Patents by Inventor John M. Hepfinger

John M. Hepfinger 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: 10283953
    Abstract: A method of producing a divided conduit containing, in order forming a strip-shaped textile having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, extruding a molten thermoplastic polymer into the form of an at least partially molten conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface, and placing at least one strip-shaped substrate within the at least partially molten conduit during or directly after conduit formation such that the first longitudinal and second longitudinal edges of the strip-shaped substrate embed into the inner surface of the conduit. The strip-shaped textile is selected from the group consisting of a woven, non-woven, and knit and the strip-shaped textile is air permeable. The inner surface and outer surface of the conduit is continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Bernhard Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20170225377
    Abstract: A method of producing a divided conduit containing, in order forming a strip-shaped textile having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, extruding a molten thermoplastic polymer into the form of an at least partially molten conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface, and placing at least one strip-shaped substrate within the at least partially molten conduit during or directly after conduit formation such that the first longitudinal and second longitudinal edges of the strip-shaped substrate embed into the inner surface of the conduit. The strip-shaped textile is selected from the group consisting of a woven, non-woven, and knit and the strip-shaped textile is air permeable. The inner surface and outer surface of the conduit is continuous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Bernhard Zeiler
  • Patent number: 9673603
    Abstract: A divided conduit containing a thermoplastic conduit and at least one strip-shaped film having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge which are embedded into the inner surface of the conduit forming at least two flexible, longitudinal channels for enveloping cables or other elongated structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Bernhard Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20150249330
    Abstract: A divided conduit containing a thermoplastic conduit and at least one strip-shaped film having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge which are embedded into the inner surface of the conduit forming at least two flexible, longitudinal channels for enveloping cables or other elongated structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Bernhard Zeiler
  • Patent number: 9061448
    Abstract: A method of producing a divided conduit comprising forming a strip-shaped substrate having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The strip-shaped substrate is a strip-shaped textile or a strip-shaped film. Then extruding a molten thermoplastic into the form of a conduit and placing the one strip-shaped substrate within the extruded conduit during or directly after conduit formation. The first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the strip-shaped substrate adhere to or embed into the inner surface of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Bernhard Zeiler
  • Patent number: 8809682
    Abstract: A divided conduit containing a thermoplastic conduit and at least one strip-shaped textile. The strip-shaped substrate may be a strip-shaped textile or a strip-shaped film and has a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge which are adhered to or embedded into the inner surface of the conduit forming at least two flexible, longitudinal channels for enveloping cables or other elongated structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Bernhard Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20120261062
    Abstract: A method of producing a divided conduit comprising forming a strip-shaped substrate having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The strip-shaped substrate is a strip-shaped textile or a strip-shaped film. Then extruding a molten thermoplastic into the form of a conduit and placing the one strip-shaped substrate within the extruded conduit during or directly after conduit formation. The first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the strip-shaped substrate adhere to or embed into the inner surface of the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Bernhard Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20120261157
    Abstract: A divided conduit containing a thermoplastic conduit and at least one strip-shaped textile. The strip-shaped substrate may be a strip-shaped textile or a strip-shaped film and has a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge which are adhered to or embedded into the inner surface of the conduit forming at least two flexible, longitudinal channels for enveloping cables or other elongated structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Bernhard Zeiler
  • Patent number: 6528437
    Abstract: The present invention is a durable composite consisting of a polyester knitted fabric and an extruded film that are heat laminated together without the use of additional adhesive. The open-mesh structure of the fabric, when combined with the film, results in improved sound dissipation for the composite as compared with conventional textile headliners. Because both the fabric and the film components have flame retardant constituents, the resulting composite is capable of meeting even the most stringent of flammability requirements. An optional backing layer may be added to the film layer to create a three-layer composite, which may be suited for certain applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: John M. Hepfinger, Earle Wolynes, Keith M. Blackwell
  • Patent number: 5916273
    Abstract: A warp-knitted fabric of at least three-bar construction, which is comprised of multifilament synthetic pile yarns on the technical back which are raised or broken to produce a plush surface and monofilament synthetic ground yarns on the technical face, the pile yarns being comprised of microdenier filaments having a denier no greater than 1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: John M. Hepfinger