Patents Assigned to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
  • Patent number: 5976610
    Abstract: The present invention provides an article comprising a curable resin and a filler associated with the resin. The incorporation of fillers into the casting materials of the present invention adds substantially to the strength of the cured casting material as well as to the handling properties of the uncured casting tape or bandage. The incorporation of fillers into the casting materials of the present invention also imparts air and vapor porosity to the cured casting materials. If desired articles of the present invention may also incorporate fibers (either individually, bundled, or in the form of a light-weight scrim) to provide increased cohesiveness to the uncured article. Extremely moldable casting tapes are also provided which comprise a highly-filled composite material coated on a light-weight scrim. The casting tapes of this embodiment handle like traditional plaster of Paris casts yet cure to a weight-bearing cast in less than one hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Scholz, Jason L. Edgar, Andrew J. Callinan, Dean A. Ersfeld, Worku A. Mindaye
  • Patent number: 5972113
    Abstract: Sheets to be coated with water-based coating material, for example a primer and a low adhesion backsize, are supplied from a feeder (1), in end-to-end overlapping relationship, to a dual coater (3) in which the sheets are coated individually on both sides. A sheet inserter (2) is provided, upstream of the dual coater, to insert sheets from a second supply into the sheets from the feeder (1). The dual coated sheets are dried as individual sheets or as a pseudo-web of overlapped sheets. The sheets are then overlapped, unless previously overlapped, and the direction of overlap changed, if necessary, to provide the trailing edge of each sheet on top of the leading edge of each succeeding sheet. The overlapped sheets are conveyed through an adhesive transfer station (7) where stripes (236) of at least partially dried adhesive are coated onto the dual coated sheets from a transfer belt (71).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Frederic Pierre Alain Le Riche, Bernard Raymond Pierre, Kim Kiyoko Tsujimoto, Mark Steven Vogel
  • Patent number: 5967142
    Abstract: A valve diaphragm 14 is connected to a valve base 11 by locating the diaphragm on upstanding posts 18 which are formed integrally with the valve base, and then cutting and simultaneously deforming the posts to secure the diaphragm in position. The cutting/deforming operation involves: forming two longitudinal cuts in each post, defining a central section 21 and two outer deformable sections 22, 23; and bending the deformable sections outwards, away from the central section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jazini Dorcheh, Desmond T. Curran
  • Patent number: 5968635
    Abstract: Fibrous webs comprising a blend of a thermoplastic resin and at least one compound or oligomer which is ##STR1## wherein R.sub.f is a perfluorinated moiety which may contain one or more catenary ether oxygen atoms, Q is a linking group selected from alkylene groups having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, sulfonamido groups or combinations thereof, R is an alkyl group, R.sup.1 is a perfluoroalkyl group, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group which may be straight chain or branched and n is a number of from 2 to 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Alan D. Rousseau, Marvin E. Jones, Seyed A. Angadjivand
  • Patent number: 5965314
    Abstract: The invention is an intermediate transfer element for liquid electrophotography comprising a material which is capable of absorbing the carrier liquid in amounts from 5 to 100% by weight based on the weight of the absorbing material, as well as, a system incorporating that element and a method of creating an image using that element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gay L. Herman, Claire A. Jalbert, Kent E. Emerson, James A. Baker
  • Patent number: 5965256
    Abstract: A multi-layered film disposed on a substrate, the multi-layered film comprising:(a) an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) layer; and(b) at least one fluoro-containing polymer layer;wherein the fluoro-containing polymer layer comprises a perfluoro-acrylate homo-or copolymer, or a perfluoro-vinyl non-acrylate homo-or copolymer. The substrate can be a cured adhesive, preferably a cured pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), in which case the fluoro-containing polymer layer is typically situated between the PSA layer and the IPN layer. Alternatively, the substrate can be a surface to be protected from exposure to weather, chemical exposure, graffiti, or the like, such as, for example, a vehicle such as an automobile, a truck, a boat, or an aircraft; an outdoor sign; or a building exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Denise A. Barrera
  • Patent number: 5962390
    Abstract: A process for removing contaminants from the surface of a substrate comprises contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition comprising at least one mono-, di-, or trialkoxy-substituted perfluoroalkane, perfluorocycloalkane, perfluorocycloalkyl-containing perfluoroalkane, or perfluorocycloalkylene-containing perfluoroalkane compound, the compound optionally containing additional catenary heteroatoms. The compounds exhibit good solvency properties while being environmentally acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Flynn, Mark W. Grenfell, George G. I. Moore, John G. Owens, Dean S. Milbrath
  • Patent number: 5962108
    Abstract: A process and article for a retroreflective polymeric coated flexible fabric material having a retroreflective layer and a polymeric compatibilizing layer welded to a polymeric coated outer surface of a flexible fabric material. The compatibilizing layer provides an intermediate layer between the retroreflective layer and the flexible fabric material creating suitable bond strength between dissimilar polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Susan K. Nestegard, Tzu Li Huang, James C. Coderre, James E. Lasch, Jeffrey D. Janovec, Michael Ruehlemann
  • Patent number: 5963758
    Abstract: A system for substantially maintaining color density in liquid toners for electrographic printers is disclosed. The system includes means for substantially continuously supplying toner concentrate to a printer and means for substantially continuously withdrawing liquid toner from a printer into a waste flowstream. A method to achieve substantially consistent color density of liquid toner in an electrographic printing system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stewart H. Corn, Brett A. Behnke, Thomas A. Speckhard, Oyvind H. Iversen, Christopher J. Anton, Kenneth W. Olson
  • Patent number: 5962120
    Abstract: An abrasive article back up pad having a resilient, open cell polyurethane foam formed as the reaction product of a polyether polyol and an aromatic polyisocyanate, such as an aromatic polyisocyanate including methylene diphenyl diisocyanate ("MDI"), and this foam is attached to the backside of an abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Keipert
  • Patent number: 5958794
    Abstract: A method of modifying an exposed surface of a semiconductor wafer that includes the steps of:(a) contacting the surface with a fixed abrasive article having a three-dimensional textured abrasive surface that includes a plurality of abrasive particles and a binder in the form of a pre-determined pattern; and(b) relatively moving the wafer and the fixed abrasive article to modify said surface of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wesley J. Bruxvoort, Scott R. Culler, Kwok-Lun Ho, David A. Kaisaki, Carl R. Kessel, Thomas P. Klun, Heather K. Kranz, Robert P. Messner, Richard J. Webb, Julia P. Williams
  • Patent number: 5958782
    Abstract: A fluorescent ionophoric compound is disclosed that includes a complexing moiety, such as a cryptand or crown-ether portion, and a fluorescing moiety such as a coumarin portion. The coumarin portion may be substituted at the 3-position with an electron withdrawing or polarizable group such as a substituted aromatic group or a substituted heterocyclic group having a heteroatom in at least one of its alpha positions. The compound, which exhibits good photostability, can be incorporated into cation-sensing composite structures by means of convenient points of covalent attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James G. Bentsen, Shih-Hung Chou, Elisa M. Cross, Kurt J. Halverson, John E. Trend, Cary A. Kipke, Masao Yafuso, Sanjay L. Patil
  • Patent number: 5958556
    Abstract: The present invention provides circuit articles which are damped and stiffened relative to resonant vibrations and shock. At least one vibration damping and stiffening member comprising a constraining member comprising a base having at least one projection and a layer(s) of vibration damping material is attached to the circuit article. These member(s) act to stiffen the circuit article and also add significant damping to the circuit article while potentially taking up only a relatively small circuit article surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. McCutcheon
  • Patent number: 5958591
    Abstract: Encapsulated electroluminescent phosphor particles and a method of making same. Each phosphor particle is encapsulated by a substantially transparent aluminum oxide-based multiple oxide coating. The encapsulated phosphors exhibit high initial luminescent brightness and high resistance to humidity-accelerated decay of luminescent brightness. The aluminum oxide-based coating provides reduced sensitivity to chemical degradation caused by exposure to condensed moisture or otherwise liquid water. The coating comprises the aluminum oxide and at least one other metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Kenton D. Budd
  • Patent number: 5958135
    Abstract: Sheets to be coated with water-based coating material, for example a primer and a low adhesion backsize, are supplied from a feeder (1), in end-to-end overlapping relationship, to a dual coater (3) in which the sheets are coated individually on both sides. A sheet inserter (2) is provided, upstream of the dual coater, to insert sheets from a second supply into the sheets from the feeder (1). The dual coated sheets are dried as individual sheets or as a pseudo-web of overlapped sheets. The sheets are then overlapped, unless previously overlapped, and the direction of overlap changed, if necessary, to provide the trailing edge of each sheet on top of the leading edge of each succeeding sheet. The overlapped sheets are conveyed through an adhesive transfer station (7) where stripes (236) of at least partially dried adhesive are coated onto the dual coated sheets from a transfer belt (71).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Bernard Raymond Pierre
  • Patent number: 5955193
    Abstract: Apparel having thermal insulation containing a corrugated nonwoven web and a means for retaining the shape of a corrugated web. The shape-retaining means is not coextensive with the corrugated nonwoven web and is secured to the valleys of the corrugations. The corrugated nonwoven web has a solidity of 0.1 or less and contains microfiber and crimped staple fibers that have a percent crimp of at least 15 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David L. Braun, James E. Steffen, Raju Venkatapathy
  • Patent number: 5954273
    Abstract: A spray assembly for mixing catalyst with a high viscosity material and applying thin coatings of that material to a substrate that is particularly useful for applying body putty to a surface. The spray assembly has first and second through air passageways between an inlet end portion and different portions of an outlet end. The through air passageways each have a straight central axis adjacent the outlet end, the extensions of which axes outside the spray nozzle intersect a short distance from the outlet end of the spray nozzle. A large suction tube for the larger first air passageway has an upper end positioned within a cylindrical portion of the first air passageway. Air streams propelled through the passageways draw high viscosity material through the larger suction tube and catalyst through a smaller suction tube into those air streams. Intersection of those air streams outside of the nozzle mixes the catalyst material with the high viscosity material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Constantin I. Ruta, Alan G. McKown, Russell E. Blette, Robert M. Petrie
  • Patent number: D414578
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Edwin T. Chen, Perry S. Dotterman, Kenneth J. Kirchhoff, Lawrence J. Fenske, Michael J. Brock
  • Patent number: RE36323
    Abstract: A method for attenuating sound waves passing from a source area to a receiving area comprises the steps of providing a nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, the web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a density of less than about 50 kg/m.sup.3, and an air pressure drop across the web of at least about 1 Mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and positioning the web between the source area and the receiving area such that a major face of the web intercepts and thereby attenuates sound waves passing from the source area to the receiving area. Also, a laminate adapted to be applied to the inner panel of a vehicle door comprises the web and a second layer, such as a scrim, nonwoven fabric, film, or foil, laminated thereto. The laminate can be applied to the inner panel of a vehicle door so that the second layer provides water barrier protection and the web provides acoustical insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Delton R. Thompson, Joseph A. Stroh
  • Patent number: D415836
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wayne K. Dunshee, Donald G. Peterson