Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Forester

Thomas E. Forester 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).

  • Durable retroreflective elements
    Patent number: 5774265
    Abstract: All-ceramic retroreflective elements which may be used in pavement markings comprising an opacified ceramic core and ceramic optical elements partially embedded into the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James P. Mathers, Chris J. Goodbrake, Kathleen A. Hachey, Thomas P. Hedblom, Kathleen M. Humpal, Roger W. Lange, David C. May, Kyung H. Moh, Thomas E. Forester
  • Aluminum oxide/aluminum oxynitride/group IVB metal nitride abrasive particles derived from a sol-gel process
    Patent number: 4957886
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nearly fully dense, microcrystalline, composite ceramic abrasive particle comprising grains of alumina, gamma-aluminum oxynitride and, optionally, a Periodic Group IVB metal nitride in the system Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /ALON/Group IVB metal nitride. In another aspect, two different processes for making an abrasive particle such as an abrasive grit, comprising a multiphase mixture of microcrystalline components in this system using sol gel techniques and pressureless reaction-sintering, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James P. Mathers, William P. Wood, Thomas E. Forester