Reversible attachment using dielectric heating
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorChi Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of removably adhering a non-conductive member to a conductive member comprising the steps of placing an electrode on the non-conductive member. The electrode overlies matting surfaces of the conductive and non-conductive members. A reheatable adhesive is applied between matting surfaces of the conductive and non-conductive members and a high frequency electric field is applied between said electrode and said conductive member sufficient to cure the adhesive. The non-conductive member may be removed from the conductive member by applying a high frequency electric field between the electrode and said conductive member sufficient to soften the adhesive and removing the non-conductive member from the conductive member.
Claims1
A conductive and non-conductive assembly comprising;
- a frame made from an electrically conductive material acting as an electrode for an RF electric field, said frame having a matting surface;
- a member made from an electrically non-conductive material, said member having a matting surface for attachment to said frame matting surface and a surface opposite and overlying said member matting surface;
- an electrode permanently secured to said opposite surface of said member, said electrode overlying said frame and member matting surfaces and
- a dielectrically heatable adhesive between said frame and member matting surfaces, said adhesive completely occupying the space between said frame and member matting surfaces and being directly heatable by an RF field generated by an RF generator attached between said frame and said electrode, said RF field causing said adhesive to dielectrically heat and soften to removably secure said member to said frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.