Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David B. Patchett
  • Fire stop article
    Patent number: 7018699
    Abstract: A composite fire stopping article capable of fire stopping through-penetrations without the need for a secondary reinforcement structure includes an interior insulating material, such as mineral wool, sandwiched between layers of an intumescent material. The insulating material and intumescent material may be enclosed in a bag formed of a polymeric material. The intumescent material is substantially free of graphite and consists essentially of filler material, binder material, and a hydrated alkali metal silicate intumescent component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Michael G. Dykhoff
  • Light extractor for a light guide lamp
    Patent number: 6994462
    Abstract: There is described a light extractor (8) for a light guide lamp (1) whose useful surface, that is to say, the surface that, in use, faces the emission surface (5) of the light guide lamp (1), comprises a predetermined distribution of diffusing points (10) and a complementary distribution of reflecting points (9). The light extractor (8) allows obtaining an illumination having preselected features. There are also described methods for determining such a distribution of points so as to obtain a highly uniform illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Marcella M. Pesenti
  • Removable adhesive tape laminate and separable fastener
    Patent number: 6972141
    Abstract: An adhesive tape construction is removable from one or more objects to which it is adhered and which is reusably separable within its construction so that an object can be separated from another and subsequently reconnected with one another. The adhesive tape construction can be used to bond the other opposed surfaces of objects, including rigid objects such as a picture frame to a wall, where no portion of the adhesive tape construction projects from between the objects, and which subsequently affords easy separation of the objects without damage to either of them. More specifically, the adhesive tape construction includes a stretch release adhesive tape structure combined with a reusable connector surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James L. Bries, Michael D. Hamerski
  • Filter frame
    Patent number: 6955702
    Abstract: A reusable filter frame adapted to receive a replaceable filter element includes a base and a cover connected with the base. The base includes a plurality of longitudinal rails and a plurality of transverse ribs for supporting and spacing the filter element. The filter frame also includes a securing mechanism for securing the filter element to the frame and maintaining the filter element in its expanded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James O. Kubokawa, Ben G. Rogowski, Thomas A. Tedham
  • Liquid protectant composition
    Patent number: 6933268
    Abstract: A liquid protectant composition which cleans, protects, preserves, and enhances the appearance of rubber, synthetic plastic, and vinyl surfaces includes a cleaning agent, silicone, a thickener, a neutralizing agent, an ultra-violet light absorber, and water. The composition also preferably includes a fragrance and a fragrance stabilizer. When the fragrance and fragrance stabilizer are present in the formulation, the composition preferably has a viscosity ranging from about 7.5 Pa*sec (7,500 cPs) to about 18 Pa*sec (18,000 cPs) which allows the composition to be applied easily to a variety of surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: James L. White
  • Method and apparatus for making a continuous series of filled pouches
    Patent number: 6928794
    Abstract: A machine for forming filled sealed pouches from a continuously moving sealable web of material includes a first sealing station for forming a longitudinal seal along a side edge of the web, and a horizontal sealing station for forming a plurality of transverse seals in the web. The horizontal sealing station includes a pair of conveyors each carrying jaws that mate along a sealing path to form the transverse seals. A method of forming filled sealed pouches from a continuously moving sealable web of material is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Hamer, John F. Macklin, Gary W. Schukar, Jeffery N. Jackson, Neil J. Schwartzbauer
  • Method and apparatus for firestopping a through-penetration
    Patent number: 6928777
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating a firestopping barrier in a through-penetration includes a support mechanism arranged within the through-penetration, firestop material movably connected with the support mechanism, and firestop material arranged between the firestop material movably connected with the support mechanism and the inner surface of the through penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Brandon L. Cordts
  • Stretch releasable tape flag
    Patent number: 6910667
    Abstract: A stretch releasable adhesive strip includes an extensible backing layer including a first adhesive region and a flexible support layer attached to the backing layer adjacent the first adhesive region that includes a second adhesive region of a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive. To make the adhesive strip easier to handle and write on, the support layer is stiffer than the backing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. O'Leary, Eiji Mizuno
  • Apparatus for forming a roll of contaminant removal tape and methods of forming rolls of contaminant removal tape
    Patent number: 6908525
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a roll of contaminant removal tape and methods of forming rolls of contaminant removal tape. The apparatus includes a turret assembly having a first winding cylinder, a first vacuum source providing vacuum to the first winding cylinder, and a web breaking assembly moveable between a first web breaking assembly position and a second web breaking assembly position. The web breaking assembly includes a blade, which is moveable between a first blade position and a second blade position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew C. Anderson, Henry J. Elmer, Derrick H. Fouks, Mark J. Shimko
  • Lint-removing brush
    Patent number: 6901622
    Abstract: A lint-removing brush. The lint-removing brush having a handle portion, a lint-removing portion, and lint-removing material attached to the lint-removing portion, where the handle portion is connected to the lint-removing portion. In one preferred embodiment, the lint-removing portion includes a free end and a connecting end opposite the free end, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the distance between the first side and the second side near the free end is less than the distance between the first side and the second side near the connecting end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig D. Thompson, Jingxi Yiu
  • Contaminant removal tape assembly, a roll of contaminant removal tape, and methods of removing contaminants from a surface
    Patent number: 6865765
    Abstract: A contaminant removal tape assembly. The contaminant removal tape assembly includes an applicator and a roll of contaminant removal tape mounted on the applicator, where the roll of contaminant removal tape includes a backing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a layer of adhesive on the first side of the backing, wherein the layer of adhesive is arranged so as to have discontinuous contact with a surface to which the roll is applied, where the roll includes a plurality of wraps of the tape with the layer of adhesive facing outwardly away from the center of the roll of tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Barbara J. Aalbers
  • Polymerization method comprising sequential irradiation
    Patent number: 6866899
    Abstract: A two-step method of polymerizing a composition containing a free radical photoinitiator includes the sequential steps of exposing the composition to a first radiation source having a maximum spectral output occurring at a wavelength of greater than 300 nm and, thereafter, exposing the composition to a second radiation source having a maximum spectral output occurring at a wavelength of less than 300 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Robin E. Wright
  • Low dust wall repair compound
    Patent number: 6863723
    Abstract: A wall repair compound useful for filling and repairing cracks, holes, and other imperfections in a wall surface includes a conventional filler material, a conventional binder material, and a dust reducing additive which reduces the quantity of airborne dust particles generated when sanding the hardened joint compound. Airborne dust reducing additives include oils, surfactants, solvents, waxes, and other petroleum derivatives. The additive can be added to conventional ready-mixed joint compounds and to setting type joint compounds. A method of reducing the quantity of airborne dust generated when sanding a fully hardened joint compound includes mixing a sufficient quantity of the dust reducing additive with the joint compound prior to when the joint compound has been applied to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Nathaniel P. Langford
  • Filter assembly
    Patent number: 6860916
    Abstract: A filter assembly includes a reusable filter frame and a collapsible and expandable filter element. The filter frame includes a base and a cover connected with the base. The base includes a plurality of longitudinal rails and a plurality of transverse ribs for supporting and spacing the filter element. The filter frame also includes a securing mechanism for securing the filter element to the frame and maintaining the filter element in its expanded condition. The filter element includes filter media having a plurality of pleats adapted to mesh with the ribs of the filter frame and a flexible spacing structure attached to the pleated media that provides the pleated media with uniform pleat spacing but allows the media to be collapsed to a compact form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James O. Kubokawa, Ben G. Rogowski, Thomas A. Tedham
  • Adhesive article with progressive adhesive properties and method of using same
    Patent number: 6835452
    Abstract: An adhesive article adapted to attach structures to a substrate and a method of using the same. The adhesive article has a failure mode that minimizes damage to the substrate surface. The adhesive article comprises an adhesive layer having a first adhesive region and a second adhesive region. The first adhesive region is adapted to attach a top portion of the structure to the substrate. The second adhesive region is adapted to attach a bottom portion of the structure to the substrate. The second adhesive region comprises reduced adhesive properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Michael D. Hamerski
  • Graphic display device mountable with stretch releasing adhesive
    Patent number: 6832445
    Abstract: A graphic display device mountable with a stretch releasing adhesive includes a back plate, a double-sided stretch releasing adhesive tape having an adhesive portion adhered to the back plate rear surface and a non-adhesive pull tab projecting beyond the back plate, a graphic display member arranged adjacent to the back plate front surface, and a cover plate including a viewing area for viewing the graphic display member arranged adjacent to the graphic display member and connected with the back plate. When assembled, the display device conceals the non-adhesive pull tab but when the cover plate is separated from the back plate, the pull tab can be manually grasped by a user to stretch release the adhesive strip from the surface and the back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: James F. Pitzen
  • Stretch releasing adhesive tape with differential adhesive properties
    Patent number: 6821619
    Abstract: A stretch releasing adhesive tape article including an elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape with side surfaces including at least one potential contact surface area. At least a portion of the potential contact surface area includes an adhesive surface. The potential contact surface area includes a first interface surface area in the uncompressed state and a second interface surface area greater than the first interface surface area in the compressed state. The stretch releasing adhesive tape in the uncompressed state can operate as a pull tab. The potential contact surface area in the uncompressed state can include a plurality of raised portions, a non-planar structure, or a discontinuous surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Hamerski, James L. Bries
  • Fire stop and its use
    Patent number: 6820382
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for use as a fire stop, which comprises a material that intumesces on exposure to heat, a patch of an adhesive connected to a surface of the material and a liner that covers the adhesive and is readily detachable from the adhesive by means of a pull, to expose the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David C. Chambers, Laurence M. Whitty
  • Stretch releasing adhesive tape article with flexible cover
    Patent number: 6811126
    Abstract: An article for use with a stretch releasing adhesive tape strip having a non-adhesive pull tab includes a unitary attachment member having a base plate portion sized to overlay the entire stretch releasing adhesive tape strip. The base plate portion includes a first portion that overlays the adhesive portion of tape strip and a flexible cover portion that overlays the non-adhesive pull tab. A user can manually urge the cover portion away from the pull tab, thereby accessing the pull tab and allowing the user to stretch remove the tape strip from the unitary attachment member and a substrate to which it is adhered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald C. Johansson, Michael D. Hamerski
  • Corner sanding sponge
    Patent number: D497092
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kevin J. McCarthy