Patents by Inventor Michael J. Mirra

Michael J. Mirra 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: 4599279
    Abstract: A zinc alloy, having a copper layer coated thereon, consists essentially of from about 0.1 to about 0.8 weight percent copper, about 0.01 or more weight percent aluminum; up to about 0.05 weight percent magnesium, the balance being essentially zinc. The copper coated zinc alloy is advantageously employed to produce various cast, extruded, molded articles and the like including trim, fixtures as well as coin blanks. Further, the present invention relates to a metal article comprising a zinc base alloy having a copper overlayer in direct contact with the zinc base alloy, said alloy comprising about 1.5 weight percent or less aluminum and the remainder zinc. From another aspect, the subject invention contemplates a method for reducing the diffusion between a copper layer and a zinc base metal, said layer being in direct contact with the zinc base metal, said method comprising incorporating at least about 0.01 weight percent aluminum in said zinc base metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Mirra, Jon W. Headrick, Raymond E. Giuliani
  • Patent number: 4389459
    Abstract: A metal substrate is described herein, the metal substrate being one formed by contacting a metal surface, such as zinc, with a solution containing 0.1 to 2.5 weight percent salt selected from the group consisting of iron nitrate, nickel nitrate and copper nitrate, 0.01 to 3.5 weight percent of an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of perborates, peroxides, persulfates and perchlorates, 2 to 20 weight percent of a mineral acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid and the remainder water, drying the contacted surface and thereafter applying an electrically conductive coating, such as graphite, thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Mirra, Albert H. Giles
  • Patent number: 4331487
    Abstract: A method and composition are described for preparing metal surfaces, especially zinc, for receiving an electrically conductive coating, the preparatory composition being an aqueous solution containing about 2 to about 25 weight percent of the mixture of salts of heavy metals, an oxidizing agent, and a mineral acid. The preparatory coating has utility in battery manufacture.A preferred preparatory coating composition for zinc-base surfaces is a solution comprising about 0.1 to 2.5 weight percent salt of a heavy metal such as ferric nitrate, about 0.01 to about 3.5 weight percent of an oxidizing agent such as sodium or potassium persulfate, about 2 to about 20 weight percent of a mineral acid such as sulfuric acid (98%) or phosphoric acid (75%), and the remainder water. Another preferred preparatory coating composition for metal surfaces including zinc and zinc-base alloys is an aqueous solution consisting of about 0.1 to 2.5 weight percent salt of a heavy metal, about 0.01 to about 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Mirra, Albert H. Giles
  • Patent number: 3972743
    Abstract: This invention relates to a stable zinc-aluminum quaternary alloy having tensile strength well in excess of 50,000 psi and excellent machinability characteristics, the alloy being formed by subjecting the zinc-aluminum alloy containing from about 20 to 28 weight percent aluminum, from about 0.1 to 3.5 weight percent copper, about 0.01 to 0.5 weight percent magnesium and the remainder zinc, at a temperature between about 550.degree.F., and 750.degree.F., for a time to effect homogenization of said alloy, working the homogenized alloy at a temperature above the eutectoid transformation temperature, quenching the alloy, providing an effective temperature for a period of time to produce transformation into a two-phase alloy and cooling the alloy to ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Dollar, Raymond E. Giuliani, Michael J. Mirra, Jon W. Headrick