Patents by Inventor Susan K. Nestegard

Susan K. Nestegard 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: 7188396
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavities of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • Patent number: 6635212
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, is integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavities of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • Patent number: 6558602
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavities of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • Patent number: 5962108
    Abstract: A process and article for a retroreflective polymeric coated flexible fabric material having a retroreflective layer and a polymeric compatibilizing layer welded to a polymeric coated outer surface of a flexible fabric material. The compatibilizing layer provides an intermediate layer between the retroreflective layer and the flexible fabric material creating suitable bond strength between dissimilar polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Susan K. Nestegard, Tzu Li Huang, James C. Coderre, James E. Lasch, Jeffrey D. Janovec, Michael Ruehlemann
  • 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: 5879604
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavities of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • Patent number: 5845375
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip that can be used in a hook-and-loop mechanical fastener. The hook strip comprises a homogeneous backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with the backing, a high density array of hooks including stems projecting from the backing and circular disc shaped heads at the ends of the stems opposite the backing. The large number, small size, and shape of the heads on the hooks allow them to engage the fibers in conventional types of fabrics and non-woven materials that are not normally used as the loop portions of hook and loop fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Philip Miller, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • 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: 5691846
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing flexible cube corner retroreflective sheeting comprising the steps of:a) providing a tool having a molding surface;b) applying to the molding surface a volume of a flowable resin composition;c) contacting the resin composition with a first major surface of an overlay film;d) minimizing excess resin composition;e) curing the resin composition to form a sheeting comprising an array of cube corner elements bonded to the overlay film;f) removing the sheeting from the tool; andg) applying mechanical stress to the sheeting so as to cause a fractured separation of substantially each individual cube corner element from surrounding cube corner elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Olester Benson, Jr., Cheryl M. Frey, Jeanine M. Shusta, Susan K. Nestegard, Vera L. Lightle, Kenneth L. Smith, Chester A. Bacon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5679302
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip that can be used in a hook-and-loop mechanical fastener. The hook strip includes a homogeneous backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with the backing, a high density array of hooks including stems projecting from the backing and circular disc shaped heads at the ends of the stems opposite the backing. The large number, small size, and shape of the heads on the hooks allow them to engage the fibers in conventional types of fabrics and non-woven materials that are not normally used as the loop portions of hook and loop fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Philip Miller, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • Patent number: 5643397
    Abstract: A sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5616394
    Abstract: A sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5611791
    Abstract: A sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5607635
    Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavities of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Leigh E. Wood, Marvin D. Lindseth, Dale A. Bychinski
  • Patent number: 5354591
    Abstract: A sheet of coated abrasive material including a backing having abrasive on one surface and loops projecting from its other surface by which the sheet of coated abrasive material can be held by hooks on the support surface of a pad. The backing comprises a polymeric bonding layer defining its rear surface. The sheet of coated abrasive material comprises a nonwoven sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions bonded in the polymeric bonding layer at spaced bonding locations, and arcuate portions projecting from the rear surface of the backing between the bonding locations to provide the loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ott, Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, David F. Slama, John L. Barry, Jeffrey R. McMahon
  • Patent number: 5256231
    Abstract: A method of providing a sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5254194
    Abstract: A sheet of coated abrasive material including a backing having abrasive on one surface and loops projecting from its other surface by which the sheet of coated abrasive material can be held by hooks on the support surface of a pad. The backing comprises a polymeric bonding layer defining its rear surface. The sheet of coated abrasive material comprises a nonwoven sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions bonded in the polymeric bonding layer at spaced bonding locations, and arcuate portions projecting from the rear surface of the backing between the bonding locations to provide the loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ott, Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, David E. Slama, John L. Barry, Jeffrey R. McMahon
  • Patent number: 5149573
    Abstract: A strip material from which a portion may be severed to form a portion of a fastener. The strip material comprising a polymeric bonding layer; a multiplicity of flexible, resilient, generally U-shaped monofilaments, each monofilament including a central elongate bight portion embedded in the bonding layer, two stem portions extending from the opposite ends of the bight portion and projecting generally normal to an exposed major surface of the bonding layer, and enlarged heads at the ends of the stem portions opposite the bight portion, resiliently elastic material attached to the surface of the bonding layer opposite its exposed major surface, and pressure sensitive adhesive means along an attachment surface of the resiliently elastic material opposite the bonding layer for adhering the strip material to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James J. Kobe, Susan K. Nestegard
  • Patent number: D383312
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Susan K. Nestegard, James E. Lasch
  • Patent number: D397555
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Susan K. Nestegard, James E. Lasch