Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Robert W. Sprague
  • Patent number: 6749813
    Abstract: Fluid handling devices including a substrate with a diamond-like film. The devices include capillaries and microfluidic articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Moses M. David, Louis C. Haddad, Nicholas A. Lee, Brian J. Gates
  • Patent number: 6740136
    Abstract: A filter product includes a filtration media combined with a multi-component frame assembly that can effectively support the filtration media in place proximal to its edges and in accordance with its desired orientation and wherein the assembly can be selectively taken apart to provide access to the filtration media by way of a releasable lock connection. Preferably, a snap-fit releasable locking system is incorporated within the frame design. The present invention is particularly applicable to filtration media comprising pleated filtration media. Such support features include rack-like media engagement elements, which elements are advantageously provided so as to preferably engage the filtration media proximal to its side and end edges from above and below to preferably compress and ensure an effective seal and support connection between the frame and the filtration media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Dean R. Duffy
  • Patent number: 6734401
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for processing sample materials. The sample materials may be located in a plurality of process chambers in the device, which is rotated during heating of the sample materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Raj Rajagopal, Barry W. Robole, Kannan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 6719744
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive closure tape tab (10,50) form of an elastic laminate (15) of an elastic film (16) having on at least a first major side an expandable fibrous layer (17) of non-woven thermoplastic polymer fibers. On the second major side of the plastic film are attached, a first (30) and a second (20) non-elastic adhesive tape. Each adhesive tape is formed of a fibrous layer (21) of non-woven thermoplastic polymer fibers having on one major surface an adhesive layer (22). The first (30) and second (20) non-elastic adhesive tape are attached opposite to each other to the second major side of the elastic laminate (15) by an adhesive layer (22) and extending beyond the elastic laminate (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher M. Kinnear, Stuart L. Eynon
  • Patent number: 6720187
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for processing sample materials are disclosed. The present invention may provide a bridge between standard microtiter plate systems, methods, protocols, etc. (that include wells arranged in rectangular arrays) and rotating sample processing devices and systems that allow users to obtain the rapid processing advantages of the more advanced sample processing devices. The sample processing devices preferably include a rectangular body to improve compatibility of the sample processing devices of the present invention with equipment designed for use with more conventional microtiter plates (which are typically rectangular in shape). The sample processing devices also include at least one set of process chambers arranged in one or more circular arcs and may include input and/or output chambers arranged in a rectilinear grid array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Barry W. Robole
  • Patent number: 6715188
    Abstract: There is provided an improved tab member for a closure system comprising a tab portion and a slot member. The slot member includes a slit or a loop, with the slot located between an inboard portion and an outboard portion. The tab portion has a tab member having a length, an inner edge, an outer edge and at least one lip portion. The tab member outer edge is passed through the slot of the slot member to engage the fastening device. Once passed through the slot, at least one lip portion of the tab member overlaps or catches the outboard portion of the slot member to prevent the tab member from disengaging from the slot member. The slot member outward portion is retained between the lip portion(s) and the underlying generally flexible tab carrier substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Byron M. Jackson, Leigh E. Wood, Randall L. Alberg
  • Patent number: 6692596
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a micro-titer test plate, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first and second part, said first part comprising a plurality of wells connected to each other and said second part comprising a plurality of spouts connected to each other, said spouts conforming in arrangement and number to said wells of said first part; (b) placing a filter sheet that extents across each of said wells of said first or placing a filter sheet that extends across each of said sprouts of said second part; (c) separating from said filter sheet filter means that conform in shape, size, arrangement and number to either the bottom opening of the wells of said first part or, to said upper openings provided at the first end of the spouts; (d) placing said filter means in each of the bottom openings of the wells or in each of said upper openings provided at the first end of the spouts; (e) removing the remainder of said filter sheet from which the filter means have b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Karl-Andreas Moll, Roland Beck
  • Patent number: 6684464
    Abstract: There is provided a mechanical fastener bundling strap comprising a bundling strap having a first face and a second face with a bar code readable through hook elements on a first face. The first face is formed by a thermoplastic hook strip material having a first face and a second face. The hook strip first face has an array of upstanding hook projections which form at least in part the first face of the bundling strap, the second face of the hook strip comprises a film which film is provided with a printed UPC code readable through the hook strip first face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kirit C. Mody, Michael W. G. Mills, Ronald W. Ausen, Shou-Lu Grace Wang, Alan J. Sipinen
  • Patent number: 6662830
    Abstract: Sample processing devices with electrophoresis channels and methods of loading the electrophoresis channels with electrophoresis sieving polymer while rotating the sample processing device are disclosed. In some instances, the electrophoresis channels may be arranged radially relative to the axis of rotation of the sample processing device. In other sample processing devices, the electrophoresis channels may be arranged in curved arcs that are concentric about the center of the sample processing device (which preferably corresponds to the axis of rotation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Raj Rajagopal, Kannan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 6664060
    Abstract: The present invention provides high-density arrays including mask layers and methods of manufacturing the same. The arrays are formed on a polymeric substrate and include a mask layer. Various linking agents, linking agent coatings, and/or reactants may be provided on the mask layer. Where present, the linking agents and reactants preferably operate together to capture a desired analyte which can then be detected based on an electromagnetic signal, e.g., fluorescence, that is emitted by the analyte in response to excitation energy incident on the array. With the mask layer in place, the signal-to-background ratio provided by the arrays can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sanjay L. Patil, Kurt J. Halverson, Robin E. Wright
  • Patent number: 6644517
    Abstract: A valve stem for use in an aerosol valve such as a metered dose medicinal aerosol valve is described. The valve stem includes a flattened area around the side hole. The flattened area helps reduce damage to the diaphragm aperture upon repeated actuation of the metered dose inhaler. Also described is a metered dose valve and a metered dose inhaler, each including the flattened valve stem of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Charles G. Thiel, Peter D. Hodson, Andrew M. Bryant
  • Patent number: 6645611
    Abstract: There is provided a package of multiple oil absorbing wipes suitable for wiping a users skin or hair. The wipes are arranged in an overlying arrangement and comprise an oil absorbing porous film-like substrate of a thermoplastic material having a transparency of less than 65 percent. The porous substrate changes transparency by at least 10 percentage points when loaded with oil. The porous substrate has an embossing pattern over from 1 to 50 percent of at least a portion of the of the wipe material surface area, which area is in contact with an adjacent wipe in the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Jayshree Seth
  • Patent number: 6640805
    Abstract: A novel metering valve having improved flow for delivery of an aerosol formulation is disclosed. Methods of delivering an aerosol formulation using a device comprising the novel metering valve are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gustavo H. Castro, Thomas Herdtle, Cathleen M. Arsenault, Antony J. Davis
  • Patent number: 6638611
    Abstract: There is provided a package of multiple oil absorbing wipes suitable for wiping a users skin or hair. The invention wipes comprise an oil absorbing porous film of a thermoplastic material having a transparency of less than 65 which porous substrate changes transparency when loaded with oil. The porous substrate has directly on one face an oil contaminable layer, without any intermediate oil impermeable layer or film. The porous film has a percent oil retention of from 50 to 100 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Jayshree Seth
  • Patent number: 6635212
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, is integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavities of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • Patent number: D484228
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zhiqun Zhang, Robert M. Swinehart
  • Patent number: D486230
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Douglas A. Swenson, David M. Kielb
  • Patent number: D486231
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David M. Kielb, Douglas A. Swenson
  • Patent number: D486577
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Douglas A. Swenson, David M. Kielb
  • Patent number: D490633
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kazunori Kondoh, Hiroto H. Katagiri, Gene H. Shipman