Ecolab Inc.

3M Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Imation Corporation

James P Gardner, Jr

Sumita Basu Mitra

Minyu Li

John E Kluge

Dennis Edward Vogel

Stephen X Skaff

Zachary J Malmberg

David Neal Demattia

Kraig S Lund

Naiyong Jing

Eric Richard Balz

Terry R Hobbs

Kurt J Halverson

Robert D P Hei

Lauren K Carlson

Justin A Riddle

Louis Mark Holzman

Brian Philip Carlson

Leonard Stulc

Wesley Mark Nelson

Milind Balwant Sabade

Darren M Jahnke

Andrew S D'Souza

David D Lu

Richard A Johnson

George V Tiers

Kim Marie Vogel

James P Endle

Robert J Maki

Paul J Mattia

Steven P Swanson

Yifan Zhang

David C Raithel

Matthew W Gorrell

Robert J Balchunis

Mark D Hunter

Jonathan C Dilley

Yifan Zang

A nonwoven hand pad includes a substrate having first and second opposed major surfaces wherein the first major surface includes a first functional region configured for a first cleaning operation, and the second major surface includes at least two functional regions configured for second and third cleaning operations. A method of cleaning using such a pad is also disclosed.

Foldable multi-purpose nonwoven hand pad and method of use

In one example, a scouring article comprises: a backing layer having opposed first and second major surfaces; and a visually discernable functional material provided on at least one of the first and second major surfaces; wherein the functional material comprises a resin, and further wherein the functional material is configured to communicate information to a user of the scouring article regarding an intended end-use application of the scouring article. In another example, an abrasive article comprises: a pad having a scrubbing surface; and a plurality of shaped abrasive structures disposed on the scrubbing surface; wherein the plurality of shaped abrasive structures are arranged to provide an indication regarding a characteristic of the abrasive structures.

Cleaning articles including scouring bodies that form printed instructions

A method of removing an unwanted constituent from a siliceous surface in which the method includes contacting the siliceous surface and the unwanted constituent with a multi-functional composition that includes water, a hydrophilic silane, and a surfactant, and drying the surface.

Method of removing an unwanted constituent from a surface, a method of determining the cleanliness of a hard surface, and a multi-functional composition that includes hydrophilic silane

An anti-slip, liquid management cover article for a flooring surface. The article includes a film defining a working face. A microstructured surface is formed at the working face, and includes a plurality of primary ridges and capillary microchannels each having a bottom surface. Each primary ridge is an elongated body having a length. A shape of a portion of at least one of the primary ridges is non-uniform in a direction of the length. The capillary microchannels facilitate spontaneous wicking of liquid. With this construction, the non-uniform shape establishes an elevated coefficient of friction at the working face as measured in multiple directions. The cover article minimizes the risk of pedestrian slippage, even in the presence of water or other liquids.

Anti-slip, liquid management flooring surface cover article and method of manufacture

Compositions and uses thereof to clean and/or rinse tableware, wherein the compositions include a sulfonated silane.

Detergent and rinse-aid compositions containing a zwitterionic sulfonated silane and methods of using

A reporting system for collecting, communicating and analyzing information from a plurality of pest monitoring locations is disclosed. The monitored locations include activity sensing pest devices. These devices can include traps and/or passive and active monitoring devices not having a trapping or killing functionality. While traps may constitute the majority of activity sensing pest devices in a given pest control program, devices which only monitor pest activity may be preferred in some locations and applications. The system includes automatic reporting from the plurality of activity sensing pest devices and also includes physical inspection data. Preferably an automatic real-time communication system is used, with the preferred communication system being a radio-frequency (RF) or other over-the-air system. However, hardwired systems, use of a personal digital assistant (PDA) as an interim data carrier, and other technologies may also be employed. Manual input means for providing the additional physical inspection data on the activity sensing pest device parameters and a computer based report generation means (of the resulting combined data) provide for a robust and efficient pest monitoring and/or trapping tool.

Method and apparatus for automatic pest trap report generation and additional trap parameter data

A data processing system is used to manage and track use of chemical product in a washing machine. A detergent dispenser distributes the chemical products (e.g., detergent, rinse agent, and bleach) to the washing machine. The dispenser includes a monitor that detects dispenser data based on distribution of the chemical product by the dispenser. A database is coupled to the dispenser and stores an account identifier and an alignment identifier in association with the dispenser data of the dispenser. The database further stores corporate data in association with the dispenser data, the account identifier, and the alignment identifier. An analysis application analyzes the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system and provide a feedback loop. The analysis application can limit its analysis to data associated with a given account identifier or a given alignment identifier.

Data processing system for managing chemical product usage

The present invention includes a system for applying floor finish. The system can include a back or other pack configured to hold one or more containers of liquid floor finish, a wand applicator, and metering valve. The wand applicator can include handle and conduit. The conduit can provide fluid communication of floor finish from the container to a floor. The metering valve can be configured to controllably provide fluid communication of floor finish through the conduit and to release floor finish onto the floor. In an embodiment the system also includes a cleanout coupler. In an embodiment the system also includes a filter configured to filter the floor finish. In an embodiment, the backpack includes a grip configured for carrying the backpack. In an embodiment, the backpack includes positioning portion or surface configured to support portions of the container. In an embodiment, the backpack includes padded attachment apparatus configured to support the backpack on a wearer. The system can also include a refill station.

Floor finish application system including refill station

A reporting system collects, communicates and analyzes information from a plurality of pest monitoring locations. The monitored locations include activity sensing pest devices. These devices can include traps and/or passive and active monitoring devices not having a trapping or killing functionality. The system includes automatic reporting from the plurality of activity sensing pest devices and also includes physical inspection data. Preferably an automatic real-time communication system is used, with the preferred communication system being a radio-frequency (RF) or other over-the-air system. However, hardwired systems, use of a personal digital assistant (PDA) as an interim data carrier, and other technologies may also be employed. Manual input devices for providing the additional physical inspection data on the activity sensing pest device parameters and a computer based report generator (of the resulting combined data) provide for a robust and efficient pest monitoring and/or trapping tool.

The present invention includes a system for applying floor finish. The system can include a back or other pack configured to hold one or more containers of liquid floor finish, a wand applicator, and metering valve. The wand applicator can include handle and conduit. The conduit can provide fluid communication of floor finish from the container to a floor. The metering valve can be configured to controllably provide fluid communication of floor finish through the conduit and to release floor finish onto the floor. In an embodiment the system also includes a cleanout coupler. In an embodiment the system also includes a filter configured to filter the floor finish. In an embodiment, the backpack includes a grip configured for carrying the backpack. In an embodiment, the backpack includes positioning portion or surface configured to support portions of the container. In an embodiment, the backpack includes padded attachment apparatus configured to support the backpack on a wearer.

Floor finish application system

A non-destructive flying insect detector is disclosed. The detector creates a sheet or curtain of light comprising a sensing zone and detects, by means of light extinction, individual flying insects that intersect the sensing zone. The sensing zone is created by a beam of light that enters the sensing zone area and is then bounced between opposing reflective surfaces. Preferably a laser is utilized to generate the beam of light. The beam of light leaves the sensing zone area and is incident on a light detection device (such as a photo cell) connected to an amplifier circuit. The light detection device monitors the light intensity and is arranged and configured to detect changes in the light intensity. The changes are electronically converted to a pest detection signal and/or to a flying insect count. Each flying pest detection signal may also be associated with other monitored data. For example, the time and date when the count occurred, the temperature, and the ambient light, among other parameters may be stored with the flying insect count(s). The stored data may be transmitted in real time, transmitted periodically, and/or collected with a PDA device or the like. The detector may be completely passive or it may provide an attractant for the flying insects&#x2014;such as UV lamps. Further, the detector can act as a counter alone (e.g., as a flying insect monitor without a physical trap) or it can operate together with a trap. In the latter case, the flying insect may become entangled on a glue or sticky board lying beneath the light curtain and/or become eliminated by an electrical discharge device.

Light extinction based non-destructive flying insect detector

A method and apparatus for capacitively sensing one or more pests is disclosed. The detector may be employed as either a passive detector and/or as a part of a combined detector and trap. The sensor system includes at least two sensor electrodes and a capacitance sensing circuit. When a non-capacitive object, such as a pest, approaches the sensor electrodes, the capacitance of the sensor electrodes increases due to the object having a higher dielectric constant than air. A capacitance sensing circuit detects the increased capacitance and provides an output signal that a pest has entered the area being monitored. The capacitance sensing circuit may also be constructed to measure the change in the electrode in order to determine the size and/or type of pest based on a characteristic change.

Method and apparatus for capacitively sensing pests

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

James P Gardner, Jr