Density Or Compression Of Components Patents (Class 428/218)
  • Patent number: 6824860
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforced thermoform or blow-molded article, and the process for preparing the same, where the reinforcement is provided by a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite that contains a thermoplastic resin, such as a rigid thermoplastic polyurethane, and a plurality of continuous reinforcing fibers impregnated with the resin. The reinforced thermoform blow-molded article is useful in a variety of products such as boat hulls, table tops, automotive and non-automotive seat structures, small vehicle structures such as golf carts and golf cart roofs, pallets, containers, and skis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: AVC Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Edwards, Marc G. Gagnon
  • Patent number: 6805931
    Abstract: A plastic container has a diamond like carbon film 20b formed on the inner surface of the container 20 made of plastic material 20a. The thickness of the diamond like carbon film 20b is within a range from 0.05 to 5 &mgr;m. The container 20 coated with the diamond like carbon film can be used for a returnable bottle for beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazufumi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6803334
    Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including: a liquid permeable surface layer; a backing sheet; and an absorbent layer interposed between the surface layer and the backing sheet. The surface layer includes: a porous film having a plurality of through holes; and a fibrous layer disposed on the liquid-receiving face of the porous film. The fibrous layer is of a plurality of strips extending in parallel and spaced apart from each other. Each strip of the fibrous layer is fixed to the porous film at spaced fixing portions, so that the porous film is exposed between adjacent strips of the fibrous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Wataru Yoshimasa, Megumi Tokumoto
  • Patent number: 6797370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin-walled component with a fine cement paste matrix and at least one steel wool mat that is pressed together and embedded in the fine cement paste matrix. The invention also relates to a method for producing a thin-walled component, whereby at least one steel wool mat is pressed together in a perpendicular position with respect to the main extension thereof, injected with a fine cement suspension, surrounded and the suspension is hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Dyckerhoff AG
    Inventors: Christian Bechtoldt, Rolf-Rainer Schulz
  • Patent number: 6787492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter cloth intended for a filter which has a variable volume and is based on diaphragm extrusion, particularly for a Larox®-type vertical pressure filter. The filtering properties of the filter cloth (5) are substantially similar in both directions through the cloth since slurry containing liquid and solids is alternately placed on the different sides of the filter cloth. The filter cloth of the invention comprises a middle layer (15) and protective layers (16a, 16b; 17a, 17b) provided on both outer surfaces of the middle layer. The middle layer can have e.g. a woven structure, and the protective layers may be batt fiber layers attached to the middle layer by needling. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective layers according to the invention are denser than the middle layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Tamfelt Oyj ABP
    Inventors: Esa Oksanen, Aarne-Matti Heikkilä
  • Patent number: 6780501
    Abstract: The thermoplastic composition according to the invention for shaped light-scattering articles, based on a transparent thermoplastic formed from (meth)acrylic (co)polymer and on light-scattering particles, comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles or a mixture of PTFE particles and particles of a mineral and/or organic substance, these light-scattering particles having a mean size of 0.5 &mgr;m to 200 &mgr;m and a refractive index which differs from that of the transparent thermoplastic by at least ±0.05 and being used in an amount, with respect to the total composition, of 5 ppm to 2000 ppm by weight. Application to light display devices and to flat light screens comprising a sheet obtained from the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Atofina
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Bruneau, Alberto Luca Stasi
  • Patent number: 6777064
    Abstract: An article of manufacture useful for removing allergens from surfaces comprises (a) a package; (b) cleaning sheet capable of removing allergens from surfaces; and (c) information to communicate the allergen removal ability of the cleaning sheet to consumers. A method of promoting the sale of cleaning sheets useful for removing allergens from surfaces comprises a variety of steps to inform a consumer of the allergen removal ability of the present cleaning sheets, implements, and articles and encourage the consumer to use them to remove allergens from a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Laura Krebs Brown, Jennifer Lee Counts, David Charles Bernens, Paul Joseph Russo
  • Patent number: 6726980
    Abstract: An acoustical liner with integral water barrier is provided. The liner includes a pad of fibrous material having a lofty, acoustically insulating portion and at least one heat-seared face of relatively higher density to provide water barrier protection. The acoustical liner is a non-laminate made from polyester, fiberglass, polypropylene and any mixtures thereof. A method of insulating a door including an exterior body panel and an interior fascia panel as well as a door for a vehicle are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglass Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Staelgraeve, Thomas T. Block, Dan Eigel
  • Patent number: 6720085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat shrinkable polyester film. The present invention also relates to a heat shrinkable polyester tube obtained from the heat shrinkable polyester film, a production method thereof, a label using this tube and a container wearing this label. The heat shrinkable polyester film of the present invention has suitable heat shrinkable properties, superior printing property and adhesion property with a solvent. When it is used for packaging (e.g., covering, bundling and the like), the film shows superior appearance and good mountability. Moreover, the heat shrinkable polyester film of the present invention has a small apparent specific gravity and is easily collected separately from a bottle when it is used as a label of a bottle (such as PET bottle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Ito, Norimi Tabota, Satoshi Hayakawa, Katsuhiro Nakayamada
  • Patent number: 6720069
    Abstract: A sound absorbing structure comprising at least one porous member including a plurality of holes, and the holes are at least one kind of through holes and non-through holes. It is preferable that a plurality of porous members are stacked. It is also preferable that the holes of porous members are formed as diameter-varied holes, and an area of opening of each diameter-varied hole formed in the surface opposite to a sound source is largest and the area of opening of each the diameter-varied hole is reduced in a direction of the thickness of the porous member. Moreover, it is also preferable that the sound absorbing structure further comprises a coating film formed on at least a surface of the porous member which is opposite to a sound source wherein the holes penetrates the coating film and the porous member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nichias Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Murakami, Shuuchirou Wada, Kazuo Nishimoto, Takahiro Niwa, Hiroto Sugai, Haruko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20040062901
    Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising an image layer and a base material wherein said base material comprises at least one oriented sheet laminated to a core sheet comprising a vacuous composite of polyolefin and polyester having a density of less than 0.7 g/cc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Bourdelais, Thomas M. Laney, Peter T. Aylward
  • Patent number: 6713671
    Abstract: A shielded assembly containing a substrate and a shield. The shield contains both nanomagnetic material and a material with an electrical resistivity of from about 1 microohm-centimeter to about 1×1025 microohm centimeters. The nanomagnetic material has a mass density of at least about 0.01 grams per cubic centimeter, a saturation magnetization of from about 1 to about 36,000 Gauss, a coercive force of from about 0.01 to about 5000 Oersteds, a relative magnctic permeability of from about 1 to about 500,000, and an average particle size of less than about 100 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nanoset, LLC
    Inventors: Xingwu Wang, Jeffrey L. Helfer, Stuart G. MacDonald
  • Publication number: 20040020728
    Abstract: Antioxidant coating compositions containing 10-75 wt % H2O, 20-65 wt % H3PO4, 0.1-20 wt % alkali metal mono-, di-, or tri-basic phosphate, 0-2 wt % hydrated boron oxide, 0-18 wt % KH2PO4, 3-10 wt % of a transition metal oxide, and 0-20 wt % hydrated manganese phosphate, 0-25 wt % Al(H2PO4)3, and 0-10 wt % Zn3(PO4)2, provided that at least one of Al(H2PO4)3, Zn3(PO4)2, and hydrated manganese phosphate is present. Also, brake discs made from carbon composite articles having their surface treated with certain antioxidant coatings. During a manufacturing process, carbon matrix 15 of brake disc 11 is covered on its outer and inner edges with antioxidant layers 19 and portions of the working surface of brake disc 11 may also be covered with antioxidant layers 13, potentially decreasing the fitness of the brake disc for service. In accordance with this invention, brake disc 12 is manufactured from brake disc 11 by the removal from its working surface of antioxidant layers 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Manuel G. Koucouthakis, Michelle L. Shreve, Ken A. Thompson, Michael N. Spross, Laurie A. Booker, Terence B. Walker
  • Patent number: 6686048
    Abstract: A composite carbonaceous heat insulator which comprises a carbonaceous heat-insulating member having a bulk density of 0.1 to 0.4 g/cm3, a carbonaceous protecting layer having a bulk density of 0.3 to 2.0 g/cm3 and comprising a carbon fiber structure and a thermally decomposed carbon penetrated into the structure, and a thermally decomposed carbon coating layer having a bulk density higher than that of the carbonaceous protecting layer, wherein the above carbonaceous protecting layer is jointed to at least a part of the carbonaceous heat-insulating member to form a jointed body, and the thermally decomposed carbon coating layer is formed at least on the face of carbonaceous heat-insulating member in the surface of the jointed body; and a method for manufacturing the insulator. The heat insulator is reduced with respect to the depletion, deterioration and pulverization during the use thereof, while maintaining excellent insulating characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Kureha Kagaku Kogyo K. K.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Arimoto, Yukihiro Sibuya, Masanori Kobayashi, Shigeki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6680115
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mat having at least one primary area and at least one secondary area and adapted to reinforce a polymeric matrix material, the mat comprising (a) a first layer comprising a plurality of generally parallel, essentially continuous glass fiber strands oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mat, at least a portion of outer surfaces of the first layer glass fiber strands having applied thereon at least a partial layer comprising at least a partially dried residue of first coating composition which is compatible with a polymeric matrix material, wherein at least a first portion of the first layer glass fiber strands are positioned within the at least one primary area at a primary strand density and at least a second portion of the first layer glass fiber strands are positioned within the at least one secondary area at a secondary strand density which is different from the primary strand density; and (b) a second layer comprising a plurality of randomly oriented gl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger E. Mulder, Charles W. Peterson, Harri Dittmar
  • Patent number: 6673418
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a body-facing cover layer, a garment facing barrier layer and an absorbent element between the cover layer and the barrier layer. The cover layer is a non-woven fabric formed from an interconnected network thermoplastic polymer fiber elements. At least a portion of the non-woven fabric is three-dimensional having a plurality of raised regions, semi-raised regions and compressed regions, the raised regions having a lower fiber density relative to the semi-raised regions, the semi-raised regions having a lower fiber density relative to the compressed regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo DeOlivera, John T. Ulman
  • Patent number: 6670018
    Abstract: A net fabric to be processed into a net product capable of simplifying processing during manufacturing of a net product, leading to a reduction in manufacturing cost of the net product is disclosed. The net fabric is so constructed that the side edge portions of the net fabric, which are subjected to processing such as cutting, vibrational welding or the like, have a higher compressibility in the thickness direction than the middle portions of the net fabric. This ensures that the net fabric exhibits a better workability during the manufacturing of the net product using the net fabric in order to simplify the manufacturing process, and to lead to a reduction in manufacturing cost, even though the net fabric has a three-dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignees: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd., Suminoe Textile Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Masaki Nishino, Eiichi Koyama, Yoshio Tsumura, Kazuhiro Ueda
  • Publication number: 20030228820
    Abstract: A method of producing a lightweight heat resistant and insulative composite sheet, and containing glass fibers, consisting essentially of homogenized glass fiber and binder materials forming a first layer, binder material extending in a second layer on a surface of the first layer and bonded thereto, woven glass fiber facing cloth extending in a third layer on a surface of the second layer and bonded thereto so that the second layer is sandwiched between the first and third layers, binder material in all layers being cured, to integrate the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventor: Jack R. Pfeffer
  • Publication number: 20030224145
    Abstract: A fibrous blanket, formed with a profiled weight and thickness across the width and/or along the length of the blanket, may be used for various thermal and/or acoustical applications or formed through molding into a molded part having: a uniform thickness and variable density; a variable thickness and a uniform density; or a variable thickness and a variable density. When forming the fibrous blanket on a collection surface, the deposition of fibers on the collection surface is controlled, by manipulating the fiber containing gas stream and the fibers in the gas stream with secondary gas streams, to obtain a desired weight and thickness profile for the fibrous blanket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Campion, Steven Arthur Cedoz, Dennis Robert Larratt
  • Patent number: 6656597
    Abstract: A glass plate has a thickness of from 1.5 to 3 mm, and it has a peripheral region having a predetermined width along the edge line of the plate and having its principal stress difference of compressive properties, an intermediate region having a predetermined width adjacent to an inner periphery of the peripheral region and having its principal stress difference of tensile properties and a central region occupying an inner peripheral side of the intermediate region wherein the central region has an averaged surface compression stress of from 15 to 35 MPa, and the peripheral region has a width of from 5 to 20 mm; the maximum value of the principal stress difference averaged in a thickness direction of the plate along its center line is from 20 to 40 MPa, and the minimum value of the principal stress difference averaged in a thickness direction along the center line is from 8 to 25 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masayuki Takahara
  • Patent number: 6652949
    Abstract: A fiber laminate production method includes a step of controlling an influence of gravity on a fiber absorber during thermoforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuzo Iwanaga, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Kenta Udagawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6649547
    Abstract: An integrated nonwoven laminate material suitable for use as a filter medium having a microfiber layer integrated with a low loft multicomponent spunbond layer and a high loft multicomponent spunbond layer and a method of producing the integrated nonwoven laminate material. In one embodiment of this invention, a laminate material is through-air bonded to form an integrated nonwoven laminate material which is then electret treated to enhance attraction between particles being filtered and the fibers of the integrated nonwoven laminate material. In one embodiment of this invention, the integrated nonwoven laminate material is used as a filter having an ASHRAE Standard 52.1-1992 Dust Spot Efficiency of about 40% to about 95% and an ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) of 12 to 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Dean Arnold, Michael Lawrence Gross
  • Patent number: 6645604
    Abstract: Disclosed are cleaning sheets having at least two regions, where the regions are distinguished by basis weight. In particular, the cleaning sheet comprises one or more high basis weight regions having a basis weight of from about 30 to about 120 g/m2 and one or more low basis weight regions, wherein the low basis weight region(s) have a basis weight that is not more than about 80% of the basis weight of the high basis weight region(s). Also disclosed are cleaning sheets having substantial macroscopic three-dimensionality, in addition to having multiple basis weights. Optionally, the macroscopically three-dimensional cleaning sheets can comprise a scrim material, which when heated and then cooled, contracts so as to provide a macroscopic three-dimensional structure. Macroscopic three-dimensionality is described in terms of “average height differential”, as well as the “average peak-to-peak” distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Saeed Fereshtehkhou, Paul Joseph Russo, Wilbur Cecil Strickland, Jr., Nicola John Policicchio
  • Patent number: 6641893
    Abstract: An article is provided that is highly resistant to localized normal indentation, or indentation tensile stresses, against its surface. The article is a stacked array of at least five layer units each having local anisotropy in at least one direction. Each unit has an adjacent unit that differs in a mechanical property, or offset in principle axis of anisotropy by less than 45°. The article forms part of a construction constructed and positioned to withstand indentation, or contact damage, detrimental to its use having a component normal to any tangent of the surface. The article can be a stacked array of fiber-reinforced polymeric material, i.e., prepreg, with the fiber direction offset from each layer to the next by less than 45°. Methods of making the article and methods of use of the article to resist impact are provided. Also provided are articles having surfaces, the surfaces being constructed and arranged to withstand sliding contact stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Subra Suresh, Antonios E. Giannakopoulos, Marten Olsson, Rajendran Thampuran, Ole Jorgensen, Nitin P. Padture, Juthamas Jitcharoen
  • Patent number: 6623840
    Abstract: A protective flooring tile, and method of manufacturing the same, having a durable and water resistant prefabricated top layer which is made of rubber material. The top layer has a top surface and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface having voids which extend from bottom surface toward the top surface. A resilient bottom layer extends from the top surface and is made of granulated rubber. The bottom layer has a prepolymer material provided between the granulated rubber which bonds the granulated rubber together. The prepolymer material flows from the bottom layer into the voids of the top layer during the manufacture of the protective flooring tile to bond the top layer to the bottom layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Dodge-Regupol, Incorporated
    Inventor: Dirk Hainbach
  • Patent number: 6620527
    Abstract: A hillock-free wiring layer and method of forming the same are provided. The wiring layer includes at least two aluminum (Al) layers formed on a substrate, and each of the Al layers includes Al crystal particles. For any two Al layers of the wring layer, the one closer to the substrate is called the lower layer and the other one is called the higher layer. Besides, the Al crystal particles of the higher Al layer are larger and denser than that of the lower Al layer, and the lower Al layer has a higher resistance than that of the higher Al layer. By the invention, a wiring layer using either pure Al or an Al-based alloy is capable of preventing the occurrence of hillocks and reducing manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Cheng-Chi Wang
  • Publication number: 20030170438
    Abstract: A method for the production of ribbed board product, such as fiberboard, flakeboard, or waferboard, which resists fracturing during manufacture. The ribbed board product made according to the invention can be used as decking and in packaging and shipping components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Steven K. Lynch, Bei-Hong Liang, Frederick Frein, Karine A. Luetgert, Dennis J. Farrell
  • Patent number: 6613422
    Abstract: A method of forming a layer of a novel hard, abrasion and corrosion resistant, nitrogen-doped, high carbon density, amorphous carbon or hydrogenated carbon (C:H) protective overcoat material on a surface of a recording medium comprises steps of: (a) providing a substrate including a stacked plurality of thin film layers thereon constituting the medium; (b) forming, by a process comprising generation and deposition of C ions having energies of at least about 90 eV, a layer of an amorphous carbon or hydrogenated carbon (C:H) material on the at least one surface of the substrate, the C:H layer having a high carbon density of at least about 2.0 gm/cm3; and (c) implanting nitrogen (N) ions in a surface portion of the high carbon density amorphous carbon or C:H layer to form an N-doped amorphous carbon or C:H surface layer having a carbon density substantially equal to said high C density of the C:H layer formed in step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoding Ma, Michael Joseph Stirniman, Jing Gui
  • Patent number: 6607851
    Abstract: A multi-layer tile material produced from layers of alumina enhanced thermal barrier material having different densities. The insulation layers are bound together by a high strength, high temperature alumina or silica binder having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the insulation layers. Use of the multi-layered tile allows the problems of tile slumping and of insufficient heat management associated with low density alumina enhanced thermal barrier tile to be overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert A. DiChiara, Jr., Franklin K. Myers
  • Publication number: 20030148081
    Abstract: A thermal protection system (TPM) for protecting a surface subject to high thermal load comprising a fiber substrate where the substrate is composed of woven or non-woven layers of fibers laminated together, or the substrate is formed by a process of three-dimensional weaving, wherein the fiber substrate has a variable density of fibers, with said density of fibers increasing across the thickness of the TPM, and further wherein the substrate is needled and coupled to an insulation backing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Henry Moody
  • Patent number: 6602579
    Abstract: A cushion having an underlying polyurethane foam or flexible layer which includes a non-plane surface, and an overlying visco-elastic foam layer positioned adjacent to the non-plane surface of the underlying layer, the cushion being adapted for suitably supporting a load, such as a human body, positioned thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Tempur World, Inc.
    Inventor: Dag Landvik
  • Patent number: 6602590
    Abstract: The invention relates to high gas barrier packaging films exhibiting good shrinkage and containing an antifog composition for modified atmosphere packaging of foods and the like. The films are useful for producing modified atmosphere packages that preserve and enhance the shelf life of food and non-food oxygen sensitive items. The films exhibit excellent shrinkage, permanent antifog, easy processing and low cost of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Ting, Earl L. Hatley, Jeffrey D. Moulton
  • Patent number: 6592967
    Abstract: Flexible retroreflective sheeting, and products therefrom, fabricated from an elastic substantially linear olefin polymer are found to exhibit significantly enhanced retention of retroreflectivity and do not require the addition of plasticizers. The retroreflective sheeting of the invention is a surprisingly good replacement for polyvinyl chloride sheeting which heretofore have shown poor retention of retroreflectivity and have required addition of plasticizers for optimal flexibility and handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Kaufman
  • Patent number: 6586072
    Abstract: An insulating lining that is used as a floor covering and is especially useful in providing acoustic insulation. The insulating lining consists of a covering layer and a cell layer with a plurality of cells. The cells are defined by lateral cell walls and are open on the bearing surface side. The cell walls of the cell layer have spacers on the bearing surface side so that when the insulating covering is in place air which is enclosed in each cell can communicate directly with the airspace in each adjacent cell through a lateral space between the bearing surface and the bottom edge of the cell wall between each pair of adjacent cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Rieter Automotive (International) AG
    Inventor: Eric Renault
  • Publication number: 20030118780
    Abstract: An in-line formed, non-laminated web is suitable for use as a composite fluid distribution and fluid retention layer in a disposable absorbent article. The web can be formed by selective deposition of airlaid materials including absorbents, such as pulp and superabsorbents, together with binder fibers. The web so constructed will have a plurality of intermingled lower basis weight areas and higher basis weight areas coexisting and distributed in at least a central region of the web, the alternations crossing the X axis or Y axis, or both, of the web, with the higher basis weight areas being a greater thickness in the Z-direction than the lower basis weight areas. The web so constructed will further have no discrete material boundaries between the lower basis weight stripes and the higher basis weight stripes. Further the necessity of later processing on the web to achieve a ridged structure is removed and the fibers will remain whole and undisturbed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Gabriel Hamman Adam, Leon Eugene Chambers, John Herbert Conrad, Robert G. Geer, Eric Edward Lennon, Sridhar Ranganathan
  • Publication number: 20030100238
    Abstract: A neckable nonwoven web is provided with a central region and two edge regions, the central region being selectively easier to neck than the two edge regions. The nonwoven fibers in the central region have a polymer composition and/or physical properties which differ from the nonwoven fibers in the two edge regions. The selectively easier necking in the central region causes the central region to neck to about the same extent as the two edge regions, which otherwise would experience greater necking than the central region if the starting nonwoven web were completely uniform. Necked nonwoven webs and neck-bonded laminates made using the improved neckable nonwoven web, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Michael T. Morman, Charles J. Morell
  • Publication number: 20030091782
    Abstract: The present invention is a floor mat made from a rubber composite, the composite having a foam rubber core positioned between dense rubber layers. Protrusions or cleats, which are produced during the vulcanization process, extend outwardly from the lower surface of the mat. The present mat offers mat users desirable anti-fatigue characteristics that are achieved by (a) a combination of dense rubber and foam rubber layers and (b) the spaced positioning of a plurality of cleats over one surface of the mat. Such a mat is anticipated to be useful in service environments, such as hair styling salons, retail outlets, or restaurant kitchens, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: William O. Burke, Amy B. Streeton
  • Patent number: 6562429
    Abstract: A cushion material which comprises a cushion sheet having a density of 0.05 to 0.65 g/cm3 and a layer for receiving prints disposed on one face of the cushion sheet; and a cushion label which comprises the above cushion material and an adhesive layer and a release material each laminated to a face of the cushion sheet opposite to the face having the layer for receiving prints. The cushion material and the cushion label can be printed clearly with fine characters and fracture of bottles such as bottles for medicines can be effectively prevented when the cushion material or the cushion label is stuck to the bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Masashige Aoki, Hirohumi Toda
  • Publication number: 20030082358
    Abstract: A nonwoven having varying densities of the fibers that make up the nonwoven. The nonwoven has a length direction x, a width direction y, and a thickness direction z. The density of the fibers 11 in the nonwoven 10 varies long the width direction y of the nonwoven 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: David Edward Wenstrup
  • Patent number: 6555211
    Abstract: A thermal protection system (TPM) for protecting a surface subject to high thermal load comprising a fiber substrate where the substrate is composed of woven or non-woven layers of fibers laminated together, or the substrate is formed by a process of three-dimensional weaving, wherein the fiber substrate has a variable density of fibers, with said density of fibers increasing across the thickness of the TPM, and further wherein the substrate is needled and coupled to an insulation backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Albany International Techniweave, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Moody
  • Patent number: 6531209
    Abstract: A suspension adhesive comprised of a matrix material and a particulate filler material is useful for bonding, sealing, repairing, and modifying ceramic, glass, and powdered metal components in a light source. A method for making the suspension adhesive includes the selection of a filler material and a volume percentage of the filler material. Additionally, a matrix material is selected and the filler material is dispersed throughout the matrix material. The suspension adhesive is used to bond and seal components to form, for example, an arc tube for a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Polis, Vishal Gauri
  • Publication number: 20030044573
    Abstract: A multi-density fibrous structure comprising a plurality of discrete pseudo-apertures disposed therein. The pseudo-apertures have individual areas of at least about 3 square millimeters and a basis weight from about 0.1 to about 5 gram per square meter. The fibrous structure can have from about 9,000 to about 90,000 pseudo-apertures per square meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: David Mark Rasch, Lois Jean Forde-Kohler, Ward William Ostendorf
  • Patent number: 6528143
    Abstract: A multilayer material for sliding elements with a metallic backing layer and a plastics overlay applied thereto achieves good adhesion to the substrate without the disadvantages of known PVDF-based bearing materials. The plastics overlay comprises a PVDF content of 60-95 vol. %, the remainder consisting of PTFE or PTFE and at least one further component with a density of <7 g/cm3. The content of this further component may amount to a maximum of 5 vol. %. The other components comprise fully or partially aromatic polymers such as PI, PAE, polyamides, PPS, PES, PEEK, PSU or polyester, carbon variants such as graphite, carbon black, C fibers or coke, as well as MoS2, BN or CaF2 or CaCo3. The production method consists in scattering a powder mixture of these components onto the metallic backing material and then heating it to above the softening point of the PVDF component to form the plastics overlay, the plastics overlay thereafter being rolled smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Achim Adam, Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler
  • Patent number: 6514604
    Abstract: A weatherstrip having a migration inhibiting layer including a butyl based elastomer, wherein the butyl based elastomer can include a blend of a halogenated butyl and EPDM. The migration inhibiting layer can be located on at least one of a dense portion and an expanded portion of the weatherstrip and is selected to substantially preclude the passage of decomposition products, thereby reducing odor emanation from the strip and discoloration from staining materials. The migration inhibiting layer may also include coloring agents thereby providing a colored weatherstrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Schlegel Corporation
    Inventors: Krishnamachari Gopalan, Marion A Royse
  • Publication number: 20030021970
    Abstract: Nonwoven which comprises at least one hydroentangled web of thermoplastic discontinuous fibres, hydroentangled with an unstretched batt of independent, inelastic, continuous filaments oriented at random.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Frederic Noelle
  • Patent number: 6511762
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling of the flow path surface region of an engine component used in a gas turbine engine and a method for making a system for cooling of the flow path surface region of an engine component used in a gas turbine engine. The method comprises the steps of channeling apertures in a substrate to a diameter of about 0.0005″ to about 0.02″ to allow passage of cooling fluid from a cooling fluid source; applying a bond coat of about 0.0005″ to about 0.005″ in thickness to the substrate such that the bond coat partially fills the channels; applying a porous inner TBC layer of at least about 0.01″ in thickness to the bond coat, such that the TBC fills the channels; applying an intermediate ceramic layer that is more dense than the inner TBC layer on top of the porous TBC; applying an outer TBC layer over the intermediate layer; and, passing cooling fluid from a cooling fluid source through the channel into the porous TBC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Robert Edward Schafrik, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Patent number: 6497937
    Abstract: An engineering wood based laminated panel for use as structural flooring for vehicle decking systems replaces a traditional hardwood decking and is cheaper plus having superior structural and wear properties. The panel has a plurality of layers in order down from a top surface, comprising a surface layer (1) having at least two high density wood veneer plies oriented parallel to one side of the panel, a load distribution layer (2) having at least one high density wood veneer ply cross oriented to the one side of the panel; a core layer (3) having from about 8 to 14 wood veneer plies oriented parallel to the one side of the panel with centre plies of the core layer being high density wood plies, and a resin impregnated reinforcement layer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Frank C. F. Lam, John D. Barrett, Lars Peter Norlin, J M Robert Fouquet
  • Patent number: 6492286
    Abstract: Multilayer meltblown fibrous webs, as well as apparatus and methods of forming the webs. The webs are produced on a rotating collector that also moves parallel to its longitudinal axis. The webs are thus formed in a helical process, and the resulting tubular web is separated in a direction parallel to a helix angle. By separating the tubular web in a direction parallel to the helix angle, a flat multilayer meltblown fibrous web is provided that allows for incorporation of feathered edges formed during the article's manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Berrigan, James F. Dyrud, Stanley C. Erickson, Luther E. Erickson
  • Patent number: 6489015
    Abstract: A hardcoat film is provided which can improve surface hardness and, at the same time, can prevent the hardcoat film per se from being damaged by stress concentration and is less likely to be scratched. The hardcoat film comprises: a transparent substrate; and a multi-layer hardcoat provided on at least one side of the transparent substrate, the multi-layer hardcoat layer comprising two or more hardcoats, the modulus of elasticity &sgr;m of a hardcoat provided closest to the transparent substrate being higher than the modulus of elasticity &sgr;s of a hardcoat provided as a surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Tsuchiya, Amane Koike, Takahiro Niimi
  • Publication number: 20020177005
    Abstract: Disclosed is a film comprising a thermoplastic resin film, a first layer comprising a resin (A), and a second layer comprising a resin (B), in this order, wherein the resin (A) is an ethylene resin having a density of 0.900 to 0.960 g/cm3 and an MFR of 1 to 100 g/10 minutes, and the resin (B) is a straight-chain ethylene-a-olefin copolymer having a density of 0.870 to 0.910 g/cm3 and an MFR of 1 to 100 g/10 minutes, the straight-chain ethylene-a-olefin copolymer being a copolymer of ethylene with at least one &agr;-olefin having 3 to 12 carbon atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Takashi Yamashita