Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080300940 | Capturing Consumer Requirements - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for capturing desires and needs of a consumer. A toolbar application is provided to the consumer. The toolbar application accepts inputs from the consumer. The inputs are desires and needs of the consumer. The inputs of the consumer are transmitted to a central intelligence server. The central intelligence server analyzes the inputs and categorizes the inputs of the consumer into product and service categories. The categorized inputs of the consumer are then sold to the vendors of the related products and services. The toolbar application thereby enables the vendors to capture the desires and needs of the consumer. | 12-04-2008 |
20090132394 | Delivering Product Impact Information At The Point Of Sale - Disclosed herein is a method and system for providing a consumer with information on lifecycle of a product at the point of sale. The product lifecycle information comprises lifecycle assessment data on the product with a specific focus on social, environmental, and energy impact attributes of the product. The product lifecycle comprises product creation, product usage, waste disposal, and product disposal. A lifecycle assessment entity is provided to deliver information on the product lifecycle. Information related to the lifecycle of the product is captured automatically and stored in a product information bank. The consumer requests for lifecycle information on a particular product and the requested lifecycle information pertaining to the product is retrieved from the product information bank and delivered to the consumer. | 05-21-2009 |
20110045228 | Artificial Stone Fiber Composites - A surface material is provided for furniture and building structures. The surface material comprises a layer of artificial stone and a layer of fiber reinforced resin. The surface material may further comprise a separator material, for example, a metal strip, a fiber strip, etc. that defines partially or wholly a boundary edge of the layer of artificial stone. The layer of fiber reinforced resin partially or fully encompasses the artificial stone and/or the separator material on all sides and surfaces except exposed decorative surfaces. The surface material may further comprise a decorative material comprising, for example, ornamental glass, semiprecious stones, metal art, colored quartz, glass, stone jewelry, etc. embedded within the layer of artificial stone. The surface material is used to cover a central core for forming the furniture and the building structures. | 02-24-2011 |
20110220277 | Eliminating Joint Lines In Furniture - A method of manufacturing a furniture body is provided. A release sheet, for example, a silicone rubber sheet, deposited with an uncured artificial stone mix is placed on a surface. A central core comprising, for example, paper honeycomb, is placed on the release sheet deposited with uncured artificial stone mix. Decorative materials, for example, ornamental glass, semiprecious stones, etc. may be included on the release sheet. Pressure may be applied to compact the artificial stone mix deposited with a backing of glass fiber and resin. The central core is wrapped with the release sheet deposited with the uncured artificial stone mix. The release sheet is removed after the deposited artificial stone mix is partially or fully cured over the central core. The wrapping provides a continuous surface of the artificial stone mix over the sides, edges, corners, and curved surfaces of the central core, thereby eliminating joint lines. | 09-15-2011 |
20110298150 | Insertion Of Metal Wire Elements In Artificial Stone - A method of inserting metal wire elements in an artificial stone is provided. One or more metal wire elements in multiple arrangements are placed on a surface. An uncured artificial stone mix is deposited on the metal wire elements and on the surface. The uncured artificial stone mix is allowed to cure at room temperature or at an elevated temperature and transformed into an artificial stone inserted with the metal wire elements. The artificial stone comprising the inserted metal wire elements is polished thereby generating a flat metal surface that visually implies metal inlay work. The metal wire elements may also be laid or adhered to a release layer deposited on the surface prior to depositing the uncured artificial stone mix. The metal wire used to create the metal wire elements comprises holes for secure anchoring in the artificial stone. The metal wire cross-section may be polygonal or circular. | 12-08-2011 |
20120177883 | Artificial Stone Laminate - An artificial stone laminate comprising a top single layer of particulates of substantially a single size, a rear layer of reinforcing fibers, and a binder is provided. The single size of the particulates is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm. Each of the particulates has an exposed top flat surface section area that is substantially the largest sectional area that can be exposed in the particulates. A single layer of particulates of uniform size is spread on a release surface. The single layer of particulates is vibrated whereby the particulates are packed closely, touch one another adjacently in a horizontal plane, and achieve high surface coverage. The layer of reinforcing fibers is placed on the single layer of particulates. A binder is deposited for filling the gaps between the particulates and bonding the reinforcing fibers to the particulates. After the binder cures, the surface of the single layer of particulates is polished. | 07-12-2012 |
20120313281 | Ornamentation Of Composites - A method for decorating a composite placed in a mold in a resin transfer molding process includes selectively depositing unbonded pigments on one or more areas of a preform of the composite, and injecting a resin into the mold via one or more resin input ports operably connected to the mold. The injected resin carries the selectively deposited unbonded pigments on a path on one or more areas of the preform of the composite along a direction of flow of the injected resin, thereby creating ornamental pigment flow patterns in the composite for decorating the composite. The method also creates bands of ornamental pigment flow patterns by depositing the unbonded pigments on a transfer medium positioned on the composite, positioning the transfer medium in proximity to the resin input ports, and selectively injecting the resin onto the transfer medium deposited with the unbonded pigments, via the resin input ports. | 12-13-2012 |
20130071633 | Short Fiber Reinforced Artificial Stone Laminate - A short fiber reinforced artificial stone laminate comprising a top layer of particulates of substantially a single size between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, short fibers deposited in grooves between the particulates, a rear layer of long reinforcing fibers backing the particulates and the short fibers, and a binder is provided. A method for manufacturing the short fiber reinforced artificial stone laminate is also provided. Particulates, for example, quartz particulates, are deposited on a release surface. Short fibers, for example, short glass fibers, are deposited in grooves between the particulates. The particulates and the short fibers are vibrated, whereby the short fibers align and position themselves in the grooves. Long reinforcing fibers are then deposited on the particulates. A binder is deposited for binding the particulates, the short fibers, and the long reinforcing fibers. After the binder cures, the surface of the particulates is polished. | 03-21-2013 |
20130171377 | Artificial Stone Laminate - An artificial stone laminate including a layer of particulates, a layer of reinforcing fibers backing the layer of particulates, a substrate attachment layer backing the layer of reinforcing fibers, and a binder that binds the particulates, the reinforcing fibers, and the substrate attachment layer is provided. An exposed surface of the layer of particulates is polished flat. The reinforcing fibers include, for example, glass fibers. The substrate attachment layer is, for example, a cellulosic layer, a layer of cenospheres, a layer of fleece, or a layer having a hook side or a loop side of a hook and loop fastener. The binder is, for example, a polyester resin with a filler or an acrylic resin. The particulates include, for example, one or more of quartz particulates, metal pieces, transparent particulates coated with metal and colored glass, or any combination thereof. | 07-04-2013 |
20130187314 | Manufacturing A Composite - An apparatus and method for manufacturing a composite is provided. A bottom release layer is disposed within a cavity of a volumetrically restraining body structure for supporting a cast material. An air bag is disposed between the bottom release layer and one or more surfaces of the volumetrically restraining body structure within the cavity. An air compressor connected to the air bag pressurizes the air bag. The pressurized air bag compresses the cast material against the bottom release layer. The resin inlets disposed on the cast material infuse resin into the cast material. A vacuum outlet insertably connected in the cavity of the volumetrically restraining body structure, in communication with the cast material, draws a vacuum through the cast material and draws the resin into the cast material. The compression of the cast material reduces excessive resin rich areas in the composite created from the resin infused cast material. | 07-25-2013 |
20130209759 | Ornamentation Of Quartz Resin Composites - A method for decorating an artificial stone laminate, for example, a quartz resin composite is provided. In the manufacturing process, a substantially thin layer of transparent or translucent particulates is deposited on a release surface. Color pigments or any coloring material that imparts color and/or contrast are selectively deposited in areas on the transparent or translucent particulates to create patterns and designs. A layer of reinforcing fibers, for example, glass fibers, is placed on the layer of transparent or translucent particulates. A binder, deposited on the layer of reinforcing fibers, fills gaps between the transparent or translucent particulates and binds the reinforcing fibers to the transparent or translucent particulates. After the artificial stone laminate cures, the artificial stone laminate is polished to expose a flat, transparent or translucent surface of the transparent or translucent particulates that have been selectively colored by the coloring material to create visual patterns and designs. | 08-15-2013 |
20140335306 | 3D Fiber Composite - A composite having a core containing a cellular structure, reinforcing fibers, an upper face sheet, and a lower face sheet is provided. The cellular structure is a honeycomb structure containing strips of carrier material arranged in an x direction in an x-y plane, adhered together, and expanded in the x direction after adhesion. The reinforcing fibers are externally bonded onto the outer walls of each of the cells of the cellular structure in a z direction. The upper face sheet and the lower face sheet are configured to be bonded to the upper portion and the lower portion of the reinforcing fibers that extend outwardly from the upper edges and the lower edges of the cells of the cellular structure respectively, thereby establishing a three dimensional continuity of the reinforcing fibers between a surface of contact between the core, the upper face sheet, and the lower face sheet. | 11-13-2014 |