Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Carole Truesdale
  • Patent number: 5437387
    Abstract: A container for transporting and storing vessels containing hazardous liquids and a method for making such a container. The container has a cylindrical housing and a cap that screws into the mouth of the housing and is locked by a latch. When the cap is screwed into place, an elastomeric sealing ring on the cap is compressed against the housing to provide a liquid-tight seal between the housing and cap. Interlocking hook-shaped members that project from the housing and from a central location of the latch act as a fulcrum on which the latch can be pivoted. Under the bias of a serpentine tongue, a locking member that projects from an end of the latch protrudes through a bore in the housing and is adapted to be received by a hole in the cap, thus locking the cap until the other end of the lever is depressed to disengage the locking member from the hole of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James A. Burns
  • Patent number: 5413851
    Abstract: A coated fiber is provided. The coated fiber comprises a ceramic or carbon fiber having a coating thereon of a refractory metal or metal-based ceramic material, the coating being substantially uniform and having a morphology which is fully dense and substantially void free. Further provided is a process for coating ceramic or carbon fibers in continuous tows or bundles comprising (a) applying sufficient current to a metal cathode to form a plasma of atoms and ions of the cathode material, (b) positioning said fibers in the path of said plasma, said plasma causing said fibers to billow, and (c) causing said plasma to condense on said fibers to form a refractory metal or a metal-based ceramic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Jonathan G. Storer
  • Patent number: 5411576
    Abstract: An oily mist resistant electret filter media is provided. The filter media includes polypropylene electret fibers and a melt processable fluorochemical additive. The additive has a melt temperature of at least 25.degree. C. and a molecular weight of about 500 to 2500. Also provided is a method for filtering particulate material from air containing oily aerosol particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Marvin E. Jones, Alan D. Rousseau
  • Patent number: 5401543
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a diamond-like carbon coating. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate to be coated, providing a cathode of vitreous carbon or a pyrolytic graphite cathode and initiating a cathodic arc discharge with the arc spot on the cathode surface and directing the resulting carbon plasma toward the substrate to form a coating on said substrate, said coating being substantially macroparticle free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David G. O'Neill, Jonathan G. Storer
  • Patent number: 5399701
    Abstract: Compounds are provided which comprise a fluorocarbon terminal portion and a chiral hydrocarbon terminal portion, said terminal portions being connected by a central core, said compounds having tilted smectic mesophases or having latent tilted smectic mesophases which develop when said compounds having said latent mesophases are in admixture with said compounds having tilted smectic mesophases or said compounds having latent tilted smectic mesophases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Eugene P. Janulis
  • Patent number: 5394870
    Abstract: A housing for a powered air purifying respirator blower unit is provided. The housing comprises first and second major faces which are spaced from each other, and a top wall, side walls, and bottom wall connecting the major faces along their peripheries. The first and second major faces and the top wall, side walls, and bottom wall enclose therebetween an air chamber. An air inlet and an air outlet are in communication with the air chamber, the air outlet being proximate the top wall. A support base is proximate the air outlet and connected to the first major face. A pommel-like strap support member protrudes from the support base in a direction away from the second major face and comprises a lower exterior support surface which is adapted to support a carrying strap thereon such that the carrying strap can extend away from the housing at a variety of angles. The air outlet opens through the top of the pommel-like member. The housing includes a means for retaining a carrying strap on the pommel-like member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Ronald C. Johansson
  • Patent number: 5394568
    Abstract: An insert-molded head harness for use in securing a respirator mask to the face of a wearer, wherein the head harness comprises a web having a central portion and a peripheral portion extending at least partially around the central portion, and a plurality of elastomeric fastening straps having first and second ends, the first ends being integrally bonded to the peripheral portion of the web and the second ends being adapted to be used in securing a respirator mask to the face of a wearer. The head harness can include an elastomeric flange which comprises an elastomeric resin and embeds the peripheral portion of the web. The web preferably comprises a material selected from the group consisting of woven, knitted, and non-woven materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerald M. Brostrom, David C. Byram
  • Patent number: 5377033
    Abstract: A bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is provided. The device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate opposed to said first substrate, said substrates disposed to provide a non-helicoidal alignment of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material and electrodes on said substrates to define one or a plurality of pixels, said electrode bearing first substrate having an aliphatic polyamide or polyester alignment coating thereon and said electrode bearing second substrate having an organosilsesquioxane polymer coating thereon, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture comprising compounds having fluorinated tail portions with multiple CF.sub.2 groups disposed between said substrates with the proviso that at least one of said substrates is transparent. Also provided is a method for providing an aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Marc D. Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 5370919
    Abstract: This invention relates to a treating composition containing 0.3 to 30% by weight of a fluoroaliphatic radical containing poly(oxyalkylene) compound, 0.3 to 30% by weight of an anti-soiling agent and 0 to 60% by weight of an environmentally acceptable water-miscible organic solvent and water for the use for imparting excellent water- and oil repellency, stain resistance and dry soil resistance to textiles, carpets, concrete, paper, leather and wool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Franceska Fieuws, Kathy Allewaert, Dirk Coppens
  • Patent number: 5360654
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Philip A. Anderson, Ronald R. Gorke, Thomas I. Insley, Daniel E. Meyer, David A. Olson
  • Patent number: 5354901
    Abstract: Perfluoro(cycloaliphatic methyleneoxyalkylene) compositions are provided. These compositions comprise perfluoro(cycloaliphatic methyleneoxyalkylene) carbonyl fluoride compounds having (a) a perfluorocycloaliphatic moiety which can have up to two perfluoroalkyl substituents and a perfluoroalkylene substituent, and (b) a perfluoromethyleneoxyalkylene carbonyl fluoride radical, the methylene group of the radical being bonded to a ring carbon atom or the perfluoroalkylene substituent of the moiety and the alkylene group of the perfluoromethyleneoxyalkylene carbonyl fluoride being a perfluoro(methyl)methylene group, a perfluoroisopropyleneoxy(methyl)methylene group, or a poly(perfluoroisopropyleneoxy)perfluoro(methyl)methylene group having up to about 10 perfluoroisopropyleneoxy units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Flynn, Patricia M. Savu
  • Patent number: 5352513
    Abstract: The invention discloses an oleophobic, hydrophobic, water repellent, moisture vapor and air permeable, heat sealable, microporous membrane material suitable for garment applications. The membrane material comprises a polyolefin polymer, a processing compound which is miscible with the polymer at its melt temperature but phase separates when the polymer is cooled to or below its melt temperature, and a fluorochemical composition. The membrane material is oriented in at least one direction. The membrane materials retain their repellency and moisture vapor permeable properties for extended periods of time in garment applications which expose the membrane materials to perspiration residues which are known to generally contaminate and ultimately destroy the repellency properties of conventional liquid repellent, moisture vapor permeable treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James S. Mrozinski, Harold J. Seppala
  • Patent number: 5350795
    Abstract: Fluorochemical compositions for treating textile fibers and fabrics to impart oil and water repellency without thermal treatment are provided. The compositions comprise an aqueous, substantially organic solvent free, solution or dispersion of (a) a fluorochemical acrylate copolymer comprised of a fluorinated acrylate monomer, polyalkylene glycol acrylate or methacrylate, and polyalkylene glycol diacrylate or dimethacrylate; and (b) a polyalkoxylated polyurethane having pendant perfluoroalkyl groups comprised of an aliphatic or aromatic tri- or higher order isocyanate, a fluorinated alcohol, amine, or mercaptan, and a poly(oxyalkylene) diol or dithiol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Smith, Frans Audenaert
  • Patent number: 5344956
    Abstract: The invention provides polymers or copolymers which are prepared by the polymerization of the reaction product of a diisocyanate with a perfluoro compound or an epichlorhydrinadduct thereof and (meth)acrylic esters of a three hydroxyl groups containing compound. Furthermore, the invention relates to fluoroacrylic monomers, a process for preparing the polymers or copolymers and a treatment agent comprising the polymers or copolymers of the invention and an environmentally acceptable solvent. Polymers and copolymers of the invention can be used for making textiles, papers, non-woven articles, leather, plastic, wood, metal, stone and cement water and oil repellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kathy Allewaert, Dirk Coppens, Francecka Fieuws
  • Patent number: 5336717
    Abstract: A fluorochemical graft copolymer comprising: a base polymer comprising polymerized units derived from monomers having terminal olefinic double bonds, having a moiety comprising a fluoroaliphatic group grafted thereto. Also disclosed are processes for preparing such fluorochemical graft copolymers, forming and annealing methods for enhancing the surface activity of such a graft copolymer, polymer blends comprising such a fluorochemical graft copolymer and a matrix polymer that is miscible with the base polymer, and a method for reducing the surface energy of a polymer comprising polymerized units derived from monomers having terminal olefinic double bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Rolando, Thomas A. Kotnour, James E. Sax
  • Patent number: 5326823
    Abstract: A fluorochemical graft copolymer comprising: a base polymer comprising polymerized units derived from monomers having terminal olefinic double bonds, having grafted thereto a plurality of polyfluoropolyether groups, Also disclosed is a process for preparing such a graft copolymer, and a method for reducing the surface energy of a polymer comprising polymerized units derived from monomers having terminal olefinic double bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Rolando, Anthony B. Clinch
  • Patent number: 5314959
    Abstract: A fluorochemical graft copolymer comprising: a base polymer comprising polymerized units derived from monomers having terminal olefinic double bonds, having a moiety comprising a fluoroaliphatic group grafted thereto. Also disclosed are processes for preparing such fluorochemical graft copolymers, forming and annealing methods for enhancing the surface activity of such a graft copolymer, polymer blends comprising such a fluorochemical graft copolymer and a matrix polymer that is miscible with the base polymer, and a method for reducing the surface energy of a polymer comprising polymerized units derived from monomers having terminal olefinic double bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Rolando, James E. Sax
  • Patent number: 5308428
    Abstract: An article is provided which comprises a polyolefin first substrate adhered to a second substrate with an epoxy adhesive. The polyolefin first substrate has graft-polymerized thereto at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of sulfonic and carboxylic acids and alkyl esters thereof containing fewer than eight carbon atoms in the ester group, amides, and mono- and di-substituted amides, alcohols, amines, and 5-, 6-, and 7-membered heterocyclic rings having at least one oxygen and/or nitrogen atoms in the ring, with the proviso that said monomer contain an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable moiety. The graft-polymerized monomers are in a layer less than 5 micrometers in thickness and contact the epoxy adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: J. Thomas Simpson, James J. Kobe, Frank J. Armatis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5300357
    Abstract: Durably hydrophilic, thermoplastic fibers comprising thermoplastic polymer and fluoroaliphatic group-containing non-ionic compound are provided. Methods of preparation are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Gardiner
  • Patent number: 5262082
    Abstract: Fluorine-containing liquid crystal compounds are provided. The compounds comprise a fluorocarbon terminal portion having at least one catenary ether oxygen and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portion being connected by a central core, the compounds having smectic mesophases or having latent smectic mesophases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Eugene P. Janulis, Gilbert C. Johnson, Patricia M. Savu, Terence D. Spawn