Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Publication number: 20150203645
    Abstract: Ligand-functionalized substrates are describe that are useful in selectively binding and removing biological materials from biological samples, and methods for preparing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jerald K. Rasmussen, Catherine A. Bothof
  • Publication number: 20150207107
    Abstract: Transfer films, articles made therewith, and methods of making and using transfer films to form bridged nanostructures are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Evan L. Schwartz, Justin P. Meyer, Olester Benson, JR., Terry O. Collier, Michael Benton Free, Robert F. Kamrath, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, David B. Olson, K. Raveesh Shenoy, Martin B. Wolk
  • Publication number: 20150203650
    Abstract: Aerogel, calcined articles, and crystalline articles comprising ZrO2. Exemplary uses of the crystalline metal oxide articles include dental articles (e.g., restoratives, replacements, inlays, onlays, veneers, full and partial crowns, bridges, implants, implant abutments, copings, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liner, and bridge frameworks) and orthodontic appliances (e.g., brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, and buttons).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Brant U. Kolb, Bryan C. Feisel, Martin Goetzinger, Philip S. Hall, Holger Hauptmann, Mark J. Hendrickson, Kathleen M. Humpal, John W. Longabach, James P. Mathers, Roberta R. Naujok, Paul D. Pennington, Gallus Schechner
  • Patent number: 9084653
    Abstract: A computer implemented method includes providing a first set of digital data corresponding to an upper arch image of at least a portion of an upper dental arch of a patient, providing a second set of digital data corresponding to a lower arch image of at least a portion of a lower dental arch of the patient, providing bite alignment data representative of the spatial relationship between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch of the patient, and aligning the upper and lower arch images relative to one another based on the bite alignment data until an aligned upper and lower arch image is attained. The aligned upper and lower arch images are moved towards each other until a first contact point is detected and at least one of the upper and lower arch images is moved relative to the other in one or more directions to a plurality of positions for determining optimal occlusion position of the lower and upper dental arches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignees: CADENT, LTD., 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Russell A. Jordan, James D. Hansen, Joseph M. Caruso, Patrick B. Dufour, Baruch Nissenbaum
  • Patent number: 9085838
    Abstract: A floor mat article for removing and holding dust, mud, dirt, and water and a process for making a floor mat. The matting article can include a lofty nonwoven web of entangled fibers and a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating. The lofty nonwoven web can include organic crimped staple fibers which can be adhesively bonded together by a binder resin to form a three dimensional network of intercommunicated voids constituting at least 75% of the volume. The matting article can have a maximum density of 95 kilograms per cubic meter. The process can include forming a nonwoven web of crimped staple organic fibers; coating the nonwoven web with a binder resin; heat curing the coated nonwoven web; and applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to a first major surface of the coated nonwoven web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Raul Maldonado Arellano
  • Patent number: 9086535
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical device having a light source, a viscoelastic lightguide and a retroreflective film suitable for retroreflecting light. Light from the light source enters the viscoelastic lightguide and is transported within the lightguide by total internal reflection. The optical device may have a “front lit” configuration such that light being transported within the lightguide is extracted and retroreflected by the film toward a viewer. The optical device may have a “back lit” configuration such that light being transported within the lightguide is extracted and transmitted through the film toward a viewer. The retroreflective film may comprise beaded retroreflective sheeting such as that used in traffic signs and markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, Marie A. Boulos, Michael A. Meis, Kevin R. Schaffer, Thu-Van T. Tran
  • Patent number: 9085019
    Abstract: Superhydrophobic films and methods of making such films are disclosed. More particularly, superhydrophobic films having durable nanostructures with high contrast ratios and various methods of producing such films are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun-Ying Zhang, Terry L. Smith, Berkan K. Endres, Mark K. Debe
  • Patent number: 9086194
    Abstract: An LED clip light assembly includes a battery, an electrically conductive clip member operatively associated with the battery, and at least one LED connected with the clip member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William A. Eibner, Joseph A. Hoffman, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Cristin E. Moran
  • Patent number: 9085121
    Abstract: Methods of preparing adhesive-backed articles and methods of applying adhesives backed articles are described. The adhesive-backed articles include a compliant film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive having a microstructured surface opposite the compliant film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Haruyuki Mikami, Patrick R. Fleming, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek
  • Patent number: 9081413
    Abstract: A system for human interaction based upon intention detection. The system includes a sensor for providing information relating to a posture of a person detected by the sensor, a processor, and a display device. The processor is configured to receive the information from the sensor and process the received information in order to determine if an event occurred. This processing includes determining whether the posture of the person indicates a particular intention, such as attempting to take a photo. If the event occurred, the processor is configured to provide an interaction with the person via the display device such as displaying a message or the address of a web site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Shuguang Wu, Jun Xiao, Glenn E. Casner, John P. Baetzold, Kenneth C. Reily, Kandyce M. Bohannon
  • Patent number: 9082326
    Abstract: Self illuminated back and front lit shaped and two-sided signage. The signage includes a turning film having a structured surface for redirecting light and a diffuser providing for diffusion. The shape of the signage from a viewer's perspective provides the content, such as letters, to be conveyed to the viewer. Two-sided signage includes two signs arranged back-to-back, each including a turning film having a structured surface for redirecting light, a diffuser providing for diffusion, and a printed graphic. In the two-sided signage, the turning films receive light from an ambient light source and direct the light via the structured surfaces toward viewers of the two graphics in order to passively illuminate the signage. The two-sided signage can be shaped to provide content via the shape and graphics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Erik A. Aho, Patrick A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9081448
    Abstract: A digitizer system utilizing two location measurement techniques that operate in cooperation to improve the operation of the digitizer. The first location measurement technique provides a first, or coarse, stylus location. The second location measurement technique provides a second, or fine, stylus location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 9081147
    Abstract: A retarder film provides a first light retardation and can be heat processed in one or more selected areas to provide a second light retardation in the selected area(s). The retarder film may have an absorption characteristic such that the heat processing can be carried out by selectively exposing the film to a suitable radiant beam. The retarder film is composed of a stack of contiguous ultrathin layers configured to provide an effective optical medium for visible light. Visible light propagates through the stack as an effective medium having effective refractive indices along principal x-, y-, and z-axes. At least some of the ultrathin layers possess intrinsic birefringence, and the effective indices of the stack are functions of the intrinsic refractive indices of the constituent ultrathin layers. The heat processing is carried out so that the ultrathin layer stack structural integrity is not substantially altered in the processed area(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William Ward Merrill, Douglas S. Dunn, David T. Yust
  • Patent number: 9079294
    Abstract: A convolute abrasive wheel formed from a spirally wound nonwoven abrasive web. The nonwoven abrasive web including a make coat and abrasive particles having a Vickers indentation hardness of at least 16 Gpa and a toughness of at least 3.0 Mpa m1/2. A first size coat comprising a phenolic resin is applied over the make coat and the abrasive prepolymer is applied over the first size coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Dean S. Holmes
  • Patent number: 9082184
    Abstract: Techniques are described for creating and manipulating software notes representative of physical notes. A computing device comprises a processor and a note identification module executable on the processor and configured to separate an input image into a plurality of channelized input images. Each of the channelized input images are associated with a different color. The note identification module is configured to apply edge detection and feature extraction to identify polygons within each of the channelized input images and select, from the polygons from the channelized input images, a representative polygon for each of the physical notes in the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Pontus Axelsson, Roland Persson, Emre Berge Ergenekon, Linus Åkerlund
  • Patent number: 9078946
    Abstract: A method of treating porous particles, each porous particle having an external surface and a multiplicity of pores with interior pore surfaces, by contacting the external surface with a hydrophobic agent while causing the interior pore surfaces to remain substantially free of the hydrophobic agent. In certain illustrative embodiments, treating the external surfaces of the porous particles includes exposing the porous particles to at least one of water vapor, methanol vapor, or ethanol vapor; and subsequently exposing the porous particles to a second vapor comprising a reactive organosilane compound which reacts to form the hydrophobic agent. In some particular illustrative embodiments, at least a portion of the external surface of the treated porous particle includes hydrophobic groups, the hydrophobic groups selected from at least one of alkyl or aryl groups optionally substituted with fluorine, and siloxanes having alkyl groups, aryl groups, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Brinda B. Badri, Moses M. David, Haoming Rong, Badri Veeraraghavan
  • Patent number: 9078547
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning device that comprises a first arm portion with an adjustable length, a first cleaning portion, a second arm portion supporting the first cleaning portion, and a rotating adjustable portion located between the first arm portion and the second arm portion, the first arm portion being rotatable in a predefined range about the second arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Liang Cheng, Gianmauro Vella, Feng Zeng
  • Patent number: 9079757
    Abstract: A tool (100) is provided for use in uncapping a plurality of linearly-oriented, spaced-apart tubes; the tubes capped with a unitary closure device comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, linearly-oriented alternating caps and openings, each cap having a cap upper surface and being connected to at least one adjacent cap by at least two connecting structures, each of the at least two connecting structures having a connecting structure upper surface and a connecting structure lower surface, the at least two connecting structures and two adjacent caps forming a boundary of an opening. The tool comprises a body (30) having first portion (42) for engagement by a user and a second portion comprising a base (52) and a plurality of spaced-apart projections (60) extending there-from. Each projection is configured for releasably engaging one of the openings in the unitary closure device. Optionally, the first portion is configured in a non-coplanar relationship with respect to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Jason W. Bjork
  • Patent number: 9079383
    Abstract: A method of applying optical film to a large format display panel is described. The method utilizes optical film (20) that has been pre-cut to cover a given area of the panel, such that the film does not need to be cut or trimmed after it is adhered to the panel. The method is suitable for use with large format display panels such as those having viewable areas of 208 cm (82 inches) diagonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Scott M. Tapio, Robert J. Reuter, Audrey A. Sherman
  • Patent number: D734490
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stefan Eckstein, Andreas Boehm, Marc Peuker