Patents by Inventor Bruce B. Wilson

Bruce B. Wilson 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: 5985444
    Abstract: An ultraviolet light absorbing material that resists blooming and migration is made up of a fluoropolymer and an amide functional ultraviolet light absorbing compound, wherein the polymer and the amide functional ultraviolet light absorbing compound are hydrogen bonded to one another. Polymeric films that contain a polymeric matrix and the ultraviolet light absorbing material are useful as the top layer in multilayer constructions such as retroreflective sheetings and conformable marking sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David B. Olson, David M. Burns, Bruce B. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5910858
    Abstract: The present invention provides a retroreflective sheeting having a front surface and a back surface, the retroreflective sheeting retroreflecting light entering through the front surface, wherein the retroreflective sheeting comprises encapsulated-lens retroreflectors. The retroreflective sheeting includes a plurality of indentations in the back surface of the retroreflective sheeting and seal coat at least partially filling the indentations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Cheryl M. Frey, Bruce B. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5882796
    Abstract: The present invention provides a retroreflective sheeting including a structured retroreflective film including an array of structured retroreflective elements, a thermoplastic sealing film located proximate the structured elements, and bonding agent between the sealing film and the structured retroreflective elements, wherein the bonding agent bonds the sealing film to the structured retroreflective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Wilson, Cheryl M. Frey
  • Patent number: 5784197
    Abstract: A retroreflective article comprising an ultra-flexible structured retroreflective sheeting having a front surface and a back surface, the sheeting retroreflecting light entering through the front surface, wherein the sheeting comprises an overlay film, a two-dimensional array of substantially independent structured elements, the structured elements bonded to the overlay film, and a sealing film forming the back surface of the sheeting and bonded to the overlay film between the structured elements; a plurality of indentations in the sealing film; and a seal coat located on the sealing film, wherein the seal coat at least partially fills the indentations in the sealing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Cheryl M. Frey, Bruce B. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5779962
    Abstract: Methods of extruding thin multiphase polymer films using a flat film extrusion die closely spaced to a nip to transport and cool the melt from the die to produce thin multiphase polymer films having substantially uniform calipers of about 250 micrometers or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Warren Steve Andraschko, Bruce B. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5754338
    Abstract: The present invention provides a retroreflective sheeting including a structured film having an array of structured elements and a sealing film attached to the structured film by a plurality of rivet-like connections perforating the sealing film. Preferably, the rivet-like connections form flanges. The preferred sealing film is a thermoplastic polymer with a ductile yield of at least about 20%. The retroreflective sheetings according to the present invention can also include a seal coat located on the sealing film. In some embodiments, the seal coat can be prepared from a seal coat precursor comprising radiation curable components. The present invention also includes methods of manufacturing the various embodiments of the retroreflective sheetings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Wilson, Cheryl M. Frey
  • Patent number: 5262225
    Abstract: A curable polymer composition for use in providing a dimensionally stable coating comprises a semi-interpenetrating polymer network. The semi-interpenetrating polymer network includes a reactive polymer component, cross-linking agent, and non-reactive polymer component. The non-reactive polymer component has a molecular weight of about 7,000-30,000, and preferably about 15,000. In preferred embodiments, the reactive polymer has a molecular weight of about 30,000-200,000, and preferably about 40,000-60,000. Spacecoat compositions made with formulations described, exhibit good long-term stability, and resistance to failure upon embossing of a substrate to which the retroreflective sheeting is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Wilson, Raymond E. Grunzinger
  • Patent number: 5256721
    Abstract: A curable polymer composition for use in providing a dimensionally stable coating comprises a semi-interpenetrating polymer network. The semi-interpenetrating polymer network includes a reactive polymer component, cross-linking agent, and non-reactive polymer component. The non-reactive polymer component has a molecular weight of about 7,000-30,000, and preferably about 15,000. In preferred embodiments, the reactive polymer has a molecular weight of about 30,000-200,000, and preferably about 40,000-60,000. Spacecoat compositions made with formulations described, exhibit good long-term stability, and resistance to failure upon embossing of a substrate to which the retroreflective sheeting is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Wilson, Raymond E. Grunzinger
  • Patent number: 5196474
    Abstract: A curable polymer composition for use in providing a dimensionally stable coating comprises a semi-interpenetrating polymer network. The semi-interpenetrating polymer network includes a reactive polymer component, cross-linking agent, and non-reactive polymer component. The non-reactive polymer component has a molecular weight of about 7,000-30,000, and preferably about 15,000. In preferred embodiments, the reactive polymer has a molecular weight of about 30,000-200,000, and preferably about 40,000-60,000. Spacecoat compositions made with formulations described, exhibit good long-term stability, and resistance to failure upon embossing of a substrate to which the retroreflective sheeting is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Wilson, Raymond E. Grunzinger
  • Patent number: 5008142
    Abstract: A curable polymer composition for use in providing a dimensionally stable coating comprises a semi-interpenetrating polymer network. The semi-interpenetrating polymer network includes a reactive polymer component, cross-linking agent, and non-reactive polymer component. The non-reactive polymer component has a molecular weight of about 7,000-30,000, and preferably about 15,000. In preferred embodiments, the reactive polymer has a molecular weight of about 30,000-200,000, and preferably about 40,000-60,000. Spacecoat compositions made with formulations described, exhibit good long-term stability, and resistance to failure upon embossing of a substrate to which the retroreflective sheeting is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Wilson, Raymond E. Grunzinger