One Step Reshapes Portion Only Of Article Patents (Class 264/296)
  • Patent number: 6007753
    Abstract: In the end portion of a weather strip, the projecting base end portion of a hollow seal portion is left as a first uncut-off portion, whereas the main portion of the hollow seal portion is cut off. The thus treated end portion is set in a split mold. In this setting, a cooling mold is brought into contact with a decorative high molecular layer. Also, the first uncut-off portion is pushed down in a direction away from the decorative high molecular layer is thereby pressed against the outer surface of the side wall of a trim portion. Also, a first middle mold is disposed opposed to the outer surface of the side wall to thereby form a cavity, while the cavity and decorative high molecular layer are separated from each other through the first uncut-off portion. Molding material is injected into the cavity to thereby form a mold forming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Nagata
  • Patent number: 6004125
    Abstract: An apparatus for the production of pile-up lids, each of which comprises an upper wall (1) and an element (2) arranged around the perimeter of said upper wall (1) and which forms a lip (3) protruding above said upper wall (1), and skirt (4) extending below said upper wall (1). The apparatus is used for carrying out a process which includes bringing together in a synchronous manner external sector elements (9) and internal sector elements (10) in radially opposite directions so that, owing to the forced approach of the contact surfaces of the external and internal sector elements (9, 10) with said upper lip (3) of said lid interposed between them, a reeding pressure-moulding is obtained on both the inner and the outer surfaces of said upper lip (3), giving said lip (3) an outline to allow piling up on other similar lids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Seda S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco D'Amato
  • Patent number: 6001295
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a molded air bag cover that employs a notch forming member that is projected into the mold cavity following the injection of the cover forming material. After cooling the mold is opened and the molded air bag cover is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Tadashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5992633
    Abstract: A cutting and packaging process for expanded polystyrene foam blocks having an original geometric, as well as a product, is provided. The process internally cuts the expanded polystyrene foam blocks to provide pre-cut expanded polystyrene foam blocks. The pre-cut expanded polystyrene foam blocks are maintained in their original geometric form and are packaged in this original geometric form to prevent disassembly of said pre-cut expanded polystyrene foam blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Edgar Burchard
  • Patent number: 5993580
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakayama, Hideo Kamo, Yoshitaka Nishio, Tetsuro Okazono, Takanari Takagaki
  • Patent number: 5993724
    Abstract: A first mold is provided having a first molding surface including a flat primary surface area, a plurality of spaced leg areas within the primary surface area, and a plurality of pin holes in the primary surface area positioned between the leg areas; and a second mold is provided having a second molding surface including a flat primary surface area, a plurality of leg areas in the primary surface area corresponding to the leg areas in the primary surface area of the first molding surface, and a plurality of spaced knitting surfaces relieved from the general plain of the primary surface area, positioned between the leg areas, and corresponding to respective pin holes in the primary surface area of the first molding surface. A first plastic sheet is thermoformed to the first molding surface to conform the first plastic sheet to the primary surface area and the leg areas of the first molding surface and position the sheet in overlying relation to the pin holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Lyle H. Shuert
    Inventor: Lyle H. Shuert
  • Patent number: 5992835
    Abstract: The omnidirectional work table fixture for printed circuit board repair that enables the operator to both laterally and rotationally position the printed circuit board. This is accomplished by providing a mounting plate on one major surface of which is affixed a printed circuit board fixture to hold the printed circuit board in place. On the other major surface is mounted a plurality of omnidirectional rollers which enable smooth movement of the omnidirectional work table fixture in any direction, both laterally (X-Y direction) as well as rotationally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Carl A. Gallegos, Harvey R. Hoogstrate
  • Patent number: 5989464
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vitreous carbon-active carbon composite material wherein the vitreous carbon is derived from a polycarbodiimide resin; a process for producing the above vitreous carbon-active carbon composite material by firing a mixture of a polycarbodiimide resin and an active carbon, or a molded article of desired shape prepared from the mixture, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; and a polarizable electrode for use in an electric double layer capacitor, which consists of the above vitreous carbon-active carbon composite material. The polarizable electrode is free from the drawbacks of the prior art, has a low internal resistance, causes a low degree of powder detachment, has a large electric capacitance per unit weight and per unit volume, and can be produced easily, quickly and inexpensively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Atsushi Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 5989469
    Abstract: A valve and method are provided wherein the valve has a membrane which is molded and cured in a naturally cupped or concave shape, but wherein the membrane is elastically inverted or deflected inside-out so that the direction of concavity is reversed. The membrane is positioned concentrically within a cylindrical or tubular dispensing spout so that the inverted membrane is cupped toward an exit direction of the spout. By inverting the membrane, a reliable radially-outward sealing bias is formed between a peripheral edge of the membrane against an interior of the tubular spout. When mounted on the bottom of a squeeze container, the valve is effective to dispense fluid from the container when squeezed, permit air to breathe back into the container after squeezing, and to sealably prevent leakage from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Knight Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Dirr
  • Patent number: 5985195
    Abstract: A process for beveling the tip of a medical catheter is described. A catheter blank is mounted on a mandrel normally with the mandrel tip extending beyond the tip of the catheter to be beveled. The mandrel and catheter blank are inserted into a previously heated mold having a passage therethrough through which the mandrel passes. At a portion of the mold at which the terminus of the catheter is to be formed, a constriction is provided through which material (flash) may pass from the mold volume to the outside of the mold. The material is permitted to cool sufficiently such that when the mandrel and catheter are withdrawn from the mold, the flash tears and separates from the catheter at the point of the constriction formed between the mold and the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: James Muskatello
  • Patent number: 5984656
    Abstract: The forming surface of a forming mold (5) for postforming of a shaped cord (2) in the shape of a frame extruded onto a glass (1) is slightly curved in the direction of the length of shaped cord (2). In the final position of forming mold (4) during the postforming operation, lateral edges (11, 12) are thus slightly above the surface of shaped cord (2). This avoids the creation of imprints in the form of lines or edges on the shaped cord, and a smooth transition is achieved between the postformed length of the shaped cord that attaches there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Florez Kittel, Helmut Krumm
  • Patent number: 5980230
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a fastener product are disclosed. The method comprises molding a preform member in a mold cavity defined by first and second parts of a mold, removing the first part of the mold to expose an array of preform elements of the preform member while the member remains within the second part of the mold, and, while holding the member by the second part of the mold, performing a subsequent forming operation on the preform elements. The apparatus deforms the preform elements, preferably with a heated mold plate, to form fastener elements while holding the member by the second part of the mold. In a preferred embodiment the resulting elements are mushroom-shaped and the preform is held in the second part of the mold by another fastening feature. Both reciprocating and rotary-type machines are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Clinton Dowd, Keith G. Buzzell
  • Patent number: 5980808
    Abstract: A method of producing a tubular container which can efficiently and integrally produce a thinly walled neck section on the tubular container without altering the appearance and profile of the container. The method of producing a tubular container comprises the first step of arranging a thinly walled tube to a tube holder, the second step of softening the inside of the front end of the thinly walled tube, the third step of shrinking the front end of the thinly walled tube, and the fourth step of forming a neck section and a shoulder section to the front end of the thinly walled tube by means of a male mold. After heating the thinly walled tube with hot air, the air is drawn and removed, and the outer wall surface is cooled so as to make the subsequent steps to be conducted smoothly and efficiently. Since hot air is drawn after heating the outer wall surface, a thinly walled tapered shoulder section can be produced without altering the appearance and profile of the tubular container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 5980791
    Abstract: A method for forming a molded-in lifter for supporting a fabric liner of a flexible magnetic recording disc so that the disc is cleaned by rotation of the disc with respect to the liner when the disc is housed within a cartridge. The lifter is a raised rib that has a controlled height typically provided by deforming a molded-in rib to the desired height. The cartridge may also include a recess in the shell opposite the rib to receive the rib and prevent or reduce compression of the media if the cartridge is compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Berscheid, Randy L. Carlson, Jeffrey T. Gibbs, Ronald H. Turchin, Kristi L. Limke, Lee M. Langseth
  • Patent number: 5976429
    Abstract: A dense, self-sintered silicon carbide/carbon-graphite composite material and a process for producing the composite material. The composite material includes a silicon carbide matrix, between 2 and 30 percent by weight carbon-graphite, and small amounts of sintering aids such as boron and free carbon. The silicon carbide has an average grain size between 2 and 15 .mu.m, and the carbon-graphite has an average grain size between 10 and 75 .mu.m, the average grain size of the carbon-graphite being greater than the average grain size of the silicon carbide. The composite material has a density of at least 80 percent of theoretical density as determined by the rule of mixtures for a composite material. This density is achieved with minimal microcracking at a high graphite loading with large graphite particles. The composite material exhibits good lubricity and wear characteristics, resulting in improved tribological performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Morgan Crucible Company, PLC
    Inventors: Xin E. Chen, Mark E. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 5975270
    Abstract: A clutch disk made of a C/C composite for a wet multi-plate clutch is comprised of a disk body, and a pair of friction layers integral with and on opposite sides of the disk body for sliding contact with clutch plates. A relationship of V.sub.2 >V.sub.1 is established between the porosity V.sub.1 of the disk body and the porosity V.sub.2 of the friction layer, and the porosity V.sub.2 of the friction layer 4 is set in a range of 20%.ltoreq.V.sub.2 .ltoreq.60%, which provides a clutch disk with sufficient strength and excellent sliding characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Tokune, Tetsuo Naraki, Eiichiro Kawahara, Mitsumasa Furumoto, Tsukasa Takahashi, Takao Nakagawa, Mihoko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5968438
    Abstract: A method and apparatus process a thinly walled tube of thermoplastic resin to produce a tubular container having an inwardly directed flange section in a hole formed at an end of the thinly walled tube. In a first step, the thinly walled tube is secured to a tube holder provided with a male mold for molding the flange section in the hole and forming an opening located inside the flange section. The front end of the thinly walled tube projects by a predetermined distance from the front end of the tube holder. Then, in a second step, hot air is blown to an inner wall surface of the thinly walled tube at and near the front end thereof and the outer wall surface of the thinly walled tube is cooled also at and near the front end thereof. This produces a temperature difference between an inside and an outside of the thinly walled tube, so as to deform the front end of the thinly walled tube into a flange projecting radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 5951931
    Abstract: A molded surface fastener is manufactured by supplying molten resin to the circumferential surface of a die wheel rotating in one way to mold a substrate sheet blank and a multiplicity of substantially straight and inclined engaging element blanks in an integral form, and then pressing distal ends of the engaging element blanks by a heat-molding roller in rotation at the same speed to incline the engaging element blanks further toward the substrate sheet blank and also to melt the distal ends to shape each said distal end into an engaging head projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of inclination of the respective engaging element blank. Each of the resulting engaging elements is composed of a stem rising from the substrate sheet surface with inclination by a predetermined angle (.theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Murasaki, Toshiaki Takizawa, Mitsuru Akeno, Keisuke Sakakibara, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5951929
    Abstract: In a method of forming a catheter having an inner layer, an intermediate braided layer and an outer jacket, wherein the intermediate braided layer terminates axially before the inner layer, leaving a forward end portion of the inner layer exposed, the steps of:a) before applying the outer jacket, loading a plastic sleeve over a forward end of the intermediate braided layer adjacent the forward end portion of the inner layer;b) heating the plastic sleeve to a temperature sufficient to melt the plastic sleeve;c) loading a terminal tip having an axial length over a forward end portion of the inner layer into abutting relationship with the forward end of the intermediate braided layer such that the terminal tip is supported by the forward end portion of the inner layer along all of the axial length of the terminal tip and not reinforced anywhere along the axial length by the intermediate braided layer;d) loading the outer jacket over the braided layer;e) loading a shrink tube over the outer jacket; andf) heating
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Medi-Dyne Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5948329
    Abstract: It is possible to obtain at high yield a carbonaceous material suitable for carbon electrodes of electrical double layer capacitors and having superior capacitance by means of a method comprising a halogenation treatment step wherein a halogenated dry-distilled charcoal is obtained by bringing a dry-distilled charcoal into contact with a halogen gas; and by a dehalogenation treatment step wherein a part or all of the above-mentioned halogen in said halogenated dry-distilled charcoal is eliminated. In addition, it is possible to obtain carbonaceous material for electrical double layer capacitors, which has a large capacitance at rapid discharge and excellent shape, by means of conducting a molding treatment step in which a molded article is made by crushing a dry-distilled charcoal and adding a binding agent; and a carbonization treatment step in which the above-mentioned molded article is heated in an inert gas atmosphere before conducting the halogenation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Takushi Ohsaki, Akira Wakaizumi, Mitsuo Kigure, Akihiro Nakamura, Shinichi Marumo, Toshiya Miyagawa, Tadao Adachi
  • Patent number: 5947293
    Abstract: A cutting and packaging process for expanded polystyrene foam blocks having an original geometric forms, as well as a product, is provided. The process internally cuts the expanded polystyrene foam blocks to provide pre-cut expanded polystyrene foam blocks. The pre-cut expanded polystyrene foam blocks are maintained in their original geometric form and are packaged in this original geometric form to prevent disassembly of the pre-cut expanded polystyrene foam blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Edgar Burchard
  • Patent number: 5942181
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for molding and texturizing the upper surfaces of concrete products such as patio and paving stones following the steps of densifying and molding the concrete products and releasing them on pallets to a substantially horizontally traveling, longitudinally extending conveyor, then passing the concrete products continuously on the conveyor past an overhead force spraying station at a predesignated speed and directing a predetermined volumetric, overhead spray of liquid at a predetermined spray angle and pressure to progressively loosen some of the material and texturize the upper surfaces as the products move past the spraying station, and then before they have absorbed enough liquid to deleteriously affect their strength, either in the uncured or cured state, and, while they are continuing to travel along the conveyor, directing a flow of gas at the upper surfaces at a pressure to blow off the liquid and loosened material from the surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Besser Company
    Inventor: Duane A. Rondeau
  • Patent number: 5937912
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an hydraulic hose having ends of different internal diameters. An uncured hose is produced by conventional extrusion. The uncured hose is placed upon a mandrel having a reduced diameter end. That end of the uncured hose proximate the reduced diameter of the mandrel is covered by a heat responsive shrink tube. The shrink tube is heated to mold the end of the hose about the mandrel. Thereafter, the hose is vulcanized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramzan Ally
  • Patent number: 5935359
    Abstract: A carbonaceous preform, which is free from such drawbacks as delamination and is superior in formability and mass productivity, can be obtained by a process comprising the steps of fixing a laminate of stacked carbon fibers with a fixing jig in the absence of a binder, impregnating the thus-fixed laminate with a molten carbonaceous pitch, and carbonizing the impregnated laminate in a non-oxidative gas atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshio Sohda, Takefumi Kohno, Mitsuhiro Ishii, Masakazu Hiro
  • Patent number: 5935501
    Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon packaging sheath is provided which includes a long slim extruded plastic tube for storing a furled thin-walled intra-aortic balloon. An entry section of the same plastic is injection molded onto one end of the tube, with the entry section including an outwardly flared entry port surface which is spaced from one end of the tube, and an internal passageway which is co-linear and congruent with the internal cross-section of the tube from the respective end of the tube through the intersection of the second internal passageway with the outwardly flared passageway. Thereby a smooth internal surface is provided through the flared passageway into the internal passageway and through the later into the tube. The exit end of the sheath tube is inverted by use of a heated tipping die such that a distal end portion is turned outwardly and back circumjacent another portion of the tube wall to form a smoothly rounded exit passageway of the tube at the exit end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Arrow International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Andrews, William Edelman, Ilyssa A. Hunt
  • Patent number: 5928451
    Abstract: A method of socketing a pipe of oriented plastic having an annular groove inside the socket. An end portion (15) of the pipe is pushed onto a cylindrical mandrel element (11) and the region (l.sub.1) of the end portion at the opening thereof where the groove is to be located is heated to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of amorphous plastic and the crystalline melting point of crystalline plastic, respectively. The rest of the end portion is maintained at a temperature below the glass transition temperature or the crystalline melting point, respectively. The end portion (15) when said region is at a temperature above the glass transition temperature or the crystalline melting point, respectively, is pushed onto a second mandrel element (13) axially aligned with the first mandrel element the bottom portion of the socket being formed by said second mandrel element (13). The rest of the end portion is expanded to form the bottom portion of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignees: Uponor B.V., Vinidex Tubemakers Pty., Ltd
    Inventors: Mats Johansson, Jyri Jarvenkyla
  • Patent number: 5924199
    Abstract: A method of making a one-piece steering wheel insert includes the steps of extruding material into an elongated continuous extrusion having a shape including an outer rim portion, a central hub portion and at least one spoke portion extending between the hub portion and the rim portion, cutting the extrusion into a plurality of blanks, and forming each of the blanks into a final shape of the steering wheel insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James Kent Conlee, Brian Thomas Finnigan
  • Patent number: 5925301
    Abstract: A catheter assembly is provided for delivering a diagnostic fluid to a diagnostic site within the vascular system of a patient comprising an elongated central tube that can be routed into and through a vascular system of a patient, the tube including a tube proximal end and a tube distal end, a flexible sleeve defining a space between the interior surface of the sleeve and an exterior surface of the central tube, the sleeve comprising a sleeve proximal end sealably connected to the exterior circumference of the central tube. The sleeve extends along a length of the central tube from the sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end, the central tube defining one or more openings that extend through a wall of the central tube so that the interior of the central tube is in fluid communication with the interior of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Cordis Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk Johnson, Stephen J. Querns
  • Patent number: 5925298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a rigid circuit board has a circuit board with a reduced thickness in a bend region. The bend region may have several layers of laminate and conductive material. The circuit board is heated to the glass transition temperature which allows the circuit board to become flexible. The apparatus has a clamping member and a stationary member. The clamping member uses a shape memory alloy actuator with a transition temperature about the same as the glass transition temperature of the laminate. The actuator is used to form the bend region to a predetermined shape around the stationary member. When the circuit board is cooled, the circuit board again becomes rigid in its predetermined shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bethany Joy Walles, Michael George Todd, Robert Edward Belke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5922252
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards several methods for forming liquid filled centers from thermoplastic materials, including methods for sealing the liquid filled centers subsequent to filling with liquid. The methods exploit the beneficial processing characteristics of thermoplastic materials so as to provide efficient methods for producing liquid filled center cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Stanton, Walter L. Reid, Jr., Stephen K. Scolamiero, Jeffrey L. Dalton
  • Patent number: 5919496
    Abstract: Flanging or curling apparatus particularly for hollow articles obtained by thermoforming from thermoformable sheet material for use in a thermoforming plant equipped with template or mask conveyor for transfer of the thermoformed objects. The apparatus comprises a support frame which delimits at least one workstation for a sequence of masks supporting hot thermoformed objects carried by the conveyor or at least one head for simultaneous curling of all thermoformed objects in the or each workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: ISAP O.M.V. Group SPA
    Inventor: Pietro Padovani
  • Patent number: 5916499
    Abstract: The bran has been less usable and have not been treated as industrial resources. The present invention is a method for producing a porous carbon material product and a hard porous carbon material product which have wide variety of functionalities utilizing such bran which is burned and carbonized stably. The method according to the present invention comprises of the steps of kneading bran with a thermosetting resin and an adequate amount of a solution including an adhesive paste or water, the bran is such as rice bran or wheat bran adjusted grain size; granulating the bran kneaded to predetermined grain size or less; molding the bran granulated in a metal mold by pressurizing and degassing to be a mold; burning and carbonizing the mold detached from the metal mold by heating to desired final burning temperature at a predetermined rate under inactive gas atmosphere or under vacuum; and cooling the mold from the final burning temperature to normal temperature at a predetermined rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Sanwa Yushi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Murayama, Kanji Matsuda, Shujun Shikano, Takehiko Takahashi, Kazuo Hokkirigawa
  • Patent number: 5912048
    Abstract: Porous carbonaceous adsorptive membranes are protected or passivated from surface degradation in moist air by oxidizing the surface at relatively mild conditions after initial preparation of the membrane by pyrolysis. Carbon dioxide is a preferred passivating gas. Contact of passivated membranes with moist air at ambient conditions unexpectedly improves membrane effectiveness in separating gas mixtures containing hydrogen and light hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhukar Bhaskara Rao, Madhu Anand
  • Patent number: 5910246
    Abstract: Device for the isolation of nucleic acids from a liquid sample by introducing the liquid into the device through an inlet opening and passage of the sample through a nucleic acid binding material and discharging of the resulting liquid through an outlet opening, wherein the nucleic acid binding material is inserted through the outlet opening during the manufacture of the device and the outlet opening is narrowed in order to hold the material. The device is particularly simple and reliable to manufacture but yet ensures that nucleic acids can be isolated without contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Boehringer Mannheim GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Walter, Michael Fritz, Herbert Harttig, Hans Lange, Rolf Lerch
  • Patent number: 5910280
    Abstract: A method of making a one-piece, rigid thermoplastics body for a discrete, releasable push-in tube coupling device of the collet type comprises initially injection moulding the body about one or more rigid cores. Each rigid core is then withdrawn axially while the moulding is still in a plastic state whereby the outer, narrower bore portions of the body expand radially. The expanded portions are then radially contracted back to their as-moulded configuration using a jaw-like tool and finally the body is allowed to cool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: IMI Norgren Limited
    Inventor: William S. Deason
  • Patent number: 5895624
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming thick wall plastic components laminated with formable decorative film layers. A thermoformable thick wall plastic sheet in the range of 0.065 to about 0.300 inches thick over at least half its area is provided having a thermoformable decorative dry film coating on one side forming an outer surface of the laminated sheet. The sheet is peripherally supported in an open center rack, heated in one or more ovens to forming temperature and formed by a combination of compression and, preferably, vacuum forming with subsequent trimming of excess material to form a finished component with a high quality finish suitable for automotive body use. The compression and vacuum forming steps may be interchangeably performed in order and provide for high quality finish on the outer surface with shaping of reentrant wall portions on the inner side. Any suitable form of laminated sheet may be formed by the apparatus and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Android Industries of Michigan, LLC
    Inventors: Edwin G. Reece, Robert A. Reece, Gregory J. Masserang
  • Patent number: 5891380
    Abstract: A tamper evident cap is provided which includes plastic and includes a skirt having means for engaging means on a neck of a container for closing and opening the container, and an annular frangible band connected to and depending from the skirt, wherein the band includes an outer wall frangibly connected to the skirt by a line of weakness comprising fracturable bridges, posts and the like, and an inner wall joined to the bottom of the outer wall by a curvilinear connecting portion and extending therefrom inwardly and upwardly in a generally inverted "J", "U", "V", triangulated curl " or "trapazoidal" cross-sectional shape, wherein the inner wall includes a free end comprising a rim adapted to engage the interfering means on a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Zapata Innovative Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Larue, William A. Moll, IV, Francis M. Schloss, Mortimer Stafford Thompson
  • Patent number: 5888442
    Abstract: A filter element made of nonwoven filter fabric includes a plurality of pleated portions and a flange portion formed integrally with the filter portion. The flange portion is formed by a pair of press-forming dies to have a thin and compressed connecting portion formed along the outer periphery of the filter portion, a thick and uncompressed seal portion formed along the outer periphery of the connecting portion and a thin and compressed protecting portion formed along the outer periphery of the seal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyoda Boshuku
    Inventors: Kazuo Kometani, Toshiaki Nakayama, Satoshi Inukai, Takanari Takagaki, Hideo Kamo, Minoru Honda
  • Patent number: 5879612
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing cold formed shaped forms of packaging having at least one recess from a metal-plastic laminate. Examples of such shaped forms of packaging are the base parts of push-through packs or blister packs. The process is such that the laminate is held between a retaining tool and a die. The die exhibits at least one opening and a stamp is driven into the die opening causing the laminate to be shape-formed into a packaging, correspondingly exhibiting one or more recesses. The die and the retaining tool exhibit facing edge regions and the die, within the edge region, exhibits a shoulder region that surrounds the die opening or openings. The surface of the shoulder region lies 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Alusuisse Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrik Zeiter, Heinz Oster
  • Patent number: 5879610
    Abstract: A method for making an electrical connector (10,170) formed by molding a plastic septum (50) transversely across an axially extending connector cavity (22) defined between the axial connector walls about the array of contacts (60) extending axially within the cavity (22) from one connector face to another. The contact sections (62) extending from the connector are initially straight prior to molding and are then subjected to a forming step to define right angles for example, with portions (66) of the contacts (60) embedded with the plastic septum (50) being of irregular cross-section to establish resistance to the stresses of such forming and maintain the sealed nature of the connector (10). The connector may comprise an integrally molded plastic housing (174) or a metal shell (20) with the plastic septum (50) molded therewithin such as about an inner flange (34) for sealing and retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest Lloyd Beinhaur, William Edward McClusky, Daryl Lynn Stoner
  • Patent number: 5879603
    Abstract: A mold for producing a masonry unit with a roughened texture side surface having a plurality of side walls defining a mold cavity open at its top and bottom, adapted to receive masonry fill material by way of its open top, and to discharge molded fill material in the form of a block of predetermined height by way of its open bottom; and opposed, inwardly extending generally parallel upper and lower lips along at least one of said side walls, the upper lip being located at a predetermined height above the lower lip and the lower lip being located at the bottom of the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dick J. Sievert
  • Patent number: 5876656
    Abstract: With an auxiliary electrode having a shape corresponding to the end of a workpiece attached to an upper electrode of a high frequency heater for high-frequency heating the end of the workpiece extruded, the workpiece is high-frequency heated intensively and uniformly between the auxiliary electrode and the lower electrode. After heating, the end of the workpiece is molded into a predetermined shape by a couple of stamping molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Goto, Masao Kobayashi, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Sadao Nada
  • Patent number: 5868987
    Abstract: There is provided a method of capping mechanical fasteners from a web having an array of upstanding stems. A heated surface member is positioned opposite a support forming a nip into which the web is fed. The heated surface member has a series of laterally spaced elongated peak and valley structures such that more than one peak and valley structure contacts and deforms each stem structure. The peak and valley groove structures provided asymmetric elongation and deformation of top portion of the stem structures forming hook heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: MinnesotaMining and Manufacturing
    Inventors: Robert D. Kampfer, Philip Miller
  • Patent number: 5868988
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a thermoplastic air bag cover having a hidden tear seam. A molten thermoplastic is injected into a mold cavity of a mold having a shape defining the air bag cover. An insert having a shape defining the tear seam is extended into the mold cavity before the molten plastic completely solidifies. The resulting air bag cover is cooled to a temperature beneath the softening point of the plastic. The completed air bag cover is then removed from the mold. The thickness of the air bag cover at the tear seam is within a range of 0.2 to 0.4 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Larry J. Winget
    Inventor: Roger R. Budnick
  • Patent number: 5868974
    Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of a pitch foam with a microcellular structure and a uniform pore size comprises the steps of (a) pressing a quantity of a pitch to provide a pressed article, (b) placing the pressed article in a pressure vessel, (c) introducing an inert gas into the pressure vessel under an elevated pressure of about 200 to 500 psi, (d) heating the pressed article within the pressure vessel to about 10.degree. to 40.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Kristen M. Kearns
  • Patent number: 5861200
    Abstract: A unitary molded crosslinked polyethylene tubular connector in a metallic sleeve and method for forming the connector with various end configurations (e.g., molded, belled) is described. The process combines the ease of thermoplastic processing combined with the desirable physical properties of a thermoset. The connector is suitable as a replacement for copper tubes with associated fittings as well as polybutylene tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventor: William Rowley
  • Patent number: 5855958
    Abstract: A method of making a cast concrete stepping stone whose exposed upper surface has the appearance of two or more grouted attractive natural stepping stones. A liquid release agent is applied to the mold which is then placed on a vibrator table and filled with wet concrete. The mold is vibrated for about 30 seconds and the surface of the concrete troweled smooth. Dry body color is sprinkled over the concrete surface and troweled to completely cover the concrete. A dry release agent containing powdered color having a darker shade than the body color is sprinkled over the dry body color covering the concrete. The desired pattern is then pressed into the surface of the concrete and after a six hour drying time, the cast stepping stone is removed from the mold. Excess body color and release agent are washed away and the washed surfaces totally dried. Finally a clear concrete sealer is applied to the exposed upper surface of the concrete stepping stone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Inventor: Lawrence Edward Nash
  • Patent number: 5853429
    Abstract: Method for converting two-dimensional or three-dimensional sheet structures consisting of polyacrylonitrile fibres or substantially of polyacrylonitrile fibres, such as woven fabrics, layered materials, knitted fabrics, felts, or non-woven fabrics, into the thermally stabilized but non-carbonized state, by means of an oxygen-containing or oxygen-yielding gas flowing through the respective sheet fibre structure. This gas or gas mixture is used as a medium for the temperature control in the sheet fibre structure and as a means for supplying the oxygen carrier and also removing the gaseous reaction products. Temperature and flow velocity of the gas/gas mixture are matched to the stabilization characteristic of the respective sheet fibre structure and are controlled precisely. The device used for carrying out the method consists of a furnace (23) which consists of at least one chamber, through which furnace a web of the sheet fibre structure (18) is moved continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: SGL Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Heine, Dieter Kompalik
  • Patent number: 5848619
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an hydraulic hose having ends of different internal diameters. An uncured hose is produced by conventional extrusion. The uncured hose is placed upon a mandrel having a reduced diameter end. That end of the uncured hose proximate the reduced diameter of the mandrel is covered by a heat responsive shrink tube. The shrink tube is heated to mold the end of the hose about the mandrel. Thereafter, the hose is vulcanized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramzan Ally
  • Patent number: RE36413
    Abstract: A novel method of molding an article includes providing a mold with a vent of a pre-determined size such that, due to the difference in viscosities, gases to be vented from the mold may easily pass through the vent while the material to be molded cannot quickly pass through the vent. In fact, the vent is designed such that the material to be molded which enters the vent, does not exit the end of the vent. In the most preferred embodiment, the vent is in the form of a thin ribbon-like groove so that the material to be molded which does enter the vent forms a thin ribbon of extruded material which need not be removed prior to a finish cover being applied to the molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Woodbridge Foam Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie Edward Clark, Craig Allen Hunter, Robert Basil Magee, Gerry Vande Wetering, Wilfred Wang Tai Cheng