Patents by Inventor Robert T. Fehr

Robert T. Fehr 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: 6913722
    Abstract: A receptor medium with a sheet having an optically transmissive microembossed imaging surface as one major surface thereof. The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, biological fluids, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, and combinations thereof. The microembossed medium unexpectedly solves such common inkjet printing problems as feathering, banding, and mudcracking in inkjet printing systems by controlling how an inkjet drop contacts and dries on an inkjet receptor medium and also Moire' effects but also provides sufficient optical transmissivity to be useful as overhead transparency media, backlit signage, and the like. Clear lines of demarcation between adjoining colors of a pigmented inkjet image graphic can be obtained without creation of the Moire' effects. Methods of making and using the inkjet receptor medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lori P. Engle, Robert T. Fehr, Patrick R. Fleming, Alan G. Miller, Todd R. Williams, Caroline M. Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 6824378
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a microreplication tool includes gas release features that allow gas to escape from microreplication cavities of the tool. The gas release features can be disposed at the bottoms of the respective cavities to avoid air entrapment within the cavities of the tool during the microreplication process. In this manner, the quality of the microreplicated product can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Vincent W. King, Joseph M. D'Sa, Robert T. Fehr, James A. Servatius
  • Patent number: 6700712
    Abstract: A multidirectional single surface optically shaped film is disclosed. The optically shaped film may include a film having only one surface structure with two or more different, overlapping Fresnel patterns formed in the structured surface for use as thin, decorative film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James Servatius, Robert T. Fehr
  • Publication number: 20030224144
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a microreplication tool includes gas release features that allow gas to escape from microreplication cavities of the tool. The gas release features can be disposed at the bottoms of the respective cavities to avoid air entrapment within the cavities of the tool during the microreplication process. In this manner, the quality of the microreplicated product can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Vincent W. King, Joseph M. D'Sa, Robert T. Fehr, James A. Servatius
  • Patent number: 6649249
    Abstract: A receptor medium with a sheet having a random microembossed imaging surface as one major surface thereof. The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, biological fluids, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, electrically, thermally, or magnetically modifiable materials, and combinations thereof. The random microembossed medium unexpectedly solves such common inkjet printing problems as feathering, banding, and mudcracking in inkjet printing systems by controlling how an inkjet drop contacts and dries on an inkjet receptor medium and also Moire' effects. Clear lines of demarcation between adjoining colors of a pigmented inkjet image graphic can be obtained without creation of the Moire' effects. Methods of making and using the inkjet receptor medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lori P. Engle, Robert T. Fehr, Patrick R. Fleming, Paul D. Graham, Douglas A. Huntley, Verna J. LeMire, Jeffrey L. Solomon, Todd R. Williams, Caroline M. Ylitalo
  • Publication number: 20030129301
    Abstract: A receptor medium with a sheet having an optically transmissive microembossed imaging surface as one major surface thereof. The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, biological fluids, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, and combinations thereof. The microembossed medium unexpectedly solves such common inkjet printing problems as feathering, banding, and mudcracking in inkjet printing systems by controlling how an inkjet drop contacts and dries on an inkjet receptor medium and also Moire' effects but also provides sufficient optical transmissivity to be useful as overhead transparency media, backlit signage, and the like. Clear lines of demarcation between adjoining colors of a pigmented inkjet image graphic can be obtained without creation of the Moire' effects. Methods of making and using the inkjet receptor medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lori P. Engle, Robert T. Fehr, Patrick R. Fleming, Alan G. Miller, Todd R. Williams, Caroline M. Ylitalo
  • Publication number: 20030090813
    Abstract: A multidirectional single surface optically shaped film is disclosed. The optically shaped film may include a film having only one surface structure with two or more different, overlapping Fresnel patterns formed in the structured surface for use as thin, decorative film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James Servatius, Robert T. Fehr
  • Patent number: 6521325
    Abstract: A receptor medium with a sheet having an optically transmissive microembossed imaging surface as one major surface thereof. The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, biological fluids, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, and combinations thereof. The microembossed medium unexpectedly solves such common inkjet printing problems as feathering, banding, and mudcracking in inkjet printing systems by controlling how an inkjet drop contacts and dries on an inkjet receptor medium and also Moire' effects but also provides sufficient optical transmissivity to be useful as overhead transparency media, backlit signage, and the like. Clear lines of demarcation between adjoining colors of a pigmented inkjet image graphic can be obtained without creation of the Moire' effects. Methods of making and using the inkjet receptor medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lori P. Engle, Robert T. Fehr, Patrick R. Fleming, Alan G. Miller, Todd R. Williams, Caroline M. Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 5728446
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid management film for use in rapid transport of liquid. The liquid management film is a thermoplastic film having at least one microstructured hydrophilic surface with a plurality of primary grooves. The primary grooves have at least two secondary grooves, each of said secondary grooves forming at least one notch which notches are substantially parallel and separated by a secondary peak. The notches or secondary grooves have an included angle of from about 10.degree. to about 120.degree., the depth of one of said secondary grooves (the height of the secondary peak over the notch) being at least 5 microns and said depth being from about 0.5 to about 80 percent of the depth of the primary groove. The said notches have a radius of curvature of less than about 15 microns and the primary and/or secondary groove depth and width varies by less than 20 percent for each groove over a given length of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Raymond P. Johnston, Robert T. Fehr, James A. Servatius