Michael J Gorman

US Patent:

6531207, Mar 11, 2003

Filed:

Nov 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/704854

Inventors:

Bradley W. Eaton - Woodbury MN
Nedlin B. Johnson - Minneapolis MN
Michael R. Gorman - Lake Elmo MN
Shou-Lu G. Wang - Woodbury MN

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B32B 2712

US Classification:

428198, 442328, 442398, 442399

Abstract:

There is provided an extensible elastic tab designed to be adhered to the edge of an article, formed using a coextruded elastic film comprising at least one elastic layer and at least one second layer on at least a first face of the elastic layer with at least one face of the coextruded elastic film attached to at least a partially extensible nonwoven layer. The partially expandable, or extensible nonwoven layer has at least one first portion with limited extensibility in a first direction and at least one second inextensible portion in the first direction. The extensible elastic tab when stretched to the extension limit of the first portion or portions in the first direction will elastically recover at least 1. 0 cm, preferably at least 2 cm providing an elastic tab having a Useful Stretch Ratio (as defined in the Examples) of at least 30 percent. The Useful Stretch Ratio includes the portion of the elastic recovery length having an elastic recovery force of greater than 20 grams/cm force, but below a given extension which generally is 90 percent of the extension limit.

US Patent:

6767202, Jul 27, 2004

Filed:

Dec 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/024919

Inventors:

Michael R. Gorman - Lake Elmo MN
Thomas R. LaLiberte - Eagan MN

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B29C 4346

US Classification:

425363, 425385, 425471, 492 35, 492 37

Abstract:

Tool rolls and methods of using the tool rolls to manufacture articles with one or more structured surfaces are disclosed. The tool rolls include an outer surface that, when used in connection with materials of the proper viscosity or formability, can form a structured surface on an article. Because the tools are manufactured in roll-form, they can be advantageously used in continuous manufacturing processes. Alternatively, discrete articles may be processed using the tool rolls. The tool rolls are constructed of a cylindrical base roll and are wrapped with one or more continuous wires in a modified undulating helical pattern. The modified helical pattern results in the distance between the first wire and a reference plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the base roll sequentially increasing and decreasing at least once when moving in one direction about a circumference of the base roll. The wires are used, in essence, to form a structured surface on the tool roll that is the negative of the structured surface to be formed on the articles processed using the tool roll. One or more of the wires wound around the base roll may include a plurality of voids formed therein that, when wound about the base roll, form a plurality of mold cavities on the outer surface of the tool roll.

US Patent:

6902389, Jun 7, 2005

Filed:

May 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/438082

Inventors:

Michael R. Gorman - Lake Elmo MN, US
Robert D. Kampfer - Oakdale MN, US
Thomas R. LaLiberte - Inver Grove Heights MN, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B29C043/46

US Classification:

425363, 425385, 425471, 492 35, 492 37

Abstract:

Tool rolls and methods of using the tool rolls to manufacture articles with one or more structured surfaces are disclosed. The tool rolls include an outer surface that, when used in connection with materials of the proper viscosity or formability, can form a structured surface on an article. Because the tools are manufactured in roll-form, they can be advantageously used in continuous manufacturing processes. Alternatively, discrete articles may be processed using the tool rolls. The tool rolls are constructed of a cylindrical base roll and are wrapped with one or more continuous wires in a helical pattern. The wires are used, in essence, to form a structured surface on the tool roll that is the negative of the structured surface to be formed on the articles processed using the tool roll. One of the wires wound around the base roll may include depressions formed therein that, when wound in helical coils about the base roll, form cavities on the outer surface of the tool roll. Alternatively, the helical pattern of one or more wound wires may be used to form a continuous helical structured surface, e. g.

US Patent:

6969479, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

Feb 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/780078

Inventors:

Michael R. Gorman - Lake Elmo MN, US
Thomas R. LaLiberte - Eagan MN, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B29C043/46

US Classification:

264167, 2642102

Abstract:

Tool rolls and methods of using the tool rolls to manufacture articles with one or more structured surfaces are disclosed. The tool rolls include an outer surface that, when used in connection with materials of the proper viscosity or formability, can form a structured surface on an article. Because the tools are manufactured in roll-form, they can be advantageously used in continuous manufacturing processes. Alternatively, discrete articles may be processed using the tool rolls. The tool rolls are constructed of a cylindrical base roll and are wrapped with one or more continuous wires in a modified undulating helical pattern. The modified helical pattern results in the distance between the first wire and a reference plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the base roll sequentially increasing and decreasing at least once when moving in one direction about a circumference of the base roll. The wires are used, in essence, to form a structured surface on the tool roll that is the negative of the structured surface to be formed on the articles processed using the tool roll. One or more of the wires wound around the base roll may include a plurality of voids formed therein that, when wound about the base roll, form a plurality of mold cavities on the outer surface of the tool roll.

US Patent:

7052639, May 30, 2006

Filed:

Apr 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/101706

Inventors:

Michael R. Gorman - Lake Elmo MN, US
Robert D. Kampfer - Oakdale MN, US
Thomas R. LaLiberte - Inver Grove Heights MN, US

International Classification:

B29C 41/26

US Classification:

264167, 2642102, 26421112

Abstract:

Tool rolls and methods of using the tool rolls to manufacture articles with one or more structured surfaces are disclosed. The tool rolls include an outer surface that, when used in connection with materials of the proper viscosity or formability, can form a structured surface on an article. Because the tools are manufactured in roll-form, they can be advantageously used in continuous manufacturing processes. Alternatively, discrete articles may be processed using the tool rolls. The tool rolls are constructed of a cylindrical base roll and are wrapped with one or more continuous wires in a helical pattern. The wires are used, in essence, to form a structured surface on the tool roll that is the negative of the structured surface to be formed on the articles processed using the tool roll. One of the wires wound around the base roll may include depressions formed therein that, when wound in helical coils about the base roll, form cavities on the outer surface of the tool roll. Alternatively, the helical pattern of one or more wound wires may be used to form a continuous helical structured surface, e. g.

US Patent:

D695097, Dec 10, 2013

Filed:

Nov 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

29/405569

Inventors:

Leigh E. Wood - Woodbury MN, US
Michael R. Gorman - Lake Elmo MN, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - Saint Paul MN

International Classification:

0808

US Classification:

D 8382

US Patent:

20010000117, Apr 5, 2001

Filed:

Dec 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/727743

Inventors:

Michael Gorman - Lake Elmo MN, US
Roger Pavlis - Hudson WI, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company

International Classification:

B29C047/00

US Classification:

264/167000

Abstract:

Tool rolls and methods of using the tool rolls to manufacture articles with one or more structured surfaces are disclosed. The tool rolls include an outer surface that, when used in connection with materials of the proper viscosity or formability, can form a structured surface on an article. Because the tools are manufactured in roll-form, they can be advantageously used in continuous manufacturing processes. Alternatively, discrete articles may be processed using the tool rolls. The tool rolls are constructed of a cylindrical base roll and are wrapped with one or more continuous wires in a helical pattern. The wires are used, in essence, to form a structured surface on the tool roll that is the negative of the structured surface to be formed on the articles processed using the tool roll. One of the wires wound around the base roll may include a plurality of voids formed therein that, when wound in helical coils about the base roll, form a plurality of mold cavities on the outer surface of the tool roll. Alternatively, the helical pattern of one or more wound wires may be used to form a continuous helical structured surface, e.g., a helical groove or grooves.

US Patent:

20060000541, Jan 5, 2006

Filed:

Jul 1, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/883110

Inventors:

Patrick Hager - Woodbury MN, US
Jeffrey Janssen - Woodbury MN, US
Michael Gorman - Lake Elmo MN, US
Jeffrey Emslander - Afton MN, US

International Classification:

B32B 37/00
B32B 3/06

US Classification:

156066000, 156272600, 428099000

Abstract:

A method of protecting a substrate using a protection sheet is disclosed. The protection sheet comprises a multilayer structure having a support layer and a thermoplastic backing layer, wherein the support layer contains a plurality of raised portions and a plurality of anchor portions bonded to a surface of the backing layer. The raised portions of the protection sheet are capable of releasably engaging with a mechanical mating member. In an embodiment, the backing layer of the protection sheet is surface treated to increase wetting tension to facilitate the adherence of paint particles to the surface of the protection sheet. The protection sheet may be used to protect horizontal substrates, vertical substrates, and objects, such as the walls of a paint booth, a work surface and a vehicle.