US4875259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intermeshable article
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1988-03-24
•
Granted: 1989-10-24
•
Expires: 2008-03-24
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 which has at least one major surface which is a structured surface. The structured surface is made up of a plurality of elements. Each element has at least one side 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 force of adherence of the contacting sides. 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 and grooves whereby the sides of adjacent elements form the sides of each groove.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger H. Appeldorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:01
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/07; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q16/00; B23Q16/02; B23Q16/08; F16B2/00; F16B2/20; A; A44; A44B; A44B18/00; A44B18/0069; A44B18/0084; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S24/00; Y10S24/30; Y10S24/38; Y10S24/39; Y10S24/41; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/45; Y10T24/45152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An intermeshable article, comprising a member having at least one major surface at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface; said structure surface including a plurality of solid tapered elements, each element having at least one side inclined relative to a common plane at an angle sufficient to form a taper such that each element may mesh with at least one corresponding element when brought into contact with said corresponding element and adhere thereto at least partially because of the frictional force of adherence of said contacting sides and wherein the tangent of the half angle of the tapered sides of the elements is no greater than the coefficient of friction of the material of the contacting surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An intermeshable article, comprising a member having at least one major surface at least a portion of that surface being a structured surface; said structure surface including a plurality of solid tapered elements, each element having at least one side inclined relative to a common plane at an angle sufficient to form a taper such that each element may mesh with at least one corresponding element when brought into contact with said corresponding element and adhere thereto at least partially because of the frictional force of adherence of said contacting sides and wherein the tangent of the half angle of the tapered sides of the elements is no greater than the coefficient of friction of the material of the contacting surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The article defined in claim 1, wherein each element has two sides, and said plurality of elements are arranged side by side to form a plurality of linear ridges and grooves, whereby the sides of adjacent elements form the sides of each groove and the sides of each element meet at each ridge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article defined in claim 2, wherein each groove further comprises a trough between adjacent elements separating the sides of each groove to provide a cavity when said elements are brought into contact with one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article defined in claim 1, wherein said corresponding element is another element of said member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article defined in claim 1, wherein said member is a sheet of a polymeric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one coating of an adhesive composition being on a second major surface of the member opposite said structured surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article defined in claim 6, further comprising a protective film being in contact with said coating of adhesive composition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article defined in claim 7, wherein said protective film includes a release surface in contact with said coating of adhesive composition which permits said protective film to be peeled from said adhesive coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
184 words
Intermeshable articles, comprising: a first member having at least one major surface and at least a portion of said major surface being a structured surface; a second member having at least one major surface and at least a portion said major surface being a structure surface; and said structured surfaces of said first member and said second member each including a plurality of solid tapered elements, each element having at least one side inclined relative to a common plane in each of said members at an angle sufficient to form a taper so that said element of said first member may mesh with said elements of said second member when brought into contact with one another and said first member may adhere to said second member at least partially because of the frictional force of adherence of said contacting sides of said elements of said first member and said elements of said second member and wherein the tangent of the half angle of the tapered sides of the element is no greater than the coefficient of friction of the material of the contacting surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
184 words
Intermeshable articles, comprising: a first member having at least one major surface and at least a portion of said major surface being a structured surface; a second member having at least one major surface and at least a portion said major surface being a structure surface; and said structured surfaces of said first member and said second member each including a plurality of solid tapered elements, each element having at least one side inclined relative to a common plane in each of said members at an angle sufficient to form a taper so that said element of said first member may mesh with said elements of said second member when brought into contact with one another and said first member may adhere to said second member at least partially because of the frictional force of adherence of said contacting sides of said elements of said first member and said elements of said second member and wherein the tangent of the half angle of the tapered sides of the element is no greater than the coefficient of friction of the material of the contacting surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein 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 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein each element has two sides and said plurality of elements are arranged side by side to form a plurality of linear ridges and grooves, and the sides of adjacent elements form the sides of each groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The articles defined in claim 11, wherein the frictional force of adherence associated with the sides of the meshing elements is greater than the force of contact between the ridges and troughs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The articles defined in claim 11 wherein each element is nonsymmetric and canted with respect to an axis perpendicular to said plane of said members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The articles defined in claim 11, wherein each groove further comprises a trough between the sides of said grooves to provide a cavity when said elements are brought into contact with one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein said ridges of said first member and said second member are truncated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The articles defined in claim 15, wherein said elements of at least one member are chamfered to facilitate alignment of said elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein said first and said second members each include a second major surface opposite said at least one major surface and wherein both major surfaces of said first member and said second member are structured surfaces.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The articles defined in claim 9, further comprising mounting means associated with a second major surface of at least one of said members opposite said structured surface for mounting said members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein said first member and said second member are at least partially of a polymeric material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein said first member and said second member include a magnetic material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said members is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said members is polyethylene.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The articles defined in claim 9, wherein said first member and said second member are of a biodegradable material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-23 | 1993-04-24 | 1993-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-23 | 1997-04-24 | 1997-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-23 | 2001-04-24 | 2001-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |