Patents Represented by Attorney James D. Christoff

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  • Device for selectively providing a multiplicity of aromas
    Patent number: 5565148
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering one or more aromas at selected times includes a housing with a receptacle and an aroma delivery device detachably received in the receptacle. The aroma delivery device includes a carrier having a plurality of aroma-bearing elements that are selectively communicated with an air passageway for providing one or more aromas as desired. The device is especially useful for providing a realistic sensory experience in an interactive or non-interactive use, and may be used in such diverse settings as the entertainment industry, the educational training field or a medical arena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Daniel B. Pendergrass, Jr.
  • Method for applying adhesive to the base of an orthodontic appliance
    Patent number: 5552177
    Abstract: Orthodontic adhesive is cooled below ambient temperature in order to facilitate applying the adhesive to the base of an orthodontic appliance. The adhesive is placed on a carrier and formed into a certain shape on the carrier, and then released from the carrier while cool. In one embodiment, a quantity of adhesive is placed on the base of the appliance, and the appliance is then moved to a cut-off die while the adhesive remains cool and relatively brittle; next, a stream of pressurized air fractures and removes excess adhesive from the appliance base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Dwight W. Jacobs, Oliver L. Puttler, Evangelos G. Georgakis, Allen B. Amundson, Russell A. Jordan
  • Dispensing cartridge refillng system
    Patent number: 5546996
    Abstract: A dispenser refilling system includes a bulk container for refilling a cartridge of a dispenser, so that the cartridge need not be disposed of after a single use. The system preferably includes one or more fill tubes that are movable by lever operation for extension into the chamber of the cartridge when desired. Each fill tube couples to a piston in the cartridge and directs the component to be replenished in the cartridge chamber through a port in the piston. In certain embodiments, the system includes two bulk containers and a dual chamber dispensing cartridge, and structure is provided to prevent inadvertently reversing the position of the cartridge and for insuring placement of the containers in proper receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce R. Broyles, Cary A. Kipke, William R. George
  • Package for adhesive precoated dental appliance
    Patent number: 5538129
    Abstract: A package for an adhesive precoated dental appliance such as an orthodontic bracket includes a container having a well and a flange, and a cover that extends over an opening of the well. A pressure sensitive adhesive releasably connects the cover to the flange along a first region, and a hermetic seal extends between the cover and the flange along a second region that is located between the first region and the opening of the well. The hermetic seal cooperates with the pressure sensitive adhesive to provide a reliable, easily openable package. The hermetic seal also prevents volatile components of adhesive on the dental appliance from contacting the pressure sensitive adhesive and thereby decreases loss of the volatile components from within the package in order to extend the expected shelf life of the adhesive precoated appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Chester, James D. Cleary, Evangelos G. Georgakis, Russell A. Jordan, Kenneth E. Hoevel, Randall E. Adam
  • Aesthetic orthodontic band and welded attachment assembly
    Patent number: 5529491
    Abstract: An orthodontic assembly that includes a band and an attachment has one or more spot welds to secure the band to the attachment. The spot welds are characterized by the lack of any outer surface weld deformation that is circular in shape, or that is visible to the naked eye when viewed at a distance of twenty-four inches. Apparatus for welding the attachment to the band includes a subframe that is swingable in an arc to follow the inner contour of the band in order to provide automated welding on mesial and distal sides of the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thorsten G. Hilgenfeldt, Allen B. Amundson, Nicholine M. Sandoval, Fantu W. Leka, Robert C. Manemann, Casey A. Campbell
  • Method of enhancing the bond strength of an orthodontic appliance to a tooth
    Patent number: 5522725
    Abstract: Bond strengths of orthodontic appliances are enhanced by applying heat to heat softenable projections of a bonding base of the appliance, and then moving outer portions of the projections in lateral directions to present overhanging regions. The overhanging regions provide undercut areas that mechanically interlock with adhesive when the appliance is bonded to a tooth and the adhesive hardens. The method is useful for plastic appliances as well as other appliances that are made of materials exhibiting thermoplastic characteristics during at least one phase of their manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Russell A. Jordan, James D. Cleary
  • Pressure vessel safety relief
    Patent number: 5518032
    Abstract: A pressure vessel safety relief includes one or more recesses on a bottom wall section of the vessel. The thickness of the bottom wall section in areas directly over each recess is less than the thickness of remaining areas of the bottom wall section. Once the bottom wall section has corroded to a significant degree, the wall section ruptures in areas over the recesses to safely relieve pressure within the vessel. Preferably, the recess decreases in cross-sectional area as the top of the recess is approached, such that the escaping air emits a high-pitched whistling noise that functions as an alarm to notify the user that the vessel is corroded and should be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Inventor: Lanny R. Berke
  • Die for extruding a fluid stream
    Patent number: 5516273
    Abstract: A die useful in coating and extrusion processes has a housing and an insert removably received in a chamber of the housing. The insert controls to some extent the characteristics of fluid flow in the die as well as the fluid flow exiting the die. The insert is elongated and is round in sections perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, so that it may be inexpensively made by a lathe. As such, a number of inserts of varying configurations may be retained on hand and used as needed to vary the flow characteristics when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Delmore, Gary W. Maier
  • Dental isolation dam
    Patent number: 5499917
    Abstract: A dental isolation dam has a plurality of elastic fibers arranged in a rectangular, crisscrossed pattern between impervious films. The fibers enable the dam to be easily placed, and, once released, clinch around necks of isolated teeth to provide enhanced moisture and infection control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Erickson, Paul E. Hansen, Paul A. Burgio, Joel D. Oxman, James D. Christoff
  • Dental impression tray for photocurable impression material
    Patent number: 5487662
    Abstract: A dental impression tray includes a self-contained light source for curing photocurable impression material. The light source is a solid state light emitter such as a light emitting diode. In one embodiment, an array of light emitting diodes is arranged along a channel of the tray. In another embodiment, a light dispersive material distributes light into the tray channel from a bank of one or more emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Cary A. Kipke, James G. Bentsen
  • Stain-resistant elastomeric orthodontic force module
    Patent number: 5461133
    Abstract: An elastomeric orthodontic device such as a ligature, rotation wedge or force module is made of a composition selected from one or more classes of materials, such that the device has certain physical properties useful for orthodontic treatment and also is resistant to staining by common foods and beverages such as mustard, tea and coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: W. James Hammar, Miriam D. Nave
  • Method of manufacturing orthodontic appliance having reinforcing fiber preform
    Patent number: 5445770
    Abstract: An orthodontic appliance such as a bracket is made of a polymeric material with reinforcing fiber structure embedded in the polymeric material. The reinforcing fiber structure includes relatively long filaments that extend about the perimeter of the bracket including the periphery of an archwire slot. In one embodiment, a method for making the bracket includes the steps of placing a tubular fiber preform in a mold assembly in an orientation aligned with a mesial-distal axis of the resultant bracket, and then closing the mold assembly in directions toward a central axis of the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Randall E. Adam, James D. Cleary, Jerold S. Horn, Said Pazirandeh
  • Ceramic orthodontic bracket with debonding channel
    Patent number: 5439379
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket having mesial and distal sections is debonded from a tooth by pivoting the sections toward each other in respective arcs about a central reference axis extending in an occlusal-gingival direction. The mesial and distal sections are discrete and spaced apart from each other, or alternatively integrally joined by a relatively thin web that bends and optionally fractures upon debonding. A metallic archwire slot liner interconnects the mesial and distal sections and enhances sliding mechanics of the bracket. A pliers-like debonding tool includes jaws with stops for limiting the lingual depth of engagement of the jaws with the mesial and distal sides of the bracket, to facilitate pivoting of the mesial and distal sections during debonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James D. Hansen
  • Packaged dental article
    Patent number: 5429229
    Abstract: A packaged dental article includes a dental appliance that is precoated with an adhesive. The adhesive is in contact with a flexible film having a low adhesion surface. The film is secured to a container at a location spaced from the appliance so that the film tends to peel away from the adhesive when the appliance is removed from the container in order to inhibit separation of the adhesive from the appliance. The container has a sidewall with a recess that engages a carrier to hold the container, and the carrier is flexible to permit the container to be inserted into or released from the carrier when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Chester, Kenneth E. Hoevel, Dwight W. Jacobs, Lawrence G. Brusby, Evangelos G. Georgakis
  • Orthopedic brace having width adjusting vamp
    Patent number: 5425701
    Abstract: An orthopedic brace to facilitate healing of injuries to the foot, ankle or portions of the leg above the ankle includes a boot having a lower edge section releasably connected to a sole. The width of the boot, as well as the distance between a pair of upright struts located along opposite sides of the boot, may be varied to complementally match the width of the patient's foot. The struts and a section of fastening straps are located between layers of foam pads of the boot to reduce the likelihood that the straps or struts will become ensnarled with other items. The sole has a mirror image configuration on either side of its longitudinal axis, and left and right insoles are provided so that a single boot may be used with either the left or right foot of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Craig D. Oster, David C. Byram, Dayton W. Hulst
  • Orthodontic bracket with integral ball hook and method of making
    Patent number: 5395237
    Abstract: A machined orthodontic bracket has a hook integrally formed with a gingival tiewing of the bracket. The hook includes a square shank, and a head with a cylindrical surface. The hook is machined by an end mill or formed cutter, and is achieved in part by changing the orientation of the bracket midway through the machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jirina V. Pospisil, Randy D. Collins
  • Method for making orthodontic appliance having textured bonding surface
    Patent number: 5393486
    Abstract: A method of making an orthodontic appliance such as a bracket includes the step of forming a preform of molding material while a portion of the molding material is in contact with a textured portion of a web. The web is subsequently degraded by a thermal or solvent degrading process to leave a witness impression on the underside of the preform. The web optionally serves as a conveyor to move the preform from one processing area to another, and optionally has the appearance of a woven material such that the resulting appliance resembles a mesh base appliance having undercut regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Eckert, Evangelos G. Georgakis
  • Dental material curing apparatus
    Patent number: D361382
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Brunsell, John P. Kennedy, David T. Dobson
  • Blade-type golf putter head
    Patent number: D366081
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Richard L. Patten
  • Mallet-type golf putter head
    Patent number: D368752
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventor: Richard L. Patten