Patents Assigned to 3M
  • Patent number: 11097508
    Abstract: Polymeric multilayer material includes an adhesive layer having first and second opposed major surfaces. A first foam layer is joined to the first major surface and includes a first plurality of expandable microspheres. A first skin layer is attached to the first foam layer and is free of the first plurality expandable microspheres. A second foam layer is joined to the second major surface of the internal adhesive layer and includes a second plurality of expandable microspheres dispersed therein. A second skin layer is attached to the second foam layer and is free of the second plurality of expandable microspheres. A portion of the first expandable microspheres of the first foam layer and of the second foam layer is at least partially embedded within the adhesive layer. Embodiments, of polymeric multilayer materials described herein are useful, for example, as wearable medical or athletic support components. The materials can also be used as protective wrappings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jacob D. Young, Jeffrey O. Emslander, Jeffrey P. Kalish, Diane L. Emslander
  • Patent number: 11097398
    Abstract: In some examples, an abrasive particle transfer system including a production tool including a dispensing surface with a plurality of cavities formed therein; abrasive particles removably disposed within at least some of the cavities; and a nonwoven substrate having an outer surface opposing the dispensing surface of the production tool, wherein the dispending surface of the production tool is configured to apply a compressive force to the outer surface of the nonwoven substrate to compress the nonwoven substrate from a first thickness to a second thickness, wherein, while the nonwoven substrate is compressed to the second thickness by the production tool, the abrasive particles are transferred from the plurality of cavities to the nonwoven substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Thomas J. Nelson, Grayce T. Huberty, Louis S. Moren, Wayne W. Maurer, Rebecca A. Putans, Ernest L. Thurber
  • Patent number: 11099215
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (3) for measuring a voltage in a HV/MV power network in a separable connector (2), the sensor comprising: —an adapter element (11) comprising a high voltage connection adapted to be mechanically and electrically coupled to a high voltage conductor (7) of the separable connector (2) and to receive HV/MV voltage from the separable connector, —a sensor body (12) adapted to be mechanically and electrically coupled to the adapter element (11) and comprising a divider assembly (24) with a plurality of discrete impedance elements, which are electrically connected in series such as to be operable as a voltage divider for sensing a voltage and a low voltage connection (42) configured to provide a low voltage signal corresponding to a high voltage signal present in the HV/MV power network, wherein the adapter element (11) and the sensor body (12) are separate elements that are adapted to be installed to the separable connector (2), wherein the adapter element is configured to be instal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Harald Westkamp, Bernd Schubert, Mark Gravermann, Jens Weichold
  • Patent number: 11099314
    Abstract: Optical system including a lightguide; a turning film, including a first smooth surface perpendicular to a display axis and a first structured surface including a plurality of first microstructures defining a first plurality of parallel grooves, where the turning film is optically coupled to the lightguide, where the turning film outputs light collimated in a first plane parallel to the display axis; and a lenticular diffuser, including a second smooth surface perpendicular to the display axis and a second structured surface comprising a plurality of second microstructures defining a second plurality of parallel grooves extending along a plane perpendicular to the display axis, where the lenticular diffuser is optically coupled to the turning film, where the lenticular diffuser reflects or refracts collimated light toward a second plane perpendicular to the first plane; where the first plurality of parallel grooves is perpendicular to the second plurality of parallel grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Epstein, Nicholas A. Johnson, Robert M. Emmons
  • Patent number: 11099331
    Abstract: An optical adaptor for inspection of a desired surface of an optical ferrule is provided. The optical ferrule is disposed in, and has a first position relative to, a housing of the optical ferrule. The optical adaptor includes a front portion including an open front end for insertion into the housing of the optical ferrule from an open mating end of the housing and for receiving at least a portion of the desired surface of the optical ferrule. The front portion includes a receiving surface for receiving at least a portion of the optical ferrule and causing the optical ferrule to change its position from the first position to a different second position. An image forming surface forms an image of the desired surface of the optical ferrule, thereby allowing a viewing of the optical ferrule from an open rear end of the optical adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Boon K. Lee, Alberto DeLosSantos, Bing Hao
  • Patent number: 11099312
    Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Gilles J. Benoit, Kristopher J. Derks, Zhaohui Yang
  • Patent number: 11096551
    Abstract: The present invention is a cleaning tool for dispensing foam. The cleaning tool includes a handle having a working end and a holding end, a cleaning head attached to the working end of the handle, a foaming mechanism, and an actuator to displace volume within the foaming mechanism. The foaming mechanism includes a chamber, an air pocket, an air tube having an air inlet, a fluid inlet, a fluid reservoir, and a foaming pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Chaffee, Megan E. Renner, Lloyd S. Vasilakes
  • Patent number: 11099214
    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 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: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jaylon D. Loyd, Christopher R. Wilson, Carl J. Wentzel
  • Patent number: 11090682
    Abstract: A process for applying a coating material onto a substrate as a non-uniform discontinuous pattern of coating material, the method including the present disclosure describes a method of applying a coating material onto a substrate, including providing a first distribution manifold having a cavity and a multiplicity of first dispensing outlets in fluid communication with the cavity, creating relative motion between a substrate and the dispensing outlets in a first direction; dispensing a first coating material from the dispensing outlets while maintaining the relative motion and translating the multiplicity of dispensing outlets in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction, and varying a rate of dispensing of the first coating material in a predetermined fashion to form a discontinuous pattern of the first coating material on a major surface of the substrate. Useful non-uniformly patterned coated articles can be prepared using the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Tyler J. Rattray, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Jonathan J. O'Hare, Peter T. Benson, Karl K. Stensvad, Glen A. Jerry
  • Patent number: 11090681
    Abstract: A composition including a polythiol having more than one thiol groups, a polyepoxide having more than one epoxide group, a photolatent base catalyst that can photochemically generate a first amine, and a second amine phase-separated within the composition. A polymer network preparable from the composition, and a method for making the polymer network are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Zook, Sheng Ye, Erik M. Townsend, Michael D. Swan, William H. Moser
  • Patent number: 11091579
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aqueous dispersion. The aqueous dispersion includes a) water; b) a surfactant having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group; and c) polyester particles dispersed in the water. The polyester particles include a water-insoluble polyester having a weight average molecular weight of 20 kiloDaltons or greater, and the polyester particles have an average diameter that is submicron in size. Further, the present disclosure provides a method of making the aqueous dispersion. The method includes a) dissolving a water-insoluble polyester in a water-immiscible solvent to form a polyester solution; b) combining the polyester solution with an aqueous solution including water and a surfactant; and c) removing at least a portion of the water-immiscible solvent to form the aqueous dispersion including polyester particles dispersed in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tianyu Wu, Ying-Yuh Lu, Lin Chen, Jung-Sheng Wu, Ahmed S. Abuelyaman, James D. Hansen, Tianying Jiang, Erick I. Soto Cantu
  • Patent number: 11092177
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a connecting element and to a process for producing said connecting element. The present disclosure further relates to a connecting system and a device comprising said connecting element, and to a process for fixing said connecting element to a first component. The present disclosure further relates to the use of said connecting element and connecting system for friction-increasing connection of a first and a second component in energy generation, specifically in wind turbines and hydropower turbines, and in machine, plant, motor vehicle and aircraft construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Florian T. Grimm
  • Patent number: 11090192
    Abstract: A tool communication adapter system is provided. One exemplary system described herein includes a tool communication adapter having an adapter body including first and second mechanical attachment ends, a first electrical connector proximate the first mechanical attachment end and a second electrical connector proximate the second mechanical attachment end, a first supply channel having an opening extending through the body between the first and second mechanical attachment ends, and including a first supply channel connector at the first attachment end and a second supply channel connector at the second mechanical attachment end, and a control unit in communication with the first and second electrical connectors. The control unit is configured to provide a filter command signal to a protective filter in response to a signal received at the first electrical connector. An exemplary tool communication adapter thus allows communication between a tool and personal protective equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Mats U. Sernfält
  • Patent number: 11091629
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a curable void filler composition comprising: (a) at least one epoxy resin; (b) at least one epoxy curing agent comprising a carboxylic acid anhydride compound; (c) at least one alkaline oxide and/or at least one alkaline earth oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sohaib Elgimiabi, Frank Neuroth
  • Patent number: 11090780
    Abstract: A method of transferring a shaped particle to a substrate includes providing a scrim of at least two elongate strands periodically joined together at flexible bond regions to form an array of apertures between the strands. The scrim is extended along at least one direction to increase the minimum dimension of the apertures. Shaped particles are applied to the extended scrim and at least a portion of the shaped particles enter in at least some of the apertures therein. The extended scrim is relaxed and frictionally retains the particles between the elongate strands. The particle loaded scrim is extended along at least one direction to release and transfer the shaped particles to the substrate in a predetermined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nelson, Jasmeet Kaur, Ronald W. Ausen, Jaime A. Martinez, Edward J. Woo
  • Patent number: 11094953
    Abstract: Electrode membrane assembly having an oxygen evolution reaction electrodes, the electrode membrane assembly comprising nanostructured whiskers with at least one of metallic Ir or Ir oxide thereon. These oxygen evolution reaction electrodes when paired with suitable hydrogen evolution electrodes are useful, for example, in generating H2 and O2 from water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Krzysztof A. Lewinski, Sean M. Luopa
  • Patent number: D928312
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Turnbull, James M. Sieracki, Amanda C. Engler, Denise J. Ziemann, Kimberly A. Schommer
  • Patent number: D928754
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tim S. Hjertberg, Robert Karlsson
  • Patent number: D928965
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Henry C. Gydesen, Marc Peuker, Mathias Bertl
  • Patent number: D929058
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Windy A. Santa Cruz