Denture Forming Patents (Class 264/17)
  • Publication number: 20090321971
    Abstract: Dental articles are produced using relatively low sintering temperatures to achieve high density dental articles exhibiting strengths equal to and greater than about 700 MPa. Ceramic powders comprised of nanoparticulate crystallites are used to manufacture dental articles. The ceramic powders may include sintering agents, binders and other similar additives to aid in the processing of the ceramic powder into a dental article. The ceramic powders may be processed into dental articles using various methods including, but not limited to, injection molding, gel-casting, slip casting, or electroforming, hand, cad/camming and other various rapid prototyping methods. The ceramic powder may be formed into a suspension, pellet, feedstock material or a pre-sintered blank prior to forming into the dental article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: PENTRON CERAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Dmitri Brodkin, Moisey Y. Gamarnik
  • Publication number: 20090274993
    Abstract: A manufacturing method and dental component are provided in which first and second cast parts are used with a casting material, such as a gel slurry, to form the dental component. The first cast part can be positioned in a space of the second cast part and a gel slurry can be applied intermediate the first and second cast parts. The gel slurry can then be solidified to form a solidified gel slurry. The first cast part can then be removed together with the solidified gel slurry from the second cast part. The solidified gel slurry can then be machined to form an exterior shape corresponding to a desired exterior shape of the dental component. Finally, the solidified gel slurry can be sintered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: NOBEL BIOCARE SERVICES AG
    Inventors: Lennart Bergstrom, Erik Laarz, Erik Adolfsson, Ng Sing Boon, Matts Andersson
  • Patent number: 7579387
    Abstract: An article suitable for use as an insulating or coating material comprises a radiation-crosslinked composition comprising a polyethylene, a polypropylene and optionally an ethylene-propylene elastomer. The polyethylene component is selected from high density polyethylene (HDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE) and linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE) and the polypropylene component is either a homopolymer or copolymer. The composition is predominantly based on the polyethylene component and contains the polyethylene component in an amount of at least 50 percent by weight. The article is radiation-crosslinked to a sufficient degree that it possesses thermoset properties, such that when the article is heated to a temperature above the crystalline melting point of the polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer, it is softened but does not become liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: ShawCor Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Jackson, Marcus P. Heydrich, Karen Schnuelle
  • Patent number: 7566412
    Abstract: A dental device and method of making it, by shaping a first and a second wax-like polymerizable dental material to form a polymerizable dental device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: DENTSPLY International Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Sun, Andrew M. Lichkus
  • Patent number: 7563397
    Abstract: Solid free form fabrication techniques such as fused deposition modeling and three-dimensional printing are used to create a shell or die used in the manufacture of a dental restoration. Three-dimensional printing includes ink-jet printing a binder into selected areas of sequentially deposited layers of powder. Each layer is created by spreading a thin layer of powder over the surface of a powder bed. Instructions for each layer may be derived directly from a CAD representation of the restoration. The area to be printed is obtained by computing the area of intersection between the desired plane and the CAD representation of the object. All the layers required for an aesthetically sound shell can be deposited concurrently slice after slice and sintered/cured simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Pentron Laboratory Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin L. Schulman, Carlino Panzera
  • Patent number: 7497983
    Abstract: Methods of forming a colored ceramic body or dental article are described that include: (a) forming a body from a ceramic-containing powder; (b) shaping the body into a desired shape; and (c) firing the shaped body in an atmosphere comprising at least one coloring agent. Methods of forming a fully dense ceramic body that lacks discoloration, are also described which include: (a) forming a body from a ceramic-containing powder; (b) shaping the body into a desired shape; (c) placing the shaped body in a firing atmosphere containing at least one impurity that promote discoloration of the ceramic body; (d) placing the ceramic body in proximity to an atmosphere powder; and (e) firing the shaped body in proximity to an atmosphere powder; wherein the atmosphere powder acts as at least one of a barrier and a getter for the at least one impurity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pentron Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajmal Khan, Dmitri G. Brodkin
  • Patent number: 7413426
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tool for turning a hex screw at the top of a denture compress containing denture flasks which comprises a hex key wrench having a shaft of finite length. Turning the hex screw in one direction causes pressure to be applied to a plate beneath it, and to the denture flasks within the compress. At one end of the shaft there is a handle perpendicular to the shaft, a T-handle. At the opposite end of the shaft a plurality of hex keys of different sizes are formed, in a contiguous relationship, the largest hex key being closest to the shaft and the smallest being furthest from the shaft. The T-handled hex key is supported by a frame which is attached to a flat base plate. The frame is perpendicular to the plane of the base plate, which has either within its surface or on its surface means for temporarily securing the dental compress thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventor: Mirahmad Kamali
  • Patent number: 7156637
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus, materials, devices and methods for the use of a variety of thermoplastic resins in fabricating dental prostheses without the use of expensive hot-press equipment unavailable to most dental laboratories. The prostheses made by the process and materials disclosed herein provide more attractive and longer lasting prostheses with significant savings in both costs and materials. Among the aims of the technology disclosed is to save time and money for the dental industry (dentists, dental labs) and the dental consumer/patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventors: V. Kim Kutsch, Robert J. Bowers
  • Patent number: 6881360
    Abstract: A process for producing a dental prosthesis wherein an impression is taken of the patient's mouth, a working model is created, a base plate is applied to the working model, an insulating film is applied to the base plate, a tooth arrangement in wax is formed on the base plate, a framework of the teeth is then formed with an investment compound, the wax is then boiled out and replaced with a curable material which is subsequently hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Heraeus Kulzer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Stange, Novica Savic, Albert Erdrich, Teresa Puchalska, Bettina Korthaus
  • Patent number: 6821462
    Abstract: Solid free form fabrication techniques such as fused deposition modeling and three-dimensional printing are used to create a shell used in the manufacture of a dental restoration. Three-dimensional printing includes ink-jet printing a binder into selected areas of sequentially deposited layers of powder. Each layer is created by spreading a thin layer of powder over the surface of a powder bed. Instructions for each layer may be derived directly from a CAD representation of the restoration. The area to be printed is obtained by computing the area of intersection between the desired plane and the CAD representation of the object. All the layers required for an aesthetically sound shell can be deposited concurrently slice after slice and sintered/cured simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Jeneric/Pentron, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin L. Schulman, Carlino Panzera
  • Patent number: 6808659
    Abstract: Solid free form fabrication techniques such as fused deposition modeling and three-dimensional printing are used to create a shell or die used in the manufacture of a dental restoration. Three-dimensional printing includes ink-jet printing a binder into selected areas of sequentially deposited layers of powder. Each layer is created by spreading a thin layer of powder over the surface of a powder bed. Instructions for each layer may be derived directly from a CAD representation of the restoration. The area to be printed is obtained by computing the area of intersection between the desired plane and the CAD representation of the object. All the layers required for an aesthetically sound shell can be deposited concurrently slice after slice and sintered/cured simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Jeneric/Pentron Incorporated
    Inventors: Martin L. Schulman, Carlino Panzera
  • Patent number: 6730246
    Abstract: A method of replacing a lost denture includes the steps of forming a mold 20 as an impression of the original denture, and of fabricating a replacement denture using this mold. The mold consists of a tissue side mold section and an exterior side mold section. The tissue side mold section is made of a dimensionally stable material, such as dental stone or an addition-cured silicone rubber, so that the tissue side of the denture can be accurately reproduced at a later time. The exterior side mold is made of a resilient material, so that the original denture and its duplicate can be removed from the mold. An injection passage and overflow passages can be drilled into the exterior side mold section so that a liquid resin can be injected to adequately fill the mold cavity to form the gum portion of the duplicate denture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventors: William Raymond Price, Cannon Gary Sample
  • Patent number: 6660194
    Abstract: A process for preparing a dental prosthesis is disclosed, including preparing a wax pattern of an objective dental prosthesis based on a duplicated model having an intraoral shape, investing the wax pattern in an investment material, and removing the wax pattern to prepare a mold, wherein a composite resin is charged under pressure into the mold, and the composite resin is cured under heat and pressure, the process of the present invention enables one to obtain a dental prosthesis that has suitable esthetics and superior mechanical properties and free from fear of pulp irritation by the unpolymerized monomer, and particularly suitable for the preparation of inlays, crowns, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: GC Corporation
    Inventor: Akishi Arita
  • Patent number: 6617680
    Abstract: A chip carrier, a semiconductor package and a fabricating method thereof are proposed, in which on one side of the chip carrier finally removed from an engaged surface of a mold in a de-molding process there is formed at least one grounding means corresponding in position to an eject pin of the mold, so as to allow a gear amount of electrical static generated on a surface of the semiconductor package during molding and de-molding to be discharged to the outside, instead of being retained on a semiconductor chip, conductive elements and conductive traces of the semiconductor package. This therefore can prevent electrical leakage and damage to the semiconductor chip from occurrence, and improve the quality and production efficiency for the semiconductor package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen Chien-Chih, Yu-Ting Lai, Chin-Wen Lai
  • Publication number: 20030162147
    Abstract: A combination set (FIG. 1, A,B), at least in a medium size or different sizes, includes complete arched denture teeth units (1), (2) preformed without denture base, for setting up denture teeth instantly and adjustable in a full balanced articulation during custom denture work. The set(s) is composed of a complete upper (1) and separate complementary complete lower (2) arched denture teeth unit, each including anterior and posterior denture teeth inter-connected either in a complete (A) or under-extended complete (B) tooth arch at least in an oval form. Each of the units includes a total unitary inter-occlusal bite plane preformed in a corresponding centric occlusion and full balanced articulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Frans A.B. Dequeker
  • Publication number: 20030153645
    Abstract: The invention provides a dental composition including filler and a polymerizable dental material selected from the group consisting of wax-like polymerizable dental material and restorative paste wax polymerizable dental material. The dental composition is useful as restorative material and for making artificial teeth, crowns and bridges of high strength dental polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Benjamin Sun , Andrew M Lichkus
  • Publication number: 20030127291
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining raw fibrous and binding materials in a single mixing step (Step S3), followed by consolidation (Step S5) so as to greatly shorten the overall cycle time to a finished fiber-reinforced composite part. Chopped fibrous materials and binder materials are deposited sequentially onto a belt conveyor (Step S2) so that the materials are successively layered, one on top of each other in a predetermined ratio, and subsequently mixed (Step S3) to achieve uniform dispersion throughout. The mixed materials are then deposited into a rotating mold (Step S4) to further ensure uniform dispersion of fibrous and binder materials. Impregnation of the fibrous materials with the binder material occur in-situ as the uniformly mixed materials are heated and subsequently compacted in the mold (Step S5) to obtain the desired shape of the fiber-reinforced composite part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Michael D. Wood, Mark L. LaForest, Neil Murdie, Dean S. Kriskovich, Vernon R. Hudalla, Thaddeus W. Gonsowski
  • Publication number: 20030124490
    Abstract: In the formation of dental bridges, the preferred material is a tightly-sintered aluminium oxide, and it is normal practice that the necessary bridge parts, namely two bridge anchors and a connecting intermediate link (pontic), are formed by a specialist and thereafter joined together in a dental laboratory where use is made of a melted glass as binding agent, after which the assembled bridge item is fired with porcelain. With the invention it has been found that considerable advantages can be achieved when a dispersion of said aluminium oxide or a material related herewith is used as binding agent, which after application between the assembly surfaces is heated until loose sintering is achieved, after which an infiltration of the sintered material by the glass is brought about by renewed or additional heating. There is hereby achieved a more simple working process as well as a stronger binding both between the assembly surfaces as well as between the bridge item and the porcelain with which it is fired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Lise-Lotte Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20030113689
    Abstract: The invention provides a high strength dental polymeric material formed from wax-like polymerizable dental material. A wax-like polymerizable dental material formed by a process comprising blending polymerizable compounds which polymerize to form high strength dental polymeric material. The invention provides a process for making a denture including: positioning artificial teeth in wax-like polymerizable dental material, and shaping the polyermizable material into the form of a denture base. The process is completed without forming wax and without applying inorganic plaster to the artificial teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Sun, Andrew M. Lichkus
  • Publication number: 20030068598
    Abstract: A dental or medical device for use in construction of a finished dental or medical appliance which includes a shapable prepreg, where the prepreg coontains fibers, and at least one solid body attached to the prepreg. The solid body attached to the prepreg constitutes a solid body included in the finished appliance and forms a part or whole of the outer surface of the finished appliance. Also disclosed are methods for the manufacture of the device, either so that the prefabricated solid body is contacted with the prepreg, or so that the solid body is created simultaneously with the manufacturing of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Pekka Vallittu, Lippo Lassila, Ilkka Kangasniemi
  • Publication number: 20020125592
    Abstract: Solid free form fabrication techniques such as fused deposition modeling and three-dimensional printing are used to create a shell or die used in the manufacture of a dental restoration. Three-dimensional printing comprises ink-jet printing a binder into selected areas of sequentially deposited layers of powder. Each layer is created by spreading a thin layer of powder over the surface of a powder bed. Instructions for each layer may be derived directly from a CAD representation of the restoration. The area to be printed is obtained by computing the area of intersection between the desired plane and the CAD representation of the object. All the layers required for an aesthetically sound shell can be deposited concurrently slice after slice and sintered/cured simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Martin L. Schulman, Carlino Panzera
  • Patent number: 6386503
    Abstract: A mold for embedding casts in an embedding compound for producing molds for dental workpieces, such as crowns and bridges, which has a mold cavity which can be filled with the embedding compound, which holds at least one cast and which is closed by a cylindrical peripheral wall and by a bottom part. The peripheral wall is formed by a blank of a transparent or translucent flat elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Dental Forschung Schleicher GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schleicher
  • Patent number: 6335385
    Abstract: The invention provides a curable system and method of making a dental prosthesis. The method of making a dental prosthesis includes providing a one component denture base resin composition which is polymerizable by microwave energy. The one component denture base resin composition is injected into a mold enclosed by a flask having a body wall which is substantially transparent to the microwave energy. The curable system includes microwave energy sensitive initiators and polymerizables (meth)acrylate Monomers having molecular weights preferably between 400 and 20,000. The initiators are adapted to initiate polymerization of the polymerizable Monomers by application of microwave energy to the flask. The initiators are adapted to remain stable and not initiate polymerization of the Monomers for at least one year at 23° C. in the absence of microwave energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Dentsply GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Joachin Görlich, Wigbert Hauner, Ralf Janda
  • Patent number: 6302186
    Abstract: A disposable plunger for use in a pressing furnace for the fabrication of dental restorations. The plunger is fabricated of a refractory investment material such as gypsum-bonded, phosphate-bonded or ethyl silicate-bonded investment materials. The plunger is fabricated by known casting methods. The mold used for making the plunger can be supplied by a manufacturer of molds or can be easily made by using an alumina or similar plunger as a model. Laborious cleaning and grinding are not required with plungers herein described. Cracking problems that occur with prior art plungers are decreased, if not completely eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Jeneric/Pentron, Inc.
    Inventor: Patricia E. Vidal
  • Patent number: 6287490
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fiber rein-forced composite dental restoration comprising the steps of (i) preparing a mould; (ii) filling the cavity of the mould with a fiber-reinforced polymerizable material comprising an organic matrix and a fiber component embedded within the matrix; (iii) applying pressure to the fiber-reinforced polymerizable material; and (iv) curing the fiber-reinforced polymerizable material. The method is characterized in that the mould is designed in a way which allows excess organic matrix material to escape form the cavity during pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Ivoclar AG
    Inventors: Volker Rheinberger, Gerhard Zanghellini
  • Patent number: 6261496
    Abstract: A novel process for preparing injection molding feedstock compounds in a continuous manner amenable to high volume manufacturing includes the steps of forming a mixture including metal and/or ceramic powders, a binder and a liquid carrier, supplying the components in a continuous manner to a twin screw extruder, forcing the homogeneous compounded mixture through an exit die, and cutting the extruded strand into pellets. The pellets are useful for shape-forming articles by various molding processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Duyckinck, Brian Snow, Steven Sesny, George Glandz
  • Publication number: 20010001510
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced composite comprising the steps of (i) preparing a mould; (ii) filling the cavity of the mould with a fiber-reinforced polymerizable material comprising an organic matrix and a fiber component embedded within the matrix; (iii) applying pressure to the fiber-reinforced polymerizable material; and (iv) curing the fiber-reinforced polymerizable material. The method is characterized in that the mould is designed in a way which allows excess organic matrix material to escape form the cavity during pressing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Inventors: VOLKER RHEINBERGER, GERHARD ZANGHELLINI
  • Patent number: 6186761
    Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for making injection molded dental appliance apparatuses having an injector module removably attached to a dental flask, a press and a controlled compression apparatus, wherein the press and compression apparatus introduce pressure into the dental flask and the injector module, which pressure may or may not be maintained during curing of the appliance. The invention also includes a system for dispensing dental appliance chemicals having at least one chemical dispensing apparatus and a mixing container; whereby a separate dispensing apparatus is used for each chemical and the chemicals are dispensed and mixed in the same container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: GC America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lothar Petkow, Wolf Parisius, A. A. Robertson
  • Patent number: 6165392
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lens having a lens body integral with a functional sheet on one side thereof, includes an insert molding process including the steps of: placing the functional sheet as an insert in position in a mold defining a suction hole therein; and while attracting the functional sheet against a molding surface of the mold by a peripheral portion thereof by suction through the suction hole, supplying to the mold a molten plastic material for forming the lens body, to form the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Yamamoto Kogaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobuchi, Masahiko Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6165393
    Abstract: The present invention is for providing a production method of a dielectric lens with the excellent productivity, capable of achieving the shape accuracy or density homogeneity of the demanded level, and capable of injection molding of a matching layer without forming a gap with respect to a lens main body. A lens main body is formed by the injection compression molding method, using a composite dielectric material containing a thermoplastic resin as the dielectric material for the lens main body. After forming a matching layer (first surface side matching layer) on either surface of the front or rear surfaces (first surface) side of the lens main body, and injecting a matching layer material, a matching layer (second surface side matching layer) is formed on the other surface of the lens main body (that is, the matching layer is formed by the two operation injection molding method of injecting to one surface side of the lens main body, and then injection to the other surface side).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nonogaki, Keizo Yamamoto, Tatsuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6159397
    Abstract: The present invention is addressed to a method for fabricating lenses having at least one or more translucent regions used to reduce glare and/or increase visual acuity. To overcome the limitations of the prior art, an injection mold die having a selective portion thereof textured with a pattern or so-called "texture," which is replicated on the lens during injection molding, is employed to form a region of desired translucency on the finished lens. Various methods may be employed to fabricate the texture or pattern on the desired surface portion of the mold die, including mechanical engraving, chemical etching, and electrical-erosion machining (EDM and ECM). Typically, the texture or pattern includes multiple grained features of a quasi-repeating geometrical pattern distributed on the selected portion of the mold die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Eyecity.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean Friedman
  • Patent number: 6156241
    Abstract: New intraocular lenses (IOLs) and methods for producing IOLs. The present methods include a combination of steps which increase the pull strength between the fixation member of the IOL and the optic of the IOL without requiring sophisticated high frequency corona discharge activation or plasma activation or other exotic activation of the fixation member or primer coating of the fixation member. The silicone polymeric optic members employed in the present invention can be formed, for example, molded, without recesses to accommodate the fixation members. Such recesses can be formed and provided with a quantity of silicone polymeric material precursor composition after the optic members are produced. The fixation members are then placed in the recesses and secured to the optic members. The present methods are straight forward, easy to practice and are cost effective in producing high quality IOLs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Allergan
    Inventors: Duc Q. Tran, Russell J. Lind
  • Patent number: 6132652
    Abstract: In a method of producing a lightguide plate for surface light source according to the present invention, a plate-shaped metal mold for defining the shape of a part of a cavity of a molding die and particularly, the shape of a light emitting surface of the lightguide plate for surface light source (a concavo-convex shape, a lenticular lens shape, etc.) is provided so as to be replaceable, to form a cavity having a desired shape by the replacement of the plate-shaped metal mold. Resin liquid is injected into the cavity, its resin liquid is solidified, and the resin is then released from the cavity. Consequently, a lightguide plate for surface light source having a desired shape and particularly, having its light emitting surface in a desired shape is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Higuchi, Takanari Kusafuka, Yoshiaki Maeno
  • Patent number: 6130270
    Abstract: A radiation curable composition comprising,(A) at least one compound containing a (meth)acrylate group represented by the following formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sup.2 is an alkylene group or a hydroxyalkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is a divalent organic group, n is a number of 1 to 10, m is an integer of 0 or 1, and Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are independently a group comprising an aromatic ring(B) at least one compound derived from trishydroxyethyl isocyanurate, and containing at least one (meth)acrylate group, and(C) at least one radiation polymerization initiator.The radiation curable resin composition affords a high productivity, exhibits high transparency, and produces molded articles exhibiting minimal coloration upon exposure to light, superior dimensional precision, high heat resistance, only slight adhesion to substrates under high temperature conditions. The composition is very useful for manufacturing molding articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignees: DSM N.V., JSR Corporation, Japan Fine Coatings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakatsu Ukon, Toshihiko Takahashi, Takashi Ukachi
  • Patent number: 6129866
    Abstract: For providing a stamper for forming a planar micro-lens array, a stamper is prepared by forming plural concave portions 2 for forming lens portion upon a stamping surface thereof, and a trap portion 3 is provided surrounding said plural concave portions and continuing until an outer edge thereof. Then, onto the stamping surface, on which a release agent 4 is applied, there is applied a high refractive index resin 5, and a glass substrate 6 is pressed onto the high refractive index resin 5 to exude it. With this operation, the high refractive index resin 5 is filled into each of the plural concave portions 2, and any excess is received or accommodated in the trap portion 3, thereby preventing excess resin from being forced outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Hamanaka, Satoshi Taniguchi, Kenji Morio
  • Patent number: 6129864
    Abstract: A process for producing an optical waveguide substrate including a ridge-shaped structural portion containing at least an optical waveguide, which process including the steps of forming an optical waveguide-forming layer on a substrate body to prepare a substrate workpiece, and forming said ridge-shaped structural portion at said substrate workpiece by grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Imaeda, Tatsuo Kawaguchi, Takahiro Inoue, Masatomo Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6126732
    Abstract: A shaped, high-strength dental ceramic prothesis is made by pressing a molding composition comprising about 1-50 wt % glass particles and about 50-99 wt % ceramic particles to form a ceramic frame, veneering the frame and firing the coated frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Dentsply DeTrey GmbH
    Inventors: Carmen Hofmann, Ludwig J. Gauckler, Gerhard Bayer, Martin E. Hofmann, Atef Malash, Peter Scharer, Heinz Luthy, Klaus Krumbholz, Wigbert Hauner, Hansjorg Janssen, Ralf Janda
  • Patent number: 6110401
    Abstract: A simple, fast, and reliable method and apparatus are provided for replicating a light shaping surface structure on a laminated surface of a relatively rigid substrate. More specifically, after the substrate is mounted on a table and a layer of epoxy is deposited between the substrate and a submaster to produce a layered structure, the layered structure is automatically compressed in a nip formed between the table and an outer surface of a rotating impression roller, thereby replicating the surface structure in the epoxy layer. The epoxy is then cured, and the submaster is separated from the substrate to leave a laminated structure having the light shaping surface structure on a surface thereof. Preferably, the submaster is wrapped around the impression roller, and the impression roller is rotated while the table is reciprocated linearly to compress the layered structure in the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Kang S. Lee, Abbas Hosseini, Gajendra D. Savant
  • Patent number: 6106747
    Abstract: A method for producing a dental prosthesis to be fitted to a fitting member including the steps of: determining the three-dimensional contours of the fitting member; producing a three-dimensional form of the dental prosthesis; producing a working stump and/or a working pack; placing the working stump in the form and/or packing the working pack around the outside of the form to completely cover the form; sintering the form with the working stump and/or the working pack; and separating the working stump and/or the working pack from the dental prosthesis after sintering. The working stump and working pack are produced such that they are enlarged by a predetermined enlargement factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Arnold Wohlwend
  • Patent number: 6099786
    Abstract: A method of making accurate alignment layers in a liquid crystal display (LCD) cell is provided so that the LCD seal band can be placed as close to the pixel as possible. This method is implemented by ablating the apolyimide film on the glass substrates of the LCD cell to remove the alignment film where the sealing material is to be dispersed later. Thus, the sealing band can butt against the liquid crystal mixture without any clearance. In so doing, the display area is increased, and the reliability of the seal is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Prime View International Co.
    Inventors: Dyi-Chung Hu, Sheng-Heisn Lin, Tai-Kang Wu, Sywe N. Lee
  • Patent number: 6096247
    Abstract: A method of making embossed optical polymer films and embossed optical polymer films made are described. The embossed optical polymer films have substantially the same optical properties as unembossed optical polymer films. The method includes providing an optical polymer film having first and second major surfaces, softening at least one of the first and second major surfaces to produce a softened surface, embossing the softened surface to produce an embossed optical polymer film, and cooling the embossed optical polymer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Ulsh, Mark A. Strobel, David F. Serino, Janet T. Keller
  • Patent number: 6075066
    Abstract: The present invention provides semi-spherical materials to be worn on the eyeball, such as contact lenses for visual acuity correction or medical treatment use, cornea protecting materials, controlled drug release contact lenses and the like, which comprise, as a main component, a glycosaminoglycan existing in the living body as an extracellular matrix component of connective tissues and satisfy various requirements such as dimentional stability, transparency, surface water wettability, tissue compatibility, oxygen permeability and the like. In other words, the material to be worn on the eyeball has a shape of semi-spherical surface compatible in shape with the mammalian eyeball and has biological and surface-physical compatibilities with ophthalmic tissues and comprises, as a main component, a substantially transparent photocured crosslinked-glycosaminoglycan obtained by allowing photoreactive groups covalently bonded to a glycosaminoglycan to crosslink mutually by photoirradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Seikagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehisa Matsuda, Hiroshi Nakao
  • Patent number: 6074579
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a prescription lens, for eyeglasses on site by compression molding, in a pair of upper and lower molds having a mold surfaces from a thermoplastic preformed lens blank having opposite surfaces and a periphery, comprising the steps of: preheating a preform blank at a first temperature and preheating the upper and lower molds to a second higher temperature; positioning the preheated preform between the upper and lower preheated molds such that the preform makes a single point or line contact with each of the mold surfaces; initially compressing the preformed at a first fixed rate of speed regardless of pressure exerted on the preform, with the preform being compressed to about 4 mm of a predetermined lens thickness desired for the prescription lens; finally compressing the preform to a substantially finished prescription lens at a second fixed rate of speed substantially higher than the first fixed rate of speed regardless of pressure exerted on the preform while substantially maintain
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Martin Greshes
  • Patent number: 6071443
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing a lens sheet, which is safe, which can cut the material cost and the facility cost, which can continuously produce, by the use of a forming die, a formed lens sheet that contains no air bubbles in the lens area thereof and which can attain higher productivity, and reduction of costs by using a decreased number of forming dies or the like; and a projection screen. The process for producing a lens sheet according to the present invention includes the steps of coating a resin composition for a lens sheet onto a forming die by the use of a multiple nozzle in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged at intervals along the forming die for a lens sheet in a direction substantially rectangular to a direction in which the resin composition for a lens sheet will be coated, and superposing a base material on the resin composition for a lens sheet which has been coated onto the forming die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Futoshi Osawa, Masahiro Goto
  • Patent number: 6071441
    Abstract: A cylindrical base material having an outer and inner at least two layer structure is produced by using a cylindrical molded body made of a low-refractive-index material as a mold, and forming at least one layer made of a layer-forming material having a relatively high refractive index in the inner surface of the cylindrical molded body by the rotational molding, wherein the centrifugal force during the rotational molding is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Koganezawa, Noriyuki Yoshihara, Tsuyoshi Onishi, Takashi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6068797
    Abstract: A method of preparing a shaped article having a photochromic coating thereon, and curable photochromic powder coating compositions are described. The method includes: applying at least one curable powder coating composition to at least a portion of the interior of a mold, e.g., a lens mold, wherein at least one of the applied powder coating compositions includes a photochromic amount of photochromic material; curing at least partially the applied photochromic powder coating; charging a polymerizable organic casting composition into the mold; polymerizing the casting composition; and removing a shaped article having a photochromic coating on at least a portion of its surface from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin L. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6063314
    Abstract: Shaped article replicas which are proportionately accurate replicas of a shaped article and which are equal, greater or smaller in size than said shaped article are made by preparing a swellable polymer replica of said shaped article; immersing said swellable polymer replica in a swelling agent system under conditions which will enlarge said polymer replica to a predetermined extent; forming a casting mold of such enlarged polymer replica; making a powder compact in said casting mold and heating said powder compact to produced a proportionately accurate solid replica of a predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Den-Mat Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Chadwick
  • Patent number: 6054071
    Abstract: Twisting balls (10) for an electric-paper display are formed from a polarizable material and encapsulated in a protective shell (12). The balls (10) are disposed between first and second electrodes (14, 16) which generate an electric field. The electric field polarizes each ball (10) transforming each into a dipole electret having a first and second charged poles. At least one colorant (20) is applied to each of the balls (10) to obtain multichromal balls such that the charged poles are distinct from each other. The polarized multichromal balls may then be used in fabricating an electric-paper display by encapsulating the balls (10) in an array such that each ball is capable of rotating in response to a selectively applied electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Mikkelsen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6054068
    Abstract: A potting compound for use in the fabrication of fiber optic gyro sensor coils utilizes a silver-filled silicone base to reduce gyro sensitivity to changes in heat rate and thereby improve gyro performance during warm-up and periods of thermal cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Litton Systems,Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Randy Carlson, Amado Cordova, John P. Rahn
  • Patent number: 6044629
    Abstract: In manufacturing a resin bag, a first resin sheet is disposed in a cavity of a mold, and a heat-resisting sheet smaller than the first resin sheet is overlaid on the first resin sheet to expose a periphery of the first resin sheet along the outer periphery of the heat-resisting sheet. Then, a molten resin is injected into the cavity in a state where the mold is opened, and the mold is closed while pressing and expanding the injected resin in a molten state. Thus, the injected resin covers the heat-resisting sheet and the exposed periphery of the first resin sheet. The second resin sheet is molded, and the periphery of the second resin sheet is bonded with the periphery of the first resin sheet at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Kinji Hirai