Structured surface fastener
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsForrest J. Rouser, Jon A. Kirschhoffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener having a first member and a second member, each member having structured surfaces thereon. The first member has two major surfaces oppositely disposed, at least a portion of each major surface having structured surfaces. The second member has at least one major surface having a structured surface. The first member is fastened to the second member when the two major surfaces of the first member are disposed between the structured surface of the second member and the elements of the structured surfaces bend and twist as well as frictionally adhere during attachment.
Claims22
A fastener comprising:
- a first member having a first and second major surface, said second major surface opposite said first major surface, at least a portion of said first and second major surfaces being a first structured surface, said first structured surface including a first 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 plurality of tapered elements being situated to form a plurality of axes including at least one first first member longitudinal axis on said first major surface and said second major surface of said first member has a second first member longitudinal axis wherein said first first member longitudinal axis situated at an angle relative to said second first member longitudinal axis so as to form different angularly oriented pattern of said tapered elements;
- a second member having at least one major surface at least a portion of that surface being a second structured surface, said second structured surface including a second 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 plurality of tapered elements being situated to form a plurality of axes including at least one second member longitudinal axis;
- said first and second members being fastened together with said first member longitudinal axes of said first and second major surfaces situated at an angle relative to said second member longitudinal axis such that at least two of said tapered elements on said first major surface of said first member or on said second member are torsionally twisted relative to their relaxed, unfastened position, and such that at least two of said tapered elements on said second major surface of said first member or on said second member are torsionally twisted relative to their relaxed, unfastened position, and said inclined sides of one of said first and second major surfaces' of said first member and second member's tapered elements being frictionally adhered to at least one of said inclined sides of the other of said first and second major surface's of said first member and second member's tapered elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.