Patents Represented by Attorney Aleksander Medved
  • Patent number: 8097158
    Abstract: A filter cartridge and spool valve manifold assembly includes a filter cartridge and a spool valve manifold. The filter cartridge includes a filter element and inlet/outlet portion in fluid communication with the filter element. The inlet/outlet portion has a cartridge inlet port and a cartridge outlet port. The spool valve manifold includes a housing and a body. The housing has a housing inlet port and a housing outlet port adapted for fluid communication with a fluid supply system. The body is located within the housing and configured to rotate around a first axis relative to the housing. The inlet/outlet portion of the filter cartridge is fluidly coupled to the body via insertion of the inlet/outlet portion into the body in a direction perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Tubby, Laurence W. Bassett
  • Patent number: 8097156
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a new fluid filter system including, but not limited to, structure for enabling a filter cartridge to be installed and removed from a manifold with a straight line push/pull motion, an innovative latching mechanism and an innovative water manifold, the latching mechanism providing a unique mechanism interface between an innovative manifold and a filter cartridge, the latching mechanism providing a compact and simple mechanism between the innovative manifold and the filter cartridge that significantly reduces the installation and removal force previously found with fluid filtration cartridges by including a low force filter cartridge installation and removal mechanism for utilization by the end consumer and the manifold assembly includes an inlet and an outlet port, the manifold assembly having structure for maintaining a substantially constant volumetric cavity of the fluid filtration system that contains fluid during installation and operation of the filter therein and remov
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Tubby, Andrew M. Candelora, Thomas D. Holler, Laurence W. Bassett
  • Patent number: 8097157
    Abstract: A fluid filtration system is disclosed comprising a manifold assembly comprising a mounting bracket, an alignment collar connected to the mounting bracket, and a latch assembly moveable with respect to the mounting bracket and alignment collar. The system further comprises a filter cartridge comprising a filter cartridge outer surface and a cartridge latching structure formed on the filter cartridge outer surface to interact with the latch assembly. When the filter cartridge is aligned with the alignment collar and inserted into the manifold assembly, the filter cartridge is (i) latched into the manifold assembly by translating the filter cartridge into the manifold assembly to cause movement of the latch assembly to engage the cartridge latching structure; and (ii) unlatched from the manifold assembly by translating the filter cartridge into the manifold assembly to cause movement of the rotating latch assembly to disengage the cartridge latching structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Tubby, Andrew M. Candelora, Thomas D. Holler, Laurence W. Bassett
  • Patent number: 8075720
    Abstract: A method of forming a filter element is disclosed comprising the steps of preparing a plurality of upstanding pleats each having first and second pleat legs, wherein the first pleat leg of one pleat is joined to the second pleat leg of a preceding pleat by a medial pleat section; moving the upstanding pleats into an overlapped condition wherein each medial pleat section becomes part of the second leg of a preceding pleat; and forming the overlapped pleats into a cylindrical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brian L. Fall, Thomas J. Hamlin, Mahesh Z. Patel, John L. Pulek, Aaron Spearin
  • Patent number: 8066790
    Abstract: A filter housing and filter cartridge engagement structure comprising a housing having at least one ramp adapted to engage lugs of the at least one filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Howard D. Hutchinson, Mahesh Z. Patel
  • Patent number: 7981184
    Abstract: A diamond patterned tubular pleated filter element is disclosed. Also disclosed is a filter cartridge that comprises a core element having an inner diameter, two ends and apertures formed therein, a diamond patterned tubular pleated filter element having an inner and an outer diameter positioned about the core element wherein the ratio of the outer diameter to the inner diameter of the diamond patterned tubular pleated filter element is about 1.5 to about 2.5, an open end cap, for transferring fluid into or out of the core element, positioned at one end of the core, and a closed end cap, for preventing fluid from exiting therefrom, positioned at the other end of the core, the closed end cap including structure for positioning the open end cap in filtration housing. Systems and methods for manufacturing the filter cartridge and the diamond patterned tubular pleated filter media itself are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mahesh Z. Patel, Jonathan C. Taylor, Gary W. Schukar
  • Patent number: 7875012
    Abstract: There is provided an expandable disposal tape for use in a disposable absorbent article comprising an extensible base layer, the base layer having an attachable portion and an expandable portion. The expandable portion is formed of an extensible web material and further is provided with one or more lines of separation such that the expandable portion can be expanded to form at least one loop. This loop can then be extended by extending the extensible web material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Judith A. Arco, Leigh E. Wood
  • Patent number: 7799220
    Abstract: A filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the filter assembly having a manifold assembly and a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge includes a cartridge engagement means while the manifold includes a manifold engagement means. The cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means cooperatively interfacing for removable attachment of the filter cartridge to the manifold assembly. The cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means oriented in a retaining relation during removal of the cartridge filter from the manifold assembly such that any entrained pressure within the cartridge filter is vented while the cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means are in the retaining relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Karl Fritze
  • Patent number: 7763170
    Abstract: Disclosed is a unique filter assembly for ensuring replacement cartridge compatibility in filtration systems having replaceable filter cartridges with lugged mounting systems. One representative filter assembly includes a representative cartridge member having a body portion for enclosing filter media and a neck portion depending therefrom. The representative neck portion of the representative cartridge includes at least one axial inlet port for directing unfiltered fluid into the body portion and at least one axial outlet port for directing filtered fluid out of the body portion. The representative neck portion also has at least two representative lugs depending radially outwardly therefrom, wherein at least one lug defines a keyed surface formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Laurence W. Bassett, William Contaxis, III, Bruce G. Taylor, David A. Carbo
  • Patent number: 7736504
    Abstract: A crossflow filtration system including at least one quick dry change crossflow filtration cartridge designed to rotatably interface with a manifold assembly. The quick dry change crossflow filtration cartridge can comprise a membrane element, for example an ultrafiltration membrane, microfiltration membrane, nanofiltration membrane or reverse osmosis membrane element enclosed within a housing. The quick dry change cartridge includes an inlet stream, a permeate stream and a concentrate stream. The manifold assembly includes three similar flow paths; an inlet stream, a permeate stream and a concentrate stream. When engaged, the cartridge and manifold assembly define continuous inlet flow paths, permeate flow paths and concentrate flow paths that connect across the interface. Thus, all of the connections to the water filtration system can be made onto the manifold, and the resulting connected system is compact and easy to connect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Proerties Company
    Inventors: Karl Fritze, Nathan E. Marks
  • Patent number: 7736352
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a closure tape tab for an absorbent article, particularly for a disposable diaper, for fastening the article on the body of a person. The closure tape tab comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion being connected by an inner tab portion, wherein the inner tab portion has a first major surface and a second major surface. The proximal and distal end portions are connected to the inner tab portion and the first major surface thereof such that opposing ends of the proximal and distal end portions are spaced apart from each other. The distal end portion is folded over toward the proximal end portion such that at least a part of the first major surface of the inner tab portion in the space is covered. The proximal end portion is preferably not folded. The present invention furthermore relates to a prelaminated closure tape, preferably in a stable roll, from which such closure tape tabs can be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Byron M. Jackson, Donald R. Battles, Stuart L. Eynon, Dyfrig E. Clement
  • Patent number: 7717986
    Abstract: A vehicle passenger compartment air filter device comprising a filtration medium comprising a nonwoven web of electret charged thermoplastic microfibers as a filter layer, said microfibers having an effective fiber diameter of greater than 10 ?m and comprising a thermoplastic resin having a resistivity greater than 1014 ohm·cm and an additive selected from fluorochemical compounds or oligomers, organic triazine compounds or oligomers, hindered amine compounds, aromatic amine compounds, nitrogen containing hindered phenols, metal containing hindered phenols and mixtures thereof; said web having a basis weight less than 60 g/m2; and a gas adsorption layer comprising an adsorbent particle loaded layer and optionally further comprising a support layer and/or a cover layer bonded to said adsorbent layer; the basis weight of adsorbent particles in gas adsorption layer being at least 150 g/m2; wherein the filter layer is upstream from the gas adsorption layer and wherein the filter layer and gas adsorption layer are
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Marcus Lotgerink-Bruinenberg
  • Patent number: 7708148
    Abstract: A freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly, includes a filter cartridge including a filter housing and a filter media and having at least one component selected from a list of components including: the filter housing being formed of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer having elongation and glass transition properties that allow for stretching of the housing during a freezing event rather than rupturing; a sleeve having a volume of air entrapped therein within and being disposed in the interior of the filter cartridge; and the filter housing formed of a conventional polyolefin having a wall thickness great enough to resist freeze induced expansion stresses. A method of forming a freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly is further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Karl Fritze
  • Patent number: 7670528
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of manufacturing filter cartridges are disclosed, the system including a tube of laminated and seamed filter media, a media unwind mechanism, a mandrel having a starting point operatively positioned proximate the media unwind mechanism, structure, operatively positioned proximate the mandrel, for feeding the tube of laminated and seamed filter media into the starting point of the mandrel, structure, operatively positioned in the mandrel, for pressurizing the tube of laminated and seamed filter media with a gas, structure, operatively positioned in the mandrel, for expanding the tube of laminated and seamed filter media into a substantially cylindrical shape as the tube of laminated and seamed filter media passes over the mandrel, a pleater mechanism, operatively positioned proximate the mandrel, a blade mechanism, operatively associated with the pleater mechanism, for alternately engaging the tube of laminated and seamed filter media with the blade mec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mahesh Z. Patel, Jonathan C. Taylor, Gary W. Schukar
  • Patent number: 7658212
    Abstract: A liquid filtering and dispensing system can be formed as an integral unit and configured for placement within an appliance compartment. The system can have a manifold with a filter connection including inflow and outflow attachments for a filter cartridge, an inlet, at least one outlet forming a dispenser and a valve to control flow through the integral system. The system can include a cooling reservoir fluidly located prior to the dispenser. The system can include a removable carafe and a carafe mount configured such that the carafe can receive liquid from the dispenser. The carafe mount can be configured to supply liquid from the carafe to a remote dispensing assembly such as a refrigerator door dispenser. The carafe mount can be positioned within the refrigerator compartment or within the refrigerator door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William J. Meuleners, Karl Fritze
  • Patent number: 7645312
    Abstract: A pleated filter element includes a composite depth filter medium formed into a plurality of pleats. The composite depth filter medium includes a plurality of depth filter media layers. Each of the plurality of depth filter media layers includes adsorber particulate matter. Each of the plurality of depth filter media layers may have a thickness less than about 1300 microns. The plurality of depth filter media layers may have at least 50% by weight of adsorber particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hamlin, Gokhan Kuruc, Peter J. Leavesley, Richard Sale
  • Patent number: 7636988
    Abstract: There is provided a hook fastener comprising a base, where at least one surface has a multiplicity of engaging projections, which projections have a top surface and an attached end that are arranged in a region to form one or more shapes. There is also provided a method for forming the above fastener comprising dispersing onto a contact release surface polymer particles in at least one discrete area forming a predetermined shape and forming preform projections. The front surface of the base is fixed to the terminal ends of at least some of the preform projections and then removed from the contact release surface in the form of the predetermined shape. In an alternative method polymer particles are uniformly dispersed onto a contact release surface using electrostatic attraction and selectively transferred to the base in the predetermined shape by masks or selective adhesion or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zhiqun Zhang, Janet A. Venne, Dennis L. Becker, Lori-Ann S. Prioleau
  • Patent number: 7638042
    Abstract: A fluid treatment system is provided, the system including a fluid treatment cartridge for treating fluid passing therethrough. The cartridge has an inlet through which untreated fluid enters the cartridge and an outlet from which treated fluid exits the cartridge. The cartridge also has a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for storing data. The fluid treatment system also includes a connection manifold configured to detachably support the fluid treatment cartridge. The connection manifold has an inlet flow path for directing untreated fluid to the inlet of the cartridge and an outlet flow path for directing treated fluid from the outlet of the cartridge, and a data sensor for reading data stored on the RFID tag. Data stored on the RFID tag can be read by the data sensor and evaluated. Use of the fluid treatment system can be deterred based upon the evaluated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Astle, Hemang Patel, Mahesh Z. Patel, Thomas Holler, Karl Fritze
  • Patent number: 7582209
    Abstract: A fluid filtration unit having two or more filter medium layers and/or zones, at least one of the layers/zones having a different particle retention capability disposed on each side of a non-filtering separator element. The filter medium are presently preferably positioned such that each succeedingly distal filter layer or zone from the separator has a decreased particle retention capability than each proceeding filter layer or zone. The filter medium layer most proximal to the separator element may be separated from the separator by a support material for supporting such filter medium element and preventing collapsing of the medium into any separator conduit. At least one of the medium elements is formed from a material which swells in size due to fluid absorption with the various zones and the separator being operatively connected by a new and innovative edge seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John L. Pulek, William A. Larsen, C. Thomas Paul, Clifford L. Schorr, Francis J. Swiatek, Art Artinyan
  • Patent number: D667470
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Brian P. Dutkiewicz