Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Energy efficient sign
    Patent number: 9039245
    Abstract: A light directing composite film includes a planar top major surface, a planar bottom major surface, a plurality of lenticular lens elements disposed between the top major surface and the bottom major surface, and a plurality of light reflection regions and light transmission regions disposed between the plurality of lenticular lens and the planar bottom major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael A. Meis, David G. Freier, Patrick R. Fleming
  • Signal blocking detection in offender monitoring systems
    Patent number: 9041535
    Abstract: An electronic monitoring device for monitoring an individual and detecting signal blocking. The electronic monitoring device may be equipped with GPS and/or RF communication technology that may be interrupted intentionally or unintentionally. The device compares sampled incident energy with a reference level to identify an occurrence of blocking the transmitter signal. The device may also base determination of a signal blocking occurrence on input from a status detection module. Status information is also leveraged to intelligently calibrate the device to more robustly determine a tampering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael E. Hamerly
  • Filter device
    Patent number: 9038830
    Abstract: A filter device is disclosed. The device includes at least one substantially flat filter media that may be encapsulated between non-permeable films. Some embodiments comprise ports for introducing a fluid to be filtered and for evacuating the filtered fluid. Various substrates may be employed therein in cooperation with the at least one filter media to enhance device performance. Also disclosed are various apparatuses configured to contain at least one filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Lucas
  • Hearing Device Tether With Acoustic Decoupling Section
    Publication number: 20150139470
    Abstract: A hearing article having an acoustic decoupling section is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a hearing article described herein includes a tether having a first end attached to a first hearing device, a first acoustic decoupling section proximate the first end, and a substantially straight intermediate section. The acoustic decoupling section comprises a predetermined shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Jacob H. Ely
  • CONCHA-FIT ELECTRONIC HEARING PROTECTION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20150139474
    Abstract: A concha-fit electronic hearing protection device including an eartip and an earpiece body. When the device is fitted in the ear of a user, the eartip externally occludes the ear canal and the earpiece body internally occludes the eartip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul D. Henry, Michael J. Pescetto
  • TWO IMAGER PROJECTION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20150136950
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes optical elements and optical devices that use the optical elements to allow the output of two imagers to be combined onto a single optical axis. Each of the two imagers can be based on alternate polarization directions, and the disclosed embodiments can enable high contrast 3D projectors without requiring either time or polarization sequencing. The present disclosure further describes projection systems that include the optical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph C. Carls, Craig R. Schardt, Duane E. Preiss, Dwight G. Baldwin
  • Respirator With Floating Elastomeric Sleeve
    Publication number: 20150136142
    Abstract: A respirator device having an elastomeric sleeve is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a respirator device as described herein includes a body including a receiver having an elastomeric sleeve and a filter cartridge that includes a rigid nozzle element. The elastomeric sleeve defines a channel, and the elastomeric sleeve is configured to deform around the nozzle element when the nozzle element is inserted into the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: David M. Blomberg
  • MOISTURE-CURABLE POLYSILOXANE COATING COMPOSITION
    Publication number: 20150141570
    Abstract: A moisture-curable polysiloxane composition consists essentially of (a) at least one polyorganosiloxane, fluorinated polyorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least one hydrosilyl moiety; and (b) at least one base selected from amidines, guanidines, phosphazenes, proazaphosphatranes, and combinations thereof; wherein the curable composition is non-foaming and has an average condensation-curable, reactive silane functionality greater than two.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard S. Buckanin, Richard M. Flynn
  • Hydrophilic coatings, articles, coating compositions and methods
    Patent number: 9034489
    Abstract: A coating composition which imparts antifog, antireflective, easy-cleaning, and/or antistatic properties to substrates coated therewith. The coating compositions utilize nanoparticles funtionalized with amine groups and/or protected amine groups, and amine-reactive groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Naiyong Jing, Zhigang Yu, Xue-hua Chen, Bangwei Xi, Appuswamy Devasenapathi, Wei De Liu, George Van Dyke Tiers, Justin A. Riddle, Deivaraj Theivanayagam Chairman, Michelle L. Legatt, Cecil V. Francis
  • Coated abrasive article and methods of ablating coated abrasive articles
    Patent number: 9033765
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises an abrasive layer secured to a backing. The abrasive layer comprises abrasive particles secured by at least one binder to a first major surface of the backing. A supersize is disposed on at least a portion of the abrasive layer. The coated abrasive article has a melt flow zone adjacent to an edge of the coated abrasive article, wherein the melt flow zone has a maximum width of less than 100 micrometers, and the melt flow zone has a maximum height of less than 40 micrometers. Methods of using infrared lasers to ablate coated abrasive articles are also disclosed, wherein a laser wavelength is matched to a component of the coated abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Woo, Pingfan Wu, Patrick R. Fleming, Ian R. Owen, Schoen A. Schuknecht, Frederick P. LaPlant
  • Optical light guide coupler
    Patent number: 9036964
    Abstract: An optical light guide coupler for coupling at least two light guides comprises an input face and an output face, wherein the optical light guide coupler is configured to receive light from a first light guide having a stepped output profile and is configured to transmit that light to a second light guide having a non-stepped profile. The input face of the light guide coupler is registered to the stepped output profile of the first light guide and the output face of the light guide coupler is at least one of rectilinear and curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Infrared reflecting films for solar control and other uses
    Patent number: 9034459
    Abstract: Solar control films containing a visible light-transmissive flexible support, a first nucleating oxide seed layer, a first metal layer, an organic spacing layer, a second nucleating oxide seed layer, a second metal layer and a polymeric protective layer. The thicknesses of the metal layers and spacing layer are such that the films are visible light-transmissive and infrared-reflective. The films have high visible light transmittance, high Reflected Energy and low Total Solar Heat Transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter D. Condo, Janet R. Kirkman, Clark I. Bright, Walter Stoss
  • Shielded electrical cable
    Patent number: 9035186
    Abstract: A shielded electrical cable includes a conductor set, two generally parallel shielding films disposed around the conductor set, and a transition portion defined by the shielding films and the conductor set. The conductor set includes one or more substantially parallel longitudinal insulated conductors. The shielding films include a concentric portion substantially concentric with at least one of the conductors and a parallel portion wherein the shielding films are substantially parallel. The transition portion provides a gradual transition between the concentric portion and the parallel portion of the shielding films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Douglas B. Gundel
  • Texturing surface of light-absorbing substrate
    Patent number: 9034684
    Abstract: Etched substrates, and particularly, light-absorbing etched substrates, and methods for making such substrates are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun-Ying Zhang, Terry L. Smith, Bing Hao
  • Curable-on-demand polysiloxane coating composition
    Patent number: 9035008
    Abstract: A curable composition comprises (a) at least one polyorganosiloxane, fluorinated polyorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydroxysilyl moieties; (b) at least one polyorganosiloxane, fluorinated polyorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydrosilyl moieties; and (c) at least one photoactivatable composition comprising at least one organoborate salt selected from tetraarylborate, triarylorganoborate, diaryldiorganoborate, and aryltriorganoborate salts (and combinations thereof) of at least one base selected from amidines, guanidines, phosphazenes, proazaphosphatranes, and combinations thereof; wherein at least one of the components (a) and (b) has an average reactive silane functionality of at least three.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yu Yang, George G. I. Moore, Michael A. Semonick
  • Digitizer for multi-display system
    Patent number: 9035912
    Abstract: A multi-display system that uses back lights and light guides of an electronically addressable display to provide position-unique signals that both uniquely identify positions on a given display, but also uniquely identify displays within a multi-display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gordon F. Taylor, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Methods for preparing modified release liners and modified adhesive articles
    Patent number: 9034448
    Abstract: Adhesive articles are prepared through the use of modified release liners. The modified release liners include a fracturable layer and a release surface partially covering the fracturable layer. The modified release liners may be prepared by selective coating of a release material onto the fracturable layer or by selective treatment of a release surface to expose portions of the fracturable layer. Upon removal of an adhesive layer adhered to the modified release liner, portions of the fracturable layer of the release liner adhere to the adhesive layer to form a modified adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Frank T. Sher, David J. Yarusso
  • Digitizer using position-unique optical signals
    Patent number: 9035911
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of using a stylus that houses optics and a detector capable of receiving optical signals that are combined with a displayed image. Stylus position determination is made by analyzing received optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Casting solution and method for making a polymer electrolyte membrane
    Patent number: 9034538
    Abstract: Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell polymer electrolyte membranes are provided comprising bound anionic functional groups and polyvalent cations, such as Mn or Ru cations, which demonstrate increased durability. Methods of making same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew H. Frey, Steven J. Hamrock, Gregory M. Haugen, Phat T. Pham
  • MULTIWELL PLATE
    Publication number: 20150132755
    Abstract: An assembly for processing a sample is provided. The assembly comprises a first body having a plurality of spaced-apart conduits and a second body having a plurality of chambers wherein each conduit is fluidically connected to a separate chamber. The assembly forms a plurality of liquid flow paths, each flow path comprising a conduit and a chamber. An analyte capture element is detachably attached to a conduit and is in fluidic communication with the liquid flow path of the conduit. Optionally, the assembly further may comprise a third body comprising a plurality of reservoirs. The assembly can be used to process a liquid sample for detecting an analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jon A. Kirschhoffer, Andrew H. Tilstra, Wensheng Xia