The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 29, 2005
Filed:
Jun. 11, 2002
John R. David, Stillwater, MN (US);
Jeffrey O. Emslander, Afton, MN (US);
Danny L. Fleming, Stillwater, MN (US);
Michael R. Kesti, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Larry A. Meixner, Woodbury, MN (US);
Frank T. Sher, St. Paul, MN (US);
Ronald S. Steelman, Woodbury, MN (US);
David J. Yarusso, Shoreview, MN (US);
John R. David, Stillwater, MN (US);
Jeffrey O. Emslander, Afton, MN (US);
Danny L. Fleming, Stillwater, MN (US);
Michael R. Kesti, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Larry A. Meixner, Woodbury, MN (US);
Frank T. Sher, St. Paul, MN (US);
Ronald S. Steelman, Woodbury, MN (US);
David J. Yarusso, Shoreview, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Films are closely conformed to substrates by reducing the air pressure to a subatmospheric level in at least one airflow pathway that is present in the film or the substrate. The reduced air pressure enables the film to tightly contact the substrate in locations where protrusions or depressions on the substrate are present. The method is particularly useful for conforming film containing graphics to a variety of substrates such as the sides of semi-trailers or concrete block walls, even in instances where the semi-trailer sides include rivets and/or grooves and where the concrete block wall is relatively rough.