Subsequent To Assembly Patents (Class 156/221)
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Publication number: 20020170657Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a formed laminate (20) discloses an applicator (42) for depositing a quick reacting foamable liquid mixture (36) onto a transfer member (38) from which the reacted foam (40) and any foamable liquid mixture that has yet to react is transferred onto a flexible sheet (28). Relative movement of a pair of contoured mold surfaces (74,76) of a mold (68) toward each other compresses the flexible sheet (28) and the foam while the foam is in a transitory state (41) after substantial completion of expansion and before substantial curing has taken place such that it is still viscous. This compression provides a collapsed foam layer (30) and forms the foam as well as the flexible sheet (28) to provide the formed laminate (20). A liner (32) is also provided on the opposite side of the collapsed foam as the flexible sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2001Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Travis J. Campbell, Richard John Gutierrez, Christian Thary
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Patent number: 6478917Abstract: This invention relates to a process for manufacturing a ski, or like board for gliding over snow, which comprises, on the surface, embedded elements constituted by elements of additional protecting and decorative layers, these elements being flush with the surface of the ski. According to the invention, the protecting and decorative sheet is laid flat, before being placed in the mould, and the thin elements to be embedded are added thereon by bonding. The assembly of the ski elements is then moulded conventionally, with the result that the inner, uniformly smooth surface of the lid of the mould presses on the additional elements and consequently embeds them in the protecting and decorative sheet.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1999Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Inventors: Fabrice Magoni, Henri-Charles Deborde
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Patent number: 6472046Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film to be laminated onto a metal plate and molded, (A) which comprises a copolyester comprising (a) terephthalic acid in an amount of 82 to 100 mol % and 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid or a combination of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and other dicarboxylic acid in an amount of 0 to 18 mol % of the total of all dicarboxylic acid components and (b) ethylene glycol in an amount of 82 to 100 mol % and cyclohexanedimethanol or a combination of cyclohexanedimethanol and other diol in an amount of 0 to 18 mol % of the total of all diol components, having (c) a glass transition temperature of 78° C. or more and (d) a melting point of 210 to 250° C., and containing (e) porous silica particles with a pore volume of 0.5 to 2.0 ml/g which are agglomerates of primary particles having an average particle diameter of 0.001 to 0.1 &mgr;m; and (B) which has the following relationship between the highest peak temperature (Te, °C.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1999Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Teijin LimitedInventors: Koji Kubo, Hirofumi Murooka, Masahiko Kosuge, Hideshi Kurihara
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Publication number: 20020153090Abstract: The invention allows one to hang posters with tacks without concern that the tacks will damage them. It is cheap, novel, and easy to use and consists, in its most basic form, of a specialized adhesive tab which reinforces the poster against damage. It is cheap to manufacture and research and development costs are minimal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2002Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventor: Clayton Schwartz
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Patent number: 6461464Abstract: A colinear laminate honeycomb panel permits the use of two or more different materials to form a single panel. In this manner, a retractable cover for an architectural opening may be formed that has a different appearance depending upon which side of the panel is being viewed. The resultant panel is formed by attaching a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells, wherein each precursor tubular cell itself comprises at least two strips of material held in proximity to one another by a common carrier strip.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventor: Paul G. Swiszcz
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Publication number: 20020132451Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate can effectively prevent a chipping phenomenon and the production of debris from occurring in part of the insulation layer and the semiconductor by removing a outer peripheral portion of the semiconductor substrate so as to make the outer peripheral extremity of the insulation layer to be located between the outer peripheral extremity of the semiconductor layer and that of the support member and hence the semiconductor layer and the insulation layer produce a stepped profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Inventors: Yutaka Akino, Tadashi Atoji
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Patent number: 6440564Abstract: The invention relates to a relatively soft, largely planar, though three-dimensional product, obtainable by means of an embossing tool for converting a relatively soft, planar starting product as a result of embossing to the extent that an embossing pattern exists which comprises a plurality of “hinged parallelograms” that are limited by lines of compressed material such that when tractive forces are applied, this hinged parallelogram structure behaves like a pantograph and a secondary bulk is superimposed as a result of a stretching process on the primary bulk produced by the embossing.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2000Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products GmbHInventors: John Dunn McLain, Brian Hunt, George Rutherford
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Publication number: 20020092603Abstract: A carrying mechanism repeatedly obtains pieces of thermoplastic material from a supplying mechanism and provides them to a forming mechanism, where they are welded together to form a cellular block. In the forming mechanism, the piece to be added to the block and the piece most recently previously added to the block are arranged in opposing face-to-face relation, and then they are welded together by contemporaneously forming multiple spaced apart and elongate welds therebetween. The welding is performed by positioning heating elements between the piece to be added to the block and the piece most recently previously added to the block to heat laterally spaced apart strips of these pieces, withdrawing the heating elements, and at the same time rolling welding mechanisms along the strips so that the strips are nipped between the rolling welding mechanisms and other welding mechanisms.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventors: Gerhard K. Hering, Dietmar Bersbach
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Publication number: 20020036048Abstract: An apparatus for forming bristle sub-assemblies includes a vertically oriented slot, which is formed by two endless belts. A wheel disposed above the slot pushes a bristle string into the slot. The bristle string has a plurality of bristles connected to a base string in two rows. The bristle rows can be horizontally oriented, so that all of the bristles are co-planar in a horizontal plane, or they can be angularly oriented with the base string at the vertex of the angle. When the bristles are pushed into the slot, they bend to adopt a new, substantially parallel orientation. An ultrasonic heater heats the bent bristles to re-set the thermoplastic material from which the bristles are made so that after cooling, the parallel orientation is maintained.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2001Publication date: March 28, 2002Inventors: Mark Stephen Edwards, Robert Maurice Brown, Winship Stinson Reed,
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Publication number: 20020031644Abstract: A device for fastening surfaces together in an effective, efficient, and preferably reversible bond is disclosed. This device is particularly useful in the construction industry for fastening roll goods, such as wall coverings, or mill work, such as moldings, to surfaces, such as walls. The fastening device comprises a susceptor sheet, preferably having a thickness of no greater than about 2 mils, and a heat-activateable adhesive on at least one surface of the susceptor, wherein adhesive is placed on the substrate in a very carefully and specifically-defined manner. The fastening device is activated by induction heating, preferably by a hand-held induction tool. The method of fastening surfaces together utilizing the fastening device described above is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: Adam G. Malofsky, Bernard M. Malofsky, William H. Mann
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Patent number: 6350337Abstract: A core is made of a biodegradable material, reinforcing fibers and non-hardened resin are laminated on the core so as to form a fiber-reinforced composite material. Then, the fiber-reinforced composite material is hardened, and then biochemically active substances, such as microorganisms and enzymes, are brought into contact with the core so that the core is biochemically degraded and removed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1998Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: Sakura Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tetsuya Nakamura
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Patent number: 6327639Abstract: In a digital system having a host, a controller device and at least one flash memory integrated circuit, a method and apparatus for storing location identification information regarding blocks of information within at least one of the flash memory integrated circuits wherein at least two buffers within the at least one of the flash memory integrated circuits are designated as primary and secondary buffers for storing the identification information in the primary buffer until the primary buffer is effectively full and storing additional identification information in the secondary buffer until it is effectively full, swapping buffer designation so that the primary buffer becomes the secondary buffer and the secondary buffer becomes the primary buffer, erasing the effectively-full buffer for re-use and in this manner, continuously swapping storage of identification information between the two buffers.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Lexar Media, Inc.Inventor: Mehdi Asnaashari
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Patent number: 6322653Abstract: A method for joining thermoplastic pipes made by spiral winding a hollow profile with mainly rectangular cross section.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: Oy Kwh Pipe AbInventors: Gunnar Blomqvist, Stefan Slotte, Anders Andtbacka
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Patent number: 6319585Abstract: A chair stock such as a seat 12 includes a construction in which uppermost and lowermost wood veneer sheets 30, 32 present opposing support and mounting surfaces 20, 22, and are spaced from one another by an intermediate element 34 such as a pile of relatively small wood veneer sheets 36. The intermediate element 34 presents a bearing surface that corresponds in size to a planer central region 28 of the mounting surface 22, and the support surface 20 includes a curved central region directly opposite the planer central region. The stock is constructed by forming a pile of the sheets 30, 32 and the intermediate element 34, and pressing the pile between a pair of spaced apart pressing surfaces. One of the pressing surfaces includes a substantially planer central region aligned with and corresponding in size to the bearing surface of the intermediate element, and the other pressing surface includes a curved central region immediately opposite the planer central region.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1999Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Bentec, Inc.Inventor: Hector M. Coronado
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Publication number: 20010025684Abstract: A book cover paper that is to be glued to a book block back has material scooped out on the side facing the book back, reducing the thickness of the cover paper at least over the width of the book block back, before the cover paper is joined to the book block back.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2001Publication date: October 4, 2001Inventors: Raphael Wicki, Peter Geiser
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Publication number: 20010023622Abstract: A method of manufacturing motor car steering wheels with an external shell made of composite materials, which comprises preparing a pile of sheets of composite materials, hot molding thereof for obtaining respective half-shells with a shape corresponding to that of respective halves of the steering wheel being manufactured, mechanical flattening of the front surfaces of the two half-shells, applying the two half-shells to opposite parts of a steering wheel body formed by a metallic core covered by resin, and mutual fixing of the two half-shells along said front surfaces. After flattening, the front surfaces of the two half-shells are mechanically worked to form respective complementary teeth which can be male-female coupled when the two half-shells are applied around the steering wheel body.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2001Publication date: September 27, 2001Inventor: Giuseppe Testa
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Publication number: 20010019616Abstract: A method of making an acoustic device in the form of a loudspeaker drive unit having a resonant panel-form member adapted to provide an acoustic output when excited with bending wave energy, comprising forming a resilient suspension for the panel-form member by moulding and simultaneously fixing the resilient suspension to the panel-form member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2001Publication date: September 6, 2001Inventors: Henry Azima, Graham Bank, Kieron Dunk, Julian Fordham, Neil Simon Owen
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Patent number: 6270605Abstract: A method of manufacturing a curved glass/plastic laminate sheet for lightweight automotive glazing is disclosed. A flat laminate is build up with two thin glass layers, one inner and one outer, and a thick middle layer of thermoplastic. The flat laminate is heated to a plasticity temperature of the thermoplastic and it may be fit into a mould so that bending occurs mainly due to plastic transverse shear deformation of the plastic layer. Glass bending is limited to elastic bending of the single glass layers. Residual bending stresses in the glass layers are avoided by preferably incorporating pre-bending stresses in the flat glass layers. Strengthening of the final glass layers is achieved by incorporating compression stresses on the bent pane through heat treatment and having different thermal expansion coefficients of glass and plastic.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, IncInventor: Thomas Doerfler
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Publication number: 20010008164Abstract: A decoloring apparatus for an image forming material comprising means for bringing a solvent into contact with an image forming material formed on a paper sheet and containing a color former, a developer and a decolorizer, and means for removing a residual solvent from the paper sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 1999Publication date: July 19, 2001Inventors: KENJI SANO, KATSUYUKI NAITO, SATOSHI TAKAYAMA, SAWAKO FUJIOKA, TETSUO OKUYAMA, SHIGERU MACHIDA
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Patent number: 6190491Abstract: An organic shell inlay blank is provided including a first layer of organic shell matter having two opposed surfaces defining a first thickness therebetween rendering the first layer flexible, a second layer of organic shell matter having two opposed surfaces defining a second thickness therebetween rendering the second layer flexible. One of the surfaces of the first layer substantially overlaps and is secured to one of the surfaces of the second layer. A bonding agent secures the layers together to form the inlay blank. A method for manufacturing an organic shell inlay blank includes the steps of cutting a plurality of flexible pieces of organic shell matter from an organic shell, stacking the pieces in a substantially overlapping relationship with a bonding agent between the pieces, and urging the pieces together while the bonding agent cures to form the inlay blank.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1998Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Inventors: Lawrence J. Sifel, Charles W. Erikson
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Patent number: 6183586Abstract: A process is for the production of a padding material (7) made from paper or similar flat structures that are folded together and are formed by tools. At least one intermediate layer (3, 4) is perhaps incorporated within a top layer (2) that is to be folded together. The top layer and the intermediate layer that may or may not be provided are formed along their narrow sides by at least one forming tool (10, 11) after the top layer has been folded together. An intermittent transport unit acts on the structure (1) that is still flat but has been folded together. This causes the structure to be formed longitudinally, in addition to the forming that is carried out by the forming tool (10, 11).Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1997Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Inventor: Peter Heidelberger
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Patent number: 6093272Abstract: A mold is provided having the shape of the trim panel and having a blade projecting from the mold at the juncture between the first and second regions to be covered by the different sheet materials. A first sheet material is provided and cut to fit the first region and also extend over the blade. This first sheet is draped over the mold and the blade. A second sheet material is bonded to a rigid substrate material, with the rigid substrate material having a flange structure along the edge margin thereof which is adapted to snap-fit over the blade of the mold and thereby hold in place the first sheet material which had previously been draped over the blade. The mold is then closed and a suitable molding material is injected to adhere to the back side of the first sheet material and the substrate layer of the second sheet material to thereby form the rigid trim panel. The mold is opened and the rigid trim panel is removed from the blade.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Carl Henry Visconti, Michael William Jary, Edward Joseph Wenzel
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Patent number: 6017407Abstract: A cushion article, such as a wrist support or the like, and a method of manufacturing same are provided. The cushion article includes a multiple density, cushioned surface bonded to a molded foam shell. The saddle includes a contoured fabric surface with an underlying layer of soft gel. The gel may be molded to form embossment or imprinting in the fabric surface. A method of the invention includes the steps of disposing the saddle shell having a fabric sealed thereto, into a mold having a molding surface defining a desired contour and/or a desired pattern of embossment to be formed in the fabric. A thermoplastic gelable liquid is injected between the shell and the fabric. The fabric is contoured and or embossed by allowing the gelable liquid to cool while the shell is disposed in mold. The shell may be made of a foam material which is compressed into a desired shape and heat treated to form a shell having firmer, more dense portions and softer, less dense portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1997Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Inventor: Paul M. Yates
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Patent number: 6014999Abstract: A thermally conductive film that includes a film of polymeric matrix material having a thickness t defined between a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of fibers, having a greater thermal conductivity than the polymeric matrix material, is disposed in the film and extends between the top surface and the bottom surface. Each of the fibers are oriented in the film to form a fiber-to-film surface angle .theta. relative to the top and bottom surfaces that is greater than about 45.degree. but is less than arctan t/d, where t is the thickness of the film and d is the diameter of the fibers in the direction of the angle .theta.. A shear/extruder apparatus is used to form the thermally conductive film from a sheet of composite prepreg material. An upper die block and a lower die block separated by a predetermined distance form an extrusion slot therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1997Date of Patent: January 18, 2000Inventor: James M. Browne
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Patent number: 5997675Abstract: A composition containing thermoplastic elastomer and elastic fine particles is extruded into a sheet-like shape from an extruder. Then, by expanding this sheet-like shape member, a covering sheet having minute unevenness attributable to the elastic fine particles formed on the surface is produced. The covering sheet may have an adhesive layer, a substrate layer, a foamed resin layer, etc., on the opposite side to the surface having a matt feeling. Such covering sheet can be produced with good productivity without creating environmental problems such as a problem related to solvent, etc. By molding using the covering sheet, a molding having matt feeling can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akitaka Miyake, Tomoko Uematsu, Toshimitsu Tsuji
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Patent number: 5993580Abstract: A filter element has a wavy filter portion including a plurality of ridges of a filter material, which are juxtaposed to one another and closed at their sides, and a flange portion extending along a mounting plane around the filter portion for supporting the filter portion. The flange portion is made of the same filter material extending from the filter portion, by compressing the filter material more densely than the filter portion. The filter element is manufactured by a step of preparing an intermediate product of a wavy sheet, and a step of forming the filter portion by leaving the central portion of the wavy intermediate product as in the wavy sheet, and forming the flange portion around the filter portion for supporting the filter portion, by pressing the side portions of the ridges of the wavy intermediate product along the mounting plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Nippondenso Co., LtdInventors: Toshiaki Nakayama, Hideo Kamo, Yoshitaka Nishio, Tetsuro Okazono, Takanari Takagaki
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Patent number: 5985072Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a rim preform or rim-element having an axis of revolution by the placing on a preforming matrix pre-assembled fibers along two orientations defining deformable meshes. A winding of a strip of fibers is fastened on a circumference of the preforming matrix with asymmetrical orientation of the fibers, whereupon it is applied progressively until covering the entire surface of the preforming matrix by subjecting it to tensions of substantially circumferential orientation.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & CieInventors: Francois Finck, Yves Vernet
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Patent number: 5975404Abstract: In a method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber cable, a metal band is gradually shaped into a lengthwise slotted tube, the optical fibers are introduced into the still open slotted tube, the lengthwise slot of the tube is welded and the outside diameter of the welded tube is reduced. The welded tube with the reduced outside diameter is wound at least once around a take-up reel. A force provided on the reduced outside diameter welded tube as it is wound on the take-up reel causes an elastic strain of 0.1 to 0.6% on the tube. The strain is released on the take-up reel to produce an overlength of the optical fibers relative to the reduced outside diameter welded tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1998Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Alcatel Kabel AG & CoInventors: Gerhard Ziemek, Harry Staschewski, Klaus Porcher
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Patent number: 5976295Abstract: A method of molding a component such as a headliner or sun visor for the interior of automotive vehicles is molded from different thermoplastic materials from the same family that can be subsequently recycled as a whole without the need of separation into its constituents. The interior component is a multi layer composite of polyester (PET) finishing fabric, a resilient layer of bicomponent polyester fiber padding composed of blend of a low melting point fibers and high melting point fibers, and a relatively stiff core layer of polyester/glass fiber composite of polyester and glass fibers. The different fibers of the core layer are blended into a thin and porous sheet which is cut to size. The cut sheets are consolidated and molded under heat and pressure into a light weight, dense and structurally strong composite. A mold charge comprises the polyester/glass fiber composite layered with the bicomponent.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1997Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventor: Leoncio C. Ang
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Patent number: 5968641Abstract: A composite laminate structure, and a method for its fabrication. The structure includes a syntactic core layer (10) including an epoxy system catalyzed by a Lewis acid, and two face skin layers (12), each of which has multiple graphite fibers laid up in a polycyanate matrix resin catalyzed by cobalt. After thermal curing, the laminate structure has the unusual, but highly desirable property that it is compliant enough to be conformed at room temperature to a different shape, without damage to the structure. The structure may be later conformed to other shapes or conformed to its original shape, again without damage. Structures of unusual shapes can, therefore, be easily fabricated from sheets of the laminate material formed in one (1) convenient initial shape, such as a flat panel.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1998Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Richard A. Lewis
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Patent number: 5960527Abstract: Automobile body parts having contoured, decorative outer surfaces are molded. The automobile body parts include a molded polymer substrate and a decorative surfacing film adhered to one side of the substrate. The decorative surfacing film includes a substantially molecularly unoriented cast polymer film formed from a weatherable polymer. Also a method for making sets of such automobile body parts for assembly into automobile bodies is taught.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Rexam Industries Corp.Inventors: Thomas M. Ellison, Brian M. Keith
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Patent number: 5942321Abstract: A headliner is a laminate of multiple layers. The layers include polyurethane foam, agricultural fibers, a decorative material, and a backing. The agricultural fiber is jute, sisal, or kenaf or mixtures thereof. The method of making the headliner laminate includes making the sheet of agricultural fibers incorporating a binder, saturating a foam layer with an adhesive, putting one sheet of agricultural fibers on each side of the foam layer, applying the decorative material and backing to one side each, and squeezing the layers together to distribute the adhesive to all the layers and laminate them.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1997Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Findlay Industries, Inc.Inventors: Floyd E. Romesberg, J. Daniel Asbury, William J. Young
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Patent number: 5906699Abstract: In a method of making paper lamp shades the paper is wrapped at least around part of a circumferential surface of a cylindrical body. A thread is wrapped around the paper applied to the circumferential surface. The paper having the thread wrapped therearound is pushed together, in a direction along the cylindrical body, thereby folding the paper. Then the pushed together paper is removed from the cylindrical body.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Ingo MaurerInventor: Dagmar Mombach
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Patent number: 5882784Abstract: A metal-film laminate including a metal plate and a biaxially oriented polyester-group film laminated on the metal plate. The orientation degree of the film is controlled such that, when the thickness of the film is represented by T and the mean orientation degree of the film in the area from the metal-plate side surface to a position of T/2 in the thickness direction of the film is represented by X, the orientation degree of the film in the area from the metal-plate side surface to the position of T/2 is in the range of X.+-.0.5X and an orientation degree of the film at the non-metal-plate side surface is not less than 2X. When the metal-film laminate is processed by drawing etc., an excellent drawing property and an excellent impact resistance of an obtained metal-film laminated product can be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1997Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Takashi Sumiya, Iwao Tanaka, Kunio Shibatsuji, Hirokazu Kurome, Seiya Sugiura, Wataru Ooe
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Patent number: 5871607Abstract: A substance delivery system has a three dimensional structure with outermost surface features and spaces for containing a substance. The substance has a level below the outermost surface features such that the substance is protected from inadvertent contact with external surfaces. The substance remains protected until the three dimensional structure is sufficiently deformed into a substantially two dimensional structure and the substance is thereby exposed to contact an external surface without compliance of the external surface being necessary. Deforming is preferably achieved by a compression force, wherein the outermost surface features of the three dimensional structure deform in a direction of the compression force.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Peter W. Hamilton, Kenneth S. McGuire
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Patent number: 5846357Abstract: A syntactic structural foam product in flat sheet form or curved three-dimensional form adaptable to such uses as a light weight structural core for composite laminates, is made of a mixture of hollow ceramic microspheres and dry resin powder, of either thermosetting or a high-temperature thermoplastic resin, distributed in the interstices of the mass of microspheres for integration of the mixture into desired form upon heating and cooling. Resin powder collected as a waste by-product from resin coating materials can be recycled in the production of the desired product.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1996Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: Isorca, Inc.Inventors: Charles L. Meteer, Thomas E. Philipps
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Patent number: 5837087Abstract: An apparatus and process for assembling a first member and a second member is provided. The first member comprises a fluid distribution part and the second member comprises an absorbent core member having a window portion therein. The assembling apparatus comprises a conveyer mechanism for forming a transport path, a first deposition mechanism for placing a series of one of the first and second members in spaced apart relation on the conveyer mechanism, and a drum mechanism rotatably mounted adjacent the conveyer mechanism for carrying the other of the first and second members and for depositing the same onto one of the first or second members already placed on the conveyer mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventor: Nicholas Albert Ahr
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Patent number: 5817265Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for the assembly of a multiply shaped fiber preform, the apparatus using a shaping tool having the shape of the desired part, and one or more secondary location tools, can be positioned on the shaping tool, so as to simulate a flat shape. The location tools include a number of upwardly extending location pins, such that a number of plies can be assembled in a vertical stack using the pins to assure ply to ply accuracy and orientation. After assembly, the plies are engaged in a localized portion of the assembly so as to hold the plies in register, with the secondary tools then removed and the plies then formed to shape over the tool surfaces. Utilizing the apparatus and method of the invention maintains multiple plies in register during the assembly and forming process to assure part reproducibility, in an automated process.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1995Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Dow-United Technologies Composite Products, Inc.Inventor: Johnny Paul Gendreau
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Patent number: 5817202Abstract: A method of making composite strips of millwork components, including the steps of providing a plurality of elongate strips of wood and a support sheet, adhering the strips of wood together in parallel with each other and to the support sheet to form an elongate composite sheet, and machining the composite sheet to a desired contour to form a molding strip. The method may also include the step of removing the support sheet after the machining step by machine, or by peeling, or otherwise as desired. Typically the strips of wood are of differing widths and heights. A composite molding strip is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1997Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Inventor: Marc A. Seidner
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Patent number: 5804292Abstract: The invention provides a laminated article such as a door trim board capable of maintaining a bonding effect for a long period of time by integrally forming a base member and a skin member without forming the skin member in the shape of a sheet and without using an adhesive, and a manufacturing method of the laminated article by which reduction in the quantity of materials to be used and simplification of manufacturing steps are achieved. A porous base member (11) molded in the shape of a door trim board and a molten resin (12melt) supplied on the surface of the porous base member are pressed between a pair of molds (31, 32) so that the molten resin (12melt) is impregnated into the porous base member at least at the front surface thereof and hardened to form a skin member (12) on the porous base member (11). In the door trim board thus obtained, the resin forming the skin member (12) and the porous base member (11) are integrated by an anchor effect of resin with a reliable strength thereof retained.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1996Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Araco Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsunori Ishitoya, Hiroyuki Kato, Yukio Ishihara, Kazunori Kuze, Yoshihiko Hiraiwa, Makoto Horiba
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Patent number: 5795527Abstract: A decorative transfer material includes a base film, a decorative metal vapor deposition layer, a metallic reinforcing layer covering the whole rear face of the metal vapor deposition layer to thereby reinforce the metal vapor deposition layer, a retainer layer for securing the metallic reinforcing layer to the base film, and an adhesive layer for bonding the metallic reinforcing layer to a to-be-decorated object molded by resin. The metallic reinforcing layer is formed of a metallic powder resin layer or a metallic foil layer. After the transfer material is set in dies for injection molding, the dies are closed. Simultaneously with formation of synthetic resin injected into the in-mold dies, the resin is bonded with the metallic reinforcing layer of the transfer material by the adhesive layer. Thereafter, the in-mold dies are opened and the base film of the transfer material is removed, whereby a decorated article is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1994Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignees: Nissha Printing Co., Ltd., Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuzuo Nakamura, Masayuki Kyomen, Soichiro Asada, Toshiyuki Matsunami, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Satoru Kawai
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Patent number: 5776277Abstract: A device capable of co-operating with an outer pressure member to form a sealing block between two or more elongate substrates and a hollow housing within which the substrates extend, the device comprisingi) an elongate support member andii) two or more elongate flexible leaves each of which comprises a sealing material that (a) is not heat fusible, (b) is secured relative to the support member, and (c) extends laterally of the elongate support member,the device being positioned, in use, between the elongate substrates, so that a first of the flexible leaves extends at least part of the way around the periphery of a first of the elongate substrates, and a second of the flexible leaves extends at least part of the way around the periphery of a second of the elongate substrates, so that in co-operation with the action of the outer pressure member acting inwardly on the substrates and the device, and outwardly onto the housing, a sealing block is made between the elongate substrates and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1996Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: N.V. Raychem S.A.Inventor: Alain Wambeke
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Patent number: 5772945Abstract: A composite material blank for an orthotic insert. The device is formed of layers of fiberglass and graphite fiber material. A first graphite fiber layer provides the overall structure with increased strength, while secondary graphite fiber reinforcement strips are arranged below the first and fifth rays of the foot to provide additional rigidity and control in these areas. The edges of the graphite fiber layers are recessed inwardly from the edges of the fiberglass layers so as to provide a graphite-free border which prevents cracks from propagating into the graphite fiber layers. The layers are bonded together by heat curing.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1995Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Northwest Podiatric Laboratory, Inc.Inventor: Dennis N. Brown
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Patent number: 5755909Abstract: In the embodiments described in the specification, electrodes are bonded to the surface of a ceramic piezoelectric layer by supporting electrodes having a reduced dimension on a flexible dielectric film and placing the dielectric film under tension to expand the film and the electrodes sufficiently to conform the electrodes to the desired electrode pattern on the ceramic piezoelectric layer. The electrodes are then bonded to the piezoelectric layer with an adhesive bonding agent under pressure applied hydraulically so as to be distributed uniformly throughout the surface of the piezoelectric layer. In one embodiment the dielectric film also carries conductor arrays for connecting the electrodes to remote driver chips at locations spaced from the surface of the piezoelectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1996Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Spectra, Inc.Inventor: David W. Gailus
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Patent number: 5693164Abstract: An improved method for making a breast enhancer comprises placing a first and second film of thermoplastic material adjacent one another and forming a temporary adhesion seal therebetween. The temporary seal is in the form of a band that defines a parameter of a bag formed between the two films. A sufficient volume of liquid silicone composition to form the breast enhancer is introduced into the bag, and the air-bubble free filled bag is placed between a top mold and a bottom mold. The top and bottom molds are compressively engaged to encase the filled bag within a mold cavity formed between the mold surfaces. At least a portion of the sealed band is disposed within the mold cavity, and at least a portion of the band is compressed between a seal surface of the top mold and a rim of the bottom mold. The temporary seal is opened to allow the liquid silicone composition to migrate between the films and fill the mold cavity.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1996Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Bragel International, Inc.Inventor: Jasper Chang
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Patent number: 5677262Abstract: A process for obtaining a low gloss, dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising extrusion laminating a support with 1) a polyolefin resin and 2) a composite film comprising a microvoided thermoplastic core layer and a substantially void-free thermoplastic surface layer, the extrusion laminating process being performed with an embossed chill roll having a surface roughness average (Ra) of at least 1.5 .mu.m and a pressure roll, and then coating the composite film with a polymeric dye image-receiving layer, thereby producing the low gloss, dye-receiving element.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1996Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: William Andrew Mruk, Bruce Crinean Campbell
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Patent number: 5662758Abstract: A method for making a flexible film having pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence. The method coats a forming screen with an interconnected layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and places a piece of flexible film in contact with the layer of adhesive. The layer of adhesive preferentially adheres to the piece of flexible film. The forming screen has a plurality of recesses therein. The coating step applies the layer of adhesive without bridging the recesses. Another step forms the piece of flexible film to create a plurality of protrusions extending into the recesses. The plurality of protrusions are registered with the interconnected layer of pressure sensitive adhesive by virtue of using the same screen to transfer adhesive and to form protrusions. The forming screen may be wrapped around a rotating drum and the piece of flexible film may be a portion of a continuous web of flexible film. Preferably, the plurality of protrusions are conical, with a base diameter of 0.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1996Date of Patent: September 2, 1997Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Peter W. Hamilton, Kenneth S. McGuire
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Patent number: 5641367Abstract: A gasket-cover assembly for use as a closure for an electrochemical cell which is produced by a process in which an extended wall of the cover is ultrasonically forced into a flange of a gasket such that the flange of the gasket makes a "U" shaped enclosure about the bottom wall of the cover.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1995Date of Patent: June 24, 1997Assignee: Eveready Battery CompanyInventor: James George Tatsumi
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Patent number: 5614049Abstract: Process for the stiffening of textile or leather materials, includes (a) applying an aqueous polymer dispersion to a textile structure on the basis of a woven or nonwoven fabric, or a leather material; (b) drying the textile structure or leather material; and (c) the stiffening material thus produced is deformed and glued with the textile and leather material to be stiffened, in which an aqueous dispersion of a two-phase, sealable emulsion graft copolymer having a soft phase and a hard phase is applied. The hard phase has a glass transition temperature of Tg of at least 50.degree. C. and includes monomer units such as methyl methacrylate, styrene, diisopropyl fumarate and vinyl chloride. The soft phase has a glass transition temperature Tg of at least 30.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1996Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Wacker Chemie GmbHInventors: Klaus Kohlhammer, Gerhard Koegler, Monika Schwemmer
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Patent number: 5575876Abstract: A shingle is provided that is especially adapted for application to hips or ridges of a roof. In a preferred embodiment, the shingle is a laminated multi-layer shingle, bent or curled into a preformed shape that is reasonably close to the shape that it will have in the installed condition. The shingle layers are connected together in more than one zone, or in one large zone after sliding relative to one another as the shingle is bent or curled. Preferably, such connection is by means of an adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1995Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: CertainTeed CorporationInventors: Michael J. Noone, Kermit E. Stahl