Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Patent number: 8789299
    Abstract: An internally illuminated sign includes a case at least partially lined with highly reflective layer and a display surface. The sign also includes light sources that emit light in directions approximately parallel to the display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Hoffman, Ellen O. Aeling, Michael A. Meis
  • Patent number: 8791254
    Abstract: A hydrofluoroether compound comprises at least one five- or six-membered, perfluorinated heterocyclic ring, each ring comprising four or five ring carbon atoms and one or two catenated heteroatoms selected from divalent ether oxygen atoms and trivalent nitrogen atoms, at least one of the catenated heteroatoms being a divalent ether oxygen atom, and each of the ring carbon atoms adjacent to the divalent ether oxygen atom bearing a fluorochemical group that comprises a tetrafluoroethylidene moiety (—(CF3)CF—) that is directly bonded to the ring carbon atom, the fluorochemical group optionally comprising at least one catenated heteroatom selected from divalent ether oxygen atoms and trivalent nitrogen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Vitcak, Richard M. Flynn, Michael G. Costello
  • Patent number: 8790707
    Abstract: Calcium phosphate particles are described comprising a surface treatment wherein the surface treatment comprises at least one sugar alcohol, at least one glycerophosphoric acid compound, or mixture thereof. Also described are various oral care compositions comprising surface treated calcium phosphate particles and methods of surface treating calcium phosphate particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard P. Rusin, Neeraj Sharma, Sumita B. Mitra
  • Publication number: 20140206218
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector comprising: at least one flexible electrically connecting element having a plurality of terminals at each end thereof; a first insulation element and a second insulation element configured to position said terminals for electrically connecting with a socket located on a printed circuit board, wherein said first insulation element has a first sidewall and said second insulation element has a second sidewall; and a supporting element having at least one sidewall, configured to engage with said first insulation element and second insulation element. Wherein a displacement space is defined between said at least one sidewall of said supporting element and at least one of said first sidewall and second sidewall to allow said first and second insulation elements to move relative to said supporting element. This present invention also provides an electrical connector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Deng Liu, Qilin Chen, Steven Feldman, Steven A. Neu
  • Publication number: 20140205963
    Abstract: A module for attaching an orthodontic bite corrector to an orthodontic buccal tube appliance includes two segments, and each segment includes a rotation stop for limiting undesired rotational movement of bite corrector during movement of the patient's jaws. The segments are movable relative to each other during installation of the attachment module for facilitating placement of the rotation stops in regions next to the buccal tube appliance that might otherwise be difficult to access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: James D. Cleary
  • Publication number: 20140202006
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a cutting apparatus for cutting a strap to a desired length. The cutting apparatus includes a handle body with first and second handles and a head affixed to the handle body. The head includes an attachment mechanism to allow a strap to be cut to be releasably secured to a first end the head. The cutting apparatus further includes a blade disposed proximate to a second end of the head. The length of the head or the distance between the first end of the head and the blade approximates a device body length. The present disclosure further includes a method of using a handheld cutting apparatus for cutting a strap to a desired length, such that the combined length of the strap and a device to be attached to an object, approximates the circumference of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Eitan Landau, Sagiv Zeltser, Ilan Burlo, Benny Sakat
  • Publication number: 20140201951
    Abstract: A tab and binder clip tab assemblies comprising same. The tab can include a front side; a back side opposite the front side; a side edge; and an aperture dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the binding portion of the binder clip, the aperture extending through the side edge of the tab to form at least one movable member in the tab. At least a portion of the tab can be positioned to extend beyond a top end of the binding portion of the binder clip when the tab and the binder clip are coupled together. The binding portion of the binder clip can include a first leg and a second leg that are biased toward one another and configured to retain at least a portion of the object between the first leg and the second leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lori A. Starken, David C. Windorski
  • Publication number: 20140201952
    Abstract: A paperclip tab for coupling to an object. The paperclip tab can include a paperclip having a first leg and a second leg, and a sheet having a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The sheet can include a first portion, and a second portion overlapping at least part of the first portion, with the rear surface of the first portion and the rear surface of the second portion facing each another, such that a pocket is formed that can retain the first leg of the paperclip. At least a portion of the rear surface of the first portion can be adhered to at least a portion of the rear surface of the second portion. A recessed adhesive zone can be provided on a back of the paperclip tab positioned to face the object when the paperclip tab is coupled to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: David C. Windorski, Lori A. Starken
  • Publication number: 20140202515
    Abstract: We describe stacked photovoltaic modules, and components thereof, in which at least one booster cell is combined with at least one primary cell in a stacked configuration. The booster cell may be in the form of a polycrystalline film disposed on a transparent substrate, such as a glass substrate, and the film may be patterned to form multiple booster cells. The booster cell includes an n-type layer and a p-type layer; the n-type layer may include polycrystalline zinc sulfide (ZnS), and the p-type layer may include polycrystalline zinc telluride (ZnTe). The n-type layer may have a band gap energy of at least 3.5 eV, and the p-type layer may have a band gap energy of at least 2 or at least 2.2 eV, or in a range from 2.2 to 2.3 eV. An intrinsic layer, also comprising polycrystalline ZnTe, may reside between the n-type and p-type layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Haase
  • Publication number: 20140206788
    Abstract: Addition-fragmentation agents of the formula are disclosed having the following functional groups: 1) a labile addition-fragmentation group that can cleave and reform to relieve strain, 2) a free-radically polymerizable group, and 3) a surface-modifying functional group that associates with the surface of a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Guy D. Joly, Ahmed S. Abuelyaman, Bradley D. Craig, Afshin Falsafi, Joel D. Oxman, Larry R. Krepski, William H. Moser, Serkan Yurt, Ann R. Fornof
  • Publication number: 20140202612
    Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate the application of a micro-contact printing stamp to a roll. The apparatus preferentially constrains some of the stamp's six degrees of freedom, and then drives the stamp (or the assembly of the stamp and the master against which it was formed) into controlled contact with the printing roll so as to attach the stamp onto the outer surface of the roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Karl K. Stensvad, Jonathan J. O'Hare
  • Publication number: 20140204059
    Abstract: Touch location determination approaches involving a plurality of touch location techniques are described. Each touch location technique is capable of independently determining a location of a touch within a touch area of the touch sensitive device. The touch location determination made by at least one touch location technique is enhanced using touch location information associated with the touch acquired from one or more other touch location techniques. One touch location technique may use a different type of sensor, signal, and/or algorithm from the one or more other touch location techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20140204294
    Abstract: The present utility model relates to a sun control window film with light control function, comprising: an anti-dirty layer; a curing layer arranged under the anti-dirty layer; a sun control function layer arranged under the curing layer; a first ITO PET layer, wherein a top surface of the first ITO PET layer is attached to the sun control function layer by laminate adhesive; a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer, wherein a bottom surface of the first ITO PET layer is attached to the polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer by laminate adhesive; a second ITO PET layer, wherein a top surface of the second ITO PET layer is attached to the polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer by laminate adhesive; and a lower surface polyester protective release layer, wherein a bottom surface of the second ITO PET layer is attached to the lower surface polyester protective release layer by contact adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Hongyang Lv
  • Patent number: 8784940
    Abstract: A method of making an engagement cover for rollers for use in web conveying, the method comprising: (a) providing a knit fabric comprising a woven base layer having first and second faces and a resilient looped pile protruding from the first face; (b) applying an elastomeric coating composition to the looped pile; and (c) curing the coating composition to leave a deposit of elastomeric polymer on the looped pile to yield the engagement cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kevin B. Newhouse, Bruce E. Tait, John C. Clark
  • Patent number: 8784518
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed an apparatus and method for reaction injection molding of polyurethane foam. In the method, a recirculation loop containing polyols along with an effective amount of water, and a recirculation loop containing isocyanates, are each partially evacuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Elizabeth Anna Benson-Sargent, David R. Dow, Grady A. Dunham, Douglas E. Earl, Jeffrey P. Lenzendorf
  • Patent number: 8784363
    Abstract: An applicator device (20) including a housing (22), an impactor (62) for impacting a microneedle array and accelerating the microneedle array toward the target site, wherein the impactor is capable of moving along an arcuate path to move the microneedle array toward the target site. Also, an applicator device including a housing, a patch applicator pivotally supported by the housing, and a torsion spring. The patch applicator has a retaining portion (40) and a patch contacting portion (70), and the patch contacting portion is capable of moving along a substantially arcuate path between a first position and a second position. The torsion spring is capable of biasing the patch applicator relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Franklyn L. Frederickson, Michael D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8784099
    Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layer adhesives and methods that are useful for bonding orthodontic appliances to a tooth structure. The multi-layer adhesives can be precoated on an orthodontic appliance, or alternatively, they can be provided on an adhesive delivery system for transfer to an orthodontic appliance. The multi-layer adhesives and methods preferably provide a useful balance of properties for bonding orthodontic appliances to the tooth structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joan V. Brennan, David K. Cinader, Jr., James D. Hansen, Darrell S. James
  • Patent number: 8783879
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, James R. Imbertson, John C. Kelliher, John A. Worrell, Sidney A. Ellingstad
  • Patent number: D709553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rongxia Yao, Liming Xin, Gianmauro Vella
  • Patent number: D709947
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin E. Broen, Shaelyn D. Crutchley, Joy A. Packard, Gerald E. Mueller