Patents Represented by Attorney W. N. Kirn
  • Patent number: 5120154
    Abstract: Conformable marking sheet comprising a microporous thermoplastic polymer base sheet having a network of interconnected pores. The marking sheet has a low yield stress, making it conformable to rough surfaces. The pores of the base sheet can be filled with a diluent (wax) or they may have the diluent removed, for example by extraction. The construction may further comprise an adhesive on the bottom and a top marking indicium layer comprising a polymeric binder in which is partially embedded a multiplicity of retroflective lens elements, e.g., transparent microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James E. Lasch, James M. Kaczmarczik, James A. Klein, James M. Jonza
  • Patent number: 4933234
    Abstract: A primed polymeric article is provided. The article comprises a polymeric substrate having graft polymerized thereon at least one organic nucleophilic graft-polymerizable monomer or salt thereof which is capable of accelerating the cure of a cyanoacrylate adhesive. The invention also provides an article wherein the primed polymeric article is adhered to a substrate with a cyanoacrylate adhesive and a method for adhering a polymeric first substrate to a second substrate with a cyanoacrylate adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James J. Kobe, John T. Simpson, Kimberly K. Harmon, Charles D. Wright
  • Patent number: 4908263
    Abstract: A nonwoven thermal insulating stretch fabric is provided. The fabric comprises 10 to 90 weight percent elastomeric melt blown microfiber web, the microfibers having an average diameter of less than about 25 micrometers, and 10 to 90 weight percent crimped bulking fibers. The microfibers are bonded to the bulking fibers at points of contact and the fabric has substantially uniform stretch properties such that the fabric will recover to at least 90 percent of the original dimensions within one hour after being elongated to 125 percent of the original length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John F. Reed, Daniel E. Meyer, Thomas P. Hanschen
  • Patent number: 4904253
    Abstract: Normally tacky, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes which are soft, pliable, conformable, and heat sealable are provided. The tapes have a backing of a substantially untensilized, tough, ductile film, the film being a blend of crystalline isotactic polypropylene and a compatible ethylene-based polymer, and a normally tacky, pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side of the film. The films have a longitudinal secant modulus of less than 3700 kg/cm.sup.2, a transverse secant modulus of less than 3700 kg/cm.sup.2, a longitudinal elastic modulus of less than 5200 kg/cm.sup.2, a transverse elastic modulus of less than 5200 kg/cm.sup.2, a longitudinal stiffness of less than 1.7, and a transverse stiffness of less than 3.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Alan J. Sipinen, Del A. Kauss
  • Patent number: 4902553
    Abstract: A disposable article such as a diaper or feminine hygiene product having a rattle-free, liquid impermeable, vapor permeable, microporous, polymeric film having pores defining passages extending therethrough, the passages being partially filled with a rattle-reducing additive material and a method for making same is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kirk K. Hwang, Linda W. Suszko
  • Patent number: 4884862
    Abstract: A fiber optic fan-out module has a channel for receiving a fiber optic cable and a groove adjacent the channel for receiving protective filaments from the cable. The module further has an anchor block with a passage therethrough for receiving a loose protective sleeve assembly. The anchor block has a groove for receiving protective filaments from the sleeve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mogens Kofod
  • Patent number: 4875901
    Abstract: A method for providing fibrous polyamide materials with stain resistance is provided. The method comprises contacting the fibrous polyamide materials with an aqueous solution comprising a normally solid, water-soluble, partially sulfonated novolak resin, which comprises the condensation product of at least one phenolic compound and an aldehyde, and a water-soluble divalent metal salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: George L. Payet, John C. Chang
  • Patent number: 4873140
    Abstract: A coated article with a substrate having a low surface energy coating thereon, said coating comprising an in situ polymerized monofunctional poly(perfluoropropyleneoxy) acrylate or methacrylate oligomer. The oligomer has a poly(perfluoropropyleneoxy) segment, [CF(CF.sub.3)CF.sub.2 O].sub.d, which has a number average molecular weight of about 800 to 25,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Daniel K. McIntyre
  • Patent number: 4873020
    Abstract: Fluorochemical surfactant compositions are provided. The compositions comprise a fluorochemical amine salt which can be represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.f is a perfluoroaliphatic radical containing 3 to 20 carbon atoms, R is H or CH.sub.3, and R.sup.1 is an alkyl radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The fluorochemical surfactant compositions are prepared by reacting at least one perfluoroalkyl sulfonyl fluoride having 3 to 20 alkyl carbon atoms, ethylene or propylene oxide, and at least one tertiary amine, (R.sup.1).sub.3 N wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and which may contain a hydroxyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Imelda A. Muggli
  • Patent number: 4867881
    Abstract: A microporous article is provided. The article comprises a thermoplastic polymeric structure having a plurality of cells with adjacent cells being interconnected by passageways to provide a network of communicating pores. The structure is oriented in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Minning and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Kevin E. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 4863792
    Abstract: Multi-layer, microporous polyolefin sheet materials are provided. The sheet materials comprise at least two microporous polyolefin layers, the layers being autogenously bonded and having substantially the same porosity as prior to bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James S. Mrozinski
  • Patent number: 4857067
    Abstract: The back ears of a contoured disposable diaper are shirred to become stretchable and elastically retractable. Because of this, the diaper can be pulled snugly around the buttocks and the waist merely by applying ordinary fingertip pressure to the fastening tabs. The shirring can be provided by incorporating into the back ears of a flat diaper-forming blank a piece of heat-elasticizable material and then heating each diaper that is cut from the blank to shrink the piece. A preferred heat-elasticizable material comprises a substantially flat inelastic web to which is heat bonded a plurality of parallel elastomeric strands extended to at least about three times their relaxed length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Leigh E. Wood, Anthony J. Zoia
  • Patent number: 4855184
    Abstract: Normally solid, organic solvent-soluble, thermoplastic, polyethylenically-unsaturated, cellulosic polyurethane polymers are provided. These cellulosic polyurethane polymers comprise one or more cellulose ether or ester segments, one or more alkylene moieties having at least two carbon atoms and which can be substituted or interrupted by ether oxygen atoms, ester groups, or phenylene groups, two or more residues of diisocyanates, the segments, moieties, and residues being linked together by linking groups with the proviso that said alkylene moieties contain sufficient ethylenic unsaturation that said polymer can be crosslinked to a solvent-insoluble state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Klun, David D. Lu, Aida F. Robbins
  • Patent number: 4837067
    Abstract: A nonwoven thermal insulating batt is provided. The batt comprises structural staple fibers and bonding staple fibers, the fibers being entangled and substantially parallel to the faces of the batt at the face portions and substantially perpendicular to the faces of the batt in the central portion of the batt. The bonding staple fibers are bonded to the structural staple fibers and other bonding staple fibers at points of contact. Also provided is a method of making the nonwoven thermal insulating batt which comprises air-laying a web of structural staple fibers and bonding staple fibers with the fibers being entangled and substantially parallel to the faces of the web at the face portions and in an angled, layered configuration in the central portions of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Patrick H. Carey, Jr., Joseph P. Kronzer
  • Patent number: 4830910
    Abstract: A low adhesion perfluoropolyether composition is provided. The composition comprises a copolymer prepared from a mixture of at least one monofunctional perfluoropolyether monomer and at least one difunctional perfluoropolyether monomer, each of said monofunctional and difunctional monomers having a molecular weight in the range of about 1500 to 2500.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James M. Larson
  • Patent number: 4824718
    Abstract: A disposable article such as a diaper or feminine hygiene product having a rattle-free, liquid impermeable, vapor permeable, microporous, polymeric film having pores defining passages extending therethrough, the passages being partially filled with a rattle-reducing additive material and a method for making same is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Kirk K. Hwang
  • Patent number: 4813948
    Abstract: Microfiber microwebs are provided. The microfiber microwebs have relatively dense nuclei with individual fibers and/or fiber bundles protruding therefrom. The microfiber microwebs can be incorporated into nonwoven webs of blown microfibers, air-laid staple fibers, or wood pulp fibers as well as into shaped articles having porous covering materials. The microfiber microwebs are useful in sorbent, filtration, and thermal insulation materials. The microfiber microwebs are prepared by divellicating a microfiber web to form discrete particles of microfiber microwebs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas I. Insley
  • Patent number: 4810323
    Abstract: Storage-stable, thermally-curable, one-part epoxy resin compositions comprising a curable epoxide resin; a curative amount of an aliphatic or non-aromatic cyclic polyol having about 2 to 18 carbon atoms, at least two hydroxy groups of said polyol being primary or secondary, and said polyol being free of strong acid groups, and free of electron-withdrawing substituents and large groups which cause steric hindrance in the .alpha.-position in relation to the carbon atoms attached to the methylol groups of the polyol; and a catalytic amount of an imidazole compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kent S. Tarbutton, Janis Robins, John C. Tangen