Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Patent number: 11640019
    Abstract: A retroreflective system is disclosed that includes a retroreflective sheet for retroreflecting light, and a light control film disposed on the retroreflective sheet. For a first wavelength, light incident on the light control film at each of a first and second angles of incidence is retroreflected. For a second wavelength, light incident on the light control film at the first, but not the second, angle of incidence is retroreflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Guanglei Du, Steven R. Anderson, Owen M. Anderson, David T. Yust, Rolf W. Biernath, Gary E. Gaides, Brian W. Lueck, Neeraj Sharma
  • Patent number: 11638775
    Abstract: Described herein is a multilayer article comprising: a. a polymer substrate comprising an abstractable atom; and b. a hydrogel coating thereon wherein the hydrogel coating has a water content of at least 10 wt % and is covalently bonded to the polymer substrate, and wherein the hydrogel coating is derived from an aqueous composition having a pH less than 9.5, the aqueous composition comprising: (a) a hydrophilic monomer selected from at least one of (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide; (b) at least 0.1 wt % of a water-swellable clay; (c) a first initiator, wherein the first initiator is water-soluble and is a Type I photoinitiator; and (d) a second initiator, wherein the initiator is water-soluble and is a Type II photoinitiator; and (e) an acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alexi J. Young, Jerald K. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 11639316
    Abstract: Fiber tows including a heat-activatable sizing are described. The sizing compositions have a first modulus at 25° C. of at least 150 megapascals (MPa) and no greater than 400 MPa; and a second modulus of 100,000 pascals (Pa) at a temperature of no greater than 160° C. Methods of preparing articles from such sized fiber tows and the articles comprising such sized fiber tows, including unidirectional and bidirectional constructions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron R. Beaber, Kari A. McGee, Kimberly C. M. Schultz, Erica M. McCready, Aric W. Ross, Zachary A. Danielson
  • Patent number: 11638924
    Abstract: A spray gun cup receptacle is disclosed comprising an open end for receiving a liner within a cavity and a base end opposite the open end. The sidewall comprises two apertures through which the cavity is visible from outside the spray gun cup receptacle. The two apertures are divided one above the other by a brace member, at least a portion of which is disposed at a brace member angle a relative to the base plane. Also disclosed are improved lids for spray gun cups, and improved connections between the lid(s) and spray gun cup receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anna M. Hegdahl, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Sabeel Ullah
  • Patent number: 11634613
    Abstract: A composite cooling film including non-fluorinated organic polymeric layer, a metal layer disposed inwardly of the non-fluorinated organic polymeric layer, and an antisoiling, ultraviolet-absorbing hardcoat layer that is disposed outwardly of the non-fluorinated organic polymeric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Michelle M. S. Mok, Vivian W. Jones, Milind B. Sabade, James P. Burke, James A. Phipps
  • Patent number: 11634525
    Abstract: Zwitterionic copolymers, coating compositions (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Federica Sgolastra, Semra Colak Atan, George W. Griesgraber, Zachary J. Malmberg
  • Patent number: 11633632
    Abstract: A fall-protection system including a harness and a fall-protection apparatus with a lifeline bearing a connector configured to be connected to the harness; and, a fall-protection monitoring system with a base unit and with at least one sensor module configured to sense a condition of the connector and to communicate a signal indicative of the condition of the connector to the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lauren K. Carlson, Scott E. Brigham, Christopher W. Coyle, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Jonathan J. Lepp, Stephen D. Shaver, Jeffrey T. Keacher
  • Patent number: 11634618
    Abstract: Shaped ceramic abrasive particles include a first surface having a perimeter having a perimeter comprising at least first and second edges. A first region of the perimeter includes the second edge and extends inwardly and terminates at two corners defining first and second acute interior angles. The perimeter has at most four corners that define acute interior angles. A second surface is disposed opposite, and not contacting, the first surface. A peripheral surface is disposed between and connects the first and second surfaces. The peripheral surface has a first predetermined shape. Methods of making the shaped ceramic abrasive particles, and abrasive articles including them are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Negus B. Adefris
  • Patent number: 11637367
    Abstract: A gradient permittivity film comprises (a) a first permittivity layer comprising a first continuous matrix of a first material having a first relative permittivity (?r1) and a second component having a second relative permittivity (?r2) dispersed in the first continuous matrix, the first permittivity layer having a first effective layer relative permittivity (?1) and a thickness (T1); and (b) a second permittivity layer having a second effective layer relative permittivity (?2) and a thickness (T2) disposed on the first permittivity layer T1=0.8(t1) to 1.2(t1), where t1=(I); T2=0.8(t2) to 1.2 (T2), where T2=(II).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mohsen Salehi, Stephen J. Etzkorn, Jaewon Kim, Brett J. Sitter
  • Patent number: 11635390
    Abstract: To suitably determine a measurement cycle at which to measure cracks that occur in structures formed from concrete or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tasuku Nakayama, Kazuma Nuno
  • Patent number: 11634666
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for removing spores from skin, the method including dispensing an effective amount of a composition into or onto an article, wherein the composition includes water and from about 0.04 wt % to about 4 wt % polymeric cationic antimicrobial, nonionic antimicrobial or combinations thereof; contacting a skin surface with the composition; mechanically acting on the skin surface for at least one (1) second while the skin surface is in the presence of the composition; and removing at least a portion of the composition from the surface of the skin, wherein removing the composition also removes spores from the skin surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ranjani V. Parthasarathy, Catherine D. Heapy, Tiffany J. Hanson, Brittney K. T. Scott, Jonathan D. M. Helander
  • Patent number: 11633633
    Abstract: Techniques are described for monitoring and controlling fall protection equipment. For example, the techniques of this disclosure may be used to monitor the connection status of fall protection equipment, e.g., whether or not the fall protection equipment is connected to a support structure. The techniques described in the disclosure may determine whether the fall protection equipment is connected to a support structure based on changes in a resonant frequency of an electronic circuit of an inductive sensor within the fall protection equipment. The inductive sensor may be formed from sets of one or more coils, where a first set of one or more coils and a second set of one or more coils are wound in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anthony J. Nowicki, Ronald D. Jesme, Judd D. Perner, Scott E. Brigham, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Mohsen Salehi, Jonathan J. Lepp
  • Patent number: 11631186
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image recognition are provided. A style-transfer neural network is trained for each real image to obtain a trained style-transfer neural network. The texture or style features of the real images are transferred, via the trained style-transfer neural network, to a target image to generate styled images which are used for training an image-recognition machine learning model (e.g., a neural network). In some cases, the real images are clustered and representative style images are selected from the clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Muhammad J. Afridi, Elisa J. Collins, Jonathan D. Gandrud, James W. Howard, Arash Sangari, James B. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11629133
    Abstract: Described herein is a perfluorinated aminoolefin compound of general formula (I): CFY?CXN(Rf)CF2Rf? where: (a) Rf and Rf? are (i) independently selected from a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl group having 1-8 carbon atoms, optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom, or (ii) bonded together to form a perfluorinated ring structure having 4-8 ring carbon atoms, optionally comprising at least one catenated O atom; and (b) X and Y are (i) independently selected from a perfluoroalkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, or (ii) bonded together to form a perfluorinated ring structure having 5-6 ring carbon atoms. Such compounds may be used in heat transfer, foam blowing or immersion cooling applications, or as a working fluid in a Rankine cycle, a coating or lubricant, or as a dielectric fluid. Also disclosed herein is a method for making such compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sean M. Smith, Michael J. Bulinski, Michael G. Costello, Klaus Hintzer, Markus E. Hirscherg, William M. Lamanna
  • Patent number: 11629371
    Abstract: An article is provided. The article comprises a nonwoven substrate having a copolymer grafted thereto, and a dried coating adhered to the substrate. The copolymer comprises interpolymerized monomer units of a quaternary ammonium-containing ligand monomer, an amide monomer, and an oxy monomer. The coating comprises a plurality of test microorganisms. Optionally, the coating further comprises a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymeric binding agent. A process challenge device comprising a body having a hollow channel with said article fixed disposed therein is also provided. Methods of using the article or the process challenge device for determining the efficacy of a disinfection process are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Tonya D. Bonilla, Jodi L. Connell, John J. Schmidt, Andrew W. Vail, Federica Sgolastra
  • Patent number: 11629748
    Abstract: Wall anchors and positioning aids disclosed herein grant a user the ability to temporary hang or otherwise mount heavyweight objects, while also allowing for adjustment of at least one of the location and orientation of the assembly via the direct manipulation of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Hoffman, Tatiane Dias Marques Faria, Craig D. Thompson, Judd D. Olson, Michele A. Eller, Angela L. Pan, Landon B. Davis, Thaddeus S. Rodda, III, Margaret M. Bonello
  • Patent number: 11629250
    Abstract: A film is described comprising a (meth)acrylic polymer and a polyvinyl acetal (e.g. butyral) resin. In some embodiments, the film has a glass transition temperature (i.e. Tg) ranging from 30° C. to 60° C. In some embodiments, the film has a gel content of at least 20% or greater. In some embodiments, the film has an elongation at break of at least 175%. The film typically comprises photoinitiator as a result of the method by which the film was made. The film may be a monolithic film or a layer of a multilayer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Janoski, Anthony F. Schultz, Keith R. Lyon, Ronald S. Steelman, Kevin M. Lewandowski, Corinne E. Lipscomb, Terry R. Hobbs, Arlin L. Weikel, Jayshree Seth, Duane D. Fansler, Hidetoshi Abe
  • Patent number: 11629273
    Abstract: There is provided a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a polyurethane polymer that comprises the reaction product of a polyisocyanate component and a polyol component. The polyol component has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) less than 10. The polyurethane further comprises 0.5 to 10 wt.-% of hydrophilic polymerized units having an HLB greater than 12, such as a reaction product of a polyethylene glycol polymer. In another embodiment, the polyurethane further comprises pendent ethylenically unsaturated groups. Also described are articles such as laminating tapes and protective films as well as methods of bonding substrates with the pressure sensitive adhesive and laminating tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Yongshang Lu, Encai Hao, Jianhui Xia, Lili Qie, David T. Amos, Charlie Chia-Tie Ho, Lauren A. Polski, Richard B. Ross
  • Patent number: 11631829
    Abstract: A display film includes a transparent polymeric substrate layer and a transparent energy dissipation layer disposed on the transparent polymeric substrate layer. The transparent energy dissipation layer includes cross-linked polyurethane and a polyacrylate polymer. The transparent energy dissipation layer has a glass transition temperature of 27 degrees Celsius or less and a Tan Delta peak value of 0.5 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Karissa L. Eckert, David Scott Thompson, Ryan M. Braun, Catherine A. Leatherdale, Michael A. Johnson, Steven D. Solomonson, Richard J. Pokorny, John J. Stradinger, Kevin R. Schaffer, Joseph D. Rule, Peter D. Condo, Derek W. Patzman
  • Patent number: 11630291
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical assembly includes providing a first mold having a first curved mold surface; placing a substantially flat reflective polarizer; on the first curved mold surface and applying at least one of pressure and heat to at least partially conform the reflective polarizer to the first curved mold surface; providing a second mold comprising a second mold surface, the first and second mold surfaces defining a mold cavity therebetween; substantially filling the mold cavity with a flowable material having a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the reflective polarizer; and solidifying the flowable material to form a solid optical element bonded to the reflective polarizer. A maximum variation of an orientation of a pass polarization state across the bonded reflective polarizer is within about 3 degrees of a maximum variation of the orientation of the pass polarization state across the substantially flat reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jo A. Etter, Timothy L. Wong, Zhisheng Yun, Gregg A. Ambur, Benjamin G. Sonnek, Robert M. Jennings