Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

James E Lasch

Gregory F Jacobs

Susan K Nestegard

James M Kaczmarczik

James C Coderre

Kenneth L Smith

Terry R Bailey

James A Klein

Jeffrey D Janovec

Gerald M Benson

James M Jonza

David C May

Cheryl M Frey

Eugene H Carlson

John C Kelliher

Raymond L Lucking

David W Meitz

Roger R Kult

Daniel J Willie

Colleen C Nagel

Theodore J Szczech

Christopher L Harvey

David B Olson

Thomas P Hedblom

Kanta Kumar

David Rolf

Gregg A Patnode

David M Burns

John W Frank

Gordon Kocur

Kasyap Venkata Seethamraju

Paul J Wang

Larry K Stump

Robert A Haenggi

Jaime R Ojeda

Louis C Belisle

Michael P Daniels

Michael D Currens

Tzu Li Huang

Michael A Essien

Steven M Nielsen

Michael Ruehlemann

Polymers of fluorinated monomers and acrylate and alkyl acrylates are disclosed which demonstrate improved performance as coatings for implantable devices. Such coatings may, for example, be used to release a bioactive agent from the medical device. One specific application lies in drug-eluting coatings for stents.

Fluoropolymer-based medical implant coating compositions

The present invention provides a new sheeting article that may suitably include: a carrier having a first major surface and a second major surface; and a plurality of discrete segments of a sheeting (e.g., a retroreflective sheeting), wherein the sheeting has a first major viewing surface and a second major opposing surface, and the first major viewing surface of the sheeting is preferably removably attached to the second major surface of the carrier. Preferably, the first major surface of the carrier comprises a release surface, the second major opposing surface of the sheeting comprises an adhesive, the article is provided in the form of a roll, and the adhesive surface of the sheeting is adjacent the release surface of an adjacent layer of the roll. In a presently preferred embodiment the present invention provides novel easy-to-use truck conspicuity sheeting.

Segmented sheeting and methods of making and using same

Retroreflective articles having multilayer films are useful for commercial graphics and retroreflective products, such as roll-up signs for highway transportation safety. The articles comprise multilayer films having at least one layer of polyurethane and at least one layer of a copolymer of alkylene and at least one non-acidic, polar co-monomer. Articles having the new multilayer films provide the same or improved performance, are less expensive, and offer improved methods for manufacturing, when compared to prior articles.

Retroreflective articles having multilayer films and methods of manufacturing same

The present invention relates to a laminate and an article comprising a retroreflective layer having a retroreflective viewing surface and an opposing surface and a tear resistant film disposed on the retroreflective layer. The finished article is preferably flexible and suitable for use as roll-up signs, flags, banners and other retroreflective articles requiring similar flexibility including other traffic warning and personal safety items.

Retroreflective laminate comprising a tear resistant film

An ultraviolet light absorbing material that resists blooming and migration is made up of a polyurethane or polyurea polymer and an amide functional ultraviolet light absorbing compound, wherein the polymer and the amide functional ultraviolet light absorbing compound are hydrogen bonded to one another. Polymeric films that contain a polymeric matrix and the ultraviolet light absorbing material are useful as the top layer in multilayer constructions such as retroreflective sheetings and conformable marking sheets.

Amide functional ultraviolet light absorbers for polyurethanes and polyureas

Microstructured articles of the invention comprising, in order: a) a retroreflective microstructured member; b) a sealing layer melt-bonded to the microstructured member; and c) a backing member. The backing member is a fibrous web comprising a plurality of multifilament strands and is melt-bonded to the second surface of the sealing layer.

Microstructured articles with backing and methods of manufacture

A process and article for a retroreflective polymeric coated flexible fabric material having a retroreflective layer and a polymeric compatibilizing layer welded to a polymeric coated outer surface of a flexible fabric material. The compatibilizing layer provides an intermediate layer between the retroreflective layer and the flexible fabric material creating suitable bond strength between dissimilar polymers.

Retroreflective polymer coated flexible fabric material and method of

A cube corner retroreflective sheeting construction comprising alternating zones of cube corner element arrays disposed at approximately ninety degrees orientations to provide exactly two principal plane of improved retroreflective performance in response to light incident on the sheeting at high entrance angles is disclosed. According to one embodiment the sheeting includes a body layer which has an elastic modulus less than 7.times.10.sup.8 pascals and cube corner elements formed from a material which has an elastic modulus greater than 16.times.10.sup.8 pascals. According to a second embodiment the sheeting includes an overlay film having two major surfaces and comprising a first polymeric material and a plurality of arrays of substantially independent cube corner elements bonded to a major surface of the overlay film having a minimal, fractured land.

Dual orientation retroreflective sheeting

Striped surface pattern for retroreflective sheeting

Seal pattern on retroreflective sheeting

Thermoplastic based pavement marking sheets are disclosed. The marking sheets employ a conformant composite material including: polyolefin and a nonreinforcing mineral particulate; and/or a thermoplastic upper surface. Preferably, the sheet's thermoplastic upper surface is embedded with reflective elements and/or skid-resistant particles. A solventless process of embedding particles in thermoplastic pavement marking sheets is disclosed. Processes for preparing marking sheets are also disclosed. Conformant pavement marking sheets which may be applied in cooler conditions are also disclosed.

Thermoplastic marking sheet

Conformable marking sheet comprising a microporous thermoplastic polymer base sheet having a network of interconnected pores. The marking sheet has a low yield stress, making it conformable to rough surfaces. The pores of the base sheet can be filled with a diluent (wax) or they may have the diluent removed, for example by extraction. The construction may further comprise an adhesive on the bottom and a top marking indicium layer comprising a polymeric binder in which is partially embedded a multiplicity of retroflective lens elements, e.g., transparent microspheres.

Conforming a microporous sheet to a solid surface

A pavement marker includes an object, such as a sheet or a raised pavement marker body, having an upper surface useful as a pavement marking indicium and a lower surface, and a bottom layer of polyorganosiloxane pressure-sensitive adhesive in intimate contact with the lower surface. A pressure-sensitive adhesive laminate system for attaching a pavement marker to a roadway surface includes a first layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive material,such as a polyorganosiloxane adhesive, a second layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive material, and a layer of deformable material interposed between the first and second pressure-sensitive adhesive layers, wherein the deformable material of the interposed layer is characterized by high cohesive (shear) strength. A method of marking a pavement having a temperature below 15.degree. C. includes providing a pavement marker of the invention and contacting the pavement with the pressure-sensitive adhesive and applying pressure to the top layer to bond the pavement marking material to the pavement.

Pavement markers with silicone adhesive

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, MN, United States of America

James E Lasch