including a panel-like structure constructed to be mounted in an automobile vehicle to form a part of the interior thereof, and a process for making the same. According to this process, an outer layer defining at least a portion of the exposed exterior surface of the structure is prepared by applying a water-dispersed thermoplastic polyurethane composition and a heat-activated reactive crosslinking monomer onto a mold surface and thereafter drying the composition. Next, a rapidly reacting composition is sprayed onto an inner surface of the outer layer while the outer layer is retained on the mold surface to form a polyurethane elastomer inner layer that is interfacially chemical bonded to the outer layer. The inner layer with the outer layer interfacially chemically bonded thereto is then united with the rigid substrate so that the rigid substrate serves to reinforce the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Gardner, Jr.