Shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsThomas R. Corrigan, Marc A. Egeland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets. The apparatus can have a first state in which the apparatus is formable, and a second state in which the apparatus has the desired shape and is substantially less formable than in the first state. The apparatus can further include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet comprises a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface.
Claims20
A shape-formable apparatus comprising:
- a first state in which the apparatus is formable, such that the apparatus can be formed into a desired shape;
- a second state in which the apparatus has the desired shape and is substantially less formable than in the first state;
- an envelope defining a chamber, the envelope formed of a gas-impermeable material;
- a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience;
- and
- at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration, wherein each locking sheet comprises a major surface, and wherein at least a portion of each locking sheet is patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.