Patents Represented by Attorney Gerald F. Chernivec
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Patent number: 6491745Abstract: The object is to provide a water/oil repellent composition which can simultaneously perform a water/oil treatment and a polishing treatment to leather products such as leather shoes, etc., by using one water/oil repellent composition, and can also exert excellent water/oil repellent effect and excellent polishing effect. It is constituted so that microcapsules, in which a polishing agent is encapsulated, are dispersed in a water/oil repellent agent.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Masahiro Ashizawa
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Patent number: 6434314Abstract: A filament holding fixture having a closed position for applying substantially equal pressure to a plurality of points around the circumference of a filament. The holding fixture comprises a first jaw having a planar surface and an open-ended channel formed in the first jaw opening to the planar surface, and a second jaw having a structured surface including an open-ended groove of substantially rectangular cross section. Both the channel and the groove are sized for even application of pressure to a filament placed between them when there is axial alignment of the channel with the groove. An angular compensator may be included to facilitate positioning of the groove for even application of pressure to a filament when the planar surface lies adjacent to the structured surface, and the filament holding fixture is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2001Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Anthony William Gatica, Stephen Paul LeBlanc, Ronald Phillip Pepin
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Patent number: 6410636Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2001Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: James David Groves
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Patent number: 6403673Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 18, 2001Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: James D. Groves
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Patent number: 6403211Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 18, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Rui Yang, Guoping Mao
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Patent number: 6391954Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jamshid Azizi, Joseph C. Carls, Shigeaki Dohgoshi, Koji Kamiyama, Andrew C. Lottes
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Patent number: 6387508Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: C. Carol Guilbert, David V. Mahoney, Rafael Garcia-Ramirez
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Patent number: 6379865Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Guoping Mao, Hany B. Eitouni, Alphonsus V. Pocius, John B. Scheibner, Nanayakkara L. D. Somasiri, Nicholas A. Stacey, Alfred Viehbeck
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Patent number: 6372992Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 5, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Rui Yang
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Patent number: 6259855Abstract: An illumination device and a method for making the same are provided. The illumination device comprises a light guide having a non-circular cross-sectional shape which is defined by a first region, and a light extracting material or element having a cross-sectional shape which is defined by a second region. The first and second region are contiguous and define a third region which may, for example, be circular.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co.Inventor: David J. Lundin
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Patent number: 6139195Abstract: An optical fiber connector having strain relief insert means to engage the buffered coating of the optical fiber cable upon the crimping of a crimp ring to cause the insert to flow in a direction toward the connector and the fiber to move toward the connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1996Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Joseph A. Paparella
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Patent number: 5842891Abstract: An external ground isolation connector for use with a cable splice closure includes a housing having a keyed bore formed therein. A ground stud is keyed for extending through the bore in the housing so as to limit rotation of the stud within the housing. The ground stud has a first end for extending into an associated cable closure for connection to an internal ground wire, and a second end for extending externally of the cable closure for connection to an external ground wire. A port is formed in the housing for receiving the external ground wire. The first end of the ground stud is provided to be sealed with the housing and the closure and the second end of the ground stud is provided to be sealed with the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Kenneth D. Rebers
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Patent number: 5836031Abstract: A device for cleaning the tips of optical fibers which have been installed in a connector, such as a plug or a receptacle. The device includes a tool body having cleaning media therein, such as a strip of adhesive tape, and a latch for releasably attaching the connector to the tool body. The adhesive tape may be in the form of a roll on a supply spool. In the embodiment designed for a plug, the tool body has an appropriately shaped opening for receiving the plug, and push rods are provided with the tool body which contact the fibers and urge them towards a cleaning position. In the embodiment designed for a receptacle, the receptacle is modified by having a tilt arm which can move the fibers to the cleaning position, and the tool body includes features to actuate the tilt arm as the tool body is inserted into the receptacle. Alternate designs are presented in which the cleaning media is not located in the tool body, but is manually applied to the fibers.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Larry R. Cox
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Patent number: 5838850Abstract: A method and apparatus for curved-angle cleaving of optical fibers is presented. The method requires the introduction of a flaw in an optical fiber to be cleaved, and the application of predetermined stress and strain to the optical fiber in the vicinity of the flaw to cause curved-angle cleaving of the optical fiber at the flaw. More particularly, one embodiment of the method requires fixing first and second portions of the optical fiber, for example, by clamping, and introducing a flaw into the optical fiber between the first and second portions. Then, a substantially concentrated force is applied to the optical fiber between the flaw and the first portion of the optical fiber, on a side of the optical fiber opposite the flaw, in order to cause the optical fiber to cleave with a curved-angle cleave. Another embodiment of the method applies a substantially concentrated force to the fiber before introduction of the flaw.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Charles M. Mansfield, Gordon Wiegand
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Patent number: 5832593Abstract: A splice head for use with a modular wire connector, to work with and hold the wires while installing them in the connector, particularly for wires of differing diameters. The splice head includes a coil spring loosely arranged on a bar and movable axially thereon. By selecting an appropriate location for the starting point on the spring and selection of the spring position on the bar, different sized wires can be fixed by the coils of the spring. The bar may be circular in cross-section to allow the spring to slide easily forward and backward. This construction allows simpler placement of the wires since the coil spring does not need to to replaced for wires of different sizes, and there is no requirement that the splicing operation begin at one particular end of the coil since neither end is fixed.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1997Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Wolfgang Wurst, Udo Seidel
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Patent number: 5813902Abstract: A device for preparing an optical fiber for interconnection includes means for grasping the optical fiber at a first location along the optical fiber, means for scribing and breaking the optical fiber a first select distance from the first location, the means for scribing and breaking including guides for supporting and sliding the means for grasping along the guides in fixed relationship to the means for scribing and breaking, and means for polishing the optical fiber as broken, the means for polishing being connected to the means for breaking. The device also includes a polishing surface fixedly connected to the means for grasping. The polishing surface supports the means for grasping at a second select distance from the first location, the second select distance being shorter than the first select distance. The optical fiber is linearly moveable with respect to the polishing surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Gordon Wiegand
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Patent number: 5812718Abstract: A mechanical optical fiber splice which does not employ any gel material with a matching refractive index, wherein the fiber ends are prepared for intimate axial compressive contact and the fiber end faces are maintained in the splice element in optically aligned intimate contact under axial compression, as the result of heating, elastic deformation or plastic deformation of the splice element.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: James B. Carpenter, Gordon D. Henson, Michael A. Meis, Richard A. Patterson
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Patent number: 5806168Abstract: A tool (10) for the termination of insulated wires in electrical connectors having different heights, which tool has a mechanism affording adjustment of the spacing between a pressing body (50), accommodated by a splice head, and a retaining body for the connector. The adjustment in height between the bodies is afforded by step adjustment and by an intermediate member (56, 58) affording smaller pitches, and the tool has an attachment mechanism for releasably attaching the tool to the retaining body.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1997Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Wolfgang Wurst, Eckhard Wolter
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Patent number: 5802237Abstract: An optical fiber organizer for protecting and storing optical fibers includes a housing having a first level separated from a second level. A first fiber port is provided on the first level and a second fiber port is provided on the second level. Eccentric fiber channels are provided on the first level. Each channel has a passage for communicating fiber with an adjacent channel. The outermost one of the channels includes a passage for communicating fiber with the first fiber port on the first level. The innermost one of the channels includes a passage for communicating fiber to the second fiber port on the second level. A transition channel between the innermost and outermost channels provides an optical fiber splice device.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 1997Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Jacqueline J. Pulido
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Patent number: 5792989Abstract: An end seal for splice closures or for terminals including a body having a core portion and an extended tail portion of a flexible resilient material. The core portion has an outer periphery and openings extending through the core. The openings communicate with the outer periphery. A tail portion is integral with and extends from the core periphery to be wrapped about the core and the cables to be placed in the openings. A sealant strip extends around the cables and between the abutting peripheral surface of the core and the wrapped tail portion. The strip is responsive to electrical or electromagnetic stimulation for heating the sealant strip and causing the strip to bond with adjacent contact surfaces of the cable and the body.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Russell P. Smith