Bizarre Patents
Decorative Jeweled Wheel Cover
An improved wheel is provided wherein decorative items such as gem stones are embedded in either the wheel surface, a special mounting section attached to the wheel surface, or to a spoke strap that wraps around each spoke and positions embedded gem stones on the outside surface of the spoke.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7887691 | Arrays of electrodes coated with molecules and their production The present invention provides a method of forming coatings of at least two different coating molecules on at least two electrodes, the method comprising: (a) providing an array of at least two individually-addressable electrodes, (b) allowing a layer of a masking m... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7372616 | Complex microdevices and apparatus and methods for fabricating such devices Various embodiments of the invention are directed to various microdevices including sensors, actuators, valves, scanning mirrors, accelerometers, switches, and the like. In some embodiments the devices are formed via electrochemical fabrication (EFAB™). ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7370406 | Method of manufacturing a thin film structure A thin film magnetic head is described, the magnetic head having an insulating layer and a protrusion which has an upper portion and a base portion, and the upper portion has an extended portion. The insulating layer is present under the extending part. A method of ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7368044 | Non-conformable masks and methods and apparatus for forming three-dimensional structures Electrochemical Fabrication techniques are used to modify substrates or to form multilayer structures (e.g. components or devices) from a plurality of overlaying and adhered layers. Masks are used to selectively etch or deposit material. Some masks may be of the con... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7363705 | Method of making a contact Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the formation of microprobe tips elements having a variety of configurations. In some embodiments tips are formed from the same building material as the probes themselves, while in other embodiments the tips may b... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7351321 | Method for electrochemical fabrication An electroplating method that includes: a) contacting a first substrate with a first article, which includes a substrate and a conformable mask disposed in a pattern on the substrate; b) electroplating a first metal from a source of metal ions onto the first substra... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7325294 | Method of making electromagnetic wave shielded write and read wires on a support for a magnetic media drive A method of making electromagnetic wave shielded read and write wires is provided. The method includes forming a bottom insulation layer on a bottom shield layer formed on a substrate. Then, forming electrically conductive wire material into openings in a first form... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7303663 | Multistep release method for electrochemically fabricated structures Multilayer structures are electrochemically fabricated from at least one structural material (e.g. nickel), that is configured to define a desired structure and which may be attached to a substrate, and from at least one sacrificial material (e.g. copper) that surro... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7291254 | Method for electrochemically forming structures including non-parallel mating of contact masks and substrates Treatment of substrates, formation of structures, and formation of multilayer structures using contact masks are disclosed where a non-parallel or non-simultaneous mating of various mask contact surfaces to a substrate surface occurs. Some embodiments involve bringi... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7288178 | Methods of and apparatus for making high aspect ratio microelectromechanical structures Various embodiments of the invention provide techniques for forming structures (e.g. HARMS-type structures) via an electrochemical extrusion process. Preferred embodiments perform the extrusion processes via depositions through anodeless conformable contact masks th... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7273812 | Microprobe tips and methods for making Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the formation of microprobe tips elements having a variety of configurations. In some embodiments tips are formed from the same building material as the probes themselves, while in other embodiments the tips may b... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7271888 | Method and apparatus for maintaining parallelism of layers and/or achieving desired thicknesses of layers during the electrochemical fabrication of structures Some embodiments of the present invention provide processes and apparatus for electrochemically fabricating multilayer structures (e.g. mesoscale or microscale structures) with improved endpoint detection and parallelism maintenance for materials (e.g. layers) that ... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7259640 | Miniature RF and microwave components and methods for fabricating such components RF and microwave radiation directing or controlling components are provided that may be monolithic, that may be formed from a plurality of electrodeposition operations and/or from a plurality of deposited layers of material, that may include switches, inductors, ant... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7252861 | Methods of and apparatus for electrochemically fabricating structures via interlaced layers or via selective etching and filling of voids Multi-layer structures are electrochemically fabricated by depositing a first material, selectively etching the first material (e.g. via a mask), depositing a second material to fill in the voids created by the etching, and then planarizing the depositions so as to ... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7250101 | Electrochemically fabricated structures having dielectric or active bases and methods of and apparatus for producing such structures Multilayer structures are electrochemically fabricated on a temporary (e.g. conductive) substrate and are thereafter bonded to a permanent (e.g. dielectric, patterned, multi-material, or otherwise functional) substrate and removed from the temporary substrate. In so... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7239219 | Miniature RF and microwave components and methods for fabricating such components RF and microwave radiation directing or controlling components are provided that may be monolithic, that may be formed from a plurality of electrodeposition operations and/or from a plurality of deposited layers of material, that may include switches, inductors, ant... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7235166 | Multi-cell masks and methods and apparatus for using such masks to form three-dimensional structures Multilayer structures are electrochemically fabricated via depositions of one or more materials in a plurality of overlaying and adhered layers. Selectivity of deposition is obtained via a multi-cell controllable mask. Alternatively, net selective deposition is obta... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7229542 | Methods of and apparatus for molding structures using sacrificial metal patterns Molded structures, methods of and apparatus for producing the molded structures are provided. At least a portion of the surface features for the molds are formed from multilayer electrochemically fabricated structures (e.g. fabricated by the EFAB™ formation proces... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7229544 | Multi-cell masks and methods and apparatus for using such masks to form three-dimensional structures Multilayer structures are electrochemically fabricated via depositions of one or more materials in a plurality of overlaying and adhered layers. Selectivity of deposition is obtained via a multi-cell controllable mask. Alternatively, net selective deposition is obta... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7198704 | Methods of reducing interlayer discontinuities in electrochemically fabricated three-dimensional structures Disclosed methods reduce the discontinuities between individual layers of a structure that are formed at least in part using electrochemical fabrication techniques. Discontinuities may exist between layers of a structure as a result of up-facing or down-facing regio... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7195989 | Electrochemical fabrication methods using transfer plating of masks Three-dimensional structures are electrochemically fabricated by depositing a first material onto previously deposited material through voids in a patterned mask where the patterned mask is at least temporarily adhered to a substrate or previously formed layer of ma... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7189313 | Substrate support with fluid retention band An apparatus and method for supporting a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for supporting a substrate includes a body having a band extending therefrom. The band is adapted to retain a fluid on the body thereby forming a shallow processing bath ... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7189766 | Ink for printing, printed matter, printing method and printer The printing ink of the present invention is characterized by containing a photo-curable high polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator, and containing 3 to 8 parts by weight of inorganic fine particles having a mean particle size of 0.1 μm or less to ... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7185542 | Complex microdevices and apparatus and methods for fabricating such devices Various embodiments of the invention are directed to various microdevices including sensors, actuators, valves, scanning mirrors, accelerometers, switches, and the like. In some embodiments the devices are formed via electrochemical fabrication (EFAB™) ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7179361 | Method of forming a mass over a semiconductor substrate The invention includes methods of electrochemically treating semiconductor substrates. The invention includes a method of electroplating a substance. A substrate having defined first and second regions is provided. The first and second regions can be defined by a si... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7172684 | Methods of and apparatus for making high aspect ratio microelectromechanical structures Various embodiments of the invention provide techniques for forming structures (e.g. HARMS-type structures) via an electrochemical extrusion process. Preferred embodiments perform the extrusion processes via depositions through anodeless conformable contact masks th... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7166232 | Method for producing a solid body including a microstructure According to a method for producing a solid body (1) including a microstructure (2), the surface of a substrate (3) is provided with a masking layer (6) that is impermeable to a substance to be applied. The substance is then incorporated ... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7163614 | Methods of and apparatus for making high aspect ratio microelectromechanical structures Various embodiments of the invention provide techniques for forming structures (e.g. HARMS-type structures) via an electrochemical extrusion process. Preferred embodiments perform the extrusion processes via depositions through anodeless conformable contact masks th... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7160429 | Electrochemically fabricated hermetically sealed microstructures and methods of and apparatus for producing such structures In some embodiments, multilayer structures are electrochemically fabricated from at least one structural material (e.g. nickel), at least one sacrificial material (e.g. copper), and at least one sealing material (e.g. solder). In some embodiments, the layered struct... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7117583 | Method and apparatus using a pre-patterned seed layer for providing an aligned coil for an inductive head structure A method and apparatus using a pre-patterned seed layer for providing an aligned coil for an inductive head structure. The method uses an aligned process where the base plate imprint is fabricated on an electrically insulating layer and the reversed image is fabrica... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7109118 | Electrochemical fabrication methods including use of surface treatments to reduce overplating and/or planarization during formation of multi-layer three-dimensional structures A method of fabricating three-dimensional structures from a plurality of adhered layers of at least a first and a second material wherein the first material is a conductive material and wherein each of a plurality of layers includes treating a surface of a first mat... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7070687 | Apparatus and method of surface treatment for electrolytic and electroless plating of metals in integrated circuit manufacturing Apparatus and method for treating a surface of a substrate for electrolytic or electroless plating of metals in integrated circuit manufacturing. In one embodiment the method includes forming a barrier layer on a substrate. A metal-seed layer is then formed on the b... | 07/04/2006 |
| 6972082 | Method for the selectively electroplating a strip-shaped, metal support material A method for the continuous selective electroplating of a metallic substrate material (10) and more particularly of a substrate material band having prestamped contact elements, comprises the following steps: a) the substrat... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6951623 | Radiation curable maskant and line sealer for protecting metal substrates The invention provides a coated metal substrate comprising a metal substrate having an outer surface, a maskant film adhered to at least a portion of the outer surface of the metal substrate, the maskant film having a pattern of scribed lines therein, and a line sea... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6890413 | Method and apparatus for controlling local current to achieve uniform plating thickness A process for electroplating metallic features of different density on a surface of a substrate comprises providing an electroplating bath having an anode, immersing the substrate into the electroplating bath, spaced from the anode, the substrate comprising a cathod... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6802999 | Method of fabricating protective coating for a crucible with the coating having channels formed therein A method is provided for the fabrication of a protective coating for a crucible with channels being formed in the coating. A material is adhered to the outer wall of the crucible to form a pattern thereon. The outer wall of the crucible along with the pattern of mat... | 10/12/2004 |
| 6802952 | Method for surface treatment of metal base A method for surface treatment of a metal base includes the steps of: (a) anodizing the base to obtain a first layer of oxidation film on a surface of the base; (b) removing or covering a first area of the oxidation film; and (c) anodizing the base to obtain a secon... | 10/12/2004 |
| 6790335 | Method of manufacturing decorative plate A method of manufacturing a decorative plate (1) includes the steps of: preparing a metal substrate and covering selected areas (11, 16) of the substrate with a protective film; anodizing the substrate; and removing the protective film to expose metall... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6685816 | Protection of a surface by partially subjecting it to an electrochemical treatment In a method of providing a surface with a protection layer having at least a first surface area (2) and a second surface area (1), which surface areas (1, 2) are distinguishable in that the surface areas (1, 2) differ from each other in at least one visua... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6638688 | Selective electroplating method employing annular edge ring cathode electrode contact Within both a method for forming a patterned photoresist layer and a method for forming an electroplated patterned conductor layer while employing the patterned photoresist layer as a patterned photoresist plating mask layer there is first provided a subs... | 10/28/2003 |
