Patents by Inventor Thomas I. Insley
Thomas I. Insley 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).
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Patent number: 5733629Abstract: A sorbent article comprises a sorbent layer having first and second major surfaces and a texturized polymeric skin layer secured to the first major surface of the sorbent layer. The article has a stiffness of about 200 N/g.cm.sup.-2 or less. An article of this construction has excellent sorptive and non-slip properties, making it well suited for use on floors and other work surfaces. Wet kinetic coefficients of friction of 0.4 and greater can be demonstrated by the inventive articles. The article improves the safety of persons who need to stand, walk, or otherwise safely function on floors or other surfaces that are susceptible to wet conditions.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1996Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Thomas I. Insley
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Patent number: 5697200Abstract: A method and article for protecting a container that contains a fluid.The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a container that holds a fluid and that has first and second ends, a side, and a length; (b) providing a conformable nonwoven web that contains at least 5 weight percent microfibers based on the weight of fibrous material in the nonwoven web, the conformable nonwoven web having a length in at least one dimension that is substantially greater than the length of the container; and (c) wrapping the conformable nonwoven web at least one full turn about the container such that (i) the container forms an axis about which the web is wrapped and (ii) first and second portions of the nonwoven web project axially from the first and second ends of the container.The article includes a conformable sleeve having a tubular body that has an opening sized to permit a container to enter the interior of the conformable sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1995Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Thomas I. Insley, Tommie N. Lee, Beth A. Schraeder
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Patent number: 5647480Abstract: A flexible pressure vessel 20 having an aperture 44 through one wall 30 of the vessel 20, which aperture 44 can be closed by a closure flap 50 having sufficient surface area of adhesive 52 to completely surround the aperture 44. The adhesive 52 has sufficient peel strength to prevent the vessel 20 from being reused after closure, and the vessel 20 is capable of withstanding a pressure differential of at least 75 kPa for at least thirty minutes.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1995Date of Patent: July 15, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Thomas I. Insley, Kay M. McCoy, Cynthia Y. Tamaki
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Patent number: 5620759Abstract: Container that holds a fluid is disposed in a conformable sleeve that has a tubular body and an opening. The tubular body comprises a nonwoven web that contains microfibers, and the opening is sized to permit the container to enter the tubular body's interior. The conformable sleeve is wrapped at least one full turn about the container to surround its side. First and second portions of the sleeve project axially from the container's ends when the sleeve is wrapped about the container. The conformable sleeve protects the container from breaking, and it can sorb the fluid in the container should the container fail.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1995Date of Patent: April 15, 1997Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Thomas I. Insley, Tommie N. Lee, Beth A. Schraeder
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Patent number: 5503782Abstract: A method of making a microfibrous sorbent article is provided. The method includes the steps of a) extruding molten thermoplastic fiber forming polymer from multiple orifices in a fiber-forming die, said orifices being aligned along the face of the die; b) attenuating the fibers in a stream of hot air to form a fiber stream of microfibers; and c) collecting said microfibers on a collector having a forming surface, said surface being aligned with said die and substantially parallel to and equidistant from said die such that the fibers form a spirally wound microfibrous sorbent article which is supported on its exterior surface by said forming surface and which is drawn across said forming surface substantially parallel to said die. Also provided is a microfibrous sorbent article prepared according to the method.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1994Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: James F. Dyrud, Thomas I. Insley, Daniel E. Meyer, Cynthia Y. Tamaki, Donald E. Young
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Patent number: 5468536Abstract: A microfibrous sorbent article is provided. The microfibrous sorbent article comprises an elongate boom having a substantially oval cross-section. The boom is formed of multiple adjacent microfibers layers, the layers being bonded to each other by entanglement of fibers between adjacent layers. The boom further contains ion exchange resin, selectively absorbent particulate material, catalytic agent or selectively reactive particulate material.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1994Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: William C. Whitcomb, Thomas I. Insley, Simon S. Fung
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Patent number: 5451437Abstract: A method and article for protecting a container that contains a fluid.The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a container that holds a fluid and that has first and second ends, a side, and a length; (b) providing a conformable nonwoven web that contains at least 5 weight percent microfibers based on the weight of fibrous material in the nonwoven web, the conformable nonwoven web having a length in at least one dimension that is substantially greater than the length of the container; and (c) wrapping the conformable nonwoven web at least one full turn about the container such that (i) the container forms an axis about which the web is wrapped and (ii) first and second portions of the nonwoven web project axially from the first and second ends of the container.The article includes a conformable sleeve having a tubular body that has an opening sized to permit a container to enter the interior of the conformable sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1993Date of Patent: September 19, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Thomas I. Insley, Tommie N. Lee, Beth A. Schraeder
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Patent number: 5360654Abstract: A microfibrous sorbent article is provided. The microfibrous sorbent article comprises an elongate boom having a substantially oval cross-section. The boom is formed of multiple adjacent microfibers layers, the layers being bonded to each other by entanglement of fibers between adjacent layers. Also provided is a method for making the microfibrous sorbent article.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1993Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Philip A. Anderson, Ronald R. Gorke, Thomas I. Insley, Daniel E. Meyer, David A. Olson
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Patent number: 5254378Abstract: Irradiated polypropylene articles of non-crystalline mesomorphous polypropylene and a method for preparing the articles are provided. The articles are irradiated with a sterilizing dosage of ionizing radiation. The irradiated articles such as films and blown microfiber webs are substantially undegraded after storage periods of as long as six months.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1992Date of Patent: October 19, 1993Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Dennis L. Krueger, Thomas I. Insley, Daniel E. Meyer, Richard J. Rolando
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Patent number: 5219504Abstract: An article comprising compressed particles of polyolefin microfibers is provided. The article has a solidity of at least 20% is particularly suitable as a container for shipping and storing hazardous liquid materials or a cryogenic container.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1991Date of Patent: June 15, 1993Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Thomas I. Insley
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Patent number: 5064578Abstract: A polyolefin BMF web made from a mixture of polypropylene and surfactant can have high wet strength when a) the surfactant is nonionic and b) the surfactant is mixed with the polypropylene at a static mixer that interconnects the extruder and the BMF die. By so postponing the addition of the surfactant, it is protected from both the exceedingly high temperatures of the extruder and from the high shearing forces within the extruder. The surfactant also is heated to high temperatures for a much shorter time than if it were premixed with the polypropylene.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 1990Date of Patent: November 12, 1991Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Thomas I. Insley, Daniel E. Meyer
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Patent number: 5029699Abstract: A container has a self-sustaining housing filled with a first sorbent body of compressed polyolefin microfibers, which body is formed with at least one pocket that snugly receives a vessel holding hazardous materials. The container is closed by a lid which is filled with a second sorbent body of compressed polyolefin microfibers, and when the lid is in place, the second body presses against the vessel to hold it snugly in place. At least a portion of the first sorbent body has a solidity of less than 20%, making it highly sorbent of liquids so that it can sorb any liquid that might leak from the vessel and thus help to prevent the liquid from escaping from the container.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 1990Date of Patent: July 9, 1991Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Thomas I. Insley, Laurel A. Alvarez
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Patent number: 5024865Abstract: An article comprising compressed particles of polyolefin microfibers is provided. The article has a solidity of at least 20% is particularly suitable as a container for shipping and storing hazardous liquid materials or a cryogenic container.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1990Date of Patent: June 18, 1991Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Thomas I. Insley
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Patent number: 4985298Abstract: Highly absorbent nonwoven webs formed from readily available nonwoven materials and having a polyelectrolyte super-absorbent polymeric sorbent coating the individual fibers of the nonwoven web are disclosed. The polymeric sorbent coating absorbs liquid while minimizing occlusion of the interstices of the web.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1989Date of Patent: January 15, 1991Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Lee A. Buckley, Thomas I. Insley
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Patent number: 4972945Abstract: A container for transporting hazardous liquids has a self-sustaining, leak-proof housing, a removable cover that can seal the housing, and a sorbent body resting on the flat bottom of the housing, which body comprises polyolefin microfibers and has a solidity of from 7 to 25%. The polyolefin microfibers preferably are particles, and the particles preferably are microwebs produced by divellicating a polyolefin microfiber web. When the container is used to transport sorbent materials that have been saturated by liquids of a chemical spill, the sorbent body ensures against there being any free liquid in the container.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1990Date of Patent: November 27, 1990Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Thomas I. Insley, Laurel A. Alvarez
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Patent number: 4964509Abstract: A shipping or secondary container, which can safely transport a plurality of breakable primary containers of a variety of sizes and shapes, has a pair of rigid shells that mate. A batt of sorptive material fills each shell, and a normally tacky, discontinuous adhesive layer covers the exposed face of at least one batt. The shells can be vacuum formed from a sheet of thermoplastic resin that is 0.25 to 0.5 mm in thickness. The two shells preferably are identical to each other. To permit them to interlock, each shell has an upstanding wall that is formed with both tongues and grooves which telescopically mate with the tongues and grooves of the other shell.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1990Date of Patent: October 23, 1990Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Thomas I. Insley, James F. Dyrud, Donald E. Young
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Patent number: 4953544Abstract: A method of evaporative cooling using sorbent sheet materials comprising a fibrous web that includes entangled fibers and a solid high sorbency liquid-sorbent polymeric material is disclosed. A sorbent sheet material useful for administering cold water therapy is also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1990Date of Patent: September 4, 1990Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Paul E. Hansen, Thomas I. Insley, Christopher J. Libbey
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Patent number: 4950549Abstract: Polypropylene articles are provided. The polypropylene articles comprise non-crystalline mesomorphous polypropylene having olefinic unsaturation-containing monomers graft-polymerized thereon by ionizing radiation in a dosage sufficient to degrade crystalline polypropylene. The irradiated polypropylene articles retain useful tensile properties after storage periods of as long as at least about four months.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1989Date of Patent: August 21, 1990Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Richard J. Rolando, Dennis L. Krueger, Daniel E. Meyer, Thomas I. Insley
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Patent number: 4933229Abstract: A polyolefin BMF web made from a mixture of polypropylene and surfactant can have high wet strength when (a) the surfactant is nonionic and (b) the surfactant is mixed with the polypropylene at a static mixer that interconnects the extruder and the BMF die. By so postponing the addition of the surfactant, it is protected from both the exceedingly high temperatures of the extruder and from the high shearing forces within the extruder. The surfactant also is heated to high temperatures for a much shorter time than if it were premixed with the polypropylene.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1989Date of Patent: June 12, 1990Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Thomas I. Insley, Daniel E. Meyer
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Patent number: 4931230Abstract: Irradiated polypropylene articles of non-crystalline mesomorphous polypropylene and a method for preparing the articles are provided. The articles are irradiated with a sterilizing dosage of ionizing radiation. The irradiated articles such as films and blown microfiber webs are substantially undegraded after storage periods of as long as six months.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1989Date of Patent: June 5, 1990Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Dennis L. Krueger, Thomas I. Insley, Daniel E. Meyer, Richard J. Rolando