Releasable fasteners
OwnerJoseph David Chiodo, Eric Billettinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A releasable fastener made of or containing a shape memory material or mechanical property loss effect material has an active shape in which it can function as a fastener. When heated, e.g. by microwave radiation, the fastener relaxes to a passive shape in which it no longer functions as a fastener, thus permitting disassembly of the fastened components.
Claims40
A releasable fastener comprising a mechanical property loss effect polymer.
An article comprising means for facilitating automatic disassembly of the article, said means comprising a MPL effect polymer.
A method of at least partly disassembling an article comprising MPL effect polymeric material, the method comprising heating the MPL effect material directly or indirectly, to cause the MPL effect material to suffer a mechanical property loss.
Apparatus having a MPL effect provided by one or more of the following materials:
- acrylic;
- ABS;
- polycarbonate;
- polystyrene;
- PVC;
- polypropylene;
- nylon;
- polyurethane.
A method of forming a fastener comprising shape memory material in at least a predetermined engagement region thereof, the method comprising:
- providing a blank for the fastener without the engagement region;
- applying external pressure to a region of the blank while subjecting the region directly or indirectly to a temperature in or greater than the transition temperature region (Tg) for the shape memory material, to mould the engagement region on to the blank;
- and
- maintaining the external pressure while the material cools to below the transition temperature region.
A method of forming a fastener comprising shape memory material in at least an engagement region thereof, the method comprising:
- providing a blank of the fastener with the engagement region in a passive position;
- deforming the engagement region into an active position while subjecting the region directly or indirectly to a temperature in or greater than the transition temperature region (Tg) for the shape memory material;
- and
- maintaining the engagement region in the active position while the material cools to below the transition temperature region.
A method of attaching a fastener having an engagement region of shape memory material, to a member having an undercut aperture therein, the method comprising:
- inserting the engagement region into the aperture;
- applying pressure to deform the engagement region to form an engagement fit within the undercut aperture, while subjecting the engagement region directly or indirectly to a temperature in or greater than the transition temperature region (Tg) for the shape memory material;
- and
- maintaining the engagement region in its deformed condition while the material cools to below the transition temperature region.
A method of forming a fastener comprising:
- providing first and second parts of the fastener, at least one of the parts being of shape memory material or MPL effect material;
- and
- assembling the first and second parts together to form the fastener.
A method of heating a shape memory polymer or a MPL effect polymer, the polymer comprising or containing microwave absorbing material, the method comprising subjecting the material to microwave radiation.
A fastener having at least an engagement region comprising shape memory material, the engagement region being configured, when subjected to a temperature in or exceeding a transition temperature region (Tg), to change its configuration to a non-engaging condition.
A fastener having at least an engagement region comprising shape memory material or MPL effect material, the engagement region being configured, when subjected to a temperature in or exceeding a transition temperature region (Tg), to lose structural integrity.
A fastener comprising shape memory material or MPL effect material, the material being loaded with microwave absorbing material able to generate heat within the material when the fastener is irradiated with microwave radiation.
Apparatus comprising electronic display means and mounting means comprising shape memory material or MPL effect material for mounting the electronic display means within the apparatus, the mounting means being configured to release the electronic display means when subjected to a temperature in or exceeding a transition temperature region for the material.
Apparatus having a shape memory effect provided by one or more of the following materials:
- acrylic;
- ABS;
- polycarbonate;
- polystyrene;
- PVC;
- polypropylene;
- nylon;
- polyurethane.
A case comprising first and second case portions, at least one of the case portions comprising a case fastener providing a shape memory or MPL effect, and wherein, when the case is subjected directly or indirectly to a temperature in or exceeding the transition temperature range, the first and second case portions are separable from each other.
An article comprising a plurality of MPL effect fasteners and wherein at least two of the fasteners are configured to be released at different release temperatures.
An article having a first portion disassemblable from a second portion by subjecting the article directly or indirectly to an increased temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.