Patents by Inventor John Fitch

John Fitch 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: 20050134153
    Abstract: A multi-electrode piezoelectric diaphragm structure includes a diaphragm, piezoelectric material located on the diaphragm, which is defined as having a first area, and a second area. The first area of the piezoelectric is poled in a first direction, and the second area of the piezoelectric is poled in a second direction. The poled first direction is in a Z-axis of the piezoelectric and the poled second direction is in a Radial axis of the piezoelectric. A first electrode is positioned in the first area, on the first surface, of the piezoelectric. A second electrode is positioned in the second area, on the first surface, of the piezoelectric. A third electrode is located on a second surface of the piezoelectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: John Bachellerie, Steven Buhler, John Fitch, Meng Lean, Karl Littau
  • Publication number: 20050134152
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present application, a piezoelectric diaphragm structure includes a diaphragm, with a piezoelectric material located on the diaphragm. The piezoelectric material is being poled in a radial direction to the piezoelectric material, wherein the poling direction is in-plane with the piezoelectric material. An inter-digitated electrode grid is positioned on a first surface of the piezoelectric material, the inter-digitated electrode grid including a plurality of electrodes configured to selectively receive positive and negative voltage. The application of the positive and negative voltages generate electric fields in the piezoelectric material, at least a portion of which are in-plane with the piezoelectric material, resulting in an actuation of the piezoelectric material, causing a length change of the piezoelectric material in the Radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Meng Lean, Steven Buhler, John Fitch, Karl Littau
  • Publication number: 20050134148
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, an energy generation device is provided. A base is fixedly secured to a source of mechanical energy of an oscillatory nature. At least one mass is movably suspended relative to the base. First and second members movably suspend the at least one mass relative to the base. The first and second flexible members convert mechanical energy from oscillations emitted by the source of mechanical energy into electrical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Steven Buhler, John Fitch, Eric Shrader
  • Publication number: 20050134144
    Abstract: A circuit provides energy to a plurality of piezoelectric diaphragm structures formed in a two-dimensional array. Each piezoelectric diaphragm structure includes a piezoelectric element in operational contact with at least a first side electrode and a second side electrode. A switching system includes a first connection for a first power source, for application of power to the first side electrode and a second connection for a second power source, for application of power to the second side electrode. In a first state, power appropriate for performing a poling operation of the piezoelectric material is available for application to the first electrode, and the second electrode, and in a second state, power appropriate to activate the piezoelectric material to cause operational movement of the poled piezoelectric diaphragm structure is available for application to the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Steven Buhler, John Fitch, Meng Lean, Karl Littau
  • Publication number: 20050104479
    Abstract: A piezoelectric thick film element array includes at least one piezoelectric element structure having a thickness between 10 ?m to 100 ?m formed by a deposition process. The at least one piezoelectric element is patterned during the deposition process, and includes a first electrode deposited on a first surface of the piezoelectric elements structure, and a second electrode deposited on a second surface of the piezoelectric element structure. In a further embodiment, several devices are provided using a piezoelectric element or an array having a piezoelectric element structure with a thickness of between 10 ?m to 100 ?m formed by a deposition process. These devices include microfluidic ejectors, transducer arrays and catheters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Baomin Xu, Steven Buhler, Michael Welsberg, William Wong, Scott Solberg, Karl Littau, John Fitch, Scott Elrod
  • Patent number: 6824885
    Abstract: Recycleable releasing polyethylene terephthalate film coated with a coating of polyethylene emulsion, polyurethane dispersion, or a mixture of the two, with an acrylic or polyester cobinder, which film is uniaxially oriented and thereafter coated with the coating and oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of the film's uniaxial orientation to generate a biaxially oriented film having a uniaxially oriented coating and a method of making the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: John Fitch, Steven J. Sargeant
  • Publication number: 20040229033
    Abstract: A directly embossable, coated polyethyleneterephthalate film including a dry, uniaxially oriented PET film, and a coating applied to the PET film, wherein the coating and the PET film have as a composite been transversely stretched, the coating resin being capable of impregnating the PET surface on drawing, rendering the film surface susceptible to embossing under pressure and the coating having low heat sealability and a method of producing a coated, directly embossable polyethyleneterephthalate film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: Toray Plastics (America), Inc. a corporation of Rhode Island
    Inventors: John Fitch, Jan Moritz, Gianfranco Chicarella, Yuji Shimizu, Yasuo Nishigaka, Bonnie Adams, Michael G. Fatica, Steven J. Sargeant
  • Patent number: 6761958
    Abstract: A directly embossable, coated polyethyleneterephthalate film including a dry, uniaxially oriented PET film, and a coating applied to the PET film, wherein the coating and the PET film have as a composite been transversely stretched, the coating resin being capable of impregnating the PET surface on drawing, rendering the film surface susceptible to embossing under pressure and the coating having low heat sealability and a method of producing a coated, directly embossable polyethyleneterephthalate film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: John Fitch, Jan Moritz, Gianfranco Chicarella, Jr., Yuji Shimizu, Yasuo Nishigaki, Bonnie Adams, Michael G. Fatica, Steven J. Sargeant
  • Patent number: 6737170
    Abstract: A directly embossable, coated polyethyleneterephthalate film including a dry, uniaxially oriented PET film, and a coating applied to the PET film, wherein the coating and the PET film have as a composite been transversely stretched, the film being coated from an aqueous solution at a thickness of about 0.1 &mgr;m-about 0.4 &mgr;m with a non-crosslinked polystyrene-acrylic emulsion and non-crosslinked polyester dispersion, the Tg of the coating resin being greater than about 20° C. and less than about 70° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: John Fitch, Jan Moritz, Steven J. Sargeant, Yuji Shimizu, Yasuo Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 6660397
    Abstract: An abrasion resistant coated film including a polyester film coated with a highly crosslinkable melamine coating with a crosslinking density of greater than about 50% and less than about 100%, wherein the coating is cured after transverse stretching and heat setting the film, a melamine coating having a crosslinking density between about 50% and about 100% containing between about 0.01% by weight and about 1.0% by weight of a colloidal particle selected from the group consisting of silica, TiO2, graphite and blends thereof, and a method of producing an abrasion resistant coated film including stretching a polyester film in the machine direction to form a uniaxially oriented film, applying a coating of highly crosslinkable melamine with a crosslinking density between about 50% and about 100% onto the uniaxially oriented film, heating and stretching the coated film in the transverse direction and curing the coating on the coated film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: John Fitch, Steven J. Sargeant
  • Patent number: 6652961
    Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film with a substantially non-crosslinked polymeric coating containing styrene and acrylate, wherein the coating is highly thermally stable with a primary onset temperature of greater than about 350C, having a glass transition temperature between about 0C and about 50C, having a solubility in a low molecular weight organic solvent, and having a surface energy of greater than about 35 dyne/cm and less than about 40 dyne/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Sargeant, Yasushi Takada, Masaaki Sudo, John Fitch
  • Publication number: 20030162043
    Abstract: An abrasion resistant coated film including a polyester film coated with a highly crosslinkable melamine coating with a crosslinking density of greater than about 50% and less than about 100%, wherein the coating is cured after transverse stretching and heat setting the film, a melamine coating having a crosslinking density between about 50% and about 100% containing between about 0.01% by weight and about 1.0% by weight of a colloidal particle selected from the group consisting of silica, TiO2, graphite and blends thereof, and a method of producing an abrasion resistant coated film including stretching a polyester film in the machine direction to form a uniaxially oriented film, applying a coating of highly crosslinkable melamine with a crosslinking density between about 50% and about 100% onto the uniaxially oriented film, heating and stretching the coated film in the transverse direction and curing the coating on the coated film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: John Fitch, Steven J. Sargeant
  • Publication number: 20030148127
    Abstract: Recycleable releasing polyethylene terephthalate film coated with a coating of polyethylene emulsion, polyurethane dispersion, or a mixture of the two, with an acrylic or polyester cobinder, which film is uniaxially oriented and thereafter coated with the coating and oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of the film's uniaxial orientation to generate a biaxially oriented film having a uniaxially oriented coating and a method of making the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: John Fitch, Steven J. Sargeant
  • Publication number: 20030108756
    Abstract: A directly embossable, coated polyethyleneterephthalate film including a dry, uniaxially oriented PET film, and a coating applied to the PET film, wherein the coating and the PET film have as a composite been transversely stretched, the coating resin being capable of impregnating the PET surface on drawing, rendering the film surface susceptible to embossing under pressure and the coating having low heat sealability and a method of producing a coated, directly embossable polyethyleneterephthalate film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: John Fitch, Jan Moritz, Gianfranco Chicarella, Yuji Shimizu, Yasuo Nishigaki, Bonnie Adams, Michael G. Fatica, Steven J. Sargeant
  • Publication number: 20030099825
    Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film with a substantially non-crosslinked polymeric coating containing styrene and acrylate, wherein the coating is highly thermally stable with a primary onset temperature of greater than about 350C., having a glass transition temperature between about 0C. and about 50C., having a solubility in a low molecular weight organic solvent, and having a surface energy of greater than about 35 dyne/cm and less than about 40 dyne/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Sargeant, Yasushi Takada, Masaaki Sudo, John Fitch
  • Publication number: 20030077467
    Abstract: A directly embossable, coated polyethyleneterephthalate film including a dry, uniaxially oriented PET film, and a coating applied to the PET film, wherein the coating and the PET film have as a composite been transversely stretched, the film being coated from an aqueous solution at a thickness of about 0.1 &mgr;m-about 0.4 &mgr;m with a non-crosslinked polystyrene-acrylic emulsion and non-crosslinked polyester dispersion, the Tg of the coating resin being greater than about 20° C. and less than about 70° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: John Fitch, Jan Moritz, Steven J. Sargeant, Yuji Shimizu, Yasuo Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 6511740
    Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film with a substantially non-crosslinked polymeric coating consisting essentially of a styrene/acrylate copolymer emulsion, wherein the coating is highly thermally stable with a primary onset temperature of greater than about 350° C., having a glass transition temperature between about 0° C. and about 50° C., having a rapid solubility in a low molecular weight organic solvent, and having a surface energy of greater than about 35 dyne/cm and less than about 40 dyne/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Sargeant, Yasushi Takada, Masaaki Sudo, John Fitch
  • Publication number: 20020106505
    Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film with a substantially non-crosslinked polymeric coating consisting of a styrene/acrylate copolymer emulsion, wherein the coating is highly thermally stable with a primary onset temperature of greater than about 350° C., having a glass transition temperature between about 0° C. and about 50° C., having a rapid solubility in a low molecular weight organic solvent, and having a surface energy of greater than about 35 dyne/cm and less than about 40 dyne/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Steven J. Sargeant, Yasushi Takada, Masaaki Sudo, John Fitch
  • Patent number: 4988021
    Abstract: A collapsible clothes hanger molded in one piece of a flexible material has a pair of hanger arms which are moved from a collapsed position to an extended position by one hand exerting s squeezing force on the flexible connections between the pair of hanger arms and a pair of flexible links that extend between the hanger arms and a center support member. The bendable links, whose motion is restricted by the center support member, fold upon themselves and draw the hanger arms upward into the extended position. The squeezing force which moves the hanger arms into the extended position lies in a horizontal plane so that the hand of the user can remain in a natural position during extension of the arms to a desired garment-supporting position. The hanger of a preferred embodiment is automatically locked in the extended position once this position is reached. The lock is released by again a single hand exerting a squeezing force, also in a horizontal plane, so that the hanger arms may move the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Michael E. Adams
    Inventors: Michael E. Adams, John Fitch