Joan Marie Strobel
Engineers at Oakridge Dr, Saint Paul, MN

6585920, Jul 1, 2003

Apr 27, 2001

09/844842

Joan M. Strobel - Maplewood MN
Mark A. Strobel - Maplewood MN
Patrick J. Hager - Woodbury MN
Ronald S. Kapaun - North St. Paul MN

3M Innovative Properties Company - Saint Paul MN

B29C 4700

264 80, 26417314, 26417315, 26417316, 26417319, 2642101, 2642106, 26421113, 264237, 264284, 2642902

Embossed oriented thermoplastic films and a method of making same are described. The embossed oriented thermoplastic films have substantially the same mechanical properties as unembossed oriented thermoplastic films. The method includes providing an oriented thermoplastic film having first and second major surfaces, softening at least one of the first and second major surfaces to produce a softened surface, embossing the softened surface to produce an embossed oriented thermoplastic film, and cooling the embossed oriented thermoplastic film.

5766473, Jun 16, 1998

Jun 1, 1995

8/456888

Joan M. Strobel - Maplewood MN
David R. Gagnon - St. Paul MN

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company - Saint Paul MN

B01D 7138

210490

Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Hydrophilic porous supporting structures loaded with an enzyme system which catalyzes a reaction of a substrate, oxygen, and if necessary, water or moisture to consume oxygen are also described for oxygen scavenging in packages containing oxygen sensitive products.

8568869, Oct 29, 2013

Apr 5, 2006

11/398338

Timothy J. Hebrink - Scandia MN, US
Carl A. Stover - St. Paul MN, US
Martin E. Denker - Vadnais Heights MN, US
Jeffery N. Jackson - Woodbury MN, US
Kristopher J. Derks - Woodbury MN, US
Michael F. Weber - Shoreview MN, US
Anna A. Kobilansky - Maplewood MN, US
Joan M. Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Barry S. Rosell - Lake Elmo MN, US
John P. Purcell - Oakdale MN, US
Kevin M. Hamer - St. Paul MN, US
Robert D. Taylor - Stacy MN, US
William B. Black - Eagan MN, US
Richard J. Thompson - Lino Lakes MN, US
Gregory L. Bluem - St. Paul MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

B32B 27/00, B32B 27/14, B32B 33/00

428327, 428141, 428143, 428323, 359580, 359589, 359599

Optical bodies are disclosed that include an optical film and at least one rough strippable skin layer. The at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a continuous phase and a disperse phase. In some embodiments, the at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a first polymer, a second polymer different from the first polymer and an additional material that is substantially immiscible in at least one of the first and second polymers. In some exemplary embodiments, a surface of the at least one rough strippable skin layer adjacent to the optical film comprises a plurality of protrusions and the adjacent surface of the optical film comprises a plurality of asymmetric depressions substantially corresponding to said plurality of protrusions. Methods of making such exemplary optical bodies are also disclosed.

2003020, Nov 6, 2003

May 27, 2003

10/445531

Joan Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Thomas Hanschen - St. Paul MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company

B32B007/12, C09J007/02

428/343000

Films useful as tape backings, and more particularly biaxially oriented polypropylene film backings and tapes including such backings. A brittle, biaxially oriented polypropylene film is provided by minimizing the nucleation density in the extruded and quenched polypropylene polymer cast sheet followed by maximizing the spherulitic growth rate of the resultant quenched polymer. The cast sheet so formed is stretched at higher-than-normal temperatures in the subsequent orientation steps for producing the biaxially oriented polypropylene film. This produces a more brittle film. The polypropylene composition, extrusion temperature, cast roll temperature (i.e., quench temperature), and stretch temperature and other parameters are selected in accordance with the teachings herein such that the resulting backing or tape has the following preferred properties, taken individually or in any preferred combination: A) an MD tensile energy at break of up to about 90 N-mm/mm; B) an MD elongation to break of at least 70%; C) a puncture energy of up to about 130 N-mm; D) a dispense energy of up to about 350 N-cm/cm; E) when disposed on commercially available serrated plastic or metal dispenser blades, the serrated edge of the tape or backing closely follows the contour of the dispensing blade; and F) an ability to be torn by hand.

2006023, Oct 26, 2006

Jun 29, 2006

11/427413

Fred Roska - Woodbury MN, US
Richard Allen - Lilydale MN, US
Matthew Johnson - St. Paul MN, US
Steven Rhyner - St. Paul MN, US
William Merrill - White Bear Lake MN, US
Joan Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Kevin Hamer - St. Paul MN, US
Gregory Gilligan - Hastings MN, US

G02F 1/1335

349117000

An optical stack includes a first liquid crystal layer and a j-retarder disposed on the liquid crystal layer. The j-retarder includes a simultaneous biaxially stretched polymeric film being substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The j-retarder has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an absolute value for an out-of-plane retardance being 55 nm or greater.

2006027, Dec 7, 2006

Aug 15, 2006

11/464516

Richard Allen - Lilydale MN, US
Matthew Johnson - St. Paul MN, US
Fred Roska - Woodbury MN, US
Steven Rhyner - St. Paul MN, US
William Merrill - White Bear Lake MN, US
Joan Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Kevin Hamer - St. Paul MN, US
John Klaeser - Greenville SC, US
Sebastian Zehentmaier - Greenville SC, US

B32B 37/00

156494000

A process for making an optical film includes stretching a polyolefin film in a first direction and stretching the polyolefin film in a second direction different than the first direction forming a biaxially stretched polyolefin film. At least a portion of the stretching of the polyolefin film in the second direction occurs simultaneous with the stretching of the polyolefin film in the first direction. The biaxially stretched polyolefin film has a length and a width and substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The biaxially stretched polyolefin film has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance being 50 nm or greater.

6965474, Nov 15, 2005

Feb 12, 2003

10/365250

Matthew B. Johnson - St. Paul MN, US
Richard C. Allen - Lilydale MN, US
Fred J. Roska - Woodbury MN, US
Steven J. Rhyner - St. Paul MN, US
William W. Merrill - White Bear Lake MN, US
Joan M. Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Kevin M. Hamer - St. Paul MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - Saint Paul MN

G02B027/28, G02B005/30

359500, 359494, 349 96, 349117

An optical film includes a layer of simultaneous biaxially stretched polyolefin film that is substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The layer has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal. The layer has an in-plane retardance of 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance of 50 nm or greater.

2002003, Mar 28, 2002

Apr 27, 2001

09/844841

Joan Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Mark Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Patrick Hager - Woodbury MN, US
Ronald Kapaun - North St. Paul MN, US

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

B32B003/30

428/156000, 428/174000

Embossed oriented thermoplastic films and a method of making same are described. The embossed oriented thermoplastic films have substantially the same mechanical properties as unembossed oriented thermoplastic films. The method includes providing an oriented thermoplastic film having first and second major surfaces, softening at least one of the first and second major surfaces to produce a softened surface, embossing the softened surface to produce an embossed oriented thermoplastic film, and cooling the embossed oriented thermoplastic film.

2006027, Dec 7, 2006

Aug 15, 2006

11/464522

Richard Allen - Lilydale MN, US
Matthew Johnson - St. Paul MN, US
Fred Roska - Woodbury MN, US
Steven Rhyner - St. Paul MN, US
William Merrill - White Bear Lake MN, US
Joan Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Kevin Hamer - St. Paul MN, US
John Klaeser - Greenville SC, US
Sebastian Zehentmaier - Greenville SC, US

B32B 37/00

156494000

A process for making an optical film includes stretching a polyolefin film in a first direction and stretching the polyolefin film in a second direction different than the first direction forming a biaxially stretched polyolefin film. At least a portion of the stretching of the polyolefin film in the second direction occurs simultaneous with the stretching of the polyolefin film in the first direction. The biaxially stretched polyolefin film has a length and a width and substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The biaxially stretched polyolefin film has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance being 50 nm or greater.

7094463, Aug 22, 2006

Dec 30, 2002

10/334412

Christopher K. Haas - Cottage Grove MN, US
Mark D. Gehlsen - Eagan MN, US
Sara B. Mortenson - Somerville MA, US
Joan M. Strobel - Maplewood MN, US
Ravi K. Sura - Woodbury MN, US
David L. Vall - Woodbury MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

B32B 3/26

4283157, 4283155, 4283166, 4283193, 4283197, 4283171, 521142, 521143

The present invention is directed to a process for producing a polypropylene foam by mixing a high melt strength polypropylene and a blowing agent to form a melt mixture, reducing the temperature of the melt mixture at the exit of the apparatus to an exit temperature that is no more than 30° C. above the melt temperature of the neat polypropylene while maintaining the melt mixture at a pressure sufficient to prevent foaming; passing the mixture through said exit shaping orifice and exposing the mixture to atmospheric pressure, whereby the blowing agent expands causing cell formation resulting in foam formation, and orienting said foam. The foam is useful as tape backings, thermal and acoustical insulation and as a diffuse reflector for use in optical applications such as computer displays.