Patents by Inventor Kenneth Neri

Kenneth Neri 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: 7563341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for thermally printing a pre-selected dye image (45) onto a three dimensional object (16). The method involves placing an image carrier sheet (24) containing a pre-selected dye image (45) over the object (16). A flexible membrane (26) is lowered over the object (16) and the image carrier sheet (24). A vacuum is established under the membrane (26) causing the image carrier sheet (24) to conform to the shape of the object (16). The membrane (26) or image carrier sheet (24) carry flexible heating elements (36), which are heated, to thermally transfer the dye image (45) onto the object (16). The flexible heating elements (36) can be made by etching an electrical circuit in a metal foil (34) which is bonded to a film substrate (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Key-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Ferguson, Paul Geoffrey Newton, Kenneth Neri
  • Patent number: 7267737
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying preselected dye images to three dimensional objects, having plastic outer surfaces, utilizing flexible carrier sheets bearing dyes in the mirror images of the preselected images, where the sheets are overlaid in registration with the objects and maintained in pressurized engagement therewith while the sheets and the objects are heated. The present invention includes a bed for receiving at least one three-dimensional object member thereon with a flexible dye bearing carrier sheet placed in registration on the object and a resiliently flexible membrane, which is positionable over the sheet on the member. A vacuum assembly of the apparatus is operable to evacuate the area between the membrane and the bed in order to draw the membrane into pressurized engagement with the flexible sheet on the member thereby drawing the flexible sheet around the various surfaces of the three dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Key-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Neri, Rudolph Mutter
  • Patent number: 7137426
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying preselected dye images to three dimensional objects, having plastic outer surfaces, utilizing flexible carrier sheets bearing dyes in the mirror images of the preselected images, where the sheets are overlaid in registration with the objects and maintained in pressurized engagement therewith while the sheets and the objects are heated. The present invention includes a bed for receiving at least one three-dimensional object member thereon with a flexible dye bearing carrier sheet placed in registration on the object and a resiliently flexible membrane, which is positionable over the sheet on the member. A vacuum assembly of the apparatus is operable to evacuate the area between the membrane and the bed in order to draw the membrane into pressurized engagement with the flexible sheet on the member thereby drawing the flexible sheet around the various surfaces of the three dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Key-Tech Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Neri, Rudolph Mutter
  • Publication number: 20060137811
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying preselected dye images to three dimensional objects, having plastic outer surfaces, utilizing flexible carrier sheets bearing dyes in the mirror images of the preselected images, where the sheets are overlaid in registration with the objects and maintained in pressurized engagement therewith while the sheets and the objects are heated. The present invention includes a bed for receiving at least one three-dimensional object member thereon with a flexible dye bearing carrier sheet placed in registration on the object and a resiliently flexible membrane, which is positionable over the sheet on the member. A vacuum assembly of the apparatus is operable to evacuate the area between the membrane and the bed in order to draw the membrane into pressurized engagement with the flexible sheet on the member thereby drawing the flexible sheet around the various surfaces of the three dimensional object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: KEY-TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Neri, Rudolph Mutter
  • Publication number: 20040112500
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for thermally printing a pre-selected dye image onto a three dimensional object using an improved dye carrier sheet comprising a film substrate coated with a dye-receptive layer. The dye carrier sheet has high shrink-force, tensile strength, melt strength, and infrared (IR) absorption properties, and can conform tightly to the object. The film substrate is made from an ionomer copolymer of: i) &agr;-olefins of the formula R—CH═CH2, wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, ii) &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and iii) optionally an additional monoethylenically unsaturated comonomer compound, wherein 10% to 90% of the carboxylic acid functional groups are ionized by neutralization via metallic ions distributed over the copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Key-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Ferguson, Kenneth Neri
  • Publication number: 20020131062
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying preselected dye images to three dimensional objects, having plastic outer surfaces, utilizing flexible carrier sheets bearing dyes in the mirror images of the preselected images, where the sheets are overlaid in registration with the objects and maintained in pressurized engagement therewith while the sheets and the objects are heated. The present invention includes a bed for receiving at least one three-dimensional object member thereon with a flexible dye bearing carrier sheet placed in registration on the object and a resiliently flexible membrane, which is positionable over the sheet on the member. A vacuum assembly of the apparatus is operable to evacuate the area between the membrane and the bed in order to draw the membrane into pressurized engagement with the flexible sheet on the member thereby drawing the flexible sheet around the various surfaces of the three dimensional object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth Neri, Rudolph Mutter