Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Melanie Gover
  • Patent number: 6420003
    Abstract: A thermoplastic container or packaging material is given low oxygen permeability by coating with a crosslinked acrylate layer and a layer of oxygen barrier material deposited over the acrylate layer. Another acrylate layer may be deposited over the oxygen barrier. The oxygen barrier is selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and metal. The acrylate layer may be formed from a photopolymerizable polyfunctional acrylate that is sufficiently low viscosity to be sprayed on the substrate or applied by dipping. Alternatively, the acrylate layer is a polymerization product of an acrylate monomer which is evaporated in a vacuum, condensed on the substrate and polymerized by irradiation by ultraviolet or an electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David G. Shaw, Eric Dawson, Daniel Cline, Marc Langlois
  • Patent number: 6395804
    Abstract: Dispersants that strongly adsorb to hydrophobic particles in aqueous media are described. The dispersants comprise one or more polyelectrolyte(s) and further comprise a hydrophobic hydrocarbon moiety. Suspensions and inks comprising the dispersants are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Ahmed Salih Abuelyaman, Babu N. Gaddam
  • Patent number: 6395124
    Abstract: A method of laminating a structure comprises at least two layers and a photopolymerizable adhesive composition between the layers, at least one of the layers being opaque, colored, or reflective. One or both of the layers is transmissive to actinic radiation in wavelengths in the range of greater than 400 nm and up to 1200 nm. The photopolymerizable adhesive composition absorbs radiation in the identified spectral region of the radiation transmissive layer. Curing is effected by directing radiation in the identified spectral region through the radiation transmissive layer and produces a laminated structure. An underfilled flip chip assembly on an integrated circuit board substrate can be prepared by the method described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joel D. Oxman, Michael A. Kropp
  • Patent number: 6362339
    Abstract: A method for making metal (8-quinolinolate) complexes from air and moisture stable reagents is described. For example, the making of aluminum tris(quinolinolates), such as tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato), from aluminum (III) carboxylates, such as aluminum lactate and aluminum stearate, is described. Examples of bis and tris metal (8-quinolinolates) as well as single and mixed ligand complexes are given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Fred Boyle McCormick
  • Patent number: 6353037
    Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making foams comprising functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles by photopolymerizing or thermally polymerizing emulsions comprising a reactive phase and a phase immiscible with the reactive phase components. Foams made from water-in-oil emulsions, including high internal phase emulsion are also disclosed. Articles and uses for the foams are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kristin LaVelle Thunhorst, Douglas Alan Hanggi
  • Patent number: 6348237
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the formation of an organic coating on a substrate. The method includes: providing a substrate in a vacuum; providing at least one vaporized organic material comprising at least one component from at least one source, wherein the vaporized organic material is capable of condensing in a vacuum of less than about 130 Pa; providing a plasma from at least one source other than the source of the vaporized organic material; directing the vaporized organic material and the plasma toward the substrate; and causing the vaporized organic material to condense and polymerize on the substrate in the presence of the plasma to form an organic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gunter A. Kohler, William H. Esswein, Seth M. Kirk, Brian J. Gates
  • Patent number: 6265459
    Abstract: Accelerators that can be useful for an energy polymerizable composition comprising a cationically curable material; energy polymerizable compositions comprising at least one cationically curable material and an initiation system therefor, the initiation system comprising at least one organometallic complex salt and at least one accelerator; and a method for curing the compositions. The cured compositions can provide useful articles. The invention also provides compositions of matter comprising an organometallic complex salt and at least one compound selected from the Class 1 and Class 2 compounds disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Wayne Scott Mahoney, Peggy Sperl Willett
  • Patent number: 6265068
    Abstract: Inorganic phosphor particles having a diamond-like carbon coating and the method of making these particles. Inorganic phosphor particles are coated with a diamond-like carbon coating, which can include additive components. The coating is applied in a plasma reactor process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Moses M. David, Dee Lynn Johnson
  • Patent number: 6262207
    Abstract: Dispersants that strongly adsorb to hydrophobic surfaces of particles in aqueous media are described. The dispersants comprise a hydrophilic or amphiphilic polymer chain containing ionizable moieties and having a terminal forked hydrophobic segment. Suspensions and inks comprising the dispersants are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Ahmed Salih Abuelyaman, Babu N. Gaddam
  • Patent number: 6256847
    Abstract: A reclosable fastener includes an insert element and a retention element. The retention element has a plurality of discrete, spaced projections extending generally orthogonally from at least one side edge of one of the opposing surfaces. At least one of the projections has a free end that includes a hook portion extending generally orthogonally from the projection toward the central longitudinal axis. The fastener operates in first and second conditions. In the first condition the fastener is open and the insert element is disengaged from the retention element, and in the second condition the fastener is closed and the insert element engages the retention element. In moving from the first condition to the second condition the insert element engages the retention element by overlaying onto the retention element and being pressed into place. In moving from the second condition to the first condition the insert element disengages from the retention element by peeling from the retention element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Norman G. Manley, Brian M. Cox
  • Patent number: 6258896
    Abstract: Dispersants that adsorb to hydrophobic particle surfaces in aqueous media are described. The dispersants comprise dendritic polymers having at least one ionizable moiety and at least one peripheral hydrophobic long chain hydrocarbon moiety. Dispersions and inks wherein the dispersant operates as a solitary or co-dispersant are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Salih Abuelyaman, Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Babu N. Gaddam
  • Patent number: 6224949
    Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides an energy efficient polymerization method comprising irradiating a polymerizable composition and a photoinitiator with a source of essentially monochromatic radiation where the photoinitiator and the wavelength of the radiation source are selected such that the extinction coefficient of the photoinitiator at the peak wavelength of the source is greater than about 1000 M−1 cm−1 and such that the photoinitiator absorbs at least two percent of the actinic radiation incident on the coating. In another aspect the invention provides energy efficient methods of polymerizing polymerizable compositions and crosslinking crosslinkable compositions by irradiating the respective compositions with a low power source of essentially monochromatic radiation. The low power energy sources have an input power of less than about 10 W/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robin E. Wright, George F. Vesley
  • Patent number: 6203898
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the formation of an organic coating on a substrate. The method includes: providing a substrate in a vacuum; providing at least one vaporized organic material comprising at least one component from at least one source, wherein the vaporized organic material is capable of condensing in a vacuum of less than about 130 Pa; providing a plasma 10 from at least one source other than the source of the vaporized organic material; directing the vaporized organic material and the plasma toward the substrate; and causing the vaporized organic material to condense and polymerize on the substrate in the presence of the plasma to form an organic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovatave Properties Company
    Inventors: Gunter A. Kohler, William H. Esswein, Seth M. Kirk, Brian J. Gates
  • Patent number: 6177190
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions. The compositions comprise a poly(1-alkene) pressure-sensitive adhesive component, a non-pressure-sensitive adhesive component, and a radiation-activatable curing agent. The invention further provides pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes and methods for making the compositions and tapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark David Gehlsen, Chad Everett Brown, Patrick Darby Hyde, Eugene Gregory Joseph, Vasant Venugopal Kolpe
  • Patent number: 6108127
    Abstract: A confocal scanning microscope includes a light source which provides a light beam and scanning optics which sweep the light beam across the surface of a sample. Light from the surface or interior of the sample passes through a pinhole lens which focuses the light on a pinhole for detection by an optical detector. An image of the surface may be scanned using the optical detector. An optical element is inserted in a detection arm of the confocal microscope. The optical element provides angular magnification and natural divergence to the beam from the surface of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Matthew R. C. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 6103316
    Abstract: A one-step process using electron beam radiation to polymerize pressure sensitive adhesives on web from acrylate emulsions is disclosed. The radiation may be supplied in a single or multiple dose. Products using such pressure sensitive adhesives are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thu-Van T. Tran, Douglas E. Weiss
  • Patent number: 6063838
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising a blend of at least two components, wherein the first component is at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive and the second component is at least one thermoplastic material, wherein the components form a blended composition having more than one domain and, wherein one domain is substantially continuous (generally, the pressure-sensitive adhesive) and the other domain is substantially fibrillous to schistose (generally, the thermoplastic material). The second component can be (a) at least one thermoplastic elastomer, (b) at least one elastomer with a tackifying resin or (c) at least one elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gregg A. Patnode, Patrick D. Hyde
  • Patent number: 6054007
    Abstract: A shaped adhesive article is prepared by a method comprising the steps of shaping an adhesive mixture in a mold, said mold having one or more featured surfaces, said mixture including a first polymer precursor and a second polymer precursor, or a first polymer precursor and a thermoplastic polymer, polymerizing said first polymer precursor in said mold, to produce a shaped adhesive article having one or more featured surfaces, removing said shaped adhesive article from said mold, and adhering one or more of said featured surfaces to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, Robert J. DeVoe, Ilya Gorodisher, David A. Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 6040352
    Abstract: A method of preparing an adhesive composition that includes exposing a free-radically polymerizable pre-adhesive composition to a monochromatic radiation source having a peak intensity at a wavelength falling within the range of about 250 nanometers to about 600 nanometers to polymerize the pre-adhesive composition and form the adhesive composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Robin E. Wright
  • Patent number: 6037019
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for adhering a powder to a substrate. The process includes the steps of: a) providing an oscillating magnetic field, b) continuously introducing into the magnetic field coating material, a substrate, and a means of affixing the coating material to the substrate by forming a fluidized bed of at least the coating material and providing sufficient force to cause the coating material to adhere to the surface of the substrate, and c) continuously collecting the coated substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Kooyer, William A. Hendrickson