Weight-bearing adhesives with adjustable angles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9440416-B2
Application number	US-201414172939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2014
Priority date	Feb 6, 2013
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

The invention provides unique releasable adhesive devices that are high-load bearing and highly stable while allowing adjustment of the weight-bearing angle in a wide range, thereby greatly expanding the scope of applications for technology. Adhesive systems and devices of the invention can be designed to fit applications ranging from household weight-bearing shelves and holders, components for transportation, athletic equipment, labels and advertising posts, automobile interior trims, permanent or reversible fasteners, as well as instruments and devices for industrial, commercial, medical or military applications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A releasable, surface adhering device, comprising:
a first-adhering pad, comprising:
a first planar backing layer ; and
a first elastic planar layer having a first adhering surface on at least one side, wherein the first elastic planar layer adheres to a first target surface when the first elastic planar layer is pressed against the first target surface, wherein the first elastic planar layer is applied to the first planar backing layer on at least the side opposing the first adhering surface;
a second adhering pad, comprising:
a second planar backing layer; and
a second elastic planar layer having a second adhering surface on at least one side, wherein the second elastic planar layer adheres to a second target surface when the second elastic planar layer is pressed against the second target surface, wherein the second elastic planar layer is applied to the second planar backing layer on at least the side opposing the second adhering surface;
a tether having a proximal end and a distal end, respectively attached to the first and second planar backing layers; and
a hinge attached to the tether, wherein the hinge is rotatable along at least one rotational axis resulting in the hinge forming an angle with the tether in the range from about 0° to about 359°.

2. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a first and second adhering pads, wherein
the first elastic planar layer is impregnated with the first planar backing layer on the side opposing the first adhering surface; and
the second elastic planar layer is impregnated with the second planar backing layer on the side opposing the second adhering surface.

3. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is attached substantially at the center between the first and second adhering pads.

4. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is attached other than substantially at the center between the first and second adhering pads.

5. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is permanently connected to a weight-bearing handle.

6. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is releasably attached to a weight-bearing handle.

7. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is attached to a rigid base, wherein the rigid base is attached to the tether.

8. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 7 , wherein the hinge is made of one or more material selected from metal, plastic and wood.

9. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the tether is attached to the first and second adhering pads with the first and second adhering surfaces residing on the same side of the tether.

10. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the tether is attached to the first and second adhering pads with the first and second adhering surfaces residing on the opposite side of the tether.

11. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 9 , wherein the hinge is attached to the tether from the same side as the first and second adhering surfaces.

12. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 9 , wherein the hinge is attached to the tether from the opposite side as the first and second adhering surfaces.

13. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the first planar backing layer of the first adhering pad, the tether, and the second planar backing layer of the second adhering pad together consecutively form a single continuous planar component.

14. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the first planar backing layer of the first adhering pad and the tether together form a single continuous planar component, and the second planar backing layer of the second adhering pad and the tether do not form a single continuous planar component.

15. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the first planar backing layer of the first adhering pad, the tether, and the second planar backing layer of the second adhering pad together consecutively does not form a single continuous planar component.

16. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claims 15 , wherein the proximal end of the tether is attached substantially at the center of the backing layer of the first adhering pad, and the distal end of the tether is attached substantially at the center of the backing layer of the second adhering pad.

17. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claims 15 , wherein the proximal end of the tether is attached substantially away from the center of the backing layer of the first adhering pad, and the distal end of the tether is attached substantially away from the center of the backing layer of the second adhering pad.

18. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claims 15 , wherein the proximal end of the tether is attached substantially at the center of the backing layer of the first adhering pad, and the distal end of the tether is attached substantially away from the center of the backing layer of the second adhering pad.

19. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the tether is planar.

20. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the tether is non-planar.

21. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the tether comprises a fabric material.

22. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1 , wherein the tether comprises a non-fabric material.

23. A releasable, surface-adhering device comprising:
a planar backing layer;
a first elastic planar layer having a first adhering surface on one side and an opposing side applied to the planar backing layer, wherein the first elastic planar layer adheres to a first target surface when the fist elastic planar layer is pressed against the first target surface;
a second elastic planar layer having a second adhering surface on one side and an opposing side applied to the planar backing layer, wherein the second elastic planar layer adheres to a second target surface when the second elastic planar layer is pressed against the second target surface; and
a hinge attached to the planar backing layer directly or via a rigid substrate.

24. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 23 , wherein the hinge is attached via a rigid substrate substantially at midway between the first and second layers of an elastic material.

25. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 23 , wherein the hinge is attached via a rigid substrate other than at midway between the first and second layers of an elastic material.

26. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 23 , wherein the hinge is permanently connected to a weight-bearing handle.

27. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 23 , wherein the hinge is made of one or more material selected from metal, plastic and wood.

28. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 23 , wherein the first and second adhering surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the planar backing layer.

29. The releasable, surface adhering device of claim 23 , wherein the first and second adhering surfaces are disposed on the same side of the planar backing layer.

30. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 29 , wherein the hinge is attached to a tether fro

Assignees

• Univ Massachusetts

Inventors

• Crosby Alfred J
• King Daniel J
• Bartlett Michael D
• Irschick Duncan J

Classifications

• B32B33/00

  Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class · CPC title

• F16B47/003

  using adhesives for attaching purposes (using adhesives for connecting constructional elements F16B11/006) · CPC title

• Y10T428/2848

  Three or more layers · CPC title

• B32B7/02

  Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties · CPC title

• F16B11/006

  by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48) · CPC title