Patents Issued in February 6, 2007
  • Patent number: 7172630
    Abstract: A prosthetic foot device includes an elongated continuous cantilever-spring, extending from an attachment section coupleable to a stump of an amputee to a toe section at a toe location of a natural foot. The cantilever-spring is elastically deformable under a load to store energy as the amputee steps onto the cantilever-spring and to release energy as the amputee steps off of the cantilever-spring. A cam is pivotally coupled to the cantilever-spring at a pivot. A resistance arm is coupleable to the stump of the amputee, and extends to a displaceable section engaging the cam. A lever arm is attached to the cantilever-spring and engages the cam. The cam operatively inter-couples the cantilever-spring and the resistance arm to elastically deform the resistance arm along with the cantilever-spring to collectively store more energy than the cantilever-spring alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Roland J. Christensen, as operating Manager of RJC Development, LC, General Partner of the Roland J. Christensen Family Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Roland J. Christensen
  • Patent number: 7172631
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dyeing composition for human keratinous fibers, such as the hair, comprising, in a suitable dyeing medium, at least one oxidation dye, and at least one dicationic compound. The disclosure further relates to the dyeing methods and dyeing kit using the dye composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: L'Oreal S.A.
    Inventors: Grégory Plos, Henri Samain
  • Patent number: 7172632
    Abstract: A hair coloring composition contains an oxidative hair dye and at least one antioxidant agent selected from the group consisting of rosmarinus officinalis, origanum vulgare, camellia sinensis, camellia oleifera, salvia officinalis, apium graveolen, thymus vulgaris, rosa canina and coriandrum sativum in combination with a suitable diluent or carrier. The hair coloring compositions are gentler on the skin and hair in that they reduce the effects or the oxidising agent on the hair and skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: The Boots Company, PLC
    Inventors: Liam Robert Smith, Stewart Paul Long
  • Patent number: 7172633
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightening dye composition comprising, in a suitable dyeing medium, an oxidizing agent, an alkaline agent in an amount such that the pH of the composition is greater than 7, and a mixed cationic dye comprising several chromophores linked together via a linker, at least two of the chromophores being different, the chromophores having an absorbance of between 400 and 800 nm. The invention makes it possible to obtain particularly fast colorations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: L'Oréal S.A.
    Inventors: Henri Samain, Leila Hercouet
  • Patent number: 7172634
    Abstract: This invention pertains to certain novel colorant compounds containing one or more ethylenically-unsaturated, photopolymerizable radicals that may be copolymerized (or cured) with ethylenically-unsaturated monomers to produce colored compositions such as colored acrylic polymers. Suitable compositions having the present colorants copolymerized therein include, e.g., polymers produced from acrylate and methacrylate esters, colored polystyrenes, and similar colored polymeric materials derived from other ethylenically-unsaturated monomers. The present invention also pertains to processes for preparing the photopolymerizable colorant compounds. The ethylenically unsaturated colorant compounds may be suitable for use in coatings that are applied to wood, glass, metal, thermoplastics and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jason Clay Pearson, Max Allen Weaver, Jean Carroll Fleischer, Greg Alan King
  • Patent number: 7172635
    Abstract: There is described a fuel additive composition comprising an oleic alkanolamide and an alkoxylated oleic acid. There is also described a fuel composition comprising a hydrocarbon fuel and a fuel additive comprising an oleic alkanolamide and an alkoxylated oleic acid and also a method of running a combustion engine using the fuel if the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignees: AAE Technologies International plc, Cognis Deutschland GmbH and Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Bongardt, William Hodgson, Alan Rae, Jurgen Roder
  • Patent number: 7172636
    Abstract: A combustible wood-based package is disclosed which includes an outer wrapper, preferably formed from burlap or other similar woven material that encloses large pieces of wood material, medium pieces of wood material and smaller pieces of wood material coated or otherwise soaked in a vegetable wax to form an aggregate. The aggregate is disposed at or near the bottom of the burlap wrapper, with the medium-size pieces of wood material disposed thereon with the larger pieces of wood material disposed on top of the medium-sized pieces of wood material. Preferably, all wood materials are fabricated from all-natural wood logs fabricated from compressed wood particles without the use of odor causing binders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Summit Views LLC.
    Inventors: Gregg D. Weissman, Jennifer J. Young
  • Patent number: 7172637
    Abstract: A combustible charcoal fuel package is disclosed which includes an outer wrapper, preferably formed from burlap or other similar woven material that encloses large pieces of charcoal material, medium pieces of charcoal material and smaller pieces of charcoal material coated or otherwise soaked in a vegetable wax to form an aggregate. The aggregate is disposed at or near the bottom of the burlap wrapper, with the medium-size pieces of charcoal material disposed thereon with the larger pieces of charcoal material disposed on top of the medium-sized pieces of charcoal material. Preferably, all charcoal materials are fabricated from all-natural charcoal logs fabricated from compressed charcoal particles without the use of odor causing binders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Summit Views LLC.
    Inventors: Gregg D. Weissman, Jennifer J. Young
  • Patent number: 7172638
    Abstract: An autothermal reformer according to the principles of the present invention comprises a first stage that selectively receives a fuel flow, a first oxidant flow, and a steam flow. The first stage has a first portion of a catalyst bed. The fluids within the first stage are routed through the first portion of the catalyst bed and react. There is a second stage downstream from and communicating with the first stage. The second stage receives the fluids from the first stage and also selectively receives a second oxidant flow. The second oxidant flow and the fluids received from the first stage flow through a second portion of a catalyst bed and further react.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Robb
  • Patent number: 7172639
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for preparing pure carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gaseous CO2 containing product, which apparatus comprises a processing line which comprises at least an inlet for the gaseous product, means for removing water-soluble impurities from the product, compression means for compressing and pressurising the product, cleaning means for removing further impurities from the product, as well as storage means for collecting and storing the purified CO2, which elements are interconnected by means of suitable piping. According to the invention, the compression means comprise at least one screw compressor so as to provide an apparatus for preparing pure carbon dioxide from a gaseous CO2 containing product which has a higher efficiency, which is of simpler, cheaper construction and which is easy to maintain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Haffmans B.V.
    Inventors: Emile Thomas Martinus Johannes Martynowicz, Nicolaas Den Heijer, Menno Martijn Holterman
  • Patent number: 7172640
    Abstract: In a method and a device for melting down metal-containing material, preferably fine-particulate metal-containing material, such as sponge iron, in a metallurgical melting furnace (1), wherein, in an interior space (11) of the melting furnace (1), a metal melt (5) and a slag layer (6) floating on top of the metal melt (5) are maintained, the metal-containing material is added by means of a supply means dipping into the slag layer (6) and energy is added in the form of electric arcs (14), the metal-containing material is charged directly into the central region (Z) of the melting furnace (1) by means of at least one charging tube (8) exclusively serving for conveying material via the charging tube outlet (9) of the same, the electric arcs (14) are directed obliquely towards the metal melt (5) against the central region (Z) of the melting furnace (1) and the metal-containing material is melted in the slag layer (6) and a mixed process slag-metal melt is maintained in the region of the charging tube outlet (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Berger, Peter Mittag, Bernhard Aigner
  • Patent number: 7172641
    Abstract: A composite of M/AlMgB14 or M alloy/AlMgB14 is synthesized, where M=Al, Ti, W, or Cu. Small particles and/or fibers of AlMgB14 are distributed throughout a metal matrix to strengthen the resulting composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Allan Cook, Alan Mark Russell, Joel Lee Harringa, S. Bulent Biner, Iver Anderson
  • Patent number: 7172642
    Abstract: Magnetic metal particles containing iron as a main component, comprising cobalt in an amount of usually 20 to 50 atm %, calculated as Co, based on whole Fe, aluminum in an amount of usually 3 to 15 atm %, calculated as Al, based on whole Fe and a rare earth element in an amount of usually 3 to 20 atm %, calculated as rare earth element, based on whole Fe, and having an average major axis diameter of usually 0.02 to 0.065 ?m, preferably from 0.02 to less than 0.05 ?m, a coercive force of usually 159.2 to 222.9 kA/m (2,000 to 2,800 Oe), a soluble Na content of usually not more than 30 ppm, a soluble Ca content of usually not more than 100 ppm, and an oxidation stability ??s of usually not more than 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Toda Kogyo Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Yamamoto, Yasutaka Ota, Haruki Kurokawa, Masaaki Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7172643
    Abstract: Lead-free solder metal powder material including two or more metals capable of forming an intermetallic compound and having an unreacted phase and an amorphous phase. Further, a lead-free solder paste is prepared by mixing the powder material with a soldering flux. The powder material is preferably formed using a mechanical milling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Ikuo Shohji
  • Patent number: 7172644
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for curing a defect in the fabrication of a composite gas separation module and to composite gas separation modules formed by a process that includes the method. The present invention also relates to a method for selectively separating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas-containing gaseous stream. The method for curing a defect in the fabrication of a composite gas separation module includes depositing a first material over a porous substrate, thereby forming a coated substrate, wherein the coated substrate contains at least one defect. Then, the coated substrate can be selectively surface activated proximate to the defect, thereby forming at least one selectively surface activated region of the coated substrate. A second material can be then preferentially deposited on the selectively surface activated region of the coated substrate, whereby the defect is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Yi Hua Ma, Ivan P. Mardilovich, Erik E. Engwall
  • Patent number: 7172645
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating a first gas from a mixture of the first gas and at least one second gas comprises a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port and an adsorbent which is positioned in the housing. The adsorbent comprising a carbon based foam monolith that has an affinity for the first gas. Thus, as the gas mixture flows through the housing, the first gas will be adsorbed onto the adsorbent and the second gas will exit the housing through the outlet port. In this manner, the first gas is separated from the second gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis M. Pfister, Charles M. Byrd
  • Patent number: 7172646
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to an improvement in low pressure storage and dispensing systems for the selective storing of gases having Lewis acidity or basicity, and the subsequent dispensing of said gases at pressures, e.g., generally below 5 psig and typically below atmospheric pressure, by modest heating, pressure reduction or both. The improvement resides in storing the gases in a reversibly reacted state within a reactive liquid having opposing Lewis basicity or acidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Tempel, Philip Bruce Henderson, Jeffrey Richard Brzozowski
  • Patent number: 7172647
    Abstract: A liquid-gas separator assembly is used in separating gas bubbles from a liquid coolant. The assembly includes a cylindrical housing containing a central tube which is surrounded by an annular chamber. The annular chamber is defined by the outer surface of the central tube and the inner surface of the cylindrical housing. An inlet line injects a stream of the coolant from the fuel cell stack area of the power plant into the bottom of the central tube in a tangential flow pattern so that the coolant and gas bubble mixture swirls upwardly through the central tube. The swirling flow pattern of the coolant and gas bubble mixture causes the gas bubbles to separate from the liquid coolant. The gaseous component of the separated mixture is then expelled from the housing through an outlet in the upper portion of the housing, and the coolant liquid descends through the annular chamber to the bottom of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventor: Albert P. Grasso
  • Patent number: 7172648
    Abstract: A ballpoint ink composition capable of preventing a blobbing phenomenon by controlling the volatility of the ink solvent to prevent extreme drying on the ball surface and control the internal cohesion of the ink is provided, which is an oil-based ballpoint ink composition comprising, as the main solvent, a solvent represented by the following chemical structural formula and further containing at least one or more surfactant selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, a fatty acid polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, a polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester and a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester: (wherein R1, R2 and R3 each is independently H or CH3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7172649
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a leucite glass ceramic doped with nanoscale metal oxide, to a doped leucite glass ceramic powder suitable for its production, to a method for producing the doped leucite glass ceramic, to its use as dental material, to a dental product containing it and to the use of the nanoscale metal oxide powders for the production of the doped glass ceramic or of the doped leucite glass ceramic powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignees: Chemichl AG
    Inventors: Thomas Conrad, Gerhard Meyer
  • Patent number: 7172650
    Abstract: The present invention provides a deproteinized natural rubber latex wherein coagulation of a rubber component does not occur when the concentration of calcium ions (Ca2+) is 0.01 mol/L or less and coagulation of the rubber component occurs when the concentration of Ca2+ is 0.1 mol/L or more; a method of preparing the deproteinized natural rubber latex, which comprises adding a protease and two or more surfactants having different coagulation properties to calcium ions (Ca2+) to a natural rubber latex and maturing the natural rubber latex; a rubber product using the deproteinized natural rubber latex; and a proteolytic agent comprising a protease and two or more surfactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., KAO Corporation
    Inventors: Naoya Ichikawa, Yoshiaki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7172651
    Abstract: Pigment suitable for use in coating compositions for inkjet recording media. Surfaces of an inorganic particulate are interacted with a water-soluble polyvalent metal salt in an aqueous medium. The treated particle surfaces have a significant cationic surface charge imparted to them. The salt is a salt of a metal of Group II or Group III of the Periodic Table. Inkjet recording media treated with a coating composition containing the above pigment provide high density, fast-drying, and non-feathering ink images with suitable water fastness, while the coating compositions also offer cost advantages and improved rheology at higher pigment levels over coatings based on silica pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: J.M. Huber Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Yih Chen, Ricky L. Giddens, Richard D. Carter
  • Patent number: 7172652
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to carbon black granules containing a sorbitan triester. In addition, a process for the production of these carbon black granules is described, in which a powdered carbon black or beaded carbon black is beaded with a sorbitan triester. The carbon black granules can be used in polymer blends, lacquers, inks or pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Degussa AG
    Inventors: Heinz Zoch, Norbert Hornick, Alfons Karl, Silke Teike
  • Patent number: 7172653
    Abstract: The invention related to solid pigment preparations essentially comprising the following components: (A) 60 to 90 wt. % of at least one pigment and (B) 10 to 40 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hansulrich Reisacher, Michael Kluge
  • Patent number: 7172654
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of phase equilibria as shown in the phase diagram of Cu—In—Se for the preparation of solid compositions. Further, a new method for directly obtaining ? CulnSe2 from a liquid phase, preferably as a single phase composition and novel single phase ? CulnSe2 compositions are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Tilo Gödecke, Frank Ernst
  • Patent number: 7172655
    Abstract: A method of producing a single crystal CVD diamond of a desired color which includes the steps of providing single crystal CVD diamond which is colored and heat treating the diamond under conditions suitable to produce the desired color. Colors which may be produced are, for example, in the pink-green range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventors: Daniel James Twitchen, Philip Maurice Martineau, Geoffrey Alan Scarsbrook
  • Patent number: 7172656
    Abstract: In a device and a method for measuring the position of the liquid surface of a melt while a single crystal is being pulled, two measuring-lines are defined in an image of a fusion ring which is captured by means of a two-dimensional CCD camera, the intersections of the respective measuring lines and the fusion ring, on the opposite sides of the fusion ring, are detected, and the central position of the single crystal is calculated based on the intervals between the intersections on the opposite sides of the fusion ring, whereby the position of the liquid surface of the melt is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Mitsubishi Silicon Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Takanashi, Nobumitsu Takase
  • Patent number: 7172657
    Abstract: In a state of the inside of a treatment chamber of treatment equipment being evacuated, therein a cleaning gas containing trifluoroaceticacid (TFA) as a cleaning agent is supplied. Metal such as copper used in the formation of an interconnection or an electrode and stuck on an inner wall surface of the treatment chamber, when coming into contact with the cleaning agent (TFA) in the cleaning gas, without forming an oxide or a metallic salt, is directly complexed. The complex is sublimed due to the evacuation and is exhausted outside the treatment chamber. Accordingly, at less labor and low cost, the cleaning can be efficiently implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kojima, Yasuhiro Oshima
  • Patent number: 7172658
    Abstract: A hard surface cleaner includes a motorized scrub head, a fluid recovery device, a primary cleaning liquid component container, a cleaning agent container, a flow control device and a fluid flow path. The flow control device is configured to supply a flow of cleaning agent from the cleaning agent container at a flow rate of less than approximately 10 cubic centimeters per minute to a flow of primary cleaning liquid component from the primary cleaning liquid component container. The fluid flow path is configured to receive a flow of cleaning liquid, which comprises the cleaning agent and the primary cleaning liquid component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Joseph K. Krueger, Joseph L. Pouliot
  • Patent number: 7172659
    Abstract: The present invention is a production method of an R-T-B—C rare earth alloy (R is at least one element selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements and yttrium, T is a transition metal including iron as a main component, B is boron, and C is carbon). An R-T-B bonded magnet containing a resin component, or an R-T-B sintered magnet with a resin film formed on the surface thereof is prepared, and a solvent alloy containing a rare earth element R and a transition metal element T is prepared. Thereafter, the R-T-B bonded magnet is molten together with the solvent alloy. In this way, a rare earth alloy can be recovered from a spent bonded magnet or a defective one generated in a production process stage, and a rapidly quenched alloy magnet can be obtained. As a result, magnet powder is recovered from the R-T-B magnet, and the recycling of a magnet including a resin component can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Neomax Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tomizawa, Koji Nakahara, Yuji Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7172660
    Abstract: A method for making an amorphous soft magnetic core using Fe-based amorphous metal powders is provided. The amorphous soft magnetic powders are obtained by crushing amorphous ribbons produced using a rapid solidification process (RSP). The magnetic core is obtained by performing a preliminary thermal treatment of amorphous metal ribbons made of Fe-based amorphous metal alloy using RSP, crushing the amorphous metal ribbons to thereby obtain amorphous metal powders, classifying the amorphous metal powders to then be mixed into a distribution of powder particles having an optimal uniform composition, mixing the mixed amorphous metal powders with a binder, forming a core, and annealing the formed core to then coat the core with an insulating resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Amosense Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Sul Song, Jae Hwa Hong, Hie Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 7172661
    Abstract: A high precision alloy, and in particular, high-strength nickel-based amorphous compositions for fabrication of glass-coated microwires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Global Micro Wire Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Eliezer Adar, Ehud Yaffe
  • Patent number: 7172662
    Abstract: A copper alloy material for parts of electronic and electric machinery and tools contains 1.0 to 3.0 mass % of Ni, 0.2 to 0.7 mass % of Si, 0.01 to 0.2 mass of Mg, 0.05 to 1.5 mass % of Sn, 0.2 to 1.5 mass % of Zn, and less than 0.005 mass % (including 0 mass %) of S, with the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities, wherein the copper alloy material has: (1) a specific crystal grain diameter, and a specific ratio between the longer diameters of a crystal grain on a cross section parallel or perpendicular to a direction of final plastic working; and/or (2) a specific surface roughness after the final plastic working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Usami, Takao Hirai
  • Patent number: 7172663
    Abstract: Provided are palladium-containing powders and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the palladium-containing particles of high quality, of a small size and narrow size distribution. An aerosol is generated from liquid feed and sent to a furnace, where liquid in droplets in the aerosol is vaporized to permit formation of the desired particles, which are then collected in a particle collector. The aerosol generation involves preparation of a high quality aerosol, with a narrow droplet size distribution, with close control over droplet size and with a high droplet loading suitable for commercial applications. Powders may have high resistance to oxidation of palladium. Multi-phase particles are provided including a palladium-containing metallic phase and a second phase that is dielectric. Electronic components are provided manufacturable using the powders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Hampden-Smith, Toivo T. Kodas, Quint H. Powell, Daniel J. Skamser, James Caruso, Clive D. Chandler
  • Patent number: 7172664
    Abstract: A method is described for making an aluminum alloy foil suitable for application to fins used in heat exchangers. The method comprises providing an aluminum alloy composition containing about 0.27% to about 0.55% by weight of iron, about 0.06% to about 0.55% by weight of silicon and optionally up to about 0.20% by weight of copper; continuously casting a coiled strip from the molten aluminum alloy; cold rolling the continuously cast coil to a final gauge of about 0.076 mm to about 0.152 mm and partially annealing the aluminum alloy sheet at a temperature below about 260° C., with a maximum overheat of about 10° C. to anneal the aluminum alloy foil substantially without any recrystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Davisson, Luc Montgrain, Sadashiv Nadkarni
  • Patent number: 7172665
    Abstract: A melt of a Cu-based alloy containing 2 to 6% (% by weight, the same shall apply hereinafter) of Ag and 0.5 to 0.9% of Cr are solidified by casting, and the solidified article after subjecting to a homogenizing heat treatment is subjected to hot-working. The hot-worked article is subjected to a solution treatment, the article is subjected to cold-working or warm-working by forging or rolling, and then the formed article is subjected to an aging treatment to obtain a metallic material capable of manufacturing a high strength and high thermal conductive metal formed article at a low price, regardless of the geometry, and a method of manufacturing the metal formed article using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Mino
  • Patent number: 7172666
    Abstract: Systems and methods for applying a web material to substrates are disclosed. In one example, there is provided a single first drive that may be coupled to a feed mechanism, a vacuum roll, and a rotary knife such that the respective peripheral speed of the feed mechanism, the vacuum roll, and the rotary knife is adjustable to provide a cut web material length that is in registry with a predetermined location on the substrate. In another example, there is disclosed a method that involves detecting a substrate to which a length of web material can be applied, and initiating introduction of a web material into a feed mechanism only if the substrate is detected. Another example includes introducing a web material traveling at a predetermined speed onto a vacuum roll that is positioned near a rotary knife, and rotating the rotary knife at a peripheral speed that is substantially the same as the predetermined speed of the web material traveling on the vacuum roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventors: Matthew E. Groves, Michael A. Fairchild
  • Patent number: 7172667
    Abstract: A method for incorporating graphics into absorbent articles. The method involving: providing a moving substrate to a print cylinder; sensing a line speed reference signal from a line speed target machinery component; rotating the print cylinder at a predetermined speed, based on the line speed reference signal, to thereby print a series of graphics on the moving substrate at a predetermined distance frequency; sensing a phase difference signal from a phase target machinery component; and setting an actual print cylinder phase angle, based on the phase difference signal, to approximate a predetermined phase angle to thereby position the series of graphics on the moving substrate at a series of desired graphics locations. A system for executing the method and garments produced from the method and system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Retail Services AG
    Inventor: Joseph B. Vergona
  • Patent number: 7172668
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for constructing a rotatable label and attaching the rotatable label to a container. The rotatable label system comprises an inner label attached to the container and a rotatable outer label. The inner label may have adhesive on a rear surface of a trailing end alone, adhesive on a rear surface of both the leading and trailing end for fixedly attaching it to a container, or adhesive on the entire rear surface. The outer label may only have adhesive on a rear surface at or near a trailing end to secure the outer label to itself. The outer label is temporarily coupled to, the container while the outer label is wrapped around the container. Once the trailing end is attached to a front surface of the outer label at or near a leading end of the outer label, the outer label can be rotated about the container over the inner label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Stephen Key Design, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen M. Key
  • Patent number: 7172669
    Abstract: A method for applying an elastic member on an elastic web of material includes providing an elastic web of material running in a traveling direction; applying adhesive in a predetermined adhesive pattern on the web of material; applying a continuous elastic member in an elastic pattern on the adhesive, wherein the elastic member is applied in a direction of extension which deviates from the traveling direction at least within portions of the elastic member; applying a non-elastic web of material over the elastic web of material, wherein the non-elastic web of material is brought to cover the adhesive pattern, whereby the elastic member is locked between the elastic web of material and the non-elastic web of material in the applied position on the adhesive pattern. The non-elastic web of material is given a band shape with a first non-linear edge and a second non-linear edge, wherein the shape of the non-elastic web of material is brought to generally coincide with the shape of the adhesive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Niclas Norrby
  • Patent number: 7172670
    Abstract: A single-pass, in-line process for creating multi-part articles by combining primary substrates in a first continuous web with discrete elements from a second continuous web which includes pre-cutting the second web to define, but not separate, discrete element portions and a waste portion, with the web remaining intact, joining the first and second webs in aligned relation in a manner which causes selected portions of the discrete element portions to adhere to selected portions of the primary substrates in the first web in a predetermined aligned registration to form multi-part articles and removing the waste portion of the second web from the combined web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Quality Assured Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph D. Franko, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7172671
    Abstract: A core plate 1, which has been punched in a core plate punching step 20, is conducted a surface roughing step 30 and a cleaning step 40. After coating both surfaces of the core plate 1 with adhesive in an adhesive coating step 50, the core plate 1 is put on a friction member 2, which has been punched in a friction member punching step 60, in a piling step 70, and a piled body 3 is conveyed to a drying and curing step 80. The core plate 1 is heated by high-frequency heating to dry and cure the adhesive. The core plate 1 and the friction member 2 are heated and pressured by the hot press 91, and the friction plate 4 is completed. Since high-frequency heating is adopted, an apparatus can be downsized, working time can be reduced and production efficiency can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: NSK-Warner Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rikiya Takahashi, Tomoyoshi Tamura
  • Patent number: 7172672
    Abstract: A method of binding a stack of printed sheets includes the step of consecutively conveying the sheets through an adhesive application station. One part of a two-part adhesive is applied to one side of each sheet and another part of the two-part adhesive is applied to an opposite side of each sheet at the adhesive application station. The sheets are stacked in alignment on a support tray. The sheets are then pressed together to activate the two-part adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7172673
    Abstract: A peeling device 11 includes an adsorber 15 having an adsorbing face 20A that adsorbs and retains a wafer W, and a peeling element 17 that holds a protective sheet H stuck to the wafer W, and peels off the protective sheet H from the wafer W through moving relatively to the adsorber 15. The adsorber 15 and the peeling element 17 are arranged so as to peel off the protective sheet H from the wafer W intermittently through moving relatively to each other while a peeling operation and a counter-peeling operation are performed alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kurosawa, Masahisa Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7172674
    Abstract: A device for liquid treatment of a defined area of a wafer-shaped article, especially of a wafer, in which a mask is kept at a defined short distance to the wafer-shaped article such that liquid can be retained between the mask and the defined area of the wafer-shaped article by capillary forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: SEZ AG
    Inventor: Philipp Engesser
  • Patent number: 7172675
    Abstract: An observation window airtightly installed at a wall of a processing room of a plasma processing apparatus includes a body having a through hole with an opening facing the processing room, a transparent member installed at a side of the body opposite to the processing room and a magnetic pole pair having two different magnetic poles disposed opposite each other with the hole interposed therebetween. The magnetic pole pair is configured to have a sufficient magnetic field strength to prevent electrons which form a plasma in the processing room from reaching the transparent member through the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Masayuki Tomoyasu
  • Patent number: 7172676
    Abstract: A system and a method by which workpieces are bonded to and debond from a manufacturing fixture using a radiation responsive adhesive as a bonding agent. The system includes curing the adhesive agent during loading within seconds, and structurally weakens the adhesive bond during unloading within seconds. During the workpiece loading cycle, an adhesive dispenser deposits radiation responsive adhesive on to a load bearing, light transmittive surface, known as gripper pins. The workpiece is subsequently pushed against the locators, and towards the gripper pins causing the adhesive to interpose between workpiece and gripper pins, curing radiant energy is transmitted through the gripper pins and on to the adhesive to cure adhesive and bond the workpiece to the fixture. Therefore, the bond is structurally weakened or debonded in order to remove the workpiece from the fixture after manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Corporation
    Inventor: Edward C. DeMeter
  • Patent number: 7172677
    Abstract: Compositions and method for improving inhibition of calcium salt scale formation under the conditions found in chemical pulp processes in which an effective amount of selected phosphonates or phosphonate blends is admixed with the aqueous digester composition in a chemical pulping process during the digestion stage. The compositions and method are especially well suited for use in the Kraft pulping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Solutia Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Owen Thompson, Sheldon Phillip Verrett, Steven John Severtson, Jeremy E. Loy
  • Patent number: 7172678
    Abstract: A composite sheet material, useful as a component of roofing shingles, and a process of making same, which includes a glass fiber web bound with a thermosetting resin which includes a fatty acid amide having the structural formula RCOONH2, where R is a C8–C25 alkyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: GAF Materials Corporation
    Inventors: V. Robert Canfield, Robson F. Storey, Betty C. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7172679
    Abstract: A press device with an extended press nip for pressing of a continuous paper or paperboard web comprises a press shoe, a backing member, a support, and a plurality of loading cylinders with main axes in their longitudinal directions. The press shoe can be moved between different positions. A stop member is arranged downstream of the press shoe for transfer between and fixation at different stop positions in the machine direction. At least some of the loading cylinders or the support comprise members eccentrically arranged with respect to one or some of the main axes, which members can be brought into different eccentric positions with respect to the main axes. The eccentric position and the stop position controls the position of the press shoe during the pressing, and thereby the pressure curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Lars Gustavsson, Erik Brox