Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Robert W. Sprague
  • Patent number: 6471746
    Abstract: An electrofiltration process is provided having at least one electrostatically charged polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a collection cell that has the structured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the collection cell and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways are defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the structured film layers. The electrofiltration process is coupled with an ionizer which actively induces charges onto the particles to be removed by the collection cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joel K. Hagglund, Thomas I. Insley, Todd W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6460537
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a product from a pressurized product container comprising a housing defining a user port and adapted to have a pressurized product container mounted therein, the pressurized product container having a dispensing valve movable relative to the container between an open and a closed position; the housing further comprising a rolling member comprising a vane, and two associated rolling surfaces, the rolling member being capable of rotation in contact with the rolling surfaces such that they translate in opposite directions relative to the rolling member in response to inhalation through the user port, the rolling member being rotatable between a locking position in which the rolling member directly or indirectly engages the pressurized product container or valve to maintain the valve in the closed position, and a release position in which the valve and the pressurized product container move relative to each other so that the valve moves to the open position to dispense product from the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew M. Bryant, Anthony C. L. Wass, Peter D. Hodson
  • Patent number: 6461715
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a closure tape (10) for an absorbent article, particularly for a disposable diaper (1), for fastening of the article on the body of a person, the closure tape being attachable to the outside surface (3) of the diaper (1) through one of its end portions (17) and comprising a backing (11) bearing a continuous or discontinuous adhesive layer (12), a fastening means (15) and a stretchable elastic sheet (13), the backing (11) being essentially non-elastic and/or essentially non-extensible, the support sheet comprising the backing (11) and the continuous or discontinuous adhesive layer exhibiting one or more incisions (14) in the area of the elastic sheet with at least one of the incisions extending in machine direction over the full width of the backing (11) and the end portion (17) being separated from the incision (14) closest to the end portion (7), by a sufficiently large distance (22) to prevent the incisions (14) essentially from opening when attaching the end portion (17) to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Werner Guenther, Lloyd S. Eynon
  • Patent number: 6454096
    Abstract: A package for dispensing individual oil absorbing polymeric sheets from a stack of such sheets, where the package includes a cover flap repeatedly moveable between an open position and a closed position, a pocket, a plurality of oil absorbing polymeric sheets arranged in a stack and positioned in the pocket, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition disposed on the cover flap such that closing the cover flap positions the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for contact with a major surface of the first sheet of the stack of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kazunori Kondoh, Hiroto H. Katagiri, Gene H. Shipman, Alan J. Sipinen
  • Patent number: 6454839
    Abstract: An electrofiltration apparatus is provided having at least one electrostatically charged polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a collection cell that has the structured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the collection cell and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways are defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the structured film layers. The electrofiltration apparatus is coupled with an ionizer which actively induces charges onto the particles to be removed by the collection cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joel K. Hagglund, Thomas I. Insley, Todd W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6454834
    Abstract: A regenerable air cleaning device is disclosed which comprises a filter holder supporting a regenerable filter that includes activated carbon fibers (ACF) and a control system that is adapted to determine when to regenerate the regenerable filter. The device exhibits high performance and longevity over many regeneration cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David E. Livingstone, Michael R. Harms, Daniel T. Chen
  • Patent number: 6454140
    Abstract: A metered dose aerosol valve that minimizes loss of prime and loss of drug dose by having a one-way valve mechanism positioned toward the end of a transfer passage that allows drug substance to pass from the aerosol container into the metering chamber, but not back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Companies
    Inventor: Philip A. Jinks
  • Patent number: 6451810
    Abstract: Imidazoquinoline and tetrahydroimidazoquinoline compounds that contain amide functionality at the 1-position are useful as immune response modifiers. The compounds and compositions of the invention can induce the biosynthesis of various cytokines and are useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions including viral diseases and neoplastic diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick L. Coleman, Stephen L. Crooks, Kyle J. Lindstrom, Bryon A. Merrill, Michael J. Rice
  • Patent number: 6436661
    Abstract: Methods of detecting bacteria including the use of an immobilized enzyme substrate, and the immobilized enzyme substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Carl A. Adams, Gary E. Krejcarek, James H. Wicks
  • Patent number: 6436294
    Abstract: A process for modifying a medium is disclosed that includes treating a medium having a metal ion sorption capacity with a solution that includes: A) an agent capable of forming a complex with metal ions; and B) ions selected from the group consisting of sodium ions, potassium ions, magnesium ions, and combinations thereof, to create a medium having an increased capacity to sorb metal ions relative to the untreated medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Susan H. Lundquist
  • Patent number: 6435128
    Abstract: A time-temperature indicator device provides a visually observable indication of the cumulative thermal exposure of an object. The device includes a substrate having a diffusely light-reflective porous matrix and a backing. The backing includes on its surface a viscoelastic indicator material for contacting the substrate and a barrier material for substantially inhibiting the lateral and longitudinal flow of viscoelastic indicator material between the substrate and the backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jean Qiu, Joan M. Noyola, David J. Yarusso, Kevin R. Green
  • Patent number: 6437131
    Abstract: A process for preparing 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amines is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John F. Gerster, Kyle J. Lindstrom
  • Patent number: 6431695
    Abstract: Liquid dispensers comprising a reservoir including a plurality of elongated channels formed from overlaying layers of microstructured film having a dispensing edge, each elongated channel having an outlet at the dispensing edge, wherein liquid can be stored in the reservoir, and a transfer element in fluid communication with the dispensing edge of the reservoir that provides a location from which liquid stored in the reservoir can be controllably dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Raymond P. Johnston, Thomas I. Insley
  • Patent number: 6432396
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of limiting the presence of a microorganism by contacting the microorganism with polymer-bound metal-containing compositions. The compositions include metal-containing compounds that may be prepared by reacting or polymerizing metal-containing monomers. The microorganism may be present in a liquid that is contacted with the polymer-bound metal-containing composition. Alternatively, the microorganism may be present in a solid that is contacted with the polymer-bound metal-containing composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kevin D. Landgrebe, David J. Hastings, Terrance P. Smith, Gregory D. Cuny, Ashok Sengupta, Chandrika D. Mudalige, Frank A. Brandys
  • Patent number: 6419729
    Abstract: Filter assemblies with adhesive attachment systems are provided. In one embodiment, a filter assembly includes a porous filter member and an adhesive disposed on a reinforcement scrim adhesively attached to at least a portion of at least one major surface of the porous filter member, wherein the reinforcement scrim has discrete open areas. In an alternative embodiment, a filter assembly includes a porous filter member that includes fibrous filter media and an adhesive impregnated into discrete regions of the porous filter member such that there is a substantially continuous adhesive region throughout at least about 25% of the thickness of the porous filter member in the discrete regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dean R. Duffy, William M. Stevenson, John F. Reed, David J. Andrews
  • Patent number: D460888
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Alan J. Sipinen
  • Patent number: D463570
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Joel R. Dufresne, Michael R. Harms, Christopher R. Kokaisel
  • Patent number: D463863
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Casey L. Carlson, Michael R. Harms, Christopher R. Kokaisel
  • Patent number: D463975
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Alan J. Sipinen
  • Patent number: D463976
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alan J. Sipinen, Diane R. Cordes