Patents by Inventor James C. Breister
James C. Breister 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).
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Patent number: 7406239Abstract: A polarizer is formed with an arrangement of polymer fibers substantially parallel within a polymer matrix. The polymer fibers are formed of at least first and second polymer materials. At least one of the polymer matrix and the first and second polymer materials is birefringent, and provides a birefringent interface with the adjacent material. Light is reflected and/or scattered at the birefringent interfaces with sensitivity to the polarization of the light. In some embodiments, the polymer fibers are formed as composite fibers, having a plurality of scattering polymer fibers disposed within a filler to form the composite fiber. In other embodiments, the polymer fiber is a multilayered polymer fiber. The polymer fibers may be arranged within the polymer matrix as part of a fiber weave.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2005Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Richard C. Allen, Olester Benson, Jr., James C. Breister, Yeun-Jong Chou, Patrick R. Fleming, William J. Kopecky, Diane North, Roger J. Stumo, Kristin L. Thunhorst, Bruce B. Wilson, Harold E. Rude
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Publication number: 20080152282Abstract: A composite polymer fiber comprises a polymer filler material and a plurality of polymer scattering fibers disposed within the filler material. At least one of the filler material and the scattering fibers is formed of a birefringent material. The refractive indices of the filler material and the scattering fibers can be substantially matched for light incident in a first polarization state on the composite polymer fiber and unmatched for light incident in an orthogonal polarization state. The scattering fibers may be arranged to form a photonic crystal within the composite fiber. The composite fibers may be extruded and may be formed into a yarn, a weave or the like. If the filler material is soluble, it may be washed out of the yarn or weave, and the scattering fibers may then be infiltrated with a resin that is subsequently cured.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2008Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Olester Benson, James C. Breister, Robert L. Brott, Yeun-Jong Chou, Patrick R. Fleming, William J. Kopecky, Diane North, Roger J. Stumo, Kristin L. Thunhorst, Bruce B. Wilson
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Patent number: 7364421Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a fluid synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface with a slot die apparatus. The invention further relates to a slot die apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties ComapnyInventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister, Gregory H. Van Erem, David W. Meitz, Stephen W. Mohn, Paul DeRoussel
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Patent number: 7356231Abstract: A composite polymer fiber comprises a polymer filler material and a plurality of polymer scattering fibers disposed within the filler material. At least one of the filler material and the scattering fibers is formed of a birefringent material. The refractive indices of the filler material and the scattering fibers can be substantially matched for light incident in a first polarization state on the composite polymer fiber and unmatched for light incident in an orthogonal polarization state. The scattering fibers may be arranged to form a photonic crystal within the composite fiber. The composite fibers may be extruded and may be formed into a yarn, a weave or the like. If the filler material is soluble, it may be washed out of the yarn or weave, and the scattering fibers may then be infiltrated with a resin that is subsequently cured.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2005Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Olester Benson, Jr., James C. Breister, Robert L. Brott, Yeun-Jong Chou, Patrick R. Fleming, William J. Kopecky, Diane North, Roger J. Stumo, Kristin L. Thunhorst, Bruce B. Wilson
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Publication number: 20080003430Abstract: Particulate-loaded polymer fibers along with methods and systems for extruding polymeric fibers are disclosed. The particulate-loaded polymer fibers have a fiber body that includes a polymeric binder with a plurality of particles distributed within the polymeric binder. Some of the particles are completely encapsulated within the polymeric binder and others may be embedded such that they are partially exposed on the outer surface of the fiber body. The polymers used in the fibers may be of high molecular weight and the encapsulated particles may be preferentially distributed towards the outer surfaces of the fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Bruce B. Wilson, Roger J. Stumo, Stanley C. Erickson, William J. Kopecky, James C. Breister
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Patent number: 6861025Abstract: Melt blown nonwoven webs are formed by supplying attenuating fluid to a meltblowing die through an attenuating fluid distribution passage whose distribution characteristics can be changed while the die and manifold are assembled. By adjusting the distribution characteristics of the passage, the mass flow rate of attenuating fluid to channels in the meltblowing die and the temperature of the attenuating fluid at the die outlets can be made more uniform.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister
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Patent number: 6846450Abstract: Melt blown or spun bond nonwoven webs are formed by flowing fiber-forming material through a die cavity having a substantially uniform residence time and then through a plurality of orifices to form filaments, using air or other fluid to attenuate the filaments into fibers and collecting the attenuated fibers as a nonwoven web. Each die orifice receives a fiber-forming material stream having a similar thermal history. The physical or chemical properties of the nonwoven web fibers such as their average molecular weight and polydispersity can be made more uniform. Wide nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities in a side-by-side relationship. Thicker or multilayered nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities atop one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister, Michael G. Schwartz, Patrick J Sager
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Patent number: 6824733Abstract: Melt blown nonwoven webs are formed by supplying fiber-forming material to a planetary gear metering pump having a plurality of outlets, flowing fiber-forming material from the pump outlets through a plurality of inlets in one or more die cavities, and meltblowing the fiber-forming material. Each die cavity inlet receives a fiber-forming material stream having a similar thermal history. The physical or chemical properties of the nonwoven web fibers such as their average molecular weight and polydispersity can be made more uniform. Wide nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities in a side-by-side relationship. Thicker or multilayered nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities atop one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister, Michael G. Schwartz, Patrick J. Sager
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Publication number: 20040173920Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a fluid synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface with a slot die apparatus. The invention further relates to a slot die apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister, Gregory H. Van Erem, David W. Meitz, Stephen W. Mohn, Paul DeRoussel
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Publication number: 20030236046Abstract: Melt blown or spun bond nonwoven webs are formed by flowing fiber-forming material through a die cavity having a substantially uniform residence time and then through a plurality of orifices to form filaments, using air or other fluid to attenuate the filaments into fibers and collecting the attenuated fibers as a nonwoven web. Each die orifice receives a fiber-forming material stream having a similar thermal history. The physical or chemical properties of the nonwoven web fibers such as their average molecular weight and polydispersity can be made more uniform. Wide nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities in a side-by-side relationship. Thicker or multilayered nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities atop one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2002Publication date: December 25, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister, Michael G. Schwartz, Patrick J. Sager
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Publication number: 20030234464Abstract: Melt blown nonwoven webs are formed by supplying attenuating fluid to a meltblowing die through an attenuating fluid distribution passage whose distribution characteristics can be changed while the die and manifold are assembled. By adjusting the distribution characteristics of the passage, the mass flow rate of attenuating fluid to channels in the meltblowing die and the temperature of the attenuating fluid at the die outlets can be made more uniform.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2002Publication date: December 25, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister
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Publication number: 20030234463Abstract: Melt blown nonwoven webs are formed by supplying fiber-forming material to a planetary gear metering pump having a plurality of outlets, flowing fiber-forming material from the pump outlets through a plurality of inlets in one or more die cavities, and meltblowing the fiber-forming material. Each die cavity inlet receives a fiber-forming material stream having a similar thermal history. The physical or chemical properties of the nonwoven web fibers such as their average molecular weight and polydispersity can be made more uniform. Wide nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities in a side-by-side relationship. Thicker or multilayered nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities atop one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2002Publication date: December 25, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Stanley C. Erickson, James C. Breister, Michael G. Schwartz, Patrick J. Sager