Patents Assigned to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
  • Patent number: 5954844
    Abstract: An abrasive article, for example, a coated, bonded, or nonwoven abrasive article comprising a binder, a plurality of abrasive particles, and an antiloading component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kam W. Law, Walter L. Harmer, Alan R. Kirk, Ernest L. Thurber
  • Patent number: 5952420
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive polyacrylate polymer microparticulate obtainable by suspension polymerizing an aqueous mixture that comprises: (a) an acrylic acid ester of a nontertiary alcohol having 1 to 14 carbon atoms; (b) a polar monomer; (c) a styrene sulfonate salt; and (d) an amount of surfactant above the critical micelle concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raymond Senkus, Chung I. Young, Leonard W. Barrett, Ying-Yuh Lu
  • Patent number: 5952398
    Abstract: A polymerized microemulsion pressure sensitive adhesive composition is described. The composition has peel adhesion of at least 3 Newtons/100 mm as measured according to a PSTC-1 Test. The composition preferably has a bicontinuous structure of a continuous phase of a hydrophobic pressure sensitive adhesive polymer and a continuous phase of a hydrophilic polymer. The bulk properties of both polymers are retained in the bicontinuous structure. The composition is prepared from a microemulsion comprising a free-radically ethylenically unsaturated polar amphiphilic or hydrophilic monomer or oligomer in the aqueous phase, a free-radically ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer, having a glass transition temperature suitable for forming a pressure sensitive adhesive, in the oil phase, water, and surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Timothy M. Dietz, Ying-Yuh Lu, Rosa Uy, Chung I. Young
  • Patent number: 5951993
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition including a lower alcohol and water in a weight ratio of about 35:65 to 100:0, between at least 0.5% and 8.0% by weight thickener system comprised of at least two emulsifiers, each emulsifier present in at least 0.05% by weight wherein the composition free of auxiliary thickeners has a viscosity of at least 4,000 centipoise at 23 degrees C. and wherein each emulsifier is comprised of at least one hydrophobic group and at least one hydrophilic group. The composition is useful as a presurgical scrub replacement, a lotion or other hand preparation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Scholz, Robert A. Asmus, Jill R. Charpentier
  • Patent number: 5947961
    Abstract: A biomedical electrode is disclosed, having a geometry of a perimeter of hydrophilic adhesive exceeding the perimeter of an area containing electrically conductive plate(s). The geometry unexpectedly causes a reduction in edge effect for dispersive electrodes and cardiac stimulation electrodes due the substantial equilibration of the conductive adhesive with epidermis of a patient the electrode contacts for a period of time sufficient to cause such substantial equilibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Samuel G. Netherly
  • Patent number: 5946866
    Abstract: A modular damper which comprises one or more individual damper elements which are mounted into the damper structure. The dampers are useful in damping structures such as buildings, bridges, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James T. Weglewski, Ming-Lai Lai
  • Patent number: 5944758
    Abstract: A proximal humeral prosthesis that is particularly designed for treating a fractured humerus. The prosthesis comprises a head corresponding to the humeral head of a patient, and a stem having a proximal end to which the head is mounted. The prosthesis has a central plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the stem about which it has a mirror axis of symmetry. One, or preferably pair of, projecting ribs are positioned at or near the proximal end of the stem adjacent the head. The projecting ribs are offset in opposite directions relative to the center plane at substantially identical offset angles (e.g., about 20.degree. to about 40.degree.) approximating the greater or lesser tuberosity of the humerus. Also disclosed is a method of treating a fractured humerus with this prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michel Mansat, Otto Sneppen, Ian G. Kelly, Pierre Hoffmeyer
  • Patent number: 5946134
    Abstract: A cube corner article and method of manufacturing the article from a series of directly machinable unitary substrates. The method of manufacture comprises the first step of providing an initial unitary directly machinable substrate of material suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Then, a first cube corner element array zone is formed having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements. The zone is created by directly machining at least two sets of parallel grooves in the substrate. A replica of the cube corner element array zone is formed as an additional unitary substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Portions of the replica substrate material are removed. The removal of these portions forms at least two intersecting cavities bounded by side walls in the replica at a depth at least that of the cube corner elements formed by the groove sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerald M. Benson, Kenneth L. Smith, John C. Kelliher, Mark E. Gardiner
  • Patent number: 5945642
    Abstract: An acoustic horn imparts energy at a selected wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. The horn has at least one nodal plane and a natural frequency of vibration. The horn has an outer surface and at least one cutout located in the outer surface. The cutout is located at a longitudinal location on the surface that does not contact the nodal plane. The horn length is a function of the shape, size, number, and location of the cutouts, and is less than the length of a solid horn having the same natural frequency of vibration. The horn can vibrate at a natural frequency and the length of the horn can be less than one-half wavelength of vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Satinder K. Nayar, Haregoppa S. Gopalkrishna, Joseph M. D'Sa
  • Patent number: 5942461
    Abstract: A polymerizable composition comprises an alpha-olefin hydrocarbon monomer, an effective amount of an organometallic catalyst of a Group VIII metal, preferably Ni or Pd, and at least one of water and air. Novel catalysts for polymerizing alpha-olefin hydrocarbon monomers provide improved processes and products. Methods of the invention include polymerizing the composition in open air and in the presence of water to provide novel polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Katherine A. Brown, Edward G. Stewart, Penelope J. Swanson, William M. Lamanna, Allen R. Siedle
  • Patent number: 5940921
    Abstract: An applicator for a lint removal device includes a handle portion connected to a tape-receiving portion. The tape-receiving portion includes a tape-receiving surface, an inner lip, an outer lip, and grooves adjacent the lips. The outer lip is tapered. After a roll of tape traverses over the outer lip it is locked in place on the tape-receiving surface and cannot be removed by sliding it back over the outer lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Wood, Raymond D. Zachrison
  • Patent number: 5939182
    Abstract: A hydrophilic polymeric article has metal oxide particles dispersed throughout a polymeric binder material. A major surface of the polymeric material is treated so as to remove polymeric binder to provide a higher ratio of metal to carbon atoms on the major surface of the polymeric article relative to its interior. The polymeric article provides extraordinary water-spreading effects on the major surface, making the article particularly suitable for use as a surface covering on a retroreflective sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Tzu-Li J. Huang, David A. Kaisaki
  • Patent number: 5940562
    Abstract: A stubless optoelectronic device receptacle for connecting multifiber optical ribbon cables to optoelectronic semiconductor components is provided. The optoelectronic device receptacle consists of a receptacle alignment block portion contained in the receptacle body. The alignment block has a connector coupling surface for engaging the fiber optic ribbon connector. An optoelectronic semiconductor component is fixedly mounted to the connector coupling surface of the alignment block and a flexible circuit is then mounted to the electronic semiconductor component to provide power to the component. In the preferred embodiment, the alignment block contains mechanical features which perform precision alignment of the block to a connector attached to the fiber ribbon cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gordon D. Henson, Robert S. Reylek, Barry S. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 5939136
    Abstract: A method of making an optical fiber device, which comprises the steps of providing an optical fiber element comprising an optical fiber having at least one thermally removable coating thereon, and thermally removing all or a predetermined portion of the thermally removable coating(s) to sufficiently expose said optical fiber for a subsequent processing step. Following removal of the thermally removable coating, the optical fiber has a predetermined median fracture stress, as measured according to FOTP-28. The optical fiber may then be processed into an optical fiber device and optionally recoated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bryon J. Cronk, James C. Novack, Bruce A. Rabine, Paul E. Sanders
  • Patent number: 5940149
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display projector including a light source, a collimator lens, a planar polarization converter, a liquid crystal display panel, and projection lenses. The collimator lens is optically aligned to receive a beam of light from the light source and to produce a collimated light beam. The planar polarization converter is optically aligned in front of the collimator lens to receive the collimated beam of light. The polarization converter includes a prismatic film having a first prismatic surface, a reflective polarization film, and a quarter wave retarder film positioned between the prismatic film and the polarization film sheet. The prismatic surface has alternating transmissive prismatic facets and reflective prismatic facets positioned at supplementary base angles, the reflective prismatic facets positioned at a second base angle .beta. and the transmissive prismatic facets positioned at a first base angle generally equal to 180.degree.-.beta..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Dennis F. Vanderwerf
  • Patent number: 5939248
    Abstract: A photothermographic material having a photosensitive medium comprising: photosensitive silver halide, a reducible silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion, a hydrobromic acid salt of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring or fused ring nucleus associated with a pair of bromine atoms CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the photosensitive medium additionally comprises as an antifoggant, substantially in the absence of an antifoggant effective amount of mercury and other heavy metal salts, a tribromomethyl ketone compound of general formula (I): ##STR1## in which; R represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carbocyclic ring or fused ring nucleus or a heterocyclic ring or fused ring nucleus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark P. Kirk, David B. Oliff
  • Patent number: 5939161
    Abstract: A centrally tabbed adhesive tape strip pad and centrally tabbed adhesive tape flag pad in which the centrally positioned pull tab portion of the leader strip facilitates initiation of dispensing without the use of prethreaded leader bands and facilitates insertion of a new pad into typical refillable dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Bruce E. Samuelson
  • Patent number: 5938830
    Abstract: Pigmented inks are disclosed comprising an aqueous medium, a pigment, and a N-disubstituted sulfosuccinamate dispersant, preferably tetrasodium N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecyl sulfosuccinamate. Such dispersants reduce the agglomeration of pigment particles and reduce or eliminate the deposition of foreign substances on heater elements during the jetting process. A variety of pigments, dispersants, humectants, and aqueous media can be used. Such dispersants provide inks with good stability, few kogation problems, long decap times, and no color-to-color bleed, and relatively fast drying times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Kuo, Jennifer Jeannette
  • Patent number: 5932298
    Abstract: Methods for preparing viscoelastic compositions (e.g., adhesives such as hot melt adhesives) in which a pre-viscoelastic composition (e.g., a pre-adhesive composition) is combined with a packaging material and then polymerized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John D. Moon
  • Patent number: RE36269
    Abstract: A saw blade retention system for retaining a saw blade to a reciprocating saw includes a shaft connected to the saw for reciprocation and having a slot for receiving the saw blade. The saw blade retention system also includes a chuck disposed about the shaft and having a slot aligned with the slot in the shaft in an unlocked position for allowing the saw blade to be disposed in the slot for the shaft. The saw blade retention system further includes a cam-type mechanism for allowing the chuck to rotate angularly relative to the saw blade and shaft to a locked position to prevent the saw blade from exiting the slots and for allowing the chuck to move axially relative to the shaft to prevent axial movement of the saw blade between the chuck and the shaft. Complementary inclined surfaces are provided on the blade and the chuck to center the blade relative to its intended path of reciprocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: David W. Wright