Patents by Inventor Donald W. Folske

Donald W. Folske 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: 5904793
    Abstract: A method for forming a sheet of loop material in which a sheet of fibers is passed between a first cylindrical forming member having sockets and a second cylindrical forming member having mating posts to generally conform the sheet of fibers to the peripheral surface of the first forming member and retain it there for a distance after which molten thermoplastic material is bonded to it to form a backing layer. Arcuate portions of the sheet of fibers that were in the sockets then projecting from the backing. The formed sheet of fibers is retained along the peripheral surface of the first forming member for said distance by drawing air through those air passageways in the bottoms of the sockets. The first forming member can be heated, and a source of heated air can be supplied to restrict cooling of the first forming member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Nedlin B. Johnson, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske
  • Patent number: 5643397
    Abstract: A sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5616394
    Abstract: A sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5611791
    Abstract: A sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5354591
    Abstract: A sheet of coated abrasive material including a backing having abrasive on one surface and loops projecting from its other surface by which the sheet of coated abrasive material can be held by hooks on the support surface of a pad. The backing comprises a polymeric bonding layer defining its rear surface. The sheet of coated abrasive material comprises a nonwoven sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions bonded in the polymeric bonding layer at spaced bonding locations, and arcuate portions projecting from the rear surface of the backing between the bonding locations to provide the loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ott, Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, David F. Slama, John L. Barry, Jeffrey R. McMahon
  • Patent number: 5256231
    Abstract: A method of providing a sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5254194
    Abstract: A sheet of coated abrasive material including a backing having abrasive on one surface and loops projecting from its other surface by which the sheet of coated abrasive material can be held by hooks on the support surface of a pad. The backing comprises a polymeric bonding layer defining its rear surface. The sheet of coated abrasive material comprises a nonwoven sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions bonded in the polymeric bonding layer at spaced bonding locations, and arcuate portions projecting from the rear surface of the backing between the bonding locations to provide the loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ott, Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, David E. Slama, John L. Barry, Jeffrey R. McMahon