High capacity easy release extended use adhesive devices

• US 9,574,113 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Of Massachusetts
• Original Assignee: University Of Massachusetts
• Inventors: Crosby, Alfred J., Bartlett, Michael, Croll, Andrew B., King, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sample, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flores, Jr., Donald M
• Application Number:
  US13/878,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20140030490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0069 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/748 Releasability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/16 with all layers existing as coherent layers before laminating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/02 characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/00 Layered products characterised by the relation between layers; Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties; Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/20 for coatings strippable as coherent films, e.g. temporary coatings strippable as coherent films
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 175/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/204 the adhesive coating being discontinuous
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/312 parameters being the characterizing feature
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2400/263 in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2427/001 in the barrier layer
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2427/006 in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2433/00 Presence of (meth)acrylic polymer
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2475/00 Presence of polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2483/00 Presence of polysiloxane
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2483/006 in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/00 Adhesives in the form of films or foils
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/21 Paper; Textile fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/30 characterised by the adhesive composition
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/38 : Pressure-sensitive adhesives [PSA]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/33 : having adhesive fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2481 : including layer of mechanically interengaged strands, strand-portions or strand-like strips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 : Three or more layers

Abstract

The invention provides novel devices, systems, designs, materials and fabrication methods that enable high-load capacity, easy release, and suitable for extended/repeated use in a variety of applications.

Claims

1. A releasable, surface-adhering device, comprising:

an adhering pad, comprising;

a planar backing layer;

an elastic planar layer having an adhering surface on at least one side, wherein the elastic planar layer adheres to a target surface when the elastic planar layer is pressed against the target surface, wherein the elastic planar layer is applied to the planar backing layer on at least the side opposing the adhering surface; and

a flexible tether attached to and extending from the adhering pad.

2. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1, further comprising a holding component for load bearing, the holding component being attachable to the tether for connecting an object to the device.

3. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1, wherein

the planar backing layer is stiff in a plane of the backing layer, and wherein the planar backing layer is impregnated onto the elastic planar layer on the side opposing the adhering surface.

4. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1, wherein the adhering surface is microscopically smooth.

5. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 4, wherein the elastic planar layer has a smooth adhering surface area of greater than about 0.01 cm² and has a substantially uniform thickness of less than about 0.0001 cm.

6. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 4, wherein the elastic planar layer has a smooth adhering surface area of greater than about 0.2 cm² and has a substantially uniform thickness of less than about 0.5 cm.

7. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1, wherein the adhering surface is microscopically patterned.

8. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1, wherein the planar backing layer is a fabric backing layer.

9. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 8, wherein the elastic planar layer comprises an elastic material having an elastic modulus ranging from about 0.05 MPa to about 50 MPa.

10. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 8, wherein the elastic planar layer comprises an elastic material, wherein the elastic material comprises a siloxane-based elastomer, a urethane-based elastomer or a an acrylate-based elastomer.

11. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 8, wherein the material of the fabric backing layer comprises a natural fabric material or a synthetic fabric material.

12. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 1, wherein the backing layer has a higher in-plane stiffness than the elastic planar layer.

13. A releasable, surface-adhering device, comprising:

an elastic planar layer comprising an elastic material, the elastic planar layer having on one side an adhering surface for adhering to a target surface and on the other side a backing layer, wherein the elastic material is applied to the backing layer and wherein the elastic planar layer adheres to the target surface when the elastic planar layer is pressed against the target surface; and

a flexible tether attached to and extending from the backing layer for connecting an object to the device, wherein a portion of the backing layer extends beyond the elastic planar layer to form an area of the backing layer free of the elastic material, and wherein the tether is attached to the backing layer at the area of the backing layer free of the elastic material.

14. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 13, wherein the adhering surface is microscopically smooth.

15. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 14, wherein the elastic planar layer has a smooth adhering surface area from about 0.01 cm² to about 1000 cm² and has a substantially uniform thickness from about 0.001 cm to about 0.5 cm.

16. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 13, wherein the adhering surface is microscopically patterned.

17. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 13, wherein the backing layer is a fabric backing layer.

18. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 13, wherein the backing layer is a non-fabric backing layer.

19. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 13, wherein the elastic planar layer has a substantially circular outer boundary, a substantially rectangular outer boundary, a substantially irregular outer boundary or a substantially elliptical outer boundary.

20. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 13, wherein the elastic planar layer comprises two or more separate smaller elastic material layer units.

21. The releasable, surface-adhering device of claim 13, wherein the backing layer has a higher in-plane stiffness than the elastic planar layer.

22. A releasable, reusable surface-adhering device, comprising:

an adhering pad, comprising;

an elastic planar layer having an adhering surface on one side, wherein the elastic planar layer adheres to a target surface when the elastic planar layer is pressed against the target surface; and

a planar backing layer, wherein the backing layer is applied to the elastic planar layer on the side opposing the adhering surface;

a flexible tether attached to and extending from the adhering pad, wherein the attachment between the flexible tether and the adhering pad is located away from an edge of the adhering pad.

23. The releasable, reusable surface-adhering device of claim 22, wherein an angle between the tether and the adhering pad is adjustable from about 0°

to about 359°

.

24. The releasable, reusable surface-adhering device of claim 22, wherein the backing layer has a higher in-plane stiffness than the elastic planar layer.