Anthony D Ferguson, 745128 Falling Water Rd, Nolensville, TN 37135

6843248, Jan 18, 2005

Apr 18, 2001

09/837800

Daniel A. Japuntich - St. Paul MN, US
Vaughn B. Grannis - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Harold J. Seppala - St. Paul MN, US
Anthony B. Ferguson - Woodbury MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

A62B 710

12820615, 12820527, 12820619

A filtering face mask that comprises a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer, the mask body comprising a filtration layer through which inhaled air may pass before being inhaled by a wearer of the face mask; and an exhalation valve that is attached to the mask body, the exhalation valve allowing air exhaled by a wearer to pass from an interior of the mask body to its exterior without having to pass through the filtration layer, the exhalation valve comprising: a valve seat that comprises: a seal surface; and an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface; and a single flexible flap that has one fixed portion and one free portion and a circumferential edge, the circumferential edge having a first segment that is associated with the one fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation and having a second segment that is associated with the one free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation, the second segment of the circumferential edge also being located below the first segment when the filtering face mask is worn on a person, the flexible flap being mounted to the valve seat such that the one free portion of the flap is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship with it when a fluid is not passing through the orifice.

6854463, Feb 15, 2005

May 11, 1994

08/240877

Daniel A. Japuntich - St. Paul MN, US
Vaughn B. Grannis - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Harold J. Seppala - St. Paul MN, US
Anthony B. Ferguson - Woodbury MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

A62B007/10

12820615, 12820612, 12820712

Filtering face mask has a mask body and an exhalation valve The mask body is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person, and the exhalation valve is attached to the mask body The exhalation valve has a valve seat and a single flexible flap The valve seat includes a seal surface and an orifice The orifice is circumscribed by the seal surface The single flexible flap has a fixed portion and one free portion The one free portion has a free end, and the fixed portion is located off-center of the flexible flap away from the free end and is secured to the valve seat outside the orifice The one free portion is pressed toward the seal surface when the wearer is neither inhaling or exhaling. The free portion can be lifted from the seal surface during an exhalation. Because the flexible flap is mounted to the valve seat off-center and outside the orifice and yet is pressed towards the valve seat when the wearer is not inhaling or exhaling, the face mask can demonstrate a lower air flow resistance force during an exhalation which enables the exhalation valve to open easier, and it can remain closed under any static orientation of the valve to prevent contaminants from entering the mask interior.

7117868, Oct 10, 2006

Oct 3, 2000

09/677637

Daniel A. Japuntich - St. Paul MN, US
Vaughn B. Grannis - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Harold J. Seppala - St. Paul MN, US
Anthony B. Ferguson - Woodbury MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

A62B 7/10

12820527, 12820615, 12820712

A filtering face mask that has a mask body and an exhalation valve. The mask body is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer. The exhalation valve is attached to the mask body and has a valve seat that includes a seal surface and an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface. The valve also has a single flexible flap that has a fixed portion and a free portion and first and second opposing ends. The first end of the single flexible flap is associated with the fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation, and the second end is associated with the free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation. The second end also is located below the first end when the filtering face mask is worn on a person. The flexible flap is positioned on the valve seat such that the flap is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship therewith when a fluid is not passing through the orifice. A valve cover is disposed over the valve seat and comprises: an opening that is disposed directly in the path of fluid flow when the free portion of the flexible flap is lifted from the seal surface during an exhalation; a fluid impermeable ceiling that increases in height in the direction of the flexible flap from the first end to the second end; and cross members that are disposed within the opening of the valve cover.

7311104, Dec 25, 2007

Apr 18, 2001

09/837714

Daniel A. Japuntich - St. Paul MN, US
Vaughn B. Grannis - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Harold J. Seppala - St. Paul MN, US
Anthony B. Ferguson - Woodbury MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

A62B 7/10

12820615, 12820612, 12820712

A method of making a filtering face mask, which method includes the steps of: (a) providing (i) a valve seat that comprises an orifice and a seal surface, wherein the orifice allows air to pass therethrough and is surrounded by the seal surface, and (ii) a single flexible flap; (b) supporting the single flexible flap non-centrally and operatively relative to the orifice of the valve seat to form an exhalation valve, the single flexible flap being supported such that there is an imposed curved profile that extends from a first point where a stationary portion of the flap is supported on the valve seat to a second point where a free portion of the flap contacts a seal surface; and (c) attaching the exhalation valve to a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person.

7428903, Sep 30, 2008

Oct 6, 2000

09/680465

Daniel A. Japuntich - St. Paul MN, US
Vaughn B. Grannis - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Harold J. Seppala - St. Paul MN, US
Anthony B. Ferguson - Woodbury MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

A62B 7/10

12820615, 12820612, 12820712

A filtering face mask that has a mask body and an exhalation valve. The mask body is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer. The exhalation valve is positioned on the mask body substantially opposite to a wearer's mouth. The exhalation valve comprises a valve seat that has a seal surface, an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface, and cross members that extend across the orifice to create a plurality of openings within the orifice. The valve also includes a single flexible flap that has a fixed portion and a free portion and first and second opposing ends. The first end of the single flexible flap is associated with the fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation, and the second end being associated with the free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation. The second end also is located below the first end when the filtering face mask is worn on a person. The flexible flap would normally assume a flat configuration when no forces are applied to it, but the flexible flap has a curved profile when viewed from a side elevation and is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship therewith when a fluid is not passing through the orifice.

7493900, Feb 24, 2009

Oct 3, 2000

09/678580

Daniel A. Japuntich - St. Paul MN, US
Vaughn B. Grannis - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Harold J. Seppala - St. Paul MN, US
Anthony B. Ferguson - Woodbury MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

A62B 18/02
A62B 18/08

12820615, 12820612, 12820525

A filtering face mask that has a mask body and an exhalation valve. The mask body is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer. The exhalation valve is attached to the mask body and includes a valve seat that comprises a seal surface, an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface, a flap-retaining surface, and a single flexible flap that has a fixed portion and a free portion and first and second opposing ends. The first end of the single flexible flap is associated with the fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation, and the second end is associated with the free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation. The second end also is located below the first end when the filtering face mask is worn on a person. The flexible flap is positioned on the valve seat such that the flap is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship therewith when a fluid is not passing through the orifice.

7587662, Sep 8, 2009

Sep 29, 2005

11/238655

Anthony D. Ferguson - Watertown MN, US
Stephen A. Zielinski - Savage MN, US

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

G06F 7/02

714819, 714758, 714807, 714776, 714704, 714 25

Noise is detected within an operating frequency of a communication medium. Messages are monitored on the communication medium for corrupted messages. A noise detected signal is generated when a number of corrupted messages detected reaches a corrupted message threshold.

7609713, Oct 27, 2009

Sep 29, 2005

11/238670

Anthony D. Ferguson - Watertown MN, US
Brian A. Franchuk - Richfield MN, US

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

H04L 12/42

370450, 370245, 710107

A signal measured on a network is associated with one of a plurality of communication devices connected to the network. The designation address of an active communication device that is scheduled to communicate next is determined. The next received signal on the network is associated with the designation address of the active communication device if the signal is received within a maximum response time.