Patents by Inventor Scott J. Tuman

Scott J. Tuman 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).

  • Publication number: 20140013531
    Abstract: The disclosed floor cleaning tool has a working surface with an elevated portion, sloping side surface and ribs that provide structure to an overlying cleaning sheet to improve the surface area utilized for cleaning. The ribs can also provide some stability during use of the tool. In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool comprises a working surface of a first material having an elevated portion and a recessed point adjacent a perimeter forming a height, a sloping surface extending from the elevated point to the recessed point, and a plurality of ribs of a second material, which is more deformable than the first material, wherein the ribs are raised on the sloping surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: SCOTT J. TUMAN, MICHAEL C. MOLINET
  • Publication number: 20130288556
    Abstract: Dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs include a plurality of fibers formed from one or more thermoplastic polyesters and an antishrink additive, preferably in an amount greater than 0% and no more than 10% by weight of the web. The webs have at least one dimension which decreases by no greater than 12% in the plane of the web when heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the fibers. The webs may be used as wipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric M. Moore, John D. Stelter, Michael R. Berrigan, Francis E. Porbeni, Matthew T. Scholz, Korey W. Karls, Sian F. Fennessey, Scott J. Tuman, Cordell M. Hardy, Yifan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8549690
    Abstract: A floor cleaning tool is disclosed that provides for an improved method of gathering and picking up debris from the floor. In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool has a handle, a wiping body wiping body comprised of a solid and continuous material connected at one end to the handle and a capture sheet covering the wiping body. The wiping body includes a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side wherein a length and width of the wiping body are each at least five times larger than a thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side. The capture sheet covers the wiping body by wrapping continuously around the first wiping side and second wiping side. In one embodiment, the capture sheet includes a tacky surface outwardly facing from the wiping body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lloyd S. Vasilakes, Gretchen A. Hauble, Scott J. Tuman
  • Patent number: 8277922
    Abstract: A stem web is disclosed that comprises a backing layer having a first surface and a second surface, and an array of 600 to 20000 upstanding stems projecting from the first surface of the backing. The stems comprise a height from 0.3 and 2.0 millimeters and a shore hardness less than 90A. In one embodiment, the stem web further comprises a reinforcing layer secured to the second surface. In one embodiment, the stem web is secured to a tool to be passed across a surface to be cleaned to capture lint and hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Scott J. Tuman, James J. Kobe, Leon Levitt
  • Publication number: 20120090120
    Abstract: A multi-material composite, the materials being positioned at raised regions (120/220/320/420) and recessed regions (130/230/330/430) on the working surface (110/210/310,315/410), provides a cleaning device (100/200/300/400) with both scouring and wiping on a single surface. By recessing certain material (s) from the working surface, the user can control, with pressure, the extent to which the recessed region makes contact with a surface to be cleaned (170/270). The composite may have at least a first substrate (140/240/340/440) that is a compressible material, and a second substrate (150/250/350/450) that is a compressible material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Scott J. Tuman, Michael J. Kubes
  • Publication number: 20110256791
    Abstract: Nonwoven fibrous webs include elastic filaments such that the web as a whole exhibits elastic properties when stretched. The webs include a multiplicity of nonwoven fibers and at least one elastic filament entangled with at least a portion of the nonwoven fibers to form a self-supporting, cohesive, elastic nonwoven fibrous web. Methods of making such elastic nonwoven fibrous webs using hydro-entanglement, and uses of such webs to form articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: David L. Seidel, Troy K. Ista, Timothy J. Lindquist, Scott J. Tuman
  • Publication number: 20110146018
    Abstract: A floor cleaning tool is disclosed that provides for an improved method of gathering and picking up debris from the floor. In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool has a handle, a wiping body wiping body comprised of a solid and continuous material connected at one end to the handle and a capture sheet covering the wiping body. The wiping body includes a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side wherein a length and width of the wiping body are each at least five times larger than a thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side. The capture sheet covers the wiping body by wrapping continuously around the first wiping side and second wiping side. In one embodiment, the capture sheet includes a tacky surface outwardly facing from the wiping body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Lloyd S. Vasilakes, Gretchen A. Hauble, Scott J. Tuman
  • Patent number: 7856690
    Abstract: The present invention provides a brushing assembly and a method of cleaning a surface. In one embodiment, the brushing assembly comprises a lint roller comprising a handle and a roll of adhesive tape supported by a barrel, wherein the adhesive tape has an exposed tacky surface. The brushing assembly further comprises a caddy cover comprising an opening for placement over the barrel and roll of adhesive tape of the lint roller and at least one working surfaces. In one embodiment, the method of cleaning a surface comprises providing a lint roller, providing a caddy cover having at least one working surfaces, placing the caddy cover over the lint roller, brushing the surface to be cleaned with at least one of the working surfaces of the caddy cover to gather debris, removing the caddy cover from the lint roller, and rolling the lint roller over the surface to be cleaned to capture the debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Scott J. Tuman, Eric B. Laughlin, Aaron J. Cherveny, Byron E. Trotter, Lloyd S. Vasilakes
  • Patent number: 7836540
    Abstract: Applicant discloses a broom that comprises at least one particle capture sheet. In various embodiments, the particle capture sheet can comprise a nonwoven material, a woven material, a knitted material, or a synthetic polymeric membrane. The particle capture sheet can be air permeable or air impermeable, and can comprise an electret material and/or an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lloyd S. Vasilakes, Scott J. Tuman, Gretchen A. Hauble
  • Publication number: 20100257685
    Abstract: A cleaning sponge with embedded clusters for providing enhanced scouring is disclosed. In one embodiment, the cleaning sponge comprises a sponge body and a plurality of discrete fiber clusters embedded within the sponge body. Each fiber cluster is a matrix of interconnected fibers. In one embodiment, each fiber cluster is a three dimensional web of entangled fibers bonded to one another at their mutual contact points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Scott J. Tuman
  • Publication number: 20100197027
    Abstract: A fiber, an articles formed from a fiber and methods of making the fiber and associate article are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fiber comprises a synthetic polymer and a color-changing indicator. The color-changing indicator is dispersed throughout the synthetic polymer. The color-changing indicator reacts in the presence of a stimulus to produce a color change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Yifan Zhang, Jie J. Liu, Eric M. Moore, Francis E. Porbeni, Scott J. Tuman, Diane R. Wolk
  • Publication number: 20100192321
    Abstract: A flexible and conformable cleaning tool is disclosed that includes a foam body with a first working surface, wherein the foam body has a shore hardness less than 40. The cleaning tool further comprises a cleaning material on at least a portion of the first working surface, wherein the cleaning material includes an array of 20 to 1000 upstanding stems per square centimeter, wherein each stem has a height from 0.2 and 2.0 millimeters and a shore hardness less than 105 A, wherein the cleaning material is wiped over a surface to be cleaned to gather debris, lint, or hair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Scott J. TUMAN, Thomas E. Haskett, Shaelyn D. Benson, Bridget K. Warmka, Michael A. Amante
  • Patent number: 7757334
    Abstract: A cleaning tool for cleaning a surface is disclosed. The cleaning tool comprises a cleaning frame including a rigid body defining a perimeter surrounding an interior opening and at least one spacer arranged within the interior opening. The cleaning frame secures over a backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Vinu Patel, William J. Kopecky, Jeffrey M. Mailand, Scott J. Tuman, Mark D. Sorlien
  • Publication number: 20100125961
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cleaning tool, a cleaning sheet and method of removes debris, lint, or hair from a variety of surfaces. The cleaning tool is provided with a first array of stems and a second array of stems, wherein the first array of stems are smaller and more densely included on a cleaning surface of the cleaning tool. The larger stems are able to loosen and pull deeply embedded hair from loose fabric surfaces, while the smaller stems are able to capture and retain the loosened hair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Scott J. TUMAN, Lloyd S. VASILAKES, Shaelyn D. BENSON
  • Publication number: 20100092746
    Abstract: A nonwoven web and method of making a nonwoven web is disclosed. The nonwoven web comprises a plurality of randomly oriented and interconnected cut fibers. At least 10% wt. of the fibers are multicomponent fibers comprising at least a first portion having a first melting point and a second portion having a second melting point. The first melting point is less than the second melting point. Further the nonwoven comprises a plurality of benefiting particles. The first portion of the multicomponent fibers melts and coalesces to secure together the plurality of fibers and secure the benefiting particles to the fibers to form a web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Coant, Scott J. Tuman, Lahoussaine Lalouch, Carmen Martin Rivera
  • Publication number: 20090144923
    Abstract: A floor cleaning tool is disclosed. The floor cleaning tool comprises a mop head including a perimeter, a working surface and back surface, opposite the working surface. The working surface includes a contact surface and a recessed surface. The contact surface is on a portion of the working surface for making contact with the surface to be cleaned. The contact surface includes a first capturing edge and a second capturing edge. The recessed surface is on a portion of the working surface and includes a first side surface recessed from the first capturing edge of the contact surface and a second side surface recessed from the second capturing edge of the contact surface. The entire contact surface is nonlinear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: SCOTT J. TUMAN, Robert J. Maki, Lloyd S. Vasilakes, Byron E. Trotter, Scott D. Gullicks
  • Patent number: 7540056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a floor cleaning tool. In one embodiment the floor cleaning tool comprises a backing and a handle. The backing comprises a first surface and a second surface. The handle is attached to the second surface of the backing apparatus. The backing has a generally triangular perimeter having a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge. A portion of the first edge is curved and a portion of the second edge is curved. The first edge and second edge meet at a leading point. The third edge is concave. The floor cleaning tool is capable of supporting a wipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Perry S. Dotterman, Scott J. Tuman, Diane R. Wolk, John M. Simon, Mark D. Sorlien, Mark W. Nelson, Michael J. Kubes, Byron E. Trotter, Arthur V. Lang, Johannes N. Gaston, Douglas J. VanOrnum, Steven A. Beaudry
  • Publication number: 20090032059
    Abstract: A cleaning material, a cleaning tool and a method of cleaning a surface is disclosed. In one embodiment, a cleaning material comprises a backing including a first surface and a second surface, and an array of 20 to 1000 upstanding stems per square centimeter projecting from the first surface of the backing. Each stem has a height from 0.2 and 2.0 millimeters and a shore hardness less than 105 A. In one embodiment, the method of cleaning a surface comprises providing a cleaning material having an array of 20 to 1000 upstanding stems per square centimeter, wherein each stem has a height from 0.2 and 2.0 millimeters and a shore hardness less than 105 A, wiping the cleaning material over a surface to be cleaned, and capturing debris between the stems of the cleaning material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: SCOTT J. TUMAN, Nathan A. Abel, Daniel D. Anderson, Shaelyn D. Benson, Scott D. Gullicks, Byron E. Trotter, Lloyd S. Vasilakes, Aaron J. Cherveny
  • Patent number: D609916
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Shaelyn D. Benson, Scott D. Gullicks, Lloyd S. Vasilakes, Scott J. Tuman, Byron E. Trotter, Dana M. Vajen, Micah T. Somers, Brian M. Clemens
  • Patent number: D609917
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Shaelyn D. Benson, Scott D. Gullicks, Lloyd S. Vasilakes, Scott J. Tuman, Byron E. Trotter, Dana M. Vajen, Micah T. Somers, Brian M. Clemens