Patents by Inventor Eugene H. Carlson

Eugene H. Carlson 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).

  • Publication number: 20220177671
    Abstract: The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder, Eugene H. Carlson, Kenton D. Budd, Joseph D. Engebretson
  • Patent number: 11353640
    Abstract: The disclosed retroreflective element includes a highly durable core with an ionic copolymer and a plurality of beads. These disclosed retroreflective properties remain intact even after continued application of external forces and stresses. Further, the ionic copolymer allows for beads to be loaded into the ionic copolymer of the core, securely disposed around the perimeter of the core, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder, Eugene H. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20220170218
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to non-conformable thermoplastic pavement marking tapes comprising a backing and an adhesive layer adjacent to the backing. In some embodiments, the backing includes an ionic copolymer. In other embodiments, the non-conformable backing has an inelastic deformation of less than 10% at 25° C. In some embodiments, the pavement marking tape is heat-moldable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Gregg A. Patnode, James P. Endle, Eugene H. Carlson, Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder
  • Patent number: 11286368
    Abstract: The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder, Eugene H. Carlson, Kenton D. Budd, Joseph D. Engebretson
  • Publication number: 20210070962
    Abstract: The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder, Eugene H. Carlson, Kenton D. Budd, Joseph D. Engebretson
  • Patent number: 10889947
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to non-conformable thermoplastic pavement marking tapes comprising a backing and an adhesive layer adjacent to the backing. In some embodiments, the backing includes an ionic copolymer. In other embodiments, the non-conformable backing has an inelastic deformation of less than 10% at 25° C. In some embodiments, the pavement marking tape is heat-moldable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventors: Gregg A. Patnode, James P. Endle, Eugene H. Carlson, Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder
  • Patent number: 10858496
    Abstract: The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder, Eugene H. Carlson, Kenton D. Budd, Joseph D. Engebretson
  • Publication number: 20200241180
    Abstract: The disclosed retroreflective element includes a highly durable core with an ionic copolymer and a plurality of beads. These disclosed retroreflective properties remain intact even after continued application of external forces and stresses. Further, the ionic copolymer allows for beads to be loaded into the ionic copolymer of the core, securely disposed around the perimeter of the core, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder, Eugene H. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20180371713
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to non-conformable thermoplastic pavement marking tapes comprising a backing and an adhesive layer adjacent to the backing. In some embodiments, the backing includes an ionic copolymer. In other embodiments, the non-conformable backing has an inelastic deformation of less than 10% at 25° C. In some embodiments, the pavement marking tape is heat-moldable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Gregg A. Patnode, James P. Endle, Eugene H. Carlson, Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder
  • Patent number: 10138367
    Abstract: Copolymers of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) and polydiorganosiloxanes, compositions comprising the same, and articles comprising the copolymers, compositions, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rajdeep S. Kalgutkar, Joseph A. Severance, David S. Hays, Alexander J. Kugel, Eugene H. Carlson
  • Patent number: 10106688
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to a thermoplastic road marker having improved crack-resistance, to compositions of such road markers, and to methods of making and applying these road markers. Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a thermoplastic road marking composition, comprising: ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”) and/or ethylene acrylic acid (“EAA”) copolymers in an amount of between about 1.5 wt % to about 6.0 wt %; and core-shell particles in an amount of between about 0.5 wt % and about 3.0 wt %. In at least some embodiments, the EVA and/or EAA have a melt flow index equal to or less than 45 g/10 min at 190° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Eugene H. Carlson, Jong-Min Kim
  • Publication number: 20180291175
    Abstract: The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder, Eugene H. Carlson, Kenton D. Budd, Joseph D. Engebretson
  • Patent number: 9932476
    Abstract: A composition comprises a blend comprising (a) a binder comprising (i) C5 hydrocarbon resin or (ii) a resin comprising rosin acids, rosin esters, modified rosin acids, modified rosin esters or mixtures thereof, and (b) polydimethylsiloxane polyamide copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Alexander J. Kugel, Eugene H. Carlson, Matthew D. Wilding, Rajdeep S. Kalgutkar, Pamela A. Percha
  • Publication number: 20170044324
    Abstract: Copolymers of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) and polydiorganosiloxanes, compositions comprising the same, and articles comprising the copolymers, compositions, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: RAJDEEP S. KALGUTKAR, JOSEPH A. SEVERANCE, DAVID S. HAYS, ALEXANDER J. KUGEL, EUGENE H. CARLSON
  • Publication number: 20160244617
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to a thermoplastic road marker having improved crack-resistance, to compositions of such road markers, and to methods of making and applying these road markers. Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a thermoplastic road marking composition, comprising: ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”) and/or ethylene acrylic acid (“EAA”) copolymers in an amount of between about 1.5 wt % to about 6.0 wt %; and core-shell particles in an amount of between about 0.5 wt % and about 3.0 wt %. In at least some embodiments, the EVA and/or EAA have a melt flow index equal to or less than 45 g/10 min at 190° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Eugene H. Carlson, Jong-Min Kim
  • Publication number: 20150252195
    Abstract: A composition comprises a blend comprising (a) a binder comprising (i) C5 hydrocarbon resin or (ii) a resin comprising rosin acids, rosin esters, modified rosin acids, modified rosin esters or mixtures thereof, and (b) polydimethylsiloxane polyamide copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Alexander J. Kugel, Eugene H. Carlson, Matthew D. Wilding, Rajdeep S. Kalgutkar, Pamela A. Percha
  • Patent number: 8012550
    Abstract: An ink receptive article including a substrate having on at least a portion of a major surface thereof an antistatic layer, and wherein the antistatic layer has on at least a portion of a major surface thereof an ink receptive layer, wherein the ink receptive layer includes a crosslinked polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyethers, polyesters, polyacrlylics, polyureas, copolymers thereof, and blends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Scott A. Boyd, Joseph C. Carls, Eugene H. Carlson, Christopher K. Haas, James M. Jonza, Mark J. Pellerite, Robert F. Watkins
  • Patent number: 7964269
    Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting articles comprising a colorless thermal mass transferred image, methods of thermal mass transfer printing substrate such as polymeric films with a colorless thermal mass transferable composition, and thermal mass transfer ribbon articles comprising a colorless thermal mass transferable composition are described. The thermal mass transfer composition comprises a homogeneous unreactive thermoplastic composition comprising at least one acrylic resin and less than 3 wt-% of components that are opaque at ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Lee, Mark W. Leverty, Scott A. Boyd, Eugene H. Carlson, Lisa Flatt Nelson
  • Patent number: 7727617
    Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting is described comprising a viewing surface and a non-viewing surface and a thermal mass transferred image disposed in the optical path of the viewing surface wherein the thermal mass transferred image comprises a homogeneous unreactive thermoplastic composition. In one embodiment, the unreactive thermoplastic composition comprises at least one acrylic resin and at least one colorant, wherein the composition has less than 3 wt-% of components that are opaque at ambient temperature. The percent maximum diffuse luminous transmittance to total luminous transmittance of the composition is less than 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Lee, Mark W. Leverty, Scott A. Boyd, Eugene H. Carlson, Lisa Flatt Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090291292
    Abstract: The present application relates to optically active elements and the methods of making these elements. The optically active elements include multiple layers of optically active beads positioned adjacent to a core particle. The methods of making these optically active elements involve applying multiple layers of optically active beads around a core particle. At least some of the optically active elements exhibit increased durability and/or performance due to the inclusion of multiple layers of optically active beads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Terrance L. Bescup, Eugene H. Carlson, Matthew D. Wilding