Method of applying a force to a work piece

• US 7,055,360 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bries, James L., Pitzen, James F., Johansson, Ronald C., Hamerski, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOLAN, EDWARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US10/749,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 723/905, 723/906, 723/907, 723/792, 724/54, 724/57, 724/58, 724/651, 724/666, 724/78, 724/79, 727/05, 428/40.1, 428/42.2, 428/42.3
• US Class Current: 72/379.2
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 1/06 Removing local distortions
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/00 Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/006 Supporting devices for clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/10 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 47/003 using adhesives for attaching purposes using adhesives for connecting constructional elements F16B11/006
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 72/705 Vehicle body or frame straightener

Abstract

A method of applying a tensile or compressive force to a selected location of a work piece or surface without damaging the work piece or the surface and without leaving adhesive residue thereon includes providing a device including a body member and a force applying member movably connected with the body member, attaching the body member and/or the force applying member to the work piece and/or surface using a double-sided stretch releasing adhesive such that one end of the force applying member is adjacent the selected location, and moving the force applying member toward the work piece or surface to generate a compressive force, or moving the force applying member away from the work piece or surface to generate a tensile force.

Claims

1. A method of applying a compressive force to a selected location on a work piece, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a device including a body member and a force applying member movably connected with the body member;

(b) attaching the body member to a surface using a first double-sided stretch releasable adhesive strip, and attaching one end of the force applying member adjacent the selected location using a second double-sided stretch releasable adhesive strip; and

(c) moving the force applying member toward the surface to generate a compressive force.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of stretching the first double-sided stretch releasable adhesive strip to remove the adhesive from the body member and the surface.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the surface is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of cellulosic materials and masonry.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the work piece is a surface.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the work piece is an object.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the force applying member is threadably connected with the body member.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the force applying member is pivotally connected with the body member.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the force applying member is slidaby connected with the body member, and further wherein the device includes a force generating member arranged to bias the force applying member in the direction of the work piece.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the force generating member is a spring.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the device includes a pair of force applying members arranged at an angle.

11. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the body member is attached to the surface at a location distinct from the selected location and wherein moving the force applying member toward the surface to generate a compressive force includes moving the force applying member relative to the body member.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein attaching the body member to the surface includes positioning the first double-sided stretch releasable adhesive strip such that a non-adhesive pull tab of the strip extends laterally beyond the body member.

13. A method of applying a tensile force to a selected location on a work piece, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a device including a body member and a force applying member movably connected with the body member;

(b) attaching the body member to a surface with a first double-sided stretch releasable adhesive strip, whereby one end of the force applying member is adjacent the selected location;

(c) attaching the force applying member to the surface using a second double-sided stretch releasable adhesive strip; and

(d) moving the force applying member away from the surface to generate a tensile force.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the surface is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of cellulosic materials and masonry.

15. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the work piece is a surface.

16. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the work piece is an object.

17. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the force applying member is threadably connected with the body member.

18. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the force applying member is pivotally connected with the body member.

19. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the force applying member is slidaby connected with the body member, and further wherein the device further includes a force generating member arranged to bias the force applying member in the direction of the work piece.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the force generating member is a spring.

21. A method of removing a dent from a surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a device including a body member and a force applying member movably connected with the body member;

(b) arranging the device on the surface such that the body member is attached to the surface with a first double-sided stretch releasable adhesive strip and one end of the force applying member is adjacent the dent;

(c) attaching the force applying member to the dented surface using a second double-sided stretch releasable adhesive strip; and

(d) moving the force applying member away from the surface to generate a pulling force on the dented surface, wherein the pulling force is sufficient to remove the dent.