3m Innovative Properties Company

Jon E Stickrod

John Allen Wheatley

Richard C Allen

Gregg A Hietpas

Craig D Thompson

James F Pitzen

James L Bries

Patrick Darby Hyde

Pasquale Cirulli

Kristin LaVelle Thunhorst

Bryan C Feisel

Leif O Erickson

John J Rogers

Michael J Ulsh

Richard L Peloquin

John R Jacobson

Jeffrey J Schwab

Michael G Slagter

Russell G Pihlstrom

James L White

Peter J Newbouild

Reinforced articles particularly adapted for use in combination with an adhesive to form reinforced adhesive tape articles that are stretchable as well as hand-tearable along with being highly conformable and cinchable.

Stretchable, hand-tearable, conformable, and cinchable reinforced adhesive tape articles

A wall mountable shelf assembly includes an elongated support rail, at least one accessory slidably connected with the support rail, and at least one stretch releasing adhesive strip arranged between the support rail and the wall for securing the shelf assembly to the wall.

Vertically mounted shelf assembly and accessories therefor

A method for decorating a substrate using a kit that includes a laminate comprising a cover sheet having a layer of adhesive on one surface, a predetermined printed design, and pieces of optical film that have peripheral shapes corresponding to parts of the printed design, each of which pieces has a layer of adhesive along one surface and grooves or other structure along an opposite surface so that the pieces visually simulate decorative structures. The pieces of optical film are placed over portions of the design corresponding to their shapes, the structured surfaces of the pieces of film are adhered to the adhesive on the laminate, and the pieces of optical film adhered to the layer of adhesive on the laminate are positioned at a desired location on the substrate. Air is pressed out from between the pieces of optical film and the substrate, after which the laminate is removed to leave the pieces of optical film adhered to the substrate in the predetermined design.

Method for applying designs to a substrate

A method for making a laminate adapted for decorating a substrate including providing (1) a sheet of pre-mask material including a cover layer and a layer of removable adhesive on one surface of the cover layer having an exposed surface defining a first major surface for the sheet of pre-mask material; (2) a supply length of decorative film tape comprising a length of decorative film having opposite first and second major surfaces, and a layer of adhesive along its second major surface; (3) a sheet of release liner having a first major surface adapted to be releasably adhered to by the removable adhesive on the cover layer and by the adhesive on the decorative film; and (4) a tape applicator. One of the sheets is supported with its first major surface in an application plane, and the tape applicator is used to form display lengths of decorative film tape of different predetermined shapes and lengths from the supply length of decorative film tape and to apply those display lengths of decorative film tape to the first major surface of that one of the sheets in a predetermined pattern; after which the first major surface of the other of the sheets is positioned over the surfaces of the display lengths of decorative film tape opposite the first major surface of that one of the sheets. The method adheres the layers of adhesive on the display lengths of decorative film tape to the to the release liner, and adheres the layer of removable adhesive included in the layer of pre-mask material over the first major surfaces of the lengths of decorative film in the display lengths of decorative film tape adhered to the release liner and to the release liner around the display lengths of decorative film tape.

The present invention provides an adhesive article including a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which exhibits ultraviolet radiation resistance and has a midblock T,of about &minus;5&deg; C. to about &minus;30&deg; C. at a frequency of about 1.0 Hz. An adhesive article according to the invention is suitable for use in window insulation kits because of its improved stability over a wide temperature range and upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) as well as its adhesion to low energy surfaces, such as a surface of films made from polyolefins.

Blended adhesives and articles incorporating the same

The present invention provides light valves including polarizing elements in which light transmission can be controlled by rotating at least one of the polarizing elements about an in-plane axis. Although reflective polarizing elements are preferred in devices according to the present invention to reduce the problem of heat build-up, the use of absorptive or other polarizers may also be envisioned. The polarizing elements may also include at least one reflective polarizer in combination with an infrared reflective material or an infrared absorptive material. The polarizing elements can be included in light valves to control light transmission by rotating at least one of the polarizing elements about an in-plane axis. The light valves according to the present invention may find use in any application in which the transmission of light (visible or otherwise) is to be controlled. Examples of specific applications include, but are not limited to: windows, luminaires, skylights, etc.

Infrared selective reflective polarizing element

The present invention provides light valves including polarizing elements in which light transmission can be controlled by rotating at least one of the polarizing elements about an in-plane axis. Although reflective polarizing elements are preferred in devices according to the present invention to reduce the problem of heat build-up, the use of absorptive or other polarizers may also be envisioned. The light valves according to the present invention may find use in any application in which the transmission of light (visible or otherwise) is to be controlled. Examples of specific applications include, but are not limited to: windows, luminaires, skylights, etc.

Light valve with rotating polarizing element

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Oakdale, MN, United States of America

Jon E Stickrod