Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Optical ferrules with waveguide inaccessible space
    Patent number: 11307362
    Abstract: An optical ferrule includes at least one light affecting element configured to affect one or more characteristics of light from an optical waveguide as the light propagates in the optical ferrule, the light affecting element having an input surface. At least one receiving element receives and secures the optical waveguide to the ferrule so that an output surface of the waveguide is optically coupled to the input surface of the light affecting element. A waveguide stop limits movement of the waveguide toward the input surface of the light affecting element when the optical waveguide is installed in the receiving element. A space between the output surface of the optical waveguide and the input surface of the light affecting element is inaccessible to the optical waveguide when the optical waveguide is installed in the receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith, Bing Hao, Changbao Ma
  • Articles including microcapsules for on-demand adhesion and methods of making same
    Patent number: 11306431
    Abstract: Articles are provided, including a substrate having a first major surface, the substrate including a nonwoven material, a woven material, or a foam. The article further includes microcapsules having an outer surface and a plasticizer encapsulated in the microcapsules, where the plurality of microcapsules is attached to the first major surface of the substrate with a polymeric material. A method of making an article is also provided, including providing a substrate having a first major surface and providing microcapsules having an outer surface and a plasticizer encapsulated in the microcapsules. The method further includes attaching the microcapsules to the first major surface of the substrate with a polymeric material, thereby forming a polymeric matrix attached to the first major surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph D. Rule, Mary M. Caruso Dailey, Anne N. De Rovere, Lili Qie
  • Asymmetric turning film with top-hat light output distributions
    Patent number: 11307333
    Abstract: An optical system including a light guide and a turning film that includes a first major surface, where the first major surface is substantially smooth and a second major surface including a plurality of asymmetric microstructures each respective asymmetric microstructure including a first side, where the first side is substantially planar, and a second side including a first surface segment defining a substantially planar surface and a second surface segment defining a non-planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Emmons, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Amide substituted imidazo[4,5-C]quinoline compounds with a branched chain linking group for use as an immune response modifier
    Patent number: 11306083
    Abstract: Imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline compounds having an alkylamide substituent that is attached at the N-1 position by a branched chain linking group, single enantiomers of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and methods of making the compounds are disclosed. Methods of use of the compounds as immune response modifiers, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in humans and animals, and in the treatment of diseases including infectious and neoplastic diseases are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: George W. Griesgraber
  • Confined space configuration and operations management system
    Patent number: 11308568
    Abstract: A computing system includes a computing device and a repository storing at least one model for a plurality of confined spaces each having limited means of entry or exit. The at least one model is based at least in part on respective sets of one or more characteristics of the plurality of confined spaces. The computing device is configured to: obtain one or more characteristics of a particular confined space having limited means of entry or exit, the one or more characteristics of the particular confined space identifying at least a type of the particular confined space; apply the at least one model to the one or more characteristics of the particular confined space to identify at least one hazard remediation technique for the particular confined space; and output a notification indicating the at least one hazard remediation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kandyce M. Bohannon, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Lydia R. Carlson, Micayla A. Johnson
  • Articles comprising (meth)acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive with enhanced adhesion to wet surfaces
    Patent number: 11306224
    Abstract: Articles comprising pressure-sensitive adhesives with enhanced adhesion to wet surfaces, obtained from crosslinking a pre-adhesive composition comprising poly(meth)acrylate macromolecules that comprise a number-average molecular weight of from about 25000 to about 200000, and methods of using such articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Joon Chatterjee, Vinod P. Menon, Roberta K. Sadi
  • Optical articles and systems interacting with the same
    Patent number: 11308378
    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: April 19, 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
  • Respirator having noncircular centroid-mounted exhalation valve
    Patent number: 11305134
    Abstract: A respirator 10 that has a mask body 12 and a harness 16 has an exhalation valve 23 that includes a valve seat 36 and a flexible flap 42. The valve seat 36 has an orifice 38 and has a noncircular seal surface 40 surrounding the orifice 38. The flexible flap 42 is secured to the valve seat 36 at a centroid of the orifice and has a variable stiffness structure. The variable stiffness structure allows the flap to equally deflect under a given load at different distances from the centroid at the noncircular seal surface. An exhalation valve having this construction may beneficially optimize pressure drop and overall valve performance for applications where valve space may be limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: William A. Mittelstadt
  • Sensor for electrode and processes for production
    Patent number: 11304640
    Abstract: An electrode sensor involves a solid conductive polymeric substrate shaped as an electrode sensor or portion of an electrode sensor having a layer of silver-coated particles distributed on and embedded into a surface of the substrate. The electrode sensor is particularly useful for ECG electrodes and utilizes less silver without unduly sacrificing performance. A process for producing the electrode sensor involves distributing a layer of silver-coated particles on a surface of a solid conductive polymeric substrate shaped as an electrode sensor or portion of an electrode sensor and thermally embedding the silver-coated particles into the surface. The process is simpler and less costly than existing processes for producing electrode sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Cameron E. Derry
  • Push-to-fit earplug with tip cavity
    Patent number: 11304851
    Abstract: An earplug comprises a core and a sound-attenuating body attached to the core, the sound-attenuating body comprising a tip cavity extending proximally from the tip of the sound-attenuating body and comprising a distal opening. The tip cavity side wall includes a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the core. The plurality of protrusions may include from 2 to 12 protrusions. A method of making an earplug includes covering at least a portion of a core with a material including unactivated foaming agent; inserting an end of the core and at least a portion of the material into a mold cavity; and activating the foaming agent to create a sound-attenuating body. The sound-attenuating body has a base, tip, and tip cavity with a plurality of protrusions. The mold cavity may include a boss with a cup and plurality of cut-outs on the cup for forming the protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Coffin, Matthew V. Stonebraker, Jr., Jacob H. Ely, Jeff L. Hamer, Kenneth F. Teeters, Ravi Thomas
  • Glass ionomer compositions and methods including water-miscible, silane-treated, nano-sized silica particles
    Patent number: 11304880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are curable glass ionomer compositions that include a first paste and a second paste, and methods for using the disclosed compositions. The first paste includes water, a polyacid, and a non acid-reactive filler. The second paste includes water, an acid-reactive filler; and non-aggregated, water-miscible, nano-sized silica particles having at least 25% surface coverage of the particles with a silane. The composition is essentially free of a resin. In some embodiments, the water content of the first paste and the second paste of the paste/paste GI composition disclosed herein is less than 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark B. Agre, Bradley D. Craig, Michael Jahns, Adrian S. Eckert
  • Air filter media with post-pleat-deposited sorbent particles
    Patent number: 11305224
    Abstract: An air filter media (10) including a pleated fibrous filtration web (8) with a first major side (2) that includes at least one sorbent-loaded area (26) in which sorbent particles (14) are present on a first major surface (25) of the pleated fibrous filtration web (8), at least some of the sorbent particles (14) being post-pleat-deposited sorbent particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Himanshu Jasuja, Mikhail A. Belkin, Bryan L. Gerhardt, Glen O. Gregerson, Gerry A. Hoffdahl, Jonathan M. Lise, Tien T. Wu
  • Urea-impregnated zeolite sorbents and method for making the same
    Patent number: 11298681
    Abstract: A sorbent suitable for sorbing aldehydes includes acidified zeolite impregnated with a urea-based compound, the acidified zeolite having a pore opening of 5 ? or greater and a molar ratio of silicate to aluminate of at least 1.1:1. The sorbent may be prepared by impregnating acidified zeolite with a solution of a urea-based compound, where the acidified zeolite includes proton counterions. The sorbent may be supported on a filter support to provide an air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Himanshu Jasuja, Michael S. Wendland, Michael W. Kobe
  • Method of transferring particles to a substrate
    Patent number: 11298800
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring particles by the use of a transfer tool to at least a portion of which is applied a vacuum to cause particles to jump from a particle source to the transfer tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Logan J. Klaers, John C. Clark
  • Patient treatment resource utilization predictor
    Patent number: 11302441
    Abstract: A computer implemented method includes obtaining a schema defining variables representing patient treatment experiences for one or more health conditions, obtaining data from historical patient treatment experiences, the data being arranged in accordance with the schema, training a machine learning system based on a training set of the data for a specified time-period, and generating a model from the trained machine learning system, the model being based on variables selected by the trained machine learning system to predict patient treatment experiences for the one or more health conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Cousin
  • Visibly transparent broadband infrared mirror films having fluoropolymers and 7:1:1:7:1:1 layer thickness ratio
    Patent number: 11298918
    Abstract: Multilayer infrared (IR) reflecting films are provided. An optical repeating unit of the film include a plurality of optical polymeric layers arranged to reflect light by constructive and destructive interference. Optical layer A is a high refractive index polymeric layer, and optical layer B is a low refractive index isotropic polymeric layer containing fluoropolymers. The film has an average reflectance of about 50% to about 100% in a near infrared wavelength range of about 850 nm to about 1850 nm, and an average transmission of about 70% to about 90% in a visible light range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hebrink, Mark B. O'Neill, Stephen J. Kuncio, Edward J. Kivel, Laurence R. Gilbert, Tracey D. Sorensen, Timothy J. Nevitt, Stephen A. Johnson
  • Retroreflecting article including retarder
    Patent number: 11300716
    Abstract: Retroreflecting articles are described. In particular, retroreflecting articles including a quarter wave retarder and a retroreflecting layer are described. The retarder is rotationally invariant and the retroreflecting layer is non-depolarizing. Such articles may be useful for sensor-detectable signs, labels, and garments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Michael A. McCoy, Tien Yi T. H. Whiting, Guanglei Du, Neeraj Sharma, Kui Chen-Ho, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Patterned reflective material
    Patent number: D948223
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anne C. Gold, Silvia G. B. Guttmann, Thomas J. Gilbert, Corey D. Voelker, Bernerd A. Koch
  • Medical dressing
    Patent number: D948730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Guido Hitschmann, Benjamin Vollmann, Richard L. Jacobson, Daniel Dawidowski
  • Respirator
    Patent number: D949325
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryan D. Kracht, Andre D. Jorge, Bong Y. Yeom, Kenneth A. Ebel, Steven J. Richter, Milton Loureiro de Mello, Jr., Jonathan J. Stanton, Fabiano Gonzaga Fumes