Patents by Inventor Thierry Birkel

Thierry Birkel 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: 6796333
    Abstract: A packing structure for protecting a cylindrical object includes an integrated fastener, the packing structure assuming the form of a collar hooping the object to be protected and being characterized in that the collar includes over at least a large portion of its periphery at least one at least partly closed housing (4) which is designed to receive and retain on the collar the fastener (2) which shall enclose and tighten the collar, the housing being a channel fitted with two lips, the fastener (2) being inserted between these lips. In the packing structure for protecting the end of a cylindrical object, the collar is fitted with a substantially right-angle flange (5) covering the end segment of the object to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: ITW Litec France & Serge Arduini
    Inventors: Thierry Birkel, Serge Arduini
  • Patent number: 6739037
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for inserting a fastener (3) into a flexible plate or strip (1) which shall act as a packing structure and which has a channel fitted with two lips (2a, 2b) partly closing the channel, the fastener (3) to be inserted between the lips. The method includes slightly bending the plate or strip (1) transversely to the direction of its channel in a way to spread apart its lips (2a, 2b), furthermore to insert the fastener (3) and to substantially reflatten the plate or strip (1) in order that the lips (2a, 2b) shall resume their initial positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: ITW Litec France
    Inventor: Thierry Birkel
  • Patent number: 6457636
    Abstract: A packing member formed as a U-shaped channel comprises a base (1a) and two side legs (1b, 1c). The base is provided with a longitudinal folding line (2′) near its median line. The folding line divides the bases into two parts which are pivotable about the folding line. When the two parts are pivoted away from each other with the legs flared outward, the U-channel structure will be transformed into a substantially W-shaped structure to facilitate stacking for storage and/or shipping of the packing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: ITW Litec France
    Inventors: Jacques Van de Ven, Thierry Birkel, Hannes Heertjes
  • Patent number: 6416606
    Abstract: This invention concerns a continuous manufacturing process of sections (11) or plates from soft matter (2) which is extruded under heat and encased by at least one strip sheet (3, 3′), said encased matter subsequently being calendered, shaped to the desired profile and finally cut into lengths, process which is particularly remarkable in that the matter used is a mixture containing a non-synthetic binder and water, so that the mixture becomes sticky by undergoing said heat treatment in an aqueous medium, which assures adhesion of the casing onto the matter during calendering, while the product undergoes at least one drying operation after said calendering operation. The binder is advantageously starch-based and the mixture may also contain a plasticizer, for example containing urea. The invention also concerns an installation for implementation of the process and the products thus obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: ITW Litec France
    Inventors: Thierry Birkel, Jacques Van De Ven, Patrice Regennass, Dominique Duchanois, Hassan Rachidia, Nelly Pien
  • Publication number: 20020063428
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packing structure protecting a cylindrical object and comprising an integrated fastener, said packing structure assuming the form of a collar hooping the object to be protected and being characterized in that said collar comprises over at least a large portion of its periphery at least one at least partly closed housing (4) which is designed to receive and retain on the collar said fastener (2) which shall enclose and tighten said collar, said housing illustratively being a channel fitted with two lips, said fastener (2) being inserted between these lips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Thierry Birkel, Serge Arduini
  • Publication number: 20020035021
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for inserting a fastener (3) into a flexible plate or strip (1) which shall act as a packing structure and which comprises a channel fitted with two lips (2a, 2b) partly closing said channel, the fastener (3) to be inserted between said lips, said method being characterized in that it consists in slightly bending the plate or strip (1) transversely to the direction of its channel in a way to spread apart its lips (2a, 2b), furthermore to insert the fastener (3) and to substantially reflatten said plate or strip (1) in order that said lips (2a, 2b) shall resume their initial positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Thierry Birkel