Patents by Inventor Steve B. Funck

Steve B. Funck 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).

  • Tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape to an object
    Patent number: 7404868
    Abstract: A tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape to an object includes a heated feeder which guides the tape/tow to a heated zone. The heated zone has a line compactor having a single row of at least one movable heated member. An area compactor is located in the heated zone downstream from the line compactor. The area compactor includes a plurality of rows of movable feet which are extendable toward the tape/tow different distances with respect to each other to conform to the shape of the object. A shim is located between the heated compactors and the tape/tow. A chilled compactor is in a chilled zone downstream from the heated zone. The chilled zone includes a line chilled compactor and an area chilled compactor. A chilled shim is mounted between the chilled compactor and the tape/tow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Accudyne Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. Cope, Steve B. Funck, Mark B. Gruber, Mark A. Lamontia, Anthony D. Johnson
  • TAPE PLACEMENT HEAD FOR APPLYING THERMOPLASTIC TAPE TO AN OBJECT
    Publication number: 20080083505
    Abstract: A tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape to an object includes a heated feeder which guides the tape/tow to a heated zone. The heated zone has a line compactor having a single row of at least one movable heated member. An area compactor is located in the heated zone downstream from the line compactor. The area compactor includes a plurality of rows of movable feet which are extendable toward the tape/tow different distances with respect to each other to conform to the shape of the object. A shim is located between the heated compactors and the tape/tow. A chilled compactor is in a chilled zone downstream from the heated zone. The chilled zone includes a line chilled compactor and an area chilled compactor. A chilled shim is mounted between the chilled compactor and the tape/tow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Ralph D. Cope, Steve B. Funck, Mark B. Gruber, Mark A. Lamontia, Anthony D. Johnson