Patents by Inventor Michael S. Groess

Michael S. Groess 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).

  • Patent number: 7379245
    Abstract: Articles produced according to the present disclosure include a first film having a structured surface and a second film having a structured surface. The structured surface of the first film is releaseably mated with the structured surface of the second film. In some exemplary embodiments, such articles may be optical bodies including first and second optical films having structured surfaces. Methods of making such articles, which may be optical bodies, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James A. Stevenson, Michael S. Groess
  • Patent number: 7289202
    Abstract: A method includes providing a polymerized optical film structure having a microstructured surface, forming a scratch having a length on the microstructured surface to form a scratched optical film, illuminating the scratched optical film to form an illuminated scratch, measuring a plurality of scratch contrast ratio values along the length of the illuminated scratch with a detector, and determining a maximum scratch contrast ratio from the plurality of scratch contrast ratio values along the length of the scratch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael S. Groess, Stephan J. Pankratz
  • Patent number: 6127002
    Abstract: The present invention provides pressure-sensitive adhesive beads that comprise a tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive core and a non-tacky shell material that surrounds the area wherein the beads are capable of being positioned via magnetic means. The present invention also provides method(s) of preparing adhesive coated substrates using pressure-sensitive adhesive bead(s) that are magnetically responsive, electrostatically responsive, or both by using magnetic forces, electrostatic forces or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Rudyard M. Enanoza, Michael S. Groess, Mark D. Weigel
  • Patent number: 6013149
    Abstract: A pad comprising a plurality of flexible sheets in a stack, and padding means for releasably adhering parts of the major surfaces of adjacent sheets in the stack together to maintain the sheets in the stack. That padding means is provided in that at least some of said sheets having patterns of coadhesive coated on their major surfaces, which patterns of coadhesive are adhered to patterns of coadhesive on adjacent sheets in the stack and releasably adhere parts of the major surfaces of adjacent sheets in the stack together in surface to surface relationship until the patterns of coadhesive are peeled apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lee A. Timmerman, Randall M. Mills, Michael S. Groess, Robert P. Molenda
  • Patent number: 5755355
    Abstract: A pad comprising a plurality of flexible sheets in a stack, and padding means for releasably adhering parts of the major surfaces of adjacent sheets in the stack together to maintain the sheets in the stack. That padding means is provided in that at least some of said sheets having patterns of coadhesive coated on their major surfaces, which patterns of coadhesive are adhered to patterns of coadhesive on adjacent sheets in the stack and releasably adhere parts of the major surfaces of adjacent sheets in the stack together in surface to surface relationship until the patterns of coadhesive are peeled apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lee A. Timmerman, Randall M. Mills, Michael S. Groess, Robert P. Molenda
  • Patent number: 5599618
    Abstract: The present invention provides pressure-sensitive adhesive beads that comprise a tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive core and a non-tacky shell material that surrounds the area wherein the beads are capable of being positioned via magnetic means. The present invention also provides method(s) of preparing adhesive coated substrates using pressure-sensitive adhesive bead(s) that are magnetically responsive, electrostatically responsive or both by using magnetic forces, electrostatic forces or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Rudyard M. Enanoza, Michael S. Groess, Mark D. Weigel
  • Patent number: 5518144
    Abstract: A dispenser package including a stack of flexible sheets adhered together by layers of pressure sensitive adhesive with first and second ends of successive sheets in the stack adjacent; and an enclosure in which the stack of sheets is positioned having top wall portions with spaced opposed surfaces that define a wide slot. The first end portion of the uppermost sheet on the stack projects through the slot and rests against the adjacent first abutment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Samuelson, William L. Hansen, James R. Emmerling, Elmer Blackwell, James M. Peck, Jane H. Machacek, Jerome E. Strand, Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Wayne K. Darvell, Michael S. Groess, Kenneth F. Knoll, John T. Rueb
  • Patent number: 5332265
    Abstract: An advertising assembly which comprises a paper or polymeric backing layer having opposite major surfaces printed with advertising indicia; and a plurality of sheets each comprising a layer of flexible polymeric material having a coating of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive on one of its side surfaces on a second end portion adjacent a second end while being free of adhesive on both of its side surfaces along a first end portion. The sheets are releasably adhered in parallel rows to the first surface of the backing layer by the coatings of pressure sensitive adhesive with the sheets in each row being positioned with their side edge surfaces adjacent and with their first end portions aligned, and can be printed with advertising indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael S. Groess, Douglas P. Bodziak