Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Frederick J Turk

Bruce R Broyles

Kevin L Black

Thomas W Martin

Darin J Meyertholen

Claude E Cybulski

Earl B Hoekman

James D Christoff

John W Dubbe

Malcolm W Wilcox

A device for consolidating compositions contained in partially filled dual chamber dispensing cartridges includes a body having a pair of passages, and first and second couplers for connecting the body to first and second dual chamber dispensing cartridges. Once the device is connected to two cartridges, an applicator is connected to one of the cartridges and is used to expel any remaining compositions in such cartridge to chambers of the other cartridge. The contents of several partially empty cartridges can be consolidated in this manner so that a subsequent dispensing operation need not be interrupted to replace cartridges.

Dual chamber dispensing cartridge refilling device

An underground vehicle sensing system extends below a vehicle travel surface to detect the presence of a vehicle. A conduit extends substantially horizontally underground from an access hole placed at the side of the vehicle travel surface. A plurality of sensors are spaced apart in the conduit to detect localized changes in the magnetic field. A plurality of sections house the probes and wiring to orient and position the probes. Sections detachably clip together to form a lightweight support structure and may be added one by one through the access hole. Lightweight extension members are utilized in some configurations between the support sections for positioning and supporting the probes.

Apparatus for sensing vehicles

A dispensing container, such as a double-barrel cartridge used in dispensing dental material, matingly receives a sliding cap that maintains a seal between material in the barrels and the atmosphere. The cap includes a body and a gasket within the body, and the cap also includes a cam portion that shifts the body slightly away from an outlet of the container as the cap is moved toward a closed position to seal the container. Once the cap is in a fully closed position, the cam portion enables the body to shift somewhat closer to the container outlet in order to increase the compression of the gasket between the body and the outlet. Optionally, an orienting section is provided for insuring that the cap is coupled to the container in only one certain orientation, so that the likelihood of cross-contamination of material within the barrels due to residual material on the gasket is substantially reduced.

Dispensing container and sliding cap assembly

A push-in type electrical connector including an electrically insulating body having a plurality of passageways for receiving wires. An electrically conductive contact includes a main portion mounted in the body and a plurality of resilient arm portions each extending from the main portion into one of the passageways and lying in a common plane generally transverse to the passageways. When a wire is inserted into a passageway, the arm portion is deflected by the wire within the common transverse plane and resiliently contacts and grips the wire.

Electrical connector

An insulated solderless wire connector for making a connection between a wire and a male blade conductor, including an insulative body member retaining at least one planar contact element.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Frederick J Turk