Patents Represented by Attorney Scott A. Bardell
  • Patent number: 6438954
    Abstract: A micrometer sized multi-directional thermal actuator capable of repeatable and rapid displacement in a substantially horizontal direction, a substantially vertical direction, and/or a combination thereof. The multi-directional thermal actuator constructed on a surface of a substrate includes three or more beams each cantilevered from one or more anchors at a first end to extend generally parallel to the surface of the substrate. A member mechanically and electrically couples the distal ends of the beams. Application of current to a circuit comprising combinations of any two or more of the beams displaces the member in one of three or more non-parallel radial directions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Douglas P. Goetz, Mike E. Hamerly, Daniel B. Pendergrass, Robert G. Smith, Silva K. Theiss, Billy L. Weaver
  • Patent number: 6440259
    Abstract: The invention provides contact adhesives comprising an adhesive component comprising polychloroprene rubber, and an internal coagulant. The contact adhesives may also contain a resinous component selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate homopolymer, polyvinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic copolymer, polyvinyl acetate acrylic copolymer, and combinations thereof. The internal coagulant may be hygroscopic salt, amino acid, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Vijay Patel
  • Patent number: 6441058
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of powder coating methods to form coated abrasives. In one embodiment, the powder is in the form of a multiplicity of binder precursor particles comprising a radiation curable component. In other embodiments, the powder comprises at least one metal salt of a fatty acid and optionally an organic component that may be a thermoplastic macromolecule, a radiation curable component, and/or a thermally curable macromolecule. In either embodiment, the powder exists as a solid under the desired dry coating conditions, but is easily melted at relatively low temperatures and then solidified also at reasonably low processing temperatures. The principles of the present invention can be applied to form make coats, size coats, and/or supersize coats, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernest L. Thurber, Eric G. Larson, Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Alan R. Kirk, Mark R. Meierotto, Roy Stubbs
  • Patent number: 6386699
    Abstract: A receptor medium with a sheet having an embossed imaging surface as one major surface thereof The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, biological fluids, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, and combinations thereof. The embossed medium unexpectedly solves such common inkjet printing problems as feathering, banding, and mudcracking in inkjet printing systems by controlling how an inkjet drop contacts and dries on an inkjet receptor medium. Clear lines of demarcation between adjoining colors of a pigmented inkjet image graphic can be obtained, Methods of making and using the inkjet receptor medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Lori P. Engle, Verna J. LeMire, Patrick R. Fleming
  • Patent number: 6383655
    Abstract: Low odor polymerizable compositions comprise monomer blends having a average monomer fluorophilicity of at least 3.25, an average boiling point of at least about 160° C., and wherein the monomer blend is polymerizable to a polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least about −20° C. The polymerizable compositions are useful in kits further comprising an aerobic initiator. Also disclosed are bonding compositions, polymerized compositions, coated substrates, and methods of bonding in which the polymerizable compositions are especially useful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Dean M. Moren
  • Patent number: 6384165
    Abstract: A composition comprises organoborane amine complex and 1,4-dioxo-2-butene-functional material. The composition can form a part of a polymerization initiator system that also includes a compound that is reactive with the amine portion of the complex. The system can be used to initiate polymerization of acrylic monomer and to form an acrylic adhesive that has exceptionally good adhesion to low surface energy polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co.
    Inventor: Dean M. Moren
  • Patent number: 6376065
    Abstract: The invention provides compounds having the formula: wherein Rf is CnF2n+1—(CH2)m—, wherein n is 1 to 22 and m is 0, or an integer from 1 to 3; X is —CO2—, —SO3—, —CONH—, —O—, —S— a covalent bond, —SO2NR—, or —NR—, wherein R is H or C1 to C5 alkylene; Y is —CH2— wherein z is 0 or 1; and R1 is H, lower alkyl or Rf—X—Yz— with the provisos that when X is —S—, or —O—, m is 0, sand z is 0, n is ≧7 and when X is a covalent bond, m or z is at least 1, and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Korba, Mark E. Mueller, Robert A. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 6372001
    Abstract: An abrasive article comprising an abrasive fabric comprising a fabric having discrete areas of electro-deposited metal extending on or therethrough and having abrasive material embedded in the metal, a layer of adhesive, and a backing substrate, the abrasive fabric being bonded to the backing substrate by the layer of adhesive, characterized in that either (i) the surface of the abrasive fabric bonded to the backing has been roughened and/or (ii) the layer of adhesive comprises an epoxy-acrylate thermosetting adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mohamed Omar, Heinz-Werner Schankweiler, Robert M. Burgess
  • Patent number: 6372336
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing, a first binder on the backing, and a plurality of abrasive particles in the first binder. The first binder precursor is an energy-curable preferably, melt-processable resin containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The above binder precursors of the invention are preferably free of homopolymers and copolymers of olefinic monomers. In another aspect, the invention also describes an energy curable first binder precursor containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyfunctional acrylate component and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The invention also relates to a method of producing such coated abrasive articles and a surface-treated backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Clausen, Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Craig A. Masmar
  • Patent number: 6358675
    Abstract: The polymers of the invention are characterized by having at least one pendent ester group having a tertiary carbon atom attached to the ester oxygen atom in which at least one substituent of the tertiary carbon atom comprises at least one silicon atom. The polymer compositions of the present invention are useful as resist materials for lithography, in particular as the imaging layer or as the top imaging layer in a bilayer resist scheme for use in the manufacture of integrated circuits. The silicon-containing tertiary alcohols and esters of the present invention enable the preparation of polymers with relatively high silicon content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Larry D. Boardman, Carl R. Kessel
  • Patent number: 6359078
    Abstract: The polymers of the present invention are characterized by having at least one pendent acetal or ketal functional group in which at least two substituents of the acetal/ketal carbon atom independently comprise at least one silicon atom. The compositions of the present invention are useful as positive working resist compositions, in particular as the top imaging layer in a bilayer resist scheme for use in the manufacture of integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Larry D. Boardman, Carl R. Kessel
  • Patent number: 6359027
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing, a first binder on the backing, and a plurality of abrasive particles in the first binder. The first binder precursor is an energy-curable preferably, melt-processable resin containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The above binder precursors of the invention are preferably free of homopolymers and copolymers of olefinic monomers. In another aspect, the invention also describes an energy curable first binder precursor containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyfunctional acrylate component and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The invention also relates to a method of producing such coated abrasive articles and a surface-treated backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Clayton A. George, Naimul Karim
  • Patent number: 6359166
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides curable fluoropolymer compositions comprising fluoropolymer, onium, and alkyl or aryl oxalate-blocked compound as a crosslinking agent. In other aspects, the invention provides methods of making curable fluoropolymer compositions and provides alkyl or aryl oxalate-blocked compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Naiyong Jing, Brant U. Kolb, Robert E. Kolb
  • Patent number: 6354929
    Abstract: The present invention is a fixed abrasive article for grinding or polishing the surface of a glass workpiece. The abrasive article for grinding glass has abrasive composites containing a binder, an alkaline metal salt, and diamond abrasive particles or agglomerate particles comprising diamond particles, the composites integrally molded to a backing. The abrasive article for grinding glass is capable of removing between about 200 and 400 micrometers of glass using an RPP procedure having a polish time interval of between 10 and 15 seconds, generally about 12 seconds. The abrasive article for polishing glass comprises a backing containing fibers, and a plurality of abrasive composites integrally molded to the backing comprising an organic resin, ceria abrasive particles, and alkaline metal salt. The abrasive articles for polishing glass also provide an optimum rate of breakdown of the abrasive composites and improved adhesion between the abrasive composites and the backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Negus B. Adefris, Louis R. Carpentier, Todd J. Christianson, Brian D. Goers, Ashu N. Mujumdar, Gary M. Palmgren, Soon C. Park
  • Patent number: 6310125
    Abstract: The invention provides water-dispersed adhesive compositions comprising a high modulus crystallizing polyester polyurethane, a polychloroprene, acrylic ester copolymer, a resin selected from the group consisting of thermosetting resins, thermoplastic resins, and a combinations thereof and a stabilizer system. The invention also provides adhesive made from the above adhesive compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Terry J. Rayner
  • Patent number: 6306942
    Abstract: The invention provides low temperature thermally activatable water-dispersed adhesive compositions and adhesives made therefrom. The adhesive compositions comprise a mixture of low modulus crystallizing polyester polyurethane, acrylic ester copolymer, thermoplastic resin, one or more hydrophobically-modified associative polyurethanes, and a stabilizer system comprising a combination of carbodiimide and branched primary amino alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Arianne E. McCarthy, Terry J. Rayner
  • Patent number: 6288170
    Abstract: A thermosetting adhesive comprising a polyepoxide resin, a curing agent such as an imidazole and polymeric or elastomeric microspheres is removable when heated to a temperature greater than the use temperature of from about room temperature to about 185° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Robert D. Waid
  • Patent number: 6284381
    Abstract: A polymerizable acrylic composition comprises: (a) at least one acrylic monomer; (b) an effective amount of an organoborane amine complex having the structure: wherein: R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are independently selected from phenyl-containing groups and alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R4 is selected from the group consisting of CH2CH2OH and (CH2)xNH2 wherein x is an integer greater than 2; R5 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and the nitrogen atom to boron atom ratio is about 1:1 to 1.5:1; and (c) an effective amount of an acid for initiating polymerization of the acrylic monomer. The polymerizable acrylic compositions are especially useful for bonding low surface energy substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jury V. Zharov, Jury N. Krasnov
  • Patent number: 6274643
    Abstract: A curable composition comprising a) a curable epoxy resin, a thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, and an effective amount of a photocatalyst for the curable epoxy resin, wherein the composition is free from hydrocarbon polyolefins and wherein the sum of a) and b) is 100 weight percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Naimul Karim, Clayton A. George, Christopher M. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6258201
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making sheet articles, for example, abrasive articles, retroreflective articles (such as traffic signs), pavement marking articles, or traction or non-skid articles. The method includes passing particles through a thermal sprayer to heat the particles and impinging the heated particles into a polymeric sheet so that the particles are at least partially embedded in the polymeric sheet. Preferably, the polymeric sheet is heated before impingement of the heated particles. One preferred method of softening the sheet is by a thermal sprayer that is used to heat the particles. A preferred thermal sprayer is a flame sprayer having a nozzle for emitting a flame, where the nozzle has a cross-web width and a downweb thickness, the width being substantially greater than the thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: John E. Krech