Patents Assigned to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
  • Patent number: 5932355
    Abstract: Ink-receptive compositions of the invention containa) at least one nonionic silicone surfactant having the formulas: ##STR1## or the formula(CH.sub.3 Si).sub.y-2 ?(OSi(CH.sub.3).sub.2).sub.x/y O-PEwherein x is an integer from about 40 to about 200, and y is an integer from about 3 to about 15, and PE represents the formula--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n Zm being an integer of from 1 to about 40, n having a value of from 0 to about 40 minus m, and Z is hydrogen or an alkyl radical having from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, andb) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of hydroxycellulose and substituted hydroxycellulose polymers,such composition being crosslinkable when coated onto a substrate and subjected to temperatures of at least about 90.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Iqbal, Donald J. Williams, Omar Farooq, David W. Tweeten
  • Patent number: 5932849
    Abstract: A stethoscope chestpiece is disclosed having an acoustic-to-electrical transducer residing within the acoustic pathway of the chestpiece. The transducer resides within a mounting that can provide shock attenuation and vibration isolation. The transducer preferably resides within a coaxial position in the acoustic pathway. The chestpiece is useful in a stethoscope which can be electrically connected to auscultation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Alan P. Dieken
  • Patent number: 5932321
    Abstract: The invention provides electrographic imaging sheets comprising a substrate carrying a layer of dielectric material which has abhesive properties suitable for the release of a multicolored toner image from the dielectric surface during image transfer, while also having good toning properties during the several development stages of a multicolor toner imaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John F. Eisele, Valdis Mikelsons, Gaye K. Lehman, Paul J. Wang, Patricia J. A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 5931729
    Abstract: An article made by spin welding a fastener to the article. In a preferred mode, a method of spin welding a fastener to a surface conditioning treating article is disclosed. The fastener comprises a generally planar base including a first side, a second side, and a drive member extending from the second side. The surface treating article comprises a working surface adapted to treat a workpiece surface, and a back surface, the back surface comprising an open woven scrim. The first side of the fastener base is melt-bonded by the spin weld method to the open woven scrim of the surface treating article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Penttila, Mandel L. Desnick, Gerald R. Porter
  • Patent number: 5932626
    Abstract: Described are optical products comprising a base and an optical layer. The optical layer is prepared from a polymerizable composition comprising an alkyl-substituted brominated phenolic ester(meth)acrylate monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bettie C. Fong, David B. Olson
  • Patent number: 5928857
    Abstract: A spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition, said composition comprising a polyvinyl acetal binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein said composition also comprises a polymeric component which is not a polyvinyl acetal, or a metal soap other than a silver soap of an organic acid (especially not the long chain fatty acid normally present in silver halide based photothermographic elements) which is dispersed in said composition in an amount of from 0.3 to 20% by weight of said polyvinyl acetal, which polymeric component has higher strength of adhesion to polyester film than does the polyvinyl acetal, and said polymeric may exist as a separate phase within said polyvinyl acetal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Geisler, Kimberly K. Marquardt
  • Patent number: 5929160
    Abstract: A method of decreasing the water uptake in a sulfopoly(ester-urethane) by preparing said sulfopoly(ester-urethane) from a chain extended sulfopolyester polyol which itself has been prepared in a two-step method, said sulfopoly(ester-urethane) comprising in its backbone at least one non-terminal arylene or alkylene group comprising a pendant sulfonic acid group or salt thereof, said sulfonic acid group or salt thereof having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is a trivalent aliphatic or aromatic group and M is a cation, said sulfonic acid group or salt thereof being bonded directly through said aliphatic or aromatic group to ester groups, the polymer of said sulfo(polyester-urethane) being terminated by at least one hydrolyzable silyl group,said two-step method for preparing said chain extended sulfopolyester polyol comprising the steps of:a) reacting a sulfopolycarboxylic acid or ester with a polyol to produce a sulfopolyester polyol,b) chain extending said sulfopolyester polyol by an esterification reaction with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Larry R. Krepski, Steven M. Heilmann, Daniel E. Mickus, Wayne K. Larson
  • Patent number: 5928726
    Abstract: A method of modulating coating patterns is disclosed. The method uses the steps of dispensing a composite comprising a carrier fluid layer and a transferring the composite to the substrate, wherein interfacial interaction among the carrier fluid layer, the functional fluid layer, and the substrate generates a patterned coating of the functional layer on the substrate. The coating patterns provide controlled release surfaces for tapes, image receptors, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Terri L. Butler, Kathryn R. Bretscher, Mark C. Berens, James A. Baker, Gaye K. Lehman
  • Patent number: 5928827
    Abstract: The present invention discloses signage articles having a layer of fused dry toner powder which is fused by employing a tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive and low compression. Suitable tacky pressure-sensitive adhesives include alkyl acrylate polymers or copolymers, alkyl vinyl ether polymers or copolymers, polyisobutylene, polybutadiene, and butadiene-styrene copolymers. Such signage articles further comprise a transparent cover layer disposed over the fused dry toner powder-bearing surface. Also disclosed are methods of forming signage articles, one method comprising the steps of applying dry toner powder to a first substrate surface, applying a composition including a tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive to a second substrate surface, and laminating the two substrates to admix the dry toner powder and the tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive. Either the first or second substrate may be the transparent cover layer of the resulting signage article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: J. Sundar Rajan
  • Patent number: 5928394
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an abrasive article containing an abrasive coating having more than one abrasive composite layer, wherein each abrasive composite layer has undergone at least one curing process. The abrasive article of the present invention has enhanced durability as a result of the essentially complete curing of each abrasive composite layer of the abrasive coating. The invention includes the method of making an abrasive article with enhanced durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: William L. Stoetzel
  • Patent number: 5928562
    Abstract: A process for controlling the cone tilt angle of a tilted smectic liquid crystal composition comprises the step of combining (a) at least one liquid crystal composition comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound comprising (i) an aliphatic fluorocarbon terminal portion comprising a terminal fluoroalkyl or fluoroether group and an alkylene group having at least two carbon atoms and containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom, (ii) an aliphatic hydrocarbon terminal portion, and (iii) a central core connecting the terminal portions; and (b) at least one liquid crystal composition comprising at least one smectic or latent smectic liquid crystal compound; with the provisos that at least one of the compositions (a) and (b) comprises at least one chiral liquid crystal compound and that the combining of compositions (a) and (b) provides an optically active, tilted chiral smectic liquid crystal composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John F. Kistner, Marc D. Radcliffe, Patricia M. Savu, Daniel C. Snustad
  • Patent number: 5928070
    Abstract: A low-density abrasive article comprising a nonwoven web and a multiplicity of abrasive particles which are bonded to the nonwoven web by means of an adherent binder. Abrasive particles useful in the present invention have particle sizes between about grade 4 to grade 36 and are made of an abrasive mineral having a Mohs hardness of less than about 8. The abrasive particles are preferably made of synthetically manufactured fused mullite. The low density abrasive article is particularly suitable for removing stock from a carbon steel workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Ronald Eugene Lux
  • Patent number: 5928557
    Abstract: A poly-.alpha.-olefin:fluoroalkene diblock polymer useful as a lubricant and having a linking moiety of a heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing group linking a poly-.alpha.-olefin oligomeric unit with a fluoroalkene oligomeric unit and being miscible in hydrofluorocarbons or a mixture of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons and the miscible composition useful as compressor fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James Frederick Sanders, William Mario Lamanna
  • Patent number: 5929146
    Abstract: Modifying agents for polyolefins improve the physical and/or optical properties of the polymers and have formula (I): ##STR1## and salts thereof, wherein X, Y, Z, R and R1 are as defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stephen E. Amos, George G. I. Moore, Kent E. Nielsen, Markus A. Wicki
  • Patent number: 5928761
    Abstract: The articles of the present invention comprise optical elements embedded in either a core having a binder layer which is embedded in a road-binder or optical elements which are directly embedded into a binder layer. The binder layer may be part of a preformed pavement marking tape or may be applied directly to a traffic-bearing surface. The binder layer is comprised of a black pigment. The pavement marking articles of the present invention comprise one or more first region(s) wherein the first region(s) has a daytime appearance of black and is retroreflective.In another embodiment of the present invention, the pavement marking articles further comprise one or more second region(s) having a color which contrasts with black during the daytime and which is typically also retroreflective. The second region(s) is adjacent to the first region(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Gregory F. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 5925427
    Abstract: A core for an elastomeric tubing assembly is produced from a ribbon helically wound on itself to form a cylindrical tube. The edges of the ribbon are formed to interlock with each other and are contoured to facilitate ultrasonic welding of the edges. A support member is coextruded in the ribbon to provide increased resistance to premature collapse of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James L. Sadlo, Gene J. Melancon
  • Patent number: 5926314
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved cube corner retroreflective articles which exhibit a wide range of retroreflective entrance angularity in at least one plane, and preferably in two or more planes. An article in accordance with the present invention includes a structured surface having at least one array of cube corner elements formed by three intersecting sets of substantially parallel grooves. Each cube corner element includes a base triangle bonded by one groove from each of the three intersecting groove sets, the base triangle being scalene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Gerald M. Benson
  • Patent number: 5925497
    Abstract: A photosensitive composition is prepared containing a polymer of the formula B(X)(Y) wherein B represents an organic backbone, each X independently is an acidic group or salt thereof and each Y independently is a photocurable group and a photoinitating compound or compounds. Preferably, free-radically polymerizable multi-functional monomer and/or oligomer is added to the photosensitive composition. The photosensitive composition can be coated on a suitable substrate for planographic printing plate applications. Imagewise irradiation causes the light struck regions to photocure, becoming insoluble in aqueous and organic mediums, while the non-light struck regions remain highly soluble/dispersable. Printing plates of this construction do not require processing prior to being run on a press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Minyu Li, James P. Gardner, John E. Kluge, Sumita B. Mitra
  • Patent number: 5925715
    Abstract: A dental cement system containing a photocurable ionomer, reactive powder and water undergoes both a conventional setting reaction and a photocuring reaction.The cement system can provide a long working time and can be cured on demand by exposure to an appropriate source of radiant energy. The surface of the cement cured in this manner is then hard enough to allow subsequent clinical procedures to be performed, while the ongoing chemical-cure "setting" reaction hardens the remainder of the cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Sumita B. Mitra
  • Patent number: 5925611
    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: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Flynn, George G. I. Moore, John G. Owens