Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Patent number: 8968629
    Abstract: An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of an opaque web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll, a second pattered roll, and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of the opaque web while it is in continuous motion. During this process, their patterns are maintained in continuous registration to within at least 100 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John S. Huizinga, John T. Strand, James N. Dobbs, Thomas B. Hunter, William V. Dower, Daniel H. Carlson, Serge Wetzels, Gregory F. King, Olester Benson, Jr., Jeremy K. Larsen, Michael Benton Free, David W. Kuhns
  • Patent number: 8969011
    Abstract: A process for capturing or concentrating microorganisms for detection or assay comprises (a) providing a concentration device comprising a sintered porous polymer matrix comprising at least one concentration agent that comprises an amorphous metal silicate and that has a surface composition having a metal atom to silicon atom ratio of less than or equal to 0.5, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); (b) providing a sample comprising at least one microorganism strain; and (c) contacting the concentration device with the sample such that at least a portion of the at least one microorganism strain is bound to or captured by the concentration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Manjiri T. Kshirsagar, Andrew W. Rabins
  • Patent number: 8970390
    Abstract: A method of aiding viewing position for autostereoscopic displays having a suggested viewing zone or optimal viewing position. The method detects a position of a viewer using a detection sensor associated with the display and determines if the viewer is within the suggested viewing zone. If the viewer is not within the suggested viewing zone, the method provides feedback to the viewer, such as visual cues on the display, indicating how the viewer should move in order to be within the suggested viewing zone. The method can continuously provide the feedback in order to indicate how the viewer is moving with respect to the suggested viewing zone and when the viewer has moved into the suggested viewing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Shuguang Wu, Jun Xiao
  • Patent number: 8969500
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes fluoropolymers having long chain branches and methods of making these fluoropolymers. These fluoropolymers may have improved melt processing properties. Shaped articles containing these fluoropolymers are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Klaus Hintzer, Harald Kaspar
  • Patent number: 8967238
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger composed of a plurality of plates (1), preferably made from sintered ceramic material, in which fluid-flow guide channels (2) are formed as a system of channels in such a way that a substantially meandering profile of the fluid flow is obtained over the surface area of the respective plate, the side walls (3) of the guide channels (2) having a plurality of apertures (4), which lead to turbulence of the fluid flow. The invention also relates to a method for the production of such a plate heat exchanger, in particular by a diffusion welding process in which the plates are joined to form a seamless monolithic block. The plate heat exchanger according to the invention is suitable in particular for applications at high temperatures and/or with corrosive media, and also as reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Frank Meschke, Armin Kayser
  • Patent number: 8968869
    Abstract: A curable composition comprises (a) at least one polydiorganosiloxane, fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydroxysilyl moieties; (b) at least one polydiorganosiloxane, fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydrosilyl moieties; and (c) at least one photoactivatable composition that, upon exposure to radiation, generates 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: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yu Yang, Michael A. Semonick, George G. I. Moore, Larry D. Boardman, Michele A. Craton
  • Patent number: 8968613
    Abstract: A method of making personal protective equipment, such as a push-in earplug, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of covering a substrate with an outer layer that includes an unactivated foaming agent, positioning at least a portion of the outer layer in a mold, and activating the foaming agent such that a portion of the outer layer expands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James P. Endle, Jeffrey L. Hamer, Alan R. Seville, Kenneth F. Teeters
  • Patent number: 8967147
    Abstract: A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that has a harness 14 and a mask body 12. The mask body 12 includes a support structure 16 and a filtering structure 18. The support structure 16 contains an auxetic mesh 20 that has been molded into an intended cup-shape configuration, and the filtering structure 18 contains a filtration layer 42 for removing contaminants from the ambient air. The use of an auxetic mesh 20 in the support structure 16 provides more uniformly-sized openings 26 in the mesh 20 and reduces opportunities for mesh overlapping and mesh distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Philip G. Martin
  • Patent number: 8968772
    Abstract: A water-soluble pressure sensitive adhesive comprises a homogeneous blend comprising (a) a polymer selected from the group consisting of N-vinyl caprolactam homopolymers, N-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymers, and mixtures thereof and (b) a non-volatile plasticizer comprising a monohydric or polyhydric alcohol having hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of about 2 to about 10. The N-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymers comprise about 60% or less by weight N-vinyl pyrrolidone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Steven S. Kantner
  • Patent number: 8962767
    Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers which comprise: a) an isobutylene copolymer having grafted polymer groups, b) optionally a tackifier, and c) optionally a non-functionalized poly(isobutylene) polymer. The compositions are useful in adhesives and coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jason D. Clapper, Hae-Sueng Lee, Joon Chatterjee, Babu N. Gaddam
  • Patent number: 8963552
    Abstract: A device for detecting an electrostatic discharge event by an object, the device comprising: a receiver for forming a first capacitive coupling with the object and a second capacitive coupling with a ground; and a first discharge path for discharging the second capacitive coupling to the ground, such that an electrostatic discharge event by the object charges the second capacitive coupling by an amount in a first time interval ?t1 that is substantially less than a second time interval ?t2 that it takes for the second capacitive coupling to discharge by the same amount through the first discharge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Siarhei V. Savich
  • Patent number: 8961632
    Abstract: A method of making an abrasive particle distribution includes: sorting an initial lot of abrasive particles into a plurality of sublots including first and second sublots of the abrasive particles according to their average particle diameter and aspect ratio, and combining the first and second sublots. The initial lot conforms to an abrasives industry specified nominal grade. The first sublot has an average particle diameter and aspect ratio less than the second sublot. A sum of the first sublot and the second sublot contains fewer abrasive particles than the initial lot. The resultant abrasive particle distribution and abrasive articles including the same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary M. Palmgren, Brian D. Goers
  • Patent number: 8964146
    Abstract: Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes first and second optical layers having first and second major surfaces that face each other and are separated by an air gap. The first and second surfaces are susceptible to physically contacting each other at a location in the air gap. The optical construction further includes an optical film that is disposed at the location to prevent the first and second major surfaces from contacting each other at the location. The optical film has an effective index of refraction that is not greater than about 1.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, William Blake Kolb, John A. Wheatley, Fei Lu, Adam D. Haag
  • Patent number: 8961477
    Abstract: Delivery of one or more immune response modifiers (IRMs) across a biological barrier by the use of a microneedle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James T. Wolter, Ross M. Kedl
  • Patent number: 8962214
    Abstract: Shaped microporous articles are produced from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nucleating agents using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) processes. The shaped microporous article is oriented in at least one direction at a stretch ratio of at least approximately 1.1 to 1.0. The shaped article may also comprise a diluent, glyceryl triacetate. The shaped microporous article may also have the micropores filled with a sufficient quantity of ion conducting electrolyte to allow the membrane to function as an ion conductive membrane. The method of making a microporous article comprises the steps of melt blending polyvinylidene fluoride, nucleating agent and glyceryl triacetate; forming a shaped article of the mixture; cooling the shaped article to cause crystallization of the polyvinylidene fluoride and phase separation of the polyvinylidene fluoride and glyceryl triacetate; and stretching the shaped article in at least one direction at a stretch ratio of at least approximately 1.1 to 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Samantha D. Smith, Gene H. Shipman, Robert M. Floyd, Harold Todd Freemyer, Steven J. Hamrock, Michael A. Yandrasits, David G. S. Walton
  • Patent number: 8961850
    Abstract: A method of making a structured surface is disclosed. The method includes providing a thermoplastic backing with multiple rows of upstanding elements. The upstanding elements include stems with proximal ends attached to the thermoplastic backing and distal caps, and each distal cap has an overhanging portion that extends beyond the stem in a first direction. For at least some of the multiple rows, an implement is passed between two adjacent rows, wherein the implement contacts the overhanging portion of at least some of the distal caps in the two adjacent rows such that at least part of the overhanging portion is turned in a second direction, different from the first direction. A structured surface that can be prepared by the method is also provided along with a fastening laminate that includes a carrier and the structured surface and an absorbent article that includes the fastening laminate. A tool useful for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Leigh E. Wood, Timothy P. Pariseau
  • Patent number: 8965116
    Abstract: A computerized rating tool is described that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. The rating tool provides mechanisms for visualizing the training images in an intuitive and configurable fashion, including clustering and ordering the training images. In some embodiments, the rating tool provides an easy-to-use interface for exploring multiple types of defects represented in the data and efficiently assigning expert ratings. In other embodiments, the computer automatically assigns ratings (i.e., labels) to the individual clusters containing the large collection of digital images representing the samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Evan J. Ribnick, Kenneth G. Brittain, Gregory D. Kostuch, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro, Sammuel D. Herbert, David L. Hofeldt
  • Patent number: 8964031
    Abstract: A system for measuring the speed of a vehicle includes: one or more cameras (200) for capturing images of vehicles (100) on a road (50); timing means for timing the capture of the images; a processor arranged to: identify in the captured images a feature (150) of the vehicle; calculate the size in pixels of the feature (150) of the vehicle in two or more of the captured images; and determine the speed of the vehicle (100) based at least in part on the calculated sizes and the times at which each image was captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alan Clucas, Brian David Vincent Smith
  • Patent number: 8962708
    Abstract: The invention relates to a curable dental composition comprising a curable polyether group containing polymer as component (A), an initiator capable of initiating a curing reaction of component (A) as component (B) and a certain F-containing compound as component (C). The invention also relates to a method of production and use of the curable dental composition or a respective kit of parts for the preparation of or as impression material or for the preparation of crowns and bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andreas R. Maurer, Christoph Schulte, Peter U. Osswald, Joachim W. Zech, Hendrik Grupp, Peter Bissinger
  • Publication number: 20150047508
    Abstract: A framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The framed pleated air filter does not include any support member on the downstream face of the pleated air filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen M. Sanocki, Andrew R. Fox, Jonathan M. Lise, John J. Rogers, Kannan Seshadri