Patents Represented by Attorney James A. Smith

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  • Process for durable sol-gel produced alumina-based ceramics, abrasive grain and abrasive products
    Patent number: 4744802
    Abstract: A sol-gel process of producing durable alpha alumina-based ceramic particularly useful as abrasive grain from alpha alumina monohydrate is improved by the addition of a nucleating agent. Improved abrasive products containing the durable ceramic abrasive grains are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mark G. Schwabel
  • Plastic supply tape guide for videocassette
    Patent number: 4745508
    Abstract: When a supply tape guide of a VHS or Betamax videocassette is plastic rather than the usual stainless steel, equal or better performance is attained when the plastic is a blend of acetal copolymer and a small proportion of lubricant and anti-static agent. The same plastic may be used for either or both of the supply sleeve and the supply pin, and both can be molded of that plastic as a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Dale T. Tollefson
  • Coupling connector
    Patent number: 4744768
    Abstract: A connector with a base having a plurality of contacts that are operable and which can be closed, with opposing sides resiliently forced against device terminals which force can be supplemented by further force provided by an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Juan P. Rios
  • Dispenser for predetermined lengths of tape
    Patent number: 4742913
    Abstract: A dispenser package for a stack of strips of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. Each strip is formed with a tab at one end thereof and the strips of tape are aligned in the stack. The package comprises a support member supporting the stack of strips throughout their length and a cover portion which is positioned above the stack of strips and joined to the support member at one end and the cover is provided with an edge portion at the other end extending transversely of the stack at a position adjacent the tabs. The cover is formed of a flexible material to bow between its ends as the top strip is separated from the stack to hold the strip nearly perpendicular to the stack as it is peeled from the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John J. Emmel, Wayne K. Darvell, Wayne K. Dunshee
  • Counterfeit-resistant magnetic recording tape
    Patent number: 4743490
    Abstract: Some prior magnetic recording tapes have a backside layer of electrically conductive particles and friction-imparting nonmagnetic particles in a nonmagnetic binder. The novel tape differs in that the nonmagnetic particles are replaced by high-H.sub.c ferromagnetic particles, onto which may be recorded a distinctive magnetic pattern. This provides a "magnetic watermark" that should protect recordings from being counterfeited, because if one were to copy a recording onto ordinary magnetic recording tape, the copy would lack the "watermark". This should inhibit unauthorized copying of video recordings such as motion pictures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Richard E. Fayling
  • Zoom lens having magnification factors in the range of 12X to 24X for micrographic applications
    Patent number: 4743102
    Abstract: A zoom lens system which provides magnification factors in the range of 12 to 24. The lens system of the invention is particularly useful in micrographic reader/printers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gerhardt H. Pareigat
  • Graded refractory cermet article
    Patent number: 4743511
    Abstract: This invention provides a shaped, graded, cermet article comprising at least one continuous ceramic phase and at least one discontinuous metal phase, the ratio of ceramic/metal being controlled and varied over the thickness of the article. The ceramic phase preferably is microcrystalline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Harold G. Sowman, David R. Kaar
  • Preformed silver halides for photothermographic system
    Patent number: 4743534
    Abstract: Method for preparing photosensitive silver halide crystals. A binder resin, a source of halide ions, and a source of silver ions are dissolved in an organic solvent, e.g., ethanol. Silver halide nuclei will then form. Additional source of halide ions and additional source of silver ions can be added to the solution in incremental additions, so that the initially-formed silver halide nuclei will grow. Upon removal of the solvent, the silver halide crystals will exist in a dry state, entrapped in the binder resin. Silver halide crystals formed and grown in this manner can be used to prepare photothermographic imaging compositions, which compositions will exhibit higher speed than photothermographic imaging compositions containing silver halide crystals grown according to conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Oanh V. Pham
  • Reduced height transmissive overhead projector
    Patent number: 4741613
    Abstract: A transmissive overhead projector includes a Fresnel lens assembly which has an f-number of about 0.25 and is capable of dioptrically focusing light at an incident angle of at least 60.degree. with respect to a perpendicular to the Fresnel lens assembly. This refractive power of the Fresnel lens assembly allows the overhead projector light source to be positioned very close to the Fresnel lens assembly and consequently allows a significant reduction in the base height of the overhead projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Dennis F. Vanderwerf
  • Adhesive tape closure
    Patent number: 4741935
    Abstract: An adhesive tape closure for releasably interconnecting container parts including partially overlapping adhesively coated first and second lower tape strips, each for mounting on a container part. An upper tape strip is releasably applied to the lower tape strips and is at least coextensive with the overlapped portion of the lower tape strips. The adhesive tape closure may be disengaged by delaminating the upper tape strip from the first and second lower tape strips and manually separating the lower tape strips from each other to disconnect the container parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Sheehan, Jr.
  • Triazolinethione-containing polymer
    Patent number: 4740568
    Abstract: A poly(triazolinethione) is prepared by a process comprising the steps:(a) providing a poly(acylthiosemicarbazide),(b) cyclodehydrating the poly(acylthiosemicarbazide) by subjecting it to an elevated temperature in the presence of an aqueous alkaline solution to form a polyanion of a poly(triazolinethione),(c) treating the polyanion of the poly(triazolinethione) with aqueous acid solution to provide the poly(triazolinethione), and(d) isolating the resulting poly(triazolinethione).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Alan R. Katritzky, Stephen J. Cato, Jerald K. Rasmussen, Larry R. Krepski, Steven M. Heilmann
  • Electrical cable splice enclosure
    Patent number: 4740653
    Abstract: An electrical medium voltage cable connection enclosure for an oil-filled, paper-insulated cable has a spacer body arranged between a core connection area and a shielding enclosure. The spacer body is a prefabricated, resilient, open-pore foam material body which has an air-free filler of electricity insulating, flowable, impregnating compound and is longitudinally split and put under a resilient pressing force by the shielding enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Dieter Hellbusch
  • Photolabile blocked surfactants and compositions containing the same
    Patent number: 4740600
    Abstract: Surfactants which are blocked against surfactant action (identified herein as "photolabile blocked surfactants") by a photolabile protective or masking group but which, on exposure to actinic radiation, become unblocked are provided. Coating compositions in which surfactant is formed on irradiation are provided by blending the photolabile blocked surfactant with polymeric film-forming materials.Compositions containing the photolabile blocked surfactants are useful when employed as protective coatings on various substrates or as the adhesive in a pressure sensitive adhesive tape. Although initially well adhering to a substrate, such compositions may be readily removed from the substrate following exposure of the same to suitable radiation which unblocks the surfactant to permit it to regain its surfactant activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gilbert L. Eian, John E. Trend
  • Curable composition having high tack and green strength
    Patent number: 4740424
    Abstract: Curable compositions useful as adhesives, coatings and sealants, comprising a mixture of (a) isocyanate-functional prepolymer derived from (i) polyisocyanate and (ii) active hydrogen-containing low molecular weight polymer selected from the group consisting of polytetramethylene oxide polyols, polycarbonate polyols, and polysulfide polythiols, and (b) halogenated resin compatible with said prepolymer, said resin containing about 50 to about 70 weight percent halogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerald F. Schumacher, John M. Muggee
  • Method of making a weather strip
    Patent number: 4740256
    Abstract: A method for making weather strips in which a polyurethane film is positioned along an anvil having longitudinal parallel spaced anvil surfaces and recesses therebetween with elongate channel-like portions of the film in the recesses. Resiliently compressible polyurethane foam is pressed against the polyurethane film along the anvil so that the foam is compressed against the anvil surfaces and extends into the channel-like portions of the film in the recesses. The compressed foam and film along the spaced anvil surfaces are then sonically welded to fuse the foam together in its compressed state and fuse the compressed foam to the film, and the fused foam and film are slit along the anvil surfaces to form separate weather strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Daryl E. Vosberg
  • Energy polymerizable polyurethane precursors
    Patent number: 4740577
    Abstract: A polymerizable composition of polyurethane precursors is rapidly cured using energy-activated catalysts to provide polyurethanes. The polymerizable composition is comprised of polyisocyanates with polyols, fillers, coating aids, adjuvants, and a latent catalyst. Latent catalysts are ionic salts of organometallic complex cations. The cured polyurethanes are useful as abrasion resistant coatings, protective finishes such as furniture finishes and floor tiles, binders for magnetic media, adhesives, and have various applications in industries which use photoresist technologies such as graphic arts and electronics, and in the paint and ink industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Doreen C. Lynch
  • Hydrophilic polyurethane/polyurea sponge
    Patent number: 4738992
    Abstract: A water-absorbing sponge comprises at least one of a pendent sulfo-group containing polyurea and polyurethane, the polymer containing at least one sulfonate equivalent per 20,000 molecular weight units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wayne K. Larson, Steven T. Hedrick
  • Polymeric cyanine dye
    Patent number: 4739029
    Abstract: A polymeric tricarbocyanine dye has a rigidized chain having tricarbocyanine polymeric dye units of formula II: ##STR1## wherein Y is ##STR2## --S--, --Se--, or --O--, A is ##STR3## in which R.sup.19 is alkyl, --Cl, amino, alkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.4) substituted amino, phenyl, or cyclic amino, andp is 0 or 1,R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently are --H, C.sub.6 H.sub.5 SO.sub.2 --, or CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2 --,W is a dye anion,m is an integer 1 to 20, andn is an integer 2 to 10,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mohamed A. Elmasry
  • Topical antiinflammatory compositions
    Patent number: 4738842
    Abstract: Novel topical creams or lotions containing 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-(2'-thenoyl)phenol exhibiting good skin penetrability are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Riker Laboratories
    Inventors: Gordon J. Dow, Helen J. Schultz
  • Surgical stapler
    Patent number: D295316
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: August L. Powell