3m Innovative Properties Company

Thomas J Reid

John E Gozum

Jeffrey Robert Janssen

Patrick J Hager

John D Stelter

Kevin M Eliason

Troy K Ista

Gerald L Uhl

David Jon Lundin

Raymond C Wegleitner

Duane C Richardson

A protection sheet and method of protecting a substrate is disclosed. In an embodiment, the protection sheet comprises an adhesive coated nonwoven material. In an embodiment a surface of the protection sheet captures and retains paint overspray, dust, dirt and other contaminants so as to provide a cleaner paint job. In an embodiment the protection sheet may be laminated to a second nonwoven or woven material to allow clean removal after extended use. The protection sheet may be used to protect horizontal or vertical substrates, and is particularly suited to protect the surfaces of a paint booth used in automotive spray-painting operations.

Articles and methods of masking or protecting a substrate

The present invention provides a method of finishing a wood surface for exterior exposure of the wood using a finishing film material in the form of a sheet. The finishing film comprises a flexible polymeric sheet material having a first major surface and a second major surface and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer covering at least a portion of the first major surface of the sheet material. The finishing film is adhered to the surface to the wood surface by the adhesive layer. The method of the present invention is particularly suitable for the finishing of brightwork on boats, for example, teak or mahogany brightwork. The method of the present invention is particularly suitable for finishing curved and/or compound curved surfaces due to the flexibility and elongation of the finishing film.

Method of finishing a wood substrate

A task light assembly including a long flexible fiber optic element capable of transmitting light between light inlet and light outlet ends; a light source at the light inlet end of the fiber optic element; and a reel assembly for supporting the light source and the light inlet end of the fiber optic element and for allowing movement of the fiber optic element between a storage position with the light outlet end of the fiber optic element supported in a storage position, and an extended use position with the light outlet end of the fiber optic element at a work location remote from the storage position.

Task lighting system

Illumination devices comprising a light source and a light fiber are reported. The light fiber is optically coupled to the light source such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source impinges on the input end of the light fiber. The light fiber comprises an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end. The light fiber includes a light-emitting region including at least one optical element that directs light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis. A continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extends over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements.

Illumination device

Light fibers comprising: (a) an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end; (b) a light-emitting region directing light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the light-emitting region comprising at least one optical element; and (c) a continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extending over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements. Methods of making the light fibers using an embossing process are also reported.

Light fiber comprising continuous outer cladding and method of making

Side emitting light guides are provided in connection with illumination devices, light guide systems, and tasklight illumination kits. The side emitting light guides may be provide bright directional light, or they may be provide diffuse light. The side emitting light guides may be flexible to allow for insertion into tortuous passageways. The light guides may also have a relatively small profile and/or a solid core. The light guides may also include shades that allow an operator to convert the light guides from side emitting to end emitting in order to provide brighter, more focused illumination in a particular area to perform some tasks. When completed, the user has the option of re-configuring the light guides for side emission to provide general area illumination.

Growing community of inventors

White Bear Lake, MN, United States of America

Thomas J Reid