Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Bearacade Products LLC

Curtis L Larson

Pierre H LePere

John R David

Jeffrey O Emslander

Dee Lynn Johnson

Eugene L Baratto

Norbert E Wrobel

Joseph F Garvey

David James Yarusso

Thomas L Nelson

Mieczyslaw H Mazurek

Raymond Patrick Johnston

Ronald Wayne Ausen

G Marco Bommarito

James M Peck

Walter R Romanko

William C Unruh

Russell Dean Birkholz

Robert P Arens

Kirit C Mody

Michael W Mills

John R Ward

John A Harrison

Raymond D Zachrison

James H Casey

Gary A Isakson

Robert C Brown

Christopher F Freudenberg

Kenneth Francis Knoll

William J Freudenberg

David E LeVasseur

Victoria S Stenkamp

Theodore P Labuza

Hang N Tran

Graham Edward Thoms

A method of forming a safer and more secure containment for the removal or isolation of harmful and/or noxious particulate materials. The containment is formed using adhesive coated plastic sheeting to form an isolated enclosure. The adhesive holds the sheeting under negative pressure and is removable with minimal damage or transfer to wall and floor surfaces.

Plastic sheet barrier enclosure, system, and method

The invention provides microstructured time dependent indicators including timers, time/temperature indicators, etc. The indicators are preferably highly accurate and easy to read. The invention also includes indicators which are game pieces, calendars, greeting cards, etc. The indicators function by flow of a material through channels of a microstructured substrate.

Microstructured time dependent indicators

A mechanical fastener is provided which is lightweight, thin, flexible, and strong, and whose holding power is as great as, or greater than, the holding power of conventional hook and loop type fasteners.

High strength, flexible, light weight hook and loop bundling straps

A linerless double-backed adhesive tape structure is disclosed. In one embodiment the tape has three tape strips each with an adhesive coated surface and an adhesive free surface. Two of the strips are joined to a center strip along its lateral edges with the adhesive coated surfaces of the two strips overlapping and adhered to the adhesive coated surface of the center strip. Also disclosed is a method of unitizing and sealing a plurality of containers. In one embodiment a double-backed adhesive tape structure is adhered to each of the containers and the containers are stacked together with the exposed adhesive side of the tape on each container adhered to the exposed adhesive side of the tape on an adjacent container. Finally, an apparatus for dispensing the double-backed adhesive tape of the present invention is disclosed.

Method for unitizing containers

A selectively activated time-temperature integrating device for providing a visually observable indication of cumulative thermal exposure, in which a viscoelastic material migrates into a diffusely light-reflective porous matrix at a rate which varies with temperature to progressively change the light transmissivity of the porous matrix and thereby provide the visually observable indication. The viscoelastic material can comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive. The visually observable indication can comprise latent indicia which initially are not visible and become visible, obscurable indicia which initially are visible and become obscured, or a combination of both. Various actuating means for selectively switching the indicator from an unactivated state to an activated state are described. Also disclosed are a method for providing a visually observable indication of cumulative thermal exposure and a method for providing a time and temperature integrating device for providing a visually observable indication of cumulative thermal exposure of an object.

Time-temperature integrating indicator device

A pretaped container blank which may be quickly and easily formed into a three-dimensional container without the need for additional components or tools. The container blank includes (i) a plurality of interconnected panels, and (ii) a plurality of closure flaps including a carrier flap hingedly connected to at least one of the panels. The tape structure is attached to the container blank and includes (i) a release surface on the carrier flap, and (ii) a length of closure adhesive tape extending over substantially the entire length of the release surface and a distance across the panel or flap to which the carrier flap is connected sufficient for the tape to remain attached to the container blank upon removal of that length of the tape from the release surface. Several embodiments of container blanks and tape structures are disclosed.

Pretaped container blanks

A self-contained container assembly which may be quickly and easily formed into a three-dimensional container without the need for additional components or tools which includes a container blank and a tape structure. The container blank includes (i) a plurality of laterally interconnected panels, and (ii) a set of closure flaps hingedly connected to the longitudinal ends of the panels at one end. The tape structure is attached to the container blank and includes (i) a release surface extending longitudinally along a first of the closure flaps from proximate the panel to which the closure flap is connected to proximate the distal end of the closure flap, and (ii) a length of closure adhesive tape extending over substantially the entire length of the first closure flap--in overlapping relationship to the release surface--and a distance across the panel to which the first closure flap is connected sufficient for the tape to remain attached to the container blank upon removal of that length of the tape extending across the first closure flap.

Specialized pouches for receiving, storing and controllably dispensing product are disclosed. The pouches are of a substantially lay-flat nature with a spout located along the top wall, preferably about mid-way. The spout is preferably made by a heat seal including an easy-opening feature. The pouches are further characterized by side seals, at least one end seal, and a fold line at the other end. Such pouches are advantageously designed for containing flowable product, including liquids, powders, sauces, gels, etc., and permit the controlled dispensing of such product after storage, preparation, or cooking within the pouches.

Specialized pouches for containing and controllably dispensing product

A microwave susceptor having projections such as linear ridges which define circulation channels such as linear grooves. The susceptor may include apertures at the ridge apexes and the groove nadirs for allowing food secretions such as grease and steam, to pass through the susceptor. A strut may be releasably coupled to the susceptor for increasing the structural integrity of the susceptor.

Configured microwave susceptor

A microwave food package having a chamber for receipt of a foodstuff. An orifice is formed in the package for dispensing the foodstuff in a flowable state after heating in a microwave oven. The package is insulated to permit handling of the package immediately after heating of the foodstuff.

Microwave food package

A protective packaging container for encasing an article therein has air impermeable inner and outer walls. The inner wall defines a pouch for reception of the article, and the inner and outer walls are bonded together to define a hermetic chamber therebetween. Within the chamber, a mass of resilient compressible material is disposed, assuming a first compressed state when a reduced atmospheric pressure is maintained in the chamber. The resilient material assumes a second expanded state when the material is exposed to atmospheric pressure, when the chamber hermetic seal is breached. Upon expansion, the resilient material urges the inner wall about the article and provides an impact-absorbing cushion about the article. In one embodiment, a relatively inflexible protective panel member is provided on each side of the packaging container within the chamber between the resilient compressible material and the outer wall. Thus, expansion of the resilient material urges each protective panel outwardly against the outer wall to provide an impact resistant shield about the article.

Packaging container

This invention relates to a flexible bag having a front panel and back panel forming the envelope with the same joined at the bottom and sides thereof has a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape adhered by the adhesive to the inner surface of the front panel with a portion thereof extending above the front panel. The exposed adhesive on the tape affords means for adhering the bag to the edge of a counter or surface, and the same will form means for securing a flap on the bag over the opening. Notches at the sides of the bag adjacent the opening permit greater separation of the front and back panels to increase the size of the opening without separation of the tape.

Flexible bag with supporting and sealing tape

A package of food containing a substantial amount of water and solidified grease that can be cooked within the package in a microwave oven. A pad adjacent the food comprises microwave radiation transparent generally hydrophobic liquid grease absorbing materials that are capable of holding the amount of grease in the food when it is melted; and a vapor tight microwave radiation transparent enclosure surrounding the pad and food includes means for venting steam from the enclosure as the food is cooked. Preferably, the pad is produced from microfibers constructed of a composition comprising a blend containing substantially equal parts by weight of propylene and poly 4-methylpentene-1.

Microwave food package and grease absorbent pad therefor

Microwave absorbing composite comprising at least two zones of material capable of absorbing microwave energy, each set of said two zones being separated by one zone of material transparent to or transmissive of microwave energy. The microwave energy absorbing zones are selected such that the composite is incapable of arcing in a microwave oven whereof the maximum power output does not exceed 2000 watts at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The composite of this invention can be used for such purposes as crisping, browning, or otherwise heating food products, as a material for packaging, or as a package venting material.

Microwave absorbing composite

A package of food containing a substantial amount of water and solidified grease that can be cooked within the package in a microwave oven. A pad adjacent the food comprises microwave radiation transparent generally hydrophobic liquid grease absorbing materials that are capable of holding the amount of grease in the food when it is melted; and a vapor tight microwave radiation transparent enclosure surrounding the pad and food includes means for venting steam from the enclosure as the food is cooked. Preferably, the pad is produced from microfibers constructed of a composition comprising a blend containing substantially equal parts by weight of polypropylene and poly 4-methylpentene-1.

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, WI, United States of America

Curtis L Larson