Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Daniel R. Pastirik
  • Patent number: 8182908
    Abstract: Microporous membranes having a relatively large average pore size, methods of making microporous membranes having a relatively large average pore size, and methods of using microporous membranes having a relatively large average pore size are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: James S. Mrozinski
  • Patent number: 8101711
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for modifying a polymer by carrying out a thermally-induced reaction in a mixing apparatus having a high shear environment and devolatilization capabilities. Also disclosed are the resulting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James M. Nelson, Ryan F. Marx, Jeffrey J. Cernohous, James R. McNerney, Todd D. Jones, Kenneth J. Hanley
  • Patent number: 7983857
    Abstract: A system for applying ultrasonic energy to a workpiece, the system including a horn stack; a mounting system upon which the horn stack is mounted; a source of energy coupled to the horn stack; an anvil having a surface for supporting the workpiece; and a controller configured to receive a resonant frequency of the horn stack, and to determine a quantity standing in known relation to a change in gap between the horn stack and the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Oblak, Satinder K. Nayar, Paul M. Fettig, Donald L. Pochardt
  • Patent number: 7969560
    Abstract: An apparatus that can measure both haze and clarity on a web moving at conventional manufacturing speeds. The apparatus uses an integrating sphere and a novel mirror arrangement. With this arrangement, the invention can utilize a calibration curve created using known samples over the range of measurement desired to convert in real time, and the response of two photo detectors that measure the wide and low angle scattering signals, to deduce the desired optical property values. This approach significantly increases the speed and response of sensor and enables either on-line single point or full web scanning for uniformity measurement and control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gregory D. Kostuch, David L. Hofeldt
  • Patent number: 7931841
    Abstract: A microreplicated article is disclosed. The article includes an opaque web having first and second opposed surfaces. The first surface includes a first microreplicated structure having a plurality of first features. The second surface includes a second microreplicated structure having a plurality of second features. The first microreplicated structure and the second microreplicated structure retain registration within 100 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John S. Huizinga, Vincent W. King, John T. Strand, James N. Dobbs, Thomas B. Hunter, Samuel W. Hunter, Thelma E. Hunter, legal representative, William V. Dower, Daniel H. Carlson, Serge Wetzels, Gregory F. King
  • Patent number: 7918039
    Abstract: A web coating process and apparatus employing a coating applicator, dryer or curing station and web-handling equipment for conveying the web past the coating applicator and through the dryer. The web is enclosed from at least the coating applicator to the dryer or curing station in a close-coupled enclosure or series of close-coupled enclosures supplied with one or more streams of conditioned gas flowing at a rate sufficient to reduce materially the particle count or change materially a physical property of interest in a close-coupled enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: William Blake Kolb
  • Patent number: 7918038
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating a moving substrate of indefinite length. The apparatus has a control surface positioned in close proximity to a surface of the substrate to define a control gap between the substrate and the control surface. A first chamber is positioned near the control surface, with the first chamber having a gas introduction device. A second chamber is positioned near the control surface, the second chamber having a gas withdrawal device. The control surface and the chambers together define a region wherein the adjacent gas phases possess an amount of mass. Upon inducement of at least a portion of the mass within the region, the mass flow is controlled to significantly reduce dilution of the gas phase component in the adjacent gas phase. This is accomplished through the introduction of a controlled gas stream thereby reducing the flow of an uncontrolled ambient gas stream due to pressure gradients in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Miller, Nirmal K. Jain, William Blake Kolb
  • Patent number: 7842214
    Abstract: A method for forming a microporous membrane having a microstructure is described. Dope and coagulant formulations are simultaneously cast, where the coagulant formulation diffuses into the dope formulation through an interface effecting a phase inversion forming a microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ilyess H. Romdhane, Scott L. Ciliske
  • Patent number: 7828969
    Abstract: Provided are filter elements and methods of making and using the same where the filter elements are suitable for liquid filtration and contain particle-loaded meltblown fiber webs. A filter element comprises: a porous article comprising a web of self-supporting nonwoven polymeric fibers and a plurality of sorbent particles enmeshed in the web, the article comprising a first surface and a second surface; a liquid-impermeable housing surrounding the porous article; an inlet in fluid communication with the first surface; and an outlet in fluid communication with the second surface. Spiral-wound webs, web-covered blocks, and stacked disks of webs are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bradley W. Eaton, William J. Feil, III, Torrence B. Stahl, Thund Y. Watt, Mark W. Schimmel
  • Patent number: 7830368
    Abstract: A keypad having a virtual floating image that appears to a user to be in a plane other than the apparent plane of the keypad surface. More particularly, the indicia on the keypad appear to float above or below the surface of the device. The keypad can be, for example, the keypad on a cell phone. For such an application there would be more than one array of indicia present on the keypad. For example, there might be ten arrays of indicia, which provide the numerals from 0 to 9 and two more arrays to provide virtual images of the * and # keys. In some embodiments, the keypad is integrated with an illumination source that light up the indicia. The present disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing a key pad with a virtual floating image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Charles A. Marttila, John T. Strand, Alan G. Hulme-Lowe, M. Benton Free, John S. Huizinga, James N. Dobbs, Serge Wetzels, Glen A. Jerry, Jennifer R. Yi, William R. Dudley
  • Patent number: 7828192
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a substantially constant gap between a horn and an anvil includes the act of positioning a horn proximal an anvil, so that a gap is established between the horn and the anvil. An alternating current (AC) signal is applied to a converter coupled to the horn. The AC signal exhibits an amplitude. The amplitude of the AC signal is adjusted during operation of the horn, so as to maintain the gap between the horn and the anvil substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald L. Pochardt, Satinder K. Nayar, Paul M. Fettig
  • Patent number: 7820249
    Abstract: An acoustic system for applying vibratory energy including a horn connected to an ultrasonic energy source. The horn defines an overall length and wavelength, and at least a leading section thereof is comprised of a ceramic material. The leading section has a length of at least ? the horn wavelength. In one preferred embodiment, an entirety of the horn is a ceramic material, and is mounted to a separate component, such as a waveguide, via an interference fit. Regardless, by utilizing a ceramic material for at least a significant portion of the horn, the ultrasonic system of the present invention facilitates long-term operation in extreme environments such as high temperature and/or corrosive fluid mediums. The present invention is useful for fabrication of metal matrix composite wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Satinder K. Nayar, Ronald W. Gerdes, Michael W. Carpenter, Kamal E. Amin
  • Patent number: 7806226
    Abstract: A stethoscope is provided, comprising: a sound receiving member (12) for receiving sounds, the sound receiving member capable of transmitting sound received thereby; a head set coupled to the sound receiving member to receive sound transmitted by the sound receiving member; means for reducing frictional noise, said means associated with the sound receiving member to reduce noise caused by relative movement between a surface and the sound receiving member of the chestpiece in contact with the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Drummond, Hatim M. Carim, Craig D. Oster
  • Patent number: 7804649
    Abstract: A microreplicated achromatic lens is disclosed. The article includes a web including first and second opposed surfaces. The first surface includes a first microreplicated structure having a plurality of first features. The second surface includes a second microreplicated structure having a plurality of second features. Opposing first and second features are registered to within 10 micrometers. Corresponding opposed first and second features cooperate to form an achromatic microlens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen K. Eckhardt, James N. Dobbs
  • Patent number: 7775413
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting the gap between a horn and an anvil in an ultrasonic welding system includes the act of positioning a horn proximal to an anvil, so that a gap is established between the horn and the anvil. A force is applied to the horn, so as to urge the horn toward the anvil. A deformable stop is positioned at a location, such that application of the urging force causes a member operatively connected to the horn to abut the deformable stop, and to deform the stop. The urging force is iteratively adjusted during operation of the horn, so as to adjust the extent of the deformation of the deformable stop, and to maintain the gap between the horn and the anvil substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Oblak, Satinder K. Nayar, John R. Mlinar, Donald L. Pochardt, Paul M. Fettig
  • Patent number: 7767273
    Abstract: An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of an opaque web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll, a second pattered roll, and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of the opaque web while it is in continuous motion. During this process, their patterns are maintained in continuous registration to within at least 100 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John S. Huizinga, Vincent W. S. King, John T. Strand, James N. Dobbs, Thomas B. Hunter, Samual W. Hunter, legal representative, Thelma E. Hunter, legal representative, William V. Dower, Daniel H. Carlson, Serge Wetzels, Gregory F. King, Olester Benson, Jr., Brian W. Lueck, Haiyan Zhang, Jeremy K. Larsen, M. Benton Free, David W. Kuhns
  • Patent number: 7769551
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a gap between a vibrational body and a reference is achieved by monitoring the resonant frequency of the vibrational body. A portion of the vibrational body is fixed a given distance from the reference by a rigid mounting system. A resonant frequency of the vibrational body is received. Then, a quantity standing in known relation to an approximate change in the length of the gap is determined, based upon the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Oblak, Satinder K. Nayar, Paul M. Fettig, Donald L. Pochardt
  • Patent number: 7744729
    Abstract: An acoustic system for applying vibratory energy including a horn connected to an ultrasonic energy source. The horn defines an overall length and wavelength, and at least a leading section thereof is comprised of a ceramic material. The leading section has a length of at least ? the horn wavelength. In one preferred embodiment, an entirety of the horn is a ceramic material, and is mounted to a separate component, such as a waveguide, via an interference fit. Regardless, by utilizing a ceramic material for at least a significant portion of the horn, the ultrasonic system of the present invention facilitates long-term operation in extreme environments such as high temperature and/or corrosive fluid mediums. The present invention is useful for fabrication of metal matrix composite wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Satinder K. Nayar, Ronald W. Gerdes, Michael W. Carpenter, Kamal E. Amin
  • Patent number: 7690548
    Abstract: An ultrasonic rotary welding apparatus and methods of using the same are disclosed. The ultrasonic welding device includes an ultrasonic horn and an anvil. The ultrasonic horn is constrained by a mounting system. The mounting system permits the horn to exhibit two degrees of freedom. The first degree of freedom permits translational motion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the horn. The second degree of freedom permits rotation about an axis perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis of the horn and the direction of translational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John R. Mlinar, Donald S. Oblak, Paul M. Fettig
  • Patent number: D617435
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Cuiyun Lou, Jerry Zhijun He, Hongqing Lin, Chenji Qian, Biyong Qiu, Brian J. Tubby, Yonggang Lei, Tao Wu