Patents Represented by Attorney Richard Francis
  • Patent number: 7044989
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for making an abrasive product comprising providing a substantially horizontally deployed flexible backing having a first surface bearing an at least partially cured primer coating and an opposite second surface; providing a dry flowable particle mixture comprising abrasive particles and particulate curable binder material; depositing a temporary layer comprising said particle mixture on the at least partially cured primer coating of the first surface of the backing; softening said particulate curable binder material to provide adhesion between adjacent abrasive particles; embossing the layer comprising softened particulate curable binder material and abrasive particles to provide a pattern of raised areas and depressed areas and curing the softened particulate curable binder material to convert the embossed layer into a permanent embossed layer comprised of cured particulate binder material and abrasive particles and cure the at least partially cured primer coati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dennis G. Welygan, Jason A. Chesley, Louis S. Moren
  • Patent number: 6969412
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for making an abrasive product comprising providing a substantially horizontally deployed flexible backing having a first surface bearing an at least partially cured primer coating and an opposite second surface; providing a dry flowable particle mixture comprising abrasive particles and particulate curable binder material; depositing a plurality of temporary shaped structures comprised of said particle mixture on the at least partially cured primer coating of the first surface of the backing; softening said particulate curable binder material to provide adhesion between adjacent abrasive particles; and curing the softened particulate curable binder material to convert said temporary shaped structures into permanent shaped structures and cure the at least partially cured primer coating on the first surface of the backing. The invention also provides an abrasive product made by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dennis G. Welygan, Jason A. Chesley, Louis S. Moren
  • Patent number: 6949128
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of making an embossed abrasive article comprising providing a sheet-like foam backing having a first surface and an opposite second surface; providing an abrasive coating comprising abrasive particles and binder over said first surface to provide an abrasive article; and applying under pressure a patterned embossing tool having an embossing surface including at least a pattern of raised areas to the abrasive coating of the abrasive article to provide an embossed pattern at least including depressed areas corresponding to the raised areas of the embossing surface in said abrasive coating and said foam backing to provide an embossed abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Annen
  • Patent number: 6923840
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible abrasive product comprised of an open cell foam backing, a foraminous barrier coating and a shaped foraminous abrasive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James W. Schutz, Stacee L. Royce, Michael J. Annen
  • Patent number: 6858253
    Abstract: A composite article having large scale predictable dimensional stability comprises a metal foil backing having adhered thereto a layer of cured polymer having an exposed surface bearing a three-dimensional microstructure of precisely shaped and located functional discontinuities. The article is made by depositing a layer of a radiation curable composition onto a metal foil backing, contacting a master with a pattern capable of imparting a three-dimensional microstructure of precisely shaped and located functional discontinuities into the layer of radiation curable composition, while the layer of radiation curable composition is in contact with the master, exposing the curable composition to radiation to cure the composition, and separating the cured polymer layer on the metal foil backing from the surface of the master. Either the metal foil backing or the master may be radiation transmissive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Williams, Olester Benson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6846232
    Abstract: The invention provides a backing for an abrasive article comprising a sheet-like polymeric substrate having a first major surface including a pattern of non-abrasive raised areas and depressed areas and an opposite second major surface including a plurality of shaped engaging elements that are one part of a two-part mechanical engagement system. An abrasive product is provided by coating at least the raised areas of the backing with an abrasive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ehrich J. Braunschweig, Daidre L. Syverson, Edward J. Woo, Michael J. Annen
  • Patent number: 6833014
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for making an abrasive product comprising providing a substantially horizontally deployed flexible backing having a first surface bearing an at least partially cured primer coating and an opposite second surface; providing a dry flowable particle mixture comprising abrasive particles and particulate curable binder material; depositing a plurality of temporary shaped structures comprised of said particle mixture on the at least partially cured primer coating of the first surface of the backing; softening said particulate curable binder material to provide adhesion between adjacent abrasive particles; and curing the softened particulate curable binder material to convert said temporary shaped structures into permanent shaped structures and cure the at least partially cured primer coating on the first surface of the backing. The invention also provides an abrasive product made by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dennis G. Welygan, Jason A. Chesley, Louis S. Moren
  • Patent number: 6749653
    Abstract: Abrasive particles and methods of making abrasive particles are disclosed. The abrasive particles may be incorporated into a variety of abrasive articles, including bonded abrasives, coated abrasives, nonwoven abrasives, and abrasive brushes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Darren T. Castro, Vincent W. Nehring, Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz, Thomas E. Wood
  • Patent number: 6746974
    Abstract: The present invention provides a web material useful as a tack pad comprising a non-woven cross-laid web which is needle-tacked and at least one of chemically or thermally-bonded and at least one major surface of which is impregnated with a tackifier. The invention also provides a dispenser that will accept a stack of tack pads. The dispenser is shaped to contain a stack of tack pads in position over an outlet opening in the bottom of the dispenser and to permit one access to one edge of the bottom pad of the stack. The edge is located inside the dispenser and the dispenser comprises an at least partially open front and a door mounted on the dispenser. The door may be pivoted between an open position and a closed position over the front. The door has turned-back side edges to fit around the dispenser to prevent dust from entering the dispenser. The bottom pad can be pulled downwardly away from the stack through the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Philippe Reiterer, Jean Le Normand, Roy Parmentier, Christopher J. Carter
  • Patent number: 6733876
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible abrasive article containing minimal releaseable amounts of physical and chemical contaminants that may be used to clean surfaces. The abrasive article is made of a foraminous substrate, at least one binder and abrasive particles. Methods of making such abrasive articles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kris A. Beardsley, Rufus C. Sanders, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6645263
    Abstract: Abrasive articles abrasive articles (e.g., abrasive wheels) comprised of abrasive agglomerate particles dispersed within cellular polymeric material, and methods of making and using the abrasive articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Keipert, John S. Luk, Dennis G. Welygan
  • Patent number: 6641627
    Abstract: Abrasive articles (e.g., abrasive wheels) comprised of abrasive particles and polymeric material such as a polymeric reaction product of components comprising saturated polyol, saturated polyisocyanate, and a free radical source, and methods of making and using the abrasive articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Keipert, Louis S. Moren, Dennis G. Welygan
  • Patent number: 6613113
    Abstract: The invention provides a flexible abrasive product comprising a flexible sheet-like substrate comprising a multiplicity of separated resilient bodies connected to each other in a generally planar array in a pattern which provides open spaces between adjacent connected bodies, each body having a first surface and an opposite second surface; and abrasive particles to cause at least the first surface to be an abrasive surface. A method of making the abrasive is provided by providing the substrate and providing abrasive particles to at least the first surface to provide an abrasive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Chris A. Minick, Michael J. Annen, Eric W. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6544306
    Abstract: The invention provides an abrasive product having a sheet-like backing including a plurality of concavoconvex portions, the backing also having a first major surface including convex portions and an opposite second major surface including concave portions opposite said convex portions. A coating of a binder is applied over the first major surface and the convex portions. A single layer of a plurality of substantially erectly oriented abrasive particles is bonded to the backing by the binder coating. The abrasive product is made by providing the backing as defined, coating the first major surface with an uncured composition which will cure to provide the binder, applying abrasive particles to the uncured composition coating with an electrostatic sprayer and curing the uncured composition to provide the binder coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kazuo Suzuki, Fujio Hara
  • Patent number: 6291043
    Abstract: An easy to install one-piece end cap is provided to protect the cut end of insulation over a preinsulated tubing. The end cap has a tubular body which is dimensioned to receive the uncompressed cut end of the insulation in a first passageway portion and, in a second passageway portion to provide a snug fit. A third passageway portion is dimensioned to slide over the exposed end of the tubing so that it may exit the end cap to permit connection. A tube end capped with the end cap is also provided, as is a method of end capping a preinsulated tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Anthony G. Abbott
  • Patent number: 5840141
    Abstract: A splice having (a) a support comprising a polymeric film having a major surface; and (b) a fiber reinforcement comprising a plurality of monofilaments where the monofilaments have longitudinal axes extending in a parallel direction, one to another, across the major surface, and the monofilaments are bonded to the major surface of the support by a fiber adhesive, where the fiber adhesive is a moisture-cured polyurethane adhesive. The invention also relates to methods and products thereof for using the splice to form spliced flexible abrasive articles, including endless belt forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gerald E. Korbel
  • Patent number: 5830248
    Abstract: A method of making a coated abrasive article and the product thereof, involving the steps of: providing an endless spliceless backing loop substrate; applying fibrous reinforcing material onto a major surface of the endless backing substrate by applying of a first binder precursor to the fibrous reinforcing material such that the first binder precursor bonds the fibrous reinforcing material to the endless backing substrate to form a reinforcing fiber layer; further solidifying the first binder precursor; and forming an abrasive coating on the surface of one of the fiber reinforcing layer, or alternatively, the exposed surface of the backing substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Todd J. Christianson, Harold W. Benedict
  • Patent number: 5770145
    Abstract: A process for forming a ceramic alumina-based abrasive grain from a sol gel which contains aluminum oxide monohydrate, a dissolved metal containing sintering aid and sufficient sodium and/or calcium compound to provide in the ceramic from above about 0.05 to about 1.8 weight percent sodium plus calcium, provided that the weight percent calcium is from 0 to about 1.8 and the weight percent sodium is from 0 to about 0.4. The high sodium and calcium is permitted due to rapid heating of the sol gel after drying through a temperature range of from below about 800.degree. C. to above about 1200.degree. C., prior to sintering the dried gel at a temperature above 1200.degree. C. A grain made by the process and coated, bonded and non-woven abrasive articles comprising the grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Alvin P. Gerk, Robert J. Seider
  • Patent number: 5752996
    Abstract: Ceramic abrasive grits are formed by an impregnation process that involves preparing an alumina hydrate sol, drying the sol to form a porous solid, crushing the solid to produce particles, calcining the dried particles, preparing a mixture of an additive metal oxide or its precursor in a liquid vehicle, impregnating the mixture into the calcined particles, drying the impregnated particles, calcining the dried impregnated particles, and firing the particles to produce ceramic abrasive grits. The concentration of the modifying additive metal is greater at or near the surface of the grit than at the interior of the grit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: William P. Wood
  • Patent number: D482587
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Louis S. Moren, Dennis G. Welygan