Patents by Inventor John C. Kelliher

John C. Kelliher 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: 10618234
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, James R. Imbertson, John C. Kelliher, John A. Worrell, Sidney A. Ellingstad
  • Publication number: 20180117863
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, James R. Imbertson, John C. Kelliher, John A. Worrell, Sidney A. Ellingstad
  • Patent number: 9878507
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, James R. Imbertson, John C. Kelliher, John A. Worrell, Sidney A. Ellingstad
  • Publication number: 20140285890
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: KENNETH L. SMITH, JAMES R. IMBERTSON, JOHN C. KELLIHER, JOHN A. WORRELL, SIDNEY A. ELLINGSTAD
  • Patent number: 8783879
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, James R. Imbertson, John C. Kelliher, John A. Worrell, Sidney A. Ellingstad
  • Patent number: 8371703
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, James R. Imbertson, John C. Kelliher, John A. Worrell, Sidney A. Ellingstad
  • Publication number: 20110255165
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, James R. Imbertson, John C. Kelliher, John A. Worrell, Sidney A. Ellingstad
  • Publication number: 20100103521
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, James R. Imbertson, John C. Kelliher, John A. Worrell, Sidney A. Ellingstad
  • Patent number: 5959774
    Abstract: A cube corner article and method of manufacturing the article from a series of directly machinable unitary substrates. The method of manufacture comprises the first step of providing an initial unitary directly machinable substrate of material suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Then, a first cube corner element array zone is formed having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements. The zone is created by directly machining at least two sets of parallel grooves in the substrate. A replica of the cube corner element array zone is formed as an additional unitary substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Portions of the replica substrate material are removed. The removal of these portions forms at least two intersecting cavities bounded by side walls in the replica at a depth at least that of the cube corner elements formed by the groove sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gerald M. Benson, Kenneth L. Smith, John C. Kelliher, Mark E. Gardiner
  • Patent number: 5946134
    Abstract: A cube corner article and method of manufacturing the article from a series of directly machinable unitary substrates. The method of manufacture comprises the first step of providing an initial unitary directly machinable substrate of material suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Then, a first cube corner element array zone is formed having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements. The zone is created by directly machining at least two sets of parallel grooves in the substrate. A replica of the cube corner element array zone is formed as an additional unitary substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Portions of the replica substrate material are removed. The removal of these portions forms at least two intersecting cavities bounded by side walls in the replica at a depth at least that of the cube corner elements formed by the groove sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerald M. Benson, Kenneth L. Smith, John C. Kelliher, Mark E. Gardiner
  • Patent number: 5936770
    Abstract: A cube corner retroreflective sheeting construction comprising alternating zones of cube corner element arrays disposed at approximately ninety degrees orientations to provide exactly two principal plane of improved retroreflective performance in response to light incident on the sheeting at high entrance angles is disclosed. According to one embodiment the sheeting includes a body layer which has an elastic modulus less than 7.times.10.sup.8 pascals and cube corner elements formed from a material which has an elastic modulus greater than 16.times.10.sup.8 pascals. According to a second embodiment the sheeting includes an overlay film having two major surfaces and comprising a first polymeric material and a plurality of arrays of substantially independent cube corner elements bonded to a major surface of the overlay film having a minimal, fractured land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Susan K. Nestegard, Gerald M. Benson, Cheryl M. Frey, John C. Kelliher, James E. Lasch, Kenneth L. Smith, Theodore J. Szczech
  • Patent number: 5914812
    Abstract: A cube corner article and method of manufacturing the article from a series of directly machinable unitary substrates. The method of manufacture comprises the first step of providing an initial unitary directly machinable substrate of material suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Then, a first cube corner element array zone is formed having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements. The zone is created by directly machining at least two sets of parallel grooves in the substrate. A replica of the cube corner element array zone is formed as an additional unitary substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Portions of the replica substrate material are removed. The removal of these portions forms at least two intersecting cavities bounded by side walls in the replica at a depth at least that of the cube corner elements formed by the groove sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerald M. Benson, Kenneth L. Smith, John C. Kelliher, Mark E. Gardiner
  • Patent number: 5706132
    Abstract: A cube corner retroreflective sheeting construction comprising alternating zones of cube corner element arrays disposed at approximately ninety degrees orientations to provide exactly two principal plane of improved retroreflective performance in response to light incident on the sheeting at high entrance angles is disclosed. According to one embodiment the sheeting includes a body layer which has an elastic modulus less than 7.times.10.sup.8 pascals and cube corner elements formed from a material which has an elastic modulus greater than 16.times.10.sup.8 pascals. According to a second embodiment the sheeting includes an overlay film having two major surfaces and comprising a first polymeric material and a plurality of arrays of substantially independent cube corner elements bonded to a major surface of the overlay film having a minimal, fractured land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Susan K. Nestegard, Gerald M. Benson, Cheryl Frey, John C. Kelliher, James E. Lasch, Kenneth L. Smith, Theodore J. Szczech
  • Patent number: 5696627
    Abstract: A cube corner article and method of manufacturing the article from a series of directly machinable unitary substrates. The method of manufacture comprises the first step of providing an initial unitary directly machinable substrate of material suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Then a first cube corner element array zone is formed having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements. The zone is created by directly machining at least two sets of parallel grooves in the substrate. A replica of the cube corner element array zone is formed as an additional unitary substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Portions of the replica substrate material are removed. The removal of these portions forms at least two intersecting cavities bounded by side walls in the replica at a depth at least that of the cube corner elements formed by the groove sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gerald M. Benson, Kenneth L. Smith, John C. Kelliher, Mark E. Gardiner