3m Innovative Properties Company

Brian Edward Spiewak

Robert K Galkiewicz

Raymond Patrick Johnston

Jennifer Rebecca Yi

Ronald Wayne Ausen

Graham M Clarke

Jonathan F Hester

Matthew T Scholz

Moses Mekala David

Olester Benson, Jr

Thomas Edward Wood

James M Nelson

Robert L Brott

Mark Kevitt Debe

Robin Edgar Wright

Scott D Pearson

David R Holm

James Stephen Mrozinski

Zhiqun Zhang

Brinda Balasubramaniam Lakshmi

Seth M Kirk

Tien T Wu

Roy Wong

Robert Steven Kody

Mark Edward Fagan

Lori P Engle

Philip D Radovanovic

George J Clements

Yuan-Ming Tang

Jerald W Hall, Jr

Janet R Kirkman

David W Hegdahl

Stefan R Reimann

Dennis R Nichols

Christine A Burbach

Joseph F Sarageno, Jr

Olester Benson

An adhesive masking article for shielding a protected work surface from a coating applied to a surface adjacent the protected work surface includes a backing layer having first and second opposed major surfaces, and at least one edge, an adhesive on at least a portion of at least one of the first and second backing layer opposed major surfaces, and a barrier inducing treatment on at least an edge surface of the masking article to contact the coating when the coating contacts the edge of the backing layer, thereby causing a barrier to form along the edge of the masking article that impedes the migration of the coating past the edge of the masking article beneath the masking article.

Masking article for producing precise paint lines and method of improving paint line performance of masking articles

Described is an apparatus for the removal of organic substances and/or nitrogen sources from an aqueous medium by exposing the aqueous medium to the action of microorganisms supported on a gas permeable, water impermeable layer, or on and/or in a three dimensional microbial support layer, that is proximate a gas delivery layer through which gas, preferably, oxygen-containing gas, is supplied to the gas permeable layer such that it diffuses through the gas permeable layer and is supplied to the microorganisms.

Layered sheet construction for wastewater treatment

A layered sheet construction contains at least one gas permeable, liquid water impermeable layer, and a gas delivery layer formed of a corrugated sheet proximate the gas permeable, water impermeable layer. The corrugated sheet has corrugations that form flow channels through which gas can be conveyed to the gas permeable layer. One embodiment of the layered sheet construction includes a gas permeable, liquid water impermeable layer having a surface energy that is below 20 dynes per centimeter.

Membrane module elements

Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.

Liquid proof switch array

The present invention includes a membrane construction for selectively transferring a constituent to or from a fluid. The membrane construction includes a multi-layer fluid impermeable support sheet having a plurality of supports on at least one side of the support sheet that form a plurality of flow channels. At least one layer of the multi-layer support sheet is a bonding layer. A fluid permeable layer extends over the flow channels and is bonded to the plurality of the supports by the bonding layer.

Fluid separation membrane module

The present invention provides an article including a microstructured release liner having a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions associated with an adhesive layer such that the protrusions penetrate the adhesive layer.

Microstructed release liner

In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward an apparatus that includes a first layer and a second layer attached with one another via sets of fastening elements formed on the layers. The fastening elements may comprise hook-like elements that engage one another in an interlocking arrangement to attach the layers, or alternatively, the fastening elements may take any form envisioned by a designer. In any case, the apparatus may also form a light guide that can be illuminated with a light source to transmit light by total internal reflection (TIR).

Lighted fastening structure

The invention is a mating film. The mating film comprises a base sheet having a first major surface. A plurality of generally parallel ridges project from the first major surface. The ridges comprise a stem portion attached to the base sheet and generally upright from the base sheet. A head portion of each ridge is spaced from the first major surface and extends generally laterally from the stem portion so as to define a lateral distance. The center of each stem portion of each ridge is spaced from the center of each adjacent ridge stem portion by a distance greater than about 2 times lateral distance defined by the head portion.

Mating film and method for bundling and wrapping

A switch apparatus includes a first layer and a second layer attached to one another via sets of fastening elements formed on the layers. The fastening elements may comprise hook-like elements that engage one another in an interlocking arrangement to attach the layers, or alternatively, the fastening elements may take other forms. The fastening elements may include flexible portions that flex when the first layer and second layer are forced together. The apparatus may be used within switch arrays, and can eliminate the need for dome spring elements.

Apparatus exhibiting tactile feel

The present invention relates to a film comprising a backing and an adhesive. The backing comprises a base layer comprising a first major surface and a second major surface, and at least two rails, each rail comprising a tip surface. The rails extend from the second major surface of the base layer and define micro-channels therebetween. The micro-channels comprise a channel surface. The film comprises an adhesive on the tip surface of the rails. At least a portion of the channel surface is substantially free of adhesive. The present invention also relates to a method of protecting an automobile comprising preparing an automobile surface for application of a protective tape and applying a protective tape to the automobile surface. The present invention is additionally related to a method of manufacturing a protective film.

Micro-channeled protective film

A new method of binding at least one article, and a new binding strap for use in binding an article or articles is taught. The new binding strap for preferred use in practicing the new method comprises an elongate base sheet having an array of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting integrally from the base sheet; the ribs comprising a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and a flange attached to at least one side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet; the array of ribs establishing a first fastening surface that can be pressed against and thereby interconnected with an identical fastening surface; the underside surface of the outer portion of at least some flanges projecting downwardly toward the base sheet; and the flange having a substantial thickness over most of its width such that the stem portion deforms in preference to the flange during peel-type disengagement from an identical fastening surface; and the strap having a length and width adapting the strap to be wrapped around one or more articles to apply a binding action on the article(s).

Self-mating reclosable binding strap and fastener

An electrostaticly charged filtration media is provided including a plurality of polymeric structured polymeric film layers having a structured surface defined on at least one face of each structured film layer forming at least in part flow channels. The plurality of structured film layers are configured as a stack with the structured surfaces defining a plurality of ordered inlets open through a face of the stack that are in fluid communication with ordered fluid pathways. Each fluid pathway is defined at least in part by at least one discrete flow channel such that fluid can flow substantially unimpeded from one of the inlets to an outlet opening at another face of the stack. A layer of fluid pathways is defined by two opposing charged film layers at least one of which is a structured film layer. The flow channels have an average height of from 0.1 mm to 5 mm and an average width of from 0.05 mm to 50 mm and an average aspect ratio of from 0.5 to 10.

Structured surface filtration media array

A new self-mating mechanical fastener is disclosed, which comprises a base sheet and a multiplicity of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting from the base sheet. The ribs comprise a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and at least one flange attached to each side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet. At least the outer portions of the flanges desirably project toward the base sheet. The cross-sectional profile formed by the ribs is substantially uniform over the length of the ribs, but in the direction transverse to the ribs has a regularly repeated deviation from the profile that would be formed by a full population of equally spaced, identical, undivided, symmetric ribs. An individual rib has a width that is accommodated between the stem portions of adjacent ribs but is greater than the gap between the facing flanges of adjacent ribs, whereby the ribbed surface of the fastener can be interengaged with and connected to an identical ribbed surface. The fastener can take various forms, but fasteners in elongated strap form are particularly advantageous for use as a binding strap. A method for binding at least one article is also disclosed.

Self-mating reclosable mechanical fastener and binding strap

A flexible cover for protecting a splice of a conveyor belt, in particular, for protecting the belt fastener that forms the splice. The splice cover includes a body having a first surface and an opposite second surface, with a plurality of first reclosable fasteners extending from the first surface. The first reclosable fasteners engage with a plurality of second reclosable fasteners, which are attached to the belt. The second reclosable fasteners can be secured to the belt by the belt fastener, by adhesive or other attachment means, by being integral with the belt fastener, or by being integral with the belt web. The second reclosable fastener can be any structure that engages, interlocks, mates, or otherwise attaches to first reclosable fastener. Also provided are methods for making the splice cover, and methods for placing and removing the splice cover over the belt fastener.

Growing community of inventors

Inver Grove Heights, MN, United States of America

Brian Edward Spiewak