EP0263587A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intermeshable articles
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1987-08-24
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2007-08-24
Abstract
Abstract An intermeshable article useful for a multitude of purposes such as fastening, closing, coupling and connecting, to name but a few. The article includes a member (26) which has at least one major surface (23) which is a structured surface. The structured surface is made up of a plurality of elements (26). Each element has at least one side (28) inclined relative to the plane of the member at an angle sufficient to form a taper. Thus, each element may mesh with at least one corresponding element when brought into contact therewith and adhere thereto at least partially because of the frictional characteristics of the contacting surfaces. The corresponding element may be the article itself, another similar article or a dissimilar article, such as for example a container having a correspondingly shaped structured surface. In the preferred embodiment, the elements are arranged side by side to form a plurality of linear ridges (30) and grooves (32) whereby the sides of adjacent elements form the sides of each groove.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger H. C/O Minnesota Mining And Appeldorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B2/00; F16B2/20; F16B2/22; F16B5/00; F16B5/07; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q16/00; B23Q16/02; B23Q16/08; A; A44; A44B; A44B18/00; A44B18/0069; A44B18/0084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
lnterlockable articles, including a first member (26) having at least one major surface (23) and at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface (24); and a second member (24) having at least one major surface and at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface; characterized in that said structured surfaces of said first member and said second member each including a plurality of elements (26), each element having at least one side (28) inclined relative to the plane of said members at an angle (.8) sufficient to form a taper so that said elements of said first member may mesh with said elements of said second member when brought into surface contact with one another and said first member may adhere to said second member at least partially because of the frictional characteristics of the contacting surfaces of said elements of said first member and said elements of said second member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
lnterlockable articles, including a first member (26) having at least one major surface (23) and at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface (24); and a second member (24) having at least one major surface and at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface; characterized in that said structured surfaces of said first member and said second member each including a plurality of elements (26), each element having at least one side (28) inclined relative to the plane of said members at an angle (.8) sufficient to form a taper so that said elements of said first member may mesh with said elements of said second member when brought into surface contact with one another and said first member may adhere to said second member at least partially because of the frictional characteristics of the contacting surfaces of said elements of said first member and said elements of said second member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The articles defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the elements of said first member are positive elements and the elements of said second member are negative elements whereby said positive elements may mesh with said negative elements and adhere when brought into contact with one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The articles defined in claim 1, further characterized in that each element (20,20') has two sides and said plurality of elements (26) are arranged side by side to form a plurality of linear ridges (30) and grooves (32), and the sides (28) of adjacent elements form the sides of each groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The articles defined in claim 3, further characterized in that the force associated with the sides
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
(28) of the meshing elements (26) is greater than the force associated with the ridges (30) and troughs (34).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
(28) of the meshing elements (26) is greater than the force associated with the ridges (30) and troughs (34).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The articles defined in claim 3, further characterized in that each element (26) is nonsym- metric and canted with respect to the perpendicular axis of each element relative to the plane of said members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The articles defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said ridges (30) of said first member (20) and said second member (20') are truncated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The articles defined in claim 6, further characterized in that the elements of at least one member are chamfered to facilitate alignment of said elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The articles defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the tangent of the half angle of the groove (32) is no more than the coefficient u. of friction of the contacting surface (28) of said element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The articles defined in claim 3, further characterized in that each groove (32) further comprises a trough (34) between the sides (28) of said grooves to provide a cavity (36) when said elements are brought into contact with one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The articles defined in claim 1, further characterized in that both major surfaces (22) of said first member (20) and said second member (20') are structured surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The articles defined in claim 1, further characterized in that mounting means (40,42) associated with the surface (23) of at least one of said members (20,20') opposite the structured surface (22) for mounting said article.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The articles defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said first member (20) and said second member (20') are at least partially of a polymeric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE7516421U
Cited
CH370285A
Cited
US3101317A
Cited
DE1807993A1
Cited
DE1915098A1
Cited
DE1933456A1
Cited
US3742663A
Cited
DE2352676A1
Cited
FR2564158A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.