Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Schwartz

Thomas W. Schwartz 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: 6796514
    Abstract: A material supply assembly for use with a spraying device, which material supply assembly includes a housing of stiff material comprising a side wall having a top end defining an opening into a recess defined by the housing; and a pre-filled container comprising a stiff annular lip adapted to be positioned along the top end of the side wall, and a flexible portion fixed to the annular lip and adapted to extend into the cavity in the housing when the annular lip is positioned along the top end of the side wall. The flexible portion has an inner surface defining a cavity, and a quantity of material is within the cavity in the flexible portion. A polymeric membrane extends across and is sealed to the annular lip to retain the material in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6752179
    Abstract: Several embodiments of small volume containers for use to feed liquid to a gravity feed liquid spraying device. Each container comprises a body portion having axially spaced first and second ends, means for closing the second end of the body portion, and a first adapter attached to the first end of the body portion. The body portion, means for closing, and first adapter have inner surfaces defining a cavity in the container having a small volume. The adapter comprises an engagement portion having a through opening communicating with the cavity in the body portion, which engagement portion is adapted for liquid and air tight engagement an inlet port of the spraying device. The container includes vacuum restricting means for restricting vacuum within its cavity as liquid moves out of its cavity into a spraying device through the opening in the first adapter with the second end of the container uppermost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5396737
    Abstract: A paint finishing pad adapted to be used on a drive assembly including a back up pad and a drive motor for rotating the back up pad. The paint finishing pad includes a layer of open cell polymeric foam having a front surface defined by a plurality of spaced projecting portions of the layer of foam, and loops projecting from a rear surface of the layer of foam for releasably attaching the paint finishing pad to a support surface on the back up pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Englund, Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5185964
    Abstract: A paint finishing pad adapted to be used on a drive assembly including a back up pad and a drive motor for rotating the back up pad. The paint finishing pad includes a layer of open cell polymeric foam having a front surface defined by a plurality of spaced projecting portions of the layer of foam, and loops projecting from a rear surface of the layer of foam for releasably attaching the paint finishing pad to a support surface on the back up pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Englund, Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5007128
    Abstract: A paint finishing pad adapted to be used on a drive assembly including a back up pad and a drive motor for rotating the back up pad. The paint finishing pad includes a layer of open cell polymeric foam having a front surface defined by a plurality of spaced projecting portions of the layer of foam, and loops projecting from a rear surface of the layer of foam for releasably attaching the paint finishing pad to a support surface on the back up pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Englund, Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4962562
    Abstract: A paint finishing pad adapted to be used on a drive assembly including a back up pad and a drive motor for rotating the back up pad. The paint finishing pad includes a layer of open cell polymeric foam having a front surface defined by a plurality of spaced projecting portions of the layer of foam, and loops projecting from a rear surface of the layer of foam for releasably attaching the paint finishing pad to a support surface on the back up pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Englund, Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4849273
    Abstract: A welding blanket comprising a layer of flexible protective material comprising unexpanded vermiculite and inorganic heat resistant fibrous material, which layer undergoes localized expansion in a direction normal to its major surfaces when contacted by spatter of molten metal during a welding process; and two relatively thin flexible cover sheets, one attached along each of the major surfaces of the layer of flexible material to maintain its structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark C. Skinner, Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4691845
    Abstract: A dispensing container of the type comprising a tube, a transverse end wall in which is fixed an outwardly projecting nozzle, and a plunger slidably mounted within the tube to dispense a first material within the tube through the nozzle. At least one hose is fixed to the tube, a second material to be dispensed is contained within the hose, and means are provided for dispensing the second material from the hose in proportion to the first material dispensed from the nozzle upon movement of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4607464
    Abstract: A coated abrasive back up pad comprising a layer of resiliently compressible foam, a generally rigid backing plate fixed to one surface of the layer of foam and including, structure adapted for coupling the back up pad to a drive motor, and a flexible magnetized layer fixed to a surface of the foam layer opposite the backing plate and having a generally planar outer support surface. The foam layer includes a lip extending around the peripheral edge of the magnetized layer to protect that edge during use of the pad to drive a sheet of coated abrasive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: RE35021
    Abstract: A paint finishing pad adapted to be used on a drive assembly including a back up pad and a drive motor for rotating the back up pad. The paint finishing pad includes a layer of open cell polymeric foam having a front surface defined by a plurality of spaced projecting portions of the layer of foam, and loops projecting from a rear surface of the layer of foam for releasably attaching the paint finishing pad to a support surface on the back up pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Englund, Thomas W. Schwartz