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:
Feb. 08, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 18, 2003
Jayshree Seth, Woodbury, MN (US);
Christopher K. Haas, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Ravi K. Sura, Woodbury, MN (US);
Katherine A. S. Graham, Roseville, MN (US);
Janet A. Venne, Roseville, MN (US);
Jayshree Seth, Woodbury, MN (US);
Christopher K. Haas, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Ravi K. Sura, Woodbury, MN (US);
Katherine A. S. Graham, Roseville, MN (US);
Janet A. Venne, Roseville, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
The invention is directed in part to an article that includes a polymer foam having a surface with surface microstructures, the surface microstructures have at least one extent or dimension of about 10 microns or more, preferably 50 microns or more. A maximum extent (unless it is a continuous rib-like structure) the microstructure is about 300 microns or less, preferably 200 microns or less, and generally a maximum height of 1000 microns or less, preferably 750 microns or less and a minimum height of 200 microns or more, preferably 300 microns or more. The foamed article may be provided in a variety of shapes, including a rod, a cylinder, a sheet, etc. In a preferred embodiment where the foam is provided in the form of a sheet, the foam has a pair of major surfaces, one or both of which can be provided with surface microstructures. The foam backing and microstructures include a plurality of voids, which voids are preferably of a mean size substantially less than the smallest cross-sectional dimension or extent of the microstructures.