Patents by Inventor Lawrence A. Flor

Lawrence A. Flor 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: 5433395
    Abstract: A tape cartridge having a tape supply reel contained within the cartridge housing. A tape passes through a tape guideway in the cartridge housing and is attached to the tape supply reel on one end and a tape connector on the other end. The cartridge housing contains a single interlock arm pivotally mounted for rotational movement, one end of the arm which is movable into and out of the tape path, while the other end of the arm is movable through a slot in the cartridge housing. The withdrawal of the tape connector from the guideway releases the arm so that a spring can actuate the other end of the arm outwardly into locking engagement within a notch in an external housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Turgeon, Lawrence A. Flor
  • Patent number: 5306284
    Abstract: Surgical instruments are disclosed for manipulating selected tissue in a body cavity under visual inspection. The preferred instrument includes a probe in which a blade is positioned, wherein the probe includes a lateral aperture near its distal end. The blade can be extended outwardly from the probe along a path which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the probe. After the blade has been extended it can be used to effectively divide tissue. An optical system can be received in the probe for viewing through the lateral aperture in the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignees: John Agee, Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: John M. Agee, Francis King, Kimberly A. Romanko, Lawrence A. Flor, Thomas A. Turgeon, William A. Mittelstadt
  • Patent number: 5165083
    Abstract: A removable tape cartridge (14) for insertion into a carrier (12) in order to form a two-piece videocassette (10) comprises a housing (30) with a tape reel assembly (32) therein. The tape reel assembly (32) includes a length of tape (64) with a connector (68) at one end which, upon insertion of the cartridge (14), mates with an associated connector (16) in the carrier (12) to establish connection with a take-up reel (20). The tape reel assembly (32) is normally biased downwardly by a spring (56) and is normally constrained against rotation by an internal brake assembly (70-74) responsive to insertion of the cartridge (14) into the carrier (12). The tape connector (68) is releasably secured in proper position for mating engagement with the corresponding connector (16) by one end of an arm (78), the other end of which functions to interlock the tape cartridge (14) and carrier (12) against separation upon withdrawal of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Flor, Thomas A. Turgeon, Thomas J. Zohn
  • Patent number: 5031065
    Abstract: A removable tape cartridge (14) for insertion into a carrier (12) in order to form a two-piece videocassette (10) comprises a housing (30) with a tape reel assembly (32) therein. The tape reel assembly (32) includes a length of tape (64) with a connector (68) at one end which, upon insertion of the cartridge (14), mates with an associated connector (16) in the carrier (12) to establish connection with a take-up reel (20). The tape reel assembly (32) is normally biased downwardly by a spring (56) and is normally constrained against rotation by an internal brake assembly (70-74) responsive to insertion of the cartridge (14) into the carrier (12). The tape connector (68) is releasably secured in proper position for mating engagement with the corresponding connector (16)by one end of an arm (78), the other end of which functions to interlock the tape cartridge (14) and carrier (12) against separation upon withdrawal of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Flor, Thomas A. Turgeon, Thomas J. Zohn
  • Patent number: 4200675
    Abstract: A sheet suitable for making typewriter producible negatives to impart an identifying title to light-sensitive material which comprises an opaque sheet formed with a narrow rectangular area defined by spaced parallel perforations in the sheet affording removal of the sheet material from the rectangular area and a carbon ribbon secured to the sheet such that typing on the ribbon transfers the carbon to the removable sheet material in the rectangular area affording transparent areas in the ribbon defining the indicia desired for the title.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1980
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Flor, Kenneth R. Kurttila
  • Patent number: 4035074
    Abstract: A step and repeat camera is disclosed which includes a module for supporting a supply of film material, for metering a length of film material from the support and cutting the film to a predetermined length, a second module for supporting the cut sheet of film with the light sensitive coated surface positioned downward and moving the film along X and Y coordinates to position successive areas of the film over an image projecting lens. The support moves the film from a first film receiving conveyor to a titling area where a title is contact exposed onto the film, through the imaging section along the coordinates, and to the discharge conveyor. The third module includes apparatus for conveying the film over a DC corona bar which causes the film to adhere to a hot processing drum and to be carried thereby under a heated shoe past an AC corona bar to discharge the film, permitting the same to drop from the surface of the drum across its initial infeed path into a cooling chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Flor