Foam/adhesive composite and methods of use thereof
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsStephen R. McClure, Carl Peterson, Kevin Gibbs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite formed by impregnating open cell foam having a plurality of foam cells with liquid adhesive, wherein the liquid adhesive fills most of the plurality of foam cells, wherein in an uncured state, the composite remains pliable and compressible, wherein in a cured state, the composite becomes rigid and is capable of adhering to a surface in contact therewith, and wherein in the uncured state, the composition responds to applied pressure to a surface of the composite by generating a counter pressure uniformly along the surface.
Claims22
A composite material, comprising:
- a foam substrate interspersed with a plurality of foam cells having an average foam cell size related to a porosity of the foam substrate;
- and
- a liquid adhesive having a viscosity value, wherein the viscosity value of the liquid adhesive and the foam substrate porosity are interrelated in such a way that an amount of the liquid adhesive migrates into the foam substrate such that most of the plurality of foam cells within at least a first portion of the foam substrate are substantially and uniformly filled with the liquid adhesive.
A small form factor consumer product, comprising:
- a housing arranged to enclose a plurality of operational components, the housing having a form factor small enough to be easily carried about by a user with one hand;
- a feature, the feature attached to the housing at a reveal;
- and
- an adhesive composite arranged to adhesively attach together the feature such that the reveal is not visible to the user and is not tangible to the user, wherein the adhesive composite comprises:
- a foam substrate having a number of foam cells, and
- a substantially uniform distribution of liquid adhesive amongst the number of foam cells.
A method, comprising:
- providing a foam substrate having a range of porosity values;
- determining a viscosity of a first liquid adhesive, the viscosity of the liquid adhesive in accordance with a substantially uniform distribution of the liquid adhesive in at least a portion of the foam substrate;
- and
- forming a foam/adhesive composite material by causing the liquid adhesive to impregnate at least the portion of the foam substrate.
A method, comprising:
- providing a foam substrate having a range of porosity values;
- determining a viscosity of a first liquid adhesive, the viscosity of the liquid adhesive in accordance with a substantially uniform distribution of the liquid adhesive in at least a portion of the foam substrate;
- and
- forming a foam/adhesive composite material by causing the liquid adhesive to impregnate at least the portion of the foam substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.