Patents by Inventor Patrick R. Fleming

Patrick R. Fleming 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: 20250128491
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2025
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20250091786
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets including a multi-slit pattern. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Anne C.F. Gold, Silvia G. Guttmann, Nicholas K. Lee, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Patent number: 12202226
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20240425260
    Abstract: Containers (100), for example boxes, envelopes, mailers, and the like containing one or more deployable cushioning sheets (1500) are disclosed. The deployable cushioning sheets (1500) are connected to at least one wall of the containers (100) and can be deployed to be partially outside of the container for cushioning, for example by wrapping, an object (1600) to be packaged. The deployable cushioning sheets (1500) can contain, for example, paper, cardboard, foam, bubble film, or the like, or they can contain combinations of different types of materials. The containers (100) are useful in methods of packaging, storing, and shipping, among other uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Sithya S. Khieu, Thomas R. Corrigan, Ignatius A. Kadoma, Yaohua Gao, Stephen M. Sanocki, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Satinder K. Nayar, Gene B. Portelli, Kimberly C.M. Schultz, Annabelle Watts, Manoj Nirmal, Patrick R. Fleming
  • Patent number: 12168564
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets including a multi-slit pattern. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Anne C. F. Gold, Silvia G. Guttmann, Nicholas K. Lee, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20230271396
    Abstract: Dispenser with bearings for dispensing a roll of tension activated expandable sheet material, as well as methods for using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas R.J. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Jacob T. Lusson, James E. Nash
  • Publication number: 20230241876
    Abstract: Conformable sheet article made from paper and useful, for example, in packaging, tapes, and craft article, and methods of making and using such sheet articles are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Manoj Nirmal, Mary L. Brown, Kimberly C.M. Schultz, Mitchell A.F. Johnson, Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Stephen M. Sanocki, Jimmy M. Le, Steven L. Mahoney, Charles E. Jansen, Matt R. Branscomb, Yaohua Gao, Elizabeth R. Bright, Ignatius A. Kadoma, Jeffrey E. Zelinsky
  • Publication number: 20230022987
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles that include single slit patterns. In some embodiments, these articles are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Anne C.F. Gold, Silvia G. Guttmann, Nicholas K. Lee, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20230020226
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles that include compound slit patterns. In some embodiments, these articles are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20230017683
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets including a multi-slit pattern. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Anne C.F. Gold, Silvia G. Guttmann, Nicholas K. Lee, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20220379575
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles that include a plurality of patterned slits. At least some of the plurality of slits are multibeam slits that, when the material into which the slits are formed is tension-activated form one or more multibeams. In some embodiments, these articles are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Anne C.F. Gold, Silvia G. Guttmann, Nicholas K. Lee, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20220379576
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles that include a plurality of patterned slits. At least some of the plurality of slits include curved terminal ends. In some embodiments, these articles are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20220380107
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Delony L. Langer-Anderson, Lisa M. Miller, Manoj Nirmal
  • Publication number: 20220009690
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to crush resistant packaging materials and/or constructions and to methods of making and using them. Many embodiments provide crush resistance in addition to customizability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Manoj Nirmal, Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas R.J. Corrigan, Lisa M. Miller, James R. Prell, Sithya S. Khieu, Daniel J. Hoyord, Connor M. Pelletier-Sutton
  • Patent number: 10532704
    Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Publication number: 20180370458
    Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 10081314
    Abstract: Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Fleming, Thomas J. Dahlin
  • Publication number: 20180222173
    Abstract: Methods of preparing adhesive-backed articles and methods of applying adhesives backed articles are described. The adhesive-backed articles include a compliant film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive having a microstructured surface opposite the compliant film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Haruyuki Mikami, Patrick R. Fleming, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek
  • Patent number: 10035339
    Abstract: Laser conversion of multilayer optical film bodies comprising polyester and polycarbonate materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Pingfan Wu, Edward J. Woo, Ian R. Owen, Bruce E. Tait, Frederick P. LaPlant, Patrick R. Fleming
  • Patent number: D1027486
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. J. Corrigan, Patrick R. Fleming, Jacob T. Lusson, Marcia A. Popa, Matt R. Branscomb