Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Lorraine R. Sherman
  • Graded refractory cermet article
    Patent number: 4743511
    Abstract: This invention provides a shaped, graded, cermet article comprising at least one continuous ceramic phase and at least one discontinuous metal phase, the ratio of ceramic/metal being controlled and varied over the thickness of the article. The ceramic phase preferably is microcrystalline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Harold G. Sowman, David R. Kaar
  • Triazolinethione-containing polymer
    Patent number: 4740568
    Abstract: A poly(triazolinethione) is prepared by a process comprising the steps:(a) providing a poly(acylthiosemicarbazide),(b) cyclodehydrating the poly(acylthiosemicarbazide) by subjecting it to an elevated temperature in the presence of an aqueous alkaline solution to form a polyanion of a poly(triazolinethione),(c) treating the polyanion of the poly(triazolinethione) with aqueous acid solution to provide the poly(triazolinethione), and(d) isolating the resulting poly(triazolinethione).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Alan R. Katritzky, Stephen J. Cato, Jerald K. Rasmussen, Larry R. Krepski, Steven M. Heilmann
  • Energy polymerizable polyurethane precursors
    Patent number: 4740577
    Abstract: A polymerizable composition of polyurethane precursors is rapidly cured using energy-activated catalysts to provide polyurethanes. The polymerizable composition is comprised of polyisocyanates with polyols, fillers, coating aids, adjuvants, and a latent catalyst. Latent catalysts are ionic salts of organometallic complex cations. The cured polyurethanes are useful as abrasion resistant coatings, protective finishes such as furniture finishes and floor tiles, binders for magnetic media, adhesives, and have various applications in industries which use photoresist technologies such as graphic arts and electronics, and in the paint and ink industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Doreen C. Lynch
  • Polymeric cyanine dye
    Patent number: 4739029
    Abstract: A polymeric tricarbocyanine dye has a rigidized chain having tricarbocyanine polymeric dye units of formula II: ##STR1## wherein Y is ##STR2## --S--, --Se--, or --O--, A is ##STR3## in which R.sup.19 is alkyl, --Cl, amino, alkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.4) substituted amino, phenyl, or cyclic amino, andp is 0 or 1,R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently are --H, C.sub.6 H.sub.5 SO.sub.2 --, or CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2 --,W is a dye anion,m is an integer 1 to 20, andn is an integer 2 to 10,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mohamed A. Elmasry
  • Hydrophilic polyurethane/polyurea sponge
    Patent number: 4738992
    Abstract: A water-absorbing sponge comprises at least one of a pendent sulfo-group containing polyurea and polyurethane, the polymer containing at least one sulfonate equivalent per 20,000 molecular weight units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wayne K. Larson, Steven T. Hedrick
  • Polymer beads
    Patent number: 4737560
    Abstract: Azlactone-functional polymer beads are useful reactive supports for the attachment of functional materials to provide novel adduct beads. The adduct beads are useful as complexing agents, catalysts, reagents, and as enzyme or other protein-bearing supports. Novel carboxylate-functional polymer beads, are intermediates in the preparation of the azlactone-functional beads.Azlactone-functional beads have units of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is H or CH.sub.3,R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently can be an alkyl group having 1 to 14 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 14 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 5 to 12 ring atoms, an arenyl group having 6 to 26 carbon and 0 to 3 S, N, and nonperoxidic O heteroatoms, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 taken together with the carbon to which they are joined can form a carbocyclic ring containing 4 to 12 ring atoms,andn is an integer 0 or 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven M. Heilmann, Jerald K. Rasmussen, Larry R. Krepski, Dean S. Milbrath, Patrick L. Coleman
  • Oxidation resistant carbon containing alumina-silica articles
    Patent number: 4732878
    Abstract: A shaped article comprises a continuous alumina-silica first phase, an in-situ generated discontinuous carbon second phase, and optionally a discontinuous silicon carbide third phase, said article being stable to an oxidative atmosphere when heated to 1300.degree. C. for at least 30 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: George F. Everitt, Terence P. Johnson, Lien-Huong T. Pham
  • Immobilization of biological cells in polytetrafluoroethylene matrix
    Patent number: 4722898
    Abstract: A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibril matrix is prepared containing entrapped viable cells such as animal, bacterial, fungal or yeast cells. Cells are blended with surfactant and soap-free PTFE in aqueous dispersion to form a damp paste. Water is added to the paste and a resultant stiff dough is biaxially calendered between calendering rolls to cause fibrillation and form the PTFE fibril matrix. Calendering is preferably carried out at a temperature of 5.degree. to 70.degree. C. and a pressure of 1000 to 3000 MPa. The fibril matrix may be dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Louis A. Errede, George R. Hunt
  • Surgical staple
    Patent number: 4719917
    Abstract: A surgical staple and method for its use in closing an opening in mammalian tissue are disclosed. The staple comprises a central portion of strong, ductile, non-absorbable material and lower leg portions of absorbable material positioned at opposite ends of the central portion. The staple when closed is bent in the central portion to form a crown portion, so that the lower leg portions are in positions which approximate one another. After engagement, the lower leg portions extend through the tissue on either side of a closed opening so as to hold the tissue firmly in the closed position. After sufficient tissue healing has occurred, the biodegradable lower leg portions will loosen from the central portion, thus allowing for facile removal of the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas H. Barrows, Harold E. Froehlich
  • Graded refractory cermet article
    Patent number: 4713300
    Abstract: This invention provides a shaped, graded, cermet article comprising at least one continuous ceramic phase and at least one discontinuous metal phase, the ratio of ceramic/metal being controlled and varied over the thickness of the article. The ceramic phase preferably is microcrystalline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Harold G. Sowman, David R. Kaar
  • Glycidylethers of fluorene-containing bisphenols
    Patent number: 4707534
    Abstract: Diglycidyl ethers of ortho-substituted-4-hydroxyphenylfluorenes, curable compositions comprising the diglycidyl ethers, and cured resins thereof have a high glass transition and an improved modulus of elasticity. The diglycidyl ethers of the invention for use in the curable composition of the invention can be mixtures obtained by the reaction of epihalohydrin with mixtures of fluorenebisphenols obtained by the reaction of one mole of one or more fluorenones with two or more moles or mixtures of two or more ortho-substituted phenols. The compositions are useful in molding and coating applications and in composite articles where the operating temperature of the article or material is elevated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: William J. Schultz
  • Bicomponent ceramic fibers
    Patent number: 4707399
    Abstract: A continuous, bicomponent, non-vitreous ceramic fiber comprises components existing in a longitudinal side by side relationship wherein each of the components is derived from a different fiber-forming precursor liquid. Firing the bicomponent fibers in a reducing atmosphere can provide ceramic/cermet or cermet/cermet fibers wherein each cermet component has a graded composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: George M. Rambosek
  • Thermal diazo composition
    Patent number: 4705736
    Abstract: A diazotype sheet is developable solely by heat, the sheet comprising in at least one layer a heat-softenable, organic solvent-soluble resin, an acid-stabilized diazonium salt, at least one azo-coupler compound capable of reacting to form a dye, and an acid neutralizing component immobilized either by encapsulation or by coating as a separate layer with or without a binder. The sheet has incorporated therein at least one plasticizer which is either liquid at room temperature (i.e., 20.degree. to 25.degree. C.) or fusible at a temperature between room temperature and the development temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Norman T. Notley
  • Graphic arts imaging constructions using vapor-deposited colorant and metalloid layers with overlying photosensitive resist layer
    Patent number: 4705739
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive, imageable article comprises in sequence a substrate, a vapor-deposited colorant layer capable of providing a reflection optical density of at least 0.6 to a 10 nm band of the electromagnetic spectrum between 280 and 900 nm, a vapor-deposited metal or metalloid layer of uniform composition, and a photosensitive resist layer which is non-integral with said colorant layer, the ratio of the thickness of said colorant layer to said metal or metalloid layer being at least 7:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Richard S. Fisch
  • Polyhydridosilanes and their conversion to pyropolymers
    Patent number: 4704444
    Abstract: A polyhydridosilane has a catenated silicon backbone of 9 to 4000 silicon atoms with an average number of hydrogen atoms per silicon atom in the range of 0.3 to 2.2, at least 0.1 gram of the polyhydridosilane being soluble at 20.degree. C. in 100 grams of tetrahydrofuran, toluene, or methylene chloride. The polyhydridosilane can be derivatized or it can be converted to a pyropolymer or a nitrogen-containing pyropolymer which is useful as an abrasive, ceramic, electrical, or electro-optical material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Katherine A. Brown-Wensley, Robert A. Sinclair
  • Azlactone-containing pressure-sensitive adhesives
    Patent number: 4699843
    Abstract: Pressure-sensitive adhesives are prepared by the simultaneous polymerization of minor amounts of at least one alkenyl azlactone monomer and at least one arylic-functional carboxylic acid monomer, or precursors thereof, with a major amount of at least one acrylic monomer. The pressure-sensitive adhesives, after application to a substrate, will significantly increase in adhesion to the resultant bonded substrate after they are in the bonded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert R. Charbonneau, Steven M. Heilmann, Jerald K. Rasmussen, Michael L. Tumey
  • Polyamide-acrylic blends
    Patent number: 4696965
    Abstract: Pressure sensitive adhesives comprise blends of polyamides with polyacrylates. The resultant blends are particularly suited for use in pressure sensitive adhesive tapes. Films, articles, and coated articles containing these pressure sensitive adhesives are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Jerald K. Rasmussen
  • Method of preparing N-acryloyl-.alpha.-amino acids
    Patent number: 4694103
    Abstract: A novel, one-pot procedure for the preparation of N-acryloyl-.alpha.-amino acids involves the steps of:(i) reacting a ketone, an ammonium salt, and a cyanide salt in water, optionally in the presence of ammonium hydroxide and a co-solvent, to form an aminonitrile;(ii) acryloylating the aminonitrile in aqueous media to afford an acrylamidonitrile; and(iii) hydrolyzing with aqueous acid the acrylamidonitrile to provide the N-acryloyl-.alpha.-amino acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Larry R. Krepski, Howell K. Smith, II, Jerald K. Rasmussen, Steven M. Heilmann
  • Article coated with copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol)
    Patent number: 4693939
    Abstract: Novel, non-crosslinked copolymers of vinyl trifluoroacetate (VTA) and up to 5 weight percent of the VTA of certain comonomers, such as vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, or disubstituted ethylene monomers, are disclosed. Solvolysis of these copolymers provides novel water-insoluble, non-crosslinked, poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymers which can be hydrated to copolymers having controllably variable hydrogel properties and high strength. Such poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymers are particularly desirable as ophthalmic devices such as contact lenses, corneal implants and transplants, and intraocular lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Ronald F. Ofstead
  • Copolymers of poly(vinyl trifluoroacetate) or poly(vinyl alcohol)
    Patent number: 4694037
    Abstract: Novel, non-crosslinked copolymers of vinyl trifluoroacetate (VTA) and up to 5 weight percent of the VTA of certain comonomers, such as vinyl esters or disubstituted ethylene monomers, are disclosed. Solvolysis of these copolymers provides novel water-insoluble, non-crosslinked, poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymers which can by hydrated to copolymers having controllably variable hydrogel properties and high strength. Such poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymers are particularly desirable as optical devices such as contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Ronald F. Ofstead