Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Gary L. Griswold
  • Patent number: 6403206
    Abstract: Conformable pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes which comprise a layer of polymeric foam in the backing and may be adhered firmly to a substrate and thereafter removed therefrom after only being stretched at an angle no greater than about 35° from the surface of the substrate. Articles for mounting an object such as a picture to a surface such as a wall comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape of the invention are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James L. Bries, Michael D. Hamerski
  • Patent number: 6403673
    Abstract: A water dispersed primer composition comprising a solution of a halogenated hydrocarbon polymer in organic solvent; and a dispersing agent added to the solution to form a fluid primer to be dispersed in water to provide the water dispersed primer composition. Optionally, fluid primers may include photoreactive components to provide photoreactive water dispersed primer compositions. The invention further includes water based priming adhesive compositions comprising an adhesive dispersion of an adhesive polymer dispersed in water, and a primer mixed with the adhesive dispersion to form the priming adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: James D. Groves
  • Patent number: 6403211
    Abstract: A flexible circuit comprising a liquid crystal polymer film having through-holes and related shaped voids formed therein using an etchant composition comprising a solution in water of from about 35 wt. % to about 55 wt. % of an alkali metal salt; and from about 10 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of a solubilizer dissolved in the solution to provide the etchant composition suitable for etching the liquid crystal polymer at a temperature from about 50° C. to about 120° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rui Yang, Guoping Mao
  • Patent number: 6394330
    Abstract: A method of converting a web of indefinite length into a plurality of web portions by slitting the web at a transverse point prior to processing the web portions into a plurality of use supply forms (such as rolls), wherein the plurality of web portions are separated by a two-stage process. A first stage of the process is a partial separation operation that almost entirely separates the web portions, but leaves the web portions connected, such as by a slitting operation that leaves a series of connected zones. The second stage includes the complete separation, such as by breaking of the connected zones. The complete separation of the web portions preferably occurs near the station at which the use supply forms are created, such as a winding station. Thus, the web portions, after substantial separation at the first stage can be handled (for example, guided and tensioned) as if the plurality of web portions were a full width web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Byron M. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6393673
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical fastening element comprising a multiplicity of flexible hook elements emanating from a backing layer (1) and comprising stems (2) terminating in hook heads (3), said fastening element being releasably engageable with a complementary mechanical fastening element, the top portions of the hook heads (3) and/or at least part of the interstitial spaces (4) between the stems (2) of said fastening means being coated with a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive (5) so that the level of the adhesive in the interstitial spaces (4), where present, does not exceed the length of the stems (2), and so that essentially no adhesive bridges are present between adjacent hook heads (3), said hot-melt pressure sensitive adhesive (5) having a viscosity as measured at the coating temperature of between 2,000 and 18,000 mPa-s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Konstantinos Kourtidis, Rolf Preissel
  • Patent number: 6391954
    Abstract: The invention provides a recording sheet including an additive, referred to herein as a compatibilizer, to improve the quality of images formed by toner powder development of electrostatic charge patterns. Recording sheets, carrying images produced by toner powder transfer and fusion on a receptor surface, according to the present invention, exhibit improved light transmission and reduced light scattering. Specifically, a transparent sheet is provided having a toner-receptive coating containing about 4 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of a compatibilizer on at least one surface, wherein the coating has a low density yellow Q factor value at least 2 less than an identical coating without the compatibilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jamshid Azizi, Joseph C. Carls, Shigeaki Dohgoshi, Koji Kamiyama, Andrew C. Lottes
  • Patent number: 6387508
    Abstract: An electrically insulating composition for bonding to metal and method for applying the composition in sheet form. The insulating composition comprises a polyolefin polymer adapted for elevated temperature crosslinking and a co-bonding agent mixed with the polyolefin polymer in an amount up to about 60 parts of tile co-bonding agent to 100 parts of the polyolefin polymer. Preferably, the insulating composition cures in contact with metal pre-heated to elevated temperatures in a range from about 140° C. to about 190° C. to provide a lap-shear bond strength between the electrically insulating composition and a metal substrate of from about 3.3 MPa to about 12 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: C. Carol Guilbert, David V. Mahoney, Rafael Garcia-Ramirez
  • Patent number: 6379409
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dust bag to be used primarily in vacuum cleaners, the dust bag having at least two opposing wall portions of filter material in an overlaying state and an intake opening for receiving a socket piece of a vacuum cleaner. The two opposing wall portions are connected to each other at one edge forming an outer edge of the dust bag. The wall portions each have recess open to the outer edge. The recesses (36a, 36b) are identical in their shape and size and opposed to each other in the overlaying state. The two recesses of the wall portions form the intake opening. Additionally, the intake opening can be surrounded by a mounting means for mounting the dust bag at a socket piece from which dust-like material is discharged. The mounting means includes at least two mounting elements each fixed to one of the two wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Bertus Dijkman
  • Patent number: 6379865
    Abstract: A photoimageable, aqueous acid soluble polyimide polymer comprising an anhydride, including a substituted benzophenone nucleus, a diamine reacted with the anhydride to form a photosensitive polymer intermediate, and at least 60 Mole % of solubilizing amine reacted with the photosensitive polymer intermediate to form the photoimageable, aqueous acid soluble polyimide polymer. An emulsion for electrophoretic deposition of a coating of a photoimageable, aqueous acid soluble polyimide polymer comprises a dispersed phase, including the photoimageable aqueous acid soluble polyimide polymer, dissolved in an organic solvent and a dispersion phase including a coalescence promoter and water. The emulsion may be applied, by electrophoretic deposition, to a conductive structure to provide a photoimageable coating on the conductive structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Guoping Mao, Hany B. Eitouni, Alphonsus V. Pocius, John B. Scheibner, Nanayakkara L. D. Somasiri, Nicholas A. Stacey, Alfred Viehbeck
  • Patent number: 6375699
    Abstract: The injection mold for insert-molding a synthetic material around the edge of a filter material comprising at least one particle filter layer and at least one active carbon layer of active carbon particles, is provided with a first mold half and a second mold half which comprise mutually confronting mold walls. In their assembled state, the two mold halves define a receiving space for the filter material, a molding space for accommodating the edge of the filter material and for forming the synthetic material to be arranged by insert molding around the edge of the filter material, with at least one injection channel entering the molding space, and a transition space arranged between the receiving space and the molding space for accommodating the edge portion of the filter material adjacent the edge of the filter material. The transition space is formed with a constricted portion for preventing the leakage of synthetic material from the molding space into the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Roland Beck
  • Patent number: 6372992
    Abstract: A composite, useful as a flexible circuit, includes at least a portion of an electrical conductor having a first surface opposite a second surface. A first homogeneous polymeric film contacts the first surface of at least a portion of the electrical conductor. A second homogeneous polymeric film contacts at least a portion of the first film and the second surface of the at least a portion of the electrical conductor. The first and second films infuse to form a continuous phase surrounding the at least a portion of an electrical conductor. A process for producing a flexible circuit including hermetic sealing by providing at least one electrically conductive trace having a first surface opposite a second surface. At least a portion of the first surface is attached to a first homogeneous polymeric film. A second homogeneous polymeric film is contacted with at least a portion of the first film and at least a portion of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Rui Yang
  • Patent number: 6368687
    Abstract: A low trauma pressure-sensitive adhesive coated substrate comprising a sheet material, tape or laminate structure designed to adhere to skin or like surfaces. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of this adhesive coated substrate is a fibrous adhesive layer generally having a basis weight of from 5 to 200 g/m2 applied to a conformable backing or substrate. The fibrous adhesive layer has a textured outer face and persistent porosity between discrete adhesive fibers. Generally, the fibrous adhesive layer has a MVTR (measured by ASTM E 96-80 at 40° C.) of at least 1000 g/m2/day, preferably at least 6000 g/m2/day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eugene G. Joseph, Richard Ferber, Donald Battles, Joseph Tucker, James K. Young
  • Patent number: 6368097
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capping a headed stem fasteners. The precursor web having a backing with a rear surface, a front surface, and a multiplicity of polymeric stems projecting distally from the front surface of the backing is fed into a variable nip between a heated member opposite a support surface. The support surface has a shape generally conforming to the contour of the heated member. The variable nip compressively engages the polymeric stems between the heated member and the support surface so that distal ends of the polymeric stems are deformed. The heated member can be a heated roll or a heated belt. The support surface may be a curved capping shoe or a belt shaped to create a particular nip profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Philip Miller, Thomas R. LaLiberte
  • Patent number: 6363587
    Abstract: There is provided a mechanical fastener tape tab laminate comprising a tape tab backing having at least a first distal end portion, an inner tab portion and second distal end portion, the second distal end portion provided with a mechanical fastener material. The first distal end portion is provided with an adhesive layer for attachment to a disposable absorbent article. The tape tab backing further has a folded tape portion comprising a backing having an adhesive layer on an outer face and having at least an inner leg portion and an outer leg portion. The outer leg portion has an exposed adhesive provided for attachment to the disposable absorbent article. The inner and outer leg portions are separated by at least one fold. The folded tape portion backing has a line of weakness along the at least one fold. The line of weakness is provided on a portion of the tape tab backing spaced from the first distal end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gerhard Ludwig Richter, Randall Lynn Alberg
  • Patent number: 6355301
    Abstract: A process for applying a metal to selected areas of non conducting substrates, including individual fibers, particularly optical fibers, comprises the steps of providing a non-conducting substrate having an uncoated portion to be treated with a sensitizer solution to provide a sensitized portion of the non-conducting substrate. Covering the sensitized portion with an activator solution provides an activated portion of the non-conducting substrate. Coating at least a section of the activated portion with a stannous salt solution forms at least one activated area and at least one deactivated area within the activated portion of the non-conducting substrate to produce a masked portion therefrom. Upon immersing the masked portion of the non-conducting substrate in an electroless plating bath, metal deposits on the activated area to provide a selectively metallized non-conducting substrate. This process provides selectively metallized articles including selectively metallized optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Michael Nevin Miller
  • Patent number: 6348086
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the filter cartridge comprises a mesh structure forming a generally annular cylinder comprising a center opening, a plurality of compartments containing a filter medium, and spaces between the compartments. The spaces between the compartments comprise substantially unimpeded airflow passages that permit airflow even when the filter medium is fully loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Harms, Charles D. Cowman
  • Patent number: 6303685
    Abstract: A water dispersed primer composition comprising a solution of a halogenated hydrocarbon polymer in organic solvent; and a dispersing agent added to the solution to form a fluid primer to be dispersed in water to provide the water dispersed primer composition. The invention further includes a water based priming adhesive composition comprising an adhesive dispersion of a an adhesive polymer dispersed in water, and a primer mixed with the adhesive dispersion to form the priming adhesive. The primer comprises a solution of a halogenated hydrocarbon polymer in organic solvent and optionally a dispersing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: James David Groves
  • Patent number: 6296931
    Abstract: The invention provides a recording sheet including an additive, referred to herein as a compatibilizer, to improve the quality of images formed by toner powder development of electrostatic charge patterns. Recording sheets, carrying images produced by toner powder transfer and fusion on a receptor surface, according to the present invention, exhibit improved light transmission and reduced light scattering. Specifically, a transparent sheet is provided having a toner-receptive coating containing about 4 wt. % to about 25 wt % of a compatibilizer on at least one surface, wherein the coating has a low density yellow Q factor value at least 2 less than an identical coating without the compatibilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovatice Properties Company
    Inventors: Jamshid Azizi, Joseph C. Carls, Shigeaki Dohgoshi, Koji Kamiyama, Andrew C. Lottes
  • Patent number: 6280824
    Abstract: A filtration media array is provided having at least one contoured polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a stack that has the contoured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the stack and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways may be defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the contours of the structured contoured film layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas I. Insley, Todd W. Johnson
  • Patent number: D454303
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Alan J. Sipinen