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US 10,479,046 B2Granted
Absorbent microstructure arrays and methods of use
AssigneeImagine TF, LLC
InventorBrian Edward Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Absorbent microstructure panels are described herein. An example filter device includes a plurality of microstructure panels each having a front surface and a back surface, and a plurality of capillary ridges protruding from the front surface. The plurality of capillary ridges are each spaced apart from one another. The plurality of microstructure panels form an absorbent microstructure array by layering the plurality of microstructure panels together such that the plurality of capillary ridges of one microstructure panel contacts the back surface of an adjacent microstructure panel to create capillary tubes that draw fluid into the absorbent microstructure array.
Claims20
An absorbent microstructure array, comprising:
- a plurality of microstructure panels each having:
- a front surface, a back surface, a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge are opposite with respect to each other and wherein a third edge and a fourth edge are opposite with respect to each other;
- and
- a plurality of capillary ridges protruding from the front surface, the plurality of capillary ridges being spaced apart from one another;
- a capillary wall ridge that is disposed outside a periphery of the plurality of capillary ridges, a first section of the capillary wall ridge extending along the first edge and orthogonally to first ends of the plurality of capillary ridges, a second section of the capillary wall ridge extending from the first edge and parallel to a first outermost one of the plurality of capillary ridges along the third edge, a third section of the capillary wall ridge extending from the first edge and parallel to a second outermost one of the plurality of capillary ridges along the fourth edge, the capillary wall ridge comprising dividers that divide the plurality of capillary ridges into sectors, the first section having a first end connected to the second section and a second end connected to the third section, wherein the second section, the first section, and the third section of the capillary wall ridge enclose the plurality of capillary ridges along the third edge, the first edge, and the fourth edge of each of the plurality of microstructure panels to prevent fluid from being drawn from the first edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge of each of the plurality of microstructure panels and allow the fluid to be drawn only into and from the second edge of each of the plurality of microstructure panels;
- and
- the plurality of microstructure panels form an absorbent microstructure array by layering the plurality of microstructure panels together such that the plurality of capillary ridges of one microstructure panel contacts the back surface of an adjacent microstructure panel to create capillary tubes that draw the fluid into the absorbent microstructure array.
4 more elements
A flexible absorbent microstructure array, comprising:
- a plurality of flexible microstructure panels each having:
- a front surface, a back surface, a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge are opposite with respect to each other and wherein a third edge and a fourth edge are opposite with respect to each other and
- a plurality of capillary ridges protruding from the front surface, the plurality of capillary ridges being spaced apart from one another;
- a capillary wall ridge that is disposed outside a periphery of the plurality of capillary ridges, a first section of the capillary wall ridge extending along the first edge and orthogonally to first ends of the plurality of capillary ridges, a second section of the capillary wall ridge extending from the first edge and parallel to a first outermost one of the plurality of capillary ridges along the third edge, a third section of the capillary wall ridge extending from the first edge and parallel to a second outermost one of the plurality of capillary ridges along the fourth edge, the capillary wall ridge comprising dividers that divide the plurality of capillary ridges into sectors, the first section having a first end connected to the second section and a second end connected to the third section, wherein the second section, the first section, and the third section of the capillary wall ridge enclose the plurality of capillary ridges along the third edge, the first edge, and the fourth edge of each of the plurality of microstructure panels to prevent fluid from being drawn from the first edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge of each of the plurality of microstructure panels and allow the fluid to be drawn only into and from the second edge of each of the plurality of microstructure panels;
- and
- the plurality of microstructure panels form an absorbent microstructure array by layering the plurality of microstructure panels together such that the plurality of capillary ridges of one microstructure panel contacts the back surface of an adjacent microstructure panel to create capillary tubes that draw the fluid into the absorbent microstructure array.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.