Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7387562 | Blade sharpening device A blade sharpening device is provided for honing a cutting edge of a blade. The device includes a block with a top honing surface, and a jig assembly mounted on the block. The jig assembly holds a blade in a fixed position adjacent the honing surface, and directed t... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7309278 | Lean presser for holding eyeglass lens and eyeglass lens processing apparatus having the same A lens presser for holding an eyeglass lens includes: a base member which is to be attached to a distal end of a lens chucking shaft; an abutting member which has an abutting surface which is to be abutted on a rear refractive surface of the lens; a movable member t... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7217174 | Portable optical fiber polisher A polisher has an offset axis and a friction cam useful in a method of polishing that comprises a more random, elongated polishing pattern than known orbital polishers and is capable of portable use using a 9 volt battery. The method is capable of using lower contac... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7112124 | Rotary blade sharpener A rotary blade sharpener is comprised of a motorized platen positioned in a housing with a surrounding wall and an open top. An abrasive sheet with an adhesive bottom surface is adhered to a disc, which is tightened to the platen by a knob. The disc is color coded t... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7108578 | System and method for manufacturing magnetic heads Systems and methods for the manufacture of a magnetic head. A first embodiment provides an apparatus for the manufacture of a magnetic head comprising a feedback control loop to terminate lapping of the magnetic head responsive to achieving a target signal to noise ... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7049809 | System, method, and apparatus for handling and testing individual sliders in a row-like format in single slider processing systems A device for handling and testing individual sliders in a row-like format utilizes an elongated, row-like holder having a series of small pockets, each of which receives a single slider. After the sliders enter the holder, a clamp is moved to a closed position to re... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7045370 | Dicing and testing optical devices, including thin film filters A technique for fabricating a plurality of thin film filters (“TFFs”), and other optical devices, from a wafer. A device or TFF wafer is affixed to a carrier having a pattern of notches formed thereon corresponding to a pattern into which the wafer is to be dice... | 05/16/2006 |
| 6821193 | Material positioning and shaping system apparatus An apparatus, system, and method thereof for material positioning and shaping. The apparatus includes a two-section positioning system which includes a guide and follower thereon for positioning along a path. ... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6767275 | Machining apparatus for workpiece and method therefor To provide an apparatus that may impart a complicated bend deformation to an object to be machined such as a ceramic bar elongated in one direction or the like, and may reduce the non-uniformity in machining amount of the object to be machined upon the machining wor... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6736704 | Lapping carrier for use in fabricating sliders A lapping carrier for machining a row of magneto-resistive elements is disclosed. The lapping carrier includes a plurality of movable elements, the movable elements terminating at an outer surface to form a generally planar mounting surface for a row of magneto-resi... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6712672 | Clamping wafer holder for chemica-mechanical planarization machines and method for using it A clamping wafer holder for chemical-mechanical planarization (“CMP”) machines is provided. It comprises a plate having a surface for receiving on it the wafer, and a retainer around the surface. The retainer includes at least two jaws shaped and arranged such t... | 03/30/2004 |
| 6623336 | Magnetic head polishing device and method thereof When electric elements are formed on a ceramic bar or the like, the positional displacement of the respective elements occurs due to a division exposing process or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method which unif... | 09/23/2003 |
| 6413148 | Grinding jig for firearm recoil pads A grinding jig for shaping generic recoil pads to custom fit the butt end of a gunstock. The jig includes an upright and a recoil pad mounting arm that function as an angle-capturing device. The upright and pad mounting arm are adjusted so that they fit f... | 07/02/2002 |
| 6261165 | Row carrier for precision lapping of disk drive heads and for handling of heads during the slider fab operation A row of disk drive slider blanks with magneto-resistive read sensors are lapped after being mounted on the flat surface of a row carrier used to mount the row assembly on a row bending tool. Residual stresses present in the row due to wafer processing ar... | 07/17/2001 |
| 6231427 | Linear polisher and method for semiconductor wafer planarization A wafer polisher and method for the chemical mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers. The polisher includes a wafer holder for supporting the semiconductor wafer and a linear polishing assembly having a polishing member positioned to engage the s... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6146256 | Clamping wafer holder for chemical-mechanical planarization machines and method for using it A clamping wafer holder for chemical - mechanical planarization ("CMP") machines is provided. It comprises a plate having a surface for receiving on it the wafer, and a retainer around the surface. The retainer includes at least two jaws shaped and arrang... | 11/14/2000 |
| 6142856 | Sharpening device for dental instruments The sharpening device for dental instruments comprises a chuck head holder having an arcuate member to one end of which the chuck head with the chuck is radially attached while the arcuate member is guided in a base of the device. The grinding head with t... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6120364 | Grinding fixture and assembly A grinding fixture that allows a variety of helical shapes to be ground upon a variety of cutting inserts. The grinding fixture includes a bottom sine base for varying a first angle. A shaft is rotatably attached to the bottom sine base for providing rota... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6110018 | Apparatus and methods of sharpening cutting tools An adapter for use with a powered grinding tool having a driven grinding wheel has a pivotally mounting part on a body thereof, and a drill bit holder engageable with the mounting part in either of two orientations for sharpening a tip of a drill bit clam... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6080040 | Wafer carrier head with inflatable bladder and attack angle control for polishing A carrier head that holds an object such as a wafer for a polishing system can be rotated during polishing. One such carrier head includes a sensor that determines the relative orientation of (or the angle between) a movable chuck and a fixed drive struct... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6068541 | Method for using a fixture enabling more accurate machining of a part A fixture securely holds a blank having at least two spaced apart locators. The fixture has a base with spaced apart end walls, one supporting a clamping mechanism and the other supporting an abutment, at least one of which is free to pivot in relation to... | 05/30/2000 |
| 6062961 | Wafer polishing head drive A wafer polisher head drive includes a head drive housing; a head portion extending from the housing for mounting an unpolished wafer when the head drive housing and head portion are in a horizontal orientation; a pivot mechanism extending from the head d... | 05/16/2000 |
| 6024630 | Fluid-pressure regulated wafer polishing head A wafer polishing head utilizes a wafer backing member having a wafer facing pocket which is sealed against the wafer and is pressurized with air or other fluid to provide a uniform force distribution pattern across the width of the wafer inside an edge s... | 02/15/2000 |
| 5967889 | Fixture for mechanical grinding and inspection of failed or defective semiconductor devices A fixture for holding a semiconductor chip during a polishing process can be made to also hold the chip while the chip is inspected by a scanning electron microscope. In this manner, the polishing of the chip may be inspected and monitored without removin... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5951379 | Bumper polishing machine A bumper finishing apparatus comprises a guided fixture for carrying a bumper past a fixed rotary finishing head. An external drive moves the fixture as guided by a guide profile to coordinate travel of the bumper past the finishing head so that the finis... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5934975 | Dental curet and sharpening machine system A dental curet and sharpening machine system has been developed for convenient, accurate, and rapid sharpening of dental curets. Curets comprising a cutting blade, shank, and handle have been designed so that, regardless of the instrument's rake angle, th... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5899793 | Lapping apparatus including a lapping base having pads A lapping apparatus for uniformly laps work pieces. The lapping apparatus includes a rotary lapping plate, a lapping base including a plurality of pads contacting the lapping plate, an adapter including first and second surfaces for supporting the mountin... | 05/04/1999 |
| 5830048 | Pivot sample block cross-section tool A tool and method for holding an integrated circuit (IC) sample so that only a cross-section of the processed layers of the sample is polished and exposed. The tool includes (a) a mounting block with a recess, (b) a pivoting member pivotably attached in t... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5816899 | Micro precise polishing apparatus Apparatus and method for grinding semiconductor chips and other specimens prior to microscopic examination thereof by supporting a specimen on a specimen mount, fixing the specimen mount to a lower end of a lower arm, connecting an upper end of the lower ... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5769698 | Polishing disc for holding connector-mounted optical fibers A fixture of disc-like form for holding connector mounted optical fiber ferrules. When the connector is attached to the fixture, the ends of the ferrule and fiber extend slightly beyond the plane of the bottom surface of the fixture so that the end surfac... | 06/23/1998 |
| 5700184 | Dental instrument sharpening system A dental instrument sharpening system includes an instrument arm for holding a chiral bladed dental instrument and for facilitating movement of at least one of the chiral blades of the dental instrument to a rotatable sharpening stone. A positioning mecha... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5645468 | Dental curet and sharpening machine system A dental curet and sharpening machine system has been developed for convenient, accurate, and rapid sharpening of dental curets. Curets comprising a cutting blade, shank, and handle have been designed so that, regardless of the instrument's rake angle, th... | 07/08/1997 |
| 5613898 | Device for producing inclined surfaces and grooves on friction pads A device for producing inclines and/or grooves on friction pads, such as brake pads for motor vehicles comprises a table with a mount for the brake pads. The table is linearly moved on a carriage below flat, truncated-conical grind disks which are dispose... | 03/25/1997 |
| 5549506 | Apparatus for supporting and containing a dental prosthesis during the micro-etching thereof Apparatus for supporting and containing a dental prosthesis during the micro-etching thereof is disclosed. The apparatus includes a framework, a holding mechanism carried by the framework for holding the prosthesis in a position which permits micro-etchin... | 08/27/1996 |
| 5429544 | Polishing apparatus for notch portion of wafer An polishing apparatus which can effectively polish a bottom wall of a wafer in a notch portion is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a table for supporting the wafer thereon; a rotary buff having a thickness so that the periphery thereof can enter the no... | 07/04/1995 |
| 5377456 | Eyeglass frame measuring cradle In accordance with the invention a holder is provided for an eyeglass frame having a pair of lens rims spaced apart by a bridge. A pair of supports are fixed in spaced apart relationship on a base plate and a cradle is journalled between the supports to r... | 01/03/1995 |
| 5033447 | Support apparatus A clamping apparatus for mounting and positioning a diamond type dressing stone in proximity to a grinding wheel is provided to permit adjustable orientation of the dressing stone relative to the grinding wheel. The apparatus includes a support block adju... | 07/23/1991 |
| 5018313 | Roundness processing device of a slipper surface of a rocker arm A roundness processing device for a slipper surface of a rocker arm capable of rounding the slipper surface of the rocker arm without forming roundness on the polishing surface of a grinding wheel. A wheel side unit containing a disc-shaped grinding wheel... | 05/28/1991 |
| 4936053 | Lawn mower blade sharpener apparatus This invention relates to a lawn mower blade sharpener apparatus readily attachable to a bench grinder assembly having a rotating grinder wheel to sharpen an edge portion on a lawn mower blade. The lawn mower blade sharpener apparatus includes (1) a stati... | 06/26/1990 |
| 4891916 | Oscillatory or translational table for machine tools An orbital table assembly having a top plate which can be made to orbit or translate in a path without rotating, and having a fixed base plate under said top plate and a linkage plate between the two other plates, while an orbiting cam secured to the top ... | 01/09/1990 |
