3m Innovative Properties Company

Thomas R Corrigan

Patrick R Fleming

David G Freier

Marc A Egeland

Manoj Nirmal

David J Rowe

Andrew H Tilstra

Dylan T Cosgrove

William A Tolbert

Alan R Dombrowski

Delony L Langer-Anderson

Lisa M Miller

Martin B Wolk

Michael Alan Meis

Catherine A Leatherdale

Kurt J Halverson

Michael Benton Free

Raymond Patrick Johnston

Rolf W Biernath

Byron E Trotter

Stephen M Sanocki

Michael R Gorman

Jia Hu

Paul D Graham

Matt R Branscomb

Karl J L Geisler

Mitchell A F Johnson

Martin Kristoffersen

Ignatius A Kadoma

Mary L Brown

Phillip E Tuma

Jimmy Minh Le

Kenneth A P Meyer

Vadim N Savvateev

Dennis M Brunner

Patrick M Campbell

Christina D Cowman-Eggert

Michael Patrick M Mandanas

Yaohua Gao

Nicholas K Lee

Mitchell T Nommensen

Timothy L Quinn

Kimberly C M Schultz

Silvia G Guttmann

Anne C F Gold

Gilles J B Benoit

Steven L Mahoney

Charles E Jansen

Elizabeth R Bright

Jeffrey E Zelinsky

Conformable sheet article made from paper and useful, for example, in packaging, tapes, and craft article, and methods of making and using such sheet articles are disclosed.

Conformable sheet articles, constructions, and methods of using the same

The present disclosure provides adhesive mounting articles that permit sliding movement along a primary path, even while the article is fixed between a mounting object and a mounting surface. The adhesive articles can allow user precise control over the location and orientation of his or her mounting object, particularly frames.

Adjustable adhesive articles with permissible movement parallel to bonding plane

The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.

Tension-activated, expanding sheets

A substantially planar self-folding film assembly to generate a folded three-dimensional assembly. The assembly includes a flexible support substrate, adhesive elements, and folding members. The folding members include a base, a folding region, and a hinge adjacent each folding region attached at the base to the flexible support substrate by at least one of the adhesive elements. An array of polymer actuators is co-extensive, or shaped to be not co-extensive, with each of the flexible folding members. Upon activation by a patterned light to heat conversion layer, each polymer actuator is designed and configured to provide a displacement of the corresponding flexible folding member about each hinge.

Self-folding 3D film assemblies

The present disclosure relates generally to tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets including a multi-slit pattern. In some embodiments, these articles, films, and/or sheets are used as cushioning films and/or packaging materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making and using these tension-activated, expanding articles, films, and sheets.

Multi-slit tension-activated, expanding sheets

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure an electrostatic sheet jamming device comprising a first sheet having a first conductive layer, a first dielectric layer disposed adjacent to the first conductive layer, and a second sheet comprising a second conductive layer and disposed proximate to the first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The first sheet and the second sheet are non-extensible and flexible, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are slidable relative to each other in a first state. The first sheet and the second sheet are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. In some embodiments, the applied voltage is less than or equal to a break-down voltage of air at a distance between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Low voltage electrostatic jamming device

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure direct to an electrostatic sheet jamming device formed by a sheet having a conductive layer and a dielectric layer. The jamming device includes a first section of the sheet, the first section being separated from the sheet, and a second section of the sheet, the second section being separated from the sheet. The sheet is non-extensible and flexible. The first section and the second section are slidable relative to each other in a first state. The first section and the second section are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between a conductive layer of the first section and a conductive layer of the second section.

Electrostatic jamming devices and methods of making such devices

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure direct to an electrostatic sheet jamming apparatus comprising a first sheet comprising a first conductive layer, the first sheet comprising a set of first features, a first dielectric layer, and a second sheet comprising a second conductive layer and disposed proximate to the first dielectric layer, the second sheet comprising a set of second features. The first dielectric layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The first sheet and the second sheet are non-extensible and flexible. The first sheet and the second sheet are movable relative to each other in a first state. The first sheet and the second sheet are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Jamming device with jamming sheets

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure direct to a flexible device, comprising a flexible component layer, and a jamming device disposed proximate to the flexible component layer. The jamming device permits the flexible component layer to be bent in a first state. The jamming device is configured to resist bending of the flexible component layer in a second state.

Flexible devices with jamming components

Expanded sheet

Sheet with slits

Extended sheet

Method of using a shape-formable apparatus. A shape-formable apparatus can include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet can include a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface. The method can include providing the shape-formable apparatus in a first state; forming the apparatus into a desired shape; and reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to a second state in which the apparatus is substantially less formable than in the first state.

Methods of using a shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets

A shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets. The apparatus can have a first state in which the apparatus is formable, and a second state in which the apparatus has the desired shape and is substantially less formable than in the first state. The apparatus can further include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet comprises a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface.

Shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Thomas R Corrigan