Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080282438 | PROTECTIVE WEAR HAVING DISCRETE REINFORCING ELEMENTS FOR IMPROVED MOBILITY - A pad is disclosed including discrete reinforcing members secured to a base layer. The discrete reinforcing elements may include spherical members rotatably embedded in the base layer, plates pivotally mounted to the base layer by means of a flexible post or revolute joint, or plates threaded on a chord secured to the base layer. The base layer may include a plurality of discrete projections each having a reinforcing element secured proximate a distal end thereof. A pad may include a receiver for securing to a wearer and a base. The base may be secured to the receiver by a suspension allowing pitch and roll movements. The receiver may secure to the base at one end while the opposite end is slidably secured to the base or coupled to the base by means of a biasing member. | 11-20-2008 |
20100095625 | Rigid foam insulating panel with compressible joint - An insulating panel including a panel structure of closed cell foam with a first portion and a second portion. At least one compressible joint connects the first portion to the second portion. The compressible joint includes at least one segment with a cross-sectional thickness less than a cross-sectional thickness of the panel structure. | 04-22-2010 |
20100109348 | Locking Pin - A retractable locking pin. The locking pin includes a catch, a biasing means, a stop, a strut and an activation member. The catch is radially respositionable relative to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin as between an outward expanded position and an inward contracted position. The biasing means biases the catch towards the outward expanded position. The stop is longitudinally spaced from the catch and extends radially outward from the longitudinal axis. The strut cooperatively interconnects the biasing means and the stop. The activation member is operably associated with at least one of the catch and the biasing means for repositioning the catch towards the inward contracted position against the bias of the biasing means when the activation member is repositioned in a first direction along a path relative to the stop. | 05-06-2010 |
20100186202 | Carabiner with anti-cross loading feature - A carabiner with a generally C-shaped body includes a first end and a second end located on opposite sides of an opening. A primary gate is mounted to the second end. The primary gate is rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to a plane that bisects the C-shaped body. The primary gate is rotatable between a closed position with the primary gate engaged with the first end and the C-shaped body enclosing an interior region, and an open position with the primary gate located generally in the interior region. A secondary gate is attached to the primary gate and adapted to be displaced in the plane relative to the primary gate between a closed configuration that separates the interior region into a first portion and a second portion, and an open configuration that provides access to the interior region. The secondary gate can be displaced in the plane to extend across the interior region as the primary gate rotates between the open position and the closed position. Displacement of the secondary gate can include rotation and/or translation. | 07-29-2010 |
20100265618 | Method and Apparatus for Reducing Head Media Spacing in a Disk Drive - Systems and methods for reducing head media spacing (HMS) from about 100 Angstroms to about 65 Angstroms or less, without substantial reductions in the carbon overcoat or lubricant thickness. A protruding feature extends above the actuated portion of the air bearing surface and generally covers the read-write sensors. The protruding feature can either be static or thermally actuated. The protruding feature is small enough to engage with the lubricant without causing large head media disturbances and lubricant pickup and re-distribution or preventing contact detection. The protruding feature is also extremely small relative to the size of the actuated portion of the air bearing surface, but large enough to provide a wear and corrosion resistance to head media spacing sensitive features. | 10-21-2010 |
20100271910 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NEAR FIELD PHOTOPATTERNING AND IMPROVED OPTICAL COUPLING EFFICIENCY - This invention relates to near field assemblies with improved optical coupling efficiency suitable for near field photolithography and heat assisted magnetic recording with fluid bearing structures. Masters for photolithography are fabricated using a fluid bearing suspended at a near field distance using hydrostatic bearings. Near field features fabricated on a fluidized slider emit a radiated laser to develop a photo-resist layer deposited on the master replicator. A plurality of near field assemblies is etched on a wafer. Each of the near field assemblies includes a planar solid immersion mirror, at least one grating, and a near field transducer. The features created during the etching step are used to guide at least one milling tool to machine at least one surface on one or more of the planar solid immersion mirror, the at least one grating, and the near field transducer. The features created during the machining step are used to guide at least one polishing tool to polish at least one surface on one or more of the planar solid immersion mirror, the at least one grating, and the near field transducer. The wafer is cut to create a plurality of discrete near field assemblies. | 10-28-2010 |
20100296199 | LOW HYSTERESIS BEARING - A low hysteresis pivot bearing suitable for a variety of applications. The relationship between torque and angular displacement is substantially linear, with negligible residual hysteresis. The pivot bearing includes a pivot shaft and an inner sleeve pivotally attached to the pivot shaft by an inner bearing. An outer sleeve is pivotally attached to the inner sleeve by an outer bearing. An inner sleeve actuator continuously rotates the inner sleeve relative to the stationary shaft. | 11-25-2010 |
20100317262 | ABRASIVE ARTICLE WITH UNIFORM HEIGHT ABRASIVE PARTICLES - A method of making an abrasive article including the step of preparing a master plate with a surface having a shape. Depositing a spacer layer on the surface of the master plate. A slurry containing an adhesive and abrasive particles is deposited on a surface of the spacer layer. A substrate embedded with abrasive particles having a surface generally complementary to the surface of the master plate is fabricated. A spacer layer is formed by various method controlled the height of the protruded abrasive particles. The master plate and the spacer layer are separated from the substrate to expose abrasive particle protruding a substantially uniform height. An abrasive article made according to this method is also disclosed. | 12-16-2010 |
20100330890 | POLISHING PAD WITH ARRAY OF FLUIDIZED GIMBALLED ABRASIVE MEMBERS - An abrasive article with an array of independently gimballed abrasive members that are capable of selectively engaging with nanometer-scale and/or micrometer-scale height variations and micrometer-scale and/or millimeter-scale wavelengths of waviness, on the surfaces of substrates. Each abrasive member maintains a fluid bearing (air is the typical fluid) with the substrate. The spacing and pitch of the abrasive members can be adjusted to follow the topography of the substrate to remove a generally uniform layer of material; to engage with the peaks on the substrate to remove target wavelengths of waviness; and/or to remove debris and contamination from the surface of the substrate. | 12-30-2010 |
20110027549 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING ABRASIVE PARTICLES INTO SUBSTRATES - A dressing bars for embedding abrasive particles into a substrate at a substantially uniform height. Spacing pads, hydrostatic and/or hydrodynamic fluid bearing (air is the typical fluid) maintains a constant spacing and attitude between the dressing bar and the substrate. The fluid bearing permits the dressing bar to maintain a desirable stiffness between the lapping plate and the dressing bar. The bar geometry and fluid bearing design permits the bar to mitigate or compensate for the micrometer-scale and/or millimeter-scale wavelengths of waviness on the substrate, while maintaining a substantially constant clearance to uniformly embed the abrasive particle into the substrate. | 02-03-2011 |
20110034107 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECIPROCAL POLISHING - A polishing pad is located on a reciprocal motion generator. The polishing pad includes a plurality of discrete fluid channels. An abrasive article is located on the polishing pad. The abrasive article is reciprocally energized relative to the work piece. A fluid pressure in one or more of the discrete fluid channels is altered to selectively deform the abrasive article to preferentially remove material from the work piece. | 02-10-2011 |
20110080675 | LOW HYSTERESIS BEARING - A low hysteresis pivot bearing suitable for a variety of applications. The relationship between torque and angular displacement is substantially linear, with negligible residual hysteresis. The pivot bearing includes a stationary shaft and at least one intermediate member pivotally connected to the stationary shaft by an intermediate member bearing. At least one outer sleeve is pivotally connected to the intermediate member by an outer sleeve bearing. At least one rotary actuator angularly displaces the intermediate member relative to the stationary shaft. | 04-07-2011 |
20110104989 | DRESSING BAR FOR EMBEDDING ABRASIVE PARTICLES INTO SUBSTRATES - One or more individually gimballed dressing bars for embedding abrasive particles into a substrate at a substantially uniform height. A hydrostatic and/or hydrodynamic fluid bearing (air is the typical fluid) is maintained between the dressing bar and the substrate. The fluid bearing permits the dressing bar to follow micrometer-scale and/or millimeter-scale wavelengths of waviness on the substrate, while maintaining a constant clearance, to uniformly embed the abrasive particle into the substrate. | 05-05-2011 |
20110143638 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A POLISHING ARTICLE WITH UNIFORM HEIGHT ABRASIVE PARTICLES - A method of making an abrasive article including the step of preparing a master plate with a surface having a shape. Depositing a spacer layer on the surface of the master plate. A slurry containing an adhesive and abrasive particles is deposited on a surface of the spacer layer. A substrate embedded with abrasive particles having a surface generally complementary to the surface of the master plate is fabricated. A spacer layer is formed by various method controlled the height of the protruded abrasive particles. The master plate and the spacer layer are separated from the substrate to expose abrasive particle protruding a substantially uniform height. An abrasive article made according to this method is also disclosed. | 06-16-2011 |
20110159446 | PLASMON HEAD WITH HYDROSTATIC GAS BEARING FOR NEAR FIELD PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY - A low-cost approach to near field nano-scale photolithography using a plasmonic head with hydrostatic gas bearings. The hydrostatic gas bearing flies the plasmonic head at less than 100 nm, and more preferably less than 50 nm, above the photo-resist without the need to spin the substrate. The plasmonic head concentrates short-wavelength surface plasmons into about sub-100 nm regions on the photo-resist and can pattern features of about 80 nm or less. | 06-30-2011 |
20110159784 | ABRASIVE ARTICLE WITH ARRAY OF GIMBALLED ABRASIVE MEMBERS AND METHOD OF USE - An abrasive article with an array of independently gimballed abrasive members that are capable of selectively engaging with nanometer-scale and/or micrometer-scale height variations and micrometer-scale and/or millimeter-scale wavelengths of waviness, on the surfaces of substrates. Each abrasive member maintains a fluid bearing (air is the typical fluid) with the substrate. The spacing and pitch of the abrasive members can be adjusted to follow the topography of the substrate to remove a generally uniform layer of material; to engage with the peaks on the substrate to remove target wavelengths of waviness; and/or to remove debris and contamination from the surface of the substrate. | 06-30-2011 |
20110230126 | COMPOSITE POLISHING PAD - An abrasive article referred to as composite polishing pad (CPP) includes a plurality of fixed abrasive elements or a plurality of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) pads attached to a plurality of pressure pads suspended to flexible structures capable to follow the wafer topography. A plurality of stems with dimpled ends act on the pressure pads to generate desired pressure acting on the wafer. The stems are attached to a spring arrangement capable of substantial vertical deflection under a desired load. In one embodiment a plurality of pressure pads suspended to a plurality of stems by revolute joints. The stems are attached to a spring arrangement capable of substantial vertical deflection under a desired load. In another embodiment, a plurality of pressure pads are attached to a plurality of stems suspended to a series of springs capable of substantial vertical deflection under a desired load. | 09-22-2011 |
20110244770 | ABRASIVE SLURRY FORMULATIONS CONTAINING NANO AND MICRO SPHERES ADDITIVES OR SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS - This invention relates to methods for plate dressing using slurry charged with abrasives and soft polymeric or metallic micro-nano spheres additives to produce substantially uniform abrasive height. Additionally, methods for plate dressing using slurry charged with abrasives and self-assembled polymers to produce substantially uniform abrasive height are disclosed. | 10-06-2011 |
20110256803 | FLUIDIZED WEB POLISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD USING CONTACT PRESSURE FEEDBACK - An abrasive article with an abrasive element fabricated on a flexible foil suspended by a hydrostatic preloader, a gimball mechanism or a soft pad capable of selectively engaging with substrate to remove material while monitoring the contact pressure. A hydrostatic pressure bed is applied to the non-abrasive surface of the tensioned flexible foil to provide a contact pressure to the abrasive surface against the substrate. A series of fluid bearing surfaces are fabricated or imparted onto the abrasive side of the flexible foil to cause controlled interference and pressure with the substrate. A hydrostatic pressure emanating from the preloader supports the non-abrasive side of the flexible foil under tension while the abrasive side of the flexible foil engages a substrate. Alternatively the flexible foil web is constructed of a series of individual flexible foil bearings connected by non-straight links and housed in flexible holder pads capable of deforming and conforming to the substrate and wafer topography under applied externally applied load and moments. | 10-20-2011 |
20120064808 | METHOD TO ENHANCE POLISHING PERFORMANCE OF ABRASIVE CHARGED STRUCTURED POLYMER SUBSTRATES - The intersection of discrete polishing islands staggered in a curvilinear shape with a workpiece maintains a substantially uniform film thickness throughout the polishing operation and also leading to a stable polishing operation due to the substantially invariant pressurization. | 03-15-2012 |
20120122380 | ABRASIVE ARTICLE WITH ARRAY OF COMPOSITE POLISHING PADS - A polishing article with a plurality of polishing pads adapted to polish a substrate. Gimbal structures are attached to the polishing pads that permit the polishing pads to move independently along at least a pitch axis and a roll axis. Stems supported by preload flexures apply preloads through dimple structures to the polishing pads. A plurality of stand-offs provide fixed boundary conditions between the preload and the gimbal structures. Recesses allow for the preload flexures to move vertically. | 05-17-2012 |
20120149279 | ABRASIVE ARTICLE WITH ARRAY OF COMPOSITE POLISHING PADS - An abrasive article for polishing a substrate surface. The abrasive article includes a holder pad assembly and an abrasive member held in place with respect to a holder pad. The abrasive member further includes a first surface engaged with the holder pad assembly, and a second surface including an abrasive. A preload mechanism is positioned to bias the second surfaces of the abrasive member toward the substrate surface. One or more fluid bearing features on the second surface of the abrasive member is configured to generate lift forces during relative motion between the abrasive article and the substrate surface. | 06-14-2012 |
20120149283 | ABRASIVE SLURRY AND DRESSING BAR FOR EMBEDDING ABRASIVE PARTICLES INTO SUBSTRATES - An abrasive polishing slurry including abrasive particles in a carrier fluid and micro-nano members. A system and method for making an abrasive article using the polishing slurry is also disclosed. The system includes a gimballed dressing bar adapted to provide a compressive force sufficient to embed the abrasive particles into the substrate, wherein the members set a height the embedded abrasive particles protrude above the substrate. | 06-14-2012 |
20120186051 | CARABINER WITH ANTI-CROSS LOADING FEATURE - A carabiner with a generally C-shaped body includes a first end and a second end located on opposite sides of an opening. A primary gate is mounted to the second end and is rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to a plane that bisects the C-shaped body. The primary gate is rotatable between a closed position with the primary gate engaged with the first end and the C-shaped body enclosing an interior region, and an open position with the primary gate located generally in the interior region. A secondary gate is attached to the primary gate and adapted to be displaced in the plane relative to the primary gate between a closed configuration that separates the interior region into a first portion and a second portion, and an open configuration that provides access to the interior region. | 07-26-2012 |
20120253225 | ASPIRATION BIOPSY APPARATUS AND METHOD - An aspiration apparatus includes a barrel having a needle receiving end and a piston receiving end. The barrel has an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The piston receiving end of the barrel has substantially the same inner diameter as the inner diameter of the barrel. The barrel has an opening therein through a sidewall of the barrel. The opening is between the needle receiving end and the piston receiving end. The opening is distant from the needle receiving end. The aspiration apparatus also includes a needle sealingly attached to the needle receiving end of the barrel, and a piston having an end which substantially seals to the inner diameter of the barrel. The piston is capable of a number of positions including a first position near the needle receiving end, a third position past the opening in the barrel. | 10-04-2012 |
20120281315 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SLIDERS FOR DISK DRIVES, AND TO VARIOUS PROCESSING MEDIA FOR THE SAME - A method and apparatus for processing sliders for a disk drives. The apparatus includes at least one gimbal structure adapted to engage at least one slider. The gimbal structure permits the slider to move in at least pitch and roll. A processing media is positioning opposite a surface on the least one slider to be processed. A preload mechanism biases the slider toward the processing media. One or more fluid bearing features are provided on at least one of the slider or the processing media configured to generate aerodynamic lift forces at an interface of the processing media with the surface of the slider during movement of the processing media relative to the slider. Various processing media are also disclosed. | 11-08-2012 |
20130005229 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POLISHING WITH ABRASIVE CHARGED POLYMER SUBSTRATES - An abrasive article for polishing a surface of a workpiece. The abrasive article includes a plurality of polishing islands arranged to interact with a workpiece to maintain a substantially constant contact area. Abrasive features are associated with at least some of the plurality of polishing islands. The abrasive features apply cutting forces to the work piece during motion of the abrasive article relative to the workpiece. | 01-03-2013 |
20130040542 | ABRASIVE ARTICLE - An abrasive article including a flexible backing having opposing first and second surfaces. The first surface of the flexible backing includes abrasive features. An adhesive layer including load bearing particles and an adhesive matrix is disposed on the second surface of the flexible backing. At least a portion of the load bearing particles is substantially enveloped in the adhesive matrix and is in contact with the second surface of the polymer substrate. A rigid support is preferably attached to the adhesive layer including the load bearing particles. At least a portion of the load bearing particles is preferably in contact with the rigid support. | 02-14-2013 |
20130196581 | ABRASIVE ARTICLES - An abrasive article is provided. The article includes (a) a flexible backing having opposing first and second surfaces; (b) an abrasive layer comprising plurality of abrasive particles disposed on the first surface of the flexible backing; and (c) an adhesive layer comprising load bearing particles and an adhesive matrix, the adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the polymer layer. At least a portion of the load bearing particles is substantially enveloped in the adhesive matrix and is in contact with the second surface of the polymer substrate. | 08-01-2013 |
20130295821 | ABRASIVE ARTICLE WITH REPLICATED MICROSTRUCTURED BACKING AND METHOD OF USING SAME - An abrasive article is provided that includes a flexible backing having opposed first and second major surfaces. The first major surface includes a plurality of abrasive particles in at least one binder disposed thereon. The second major surface includes replicated microstructures having recesses. The abrasive article also includes adhesive contained substantially in the recesses of the replicated microstructures. A rigid substrate can be in contact with at least a portion of the replicated microstructures. Also provide is a method of polishing a work-piece that uses the provided articles. | 11-07-2013 |