Patent Application
20180243784
Various embodiments are related to applicators for adhesives and related hardware.
An application of a reversible dry adhesive for a shower rod assembly is disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/048,553, filed on Oct. 8, 2013, and issued on Jan. 31, 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,554,674 B2.
According to at least one embodiment, an applicator for a reversible dry adhesive is provided with a flexible substrate with a convex application surface in an unloaded condition of the flexible substrate. A reversible dry adhesive is spread across the application surface to provide a focused partial contact with a generally flat target support surface. Compression of the substrate expands contact of the reversible dry adhesive with the target support surface outward from the focused contact.
According to another embodiment, a shower rod assembly is provided with a shower rod with a pair of terminal ends. A pair of applicators are each provided with a flexible substrate with a convex application surface in an unloaded condition of the flexible substrate. A reversible dry adhesive is spread across the application surface to provide a focused partial contact with a generally flat target support surface. Compression of the substrate expands contact of the reversible dry adhesive with the target support surface outward from the focused contact. Each of the pair of applicators is in receipt of one of the pair of shower rod terminal ends in the corresponding receptacle.
According to another embodiment, a towel bar assembly is provided with a towel bar with at least one terminal post. At least one applicator is provided with a flexible substrate with a convex application surface in an unloaded condition of the flexible substrate. A reversible dry adhesive is spread across the application surface to provide a focused partial contact with a generally flat target support surface. Compression of the substrate expands contact of the reversible dry adhesive with the target support surface outward from the focused contact. The at least one applicator is in receipt of the at least one towel bar terminal post in the receptacle.
According to another embodiment, a mirror assembly is provided with a mirror with at least one terminal post. At least one applicator is provided with a flexible substrate with a convex application surface in an unloaded condition of the flexible substrate. A reversible dry adhesive is spread across the application surface to provide a focused partial contact with a generally flat target support surface. Compression of the substrate expands contact of the reversible dry adhesive with the target support surface outward from the focused contact. The at least one applicator is in receipt of the at least one mirror terminal post in the receptacle.
According to another embodiment, a basket assembly is provided with a basket with at least one terminal post. At least one applicator is provided with a flexible substrate with a convex application surface in an unloaded condition of the flexible substrate. A reversible dry adhesive is spread across the application surface to provide a focused partial contact with a generally flat target support surface. Compression of the substrate expands contact of the reversible dry adhesive with the target support surface outward from the focused contact. The at least one applicator is in receipt of the at least one basket terminal post in the receptacle.
According to another embodiment, a method of installing a reversible dry adhesive provides an applicator with a convex application surface. A reversible dry adhesive is provided on the convex application surface. A focused partial contact of the reversible dry adhesive is applied to a generally flat target support surface.
According to another embodiment, a hardware assembly is provided with an applicator with a flexible substrate with a convex application surface in an unloaded condition of the flexible substrate. A reversible dry adhesive is spread across the application surface to provide a focused partial contact with a generally flat target support surface. Compression of the substrate expands contact of the reversible dry adhesive with the target support surface outward from the focused contact. A hardware component is provided for installation to the target support surface upon the reversible dry adhesive.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
The applicator 20 includes a flexible substrate 22 formed from an elastomeric material with a low durometer hardness. The substrate 22 may include a receptacle 24 for receipt of a handle 26. The handle 26 may be formed integrally with the substrate 22. In the depicted embodiment, the handle 26 is generally tubular and detachable from the receptacle 24. The handle 26 may be a support post of a hardware assembly for attachment of the hardware assembly to the target support surface. Alternatively, the substrate 22 may be formed with an integral handle 26. As another alternative, the receptacle 24 may extend significantly from the substrate to provide the handle 26.
The flexible substrate 22 has an application surface 28 that is convex in an unloaded condition of the substrate 22. A reversible dry adhesive 30 is spread across the application surface 28. The reversible dry adhesive 30 may be spread across the application surface 28 consistently with a uniform thickness. By attaching the reversible dry adhesive 30 to the applicator substrate 22, which is highly elastic and naturally maintains a convex shape at the application surface 28, many benefits for installation and removal of the reversible dry adhesive 30 to and from the support surface are achieved.
Due to the generally uniform thickness of the reversible dry adhesive 30 spread across the convex application surface 28, the reversible dry adhesive 30 also attains a convex shape in the unloaded condition of the substrate 22. The region behind the substrate 22 may include a cavity 32. The cavity 32 can be provided in the receptacle 24, within the tubular handle 26, or collectively within the receptacle 24 and the handle 26 as depicted in
With reference to
This method of initiating contact of the reversible dry adhesive 30 in a single central location at contact point 36 in
In an application whereby the outer-most surface of the reversible dry adhesive 30 contacts the target surface 34 at an angle other than the handle 26 oriented perpendicular to the target surface 34, due to the convex formation of both the outer-most surface of the reversible dry adhesive 30 and the substrate 22, when unloaded only a small point of contact 36 is made between the reversible dry adhesive 30 and the target surface 34. When the applicator 20 is pressed into the intended surface 34 forcing the low durometer substrate 22 to deform, the outer-most material of the reversible dry adhesive 30 also deforms from its convex shape to the flat state to result in the full conformance of
When the reversible dry adhesive 30 is to be withdrawn from the connecting surface 34, the applicator is retracted from the target surface 34, from the position of
According to at least one embodiment, the substrate 22 and the reversible dry adhesive 30 may be formed integrally. For example, the substrate 22 and the reversible dry adhesive 30 may be formed from a molded silicone material which may have both the desired durometer hardness as well as a surface with the desired coefficient of friction.
The mechanical benefits gained when pairing convex application surface 28 with a reversible dry adhesive 30 provides resistance to sheer forces for supporting components such as hardware, while relatively weak in resisting peel forces to permit installation and removal. The reversible dry adhesive 30 is most effective when no regions of nonconformance are present between the contact surface 38 and the support surface 34.
Reversible dry adhesives 30 have proven desirable in the bathroom hardware environment, wherein support surfaces such as glass, acrylic, tile and the like are present. In these environments, a consumer desires fasteners that do not require drilling or other permanent modifications to the support surface. The ability to install and remove reversible dry adhesives without damaging the support surface permits interchangeability for modification and design updates to the hardware within the bathroom environment. Unlike suction cups, the reversible dry adhesive 30 can withstand the applied force in shear over a life cycle of the installed hardware. The applicator 20 is also more compact than other alternatives to avoid obfuscation of the installed design when the applicator 20 is installed with the applicable hardware.
While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.
