Patents by Inventor Alan G. Miller

Alan G. Miller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5589269
    Abstract: An improved ink-receptive sheet comprising a substrate bearing on at least one major surface thereof an ink-receptive layer which comprises at least one ink receptive polymer and an effective amount of polymeric mordant having the general structure: ##STR1## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of a COO-alkylene group having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, a CONH-alkylene group having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, --COO--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --CH.sub.2 --, --CONH--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --CH.sub.2 -- and .paren open-st.CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 Cl.paren close-st.n, wherein n is from 1 to about 5;E and D are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl group having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms;or A, E, D and N are combined to form a heterocyclic compound selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## R.sub.1 and R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mahfuza B. Ali, Omar Farooq, Mohammed Iqbal, Alan G. Miller
  • Patent number: 5576092
    Abstract: A layer for preventing sticking of thermal image-forming materials to thermal printheads during thermal printing. The layer comprises polymeric material having a non-cyclic, substantially completely saturated hydrocarbon backbone, said backbone having substantially only hydrogen atoms and methyl groups attached to randomly positioned carbon atoms thereon, with no more than one methyl group attached to any one backbone carbon atom. Application of the anti-stick layer to the substrate is facilitated by the solubility of the polymeric material in commonly used organic solvents, thereby allowing very thin layers of the coating to be applied in the form of dilute solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Susan K. Jongewaard, Alan G. Miller
  • Patent number: 5567507
    Abstract: An ink-receptive sheet comprising a substrate bearing on at least one major surface an ink-receptive coating comprising at least two layers, a thin upper layer and a thick base layer, wherein said upper layer comprises a high viscosity binder selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and blends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Armin J. Paff, Alan G. Miller, Donald J. Williams
  • Patent number: 5472789
    Abstract: Semi-interpenetrating polymeric networks comprising a blend of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers wherein at least one of the polymeric components is crosslinked after blending to form a continuous network throughout the bulk of the material, and through which the uncrosslinked polymeric components are intertwined in such a way as to form a macroscopically homogeneous composition. The integrity of such networks persists even after absorption of solvent. These materials can be used to form durable, non-tacky, ink-absorbent, transparent coatings for graphical materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Iqbal, Alan G. Miller, John J. Stofko, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5428161
    Abstract: 3,7-Diamo phenazine dye having at least one electron-withdrawing substituent on at least one of the groups attached to the amine groups at the 3- and 7-positions, provided that the algebraic sum of the para position Hammett sigma (.rho..sub.p) values for the groups attached to the nitrogen atoms of the amine groups at the 3- and 7-positions is more positive khan about -0.6. The group containing the electron-withdrawing substituent can be selected from(1) a substituted alkyl group, and(2) a substituted aryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Alan G. Miller, Balchunis: Robert J.
  • Patent number: 5389723
    Abstract: Semi-interpenetrating polymeric networks comprising a blend of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers wherein at least one of the polymeric components is crosslinked after blending to form a continuous network throughout the bulk of the material, and through which the uncrosslinked polymeric components are intertwined in such a way as to form a macroscopically homogeneous composition. The integrity of such networks persists even after absorption of solvent. These materials can be used to form durable, non-tacky, ink-absorbent, transparent coatings for graphical materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Iqbal, Alan G. Miller, John J. Stofko, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5342688
    Abstract: An improved ink-receptive sheet comprising a transparent substrate bearing on at least one major surface thereof an ink-receptive layer which comprises at least one imaging polymer and an effective amount of polymeric mordant having the general structure: ##STR1## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of a COO-alkylene group having from about 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, a CONH-alkylene group having from about 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, --COO--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O)n--CH.sub.2 -- and --CONH-- (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O)n--CH.sub.2 --, wherein n is from about 1 to about 5;B and D are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl group having from about 1 to about 5 carbon atoms;or A, B, D and N are combined to form a heterocyclic compound selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## R.sub.1 and R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jonathon P. Kitchin, Alan G. Miller, Mahfuza B. Ali, Omar Farooq
  • Patent number: 5302436
    Abstract: A composition suitable for an ink-jet receptive layer comprising from about 1% to about 10% of at least one carboxylic acid having a pKa of from about 2 to about 6, said acid being selected from the group consisting of aryl monocarboxylic acids, aryloxy monocarboxylic acids, alkyl carboxylic acids having alkyl groups containing at least about 11 carbon atoms, dicarboxylic acids, tricarboxylic acids and pyridinium salts, and at least one liquid-absorbent polymer comprising from about 90% to about 99% aprotic constituents, and a transparent sheet suitable for making visual transparencies having a film backing having such ink-receptive layer coated on at least one major surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Alan G. Miller
  • Patent number: 5034438
    Abstract: A layer for preventing sticking of thermal image-forming materials to thermal printheads during thermal printing. The layer comprises polymeric material having a non-cyclic, substantially completely saturated hydrocarbon backbone, said backbone having substantially only hydrogen atoms and methyl groups attached to randomly positioned carbon atoms thereon, with no more than one methyl gorup attached to any one backbone carbon atom. Application of the anti-stick layer to the substrate is facilitated by the solubility of the polymeric material in commonly used organic solvents, thereby allowing very thin layers of the coating to be applied in the form of dilute solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Susan K. Jongewaard, Alan G. Miller
  • Patent number: 4917730
    Abstract: Thermally imageable composition comprising (a) at least one leuco dye, (b) a nitrate salt, (c) at least one base having a conjugate acid having pKa equal to or greater than zero. The base serves to prevent spotting or backgrounding of transparency films bearing said thermally imageable composition during the manufacturing process used in preparing the films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Alan G. Miller
  • Patent number: 4889932
    Abstract: 3,7-Diamino phenazine leuco dyes stabilized in the 10-position with acyl substituents, said acyl substituents being themselves substituted with electron withdrawing groups. The structure of the reduced form of the dye can be represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a member selected from the group consisting of aryl groups having up to 14 carbon atoms and containing from 1 to 5 electrons withdrawing substituents, alkyl groups having up to 4 carbon atoms and containing one or more electron withdrawing groups, certain electron withdrawing groups containing a ##STR2## moiety, and certain electron withdrawing groups containing a --NH-- moiety. These dyes are suitable for use in thermographic imaging systems wherein the leuco dye is in a composition containing a nitrate salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Alan G. Miller
  • Patent number: 4647525
    Abstract: 3,7-Diamino phenazine leuco dyes stabilized in the 10-position with acyl substituents, said acyl substituents being themselves substituted with electron withdrawing groups. These dyes are suitable for use in thermographic imaging systems wherein the leuco dye is in a composition containing a nitrate salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Alan G. Miller
  • Patent number: 4563415
    Abstract: Thermographic composition comprising a leuco dye, a nitrate salt, and, optionally, an acid and stabilizing compound. The leuco dye contains a phenazine nucleus with naphthoyl substitutents on the 10-position and, optionally on one or both of the 3- and 7-positions through an amino group.In their oxidized form, the leuco dyes of this invention provide access to a range of red and magenta colors which exhibit greater stability when subjected to light and temperatures characteristic of the stage of overhead projectors than that exhibited by previously available leuco dyes of this color range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Harvey A. Brown, Louis M. Leichter, Alan G. Miller