121 |
Composite fiber component and method for producing a composite fiber component |
US15129700 |
2015-03-23 |
US20170174850A1 |
2017-06-22 |
Jochen Hofmann; Ulf Hartmann; Andrea Bauersachs |
The invention relates to a composite fiber component, having at least one layer of a fiber material, and a thermoplastic matrix, which the fiber material impregnates, wherein the composite fiber component has at least one first region in which the local degree of consolidation of the composite fiber component lies above a first consolidation threshold, and wherein the composite fiber component has at least one second region, lying adjacent to the first region, in which the local degree of consolidation of the composite fiber component lies under a second consolidation threshold, wherein the second consolidation threshold is smaller than the first consolidation threshold. |
122 |
Method of making a sandwich-type composite panel having a cellulose-based core and a living hinge and panel obtained by performing the method |
US14603407 |
2015-01-23 |
US09527268B2 |
2016-12-27 |
Darius J. Preisler; Christopher A. Heikkila |
A method of making a sandwich-type composite panel having a cellulose-based core and a living hinge from a stack of material is provided. The stack includes first and second reinforced thermoplastic skins, first and second sheets of thermoplastic adhesive and a cellulose-based cellular core disposed between the sheets and the skins. A pressure is applied to the stack after heating the stack wherein the skins are bonded to the core by the sheets to form the composite panel. A portion of the composite panel is crushed at a predetermined location simultaneously with applying the pressure to locally compact and separate the cellular core at the predetermined location to form two side portions of the panel. The heated first skin stretches during the step of crushing while remaining intact between the two side portions. The skins bond together at the predetermined location to form the living hinge. |
123 |
Link |
US14451682 |
2014-08-05 |
US09493142B2 |
2016-11-15 |
Frank Sommer; Andreas Massold |
The invention relates to a lid which is pivotably attached by a link at a filling spout (1) of a windshield washing water container. The invention proposes to provide the link with pinions which are received in support eyelets with an intermediary space there between. During injection molding the intermediary space is filled by slides of an injection molding tool so that the lid is injection moldable in one step together with the filling spout. |
124 |
COMPOSITE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING THEREOF |
US14452619 |
2014-08-06 |
US20160039167A1 |
2016-02-11 |
Stephen Christensen; Jonathan H. Gosse |
A composite structure is provided. The composite structure includes a plurality of components coupled together forming a joint, wherein the plurality of components are oriented such that a gap is defined at least partially therebetween. A filler structure is positioned in the gap, and the filler structure includes a closed cell foam core. |
125 |
MANUFACTURING MICRO-STRUCTURED ELEMENTS |
US14585460 |
2014-12-30 |
US20150110547A1 |
2015-04-23 |
Colin Clinch; Marcel Aeschlimann; Mario Lehmann; Laurent Torriani |
An assembly including a joining element and an object, the object having a first outer layer, a second outer layer, and a middle layer between the first and second outer layers. The object has an opening that extends through the first outer layer and the middle layer, and the joining element is anchored in the opening. The joining element includes a proximal end, a distal end, a contact face in the area of the proximal end, a wall anchoring portion, and a tubular portion. The contact face is engaged by a vibrating tool that applies mechanical vibration and axial force to the joining element. The joining element includes a thermoplastic material at least at the circumferential surface of the wall anchoring portion and at the distal end to anchor the joining element to the first and second outer layers, respectively. |
126 |
MULTI-SEGMENTED LIVING HINGE |
US14482724 |
2014-09-10 |
US20150067983A1 |
2015-03-12 |
Mark Carey; James Mills; Richard Knaggs |
A flexible structure is provided that includes multiple members and a hinge set providing a connection between adjacent members. The hinge set includes at least one living hinge where multiple living hinges are separated by segment portions that collapse on each other when the hinge set is in a closed position. |
127 |
LINK |
US14451682 |
2014-08-05 |
US20150059127A1 |
2015-03-05 |
FRANK SOMMER; Andreas Massold |
The invention relates to a lid which is pivotably attached by a link at a filling spout (1) of a windshield washing water container. The invention proposes to provide the link with pinions which are received in support eyelets with an intermediary space there between. During injection molding the intermediary space is filled by slides of an injection molding tool so that the lid is injection moldable in one step together with the filling spout. |
128 |
HINGE IN COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND PROCESS FOR ITS MANUFACTURE |
US14386202 |
2013-04-10 |
US20150047151A1 |
2015-02-19 |
Attilio Masini |
Disclosed is a hinge having a rigid portion integral with a flexible portion suitable to be bent with respect to the rigid portion, wherein the rigid portion has a substrate in a rigid composite material and the flexible portion has a first flexible sheet, wherein a first portion of the first flexible sheet is joined at least partially to the substrate by means of at least one first layer of resin for composite materials, wherein the flexible portion also has a second flexible sheet joined at least partially by means of at least one second layer of resin for composite materials both to the first portion of the first flexible sheet and to at least one second portion of the first flexible sheet which is not joined to the substrate. |
129 |
METHOD FOR ANCHORING A JOINING ELEMENT IN AN OBJECT AND JOINING ELEMENT TO BE USED IN THE METHOD |
US14271783 |
2014-05-07 |
US20140237939A1 |
2014-08-28 |
Colin Clinch; Marcel Aeschlimann; Mario Lehmann; Laurent Torriani |
A method of anchoring a joining element to a hollow core board with the aid of mechanical vibration. The hollow core board has a first and second outer layers and a middle layer disposed between the outer layers. An opening, including a mouth, is provided in the hollow core board, the opening penetrating the first outer layer and the middle layer. The joining element includes a wall anchoring portion situated between a proximal end and a distal end thereof. A distal end of the wall anchoring portion is positioned into or onto the mouth with a sealing portion on a proximal end of the wall anchoring portion. The wall anchoring portion is forced through the mouth by applying mechanical vibration and a force parallel to the joining element axis, whereby thermoplastic material of the wall anchoring portion is liquefied and pressed into the first outer layer. |
130 |
METHOD FOR ANCHORING A JOINING ELEMENT IN AN OBJECT AND JOINING ELEMENT TO BE USED IN THE METHOD |
US14023573 |
2013-09-11 |
US20140010588A1 |
2014-01-09 |
Colin Clinch; Marcel Aeschlimann; Mario Lehmann; Laurent Torriani |
A joining element to be anchored in an object with the aid of a thermoplastic material and mechanical vibration includes a proximal end and a distal end that are spaced from one another along an axis of the joining element. A contact face is in the area of the proximal end, the contact face being suitable for being contacted with a vibrating tool for applying, to the joining element, mechanical vibration and a force parallel to the axis. The wall anchoring portion is situated between the proximal end and the distal end, and has a circumferential surface being equipped with a plurality of recesses and radially protruding energy concentrating elements between the recesses. A tubular portion is situated between the proximal end and the distal end and extends distally from the wall anchoring portion. |
131 |
MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR A HINGE |
US13535926 |
2012-06-28 |
US20140001674A1 |
2014-01-02 |
Lee-Yeh Lu |
A manufacturing method for a hinge has steps of forming one of a central element and a surrounding element by injection molding, cooling down the formed element, and forming the other element on the priorly-formed element by injection molding such that a limit segment of the surrounding element is mounted around the neck segment, which keeps the surrounding element from departing axially from the central element, and further simplifies a structure of the hinge. Because a melting point of the element formed priorly is higher than a melting point of the element formed later, the element formed later does not attach to the element formed priorly. Therefore, the two elements are relatively rotatable. Finally, because a manufacturing process is accomplished after injection molding twice, the process is more convenient and faster, and the cost is lowered. |
132 |
Shape memory alloy fibers and shape memory polymer fibers and films and their composites for reversible shape changes |
US12264178 |
2008-11-03 |
US08586176B2 |
2013-11-19 |
Minoro Taya; Yuanchang Liang |
A plurality of reversible active composite materials are disclosed, including composites based on a shape memory alloy member (SMA) and a shape memory polymer member (SMP), as well as composites based on two different SMP members. Each different member (SMA or SMP) will be trained to remember a specific shape at a specific temperature. Where two different SMP members are employed, the members exhibit different glass transition temperatures. Such composite materials can be implemented in many form factors, including two generally planar members, a single generally planar SMP member with SMA fibers distributed throughout the SMP, and a SMA fiber/wire coated with a SMP coating. In particular, the SMA fiber/wire coated with a SMP layer can be used to form helical coils that can be used in paired hinges to achieve reversible bending of a structure into which such paired hinges are incorporated. |
133 |
MULTI-SHEET THERMOFORMING PROCESS |
US13467326 |
2012-05-09 |
US20120248662A1 |
2012-10-04 |
Christopher S. Klem; Brent Buschkoetter; Jay A. Kerkhoff |
Disclosed is a thermoforming mold that defines a surface of a thermoformed part, a cavity recess that defines part of the interior space of the thermoformed part, a bond flange ridge, a vent recess and a chamber recess in an offal region outside of the surface of the thermoformed part, where the chamber recess, the vent recess and the cavity recess collectively define a continuous recess and where the part does not extend substantially beyond the bond flange ridge. Also disclosed is a manufacturing method including molding a first and second plastic sheet to thermoforming molds, impressing the first and second plastic sheets together between the thermoforming molds to define the part, a seam, a vent and a chamber then inserting a blow needle into the chamber and using that blow needle to move a fluid through the interior space of the part through the vent and then removing the offal and the chamber from the part. Also disclosed is a thermoformed part manufactured using the mold and method described above. |
134 |
METHOD FOR ANCHORING A JOINING ELEMENT IN AN OBJECT AND JOINING ELEMENT TO BE USED IN THE METHOD |
US12827699 |
2010-06-30 |
US20100313517A1 |
2010-12-16 |
Colin Clinch; Marcel Aeschlimann; Mario Lehmann; Laurent Torriani |
A joining element to be anchored in an object with the aid of a thermoplastic material and mechanical vibration comprises a sealing portion and a wall anchoring portion. The sealing portion is substantially cylindrical and has a smooth circumferential surface. The wall anchoring portion has a circumferential surface which comprises the thermoplastic material and energy directors. A cross section of the sealing portion envelops the cross section (including energy directors) of the wall anchoring portion and is arranged adjoining to the latter on its proximal side. The joining element is anchored in an opening provided in the object wherein a cross section of the opening corresponds to the cross section of the sealing portion of the joining element such that the latter can be forced into a mouth of the opening resulting in a press fit. For anchoring the joining element in the opening, mechanical vibrations e.g. ultrasonic vibrations are coupled into the joining element and the latter is forced into the opening until at least a distal part of the sealing portion is positioned within the opening. Thereby, the thermoplastic material of the circumferential surface of the wall anchoring portion is liquefied and pressed into the opening wall, wherein the sealing portion prevents the liquefied material to penetrate through the mouth and therefore the mouth remains clear cut, i.e. does not get blurred by the liquefied material. |
135 |
Mold With Reinforced Hinge |
US12325335 |
2008-12-01 |
US20100133725A1 |
2010-06-03 |
Douglas M. McCaskey |
Flexible, reinforced polymeric molds for Corning simulated stone veneers is provided. The molds are formed of a single solitary unit containing a plurality of contoured wells. A flange forms an outer portion of the mold and provides a means for grasping the mold so that the mold can be folded and flipped for the extraction of the artificial stones. One or both hinge portions located transversely across the central portion of the mold may be reinforced with an embedded nylon mesh scrim. The scrim increases the tear and tensile strength of the hinge portion. Additionally, the incorporation of the nylon mesh scrim at the hinge portions increases the life of the mold and reduces the occurrence of scrap molds. The polymeric mold advantageously retains its shape after the mold has been removed from the simulated stones, which permits the mold to be used in subsequent stone-molding operations. |
136 |
Snap Assembly Friction Hinge |
US12371402 |
2009-02-13 |
US20090205167A1 |
2009-08-20 |
James B. Easley |
A friction hinge includes a socket made up of a compressible elastomer insert sleeve inside a relatively rigid cup substrate. The insert sleeve defines an opening with a lip around the opening, and a relatively rigid ball or other center portion can be snap assembled through the lip and opening to center itself in the socket. A mount portion extends through the opening off the ball/center portion, and hand pressure on the mount portion can adjust the angular position of the joint. The size of the ball/center portion relative to the size of the cup substrate causes dimensional compression of the insert sleeve, such as about 15% of its thickness. The compression of the insert sleeve creates a controlled friction force on the ball/center portion, so the snap assembly friction hinge works consistently over a long time and over wide temperature ranges. |
137 |
DESIGN OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY FIBERS AND SHAPE MEMORY POLYMER FIBERS AND FILMS AND THEIR COMPOSITES FOR REVERSIBLE SHAPE CHANGES |
US12264178 |
2008-11-03 |
US20090130391A1 |
2009-05-21 |
Minoru Taya |
A plurality of reversible active composite materials are disclosed, including composites based on a shape memory alloy member (SMA) and a shape memory polymer member (SMP), as well as composites based on two different SMP members. Each different member (SMA or SMP) will be trained to remember a specific shape at a specific temperature. Where two different SMP members are employed, the members exhibit different glass transition temperatures. Such composite materials can be implemented in many form factors, including two generally planar members, a single generally planar SMP member with SMA fibers distributed throughout the SMP, and a SMA fiber/wire coated with a SMP coating. In particular, the SMA fiber/wire coated with a SMP layer can be used to form helical coils that can be used in paired hinges to achieve reversible bending of a structure into which such paired hinges are incorporated. |
138 |
Vehicle trim component storage compartment and method of making same |
US11525437 |
2006-09-22 |
US20080073927A1 |
2008-03-27 |
Michael P. Schoemann; Tracy L. Simpson; Richard D. George; David Michael Failla; Herb Stables; John L. Adams; Steve Gage |
A vehicle trim component includes a substrate defining at least one wall of a storage compartment. The substrate has an edge surface which defines an opening into the storage compartment. A semi-rigid member extends outward of the edge surface and at least partially covers the opening to define a storage compartment closure. The semi-rigid member is manually deflectable between a closed position and an open position. |
139 |
Method for producing a detachably connected container having barrier properties |
US11358567 |
2006-02-20 |
US20070194495A1 |
2007-08-23 |
Eric Henderson; John Michels |
A method is provided of forming a multi-pack container assembly having at least two containers joined together by a channel. The method includes the steps of providing sheet having a barrier layer thermoforming the sheet into a multi-pack container assembly having a plurality of containers wherein each container comprises a flange and the flanges of adjacent containers are connected by an engineered area of weakness or channel. Resultant containers can be used for low-moisture, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat food products. |
140 |
Extrusion method forming an enhanced property metal polymer composite |
US10988193 |
2004-11-12 |
US20060055077A1 |
2006-03-16 |
Kurt Heikkila |
The invention relates to an extrusion method and to an extrudable metal polymer composite having increased density, improved viscoelastic properties, malleability and ductility and thermoplastic extrusion or injection molding properties. |