3M Co. (NYSE:MMM) won a patent victory against anti-microbial mask maker Safe Life Corp., with a federal judge in Minnesota ruling that three Safe Life respirators infringe patents owned by the Minneapolis conglomerate.
Judge Patrick Schiltz of the U.S. District Court for Minnesota issued a consent decree finding that thee respirators made by Williston, Vt.-based Safe Life infringe the 3M patents, which cover "Method Of Making A Respirator That Has A Fluorinated Electret" and "Electret Filter Media."