Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Scanlan

Thomas J. Scanlan 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).

  • Publication number: 20030008144
    Abstract: Glitter, at least a portion of which comprises color shifting film. The glitter is useful in any of a variety ways, including in loose form, attached to the surface of a substrate, in a dispersible combination, or present in a matrix material ranging, for example, from liquids, such as water and alcohols, to gels, such as silicone and glycerol, to hard, rigid materials such as plastics, particle board, and fiberglass. Examples of other matrix materials include putties or molding clays, rubbers, and adhesives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Leland R. Whitney, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Thomas J. Scanlan
  • Patent number: 6475609
    Abstract: Glitter, at least a portion of which comprises color shifting film. The glitter is useful in any of a variety of ways, including in loose form, attached to the surface of a substrate, in a dispersible combination, or present in a matrix material ranging, for example, from liquids, such as water and alcohols, to gels, such as silicone and glycerol, to hard, rigid materials such as plastics, particle board, and fiberglass. Examples of other matrix materials include putties or molding clays, rubbers, and adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Leland R. Whitney, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Thomas J. Scanlan
  • Patent number: 6120026
    Abstract: Game with a privacy member. The game includes a play region and a directional viewing screen. The directional viewing screen covers at least a portion of the play region such that said portion of the play region is viewable therethrough at a first player position, but is not viewable therethrough at a second player position. The game with privacy member in accordance with the present invention allows for enhancement of existing games, as well as for the creation of new games or new play patterns of existing games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co.
    Inventors: Leland R. Whitney, Myron K. Jordan, Thomas J. Scanlan, Gregory D. Allen
  • Patent number: 5974757
    Abstract: Enclosure 1 constructed of panels 20 which can be joined by tongue and groove or press fit spline 46 and groove 26 technique. Acoustic shielding is achieved by properly selected materials of construction, e.g. syntactic, cellular composites.The doorway 10 of the enclosure is closed by a door 210 penetrated only by a guide 175. The latch mechanism 170 and 340 seals the door against the door jamb 185 by means of cam rollers 316 which engage indentations 189 (which may have specialized cam surfaces or inclined surfaces) along the door frame. The latch mechanism can be actuated from either side of the door by mechanical means engaging the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Leland R. Whitney, Thomas J. Scanlan, Charles A. Marttila, Ronald W. Gerdes, David W. Schilling, Joseph G. Mandell, Gary N. Harvieux
  • Patent number: 5813180
    Abstract: Enclosure 1 constructed of panels 20 which can be joined by tongue and groove or press fit spline 46 and groove 26 technique. Acoustic shielding is achieved by properly selected materials of construction, e.g. syntactic, cellular composites. The doorway 10 of the enclosure is closed by a door 210 penetrated only by a guide 175. The latch mechanism 170 and 340 seals the door against the door jamb 185 by means of cam rollers 316 which engage indentations 189 (which may have specialized cam surfaces or inclined surfaces) along the door frame. The latch mechanism can be actuated from either side of the door by mechanical means engaging the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Leland R. Whitney, Thomas J. Scanlan, Charles A. Marttila, Ronald W. Gerdes, David W. Schilling, Joseph G. Mandell, Gary N. Harvieux
  • Patent number: 5658656
    Abstract: A method of using a material as an acoustical barrier in an ambient medium. The material comprises microbubbles having average outer diameters of 5 to 150 microns, bound together at their contact points. The material is characterized by either a porosity of 20 to 60 percent, or by voids between the microbubbles which have characteristic diameter within an order of magnitude of the viscous skin depth of the ambient medium, as calculated at 1 kHz; an air flow resistivity of 0.5.times.10.sup.4 to 4.times.10.sup.7 mks rayls/meter, and an attenuation of sound comparable to mass law performance. The microbubbles can be sintered into direct contact with each other, or one of many types of binder material can be used to support the microbubbles within a composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Leland R. Whitney, Michael W. Dolezal, Ronald W. Gerdes, Gary N. Harvieux, Charles A. Marttila, Joseph G. Mandell, Thomas J. Scanlan
  • Patent number: 5504281
    Abstract: The invention provides an acoustical attenuator comprising:a porous material comprised of particles sintered and/or bonded together at their points of contact, having at least a portion of pores continuously connected, wherein said porous material has an interstitial porosity of about 20 to about 60 percent, an average pore diameter of about 5 to about 280 micrometers, a tortuosity of about 1.25 to about 2.5, a density of about 5 to about 60 pounds per cubic foot, a modulus of about 12,000 pounds per square inch or above, wherein said porous material has at least one through hole and wherein said interstitial porosity, average pore diameter, density and modulus values are for the porous material in the absence of any through holes, wherein the average diameter of the through hole is greater than the average pore diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Leland R. Whitney, Thomas J. Scanlan, Charles A. Marttila, Joseph G. Mandell
  • Patent number: 5418339
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tool having superior sound muffling performance. The pneumatic tool has an exhaust port, wherein a sound muffling structure comprising a nonwoven web of fibers coated with a binder resin, is fitted in said exhaust port to seal said exhaust port, wherein said fibers have diameters of about 30 to about 100 microns and wherein the web has a compression resistance energy of about 0.09 to about 0.14 Joules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gloria D. Bowen, Zubin P. Daruwala, David W. Hegdahl, Thomas J. Scanlan, Jeffrey W. McCutcheon
  • Patent number: 5104632
    Abstract: Hydrated sodium silicate particles can be expanded by heat to form thin-walled bubbles that can be broken, neutralized, washed and dried to provide hydrated silica flakes. These flakes can be mixed with non-swelling sorptive particles such as TLC grade silica and used to make chromatographic articles. One such article is a composite of a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) fibril matrix in which those particles and hydrated or fired silica flakes are enmeshed. The hydrated silica flakes can be fired to a refractory state and then incorporated into protective coatings to enhance their resistance to abrasion while also better protecting the coated substrates from corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David K. Douden, Thomas J. Scanlan
  • Patent number: 4971697
    Abstract: Hydrated sodium silicate particles can be expanded by heat to form thin-walled bubbles that can be broken, neutralized, washed and dried to provide hydrated silica flakes. These flakes can be mixed with non-swelling sorptive particles such as TLC grade silica and used to make chromatographic articles. One such article is a composite of a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) fibril matrix in which those particles and hydrated or fired silica flakes are enmeshed. The hydrated silica flakes can be fired to a refractory state and then incorporated into protective coatings to enhance their resistance to abrasion while also better protecting the coated substrates from corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David K. Douden, Thomas J. Scanlan