Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Michaele Hakamaki
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Patent number: 6063229Abstract: A method of applying repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets to moving articles includes aligning a plurality of articles for sequential movement through a sheet application station. Each article has at least two different sheet landing areas defined on a common surface thereof. A repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet from a first applicator is applied at the sheet application station onto a first landing area of every other article as it passes the sheet application station. A repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet from a second applicator is applied onto a second different landing area on all of the remaining articles as they pass through the sheet application station. The resultant stack of articles formed in this way does not have all of the note sheets aligned vertically in the stack, thus reducing the overall height of the stack by dispersing horizontally the added thicknesses of the note sheets on the articles.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1998Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Alden R. Miles, Timothy A. Mertens
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Patent number: 6063225Abstract: A tape roll structure which includes a tape having adhesive on one face, and the tape can be pulled off a tape roll and cut into segments of varying lengths. The tape is provided with a paper tape or coating on one or both sides for receiving written indicia, and which becomes part of a tape segment. Thus, once a tape segment has been attached by adhesive to a marginal edge of a sheet, written indicia can be written on the paper tape or coating so that a tab is immediately formed on a sheet. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of tape rolls are mounted in a shell, and one of the tape rolls carries a paper tape and the other tape roll carries adhesive tape. When the two tapes are pulled from their rolls, the paper tape moves into bonded engagement with one-half of the adhesive tape of the other roll. Then the tapes are cut into a segment and bonded to the sheet to which a tab is to be mounted.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1998Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: James F. Riordan
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Patent number: 6045263Abstract: A gift package that comprises a bag having generally parallel front and rear walls, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two lateral edges, a pair of generally parallel side walls, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two lateral edges, wherein the lateral edges of the front and rear walls are joined to the lateral edges of the side panels, and a bottom panel having two pairs of generally parallel lateral edges, wherein the lateral edges of the bottom panel are joined to the bottom edges of the front, rear, and side walls to form a container having an opening defined by the top edges of the front, rear, and side walls, and wherein the bag has an expanded state and a collapsed state, where an area of the bag opening is larger when the bag is in its expanded state than when the bag is in its collapsed state.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Janet T. Keller, Perry S. Dotterman, Karen F. MacDonald
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Patent number: 6042877Abstract: A method for making an anti-microbial article is described, the method comprising: providing a substrate; forming a solution comprising a chelating polymer and a metal ion; depositing the solution on the substrate; drying the substrate to form a coated substrate; and adding a potentiator to the coated substrate to form the antimicrobial article. Forming of the solution comprises (A) selecting a chelating polymer from the group consisting of polyglucosamines, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, polycarboxylic acids, and polyamines, (B) dissolving the chelating polymer in acid to form an acidic solution, (C) preparing an aqueous solution of the metal ion, preferably by selecting a salt of the metal ion and dissolving the salt in water, and (D) combining the aqueous solution of the metal ion and the acidic solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Keith R. Lyon, Michael M. Rock, Jr.
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Patent number: 6016805Abstract: A face seal assembly for respirators comprising a generally U-shaped frame having a bottom portion and first and second side portions spaced from each other and extending in a generally upward direction from the bottom portion. The assembly further includes a first face seal segment attached to the bottom portion at a point closer to the second side portion than the first side portion and to the first side portion at a point above the bottom portion, and a second face seal segment attached to the bottom portion at a point closer to the first side portion than the second side portion and to the second side portion at a point above the bottom portion. The first and second face seal segments may each include an elastic piece.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1998Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: James A. Burns, Gerald M. Brostrom
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Patent number: 6013347Abstract: A method for continuous tone imaging on a mat product having a web material with a three dimensional open structure provides a mat product with a sufficiently clear image. Moreover, it is a specific aspect of the present method to provide a clear image on such a three dimensional structure without negatively affecting the characteristics of the web material having the three dimensional structure. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method for imaging a flexible high loft matting material which can be used in providing a floor covering mat product. The present invention is also directed to the imaged mat product produced in accordance with this method.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1997Date of Patent: January 11, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Philip G. Martin, Gary L. Olson, Gerald A. Ridlehoover, Randall R. Schickler
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Patent number: 6008286Abstract: The present invention provides a primer composition comprising an aliphatic isocyanate-containing compound, a nonhalogenated hydrocarbon polymer containing organic functional groups, a halogenated hydrocarbon polymer optionally containing organic functional groups, and an organic solvent.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 1997Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: James D. Groves
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Patent number: 6004424Abstract: Methods of sealing boxes by applying multiple lengths of box sealing tape on box flaps are described. The box may be of the type where the outermost pair of flaps are shortened such that they do not meet each other when the flaps are folded toward each other and for boxes where the outermost pair of flaps do meet each other. A tape source is provided that includes a cylindrical core assembly that has an outer surface about which plural tape lengths are circumferentially wound. The cylindrical core assembly may either comprise a single core or may comprise multiple cores that are attached to each other in a manner so that the multiple cores function in use as a single core. The methods of sealing boxes in accordance with this invention are carried out with box sealing tape used on a box sealing machine.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1994Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Michael C. Faust
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Patent number: 6000849Abstract: A gift package a bag having generally parallel front and rear walls, each having a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, and two lateral edges, and a pair of generally parallel side walls, each having a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, and a generally longitudinal fold, wherein the lateral edges of the bottom panel are joined to the bottom edges of the front, rear, and side walls to form a container having an opening defined by the top edges of the front, rear, and side walls, and wherein the bag has an expanded state and a collapsed state, where an area of the bag opening is larger when the bag is in its expanded state than when the bag is in its collapsed state, and a bag topper comprising a body portion having a top and a bottom surface, and at least one side panel extending from the body portion, wherein the bottom surface of the body portion is supported on the top edge of at least one of the folds of the side walls.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Janet T. Keller, Perry S. Dotterman, Karen F. MacDonald
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Patent number: 5997645Abstract: A coating insert used within a coating assembly for defining at least one edge of coating fluid as it is applied to a substrate moving past the coating assembly is disclosed. The coating assembly includes a trough having first and second transverse ends. At least one coating insert is inserted within the trough to define an edge of coated fluid on a substrate. The coating insert, having one or two edge-defining surfaces, is positioned within the trough. The first end of the edge-defining surface is closer to the adjacent transverse end of the trough than the second end of the edge-defining surface. The top face of the coating insert may also include a second edge-defining surface having first and second ends that may define another edge of coated fluid on a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1995Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kai Grimmel, Mark R. Strenger
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Patent number: 5972463Abstract: Undrawn, tough, durably melt-bondable, macrodenier, thermoplastic, multicomponent filaments, such as sheath-core and side-by-side filaments, comprising a first plastic component and a second lower-melting component defining all or at least part of the material-air boundary of the filaments. The filaments can be made by melt-extruding thermoplastics to form hot filaments, cooling and solidifying the hot filaments, and recovering the solidified filaments without any substantial tension being placed thereon. Aggregations of the filaments can be made in the form of floor matting and abrasive articles.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1996Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Philip G. Martin, Gary L. Olson, Dennis G. Welygan
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Patent number: 5972155Abstract: A repositionable, adhesively mounted, blank signage sheet including (i) a sheet having imprintable first and second major surfaces which are essentially void of communicative indicia, (ii) repositionable adhesive strips disposed on the first major surface of the sheet along each of the margins, with each adhesive strip offset from the edge of the sheet so as to define adhesive-free tabs along the first and second edges of the sheet, and (iii) release liners covering the marginal adhesive strips.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Terry E. Cooprider, Dale O. Bailey, Lori A Bilski, Jean-Philippe Weber
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Patent number: 5954303Abstract: An adjustable wrist rest assembly that comprises a base portion having an first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first longitudinal edge, and a second longitudinal edge opposite the first edge. The wrist rest assembly further includes an elongate pad comprising a support layer and opposite first and second surfaces, wherein the second surface is supported on the first surface of the base portion. The wrist rest assembly further comprises at least one height adjustment member having a first surface and at least one support surface generally opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface of the height adjustment member is mounted on the second surface of the base portion, and wherein the wrist rest pad assembly is supported by the at least one height adjustment member at a first distance above the support surface when located thereon.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Robert J. Wolf, Wayne K. Darvell
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Patent number: 5922665Abstract: A composition capable of removing hydrophobic soils is provided that includes a nonionic surfactant; a very slightly water soluble organic solvent; water; and an optional additive. Improved hydrophobic soil removal is achieved wherein an amount of the slightly water soluble solvent with respect to an amount of the surfactant is sufficient to achieve a haze point in the composition.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Augustine Liu
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Patent number: 5911883Abstract: A method for removing dissolved species from a fluid while allowing suspended solid particles to remain within in the fluid, where the fluid includes dissolved species and suspended solid particles. The method includes providing a solid phase extraction article comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an axis extending from the first end to the second end, and a porous, particle loaded, fibrous sheet material formed into a spiral configuration about the axis. The sheet material is wound around itself to provide multiple layers of sheet material, each layer of sheet material is spaced from each adjacent layer of sheet material, and the sheet material comprises a first working surface, a second, opposite working surface, and an inner portion comprising active particles between the first and second working surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1996Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Dale R. Anderson
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Patent number: D414578Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Edwin T. Chen, Perry S. Dotterman, Kenneth J. Kirchhoff, Lawrence J. Fenske, Michael J. Brock
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Patent number: D416411Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1998Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Casey L. Carlson, Daniel E. Siltberg
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Patent number: D416649Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1998Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: James A. Burns, William J. Swanson
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Patent number: D419601Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1999Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: David C. Windorski
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Patent number: D428926Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1999Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: David C. Windorski