Patents by Inventor R. Lee Williams

R. Lee Williams 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: 5290489
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for treating the interior surfaces of hollow plastic objects to improve their adherency to and compatibility with another component, such as polyurethane foam. The invention consists of creating a vacuum in the object and drawing a conductive gas inside the object. A pair of electrodes are spaced apart from each other, and a source of electricity is provided thereto of sufficient intensity to produce an electrical discharge across the gap between the electrodes when an object is in the gap between the electrodes. The electrodes are arranged with regard to the size and configuration of the object to provide ionization of the conductive gas inside the object to surface treat the inner walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: R. Lee Williams
    Inventors: R. Lee Williams, Christine A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5215637
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for surface treating the inside surfaces of hollow or three dimensional plastic objects. While the invention will be described with respect to plastic objects, it will be understood that other objects having a high dielectric strength, such as ceramics, cardboard, paper and wood, may be similarly treated. The surface treating is effected by selectively directing a high voltage plasma field to a selected interior surface of the object to enhance adhesion of various glues, inks and the like. The plasma field is generated in the interior of a tunnel directed into an opening of the hollow portion of the object to be treated. A specially designed electrode is supported from the opening to direct in a controlled manner the field to the selected interior area of the object to be treated. The electrode is supported form a high dielectric shield covering a central area of the opening to direct the plasma field around the shield to a laterally extending electrode below the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Lectro Engineering Co.
    Inventor: R. Lee Williams
  • Patent number: 5176924
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for surface treating the inside surfaces of hollow or three dimensional plastic objects. While the invention will be described with respect to plastic objects, it will be understood that other objects having a high dielectric strength, such as ceramics, cardboard, paper and wood, may be similarly treated. The surface treating is effected by selectively directing a high voltage plasma field to a selected interior surface of the object to enhance adhesion of various glues, inks and the like. The plasma field is generated in the interior of a tunnel directed into an opening of the hollow portion of the object to be treated. A specially designed electrode is supported from the opening to direct in a controlled manner the field to the selected interior area of the object to be treated. The electrode is supported from a high dielectric shield covering a central area of the opening to direct the plasma field around the shield to a laterally extending electrode below the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Lectro Engineering Co.
    Inventor: R. Lee Williams