Patents by Inventor William Blake

William Blake 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: 11472909
    Abstract: Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first polymeric matrix having a refractive index n1; and particles having a refractive index n2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein n1 is different than n2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Zhaohui Yang, Albert I. Everaerts, Yongshang Lu, William Blake Kolb, Keith R. Bruesewitz
  • Patent number: 11435616
    Abstract: Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Fei Lu, William Blake Kolb, Brian W. Ostlie, Adam D. Haag, Michael Benton Free, William D. Coggio, Michael L. Steiner, Soemantri Widagdo, Kui Chen-Ho, Lan H. Liu, Robert F. Kamrath, Scott M. Tapio, John A. Wheatley, Charles D. Hoyle, Michael F. Weber
  • Publication number: 20220271261
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an article including a layer having a nanostructured first surface including nanofeatures and an opposing second surface, and an organic layer including a major surface attached to a portion of the nanofeatures. The nanostructured first surface includes protruding features that are formed of a single composition and/or recessed features. The nanofeatures and the major surface of the second layer together define at least one void. The present disclosure also provides a method of making the article including contacting nanofeatures of a layer having a nanostructured surface with a major surface of an organic layer and reacting at least one material to secure the two layers together. In addition, the present disclosure provides an optical information display and an OLED device including the article. The nanostructured surface of the article is protected from damage and contamination by the organic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Solomon, Henrik B. van Lengerich, Bryan V. Hunt, Tabitha A. Silliman, William Blake Kolb, Nicholas C. Erickson, Stephen M. Menke, Derek W. Patzman, Justin P. Meyer, Bert T. Chien, Thomas E. Muehle, Thomas P. Klun
  • Publication number: 20220187521
    Abstract: An optical stack includes an optical film (200) and an optical adhesive (500) disposed on the optical film. The optical adhesive has a major structured surface facing away from the optical film that includes a plurality of channels formed therein. The channels define a plurality of substantially flat land regions therebetween. The land regions include at least about 50% of a total surface area of the major structured surface. When the optical stack is placed on a support surface with the major structured surface of the optical adhesive contacting the support surface, the optical stack bonds to the support surface and may be removed from, or slidingly repositioned on, the support surface without damage to the optical adhesive or the support surface, and upon application of at least one of heat and pressure, the optical stack substantially permanently bonds to the support surface and the plurality of channels substantially disappear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Michelle L. Toy, Kristy A. Gillette, Matthew B. Johnson, Eileen M. Franey, Carley A. Haroldson, Joseph P. Attard, Guy M. Kallman, William Blake Kolb
  • Patent number: 11335551
    Abstract: The present method comprises providing a flexible web substrate (e.g., polymeric flexible web substrates) that forms at least part of a component of a device, coating so as to wet-out on and cover all or a substantial portion of a major surface on one side or both sides of the flexible web substrate with flowable polymeric material, while the flexible web substrate is moving in a down-web direction, and solidifying the polymeric material so as to form one cleaning layer on the major surface of one side or both sides of the flexible web substrate. The present invention can be utilized in a continuous in-line manufacturing process. In applications of the present invention where the flexible web substrate will not form a component of a device, the present invention broadly provides a method for cleaning particles from a flexible web of indefinite length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William R. Dudley, William Blake Kolb, Michael A. Johnson, Stephen A. Johnson, Chris J. Tanley
  • Patent number: 11229468
    Abstract: A syringe mixing device has a cylindrical syringe housing, an end cap, a nozzle cap, a removable stir rod mixer assembly, a large mouth funnel, and optional locking clip. The cylindrical syringe housing has an internal chamber for holding material, a distal end and a proximal end. Adjacent the proximal end is a pair of finger grips. The end cap has a proximal end for attaching to the distal end of the syringe housing. The end cap has a nozzle configured to pass material ejected from the syringe housing. The nozzle cap is for sealing the nozzle. The large mouth funnel is configured to fasten at a throat end to the distal end of the cylindrical syringe housing. The funnel has a slope shaped chamber configured to receive and pass material for mixing into the internal chamber of the syringe housing. The syringe mixing device further has a removable plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Vivex Biologics Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Silvia Daniela Gonzales, Shabnam Namin, William Blake Martin, Timothy Ganey
  • Patent number: 11179959
    Abstract: A security element, including: a substrate having a first structured major surface and a second structured major surface; and a first metal layer coated on the first structured major surface, wherein the transparency of the first metal layer is between 10% and 90%; and a second metal layer coated on the second structured major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ta-Hua Yu, William Blake Kolb, Douglas S. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11127924
    Abstract: Display devices that include: an organic light emitting diode panel having a multilayer construction including one or more adhesive films; and a polymeric film incorporated within the multilayer construction of the organic light emitting diode panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Zhaohui Yang, Albert I. Everaerts, Yongshang Lu, William Blake Kolb, Keith R. Bruesewitz
  • Patent number: 11054558
    Abstract: A photochromic article is provided, containing a structural component, a fluid in contact with the structural component, and a photochromic organic dye in contact with the fluid; and a barrier layer disposed on the structural component to provide a barrier for the fluid and photochromic organic dye. The structural component includes a polymeric material that is porous, includes a plurality of cavities, or a combination thereof. A method of changing a light transmission of a photochromic article is provided. A method of forming a photochromic article is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam D. Miller, Donovan G. Weiblen, III, William Blake Kolb, Thomas P. Klun, Richard J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: 11052420
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are described and useful for, among other things, providing a layer by layer coating of materials on a belt. A directional gas curtain producing element is used to provide a gas curtain blowing on the belt in an upstream direction that simultaneously meters liquid from the belt and dries the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ellison G. Kawakami, William Blake Kolb
  • Publication number: 20210154417
    Abstract: Cartridges have a cartridge body configured to store a formulation, a formulation valve disposed in the cartridge body, and an air valve disposed in the cartridge body. The cartridge is configured to dispense the formulation through the formulation valve when the formulation valve and the air valve are each in an open state, and to not dispense the formulation when the formulation valve and the air valve are in a closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Wenzhen Cheng, William Blake Soeters
  • Publication number: 20210153622
    Abstract: Packaging systems include a container having a mouth, a workpiece, and an insert configured to receive the workpiece and to retain the workpiece within the mouth of the container in an axially aligned configuration. The insert has an annular wall with an outer surface that tapers from a first outer diameter proximal a first end thereof to a second outer diameter proximal a second end thereof. The second outer diameter is greater than the first outer diameter, and the first end is configured for insertion into the mouth of the container before the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: L'Oreal
    Inventors: William Bickford, Oliver Sha, Wenzhen Cheng, William Blake Soeters
  • Publication number: 20210138502
    Abstract: Apparatus and method useful for, among other things, providing a layer by layer coating of materials on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: ELLISON G. KAWAKAMI, WILLIAM BLAKE KOLB, HENRIK B. VAN LENGERICH
  • Patent number: 10981298
    Abstract: A system and method for processing a supply of post-consumer scrap linear low density or low density polyethylene film into near-virgin quality blown film product. The method includes tearing the supply of film in a shredder, wherein the surface area of the film is exposed, including delaminating the film. The torn supply of film is washed in a water bath including a surfactant. The film is agitated in the bath containing the surfactant wherein contaminants on the film are removed from the film. The washed film is ground into smaller pieces and additional washing of the ground film in a rotating friction washer and a sink float tank occurs wherein additional contaminants are removed from the film. The ground film is then dried and compacted without addition of water into granulated objects of near-virgin quality blown film product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Wisconsin Film & Bag, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Francis Kulesa, James J. Feeney, Richard Wayne Carlstedt, Daniel William Blake, Buckell Gary Hacker, Abby Marie Johnson
  • Patent number: 10981297
    Abstract: A system and method for processing a supply of post-consumer scrap linear low density or low density polyethylene film into near-virgin quality blown film product. The method includes tearing the supply of film in a shredder, wherein the surface area of the film is exposed, including delaminating the film. The torn supply of film is washed in a water bath including a surfactant. The film is agitated in the bath containing the surfactant wherein contaminants on the film are removed from the film. The washed film is ground into smaller pieces and additional washing of the ground film in a rotating friction washer and a sink float tank occurs wherein additional contaminants are removed from the film. The ground film is then dried and compacted without addition of water into granulated objects of near-virgin quality blown film product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Wisconsin Film & Bag, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Francis Kulesa, James J. Feeney, Richard Wayne Carlstedt, Daniel William Blake, Buckell Gary Hacker, Abby Marie Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210098546
    Abstract: An OLED display including a display panel and a color-correction component is described. A plurality of comparative display panels otherwise equivalent to the display panel but having one or more different optical thicknesses of OLED layers have a maximum white-point color shift from 0 to 45 degrees of WPCSC45 and a white-point axial efficiency of WPAEC. The plurality of comparative display panels defines a performance curve along a boundary of performance points. The OLED display and the display panel have respective maximum white-point color shifts from 0 to 45 degrees of WPCS45 and WPCS045 and respective white-point axial efficiencies of WPAE and WPAE0. WPCS045 and WPAE0 defines a performance point of the display panel to the right of the performance curve and WPCS45 and WPAE defines a performance point of the OLED display above or to the left of the performance curve. Methods of making the OLED display are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Erickson, David G. Freier, Robert L. Brott, Bing Hao, David A. Rosen, Stephen M. Menke, Bert T. Chien, Song Taek Lee, Encai Hao, Zhaohui Yang, Albert I. Everaerts, Yongshang Lu, William Blake Kolb, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Adam D. Haag, Sun-Yong Park, Timothy J. Nevitt (Deceased), Brianna N. Wheeler, Jody L. Peterson, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 10926572
    Abstract: A security element, including: a substrate; a monolayer of beads on the substrate; and a metal layer on the monolayer of beads; wherein the size of the beads is in between about 100 nm to about 50 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ta-Hua Yu, William Blake Kolb
  • Patent number: 10926289
    Abstract: Apparatus and method useful for, among other things, providing a layer by layer coating of materials on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ellison G. Kawakami, William Blake Kolb, Henrik B. Van Lengerich
  • Patent number: 10894641
    Abstract: A packaging system includes a base, a lid, a closure structure, and an adhesive deposit. The base has a well. The lid is hingeably connected to the base and has a user input region and a protrusion projecting into the well. The closure structure is configured for releasably retaining the lid in a closed position relative to the base. The adhesive deposit is located within the well and at least partially surrounds the protrusion, and forms a first plurality of adhesive bonds with the well and a second plurality of adhesive bonds with the protrusion. The second plurality of adhesive bonds and the closure structure are configured to exert a combined retention force of at least 20N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: L'OREAL
    Inventors: Wenzhen Cheng, William Blake Soeters
  • Publication number: 20200411801
    Abstract: Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first polymeric matrix having a refractive index n1; and particles having a refractive index n2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein n1 is different than n2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Encai HAO, Zhaohui YANG, Albert I. EVERAERTS, Yongshang LU, William Blake KOLB, Keith R. BRUESEWITZ