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US 7,175,723 B2Granted
Structure having nano-fibers on annular curved surface, method of making same and method of using same to adhere to a surface
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsSteven D. Jones, Ronald S. Fearing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A curved surfaces for adhering to contact surfaces is provided. The structure includes a curved surface with a plurality of nano-fibers disposed thereon. When the curved surface is in a first position, at least one of the plurality of nano-fibers contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface. When the curved surface rotates to a second position from the first position, the at least one of the plurality of nano-fibers is leveraged way from the contact surface.
Claims38
A structure for adhering to a contact surface comprising:
- an annular curved surface rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- and
- a plurality of nano-fibers disposed on the curved surface, each nano-fiber having a diameter between 50 nanometers and 2.0 microns and a length between 0.5 microns and 20 microns,
- wherein the curved surface is configured to rotate from a first position to at least a second position,
- wherein when the curved surface is in the first position, at least a first nano-fiber of the plurality of nano-fibers contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface, and at least a second nano-fiber of the plurality of nano-fibers is unattached to the contact surface;
- and
- wherein when the curved surface rotates to the second position from the first position, at least the first nano-fiber is leveraged away from the contact surface, and at least the second nano-fiber contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface, and
- wherein the first and second nano-fibers are oriented at an oblique angle other than 0 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the annular curved surface when unattached to the contact surface and extend in the circumferential direction of the annular curved surface.
5 more elements
A tire comprising:
- a curved tire surface;
- and
- a plurality of nano-fibers disposed on the curved tire surface, each nano-fiber having a diameter between 50 nanometers and 2.0 microns and a length between 0.5 microns and 20 microns, and each nano-fiber capable of providing an adhesive force at a contact surface, and wherein the plurality of nano-fibers comprise at least a first nano-fiber and at least a second nano-fiber, and wherein each of the first and second nano-fibers are oriented at an oblique angle other than 0 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the curved surface of the tire and extend in the circumferential direction of the tire, and wherein when the tire is in a first position, at least the first nano-fiber contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface and at least the second nano-fiber is unattached to the contact surface, and when the tire rotates to a second position from the first position, at least the first nano-fiber is leveraged away from the contact surface and at least the second nano-fiber contacts the surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface.
A method of moving a curved surface over a contact surface comprising:
- providing one or more nano-fibers disposed on the curved surface, each nano-fiber having a diameter between 50 nanometers and 2.0 microns and a length between 0.5 microns and 20 microns, and each nano-fiber capable of providing an adhesive force at the contact surface, wherein the curved surface is an annular curved surface rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- and
- rotating the curved surface along the contact surface to cause at least one nano-fiber to adhere to the contact surface,
- wherein the curved surface is configured to rotate from a first position to at least a second position,
- wherein when the curved surface is in the first position, a first nano-fiber contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface, and a second nano-fiber is unattached to the contact surface, and
- wherein when the curved surface rotates to the second position from the first position, the first nano-fiber is leveraged away from the contact surface, and the second nano-fiber contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface, and
- wherein the first and second nano-fibers are oriented at an oblique angle other than 0 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the annular curved surface when unattached to the contact surface and extend in the circumferential direction of the annular curved surface.
4 more elements
A method of making a structure for adhering to a contact surface comprising:
- forming a curved surface, wherein the curved surface is configured to rotate from a first position to at least a second position, wherein the curved surface is an annular curved surface rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- forming a plurality of nano-fibers having a diameter between 50 nanometers and 2.0 microns and a length between 0.5 microns and 20 microns on said surface, wherein the first and second nano-fibers are oriented at an oblique angle other than 0 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the annular curved surface and extend in the circumferential direction the annular curved surface;
- and
- placing the plurality of nano-fibers on the curved surface,
- wherein when the curved surface is in the first position, a first nano-fiber of the plurality of nano-fibers contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface, and a second nano-fiber of the plurality of nano-fibers is unattached to the contact surface, and
- wherein when the curved surface rotates to the second position from the first position, the first nano-fiber is leveraged away from the contact surface, and the second nano-fiber contacts the contact surface and provides an adhesive force at the contact surface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.