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US 5,201,101 AGranted
Method of attaching articles and a pair of articles fastened by the method
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsForrest J. Rouser, Robert L. Erwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality (e.g. a pair) of misaligned, fastened articles with structured surfaces is disclosed. The structured surfaces have elements which may bend and twist during attachment resulting in a higher peel strength than when the articles are aligned. A method of attaching a pair of articles is also disclosed.
Claims18
Fastened articles comprising:
- a first article having at least one major surface at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface;
- said first article's structured surface including a plurality of tapered elements, each element having at least one side inclined relative to a common plane at an angle sufficient to form a taper;
- said first article's plurality of tapered elements being situated to form a plurality of axes including at least one first article longitudinal axis;
- a second article having at least one major surface at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface;
- said second article's structured surface including a plurality of tapered elements, each element having at least one side inclined relative to a common plane at an angle sufficient to form a taper;
- said second article's plurality of tapered elements being situated to form a plurality of axes including at least one second article longitudinal axis;
- wherein said first and second article's tapered elements have a shape in an unfastened position;
- said first and second articles being fastened together with the first longitudinal axis situated at an angle relative to the second longitudinal axis such that at least two of said tapered elements of said first or said second article are torsionally twisted relative to their relaxes, unfastened positions, and said inclined sides of one of said first and second article's tapered elements being frictionally adhered to at least one of said inclined sides of the other of said first and second article's tapered elements, and
- wherein said at least two tapered elements are constructed from a flexible material.
6 more elements
A method of fastening articles comprising:
- providing a first article having at least one major surface at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface, said first article's structured surface including a plurality of tapered elements, each element having at elast one side inclined relative to a common plane at an angle sufficient to form a taper, and each of said elements having a shape in an unfastened position,
- situating said first article's plurality of tapered elements to form a plurality of axes including at least one first article longitudinal axis;
- providing a second article having at least one major surface at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface, said second article's structured surface including a plurality of tapered elements, each element having at least one side inclined relative to a common plane at an angle sufficient to form a taper, and each of said elements having a shape in an unfastened position;
- situating said second triangle's plurality of tapered elements to form a plurality of axes including at least one second article longitudinal axis;
- disposing said first longitudinal axis at an angle relative to said second longitudinal axis;
- and
- then pressing said structured surfaces of said first and said second article together such that after said structured surfaces are pressed together, at least two of said tapered elements of said first or said second article are torsionally twisted relative to their relaxed, unfastened positions, and such that said inclined sides of one of said first and second article's tapered elements are frictionally adhered to at least one of said inclined sides of the other of said first and second article's tapered elements.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.