Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Bradley D Zinke

James J Kobe

Shih-Lai Lu

Maurice E Freeman

Carey J Eckhardt

Timothy N Narum

Robert G Shaw

Susan K Nestegard

Jason A Chesley

Dennis Earl Ferguson

Marvin D Lindseth

Bernard D Campbell

Eric V Malmberg

This disclosure relates to a method for making a polymeric article mold, a method for making a polymeric article with that mold, and improved surface topography features for a polymeric article. A prototype article is formed and then coated with a thin conductive layer. The coated prototype article is then electroformed until nickel plated to a sufficient depth to define a nickel plating tool. After the prototype article has been removed from the mold face of the nickel tool, the tool can be used as a mold for forming finished polymeric articles which replicate the original prototype article. The use of fine topography features such as a dense upstanding stem array on the surface of the prototype article facilitates accurate and complete electroforming by increased surface area presentation. The disclosure also presents improvements to microreplicated surface structures such as stem arrays. The improvements include the formation on a stem array having separate zones of stems of differing heights, and the formation of directional microreplicated features (e.g., stems) which are oriented and shaped to promote or restrict frictional interaction in one or more particular directions.

Method for making a molded polymeric article

A multi-cycle refastenable contact responsive non-tacky fastener system and method of use with a field of a contact responsive fastening layer having essentially no surface tack. The fastening layer is multiply releasable and refastenable against a non-tacky target surface, and has substantially constant 90.degree. peel strength of less than about 5 kN/m when in contact with the target surface. A mounting layer comprises a field of a pressure sensitive adhesive onto which the field of the contact responsive layer is directly attached.

Multiple releasable contact responsive fasteners

Multiple releasable contact responsive fastener

A fastener arrangement includes a first fastener member having a base sheet and a plurality of engaging members projecting from the base sheet. The fastener arrangement includes a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface of a base sheet opposite of the engaging members, and a dual purpose cover sheet. The dual purpose cover sheet protects the adhesive layer of the first fastener member, and the engaging members of a second, underlying fastener member. The dual purpose cover is releasably attached to the second fastener member by fusing or by using an adhesive having a first non-tacky consistency and a second tacky consistency.

Fastener arrangement with dual purpose cover sheet

Fastener member with a dual purpose cover sheet

The invention relates to a fastener member having a dual purpose cover sheet. The fastener member includes a base sheet, a plurality of engaging members projecting from the base sheet, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on an opposite surface of a base sheet, and a dual purpose cover sheet. The dual purpose cover sheet protects the adhesive layer of a first fastener member, and the engaging members of a second, underlying fastener member.

Fastener with a dual purpose cover sheet

A method for making a sheet material adapted to be cut into smaller ravel resistant pieces to form portions of a fastener by intersecting (e.g., weaving or knitting) portions of base yarns to form a backing, with at least some of the base yarns being bonded yarns including a first portion formed of a polymeric structural material and a second portion formed of a thermoplastic binding material having a significantly lower melting temperature than the softening temperature of the structural material. Portions of pile yarns are entwined in the backing with the entwined portions of the pile yarns contacting at least one of the bonding yarns, while other portions of the pile yarn project from the backing to form loops or hooks. The backing is heated to soften the binding material so that it flows and, upon cooling, adheres to adjacent portions of the yarns, thereby anchoring the pile yarns in the backing.

Sheet material used to form portions of fasteners

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Bradley D Zinke