Patent Application
20080202888
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a surface system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a controllable surface system capable of controlling and adjusting its surface between slippery and non-slippery.
2. Background of the Invention
Vehicle trunks usually have a slippery surface. With the slippery surface, passengers may load luggage or items thereupon, and easily move around or unload them from the slippery surface. However, when the vehicle is in motion, the placed luggage or items may slide and shift around inside the trunk.
To prevent items from sliding and shifting around, anti-slip mats may be used to provide a non-slippery surface. However, with such anti-slip mats, it becomes difficult to move or unload luggage or items from the mats due to high friction of the anti-slippery mats.
One example consistent with the invention provides a controllable surface system which comprises a platform providing a system surface and a controlling device for controlling the platform and adjusting the system surface between slippery and non-slippery.
Another example consistent with the invention provides a controllable surface system which comprises a platform providing a system surface. The platform comprises a first layer with a number of rolling device, each rolling device having a covering to provide the system surface. The surface system also comprises a controlling device for controlling rotation of the rolling devices to adjust the system surface between slippery and non-slippery.
In another example, a controllable surface system comprises a platform providing a system surface. The platform comprises a first layer having a number of first opening areas, a second layer having a number of second opening areas, and a number of rolling devices positioned between the first opening areas of the first layer and the second opening areas of the second layer. Each rolling device has a first friction covering and is capable of turning around. At least a part of one of the rolling devices exposes from the first layer to provide the system surface. The surface system also comprises a controlling device for controlling rotation of at least one of the rolling devices to adjust the system surface between slippery and non-slippery.
Another example consistent with the invention provides a controllable surface system which comprises a platform providing a system surface with a surface friction. The platform comprises a first layer with a first friction having a number of opening areas, and a second layer having a number of devices in positions corresponding to locations of the opening areas of the first layer. Each device has a surface with a second friction. The surface system also comprises a controlling device for controlling the second layer so that at least one of the devices is exposed from the open areas of the first layer, thereby adjusting the surface friction of the system surface.
In another example, a controllable surface system comprises a platform providing a system surface with a surface friction. The surface friction is adjusted in accordance with application of external influences. The surface system also comprises a controlling device for controlling an amount of the external influences that applies to the platform
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended, exemplary drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The drawings are briefly described as follows:
a) and 1(b) are an exemplary controllable surface system in examples consistent with the present invention;
a) and 2(b) are an exemplary controllable surface system in examples consistent with the present invention;
a) is an exemplary layer of
b) is an exemplary layer of
a)-4(e) are exemplary devices of
a) is an exemplary controllable surface system in examples consistent with the present invention; and
b) is an exemplary device of
The present invention is a controllable surface system in which the surface system may be adjusted under control of a controlling device between slippery and non-slippery.
A number of support beams 122 are coupled to each of the four layers 110, 120, 130 and 140. The first, second and the fourth layers may be fixedly coupled to the support beams 122 so that the distances between the first layer 110 and the second layer 120 and between the second layer 120 and the fourth layer 140 remain the same throughout the operation. The third layer 130 may be movable along the support beams 122 under control of a controlling device 150. In one example, the controlling device 150 may be a hydraulic system located between the third layer 130 and the fourth layer 140. In another example, the controlling device 150 may be a mechanical system to control and move the third layer 130.
The controlling device 150 may control the third layer 130 moving up toward the second layer 120 or moving down toward the fourth layer 140. When the third layer 130 does not contact with the rolling devices 112 as shown at
In another example in consistent with the present invention, the surface system 100 may have a first layer with associated rolling devices and a second layer to be controlled by a controlling device. The rolling devices may be made of or coated with high friction materials, such as rubber. The controlling device may control the second layer to contact with the rolling devices so as to prevent the rolling devices from turning around, thereby providing a non-slippery surface.
a) illustrates an exemplary controllable surface system in examples consistent with the present invention. Referring to
b) shows an exemplary second layer 220 which has a surface 222 with a second surface friction. In one example, the second layer 220 may be in the same size or different size as the first layer 210. On the positions corresponding to the open areas 214, the second layer 220 has a number of devices 224 positioned thereon, such as sticks, protruded elements or ball bearings. Devices 224 may be in any shape or in a shape configured to fit the corresponding through hole and open area 214. The length of each device 224 may be slightly longer than the thickness of the first layer 210. A device 224 may have a flat surface or a specific shaped surface on the top end of the device 224 as shown at
Referring again to
In one example, the controlling device 250 may be a hydraulic system located between the second layer 220 and the third layer 230. In another example, the controlling device 250 may be a mechanical system for control of the second layer 220. The controlling device 250 may control the second layer 220 moving up toward the first layer 210 or moving down toward the third layer 230. While the second layer 220 moves up toward the first layer 210, devices 224 extend through through holes or open areas 214 as shown at
In one example consistent with the present invention, the surface 212 of the first layer 210 may be made of high friction materials, such as rubber, and the top surface of the devices 224 may be made of low friction materials, such as PTFE coating materials or highly polished stainless steels to provide smooth surface with low friction. In this manner, when the second layer 220 moves toward the first layer 210 and devices 224 extend through through holes or open areas 214, the surface of devices 224 would contact the items placed on the system 200 and provides a low friction surface.
In another example consistent with the present invention, the controlling device 250 may control each individual device 224. In this manner, the more devices 224 move up to contact with the placed items, the higher friction the system 210 may provide. Thus, this design allows a user or system operator to control the friction of a particular area of the system surface.
a) illustrates another exemplary controllable surface system in consistence with the present invention. With reference to
In another embodiment in consistence with the present invention, the surface friction of a controllable surface system having a platform may be adjustable in accordance with the degree of energy applies to the platform. In one example, the platform may be made of a material such that when electrical current applies, the surface friction of the platform changes from one degree to another. The degree of the surface friction may depend on how much electrical current applies to the platform. In another example, the platform may be made of a material such that when heat applies, the surface friction of the platform changes from one degree to another. The surface friction may depend on the amount of heat applies to the platform. Another example is that the platform made of a material such that when electromagnetic field applies, the surface friction of the platform changes from one degree to another. The degree of the surface friction may depend on the intensity of electromagnetic field applies to the platform. The controllable surface system may include a controlling device for controlling the amount of the external influences to apply to the platform to change the degree of surface friction.
The above exemplary controllable surface systems in consistent with the present invention may be applied to different applications where the systems are required to provide smooth surface and high friction surface alternately. Examples may include object transports (including automobiles, aircrafts, vessels), warehouse management and factory conveyor belts in manufacturing processes among other different applications. With a controllable surface systems in consistent with the present invention, cargos or objects may be loaded and uploaded easily. In addition, by making particular areas of the system with low friction and other areas in high friction, cargos and objects may be moved or transported in a desired path. In another example, a surface system in consistent with the present invention may be applied to the bottom of an object. In this application, the bottom surface of the object may be changed to low friction for easily moving around or changed to high friction for preventing the object from moving. In a further example, a surface system in consistent with the present invention may be applied to side surfaces of an object as well.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
