Patents by Inventor Gerald V. Elstran

Gerald V. Elstran has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Attenuator for use with respirators
    Patent number: 5720280
    Abstract: A positive/negative air pressure adaptor for a respirator system. The positive/negative air pressure adaptor has a port region for fluidically coupling a filter cartridge to a respirator. The adaptor has an inlet port for connecting to a positive pressure air source and a first check valve to restrict the flow of air from the port region to the filter cartridge. A second check valve may be provided to restrict the flow of air from the respirator to the port region. When the positive pressure air source is disconnected, the respirator system operates as a negative pressure respirator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerald V. Elstran, Robert J. Mattila, Jerome D. Phillips
  • Method of forming an earplug containment device
    Patent number: 5609164
    Abstract: A method for forming an earplug containment device comprising providing at least one thin-walled, hollow sleeve having an inside diameter less than the diameter of the human ear canal, compressing a slow-recovery earplug having a diameter greater than that of the human ear canal to a cross-sectional size less than that of said sleeve, and inserting said compressed earplug into said sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James F. Dyrud, Gerald V. Elstran, Paul E. Olson
  • Positive/negative air pressure adaptor for use with respirators
    Patent number: 5592935
    Abstract: A positive/negative air pressure adaptor for a respirator system. The positive/negative air pressure adaptor has a port region for fluidically coupling a filter cartridge to a respirator. The adaptor has an inlet port for connecting to a positive pressure air source and a first check valve to restrict the flow of air from the port region to the filter cartridge. A second check valve may be provided to restrict the flow of air from the respirator to the port region. When the positive pressure air source is disconnected, the respirator system operates as a negative pressure respirator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerald V. Elstran, Robert J. Mattila, Jerome D. Phillips
  • Earplug compression device
    Patent number: 5195539
    Abstract: A device for compressing slow recovery earplugs is provided. The device comprises a flexible strip having an elongate compression portion having first and second ends and a base portion at the first end of the compression portion, the base portion having a width greater than that of the compression portion, an opening proximate the compression portion and having a width transverse of the compression portion larger than the width of the compression portion, the compression portion being at least 15 mm wide and of sufficient length that the second end can pass through the opening to form a tubular compression means having a diameter at least that of a slow recovery earplug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James F. Dyrud, Gerald V. Elstran