Patents Represented by Attorney William L. Huebsch
  • Patent number: 7201336
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid spray gun with several improved features, including (1) non-cylindrical air passageways on air horns included in an air cap portion of a body assembly that provide improved shape and uniformity for the wide elongate stream of liquid formed by the spray gun; (2) the air cap portion of the body assembly being mounted for manual rotation on a nozzle portion of the body assembly between positions defined by stops and retained at those positions by friction; and (3) the body assembly through which passes liquid sprayed by the spray gun being molded of polymeric material and being manually releasable from a metal platform portion of the spray gun through which air is fed to passageways through the body assembly to spray the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Russell E. Blette, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Jameel R. Qiblawi
  • Patent number: 7168204
    Abstract: A box for storing flies used for fishing including a cover assembly having two dish-like cover portions, each of which cover portions includes a central wall part, and side wall parts around the periphery of the central wall part projecting generally in the same direction away from the central wall part and having a continuous distal edge portion; and a hinge having hinge portions attached to the side wall parts adjacent second sides of the central wall parts. The hinge affords pivotal movement of the cover portions between a closed position with the distal edge portions of the cover portions opposed to, closely spaced from, and generally aligned with each other, and an open position with the distal edge portions spaced away from and out of alignment with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Wieringa, John E. Stark, Gary A. Albrecht, Steven R. Lambert
  • Patent number: 7121155
    Abstract: A pressure indicating structure comprising (1) a translucent or transparent sheet including reflective structure defining at least a portion of a second surface of that sheet for reflecting back through a first opposite surface of the sheet light entering the sheet through its first surface, that reflective structure comprising a multiplicity of peak portions and recessed portions having recessed surface portions of the second surface that define recesses from the peak portions; and (2) a deformable layer comprising pressure sensitive adhesive having a major surface along the second surface of the sheet over the peak portions of the reflective structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald C. Johansson, James L. Bries
  • Patent number: 7090148
    Abstract: An assembly for feeding liquid to the inlet port of a gravity feed sprayer. The assembly includes (1) a mixing cup of a known type commonly used to mix paint with solvent that is of stiff polymeric material and bears indicia on its side wall indicating the levels to which a plurality of different liquids should be sequentially poured into the cup to achieve a predetermined ratio between the liquids; (2) a first adapter comprising a central portion having a through opening and a transverse portion including a peripheral part defining a groove along its inner surface adapted for sealing engagement with a top end of the mixing cup; and (3) a second adapter having a through opening, a first end portion of which second adapter is adapted to releasably engage the inlet port of a gravity feed paint sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Petrie, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Keith C. Navis, David C. Roeker
  • Patent number: 7056844
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforced tape including a visually transparent backing layer, a reinforcing scrim preferably of fibers made of visually transparent material along one surface of the backing, and a layer of transparent adhesive covering but not totally wetting the reinforcing scrim so that the scrim is visible along the backing layer before the tape is applied to give a user a visual indication of the strength of the tape. The indexes of refraction of the material of the fibers in the scrim and of the adhesive are similar so that when the layer of adhesive is pressed against a substrate through the backing layer, the adhesive will more totally wet the fibers of the reinforcing scrim, causing them to become significantly less visible in the reinforced tape adhered to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Sheely
  • Patent number: 7032839
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid spray gun with several improved features, including (1) a molded polymeric possibly disposable body assembly through which passes liquid sprayed by the spray gun that is manually releasable from a metal platform portion of the spray gun through which air is fed to passageways through the body assembly to spray the liquid; (2) non-cylindrical air passageways on air horns that provide improved shape and uniformity for the wide elongate stream of liquid formed by the spray gun, and (3) an air cap portion of the body assembly mounted for manual rotation on a nozzle portion of the body assembly between positions defined by stops and retained at those positions by friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Russell E. Blette, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Jameel R. Qiblawi
  • Patent number: 7007421
    Abstract: A display assembly including a plurality of clips of resiliently flexible material, each of which clips has a rear portion, a front portion laying along a front surface of the rear portion, and an arcuate end portion joining ends of the rear and front portions and defining a passageway transverse of the front, rear, and end portions. A plurality of lengths of stretch release adhesive releasably adhere rear surfaces of the clips to a surface in a pattern determined by a person applying the display assembly; and at least one resiliently elastic cord is positioned to extend between the clips and through the passageways in the clips to form a web-like structure between the clips. The clips and cord are decoratively colored, so that the display assembly can be used only as a decorative assembly, or can be used to support one or more objects along the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jon A. Kirschhoffer, Roger T. Hager
  • Patent number: 6984429
    Abstract: A laminate from which decorative films can be precisely applied to a substrate. The laminate includes a polymeric cover sheet having opposite outer and inner major surfaces. A layer of structured pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered to the inner major surface of the cover sheet. The structured pressure sensitive adhesive has a plurality of spaced passageways extending to at least one edge of the layer of structured pressure sensitive adhesive. A decorative film is adhered to the structured pressure sensitive adhesive. A second layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered to the major surfaces of the decorative film opposite the layer of structured pressure sensitive adhesive. A release liner extends substantially across the second layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and a portion of the structured pressure sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kristin L. Thunhorst, James F. Pitzen
  • Patent number: 6971590
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid spray gun with several improved features, including (1) an air cap portion of a body assembly mounted for manual rotation on a nozzle portion of the body assembly between positions defined by stops and retained at those positions by friction; (2) non-cylindrical air passageways on air horns included in the air cap portion of the body assembly that provide improved shape and uniformity for the wide elongate stream of liquid formed by the spray gun; and (3) the body assembly through which passes liquid sprayed by the spray gun being molded of polymeric material and being manually releasable from a metal platform portion of the spray gun through which air is fed to passageways through the body assembly to spray the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Russell E. Blette, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Jameel R. Qiblawi
  • Patent number: 6964509
    Abstract: A task light assembly including a long flexible fiber optic element capable of transmitting light between light inlet and light outlet ends; a light source at the light inlet end of the fiber optic element; and a reel assembly for supporting the light source and the light inlet end of the fiber optic element and for allowing movement of the fiber optic element between a storage position with the light outlet end of the fiber optic element supported in a storage position, and an extended use position with the light outlet end of the fiber optic element at a work location remote from the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John E. Gozum, Thomas J. Reid, Duane C. Richardson
  • Patent number: 6953155
    Abstract: An assembly for feeding liquid to the inlet port of a liquid spraying device or spray gun. The assembly includes a stiff container that defines an opening into a cavity in the container, and a flexible liner positioned within the cavity in the container has an outer surface generally corresponding in shape to the inner surface of the container, an inner surface defining a cavity in the liner, and an annular lip along the top end of the side wall defining an opening into the cavity in the liner. An included adapter assembly has a central portion with a through opening that is adapted to engage the inlet port of a liquid spraying device, a transverse portion including a peripheral part adapted for engagement within the flexible liner adjacent said top end of the container, and means for sealing the flexible liner around the peripheral part of the adapter assembly. An air supply assembly connected to the container supplies air at a relatively low pressure (e.g., in the range of about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Gary Brotherton, Robert J. Rothrum
  • Patent number: 6926059
    Abstract: A device for applying tape from a roll of tape (e.g., masking tape) along a surface to be protected with an edge of the tape extending along a juncture between the surface to be protected and a surface to be treated disposed at about a right angle with respect to the surface to be protected. The device includes a two portion housing around and journaling the tape roll, each portion having a tape contacting part of its inner surface in a first plane, and having in a second plane a guide part of its outer surface adapted to be slid along the surface to be treated. The first and second planes on each of the housing portions can be parallel or at a small angle with respect to each other so that they intersect along an application side of the housing. A pressure application structure is mounted on the housing with an outer edge each end of the pressure application structure at the intersection (if they intersect) of the first and second planes for a different adjacent one of the housing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Micah T. Somers, Nathaniel R. Hallee, James F. Pitzen
  • Patent number: 6902056
    Abstract: A caddy having a socket shaped to receive the scrubbing end portion of a cleaning implement such as a brush when the implement is being stored, particularly including the type of cleaning implement having a long handle that is used for cleaning toilet bowls or the like that is commonly used and stored in bathrooms. The cooperating shapes of the cleaning and a socket in the caddy allow storage of the cleaning implement or brush either with the long handle of the cleaning implement projecting upwardly in the conventional manner, or with its long handle extending generally horizontally, thereby facilitating storage of the caddy containing the cleaning implement in cabinets of the types typically found in bathrooms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Perry S. Dotterman, Michael J. Kubes
  • Patent number: 6887553
    Abstract: A roll of masking material comprising a coiled elongate thin flexible sheet, which sheet has longitudinal folds defining, in some embodiments with elongate edges of the sheet, edges of longitudinally extending portions of said sheet. Those longitudinally extending portions of the sheet include pleat-like portions of the sheet each having opposite major surfaces generally parallel with the axis of the roll, which pleat-like portions are superimposed major surfaces to major surfaces to form a laminate with outermost ones of the superimposed pleat like portions defining the opposite outer surfaces of the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert H. Heil, James F. Pitzen, Jeffrey J. Schwab
  • Patent number: 6854912
    Abstract: A mop assembly including a mop head and handle, and a supply of liquid connected to a valve assembly on the handle adjacent the mop head. The valve assembly includes a length of resiliently flexible tubing that has a portion extending transversely through the handle and first and second members on opposite sides of the length of tubing that are relatively movable between a closed position at which the first and second members pinch together opposite sides of the length of tubing to stop the flow of liquid through it, and an open position at which the first and second members are spaced apart to afford flow of liquid through it. Should the tubing become plugged, it can easily be replaced by disconnecting one end from a liquid supply length of tubing, withdrawing the tubing from between the first and second members, and then installing a new length of tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John J. Dyer, Gary L. Olson, David A. Maurer, Raymond N Maurer, Joseph J. Fodrocy
  • Patent number: 6843820
    Abstract: A filter assembly with a frame and a filter element including a sheet of filter media with attachment strips at opposite ends. The frame positions the filter element with the filter media across a passageway in the frame and with the attachment strips along opposite end parts of a perimeter portion of the frame. Abutments extend along the perimeter portion between its end parts and along opposite edges of the filter material. Projections on the end parts are engaged in openings in the attachment strips and are spaced from the abutments such that the filter element can be mounted on the frame with either of the attachment strips engaged with the projections at either of the end parts while the filter element can only be mounted on the frame with an inlet surface of the sheet of filter material facing the same direction as a front surface of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: James O. Kubokawa
  • Patent number: 6811848
    Abstract: An assemblage of laminates each including only a portion of a graphic, which graphic portion has a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive along its rear major surface. The graphic portions in the laminates are adapted to be adhered to a substrate by the layers of adhesive in a predetermined relative orientation to form a graphic having a predetermined shape. Each of the laminates further includes a separate polymeric cover sheet having opposite outer and inner major surfaces and overlaying the graphic portion, and a layer of removable pressure-sensitive adhesive having opposite front and rear major surfaces, which layer of removable pressure-sensitive adhesive is coextensive with and has its rear surface adhered to the inner major surface of the cover sheet and has its front surface adhered to the front surface of the graphic portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James F. Pitzen, Kristin L. Thunhorst
  • Patent number: D509033
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Perry S. Dotterman, Michael J. Kubes, Arthur V. Lang
  • Patent number: D518260
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Delphine E. Aubourg, Perry S. Dotterman, Thomas J. Herbrand, Kristine K. Krumhus, Michael J. Kubes
  • Patent number: D529648
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Casey L. Carlson, Glendon D. Kappel