Current, temperature or electromagnetic actuated fasteners

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10016024-B2
Application number	US-201615063265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2016
Priority date	Sep 10, 2013
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A method of bonding or debonding objects includes providing a first object including a first substrate with moveable features thereon which provide an actuated and a non-actuated state having different protrusion from the first substrate or a different curvature. A second object has an array of loops thereon. The moveable features while in one of the actuated state and non-actuated state are positioned, sized and shaped to fit within the loops. The moveable features include or are mechanically coupled to a material which responds to application of an actuating condition including electrical current, temperature, or an electromagnetic field by changing between the actuated state and the non-actuated state. Electrical current, temperature, or an electromagnetic field is automatically applied or changed to trigger a state change between the actuated state and non-actuated state that results in a bonding event or a debonding event between the first object and the second object.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of bonding or debonding objects, the method comprising:
triggering a state change between an actuated state and a non-actuated state in a first object, said first object including a first substrate with a 2-dimensional (2D) array of rigid moveable engagers thereon that each provide said actuated state and said non-actuated state, said rigid moveable engagers including cat-claw shaped engagers, and said cat-claw shaped engagers being coupled to respective actuators, wherein: said rigid moveable engagers while in one of said actuated state and said non-actuated state are positioned, sized and shaped to fit within a 2D array of loops; said rigid moveable engagers respond to an actuating condition by changing between said actuated state and said non-actuated state; said cat-claw shaped engagers are rigid in both said actuated state and said non-actuated state; and said cat-claw shaped engagers have a same shape in both said actuated state and said non-actuated state; and
said state change results in a bonding event or a debonding event between: said first object; and a second object having said 2D array of loops on a second substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said actuating condition comprises an electromagnetic field.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said actuating condition comprises an electrical current.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said actuators include a bimetal actuator or a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator.

5. A fastener, comprising:
a first object including a first substrate with a 2-dimensional (2D) array of rigid moveable engagers thereon that each provide an actuated state and a non-actuated state, said rigid moveable engagers including cat-claw shaped engagers, and said cat-claw shaped engagers being coupled to respective actuators; and
a second object having a 2D array of loops on a second substrate, wherein said rigid moveable engagers while in one of said actuated state and said non-actuated state are positioned, sized and shaped to fit within said array of loops;
wherein: said rigid moveable engagers are responsive to an actuating condition by changing between said actuated state and said non-actuated state; said cat-claw shaped engagers are rigid in both said actuated state and said non-actuated state; said cat-claw shaped engagers have a same shape in both said actuated state and said non-actuated state; and triggering a state change between said actuated state and said non-actuated state results in a bonding event or a debonding event between said first object and said second object.

6. The fastener of claim 5 , wherein said actuators include a bimetal actuator or a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator.

7. The fastener of claim 5 , wherein said actuating condition comprises an electromagnetic field.

8. The fastener of claim 5 , wherein said actuating condition comprises an electrical current.

Assignees

• Texas Instruments Inc

Inventors

• Galu Jr James Joseph

Classifications

• A44B18/0073

  Attaching means · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• A44B18/008 Primary

  Hooks or loops provided with means to reinforce the attachment, e.g. by adhesive means (tab fastener elements for absorbent pads combining adhesive and mechanical fastening A61F13/581) · CPC title

• A44B18/0096 Primary

  Shape memory materials · CPC title

• Y10T24/2767

  having several, repeating, interlocking formations along length of filaments · CPC title