Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Image based counterfeit detection
    Patent number: 11386540
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating material samples are provided. Digital images of the samples are processed to extract computer-vision features, which are used to train a classification algorithm. The computer-vision features of a test sample are evaluated by the trained classification algorithm to identify the test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jennifer F. Schumacher, James B. Snyder, Nicholas A. Asendorf
  • Integrated membrane module rack
    Patent number: 11383205
    Abstract: Fluid treatment system comprising a row of vertically arranged cylindrical filtration modules having a cylindrical shell, an upper end, a lower end and a shell interior and an upper and a lower header coupled to upper and lower end of the shell. In the shell interior, hollow fiber membranes are embedded with their ends in an upper and a lower tube sheet and are open at the ends. An exterior filtrate space is formed around the membranes extending between upper and lower tube sheets and an inner surface of the shell. Upper and lower head spaces are formed between upper and lower tube sheets and the respective headers. The lumina of the hollow fiber membranes are in fluid communication with the head spaces. The cylindrical shells comprise outlet ports being in fluid communication with the exterior filtrate spaces and being connected to a filtrate branch pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Norbert Selzer, Stefan Richterich, Martin Ruetering
  • Metal bond abrasive articles and methods of making metal bond abrasive articles
    Patent number: 11383350
    Abstract: Metal bond abrasive articles and methods of making metal bond abrasive articles via a focused beam are disclosed. In an aspect, a metal bond abrasive article includes a metallic binder material having abrasive particles retained therein, where the abrasive particles have at least one coating disposed thereon. The coating includes a metal, a metal oxide, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a metalloid, or combinations thereof, and the at least one coating has an average thickness of 0.5 micrometers or greater. The metal bond abrasive article includes a number of layers directly bonded to each other. Metal bond abrasive articles prepared by the method can include abrasive articles having arcuate or tortuous cooling channels, abrasive segments, abrasive wheels, and rotary dental tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Rifaut, Badri Veeraraghavan, Tilo Remhof, Brian D. Goers, Andreas M. Geldmacher, Robert L. W. Smithson, Przemyslaw P. Markowicz, Johannes Fink
  • Films with a primer layer containing silica nanoparticles modified by an organic silane
    Patent number: 11384212
    Abstract: A film including: an organic polymeric substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface; an optional acrylic hardcoat layer disposed on the first major surface of the substrate; a siliceous primer layer disposed on the organic polymeric substrate or on the optional acrylic hardcoat layer, wherein the siliceous primer layer includes silica nanoparticles modified by an organic silane; and a superhydrophilic surface layer disposed on the siliceous primer layer, wherein the superhydrophilic surface layer includes hydrophilic-functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Xue Tian, Naiyong Jing, Jun Ma
  • Surfacing and/or joining method
    Patent number: 11384266
    Abstract: A method for surfacing a polymeric composite article and/or for joining (for example, by bonding or by co-curing) the article and an adherend (for example, a second polymeric composite article) comprises (a) providing a cured or curable polymeric composite article; (b) providing a curable composition comprising (1) at least one thermosetting resin, and (2) at least one preformed, substantially non-functional, particulate modifier comprising at least one elastomer; and (c) directly or indirectly applying the composition to at least a portion of at least one surface of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Dmitriy Salnikov, Clayton A. George
  • Fluorinated copolymer and compositions and articles including the same
    Patent number: 11377510
    Abstract: The copolymer includes divalent units represented by formula —[CF2—CF2]—, divalent units represented by formula: (I), and one or more divalent units independently represented by formula: (II) When Z is hydrogen, the copolymer has an alpha transition temperature of up to 100 ?C. The copolymer has an —SO3Z equivalent weight in a range from 300 to 1400, and a variation of the copolymer in which —SO3Z is replaced with —SO2F has a melt flow index of up to 80 grams per ten minutes measured at a temperature of 265° C. and at a support weight of 5 kg. A catalyst ink or polymer electrolyte membrane including the copolymer are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lisa P. Chen, Gregg D. Dahlke, Denis Duchesne, Steven J. Hamrock, Klaus Hintzer, Markus E. Hirschberg, Arne Thaler, Tilman C. Zipplies
  • Conformable, stretch releaseable adhesive articles
    Patent number: 11377575
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to conformable stretch release adhesive and/or stretch-releasable, adhesive articles that are capable of attaching or adhering to a substrate and that can be removed from the substrate without causing damage to the substrate. The present disclosure also generally relates to methods of making and using such adhesive articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Christina D. Cowman-Eggert, Corinne E. Lipscomb, Bradley S. Forney, Megan P. Lehmann, Michael E. Fussy
  • Dispenser with applicator tip
    Patent number: 11377263
    Abstract: A dispenser (1) for liquids includes a reservoir (100) defining a volume (V100) for housing a liquid (150); a delivery tube (200) with a first end (201) attached to the reservoir, and a second end (202) distal from the reservoir, the delivery tube including a passage (203) in fluid communication with the volume of the reservoir and extending away from the reservoir; an applicator element (300) including an applicator tip (320) and a base (310) attached to the second end of the delivery tube, the applicator tip having a plurality of fingers (322) extending away from the base to a distal end of the applicator element distal from the delivery tube; and a removable seal (340), wherein removal of the removable seal creates an opening in the passage at a location upstream of the applicator tip and a fluid distribution channel between the fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Henry C. Gydesen, Paul R. Klaiber, Yizhong Wang, Bruce R. Broyles
  • Framed air filter with skip-scored sidewall junction
    Patent number: 11376537
    Abstract: A framed air filter that includes air filter media and a frame with four frame portions. At least one frame portion includes an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall that meet at a sidewall junction. The sidewall junction extends along a score line that includes at least one cut-scored segment and one crush-scored segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovation Properties Company
    Inventors: Fiona E. Menken, Brenda K. Balderas, Dennis M. Glass, Michael L. Munson, Mark A. Sanocki
  • Negative pressure wound therapy article with features
    Patent number: 11376164
    Abstract: An article, including a network of interconnected polymeric strands; wherein each of the interconnected polymeric strands has a first surface adapted to contact a tissue site and a second surface opposite the first surface; wherein at least one of the interconnected polymeric stand has a plurality of features extending from the first surface of the interconnected polymeric strands; wherein at least one of the interconnected polymeric strands is non-linear; a plurality of openings between adjacent interconnected polymeric strands; an adhesive layer in contact with the second surface of the interconnected polymeric strands; and a filler in contact with the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer in between the network of interconnected polymeric strands and the filler; wherein the article is a negative pressure wound therapy article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Amy K. McNulty, Robert T. Fitzsimons, Jr., Kurt J. Halverson, Bryan A. Baker, Jana Ninkovic, Jie Liu, Minghua Dai, Wei Zhang, Kiu-Yuen Tse, David R. Holm, Graham M. Clarke, Federica Sgolastra
  • Fluorine-free fibrous treating compositions, treated substrates, and treating methods
    Patent number: 11377785
    Abstract: A fluorine-free treating composition that includes Component A and at least one of Components B and C, wherein: Component (A) includes one or more polymeric compounds derived from the polymerization of at least one (meth)acrylate monomer comprising at least one hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms; Component (B) includes one or more compounds derived from reaction, in one or more steps, of components comprising: (i) at least one isocyanate-reactive oligomer comprising 2 to 20 repeating units, or an alcohol having at least one linear or branched hydrocarbon group having from 16 to 40 carbon atoms and optionally one or more ester groups; (ii) at least one polyisocyanate; (iii) optionally at least one additional isocyanate-reactive compound; and (iv) optionally at least one isocyanate blocking agent; and Component (C) includes one or more polycarbodiimide compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dirk M. Coppens, Rudolf J. Dams
  • Automatic darkening filter assembly for a welding protector and a welding protector
    Patent number: 11376162
    Abstract: An automatic darkening filter assembly for a welding protector and a welding protector that includes the automatic darkening filter assembly. The automatic darkening filter assembly has a housing that forms an opening in which a switchable light filter is arranged. The switchable light filter is retained by a first and a second resilient gasket that are arranged on opposite sides of the switchable light filter and which each extend circumferentially adjacent a periphery of the switchable light filter. The invention helps maximizing the robustness of the welding protector and facilitates assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Johan M. P. Hansson, Kjell A. Hummel, Thomas B. Stenvall, Linus P. Bastman
  • Light curable compositions
    Patent number: 11377573
    Abstract: A curable composition that includes a urethane multifunctional (meth)acrylate, an inorganic filler having a primary particle dimension of at least 200 nm, a photoinitiator system that can be activated by electromagnetic radiation in the range of 340-550 nm, a reactive diluent, and a reinforcing silica having a primary particle dimension of 100 nm of less. The sum of the absolute value of the difference in the refractive index of the filler and the refractive index of the composition cured without filler plus the birefringence of the filler is 0.054 or less, i.e. 0.054?|nfiller?nmatrix|+?filler, where nfiller is the refractive index of the filler, nmatrix is the refractive index of the composition cured without filler, and ?filler is the birefringence of the filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ying Lin, Sheng Ye, Timothy D. Dunbar, Bradley D. Craig, Dong-Wei Zhu, Matthew J. Kryger, Richard J. Pokorny, Michael A. Kropp
  • Structural adhesive with improved corrosion resistance
    Patent number: 11377576
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermosettable structural adhesive composition comprising an epoxy compound; a thermoplastic compound; an epoxy curing agent; at least one mineral filler, wherein the at least one mineral filler is capable of absorbing water. The thermosettable structural adhesive composition can exhibit an improved corrosion resistance while also providing good adhesive properties such as good t-peel strength and overlap shear strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Elisabeth Cura, Sohaib Elgimiabi
  • Optical film and optical system
    Patent number: 11378723
    Abstract: A multilayer optical film including a first layer having an index of refraction n1 at a wavelength ? in a range from about 580 nm to about 650 nm, and a second layer having an index of refraction n2 at ? is described. The first and second layers define an interface therebetween comprising a two-dimensional grating. The grating may have an average height H such that |n1?n2|*H is in a range from 0.24 micrometers to 0.3 micrometers. Optical systems including the multilayer optical film are described. A subpixel in a display surface of the optical system may be diffracted into a zero diffraction order and a plurality of first diffraction orders where the intensities of the zero and first diffraction orders are with 10% of each other at ?. The optical system may have a modulation transfer function greater than 0.4 at 10 line pairs per millimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhaohui Yang, Brett J. Sitter, James A. Thielen, Nathaniel K. Naismith
  • Adhesive article and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 11370940
    Abstract: An adhesive article comprising first and second tacky latent adhesive layers disposed on respective first and second opposed major surfaces of a substrate. Each of the first and second tacky latent adhesive layers independently comprises at least one polymerizable component, and a redox initiator system comprising a transition metal complex that participates in a redox cycle, an oxidizing agent, and a blocked reducing agent represented by the formula ((I). Each of R1 and R2 are independently H, an alkyl, an aryl, or RPhoto5 with the proviso that at least one of R1 and R2 is RPhoto. RPhoto represents a photoremovable group. Each of R3 and R4 independently represents H, an alkyl group, or an aryl group comprising a monovalent ester, ether, urethane, or carbonate group. Methods of making and using the adhesive articles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Erik M. Townsend, Shantanu R. Ranade, William H. Moser, Kathleen S. Shafer, Michael A. Kropp, Jayshree Seth, Ross E. Behling
  • Ergonomic chestpiece
    Patent number: 11369336
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an ergonomic chestpiece for a stethoscope. The chestpiece includes a bottom surface which is generally planar and adapted to be placed near the patient for receiving auscultatory sounds. The chestpiece includes a raised center portion defining first and second lateral indented gripping surfaces, the raised center portion having a top surface opposite the bottom surface. The chestpiece includes a stem portion extending distally from the raised center portion. The first lateral indented gripping surface is defined by a first wall comprising a first concave surface arcuate about a first axis and the second lateral indented gripping surface is defined by a second wall comprising a second concave surface arcuate about a second axis. The first axis and the second axis form a V-shape comprising an apex oriented in a direction of the stem portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Daniel J. Rogers, Tyler J. Sandback
  • Optical articles and systems interacting with the same
    Patent number: 11373076
    Abstract: Optical articles including a spatially defined arrangement of a plurality of data rich retroreflective elements, wherein the plurality of retroreflective elements comprise retroreflective elements having at least two different retroreflective properties and at least two different optical contrasts with respect to a background substrate when observed within an ultraviolet spectrum, a visible spectrum, a near-infrared spectrum, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. McCoy, Anne C. Gold, Silvia Geciova-Borovova Guttmann, Glenn E. Casner, Timothy J. Gardner, Steven H. Kong, Gautam Singh, Jonathan T. Kahl, Nathan J. Anderson, Catherine L. Aune, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Britton G. Billingsley, Muhammad J. Afridi, Kui Chen-Ho, Travis L. Potts, Robert W. Shannon, Guruprasad Somasundaram
  • Hanger for clothing and accessories
    Patent number: D956436
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ying Hua Yang, Pei-Chun Chang, Chao Ren, I Lin Hsiao
  • User interface for a welding helmet
    Patent number: D957064
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Linus P. Bastman, Emil R. Eriksson, Erik Oskar Juhlin, Marcus T. R. Wiederkehr, John M. Kruse, Christopher M. Brown, Jon A. Kirschhoffer