Releasable fastener system

• US 6,983,517 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Ulicny, John C., Golden, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US10/305,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 244/42, 244/46, 244/51, 244/52, 244/50, 244/48, 243/04, 428/100
• US Class Current: 24/442
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2300/326 using hooks and eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0003 Fastener constructions A44B18/0023, A44B18/0046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0007 in which each part has similar elements
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0096 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/77 Use of a shape-memory material
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/81 Use of a material of the hooks-and-loops type
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/07 by means of multiple interengaging protrusions on the surfaces, e.g. hooks, coils,
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/045 magnetorheological
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/27 including readily dissociable fastener having numerous, protruding, unitary filaments randomly interlocking with, and simultaneously moving towards, mating structure [e.g., hook-loop type fastener]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb

Abstract

A releasable fastener system comprises two hook portions. The hook portions each include a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof. When the two hook portions are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. The head elements of the hook elements are formed of a material that provides a change in directional orientation of the head elements. In this manner, the directional orientation of the head elements of the hook elements can be remotely changed to provide a reduction or magnification in the shear and/or pull-off forces.

Claims

1. A releasable fastener system comprising:

a first portion comprising a first support and a plurality of first hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one the first hook elements comprise a head elements disposed on a shaft;

a second portion comprising a second support and a plurality of second hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one of the second hook elements comprises a head elements rotatably disposed on a shaft, wherein the head elements comprises a material adapted to change a directional orientation upon receipt of a magnetic signal; and

an activation device coupled to the plurality of the second hook elements, the activation device being operable to selectively provide the magnetic signal to the head elements of the second hook elements, wherein the magnetic signal effectuates a change in the directional orientation of the head elements of the second hook elements to reduce or increase a shear force and/or a pull-off force.

2. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic signal comprises a magnetic field oriented in a direction to effectuate a change in the directional orientation of the head elements of the second hook elements by rotating the head elements of the second hook elements substantially in an x-plane with respect to the hook element support.

3. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the first and second head elements comprise a J-shape, an L-shape, a multi-tined anchor shape, or a T-shape.

4. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the first hook elements engage with the second hook elements when the first portion is pressed into face-to-face engagement with the second portion.

5. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic signal effectuates a change in position of the first and second head elements, wherein the second head elements are substantially parallel to the first head elements, to reduce a shear force and/or a pull-off force.

6. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic signal effectuates a change in position of the first and second head elements, wherein the second head elements are substantially perpendicular to the first head elements forming an interlocking system to increase a shear force and/or a pull-off force.

7. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the second head elements comprise a magnetic material, a magnetorheological fluid, a magnetorheological elastomer, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.

8. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the second head elements comprise ferromagnetic or paramagnetic particles dispersed in a carrier fluid,

wherein the particles are selected from the group consisting of iron, iron alloys, iron oxides, iron nitride, iron carbide, carbonyl iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium dioxide, stainless steel, silicon steel, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing;

and

wherein the carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of silicone oils, mineral oils, paraffin oils, silicone copolymers, white oils, hydraulic oils, transformer oils, halogenated paraffins, perfluorinated polyethers and fluorinated hydrocarbons, diesters, polyoxyalkylenes, fluorinated silicones, cyanoalkyl siloxanes, glycols, synthetic hydrocarbon oils, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing fluids.

9. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the second head elements comprise ferromagnetic or paramagnetic particles in poly-alpha-olefins, natural rubber, silicone, polybutadiene, polyethylene, polyisoprene, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing polymeric materials.

10. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the second head elements comprise a magnetic material based on iron, nickel, cobalt, alloys of the foregoing, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

11. The releasable fastener system of claim 1, wherein the first head elements comprise a material adapted to change a directional orientation of the head elements of the first hook elements upon receipt of a magnetic signal.

12. The releasable fastener system of claim 11, wherein the magnetic signal comprises a magnetic field oriented in a direction to effectuate a change in the directional orientation of the head elements of the first and second hook elements by rotating the head elements of the first and second hook elements substantially in an x-plane with respect to the first and second supports.

13. The releasable fastener system of claim 12, wherein the change in the directional orientation of the first and second head elements reduces a shear force and/or pull-off force.

14. The releasable fastener system of claim 12, wherein the change in the directional orientation of the first and second head elements increases a shear force and/or pull-off force.

15. A process for operating a releasable fastener system, the process comprising:

contacting a first portion to a second portion to form a releasable engagement,

wherein the first portion comprises a first support and a plurality of first hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one of the first hook elements comprise a head element disposed on a shaft; and

a second portion comprising a second support and a plurality of second hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one of the second hook elements comprise a head element rotatably disposed on a shaft, wherein the head elements comprises a material adapted to change a directional orientation to the head elements upon receipt of a magnetic signal;

maintaining constant shear and pull-off forces in the releasable engagement;

selectively introducing the magnetic signal to the second hook elements, wherein the magnetic signal is effective to change the directional orientation of the head elements; and

reducing shear and/or pull-off forces in the releasable engagement.

16. The process according to claim 15, wherein the second head elements comprise a magnetic material, a magnetorheological fluid, a magnetorheological elastomer, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.

17. The process according to claim 15, wherein the magnetic signal comprises a magnetic field oriented in a direction to effectuate a change in the directional orientation to the second head elements by rotating the second head elements substantially in an x-plane with respect to the second support.

18. The process according to claim 15, wherein the first head elements comprise a material adapted to change a directional orientation of the first head elements upon receipt of a magnetic signal.

19. The process according to claim 15, wherein the magnetic signal comprises a magnetic field oriented in a direction to effectuate a change in the directional orientation of the first and second head elements by rotating the first and second head elements substantially in an x-plane with respect to the first and second supports.

20. A hook portion for a releasable fastener system comprising:

a support; and

a plurality of hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one of the hook elements comprise a head element rotatably disposed on a shaft, wherein the head elements comprises a material adapted to change a directional orientation to the head elements upon receipt of a magnetic signal, wherein the magnetic signal is a magnetic field oriented in a direction to effectuate a change in the directional orientation to the head elements by rotation of the head elements substantially in an x-plane with respect to the support, and wherein the head elements comprise a magnetic material, a magnetorheological fluid, a magnetorheological elastomer, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.

21. The hook portion according to claim 20, wherein the support comprises a metal, a plastic, a fabric, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.

22. A process for operating a releasable fastener system, the process comprising:

providing a first portion comprising a first support and a plurality of first hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one of the first hook elements comprise a head elements disposed on a shaft;

applying a magnetic signal to a second portion comprising a second support and a plurality of second hook elements disposed on the support, wherein each one of the second hook elements comprises a head elements rotatably disposed on a shaft, and wherein the second head elements comprise a material adapted to change a directional orientation upon receipt of a magnetic signal;

contacting the first portion with the second portion; and

discontinuing the magnetic signal to cause the first hook elements and the second hook elements to interlock.

23. A releasable fastener system comprising:

a first portion comprising a first support and a plurality of first hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one of the first hook elements comprises a head elements rotatably disposed on a shaft; and

a second portion comprising a second support and a plurality of second hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one of the second hook elements comprises a head element rotatably disposed on a shaft, wherein the second head elements comprise a material adapted to change a directional orientation upon receipt of a magnetic signal, and wherein the magnetic signal comprises a magnetic field oriented in a direction to effectuate a change in the directional orientation of the first and second head elements by rotating the first and second head elements substantially in an x-plane with respect to the first and second supports; and

means for changing the directional orientation of the second head elements to reduce a shear force and/or a pull-off force of engaged first hook elements and second hook elements.

24. The releasable fastener system according to claim 23, wherein the first support and the second support are fabricated from an inflexible material.

25. The releasable fastener system according to claim 23, wherein the first head elements comprises a material adapted to change a directional orientation upon receipt of a magnetic signal.

26. A hook portion for a releasable fastener system comprising;

a support; and

a plurality of hook elements disposed on a surface, wherein each one of the hook elements comprise a head element rotatably disposed on a shaft, wherein the head elements comprise a material adapted to change a directional orientation upon receipt of a magnetic signal, and wherein the magnetic signal is a magnetic field oriented in a direction to effectuate a change in the directional orientation by rotation substantially in an x-plane with respect to the support.

27. The hook portion according to claim 26, wherein the head elements comprise a magnetic material, a magnetorheological fluid, a magnetorheological elastomer, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.

28. The hook portion according to claim 26, wherein the support comprises a metal, a plastic, a fabric, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.