Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Patent number: 11534892
    Abstract: In methods and systems of making an abrasive article, abrasive particles are loaded to a distribution tool including a plurality of upper walls defining a plurality of spacing slots, and a plurality of lower walls defining a plurality of distribution slots. The spacing slots are open to the distribution slots, which are open to a lower side of the tool. The loaded particles are spaced and distributed from the distribution tool to a major face of a backing web below the lower side and moving relative to the tool in a machine direction. The upper walls space the particles in the machine direction. The particles distributed by the lower walls undergo an orientation sequence in which each particle is oriented into a column aligned along the machine direction. The upper walls can be disposed oblique to the lower walls. The upper and lower walls can have pointed upper portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Yuyang Liu, Junting Li, Geoffrey I. Wilson, Ernest L. Thurber
  • Patent number: 11534632
    Abstract: A method of fit testing includes providing a respirator; providing a sensor having a sensing element removably positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator; providing a reader configured to be in wireless communication with the sensor; positioning the respirator over a mouth and a nose of a user while the sensor is positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator; and observing respirator fit assessment data communicated from the sensor to the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew S. Viner, Richard C. Webb, Nicholas G. Amell, Jessica L. T. Hauge, David R. Stein, Andrew P. Bonifas, Neal A. Rakow, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Joseph P. Kronzer, Claire R. Donoghue, Christopher P. Henderson
  • Patent number: 11530345
    Abstract: A method of making abrasive particles includes: providing a slurry comprising non-colloidal solid particles and a liquid vehicle; forming at least a portion of the slurry into shaped bodies contacting a substrate; at least partially drying the shaped bodies to provide shaped abrasive precursor particles; separating at least a portion of the shaped abrasive precursor particles from the substrate; and converting at least a portion of the shaped abrasive precursor particles into shaped abrasive particles. The shaped abrasive particles comprise alpha alumina having an average crystal grain size of 0.8 to 8 microns and an apparent density that is at least 92 percent of the true density. Each shaped abrasive particle has a respective surface comprising a plurality of smooth sides that form at least four vertexes. Shaped abrasive particles, abrasive articles including them, and methods of using are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz, Negus B. Adefris
  • Patent number: 11529580
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for estimating a replacement status of an HVAC air filter. Outdoor weather data (e.g., outdoor temperature information), is obtained. A Total Runtime Value of the HVAC system is determined based upon the obtained outdoor weather data. Finally, a replacement status of the air filter is estimated as a function of a comparison of the Total Runtime Value with a Baseline Value. By correlating air filter replacement status with an estimated runtime of the HVAC system, a credible predictor of air filter usage is provided. By estimating fan runtime based on easily-obtained outdoor weather data, the methods are readily implemented with any existing HVAC system and do not require installation of sensors or other mechanical or electrical components to the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Eric C. Lobner, Theresa M. Meyer, Brian J. Stankiewicz
  • Patent number: 11530339
    Abstract: A graphic sheet is provided that can be affixed with sufficient adhesive force onto wallpaper, a poster, or other substrate having comparatively low strength, and can be easily renewed without damaging the substrate, which is the underlying layer. A graphic sheet of an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a base film layer having a first surface and a second surface situated on an opposite side of the first surface; and a tacky acrylic foam layer disposed on or above the second surface of the base film layer. The acrylic foam layer contains an acrylic polymer having 20 mass % or more of a unit derived from ethyl acrylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Masami Miura, Yoshinori Araki, Yorinobu Takamatsu
  • Publication number: 20220395401
    Abstract: The disclosed adhesive medical article has a backing layer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface. The backing layer has a central portion and an outer circumferential portion. The article further has a pressure sensitive adhesive pattern coating applied onto at least part of the first major surface of the backing layer in such a way as to form a plurality of adhesive coated and adhesive uncoated areas of the backing layer. The adhesive uncoated areas comprise a central collection portion and at least one longitudinal extension radiating from the central collection portion towards the outer circumferential portion of the backing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: HIRONOBU ISHIWATARI, THOMAS APELDORN, DONALD G. PETERSON, DANIEL T. POPKO, CHRISTOPH T.R. SCHUELL, THOMAS HANNEN, SIEGFRIED K. WELKE, TARJA KÄRPÄNEN, UWE GRAU
  • Patent number: 11525843
    Abstract: A sensor for a separable connector includes a plug body, one or more high voltage capacitors, one or more low voltage capacitors, and a low voltage connection. The plug body includes an insulating resin. The plug body can be inserted into the separable connector to encase a high voltage conductor disposed in the separable connector. The one or more high voltage capacitors are encased by the insulating resin and can be electrically coupled to the separable connector at a first end portion when the plug body is inserted. The one or more low to voltage capacitors are electrically coupled in series to the one or more high voltage capacitors to form a capacitive voltage divider. The low voltage connection provides a low voltage signal corresponding to a high voltage signal present in the separable connector. Signal conditioning electronics or a memory may also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jaylon D. Loyd, Christopher R. Wilson, Carl J. Wentzel
  • Patent number: 11524071
    Abstract: The compound N-(4-{[4-amino-2-butyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-1-yl]oxy}butyl)octadecanamide is a useful drug compound for enhancing immune response and can be used, for example, as a coronavirus vaccine adjuvant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Paul D. Wightman
  • Patent number: 11525949
    Abstract: An example article may include an optical filter and a multilayer stack adjacent the optical filter. The multilayer stack may include a plurality of layers. Each respective layer of the plurality layers may define a respective window edge of a plurality of window edges. The plurality of window edges may define an optical window configured to transmit light through the optical filter. At least a first respective window edge of the plurality of window edges may be stepped relative to at least a second respective window edge of the plurality of window edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Yihang Lv, Zhiyong Xu, Jingfei Chen
  • Patent number: 11523888
    Abstract: An additively manufactured dental crown with a wall having a bottom edge and an occlusal portion joined with the wall opposite the bottom edge. The wall and occlusal portion form an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface. By using additive manufacturing and materials for such, the dental crown can have thin walls with a thickness of less than 300 microns at the thinnest portion of it and can include fine printed features such as identifiers, internal ribs, slots, porous meshes, and retention elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: James D. Hansen, Joseph C. Dingeldein, Gareth A. Hughes, Gopal B. Haregoppa, Bastian P. Kirchner, Till Meurer, Holger Hauptmann
  • Patent number: 11525154
    Abstract: Devices for detecting microorganism strains or target cellular analytes are provided. The device includes a filter holder, the filter holder comprising a tip portion; a nonwoven article disposed on the tip portion of the filter holder; and an adaptor attacked to the filter holder, the adaptor defining an aperture. Methods of detecting microorganisms and/or cellular analytes in a fluid sample using the devices are also provided. The method includes obtaining the device; placing a lumened or cannulated device in fluid communication with the device; and passing a fluid sample suspected of containing at least one microorganism strain or target cellular analyte from the lumened or cannulated device through the device and contacting the nonwoven article. The method further includes contacting the nonwoven article with at least one detection reagent and detecting the presence of the at least one microorganism strain or target cellular analyte concentrated by the nonwoven article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jobst T. Jaeger, Jeffrey D. Smith, Waleri Wischnepolski, Henning Reuter, Giuseppe M. Bommarito, Manjiri T. Kshirsagar, Scott D. Lehman, Edward I. Stamm, Jr., Guenter M. Zilligen
  • Patent number: 11517272
    Abstract: A system and method for simulating orthodontic treatment using augmented reality. An electronic image of a user's face is received from a digital camera, and a region of interest in the image is identified where the region includes the user's teeth. Virtual orthodontic appliances are placed on the user's teeth in the image, and the user's image with the virtual orthodontic appliances is displayed on an electronic display device. The method occurs in real-time to provide the user with the augmented image simulating treatment when or shortly after the image of the user is received. The system and method can display a 3D representation of the user's face augmented with the virtual appliances. The user's augmented image or 3D representation can also be supplemented for display with an image or model of the user's facial anatomy such as an x-ray or a cone beam computed tomography image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Amy Unklesbay, Cody J. Olson, Richard E. Raby
  • Patent number: 11522025
    Abstract: Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first a polyolefin-based low WVTR adhesive polymeric matrix having a refractive index n1; and particles having a refractive index n2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein n1 is different than n2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Encai Hao, Zhaohui Yang, Albert I. Everaerts, Yongshang Lu, William Blake Kolb, Keith R. Bruesewitz
  • Patent number: 11520093
    Abstract: A polarizer stack including an absorbing polarizer and a multilayer polymeric reflective polarizer bonded together is described. The absorbing polarizer has a first block axis and the reflective polarizer has a second block axis substantially parallel to the first block axis. The reflective polarizer may be substantially free of micro-wrinkling when the polarizer stack adhered to a glass layer is heated at 95° C. for 100 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Carl A. Stover, Kristopher J. Derks
  • Patent number: 11517058
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the head cradle including 5 two head band members fastened to each other is provided, where the head band member includes: a support member extending in one direction; a first fastening part formed at one end portion of the support member and having an insertion hole formed to pass therethrough; a second fastening part formed at the other end portion of the support member; and a strap connection part which is formed at an end portion of the first 0 fastening part or the second fastening part and to which a strap connected to a mask main body is connected, where the support member includes a hole-section on which at least one slit hole having a shape extending at a predetermined angle with respect to the one direction is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jungchul Moon, Kyung Sun Choi, JongTae Kim, Inkyu Park
  • Patent number: 11520092
    Abstract: Optical stacks are described. In particular, optical stacks including reflecting-absorbing polarizers and quarter-wave plates are disclosed. The optical core of the optical stack—which includes a reflecting-absorbing polarizer with at least one skin layer including polarizing dye—may be co-extruded or co-stretched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew B. Johnson, Adam D. Haag, Seong Taek Lee, Brianna N. Nieson, Kristy A. Gillette, Michelle L. Toy
  • Patent number: D971725
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anna M. Hegdahl, Brett A. Howell, William P. Atwood, Jade L. Perren, Ryan D. Erickson, Steven J. Tarnowski, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Mark S. Menzenski, Sean M. Cory, Dean E. Sitz
  • Patent number: D971757
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mario A. Davenport, Joseph A. Hoffman, Landon B. Davis, Andrew C. Stansel
  • Patent number: D972698
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Glen O. Gregerson, Jonathan M. Lise
  • Patent number: D973201
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Cotton, Amanda C. Engler, Richard L. Jacobson, Kimberly A. Schommer, James M. Sieracki, Michael J. Turnbull, Denise J. Ziemann