Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Kotnour

Thomas A. Kotnour 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: 6656319
    Abstract: Adhesive articles and methods of applying and activating adhesive articles to bond to substrates using a fluid application aid. Preferably, the substrates are traffic devices such as traffic cones and the adhesive articles are retroreflective cone collars or sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William C. Boyd, Joseph M. McGrath, Albert I. Everaerts, Laura J. Maursetter, Lang N. Nguyen, Deana A. Klein, Thomas A. Kotnour
  • Patent number: 6294249
    Abstract: Methods for preparing viscoelastic compositions (e.g., adhesives such as hot melt adhesives) in which a pre-viscoelastic composition (e.g., a pre-adhesive composition) is combined with a packaging material and then polymerized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Hamer, John D. Moon, Thomas A. Kotnour
  • Patent number: 5804610
    Abstract: Methods for preparing viscoelastic compositions (e.g., adhesives such as hot melt adhesives) in which a pre-viscoelastic composition (e.g., a pre-adhesive composition) is combined with a packaging material and then polymerized by transmissive energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Hamer, John D. Moon, Thomas A. Kotnour
  • Patent number: 5466747
    Abstract: Graft copolymers comprising a poly-alpha-olefin base polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and compatible mixtures thereof, having grafted thereto an olefinic monomer. The grafted monomer is present in an amount effective to increase the amount of protein that will bind to the graft copolymer as compared with the base polymer. Also disclosed are polymer/protein compositions comprising a graft copolymer having a protein immobilized on the surface thereof, processes for the preparation of the above-described graft copolymers and compositions, methods of immobilizing proteins, and methods of immunoassay based on such immobilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Rolando, Patrick L. Coleman, Steven L. Kangas, Thomas A. Kotnour
  • Patent number: 5466749
    Abstract: Graft copolymers comprising a poly-alpha-olefin base polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and compatible mixtures thereof, having grafted thereto an olefinic monomer. The grafted monomer is present in an amount effective to increase the amount of protein that will bind to the graft copolymer as compared with the base polymer.Also disclosed are polymer/protein compositions comprising a graft copolymer having a protein immobilized on the surface thereof, processes for the preparation of the above-described graft copolymers and compositions, methods of immobilizing proteins, and methods of immunoassay based on such immobilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Rolando, Patrick L. Coleman, Steven L. Kangas, Thomas A. Kotnour
  • Patent number: 5364907
    Abstract: Graft copolymers comprising a poly-alpha-olefin base polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and compatible mixtures thereof, having grafted thereto an olefinic monomer. The grafted monomer is present in an amount effective to increase the amount of protein that will bind to the graft copolymer as compared with the base polymer.Also disclosed are polymer/protein compositions comprising a graft copolymer having a protein immobilized on the surface thereof, processes for the preparation of the above-described graft copolymers and compositions, methods of immobilizing proteins, and methods of immunoassay based on such immobilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Rolando, Patrick L. Coleman, Steven L. Kangas, Thomas A. Kotnour
  • Patent number: 5336717
    Abstract: A fluorochemical graft copolymer comprising: a base polymer comprising polymerized units derived from monomers having terminal olefinic double bonds, having a moiety comprising a fluoroaliphatic group grafted thereto. Also disclosed are processes for preparing such fluorochemical graft copolymers, forming and annealing methods for enhancing the surface activity of such a graft copolymer, polymer blends comprising such a fluorochemical graft copolymer and a matrix polymer that is miscible with the base polymer, and a method for reducing the surface energy of a polymer comprising polymerized units derived from monomers having terminal olefinic double bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Rolando, Thomas A. Kotnour, James E. Sax
  • Patent number: 5262484
    Abstract: Graft copolymers and processes for the preparation thereof are provided. The copolymers comprise a base polymer having grafted thereto a monomeric 2-alkenyl azlactone. The surface properties of the graft copolymers can be modified by binding thereto nucleophilic reagents comprising further functional groups with desired properties. Further, the amount of azlactone available at the surface of a graft copolymer for binding to such nucleophilic reagents can be controlled by selecting a surface against which the graft copolymer is formed. The graft copolymers exhibit desirable thermoplastic, melt flow, and adhesion properties and are particularly useful for immobilizing proteins. Methods of immunoassay based on the immobilization of proteins are also disclosed. Another utility of the graft copolymers involves the compatibilizing of immiscible polymer blends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Patrick L. Coleman, Thomas A. Kotnour, Richard J. Rolando
  • Patent number: 4948859
    Abstract: Bulk polymerization process for making radiation curable polyurethanes which comprises:(A) providing the following raw materials:(1) diisocyanate;(2) oligomeric diol>400 molecular weight; and(3) >1 chain extending monomer;(B) reacting the raw materials in a twin screw extruder under the following conditions:(1) molar ratio of isocyanate to hydroxy moieties of about 1;(2) ratio of chain extending monomer to other monomers sufficient to yield a polymer having chain extender incorporated at 0.1 to 10 weight percent;(3) extruder temperature sufficient to initiate and maintain reaction; and(4) residence time sufficient to obtain substantially complete reaction of diisocyanate;(C) cooling product polymer. Polyurethane product has weight average molecular weight greater than 80,000 and acrylate or methacrylate functionality. Process permits continuous production of radiation curable polyurethanes having narrow molecular weight distribution and high tensile strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jimmie L. Echols, Walton J. Hammar, Thomas A. Kotnour
  • Patent number: 4843134
    Abstract: A bulk polymerization process for free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in a wiped surface reactor is disclosed. Referring to FIG. 1; monomer streams 5 (after purification and silica gel column 2) and 7 are combined with free radical initiator 9 to form a premix 16. Pump 18 transfers the premix stream 22 through static mixer 24 into a wiped surface reactor 27. The reactor can be a counter rotating twin screw extruder which produces polymer stream 36 without the need of solvent and using residence times much shorter than prior art solution or emulsion processes.Some unique pressure sensitive adhesive acrylate polymers have been produced. They are believed to have a relatively high degree of branching. The bulk polymerization process permits the manufacture of pressure sensitive adhesive articles by extruding directly from the twin screw extruder onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kotnour, Ronald L. Barber, Walter L. Krueger
  • Patent number: 4619979
    Abstract: A bulk polymerization process for free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in a wiped surface reactor is disclosed. Referring to FIG. 1; monomer streams 5 (after purification and silica gel column 2) and 7 are combined with free radical initiator 9 to form a premix 16. Pump 18 transfers the premix stream 22 through static mixer 24 into a wiped surface reactor 27. The reactor can be a counter rotating twin screw extruder which produces polymer stream 36 without the need of solvent and using residence times much shorter than prior art solution or emulsion processes.Some unique pressure sensitive adhesive acrylate polymers have been produced. They are believed to have a relatively high degree of branching. The bulk polymerization process permits the manufacture of pressure sensitive adhesive articles by extruding directly from the twin screw extruder onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kotnour, Ronald L. Barber, Walter L. Krueger