Apertured Adhesive Strip for Interlocking Brick Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Interlocking brick structures, such as those made from Lego bricks, often fall apart due to insufficient retention, especially when handled roughly or carelessly, and traditional liquid glue solutions are messy and difficult to disassemble.

Innovation Solution

An adhesive strip with an array of evenly spaced and sized apertures, coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, is used to provide additional retention between interlocking bricks while allowing for disassembly, featuring a carrier material with apertures arranged in columns and rows, and optionally double-sided adhesive for secure bonding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If liquid dispensed glue is used to supplement the interlocking features, then the bond strength between bricks is improved, but the messiness and difficulty of disassembly increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebond strengthVSAvoidease of disassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive strip is segmented into an array of discrete apertures that align with individual brick interlocking features. Each aperture provides localized adhesive application only where needed, rather than a continuous layer of glue. This segmentation allows the adhesive to bond bricks securely while maintaining clean edges and enabling precise disassembly by targeting individual aperture locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive strip acts as an intermediary component between two bricks, providing a controlled adhesive interface. The strip with its structured apertures mediates the bonding process, allowing for reversible attachment when needed while providing strong bonds when required, thus resolving the contradiction between bond strength and ease of disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If liquid dispensed glue is used to supplement the interlocking features, then the bond strength between bricks is improved, but the messiness and unintentional adhesion to surrounding objects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebond strengthVSAvoidmessiness and unintentional adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is segmented into discrete apertures rather than applied as a continuous liquid layer. This segmentation confines the adhesive to specific locations that align with brick interlocking features, preventing the adhesive from spreading to surrounding objects or creating messes during application and handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive strip provides local quality by concentrating adhesive only at the aperture locations where brick interlocking features align. The rest of the strip surface remains non-adhesive or has reduced adhesion, preventing unintentional bonding to surrounding objects while providing strong localized bonds where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If traditional interlocking features alone are used, then the ease of disassembly is maintained, but the structural stability and retention under rough handling are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of disassemblyVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges two retention mechanisms: the mechanical interlocking features of the bricks and the chemical adhesive bonding. The adhesive strip with its apertures combines with the brick interlocking structures to provide both the stability needed for rough handling and the reversibility for disassembly, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution uses a composite approach combining mechanical interlocking (physical structure) with adhesive bonding (chemical bonding). The adhesive strip creates a composite retention system that leverages both mechanical and chemical bonding mechanisms to achieve superior structural stability while maintaining disassembly capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The adhesive strip creates a more secure bond between interlocking bricks, enhancing structural stability without the mess of liquid glue and allowing for easy disassembly, while being safe for children and pets.

Implementation Method 1

The adhesive strip can include a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating arranged on the first carrier material side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-sensitive adhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS10258898B2Adhesive strip including an array of apertures for additional retention of interlocking bricks

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 DOMBROWSKI MARY CLAUDETTE

AI summary

An adhesive strip includes an array of apertures that provides additional retention of interlocking bricks. The adhesive strip can include a carrier material. The carrier material can include a plurality of evenly spaced and evenly sized apertures in an array of at least two columns by two rows. The carrier material can include a first carrier material side. The carrier material can include a second carrier material side on an opposite side of the carrier material from the first carrier material side. The adhesive strip can include a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating arranged on the first carrier material side.