Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120074720 | TUBULAR BEAM WITH SINGLE CENTER LEG - A reinforcement beam for a vehicle bumper system comprises a single sheet deformed to define first and second tubes sharing a common single center wall. A channel rib is formed on each tubes and a crevice rib over the center leg forms a third rib. Edges of the sheet are deformed to a radius so that their surface consistently engages an associated radiused corner formed on ends of the center leg, which facilitates consistent abutting line engagement of material surfaces, and thus facilitates consistent welding. In a preferred beam, front wall sections of each tube are coplanar and form a face of the beam, with each channel rib and crevice rib providing added stiffness to the beam, and yet nothing extends forward of the coplanar front wall sections. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed. | 03-29-2012 |
20130168360 | APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBULAR BEAM WITH CENTER LEG - An apparatus forms a sheet into a beam having four exterior walls and a common center leg extending between an opposing two of the walls. The apparatus includes a roll former forming the sheet into the beam cross section, a welding station with top and bottom laser welders, and a weld box fixture having inwardly-biased external mandrels (biased by actuators) and outwardly-biased internal split mandrels (biased by springs) that interact to hold a desired shape of the beam in the weld fixture, and also includes a sweeping unit and cutoff device. By this arrangement, the internal and external mandrels, in combination with a bias of the actuators and springs, control a shape of the beam by flexure and movement of material of the sheet when in the weld box fixture during a welding process of the welder. | 07-04-2013 |
20140033791 | METHOD FOR FORMING TUBULAR BEAM WITH CENTER LEG - A roll former for forming a sheet into a continuous multi-tubular reinforcement beam. The roll former includes a first set of rollers that are configured to bend the sheet to form a common center wall in generally perpendicular orientation relative to first and second lateral portions of the sheet that extend in opposing directions from respective first and second radiused ends of the common center wall. The first set of rollers also form radiused edges on the first and second lateral portions. A second set of rollers is configured to form a channel rib longitudinally along each of the first and second lateral portions. A third set of rollers is configured to bend the first and second lateral portions simultaneously and equally to abut the first and second radiused edges with the respective first and second radiused ends of the common center wall to define adjacent tubes of the beam. | 02-06-2014 |
20140377484 | ROLL FORM APPARATUS, METHOD TO MANUFACTURE CRUSH TUBES - An apparatus comprises an uncoiling device for unrolling sheet material, an embossing device for embossing a series of crush initiating embossments into the sheet, a slitter to remove deformed edges of the sheet to facilitate welding, and a roll former with rolls configured to deform the sheet into a continuous tubular beam with walls each including some of the embossments, with the rolls being configured to clear the embossments but accurately form corners joining the walls. The apparatus further includes a welder welding abutting edges of the sheet together to fix the tubular beam, with the abutting edges being located inboard of an adjacent one of the corners but outboard of an outboard edge of adjacent ones of the embossments, and a cutoff device for cutting the continuous tubular beam into beam segments. A related method is also disclosed. | 12-25-2014 |
20150015007 | TUBULAR BEAM WITH CENTER LEG AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME - A reinforcement beam is roll formed from a metal sheet for use in a vehicle bumper system. The reinforcement beam includes adjacent tubes having a common center wall and lateral portions extending from opposing sides of the common center wall that are roll formed simultaneously in the same rotational direction to enclose interior volumes of the adjacent tubes and to define top and bottom walls and front and rear wall of the reinforcement beam. The front walls of the adjacent tubes each include a channel rib depressed into the interior volume of the respective adjacent tube longitudinally along the reinforcement beam for stiffening the respective front wall. A weld is formed separately in each of the seams between the front walls and between the rear walls, thereby defining a crevice rib between the channel ribs to improve the bending strength and torsional strength of the reinforcement beam. | 01-15-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080277596 | Impact Indicating Microcapsules - The present disclosure is directed at an impact indictor that may be coated on a structure to detect impacts thereon. The indicator may be provided within microcapsules. Upon rupture of the microcapsules, the indicator may be exposed to a pH activator, wherein the indicator may then exhibit fluorescence upon exposure to electromagnetic energy. | 11-13-2008 |
20090044744 | Thermal Sensitive Material - An impact-resistant thermal sensitive material comprising at least one indicator dispersed throughout a heat-sensitive matrix material is provided. An article comprising the impact-resistant thermal sensitive material undergoes a permanent color change when exposed to a pre-determined temperature. | 02-19-2009 |
20100083873 | Encapsulation Of Active Agents For On-Demand Release - The present disclosure relates to a method of forming microcapsules. The method may include combining an active agent in a first solvent S | 04-08-2010 |
20100187439 | Fluorescent Monitoring Of Microcapsule Oxidation - The present disclosure relates to microcapsules that include a shell material and a core material. The core material of the microcapsules contains an environmentally sensitive luminescent colorant which exhibits characteristics of an emitted wavelength bandwidth, a peak intensity for emission and a time for luminescence decay, one or more of the characteristics capable of changing upon exposure to a given environment, and a luminescent standard which exhibits characteristics of an emitted wavelength bandwidth, a peak intensity for emission and a time for luminescence decay, one or more of the characteristics do not change upon exposure to said given environment. | 07-29-2010 |
20100297446 | Layer By Layer Modification Of Microcapsules With Inorganic Materials - The present disclosure relates to a microcapsule and a method of forming a microcapsule which may be used for oxygen sensitive materials. The microcapsule may comprise a shell encapsulating a core material having a surface, wherein the shell comprises a first organic or inorganic polyelectrolyte providing a plurality of cationic or anionic charges. This may then be followed by forming a first layer comprising an inorganic or organic polyelectrolyte on the microcapsule surface, where the polyelectrolyte of the first layer provides a plurality of cationic or anionic charges, opposite to the charge of the shell polyelectrolyte. This may then be followed by forming a second layer comprising a second organic or inorganic polyelectrolyte providing a plurality of cationic or anionic charges, opposite to the charge of the first layer polyelectrolyte. | 11-25-2010 |
20110015568 | Dry To Wet Injector - The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for combining a solid particulate with a solvent prior to an injection protocol within an injector device. The solid particulate may be a pharmaceutical compound and the microcapsules contain a solvent for such particulate. Upon application of pressure, the microcapsules may be configured to burst and release the solvent, thereby dispersing and/or partially dissolving the particulate. The injector therefore allows for the use of relatively unstable pharmaceutically active compounds in a device that requires relatively long storage times and the use of pharmaceutical compounds that are relatively stable in the dry state. | 01-20-2011 |
20120274616 | Electrophoretic Display Using Fibers Containing a Nanoparticle Suspension - A composite textile for generating an electrophoretically driven image. The textile has at least three layers. An outer (relative to an observer of the image) electrode layer is made from a transparent and electrically conductive material. A fibermat layer is under the outer electrode layer, and comprises a mat of one or more fibers, each fiber being transparent and dielectric and having a hollow core that contains a fluid suspension of particles (typically nanoparticles) of at least two color types. A pattern layer is under the fiber mat layer, and has an arrangement of features made from an electrically conductive material. When voltage is applied to the pattern layer, the particles respond by migrating toward the outer electrode or pattern layer, depending on their charge. | 11-01-2012 |
20130270726 | Encapsulation Of Active Agents For On-Demand Release - The present disclosure relates to a method of forming microcapsules. The method may include combining an active agent in a first solvent S | 10-17-2013 |
20140202541 | Encapsulaton Of High Temperature Molten Salts - The present disclosure relates to a method of encapsulating microcapsules containing relatively high temperature phase change materials and the microcapsules so produced. The microcapsules are coated with an inorganic binder, film former and an inorganic filler. The microcapsules may include a sacrificial layer that is disposed between the particle and the coating. The microcapsules may also include an inner coating layer, sacrificial layer and outer coating layer. The microcapsules are particularly useful for thermal energy storage in connection with, e.g., heat collected from concentrating solar collectors. | 07-24-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100252665 | FOOD GRATER WITH POUR CONTROL - A food grater having a housing, a food hopper, a reversible grating barrel removably carried by the housing and disposed at an open end of the hopper for grating food, such as cheese, contained therein, and a detachable end cap covering an open end of the grating barrel for allowing controlled dispensing of the grated food, is disclosed. A press plate configured to fit within the hopper at an open end opposite the grating barrel engages food disposed therein and moves the same into contact with the grating barrel. The detachable end cap includes concentric first and second parts, the first part including a passage defined thereon through which grated food may pass and the second part including at least two distinct areas each having an opening defined thereon, at least one of the first and second parts being movable relative to the other such that the two distinct areas of the second part may be aligned with the passage on the first part. | 10-07-2010 |
20110062753 | Child chair - A child's chair is disclosed having, in its most basic form, a frame having four legs, a seat having a bottom support and a back support, and a tray. To these basic components, numerous modifications can be made to customize features of the chair for enhancing safety and convenience, and/or adapting to additional possible uses. Each of the disclosed embodiments includes at least one of either an adjustable seat, an adjustable footrest, a center post mounted tray, a multiple position, single-hand adjustable tray, a concealed release button, and any combination of such features. | 03-17-2011 |
20110253141 | METHODS OF OPERATING DRY POWDER INHALERS HAVING SPIRAL TRAVEL PATHS WITH MICROCARTRIDGES OF DRY POWDER - Dry powder inhalers include: (a) a first generally planar spiral travel path in an inhaler body, wherein the first spiral travel path has a plurality of adjacent curvilinear channels forming lanes with upstanding sidewalls, including an inner lane and an outer lane; and (b) a plurality of discrete sealed microcartridges with substantially rigid bodies disposed in the first travel path, each comprising a pre-metered (typically dose) amount of dry powder, the microcartridges being configured to slidably advance along the first travel path toward an inhalation chamber that merges into an inhalation output port. In operation, at least one microcartridge is held in the inhalation chamber to release the dry powder therein during inhalation. | 10-20-2011 |
20120000937 | SHROUD AND DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR A HANDHELD CONTAINER - A dispensing system includes a shroud having a gripping portion. An actuation area of the shroud is between about 15% to about 95% of a surface area of the gripping portion. | 01-05-2012 |
20120000938 | SHROUD AND DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR A HANDHELD COUNTAINER - A dispensing system includes a shroud for holding a container. An opening is within the shroud. An actuation portion is within a sidewall of the shroud. Between about 0% to about 25% of a length of a sidewall of the container is visible below a bottom edge of the shroud. | 01-05-2012 |
20120000939 | SHROUD AND DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR A HANDHELD COUNTAINER - A dispensing system includes a container and a shroud for holding the container. The shroud includes a gripping portion. The gripping portion includes an actuation area that is activated by a user upon exertion of an average force per finger of less than about 31 kPa. | 01-05-2012 |
20120000940 | SHROUD AND DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR A HANDHELD COUNTAINER - A dispensing system includes a manifold adapted to be fluidly coupled to a valve stem of a container. A shroud has a gripping portion and is adapted to fit within a user's hand. The gripping portion includes first and second cutout portions and at least one actuation member. A force applied to the gripping portion causes the at least one actuation member to contact the manifold to force the manifold downwardly. | 01-05-2012 |
20120031928 | Shroud and Dispensing System for a Handheld Container - A dispensing system includes a shroud for holding a container that is adapted to fit within a user's hand. The shroud includes a first diameter proximate a bottom edge of the shroud, a second diameter between the bottom edge and a top edge of the shroud, and a third diameter proximate the top edge of the shroud. An actuation member forms a portion of a sidewall of the shroud and the second diameter is less than the first diameter. | 02-09-2012 |
20120031933 | Shroud and Dispensing System for a Handheld Container - An actuation member for a dispensing system includes a shroud that is adapted to be gripped by a hand of a user. The actuation member includes a portion of a sidewall of the shroud. The portion is integral with the sidewall of the shroud such that no visible or distinct trigger is formed as part of the dispensing system. | 02-09-2012 |
20120037663 | Shroud and Dispensing System for a Handheld Container - A dispensing system includes a shroud for holding a container. The shroud has a gripping portion adapted to be gripped by a hand of a user and an actuation area. The actuation area is activated by a user upon exertion of a force generally transverse to a central longitudinal axis. The force rotates the actuation area about a rotation point that is on the central longitudinal axis of the dispensing system. | 02-16-2012 |
20120097575 | CORN HOLDER STORAGE SYSTEM - A corn holder storage unit for retaining one or more corn holders in a safe, sanitary, and convenient manner is disclosed. One or more members defining a cavity and having at least one opening is adapted to accept and retain one or more corn holders, and preferably each member is adapted to retain a pair of corn holders along the member axis. Where the corn holder storage unit is configured to retain a pair of corn holders, the distance between opposing ends of the member should be at least two times the length of the corn holder operative end. Preferably a peripheral structure encloses the one or more members, and cooperation between the member and the peripheral structure prevents the holder from passing through the cavity and from being dislodged from the corn holder storage unit by providing an abutment rim and a variety of retaining fits. In an embodiment, a corn holder storage system is provided, wherein a plurality of tubes is enclosed by a peripheral structure, each of the tubes having two opposing open ends for retaining a plurality of corn holders and concealing the corn holder operative ends. | 04-26-2012 |
20120118918 | Shroud and Dispensing System for a Handheld Container - A dispensing system has a central longitudinal axis and includes a shroud adapted to receive a container. The shroud includes a gripping portion adapted to be gripped by a hand of a user. The dispensing system also includes an actuation member adapted to rotate about a rotation point on a rotation axis toward an interior of the shroud in response to a force applied to the actuation member by the user. The actuation member is configured such that a rotation distance is at least about 6 centimeters. The rotation distance is measured in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis between a location where the user can apply the force to the actuation member and the rotation point of the actuation member. | 05-17-2012 |
20120217243 | Shroud and Dispensing System for a Handheld Container - A closure member for a shroud includes an annular wall and no more than one raised surface, interior of the annular wall, which extends upwardly beyond any other component of the closure member. The raised surface is configured to inhibit movement of a container both longitudinally and laterally when the annular wall is attached to a shroud with a container disposed therein. | 08-30-2012 |
20130152331 | WASTE RECEPTACLE - A dustpan configured to receive and contain debris includes a base and a wall. The base has a front edge over which debris can be swept when placed in contact with a surface. The wall extends upwardly from a portion of the base other than the front edge to contain the debris. A tooth assembly that includes a set of protrusions configured to remove debris from the bristles of a broom when the broom is swept across the protrusions. The tooth assembly can be at least partially disposed in a handle with an arcuate cross-section. The tooth assembly can define a channel configured to frictionally engage a broom handle. The tooth assembly can be moveable with respect to the dustpan. A handle coupled to the tooth assembly can allow a user to move the tooth assembly between a first configuration and a second configuration. | 06-20-2013 |
20130192102 | IRONING BOARD APPARATUS AND METHODS - An ironing board apparatus comprising a primary ironing board component comprising a first surface suitable for ironing fabrics; and a secondary ironing board component comprising a second surface suitable for ironing fabrics, wherein the secondary ironing board component is rotatably attached to the primary ironing board component, and wherein the secondary ironing board component lies in a different but parallel plane than the primary ironing board component. Another aspect comprises an ironing board apparatus comprising a primary ironing board component comprising a first surface suitable for ironing fabrics; and secondary ironing board component comprising a second surface suitable for ironing fabrics, wherein the secondary ironing board component is rotatably attached to the primary ironing board component, and wherein the secondary ironing board component lies in a same plane as the primary ironing board component when the secondary ironing board component is in a closed position. | 08-01-2013 |
20140024247 | WRAPPABLE EXTENSION CORD APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS - At least one exemplary aspect comprises an apparatus comprising: (a) a plug component at a first end of a cord; (b) an outlet component at a second, opposite end of the cord; and (c) a gooseneck component that encloses at least a portion of the cord. | 01-23-2014 |
20140187079 | RECONFIGURABLE PLUG STRIP - An apparatus includes a base segment having a signal port coupler configured to selectively conductively engage with a signal port. A first assembly includes a first segment movably coupled to the base segment and a second segment movably coupled to the first segment, and a second assembly includes a third segment movably coupled to the base segment and a fourth segment movably coupled to the third segment. The first, second, third, and fourth segments include receptacles configured to receive at least an electrically conductive portion of a device plug. An electrical connection assembly is disposed in the base, first, second, third, and fourth segments and is configured to selectively conductively engage the receptacles of the first, second, third, and fourth segments with a signal port. | 07-03-2014 |
20140237729 | SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS - An exemplary aspect comprises an apparatus comprising: a brush component comprising a handle on a first end of a shaft and a brush on a second end of the shaft; and a shovel component removably connected to the brush component; wherein the brush is at least partially enclosed within the shovel component when the shovel component is connected to the brush component, and wherein the brush is exposed when the shovel component is disconnected from the brush component. | 08-28-2014 |
20140251099 | SCISSOR APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS - An exemplary aspect comprises a scissors apparatus comprising: (a) a first member comprising a first handle component and a first blade component; and (b) a second member comprising a second handle component and a second blade component; said second member connected to said first member and pivotally movable with respect to said first member between a fully closed position and a fully open position, and said second handle component configured to enclose a sharpened portion of said first blade component when said first and second members are in said fully open position. An exemplary method aspect comprises operating any of the apparatus aspects and embodiments as scissors; opening said apparatus so that said first and second members are in said fully open position; and operating said apparatus as a single-blade cutting device. | 09-11-2014 |
20150070190 | Sensor Apparatus and Related Methods - An exemplary aspect comprises an apparatus comprising: (a) a microprocessor; (b) a wireless transmitter/receiver in communication with the microprocessor and operable to communicate over a wireless network with an application on a mobile device; (c) a light sensor in communication, via the microprocessor and the transmitter/receiver, with the application, and operable to detect and report ambient light levels in a vicinity of the apparatus; and (d) an accelerometer in communication, via the microprocessor and the transmitter/receiver, with the application, and operable to detect and report motion of the apparatus. In various exemplary embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise (and/or instead comprise): (1) a temperature sensor; (2) a humidity sensor; (3) a microphone; and/or (4) a passive infrared sensor. | 03-12-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130305893 | MULTIFUNCTIONAL COOKING UTENSIL - An exemplary aspect comprises an apparatus comprising: (a) a first handle component comprising a first end and a second end; and (b) a second handle component comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein the first end is connected to the third end via a spring clip, wherein the second end is connected to a first spatula component, wherein the fourth end is connected to a second spatula component, and wherein the first handle component is operable to be locked to the second handle component. In one or more exemplary embodiments: (1) the second spatula component and the second handle component comprise a retractable fork component; (2) the first spatula component comprises a serrated edge; and (3) the first handle component is operable to be locked to the second handle component via a sliding member. | 11-21-2013 |
20140144335 | EGG YOLK SEPARATION APPARATUS AND METHODS - An exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) a yolk chamber component comprising a first opening and a second opening; and (b) a vacuum chamber component comprising an opening, wherein the second opening of the yolk chamber component is detachably connected to the opening of the vacuum chamber component. Another exemplary aspect comprises a method of separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) compressing a vacuum chamber component, wherein the vacuum chamber component is detachably connected to a yolk chamber component, and wherein the yolk chamber component is empty; (b) placing the first opening of the yolk chamber component against an egg yolk; and (c) releasing pressure on the vacuum chamber component until the egg yolk is drawn into the yolk chamber component. | 05-29-2014 |
20140144336 | EGG YOLK SEPARATION APPARATUS AND METHODS - An exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) a yolk chamber component comprising a first opening and a second opening; and (b) a vacuum chamber component comprising an opening, wherein the second opening of the yolk chamber component is detachably connected to the opening of the vacuum chamber component. Another exemplary aspect comprises a method of separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) compressing a vacuum chamber component, wherein the vacuum chamber component is detachably connected to a yolk chamber component, and wherein the yolk chamber component is empty; (b) placing the first opening of the yolk chamber component against an egg yolk; and (c) releasing pressure on the vacuum chamber component until the egg yolk is drawn into the yolk chamber component. | 05-29-2014 |
20140147566 | EGG YOLK SEPARATION APPARATUS AND METHODS - An exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) a yolk chamber component comprising a first opening and a second opening; and (b) a vacuum chamber component comprising an opening, wherein the second opening of the yolk chamber component is detachably connected to the opening of the vacuum chamber component. Another exemplary aspect comprises a method of separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) compressing a vacuum chamber component, wherein the vacuum chamber component is detachably connected to a yolk chamber component, and wherein the yolk chamber component is empty; (b) placing the first opening of the yolk chamber component against an egg yolk; and (c) releasing pressure on the vacuum chamber component until the egg yolk is drawn into the yolk chamber component. | 05-29-2014 |
20140251373 | MULTIFUNCTIONAL BROOM APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS - An exemplary aspect comprises an apparatus comprising: a handle; and a body connected to the handle via a rotatable joint; the body comprising a bristle component on a first side and a cloth component on a second side, the bristle component comprising broom bristles and the cloth component configured to accept a cloth, the body rotatable with respect to the handle, between a first position and a second position, the first position placing the broom bristles in contact with a floor surface, and the second position placing the cloth in contact with the floor surface. One or more method embodiments comprise using the apparatus as a broom, with the body in the first position; rotating the body from the first position to the second position; and using the apparatus as a mop, with the body in the second position. | 09-11-2014 |