Patents by Inventor Chester A. Bacon,
Chester A. Bacon, 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: 8668341Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article bearing a graphic and a method of making the same. The prismatic retroreflective article can include an optical layer including a front surface and a rear structured surface defined at least partially by internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements. The rear structured surface can be infused with a graphic, such that the prismatic retroreflective article retroreflects the graphic when viewed from the front surface of the optical layer. The method can include providing a graphic donor sheet, coupling the graphic donor sheet to the prismatic retroreflective article to form a composite, and applying heat and pressure to the composite to transfer at least a portion of the sublimation colorant from the graphic donor sheet to the rear structured surface of the optical layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Warren P. Caswell, Chester A. Bacon, Jr., Stewart H. Corn
-
Patent number: 8506095Abstract: A transfer article, a retroreflective article and methods of making the same. The transfer article can include an overlay. The retroreflective article can include an optical layer and an overlay. The optical layer can include a front surface and a rear surface, and can include retroreflective optical elements. The overlay can include a front surface and a rear surface adapted to be coupled to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer. The overlay can further include a graphic, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay. A method of making the retroreflective article can include applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay, and coupling the overlay bearing the graphic to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Chester A. Bacon, Jr., Bradley R. Ray, Stewart H. Corn, Timothy S. Skogland, Thomas G. Cheesebrow, Michael J. Petrich
-
Publication number: 20110228391Abstract: A transfer article, a retroreflective article and methods of making the same. The transfer article can include an overlay. The retroreflective article can include an optical layer and an overlay. The optical layer can include a front surface and a rear surface, and can include retroreflective optical elements. The overlay can include a front surface and a rear surface adapted to be coupled to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer. The overlay can further include a graphic, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay. A method of making the retroreflective article can include applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay, and coupling the overlay bearing the graphic to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2009Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Chester A. Bacon, JR., Bradley R. Ray, Stewart H. Corn, Timothy S. Skogland, Thomas G. Cheesebrow, Michael J. Petrich
-
Publication number: 20110228393Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article bearing a graphic and a method of making the same. The prismatic retroreflective article can include an optical layer including a front surface and a rear structured surface defined at least partially by internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements. The rear structured surface can be infused with a graphic, such that the prismatic retroreflective article retroreflects the graphic when viewed from the front surface of the optical layer. The method can include providing a graphic donor sheet, coupling the graphic donor sheet to the prismatic retroreflective article to form a composite, and applying heat and pressure to the composite to transfer at least a portion of the sublimation colorant from the graphic donor sheet to the rear structured surface of the optical layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2009Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Warren P. Caswell, Chester A. Bacon, JR., Stewart H. Corn
-
Patent number: 8003176Abstract: An ink receptive article including a substrate having applied on at least a portion thereof a layer of an ink receptive coating, wherein the ink receptive coating layer includes a cross-linked polymer and an ink absorbing polymer, wherein the ink absorbing polymer has a solubility parameter of equal to or less than 9 (cal/cm3)1/2.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2006Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Chester A. Bacon, Jr., Christopher K. Haas, James M. Jonza, Mark J. Pellerite
-
Patent number: 7842374Abstract: A retroreflective article that includes a first layer that includes a copolyester ether composition, and a second layer that includes a retroreflective structure juxtaposed in at least a partially overlying relationship to the first layer is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of forming a retroreflective article that includes providing at least a copolyester ether composition layer, and providing a retroreflective structure in a juxtaposed and at least partially overlying relationship to the composition layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Chester A. Bacon, Jr.
-
Patent number: 7547105Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article and a method for making same. The retroreflective article can include a transparent polymeric body portion, an optical layer coupled to the body portion, and an image layer coupled to the body portion opposite the optical layer. The image layer can define imaged portions and non-imaged portions of the prismatic retroreflective article. The image layer can include cross-links formed between a polymer resin having hydroxyl functional groups and a cross-linking agent having isocyanate functional groups. The image layer can have a percent elongation of at least 80 percent and less than 200 percent. The method can include printing or coating an image layer onto to the body portion of the retroreflective sheeting opposite the optical layer, and cross-linking the image layer to form cross-links between the hydroxyl functional groups of the polymer resin and the isocyanate functional groups of the cross-linking agent.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2007Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Chester A. Bacon, Jr., Bradley R. Ray, Joy L. Manske, Rodney A. Ough
-
Publication number: 20090021831Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article and a method for making same. The retroreflective article can include a transparent polymeric body portion, an optical layer coupled to the body portion, and an image layer coupled to the body portion opposite the optical layer. The image layer can define imaged portions and non-imaged portions of the prismatic retroreflective article. The image layer can include cross-links formed between a polymer resin having hydroxyl functional groups and a cross-linking agent having isocyanate functional groups. The image layer can have a percent elongation of at least 80 percent and less than 200 percent. The method can include printing or coating an image layer onto to the body portion of the retroreflective sheeting opposite the optical layer, and cross-linking the image layer to form cross-links between the hydroxyl functional groups of the polymer resin and the isocyanate functional groups of the cross-linking agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2007Publication date: January 22, 2009Inventors: Chester A. Bacon, JR., Bradley R. Ray, Joy L. Manske, Rodney A. Ough
-
Publication number: 20080085385Abstract: An ink receptive article including a substrate having applied on at least a portion thereof a layer of an ink receptive coating, wherein the ink receptive coating layer includes a cross-linked polymer and an ink absorbing polymer, wherein the ink absorbing polymer has a solubility parameter of equal to or less than 9 (cal/cm3)1/2.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Inventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Chester A. Bacon, Christopher K. Haas, James M. Jonza, Mark J. Pellerite
-
Patent number: 7347571Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article comprising a transparent polymeric body portion having an elastic modulus less than about 13×108 pascals, and a layer of internally reflecting open air-exposed cube-corner optical elements having an elastic modulus greater than about 14×108 pascals and comprising a polymer having covalently-bound fluorine or silicon. The traditionally-employed rear cover film may be eliminated (thereby reducing cost, weight, stiffness and retroreflectivity loss due to seal leg formation), and retroreflectivity under wet conditions, dirty conditions, or both wet and dirty conditions can be at least partially maintained.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2005Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Chester A. Bacon, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20080026184Abstract: A retroreflective article that includes a first layer that includes a copolyester ether composition, and a second layer that includes a retroreflective structure juxtaposed in at least a partially overlying relationship to the first layer is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of forming a retroreflective article that includes providing at least a copolyester ether composition layer, and providing a retroreflective structure in a juxtaposed and at least partially overlying relationship to the composition layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2006Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventor: Chester A. Bacon
-
Patent number: 7195360Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article has a transparent body portion and a layer of internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements having an open air-exposed rear surface at least a portion of which is more hydrophobic, more oleophobic, or both more hydrophobic and more oleophobic than the underlying cube-corner optical element. The article may be made by providing a transparent body portion bearing a layer of internally reflecting open air-exposed cube-corner optical elements; treating or coating at least a portion of the cube-corner elements to make the treated or coated portion more hydrophobic, more oleophobic, or both more hydrophobic and more oleophobic than the underlying cube-corner optical elements; and leaving such treated or coated portion exposed to the open air.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Chester A. Bacon, Jr., Seth M. Kirk, Moses M. David, Michael D. Currens, Osei A. Owusu
-
Publication number: 20060274416Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a substantially cylindrical tool from a substantially planar substrate, wherein the tooling has at least one patterned surface. The resulting tooling includes a patterned surface with a sufficiently strong weld that is capable of producing an article having a pattern surface that has a relatively narrow and preferably cosmetically pleasing seam line. Such articles include retroreflective sheeting, structured abrasive articles, adhesive articles suitable for use in personal care products, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2006Publication date: December 7, 2006Inventors: Verlyn Paulson, Gary Geissler, Gerald Benson, Chester Bacon
-
Publication number: 20060158736Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article comprising a transparent polymeric body portion having an elastic modulus less than about 13×108 pascals, and a layer of internally reflecting open air-exposed cube-corner optical elements having an elastic modulus greater than about 14×108 pascals and comprising a polymer having covalently-bound fluorine or silicon. The traditionally-employed rear cover film may be eliminated (thereby reducing cost, weight, stiffness and retroreflectivity loss due to seal leg formation), and retroreflectivity under wet conditions, dirty conditions, or both wet and dirty conditions can be at least partially maintained.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2005Publication date: July 20, 2006Inventor: Chester Bacon
-
Publication number: 20060139754Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article has a transparent body portion and a layer of internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements having an open air-exposed rear surface at least a portion of which is more hydrophobic, more oleophobic, or both more hydrophobic and more oleophobic than the underlying cube-corner optical element. The article may be made by providing a transparent body portion bearing a layer of internally reflecting open air-exposed cube-corner optical elements; treating or coating at least a portion of the cube-corner elements to make the treated or coated portion more hydrophobic, more oleophobic, or both more hydrophobic and more oleophobic than the underlying cube-corner optical elements; and leaving such treated or coated portion exposed to the open air.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: Chester Bacon, Seth Kirk, Moses David, Michael Currens, Osei Owusu
-
Patent number: 6953624Abstract: The present invention relates to colored articles such as flexible films and retroreflective sheeting that exhibit an improvement in color stability.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2003Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Chester A. Bacon, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20040175528Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a substantially cylindrical tool from a substantially planar substrate, wherein the tooling has at least one patterned surface. The resulting tooling includes a patterned surface with a sufficiently strong weld that is capable of producing an article having a pattern surface that has a relatively narrow and preferably cosmetically pleasing seam line. Such articles include retroreflective sheeting, structured abrasive articles, adhesive articles suitable for use in personal care products, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Verlyn H. Paulson, Gary J. Geissler, Gerald M. Benson, Chester A. Bacon
-
Patent number: 6723433Abstract: The present invention relates to articles having a printed surface as well as flexible coating and film compositions that are printable in combination with exhibiting stain resistance. The composition comprises a hard component having an elongation of less than about 150%, a soft component having an elongation of greater than about 200%, and a cross-linking agent. The hard component preferably comprises a hydroxy functional thermoplastic polyurethane, hydroxy functional acrylic polymer, polymeric polyol or mixture thereof. The soft component preferably comprises a hydroxy functional thermoplastic urethane, polymeric polyol, or mixture thereof; whereas the cross-linking agent is preferably an isocyanate.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Chester A. Bacon, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6709258Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a substantially cylindrical tool from a substantially planar substrate, wherein the tooling has at least one patterned surface. The resulting tooling includes a patterned surface with a sufficiently strong weld that is capable of producing an article having a pattern surface that has a relatively narrow and preferably cosmetically pleasing seam line. Such articles include retroreflective sheeting, structured abrasive articles, adhesive articles suitable for use in personal care products, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Verlyn H. Paulson, Gary J. Geissler, Gerald M. Benson, Chester A. Bacon, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20040048073Abstract: The present invention relates to colored articles such as flexible films and retroreflective sheeting that exhibit an improvement in color stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Chester A. Bacon