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Fastener and method of making same

a technology of fasteners and clips, applied in the field of fasteners, can solve the problems of suction cups that cannot be used on flat, smooth surfaces, suction cups that cannot be released from the surface, and the force that keeps the vinyl cut-out from falling is not strong enough to permit objects to be hung from the cut-ou

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-06-22
ADAMS MFG
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] In a first present preferred process the hairs are formed on the attachment surface by drilling holes or tracks in the surface with one or more laser beams. The laser can rapidly create the tracks and holes that separate the hairs.

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of using a suction cup as a fastener for holding objects is that suction cups can only be used on flat, smooth surfaces.
Any irregularity or curvature in the surface may cause the suction cup to release from the surface immediately or after a short period of time.
However, the forces that keep the vinyl cut-out from falling are not strong enough to permit objects to be hung from the cut-out.
Yet, scientists were concerned that the artificial hairs they had produced were not durable enough to be reapplied several times and the method used to fabricate the product would not lend itself to mass production of the product.

Method used

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  • Fastener and method of making same
  • Fastener and method of making same
  • Fastener and method of making same

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0017] A first present preferred fastener 1, shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, has a flexible body 2 having a holding surface 4 from which objects can be held, or to which objects may be attached, and an attachment surface 6 which is pressed against an object or surface on which the fastener will be placed.

[0018] The holding surface 4 has a holding member 5 which is configured to receive an object. The holding member 5 may be configured as a hook, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or a post, ring or other shape which can receive an object. Multiple hooks, rings or posts could be provided. The holding member 5 may be integral with the body 2 or attached to the body after the body is formed. Preferably, the body is a material like vinyl, silicon or kapton. The attachment surface has many closely spaced hairs 8. A one centimeter square section of the fastener may have as many as 100 million hairs, each about 2.0 microns in height and 0.2 microns in diameter. When the attachment surface is pressed a...

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Abstract

A fastener has a body with an attachment surface and a holding surface. A large number of tiny hairs protrude from the attachment surface. A hook, post, ring or other structure extends from the holding surface to permit an object to be hung from or attached to the fastener. The attachment surface can be formed by depositing or growing the hairs on a substrate or by using a mold to form the hairs.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to fasteners which are applied to a surface to hold an object on that surface and methods of making those fasteners. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] One type of fastener that is commonly used to hold objects on a smooth surface is a suction cup. Suction cups have a flexible concave body and a neck extending from the body. When the concave surface is pressed against a smooth surface air is expelled from the region between the concave surface of the suction cup and the smooth surface against which the suction cup is pressed. After the pressing force is removed, the concave body seeks to return to its original shape which forms a vacuum between the suction cup and the smooth surface. The vacuum holds the cup on the smooth surface. Objects may then be hung from the neck of the suction cup. One advantage that suction cups have over nails, screws and adhesives is that they do not mar the surface on which they are attached. A disadvantage ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A44B18/00
CPCY10T24/27A44B18/0046
Inventor ADAMS, WILLIAM E.
Owner ADAMS MFG