Patents by Inventor Roberta E. Harelstad

Roberta E. Harelstad 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: 7964264
    Abstract: The present invention provides signage articles and methods of making, wherein the signage articles have adhesion-enhancing surfaces for marking materials. The signage articles include a substrate that includes a noncellulosic organic polymeric surface, preferably, a radiation cured coating disposed on the noncellulosic organic polymeric surface and a marking material disposed thereon. Preferably, the marking material is not substantially removed from the signage article upon wiping the marking material with gasoline for five cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sundar J. Rajan, Roberta E. Harelstad, Joey L. Reule
  • Publication number: 20030211299
    Abstract: A coating for a retroreflective document is provided which renders the surface of the document receptive to toners and inks printed thereon while not substantially interfering with the retroreflective properties of the underlying substrate. Methods for fabricating the document are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sundar J. Rajan, Roberta E. Harelstad, Joey L. Reule
  • Patent number: 6623824
    Abstract: A novel release liner is provided which has a release surface comprising a syndiotactic polymer. The release liners of the present invention offer superior release to a wide variety of materials without the application of release agents, have relatively high heat distortion temperatures, and are unaffected by radiation sources used to cure most polymeric compositions. The release liners of the present invention can be microreplicated with a pattern which can be transferred to coatings and other impressionable materials to impart unique physical or optical properties. Thus, a method of producing a patterned article is also provided, as is a method of producing a solid object from a curable composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William D. Joseph, Lee A. Pavelka, Jaime R. Ojeda, Denise A. Barrera, Roberta E. Harelstad, Bruce A. Sventek
  • Patent number: 6498218
    Abstract: An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) or semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) comprises a first phase which is continuous and comprises a flexible polymer and a second phase which is a fluorescent or nonfluorescent durable dispersed or continuous phase and comprises a dye and a polymer, wherein the polymer enhances durability of the dye. Such networks are particularly useful in fluorescent traffic signs or safety devices or in pavement marking tape or paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventors: Denise A. Barrera, Roberta E. Harelstad, William D. Joseph, Lee A. Pavelka
  • Patent number: 6482510
    Abstract: A novel form construction comprising a substrate (e,g., a form sheet or roll goods) having a digital printable surface portion and a release surface portion, on which release coating surface portion a signage with a pressure-sensitive adhesive can be releasably adhered. A digital printable release coating composition is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: J. Sundar Rajan, Roberta E. Harelstad, Joey L. Reule, Ramesh C. Kumar
  • Publication number: 20020132900
    Abstract: An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) or semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) comprises a first phase which is continuous and comprises a flexible polymer and a second phase which is a fluorescent or nonfluorescent durable dispersed or continuous phase and comprises a dye and a polymer, wherein the polymer enhances durability of the dye. Such networks are particularly useful in fluorescent traffic signs or safety devices or in pavement marking tape or paint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Denise A. Barrera, Roberta E. Harelstad, William D. Joseph, Lee A. Pavelka
  • Patent number: 6406787
    Abstract: A novel form construction comprising a form sheet having a digital printable surface portion and a release surface portion, on which release coating surface portion a signage with a pressure-sensitive adhesive can be releasably adhered. A digital printable release coating composition is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: J. Sundar Rajan, Roberta E. Harelstad, Joey L. Reule, Ramesh C. Kumar
  • Patent number: 6395844
    Abstract: An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) or semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) comprises a first phase which is continuous and comprises a flexible polymer and a second phase which is a fluorescent or nonfluorescent durable dispersed or continuous phase and comprises a dye and a polymer, wherein the polymer enhances durability of the dye. Such networks are particularly useful in fluorescent traffic signs or safety devices or in pavement marking tape or paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Denise A. Barrera, Roberta E. Harelstad, William D. Joseph, Lee A. Pavelka
  • Patent number: 6326072
    Abstract: A novel release liner is provided which has a release surface comprising a syndiotactic polymer. The release liners of the present invention offer superior release to a wide variety of materials without the application of release agents, have relatively high heat distortion temperatures, and are unaffected by radiation sources used to cure most polymeric compositions. The release liners of the present invention can be microreplicated with a pattern which can be transferred to coatings and other impressionable materials to impart unique physical or optical properties. Thus, a method of producing a patterned article is also provided, as is a method of producing a solid object from a curable composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jaime R. Ojeda, Lee A. Pavelka, William D. Joseph, Bruce A. Sventek, Roberta E. Harelstad, Denise A. Barrera
  • Patent number: 6001936
    Abstract: An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) or semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) comprises a first phase which is continuous and comprises a flexible polymer and a second phase which is a fluorescent or nonfluorescent durable dispersed or continuous phase and comprises a dye and a polymer, wherein the polymer enhances durability of the dye. Such networks are particularly useful in fluorescent traffic signs or safety devices or in pavement marking tape or paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Denise A. Barrera, Roberta E. Harelstad, William D. Joseph, Lee A. Pavelka
  • Patent number: 5256784
    Abstract: Nonlinear-optic (NLO) compositions containing functionalized merocyanine dyes, such that the molecules, comprising the NLO-active compositions have a functional group at each end of the molecule and each functional group differing in reactivity, thus permitting stepwise reaction of each functional group, and NLO-active molecules prepared from hemioxonol dyes derviatived with (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide groups, and their uses in devices such as second harmonic generators or polymer integrated optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Cecil V. Francis, Elisa M. Cross, Roberta E. Harelstad, Paul F. Korkowski, Peter C. Leung, David W. Macomber, John E. Trend
  • Patent number: 5185102
    Abstract: This invention provides an optical medium and a process therefor wherein the medium exhibits third order nonlinear optical response and comprises a polymer with pendant groups having delocalized pi-electron character forming a charge transfer complex with dopant molecules. The optical medium is useful in optical devices, such as optical switches or light modulation devices as a component or as a coating. In other aspects, novel polymers and polymer complexes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Roberta E. Harelstad, Cecil V. Francis, Kenneth M. White
  • Patent number: 4714838
    Abstract: Devices for and method of generating coherent second harmonic light radiation. The devices comprise a laser source of coherent light radiation at a fixed fundamental frequency, a crystalline N,N'-substituted barbituric acid that crystallizes in a non-centrosymmetric configuration, means for directing the output radiation of the laser onto the N,N'-substituted barbituric acid, and output means for utilizing the second harmonic frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Roberta E. Harelstad, John Stevens