Patents Assigned to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing
  • Patent number: 7131442
    Abstract: A face mask for filtering contaminants from the air. The face mask includes a harness for securing the mask over the nose and mouth of the wearer and a nonwoven fibrous layer attached to the harness. The nonwoven fibrous layer contains at least 40 weight percent thermally bonding fibers, where at least 10 weight percent of the fibers in the nonwoven fibrous layer are bicomponent fibers. The nonwoven fibrous layer is molded in a cup-shaped configuration and has a surface fuzz value of not less than 7.5 after being subjected to a surface fuzz abrasion test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kronzer, James F. Dyrud
  • Patent number: 6846893
    Abstract: A mixture is provided comprising (a) at least one of an elastomeric thermoplastic, a non-elastomeric thermoplastic, an elastomeric thermoset and mixtures thereof, excluding polydiorganosiloxane fluids and (b) a polymer having soft polydiorganosiloxane units, hard polyisocyanate residue units, optionally, soft and/or hard organic polyamine residue units and terminal groups. The hard polyisocyanate residue and the hard polyamine residue comprise less than 50% by weight of the polydiorganosiloxane urea containing component. The polyisocyanate residue is the polyisocyanate minus the —NCO groups and the polyamine residue is the polyamine minus the —NH2 groups. The polyisocyanate residue is connected to the polyamine residue by urea linkages. The terminal groups are non-functional groups or functional groups. The polydiorganosiloxane urea containing component may be reactive under free-radical or moisture curing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Walter R. Romanko, Patrick D. Hyde, Roy Wong, Albert I. Everaerts
  • Patent number: 6783574
    Abstract: Electret filter media comprising a nonwoven web of thermoplastic nonconductive microfibers having trapped charge, said charge provided by (1) subjecting the nonwoven web to a corona treatment, followed by (2) impingement of jets of water or a stream of water droplets on the web at a pressure sufficient to provide the web with filtration enhancing electret charge and (3) drying the web. This electret filter media may be used in a respiratory mask to provide extraordinarily good filtration properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Seyed A. Angadjivand, Marvin E. Jones, Daniel E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6692807
    Abstract: An adhesive tape construction is removable from one or more objects to which it is adhered and which is reusably separable within its construction so that an object can be separated from another and subsequently reconnected with one another. The adhesive tape construction can be used to bond the other opposed surfaces of objects, including rigid objects such as a picture frame to a wall, where no portion of the adhesive tape construction projects from between the objects, and which subsequently affords easy separation of the objects without damage to either of them. More specifically, the adhesive tape construction includes a stretch release adhesive tape structure combined with a reusable connector surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James L. Bries, Michael D. Hamerski
  • Publication number: 20040013611
    Abstract: Pharmaceutical suspension aerosol formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of a drug and HFC 134a, HFC 227, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, now 3M Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Schultz, David W. Schultz, Martin J. Oliver, Robert A. Moris, Philip A. Jinks
  • Publication number: 20040005451
    Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with various light management films, including other reflective layers, turning films, brightness enhancement films, and polarizing films. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing company
    Inventors: Wade D. Kretman, Scott R. Kaytor
  • Publication number: 20030207453
    Abstract: A sterilization monitor includes a substrate and an monitor composition. The monitor composition contains a colorant and a halogen source and undergoes a distinct color change when exposed to a peracid. The sterilization monitor can be used to monitor a sterilization process involving a peracid. A sterilization monitoring device, including a sterilization monitor enclosed in a housing having a vapor permeable barrier, can also be used to monitor a sterilization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, a Minnesota corporation
    Inventors: Ramon T. Ignacio, Allan P. Piechowski
  • Patent number: 6630209
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated optical fiber including the step of determining a desired temperature operating range of a coated optical fiber having at least one critical limit. The intercoating delamination stresses at the critical limit of said temperature range are determined. A zero-stress temperature region using the critical limit and the delamination stresses is then selected. An optical fiber is provided and the optical fiber is coated with a first polymer coating. The first polymer coating is exposed to a source of actinic radiation, wherein the source of actinic radiation generates heat. A second polymer coating including a photopolymerizable composition is applied to the optical fiber directly on the first polymer coating. The second polymer coating is cured, where at the time the second polymer coating is cured the first polymer coating is at the zero-stress temperature region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas Martin Lynch, Brian Kenneth Nelson, James Craig Novack, James Robert Onstott
  • Patent number: 6617002
    Abstract: Microperforated polymeric films and sound absorbers using such films are provided. The microperforated polymeric films may be relatively thin and flexible and may further include holes having a narrowest diameter less than the film thickness and a widest diameter greater than the narrowest diameter. The microperforated polymeric films of a sound absorber may also have relatively large free span portions, which, in certain embodiments, may vibrate in response to incident sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Kenneth Brian Wood
  • Patent number: 6616714
    Abstract: A stacking of battery laminate is prepared, each battery consisting of anode, polymer electrolyte, cathode films and possibly an insulating film, under conditions suitable to constitute a rigid monoblock assembly, in which the films are unitary with one another. The assembly obtained is thereafter cut in predetermined shape by using a mechanical device without macroscopic deformation of the films constituting the assembly and without inducing permanent short circuits. The battery which is obtained after cutting includes at least one end which appears as a uniform cut, the various films constituting the assembly having undergone no macroscopic deformation, the edges of the films of the anode including an electronically insulating passivation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignees: Hydro-Quebec, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michel Gauthier, Ginette Lessard, Gaston Dussault, Roger Rouillard, Martin Simoneau, Alan Paul Miller
  • Publication number: 20030161984
    Abstract: An adhesive tape construction is removable from one or more objects to which it is adhered and which is reusably separable within its construction so that an object can be separated from another and subsequently reconnected with one another. The adhesive tape construction can be used to bond the other opposed surfaces of objects, including rigid objects such as a picture frame to a wall, where no portion of the adhesive tape construction projects from between the objects, and which subsequently affords easy separation of the objects without damage to either of them. More specifically, the adhesive tape construction includes a stretch release adhesive tape structure combined with a reusable connector surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
    Inventors: James L. Bries, Michael D. Hamerski
  • Publication number: 20030118805
    Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with other reflective layers. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wade D. Kretman, Scott R. Kaytor
  • Publication number: 20030118781
    Abstract: A filtration media array is provided having at least one contoured polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a stack that has the contoured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the stack and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways may be defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the contours of the structured contoured film layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas I. Insley, Todd W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6572945
    Abstract: An adhesive tape construction is removable from one or more objects to which it is adhered and which is reusably separable within its construction so that an object can be separated from another and subsequently reconnected with one another. The adhesive tape construction can be used to bond the other opposed surfaces of objects, including rigid objects such as a picture frame to a wall, where no portion of the adhesive tape construction projects from between the objects, and which subsequently affords easy separation of the objects without damage to either of them. More specifically, the adhesive tape construction includes a stretch release adhesive tape structure combined with a reusable connector surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James L. Bries, Michael D. Hamerski
  • Patent number: 6562324
    Abstract: Cosmetic compositions are provided containing vinyl-silicone graft or block copolymers of the formula
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing
    Inventors: Kanta Kumar, Ramesh C. Kumar, Smarajit Mitra
  • Publication number: 20030077688
    Abstract: A rapid method of determining the efficacy of a sterilization cycle, and an indicator adapted to perform such method, comprising subjecting to the sterilization cycle a source of active enzyme having activity which correlates with the viability of a microorganism commonly used to monitor sterilization, and incubating the enzyme source, following the completion of the sterilization cycle, with an effective amount of a substrate system capable of reacting with any residual active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company to 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard R. Matner, William E. Foltz, Lewis P. Woodson
  • Patent number: 6549141
    Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal(i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Michael J. Kieffer, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Jr., Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod
  • Patent number: 6542070
    Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transaction related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Roger D. Larson, James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Michael J. Kieffer, Gerald L. Karel, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Jr., Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod, Richard M. Willems
  • Publication number: 20030045630
    Abstract: The invention provides novel macromonomer and carboxyl functional polyurethanes having a high carboxyl content. The invention further provides dispersions, coatings and magnetic recording media comprising these polyurethanes, or blends or copolymers of these polyurethanes with quaternary ammonium compounds. The invention further provides novel dispersions, coatings and magnetic recording media comprising combinations of carboxyl functional polyurethanes having a high carboxyl content with quaternary ammonium polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing company
    Inventors: James G. Carlson, Ramesh C. Kumar
  • Patent number: RE38158
    Abstract: This invention is related to an adhesive composition which may be used to bond or seal tissue in vivo. The adhesive composition is readily formed from a two component mixture which includes a first part of a protein, preferably a serum albumin protein, in an aqueous buffer having a pH in the range of about 8.0-11.0 and a second part of a water-compatible or water-soluble bifunctional crosslinking agent. When the two parts of the mixture are combined, the mixture is initially a liquid which cures in vivo on the surface of tissue in less than about one minute to give a strong, flexible, pliant substantive composition which bonds to the tissue and is absorbed in about four to sixty days. The adhesive composition may be used either to bond tissue, to seal tissue or to prevent tissue adhesions caused by surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas H. Barrows, Terry W. Lewis, Myhanh T. Truong, Matthew T. Scholz