Patents Assigned to 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTY COMPANIES
  • Patent number: 6270944
    Abstract: A thermal transfer element for forming a multilayer device may include a substrate and a multicomponent transfer unit that, when transferred to a receptor, is configured and arranged to form a first operational layer and a second operational layer of a multilayer device. In at least some instances, the thermal transfer element also includes a light-to-heat conversion (LTHC) layer that can convert light energy to heat energy to transfer the multicomponent transfer unit. Transferring the multicomponent transfer unit to the receptor may include contacting a receptor with a thermal transfer element having a substrate and a multicomponent transfer unit. Then, the thermal transfer element is selectively heated to transfer the multicomponent transfer unit to the receptor according to a pattern to form at least first and second operational layers of a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Paul F. Baude, Jeffrey M. Florczak, Fred B. McCormick, Yong Hsu
  • Patent number: 6270910
    Abstract: Described are anisotropic films comprising a continuous elastic phase comprising a polyolefin elastomer; and a discontinuous phase oriented within the continuous phase such that the film exhibits anisotropic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jobst Tilman Jaeger, Alan J. Sipinen
  • Publication number: 20010011112
    Abstract: A wall repair compound useful for filling and repairing cracks, holes, and other imperfections in a wall surface includes a conventional filler material, a conventional binder material, and a dust reducing additive which reduces the quantity of airborne dust particles generated when sanding the hardened joint compound. Airborne dust reducing additives include oils, surfactants, solvents, waxes, and other petroleum derivatives. The additive can be added to conventional ready-mixed joint compounds and to setting type joint compounds. A method of reducing the quantity of airborne dust generated when sanding a fully hardened joint compound includes mixing a sufficient quantity of the dust reducing additive with the joint compound prior to when the joint compound has been applied to the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Nathaniel P. Langford
  • Publication number: 20010010884
    Abstract: An improved electronic display that includes components selected to enhance display performance. The improved display includes an active substrate that has a plurality of thin film transistors and a plurality of thermally transferred color filters that include a colorant in a crosslinked binder. The active substrate can also include a black matrix. Other components in the improved display such as a liquid crystal material, spacers, and bottom polarizer, can be selected to enhance display performance characteristics such as brightness, power consumption, response time, weight, and thickness. The invention also provides a method of forming a color filter substrate for displays including the steps of thermally mass transferring a plurality of color filters and crosslinking the plurality of color filters after transfer. Before the crosslinking step, the plurality of color filters can be inspected and removed for reworking of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Paul F. Guehler, Thomas A. Isberg, Kazuhiko Mizuno, Kazuki Noda, Raghunath Padiyath, Richard J. Pokorny, John S. Staral, Jeffrey C. Chang
  • Publication number: 20010011108
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of powder coating methods to form coated abrasives. In one embodiment, the powder is in the form of a multiplicity of binder precursor particles comprising a radiation curable component. In other embodiments, the powder comprises at least one metal salt of a fatty acid and optionally an organic component that may be a thermoplastic macromolecule, a radiation curable component, and/or a thermally curable macromolecule. In either embodiment, the powder exists as a solid under the desired dry coating conditions, but is easily melted at relatively low temperatures and then solidified also at reasonably low processing temperatures. The principles of the present invention can be applied to form make coats, size coats, and/or supersize coats, as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernest L. Thurber, Eric G. Larson, Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Alan R. Kirk, Mark R. Meierotto, Roy Stubbs
  • Patent number: 6268532
    Abstract: The present invention provides a monomer having the formula A—B, wherein A is represented by Formula I: wherein B is selected from —OCF═CF2 and —A; wherein, when B is —OCF═CF2, the orientation of B is meta or para to the trifluorovinyloxy group of A; wherein, when B is A, the bond joining the A groups is para to the trifluorovinyloxy group of each A; and wherein each Z is independently selected from —SO2F, —SO2Cl, —SO3H, —SO2—N(M)—SO2CF3, and —SO2—N(M)—SO2Rf; wherein M is any suitable cation and Rf is a C1 to C10 fluorocarbon or fluorinated ether group. The present invention also provides a monomer according to Formula II: wherein X is F, Cl, or N(M)SO2Rf, wherein M is any suitable cation and Rf is a C1 to C10 fluorocarbon or fluorinated ether group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Darryl D. DesMarteau, Charles W. Martin, Lawrence A. Ford, Yuan Xie
  • Patent number: 6267492
    Abstract: Side emitting light guides are provided in connection with illumination devices, light guide systems, and tasklight illumination kits. The side emitting light guides may be provide bright directional light, or they may be provide diffuse light. The side emitting light guides may be flexible to allow for insertion into tortuous passageways. The light guides may also have a relatively small profile and/or a solid core. The light guides may also include shades that allow an operator to convert the light guides from side emitting to end emitting in order to provide brighter, more focused illumination in a particular area to perform some tasks. When completed, the user has the option of re-configuring the light guides for side emission to provide general area illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Reid, David J. Lundin
  • Patent number: 6268961
    Abstract: An optical film includes a reflective polarizing element and a particle-containing layer. The reflective polarizing element substantially reflects light having a first polarization state and substantially transmits a second polarization state. The particle-containing layer is disposed on the reflective polarizing element and in a same optical path as the reflective polarizing element. The particle-containing layer is configured and arranged to transmit light and includes a plurality of particles that roughen an exterior surface of the optical film. Preferably, using the optical film in an optical device does not substantially reduce the gain advantage of the optical device when compared with an optical device utilizing the same optical film without particles in the surface layer. Also described are optical devices using the optical film and methods of making and using the optical films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, William L. Kausch, Guy M. Kallman, Robert W. Horn, Timothy J. Hebrink, James A. Olson, Mark B. O'Neill, Elisa M. Cross, Susan L. Kent
  • Patent number: 6267865
    Abstract: Described is a process for the electrochemical fluorination of a substrate, the process comprising the steps of: providing a substrate comprising at least one carbon-bonded hydrogen; preparing a reaction solution comprising the substrate and hydrogen fluoride; passing electric current through the reaction solution sufficient to cause replacement of one or more hydrogens of the substrate with fluorine, the electric current being interrupted through a current cycle defined by current levels comprising an elevated current and a reduced current; wherein the current varies in such a manner that the resistance of the cell operated with interrupted current is lower than the resistance of the cell operated with non-interrupted current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen D. Polson, Jeffrey C. Spangler, Eric N. Wallace, John C. Smeltzer, Charles F. Kolpin, Ludmila M. Groubina, Galina I. Kaurova, Anatoly A. Krasilnikov, Adda E. Gandlina
  • Patent number: 6268032
    Abstract: A web of sheet material has a plurality of longitudinal rows of indicia patterns printed on a front face thereon, with the indicia patterns all aligned on the web in common readability orientation. On its back face, the web has a plurality of longitudinally disposed patterns of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive thereon, with the adhesive patterns being oriented in registration with the rows of indicia patterns. Longitudinal severing of the web thus results in a plurality of identical web strips. Lateral severing of the web strips results in a plurality of identical note sheets, each note sheet bearing one of the indicia patterns on its front face and a pattern of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive on its back face. The note sheets are applied in registration to an advertising piece to create a promotional assembly. In this process, unique intermediate rolls of the web and web strips are developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy A. Mertens, Alden R. Miles, Mark S. Vogel, Gregory F. Stifter, Kim K. Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 6268495
    Abstract: A compound comprising wherein R2 is an alkyl group which may be straight chain or branched and n is a number of from 2 to 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alan D. Rousseau, Marvin E. Jones, Seyed A. Angadjivand
  • Publication number: 20010009166
    Abstract: A dispensing valve cap mountable to a bottle is provided with a first valve part having a tubular portion having an air inlet and a fluid outlet spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the tubular portion to form a constant head valve for dispensing fluid from the bottle. A second valve part of the valve rotatably mounted to the first valve part includes a tubular portion for simultaneously closing both the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the first valve part when fluid dispensing is not desired. The second valve part further includes an air inlet, and a fluid outlet alignable with the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the tubular portion when fluid dispensing is desired. The dispensing valve cap controls fluid flow from the bottle. The bottle with the valve cap is useable with a dispenser assembly for mixing a concentrated fluid from the bottle with a dilutant. A tamper resistant lock prevents undesired rotation of the second valve part relative to the first valve part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John J. Dyer, Corry P. Gunderson
  • Publication number: 20010009706
    Abstract: A sheet material comprising i) a pressure-sensitive adhesive film comprising an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive polymer, and ii) a release film comprising a polyolefin polymer having a density of no greater than 0.90 g/cc, the pressure-sensitive adhesive film being in contact with the polyolefin polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Scott R. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20010009714
    Abstract: Multilayer polymeric films and other optical bodies are provided. The films, which have at least three layers of different composition in the optical repeating unit, reflect light in a first portion of the spectrum while transmitting light in a second portion of the spectrum, exhibit improved reflectivities at oblique angles, and can be designed to suppress one or more higher order harmonics of the main reflection band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Timothy J. Nevitt, William W. Merrill, Michael F. Weber
  • Publication number: 20010009475
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a plurality of laminae for use in a mold suitable for use in forming retroreflective cube corner articles. Each lamina has opposing first and second major surfaces defining therebetween a first reference plane. Each lamina further includes a working surface connecting the first and second major surfaces. The working surface defines a second reference plane substantially parallel to the working surface and perpendicular to the first reference plane and a third reference plane perpendicular to the first reference plane and the second reference plane. The method includes orienting a plurality of laminae to have their respective first reference planes parallel to each other and disposed at a first angle relative to a fixed reference axis. At least two groove sets are formed in the working surface. Each groove set includes at least two parallel adjacent V-shaped grooves in the working surface of the laminae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Gerald M. Benson
  • Patent number: 6265068
    Abstract: Inorganic phosphor particles having a diamond-like carbon coating and the method of making these particles. Inorganic phosphor particles are coated with a diamond-like carbon coating, which can include additive components. The coating is applied in a plasma reactor process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Moses M. David, Dee Lynn Johnson
  • Patent number: 6264869
    Abstract: Method of preparing a decorative emblem including providing a rigid substrate having on the front surface a 3-dimensional design having protrusions or recesses; placing the substrate in a first mold having an inner surface which closely contacts part of the substrate front surface to provide a gap between an mold inner surface and a front surface; injection molding a first plastic through one or more conduits extending from the back surface of the substrate to the front surface to fill the gap and solidifying the first plastic material; covering at least part of the 3-dimensional design and the first plastic material with a second transparent plastic to form a protective cap by placing the substrate in a second mold having an inner surface which closely contacts part of the surface of the substrate to provide a cavity into which the second plastic is injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Giancarlo Notarpietro, Albert Vent
  • Patent number: 6264923
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical aerosol formulation suitable for oral and/or nasal inhalation including an anti-inflammatory steroid of the formula in which: R1 is 1-butyl, 2-butyl, cyclohexyl or phenyl and R2 is acetyl or isobutanoyl, in particular ciclesonide. The formulations also include hydrofluorocarbon propellants such as HFC 134a and/or 227, and cosolvent such as ethanol in an amount sufficient to solubilize the ciclesonide or related steroid (and various optional ingredients, such as surfactant). The formulations exhibit very desirable physical and chemical stability, as well as excellent delivery characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin J. Oliver, Kanu M. Fatania, John S. Scott, Helgert Muller
  • Patent number: D445893
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dean M. Remer, Paul A. Martinson
  • Patent number: D445894
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dean M. Remer, Paul A. Martinson