U.S. patent application number 14/722290 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-10 for multigrip touch closure fasteners.
The applicant listed for this patent is John W. Ogilvie. Invention is credited to John W. Ogilvie.
Application Number | 20150250271 14/722290 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54016136 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150250271 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ogilvie; John W. |
September 10, 2015 |
MULTIGRIP TOUCH CLOSURE FASTENERS
Abstract
Specialized tape and tape-built articles help reduce problems
such as load slippage, odd or varying load sizes, or the
inconvenience of knots. A touch closure fastening means allows
users to releasably fasten together different portions of the
article. Example touch closure fastening means include hooks,
mushroom heads, loops, a mat, or nanofibers. Some articles include
a tape which is laned, striped, staggered, mottled, spiraled around
a core, and/or braided; some include multiple tapes braided with
one another. Some articles include suture material, polypropylene,
nylon, or a para-aramid synthetic fiber in a tape substrate. Some
articles include a grip strip to facilitate multigripping--not only
does the article releasably fasten to itself, it also restricts
movement of a load or other work piece. A grip strip and a tape can
be spiraled or braided together. The grip strip has a mechanical
indentation grip, or an adhesion grip, for example.
Inventors: |
Ogilvie; John W.; (Salt Lake
City, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ogilvie; John W. |
Salt Lake City |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54016136 |
Appl. No.: |
14/722290 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14146704 |
Jan 2, 2014 |
9072343 |
|
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14722290 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/444 ;
24/442 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/2725 20150115;
A44B 18/00 20130101; B65D 63/10 20130101; Y10T 24/27 20150115; Y10T
24/2733 20150115; Y10T 24/1498 20150115; B65D 2313/02 20130101;
A44B 18/0023 20130101; Y10T 24/2792 20150115; Y10T 24/2708
20150115 |
International
Class: |
A44B 18/00 20060101
A44B018/00 |
Claims
1. A tape-built article comprising: at least one tape, the tape
having a length and comprising a tape substrate and a touch closure
fastening means; the tape substrate having at least one side, the
tape substrate having a length-to-width ratio of at least four; and
the touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the
tape substrate on said at least one side, the touch closure
fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate
along a substantial portion of the tape, namely, along at least
three-quarters of the length of the tape.
2. The tape-built article of claim 1, wherein the tape has a length
of at least three meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least
forty.
3. The tape-built article of claim 1, wherein the tape has a length
of at least six meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least
fifty.
4. The tape-built article of claim 1, further comprising at least
one grip strip which is physically connected to the tape.
5. The tape-built article of claim 4, wherein the grip strip
comprises an adhesion grip substance.
6. The tape-built article of claim 4, wherein the grip strip
comprises an abrasive grip substance.
7. The tape-built article of claim 1, wherein the substrate
comprises at least one of: polypropylene, nylon, or para-aramid
synthetic fiber.
8. A tape-built article comprising: at least one tape, the tape
having a length and comprising a tape substrate and a touch closure
fastening means; the tape substrate having at least one side, the
tape substrate having a length-to-width ratio of at least five; the
touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the
tape substrate on said at least one side, the touch closure
fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate
along a substantial portion of the tape, namely, along at least
three-quarters of the length of the tape; and at least one grip
strip which is physically connected to the tape.
9. The tape-built article of claim 8, wherein the tape has a length
of at least three meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least
forty.
10. The tape-built article of claim 8, wherein the tape has a
length of at least six meters and a length-to-width ratio of at
least fifty.
11. The tape-built article of claim 8, wherein the grip strip
comprises an adhesion grip substance.
12. The tape-built article of claim 8, wherein the grip strip
comprises an abrasive grip substance.
13. The tape-built article of claim 8, wherein the substrate
comprises at least one suture material.
14. A tape-built article comprising: at least one tape, the tape
having a length and comprising a tape substrate and a touch closure
fastening means; the tape substrate having at least one side, the
tape substrate having a length-to-width ratio of at least four; the
touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the
tape substrate on said at least one side, the touch closure
fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate
along a substantial portion of the tape, namely, along at least
three-quarters of the length of the tape; and at least one grip
strip which is braided with at least a portion of the tape.
15. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein the tape has a
length of at least three meters and a length-to-width ratio of at
least forty.
16. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein the tape has a
length of at least six meters and a length-to-width ratio of at
least fifty.
17. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein the grip strip
comprises an adhesion grip substance.
18. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein the grip strip
comprises an abrasive grip substance.
19. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein the grip strip
comprises a mechanical indentation grip.
20. The tape-built article of claim 14, wherein the touch closure
fastening means comprises nanofibers.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application incorporates by reference the
entirety of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/146,704 filed Jan.
2, 2014, and also claims priority thereto. To the full extent
permitted by law, the present application also hereby incorporates
by reference the entirety of PCT/US2015/010005 filed Jan. 1, 2015
and claims priority to it.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Fasteners in the broadest sense include nails, screws,
bolts, rivets, permanent and releasable adhesives, hook-and-loop
materials, zippers, slidingly engaging fasteners, elastics, webs,
cinches, ropes and strings and other "cords", wires, buckles,
latches, clamps, crimps, plastic wraps, solder, cement, and many
other examples. There are many different kinds of fasteners made of
many different kinds of materials and designed for use in fastening
together many different types of objects in many different
situations subject to many different requirements such as
permanence, releasability, load-bearing capability, ease of
fastening, ease of unfastening, marine or weather or temperature or
other environmental factor resistance, cost, ease of manufacturing,
color choices, and flexibility, among others.
SUMMARY
[0003] Some embodiments are directed to technical problems such as
load slippage, odd or varying load sizes, or the inconvenience of
tying and/or untying knots. Some embodiments provide an article of
manufacture including at least one tape substrate and at least one
touch closure fastening means physically connected to the tape
substrate. The substrate maybe of fabric, for example, and has at
least one side. The substrate has a length-to-width ratio greater
than one. The touch closure fastening means serves as a means for
releasably touch closure fastening at least one portion of the
article to at least one other portion of the article. In some
embodiments, the touch closure fastening means includes hooks,
mushroom heads, loops, a mat, and/or nanofibers.
[0004] In some embodiments, the article includes a tape which in
turns includes the tape substrate and the touch closure fastening
means, which is formed from the substrate or adhered to the
substrate, for example. In some, the tape is laned, striped,
staggered, mottled, spiraled around a core, and/or braided; each of
these terms has a particular meaning defined in this document. Some
embodiments include at least two tapes, which are braided with one
another. Some embodiments include suture material in the
substrate.
[0005] Some embodiments include a grip strip to facilitate
multigripping--not only does the article releasably fasten to
itself, it also restricts movement of a load or other work piece.
In some cases, the tape and the grip strip are braided with one
another.
[0006] Some embodiments of a tape-built article include at least
two tapes, with each tape including a tape substrate and a touch
closure fastening means. Each tape substrate has at least one side,
and in some embodiments each tape substrate has a length-to-width
ratio of at least three. Each touch closure fastening means is
physically connected to at least one respective tape substrate. In
some embodiments, at least one of the tapes has at least two lanes.
In some, at least two of the tapes are braided with one another. In
some embodiments, each of at least two tapes has a respective touch
closure fastening means that is different from the touch closure
fastening means of at least one other of the tapes.
[0007] Some embodiments include at least one grip strip, and at
least one grip strip and at least one of the tapes are spiraled, or
braided, or both spiraled and braided with one another. The grip
strip has a mechanical indentation grip, or an adhesion grip, for
example.
[0008] Some embodiments of a tape-built article include at least
one tape, which includes a tape substrate and a touch closure
fastening means. The tape substrate has at least one side, and the
tape substrate has a length-to-width ratio of at least five. The
touch closure fastening means is physically connected to the tape
substrate, and at least one grip strip is physically connected to
the tape.
[0009] Some embodiments include a rope containing the tape and the
grip strip. In some, the rope or other article has a length of at
least three meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least forty,
for example. In some, the grip strip comprises an adhesion grip
substance, or an abrasive grip substance, for example. Some
articles include at least two grip strips. In some, the substrate
includes polypropylene, nylon, or a para-aramid synthetic
fiber.
[0010] Examples are provided herein to help illustrate aspects of
the technology, but the examples given within this document do not
describe all possible embodiments. Embodiments are not limited to
the specific materials, arrangements, ratios, features, approaches,
or scenarios provided herein. A given embodiment may include
additional or different technical features, and may otherwise
depart from the examples provided herein.
[0011] Thus, the examples given are merely illustrative. In
particular, this Summary is not intended to identify key features
or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject
matter. Rather, this Summary is provided to introduce--in a
simplified form--some technical concepts that are further described
below in the Detailed Description. The innovation is defined with
claims, and to the extent this Summary conflicts with the claims,
the claims should prevail.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] A more particular description will be given with reference
to the attached drawings. These drawings only illustrate selected
aspects and thus do not fully determine coverage or scope.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hook and loop
fastener mechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a hook and mat
fastener mechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a blended hook and
loop fastener mechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a mushroom head
fastener mechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a hook and orifice
fastener mechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a nanofiber
fastener mechanism suitable for use in some embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a laned section of a
tape according to some embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating one embodiment
of the laning shown in FIG. 7.
[0021] FIGS. 9 and 10 are each a front view illustrating a
differently laned section of tape in some embodiments.
[0022] FIGS. 11 and 12 are each a front view illustrating a striped
section of tape in some embodiments.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating a staggered section of
a tape according to some embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a section of a tape in
some embodiments having staggers in two lanes and having a third
lane that is continuous rather than staggered.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a front view including a magnified area
illustrating a section of a tape in some embodiments that have a
blended fastening portion.
[0026] FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view illustrating embodiments
of a tape combined with a mechanical indentation grip.
[0027] FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view illustrating embodiments
of a tape combined with an adhesion grip.
[0028] FIG. 18 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a
spiraled article containing two tapes.
[0029] FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a rope
article containing several tapes.
[0030] FIG. 20 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a braided
multigrip article, which contains a two-laned tape braided with a
grip strip.
[0031] FIG. 21 is a front view illustrating embodiments of a
braided article which includes a braided sheet of tape(s).
[0032] FIG. 22 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a braided
rope article made by braiding three cylindrical tapes.
[0033] FIGS. 23 and 24 are front views illustrating a use of tapes
to secure rope ends in some embodiments.
[0034] FIGS. 25 and 26 are cross-sectional views illustrating a use
of tape to secure work pieces in some embodiments.
[0035] FIG. 27 is a side view illustrating a use of tape to secure
work pieces in some embodiments.
[0036] FIG. 28 is a side view illustrating embodiments of a
surgical tape strand.
[0037] FIG. 29 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a
surgical tape strand wrapped around a blood vessel according to
some embodiments.
[0038] FIG. 30 is a front view illustrating a section of a tape
having a punctuated lane according to some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Overview
[0039] Innovative embodiments presented herein include, for
example, new touch closure fastener articles which facilitate new
and/or better usage of such familiar fastener mechanisms. We
therefore begin by considering some of the touch closure fasteners
which can be used as raw material when implementing embodiments
described herein.
[0040] Many touch closure fastener mechanisms have been known for
years. For example, Swiss engineer George de Mestral invented a
hook and loop fastener mechanism in 1948. Many variations on the
hook and loop fastener mechanism are now widely used, including
variations in products commercially available under brand names
such as VELCRO.RTM. (mark of Velcro Industries, B.V.) or
DURAGRIP.RTM. (mark of Fastech of Jacksonville, Inc.). Other types
of mechanical fasteners are also known, such as slidingly engaging
fasteners, other mushroom head closures, releasably adhesive
nanofiber surfaces, so-called Metaklett fasteners (from the German
"Metall" meaning metal plus "Klettband" meaning hook-and-pile
tape), and many others. Some touch closure fasteners utilize
mechanical engagement, e.g., a hook partially passed through a
loop, a hook partially tangled in a mat, a hook partially passed
through an orifice, or mutually engaged mushroom head undersides.
Other touch closure fasteners utilize friction, magnetism, or Van
der Waals force to releasably hold together two surfaces. These
mechanical and other fastening means discussed herein as raw
materials for embodiments are collectively referred to herein as
"touch closure fastening means" and are referred to herein in
smaller groups as "mechanical fastening means", "frictional
fastening means", "magnetic fastening means", "Van der Waals
fastening means", "nanofiber fastening means", "mushroom head
fastening means" (including slidingly engaging fasteners and other
shapes), and so on.
[0041] Some touch closure fasteners and/or variations on them are
illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, and/or in figures of patent
documents which are incorporated herein by reference. Each Figure
shows a top layer and a bottom layer of a fastener sample; one of
skill will understand that additional layers could also be present
in samples that are not explicitly depicted here. Also, one of
skill will understand that a layer including hooks, mushroom heads,
microfibers, nanofibers, and/or other projections can often be
combined with a layer including loops, a mat, a Van der Waals
surface, and/or orifices, to thereby form a working touch closure
fastener means, regardless of whether those two particular layers
are explicitly depicted next to each other in one of the
Figures.
[0042] Each of FIGS. 1 through 6 can be viewed in two different
ways. First, they illustrate close-up views of fastener means which
(with the possible exception of FIG. 3's symmetric variation noted
below) are familiar in the context of fastener strips, fastener
coins, and fastener sheets. That is, under a first view the FIGS.
1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 depict small samples that were snipped from
familiar fasteners already known to one of skill in the art.
[0043] However, upon full reading and comprehension of the present
disclosure, it will also be appreciated that these figures are not
strictly limited to what is already known, and that it would
therefore be misleading to label them as mere prior art. Under a
second view the FIGS. 1 through 6 depict small samples snipped from
article embodiments presented herein. These article of manufacture
embodiments are not the familiar fastener strips, coins or sheets,
but instead provide users with variations that have been created by
blending, laning, striping, staggering, mottling, braiding,
spiraling, and/or multigripping raw fastening material according to
the teachings herein. Each of the terms "blending", "laning",
"striping", "staggering", "mottling", "braiding", "spiraling", and
"multigripping" has a special meaning defined herein using examples
set forth in the text and Figures.
[0044] FIG. 1 shows a hook and loop fastener sample 100 resembling
a fastener described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235 to
George de Mestral. Hooks 102 attached to a hook substrate 104
releasably engage loops 106 which are attached to a loop substrate
108. Mestral deserves a place of particular respect as a pioneering
inventor whose work has inspired many additional innovations and
made the world a better place for many people.
[0045] FIG. 2 shows a hook and loop fastener sample 200 resembling
fasteners described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,981 to
McCormack et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,318 to Ott et al., or US
Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0037390 of Shepard et al.
Hooks 102 attached to hook substrate 104 releasably engage threads
202 of a fibrous mat 204 which is attached to loop substrate
108.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates two independent but combinable
variations. One variation takes the form of a fastener sample 300
in which blended hooks 102 and loops 106 are used. As a result of
blending, both hooks and loops are attached to each instance of a
substrate 302, and any given small area of the blended material
includes both hooks 102 and loops 106 (and/or mat 204, in a
variation). At least some of the blended hooks 102 of each instance
of the substrate 302 releasably engage at least some of the blended
loops 106 which are attached to the other instance of the substrate
302. The substrate 302 instances may be made of the same or
different material as one another, such as nylon, plastic, or any
of the other materials suitable for use in substrates 104, 108.
FIG. 3 also shows a double-pronged hook 304 variation, resembling
hooks described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,310 to Fischer.
The double-pronged hook and the blending of hooks and loops/mat are
independent combinable variations, so a given article may use
double-pronged hooks without blending, or use blending without
double-pronged hooks, or use both double-pronged hooks and the
blending of hooks and loops and/or mat.
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates a fastener sample 400 which resembles
mushroom head, slidingly engaging, and/or other hermaphroditic
(e.g. symmetric) fasteners that are described for example in U.S.
Pat. No. 7,181,811 to Tomanek et al. FIGS. 1a-1f and accompanying
text, U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,427 to Zinke et al. FIG. 7 and
accompanying text, U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,060 to Nestegard, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,067,210 to Kayaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,174 to Kalleberg, U.S.
Pat. No. 8,480,943 to Duffy, U.S. Pat. No. 8,375,529 to Duffy, or
U.S. Pat. No. 8,601,648 to Poulakis. Heads 402 attached to a
substrate 302 releasably interlock with opposing heads 402 which
are attached to another substrate 302 that is made of a same or
different material as the first substrate. Some fasteners combine
mushroom heads 402 with a fibrous mat 204, as described for example
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,427 to Zinke et al. FIG. 6 and accompanying
text, U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,183 to Wollman FIG. 5 and accompanying
text, or U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,841 to Naimer FIG. 7 and accompanying
text.
[0048] FIG. 5 shows a hook and hole fastener sample 500 resembling
a fastener described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,767 to
Allan. Hooks 502 attached to a hook substrate 504 releasably engage
holes (a.k.a. orifices or openings) 506 which are formed in a hole
substrate 508. A similar use of orifices is made in Metaklett
fasteners.
[0049] FIG. 6 shows a nanofiber fastener sample 600 resembling a
fastener described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,769 to
Dubrow. Nanofibers 602 attached to a nanofiber substrate 604
releasably contact a surface 606 of an adhered material 608, by
exploiting van der Waals force, for example. Other nanofiber
fasteners are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,181,811 to
Tomanek et al. FIGS. 3a-4b and accompanying text, U.S. Pat. No.
7,132,161 to Knowles et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,616 to Dubrow
et al. Nanofiber hooks and microfiber hooks may be shaped like
candy canes, spirals, partial spirals, or partial arcs, for
example. Tomanek discusses a micro-fastening system employing a
plurality of mating nanoscale fastening elements, and a method of
manufacturing a microfastening system. The mating nanoscale
fastening elements are formed by functionalizing nanotubes having
an ordered array of hexagons with pentagons and heptagons at
particular heterojunctions.
[0050] Other touch closure fasteners are illustrated and otherwise
described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,266 to Lu et al.,
and U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,259 to Appledorn. Lu discusses a reclosable
mechanical fastener comprising a fastening component having a
surface structure by which two such fastening components can become
releasably attached. The fastening component is a composite of a
tough substrate and a fastening layer that forms said surface
structure, which fastening layer is formed from a cured oligomeric
resin composition having one or more like or different hard
segments, one or more like or different soft segments, and one or
more like or different monovalent moieties containing a
radiation-sensitive, addition-polymerizable, function group.
Appledorn discusses an intermeshable article useful for purposes
such as fastening, e.g., closing, coupling and connecting. 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 one configuration, 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.
[0051] Touch closure fasteners are made from materials which
include, for example, nylon, polyester, thermoplastic resin,
synthetic resinous fluorine-containing polymers,
polytetrafluoroethylene, glass, metal, plastic, textiles, rubbers,
nanofibers (which can optionally comprise such materials as, e.g.,
silicon, glass, quartz, plastic, metal, polymers, TiO, ZnO, ZnS,
ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS,
CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb,
InN, InP, InAs, InSb, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, AIS, AIP, AISb, SiOl, SiO2,
silicon carbide, silicon nitride, polyacrylonitrile,
polyetherketone, polyimide, an aromatic polymer, or an aliphatic
polymer), a film laminated with an amorphous polymer layer to a
prebonded nonwoven web, needle-punched staple fibers to which a
foamed acrylic binder has been applied, woven or non-woven fibers,
films, Kraft paper, thermoplastic material, ceramics, ultraviolet
radiation-curable organic oligomeric resin, and/or carbon
nanotubes. Manufacturing processes employed include molding,
curing, weaving, cutting, shearing, machining, forming, nanotube
functionalizing, growing or depositing nanofibers, heating, and
bonding, for example. Tapes taught herein may also be treated with
fire retardant, moisture-resistant, corrosion-resistant,
waterproof, and/or other sealants, dyes, nanomaterial coatings, or
chemical treatments.
[0052] To the full extent permitted by applicable laws of the
pertinent jurisdiction in which this disclosure document is
examined, each of the following US patent documents is incorporated
herein to the full extent of its subject matter specifically cited
herein and in any case as to its description of fasteners (a.k.a.,
closures, adhesives, etc.), their manufacture, and their uses: U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,009,235, 3,138,841, 4,290,174, 4,454,183, 4,761,318,
4,775,310, 4,875,259, 4,894,060, 5,067,210, 5,058,247, 5,179,767,
5,196,266, 5,902,427, 5,997,981, 7,132,161, 7,181,811, 7,651,769,
7,972,616, 8,375,529, 8,480,943, 8,549,714, 8,601,648, and
2002/0,037,390.
[0053] Many patent documents incorporated herein by reference
describe some particular fastening means, some particular methods
for manufacturing fasteners and some particular uses for fasteners.
Incorporated particularities are interesting, but the present
disclosure would not be crippled by non-incorporation (exclusion)
of the listed patent documents. By way of analogy, a modern
chemical technology patent need not describe how to obtain basic
chemical elements, a modern mechanical technology patent need not
describe how to make basic components such as screws or springs,
and a modern computing technology patent need not describe how to
make semiconductor chips or wires or displays, because in each case
these items are readily available as raw materials with which to
innovate. Similarly, the present disclosure need not describe in
great detail how to make hooks, how to make loops, how to make
mushroom heads, or how to make nanofibers, for example, because
manufacturing methods capable of producing samples like those
depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are well understood today. One
can readily obtain materials having depicted sample fastening
means, and then use them according to the teachings herein as raw
materials to produce innovative articles through laning, striping,
staggering, braiding, spiraling, and/or multigripping.
[0054] The technical character of embodiments described herein will
be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and will also be
apparent in several ways to a wide range of attentive readers. Some
embodiments address technical problems such as those evident in or
created by work piece slippage, load shifting, odd or varying load
sizes, knot complexity, and knot bulk. Some embodiments include
technical adaptations such as fasteners configured by blending,
laning, striping, staggering, braiding, spiraling, and/or
multigripping. Some embodiments modify technical functionality of
fastener tape by blending, laning, striping, staggering, and/or
multigripping based on technical considerations such as whether a
load can be dented or scratched or punctured to be better kept in
place, whether load size is predictable, and whether environmental
conditions contraindicate use of metal fastener components.
Technical advantages of some embodiments include improved
usability, increased reliability, lower slippage rate, simplified
lashing and unlashing, reduced fastening hardware requirements,
faster fastening and unfastening, lower inventory requirements, and
smaller device space required.
[0055] Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments such as
those illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be
used herein to describe the same. But alterations and further
modifications of the features illustrated herein, and additional
technical applications of the abstract principles illustrated by
particular embodiments herein, which would occur to one skilled in
the relevant art(s) and having possession of this disclosure,
should be considered within the scope of the claims.
[0056] The meaning of terms is clarified in this disclosure, so the
claims should be read with careful attention to these
clarifications. Specific examples are given, but those of skill in
the relevant art(s) will understand that other examples may also
fall within the meaning of the terms used, and within the scope of
one or more claims. Terms do not necessarily have the same meaning
here that they have in general usage (particularly in non-technical
usage), or in the usage of a particular industry, or in a
particular dictionary or set of dictionaries. Reference numerals
may be used with various phrasings, to help show the breadth of a
term. Omission of a reference numeral from a given piece of text
does not necessarily mean that the content of a Figure is not being
discussed by the text. The inventor asserts and exercises his right
to his own lexicography. Quoted terms are defined explicitly, but
quotation marks are not used when a term is defined implicitly.
Terms may be defined, either explicitly or implicitly, here in the
Detailed Description and/or elsewhere in the application file.
[0057] As used herein, "include" allows additional elements (i.e.,
includes means comprises) unless otherwise stated. "Consists of"
means consists essentially of, or consists entirely of. X consists
essentially of Y when the non-Y part of X, if any, can be freely
altered, removed, and/or added without altering the functionality
of claimed embodiments so far as a claim in question is
concerned.
[0058] Throughout this document, use of the optional plural "(s)",
"(es)", or "(ies)" means that one or more of the indicated feature
is present. For example, "grip(s)" means "one or more grips" or
equivalently "at least one grip".
[0059] As used herein "blending" or "blended" or "blend" means that
both hooks/mushrooms and loops/mat are attached to each instance of
a substrate of a fastener material, and any given 0.5 by 0.5 cm or
larger surface area of the blended material includes hooks and/or
mushroom heads and also includes loops and/or mat. Moreover, in
operation of a touch closure fastener produced by blending, at
least some of the blended hooks and/or mushroom heads of each
instance of the substrate releasably engage at least some of the
blended loops and/or mat attached to the other instance of the
substrate. Hooks may be shaped like candy canes, like partial
coils, like duck head profiles, or like a portion of an arch, for
example. In blended embodiments, as in other embodiments, the ratio
of hooks to loops (or hook area to mat area, for example) is not
necessarily 1:1.
[0060] "Microblending" or "microblended" or "microblend" means the
same thing as "blending" or "blended" or "blend", except that the
size requirement is 0.05 by 0.05 cm rather than 0.5 by 0.5 cm.
[0061] "Macroblending" or "macroblended" or "macroblend" means the
same thing as "blending" or "blended" or "blend", except that the
size requirement is 1.5 by 1.5 cm rather than 0.5 by 0.5 cm.
[0062] Some embodiments do not qualify as macroblended but are
better described as "mottled" (with "mottling", in a "mottle"
arrangement) than as having lanes. For example, in some mottled
embodiments the various touch closure fastening means are arranged
in a checkerboard pattern, or arranged in a random or semi-random
tiled pattern.
[0063] FIG. 3 shows an example with two substrates 302, each
substrate bearing a blended portion that includes hooks and loops.
FIG. 15 shows an example with a single substrate 1504 of a section
1500 of a tape 708 that bears a blended portion 1506. As shown in
magnified region 1502, the blended portion 1506 in this example
includes hooks 102, loops 106 and mat 204 components. In double
substrate embodiments consistent with FIG. 3, each substrate may be
fastened to at least the other substrate by closure of the blended
touch closure fastening means. In some double substrate embodiments
consistent with FIG. 3, one or both substrates may also be fastened
to itself at two locations by closure of the blended touch closure
fastening means. In single substrate embodiments like those
illustrated in FIG. 15, the single substrate may be fastened to
itself at two or more locations by closure of the blended touch
closure fastening means.
[0064] As used herein, "tape" means an article or a portion of an
article which (a) has at least one side, (b) if laid on a flat
surface would have a length-to-width ratio of at least four unless
otherwise expressly stated, i.e., would be at least four times as
long at its maximum length as it is wide at its maximum width
unless otherwise expressly stated, and (c) includes a touch closure
fastening means extending from, formed from, integral with, and/or
adhered to, at least one of its sides. Other length-to-width ratios
which may be expressly stated include three, two, five, seven, ten,
twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty.
[0065] As used herein, "touch closure fastening means layer" means
a hook layer, a loop layer, a mat layer, a blended hook and loop
layer, a blended hook and mat layer, a mushroom head layer, an
orifice layer, a Van der Waals layer, a microfiber layer, a
nanofiber layer, or another interfacing portion of a touch closure
fastening means. FIG. 1 shows an example of a loop layer and an
example of a hook layer. FIG. 2 shows an example of a mat layer and
an example of a hook layer. FIG. 3 shows two blended hook and loop
layers. FIG. 4 shows two mushroom head layers. FIG. 5 shows an
example of an orifice layer and an example of a hook layer. FIG. 6
shows an example of a Van der Waals layer and an example of a
nanofiber layer.
[0066] As used herein, "grip" or "grip layer" or "grip substance"
refers to material which (a) is not a touch closure fastening means
layer, and (b) when placed adjacent to a work piece or other item
tends to reduce movement of the item through friction, mechanical
indentation, and/or adhesion. Some examples of mechanical
indentation grip substances are grits used on sandpaper or used by
mechanical sanders or grinders, spikes, and teeth. Some examples of
frictional grip substances are rubber and antiskid or antislip
plastic or composite materials. Some examples of adhesion grip
substances are removable glues, gummy materials, and tacky
materials.
[0067] As used herein "laning" or "laned" or "lane" refers to a
side of a tape (as defined above), in which the tape side is
divided longitudinally, i.e., parallel to the long axis of the
tape, into at least two regions referred to herein as "lanes". Each
of the pertinent lanes includes a touch closure fastening means
layer extending from, formed from, integral with, and/or adhered
to, the region of the tape side which lies within the lane, and at
least two different touch closure fastening means layers are
present. For example, one lane may include hooks while another lane
of the same side of the same tape includes loops, or one lane may
include mushroom heads while another lane of the same side of the
same tape includes a mat. Either or both sides of the tape may be
laned. A laned side may have two, three, or more lanes. Lanes may
be different widths. Lane edges need not be perfectly straight, but
are generally longitudinal. A given touch closure fastening means
layer can be used in only a single lane of a tape side, or it may
be used in more than one lane of a given tape side. Not every lane
need include a touch closure fastening means layer, but at least
two different touch closure fastening means layers will be present
when the lanes of a given side are considered as a group; a tape
having only hooks on one side and having only loops on the other
side, for example, is not laned.
[0068] FIGS. 7 through 10 show some of the many possible examples
of laning. In FIG. 7, a laned section 700 of a tape 708 has three
lanes 702, 704, and 706. In FIG. 8, a cross sectional view of one
embodiment of the laning used in FIG. 7 is given, in which lane 702
includes a hook layer and lane 706 includes a loop layer. Other
embodiments are also consistent with FIG. 7. Lane 704 in this FIG.
8 example includes an abrasive grit mechanical indentation grip
substance 806. In this example, one side 802 of the tape section
700 is laned, and the other side 804 of the tape section 700 is not
laned. In other examples, other grip substances are used, and in
still other examples, no grip substance is used.
[0069] As further illustration of grips, cross-sectional view FIG.
16 shows spikes 1602 extending from a substrate 302; spikes are a
mechanical indentation grip. Cross-sectional view FIG. 17 shows
mushroom heads 402 extending from a substrate 302, with an adjacent
lane of a tacky non-reactive adhesive 1702 grip substance. An
adhesive grip substance may include, for example, removable
adhesives, removable pressure-sensitive adhesive(s), low adhesion
contact adhesive(s) of the kinds used on Post-It.RTM. brand note
pads or Beautone.RTM. brand note pads to removably secure a stack
of sheets, and/or removable contact adhesive of the kind used in
Glue Dots.RTM. brand products for affixing a removable card or
plastic stock to a mailing piece, for example. Post-It.RTM. is a
mark of 3M Company Corporation, Beautone.RTM. is a mark of Yuen
Foong Paper Co. Ltd., and Glue Dots.RTM. is a mark of Glue Dots
International, LLC.
[0070] FIG. 9 shows a laned section 900 of tape having three lanes
902, 904, 906 of two different widths. In some other three-lane
examples three different lane widths are used, and in some, such as
FIG. 7, each lane has the same width.
[0071] FIG. 10 shows a laned section 1000 of tape having four lanes
1002, 1004, 1008, and 1012. In this example a lane border 1010 is
generally straight, whereas another lane border 1006 is not
generally straight but is nonetheless easily perceived by even a
casual observer as being generally parallel to the longitudinal
axis 1014 of the tape 708. In this example the non-straight border
is continuous and sinusoidal, but in other embodiments a sawtooth,
swirl, arcuate, crenellated, punctuated, jagged, and/or other
non-straight yet longitudinal border is used. For example, FIG. 30
shows a section of a tape having a punctuated lane 3002 within a
larger lane 3004. This punctuated lane is illustrated by
rectangular and ovoid elements in the drawing, but it will be
understood by those in the art that a punctuated lane may include a
single shape (e.g., include only rectangles, or only circles), may
include shapes other than those shown (e.g., irregular shapes, star
shapes, wedges), and may include one, two, three, four, or more
different shapes. Also, the shapes of the illustrated punctuated
lane are arranged sinusoidally in the enclosing lane, but it will
be understood by those in the art that a punctuated lane may
include shapes which are arranged in one or more lines, in a
checkerboard pattern, randomly within a lane, and/or otherwise. The
materials used to form the punctuated lane may be any of the
materials noted herein for fastening, for gripping, or both. The
individual elements of the punctuated lane may be applied by
adhesion, for example, and in particular may be dropped onto the
substrate 302 in a softened or liquid form and then cured or
permitted to set. Some constructed prototypes include (a)
hook-bearing quarter circles arranged in a line in a surrounding
lane of mat material, (b) mat-bearing quarter circles arranged in a
line in a surrounding lane of hook material, (c) rectangles of
sandpaper adhered to a substrate by multipurpose cement or adhesive
and arranged grit side up in a line in a surrounding lane of hook
material, (d) rectangles of sandpaper similarly adhered and
arranged grit side up in a line in a surrounding lane of mat
material, (e) a cord of plastic arranged in a running stitch
through holes in a substrate which has hook material on one face
and mat material on its other face, with the holes alternating
between left and right edges of the lane as they progress along the
length of the substrate or a portion thereof, and (f) dots of
material applied to one or the other or both faces of a substrate
which has hook material on one face and mat material, with the dots
formed of caulk, silicone, rubber, or sealant materials.
[0072] As a further example, it will be understood that a ball
whose exterior has only a mat is not laned, a target which has only
hooks is not laned, and the ball-plus-target combination is
likewise not laned, because in this case no single side bears
multiple different touch closure fastening means layers. Similarly,
a human-wearable suit which has only loops is not laned, a
wall-mounted sheet on which a jumper wearing the suit can land and
stick is not laned, and the suit-plus-sheet combination is likewise
not laned, again because no single side bears multiple different
touch closure fastening means layers.
[0073] As used herein "striping" or "striped" or "stripe" refers to
a side of a tape (as defined above), in which the tape side would
be laned if rotated relative to its longitudinal axis while
maintaining the position of the touch closure fastening means
layers, and resized to fit the tape's size. Alternatively, in a
computer graphics model of the tape, the stripes could be rotated
as a group to bring them into parallel alignment with the
longitudinal axis of the tape section. For convenience, striping
can be thought of as a rotated and possibly enlarged or reduced
version of laning.
[0074] FIGS. 11 and 12 show some of the many possible examples of
striping. In FIG. 11, a striped section 1100 of a tape 708 has
stripes 1102 through 1114. The stripes in this example include two
or more touch closure fastening means layers, and include zero or
more grip substances. If rotated one quarter turn, reduced in width
to collectively match the tape width, and elongated, the stripes
would become lanes. FIG. 12 shows a striped section 1200 of a tape
708 with stripes 1202, 1204, and 1206, in which stripe border 1208
is not straight but rather has a sawtooth form. The variations
noted above for lanes generally, and for lane borders in
particular, also apply to stripes and stripe borders.
[0075] As used herein "staggering" or "staggered" or "stagger"
refers to a side of a tape (as defined above), in which lane
segments are positioned with the end of a given lane segment
located partway along an adjacent lane segment. Staggered lane
segments are thus reminiscent of brick arrangements in brick walls;
bricks are often laid with the end of one brick located partway
along an adjacent brick.
[0076] FIG. 13 shows one of the many possible examples of
staggering. A staggered section 1300 of a tape 708 has staggers
1304 arranged in lanes 1302. In this example there are three lanes
of equal width, each stagger has the same length, each stagger end
1306 lies near a midpoint of the length of an adjacent stagger, and
the stagger borders 1310 are straight line segments. In other
embodiment examples, however, one or more of these characteristics
differs, e.g., an embodiment may have two or more lanes, lanes of
two or more widths, staggers of two or more different lengths,
stagger ends lying distant from adjacent stagger midpoints as well
as unaligned with adjacent stagger ends, and non-straight borders
as shown and/or discussed for instance in connection with FIGS. 10,
12, and 14.
[0077] Moreover, the order in which touch closure fastening means
layers appear in staggers as one traverses a lane may be regular or
randomized, an embodiment may include grip substances in zero or
more staggers, and the touch closure fastening means layer and/or
grip substance within a stagger may fill all or only a substantial
portion (namely, at least three-quarters) of the area of a stagger,
in a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, for example, touch
closure fastening means layers and in some cases a grip substance
appear in the staggers of a lane in at least one of the following
periodic sequences, or in the reverse order of at least one of
these sequences:
hook, mat, grip, hook, mat, grip, hook, mat, grip, . . . hook,
loop, grip, hook, loop, grip, hook, loop, grip, . . . hook, mat,
hook, mat, grip, hook, mat, hook, mat, grip, . . . hook, loop,
hook, loop, grip, hook, loop, hook, loop, grip, . . . hook, mat,
hook, mat, hook, mat, . . . hook, loop, hook, loop, hook, loop, . .
. hook, grip, mat, grip, hook, grip, mat, grip, hook, grip, mat,
grip, . . . hook, grip, mat, grip, hook, grip, loop, grip, hook,
grip, mat, grip, . . . hook, mat, grip, hook, loop, grip, hook,
mat, grip, hook, loop, grip, . . . mushroom head, grip, mushroom
head, grip, mushroom head, grip, . . . blend, grip, blend, grip,
blend, grip, . . . mushroom head, grip, blend, grip, mushroom head,
grip, blend, grip, . . .
[0078] As another example, FIG. 14 shows a section 1400 of a tape
708 which has staggers 1304 in two lanes 1302 and a third lane that
is continuous rather than staggered. In this example the staggered
lanes are on each side of the continuous lane, and the continuous
lane bears a grip 1402, but other spatial arrangements of staggers
occur in other embodiments, and other embodiments do not
necessarily include any grips 1402.
[0079] The foregoing examples focus largely on tapes, but some
embodiments include spatial arrangements other than simple flat
tapes. For example, long narrow tapes may be braided or spiraled,
as shown in FIGS. 18 through 22, to produce new articles. Within
such embodiments, each individual tape has two sides, and the
article overall has at least one side bearing at least one touch
closure fastening means and--in some embodiments--also bearing at
least one grip.
[0080] As used herein "spiraling" or "spiraled" or "spiral" refers
to an article (a.k.a. device) or portion thereof having at least
one length of tape (as defined above to include at least one touch
closure fastening means) which is wrapped around a core without
overlapping itself, without overlapping another length of tape, and
without being overlapped by another length of tape. The core may be
formed of one or more materials, which are not necessarily suitable
for forming tape, and which do not necessarily include any touch
closure fastening means.
[0081] As used herein "braiding" or "braided" or "braid" refers to
an article (a.k.a. device) or portion thereof having a tape (as
defined above to include at least one touch closure fastening
means, and as illustrated by examples herein) and in which (a) at
least part of the tape overlaps itself, (b) at least part of the
tape overlaps at least part of another tape, (c) at least part of
the tape is overlapped by at least part of another tape, (d) at
least part of the tape overlaps at least part of a strip of another
material which meets the size requirements to qualify as a tape but
lacks any touch closure fastening means, and/or (e) at least part
of the tape is overlapped by at least part of a strip of another
material which meets the size requirements to qualify as a tape but
lacks any touch closure fastening means.
[0082] FIG. 18 shows a portion 1800 of a spiraled article, which in
this example is an article that has two adjacent tapes 708 spiraled
around a core 1802 to form a tape spiral 1806 with a spiral gap
1804 in the tape spiral 1806, and an exterior side 1808. In this
example the core 1802 is substantially cylindrical with a round
cross-section. In other embodiments, one or more of these features
may differ, e.g., there may be one or more tapes 708, zero or more
gaps between tape(s), a non-cylindrical core such as a cone-shaped
core or a core with multiple components spaced apart from one
another, and/or a non-round core such as a core whose cross-section
is triangular, square, otherwise polygonal, ovoid, or irregularly
shaped.
[0083] FIG. 19 shows a portion 1900 of a rope article which has
tape(s) 708 spiraled and/or braided into a rope 1902 that has an
exterior side 1808. One of skill will understand that individual
tapes have sides, and that an article which is formed by spiraling
and/or braiding one or more tapes, possibly with other non-tape
material(s), also has at least one side of its own. When necessary
to distinguish between them, such items can be referred to as a
"tape side" as opposed to an "article side", (specifically a
"braided article side" or "spiraled article side"), or vice versa,
for example. When context does not dictate otherwise, "side" refers
to both tape side(s) and article side(s).
[0084] FIG. 20 shows a portion 2000 of a braided article, which is
this example is an article that has a two-laned tape 708 braided
with a strip 2002 of another material which meets the size
requirements to qualify as a tape but lacks any touch closure
fastening means. In this example the strip 2002 bears a grip
substance 2004, such as a mechanical indentation grip substance, a
frictional grip substance, and/or an adhesion grip substance. Other
braided article embodiments have a different number of braided
elements, a different number of tape(s), have two or more grip
strips 2002, and/or lack any grip strip. In FIG. 20, as in FIGS.
18, 19, 21, and 22, the tape(s) used in the braided and/or spiraled
article or portion thereof may have any combination of the tape
features discussed herein and/or illustrated in FIGS. 1 through
17.
[0085] FIG. 21 shows a portion 2100 of a braided article which in
this example is a braided sheet 2106 that has a tape 708 braided
with other tape(s) and/or with strip(s) of material which meets the
size requirements to qualify as a tape but lacks any touch closure
fastening means. The sheet 2106 has a forward-facing side 2102 and
a backward-facing side 2104.
[0086] FIG. 22 shows a portion 2200 of a braided article which in
this example is a braided rope made by braiding three cylindrical
tapes 708. The rope 1902 has an exterior side 1808.
[0087] As used herein "multigripping" or "multigripped" or
"multigrip" refers to an article (a.k.a. device) or portion thereof
having both at least one tape and also having at least one grip to
which the at least one tape is (a) braided, (b) spiraled, (c)
formed integrally with, and/or (d) permanently adhered or otherwise
permanently secured, e.g., clamped, stapled, or riveted. The tape
can releasably fasten to itself or another tape of the article,
whereas the grip helps releasable secure a work piece. A grip strip
can physically connected to a tape by virtue of being spiraled
around a core that the tape is also spiraled around, by virtue of
being braided with the tape, or by virtue of being glued to the
tape's substrate, for example. A grip strip may be continuous or
punctuated.
[0088] FIGS. 23 through 29 illustrate a few of the many possible
uses of tapes, braided articles, and spiraled articles. FIGS. 23
and 24 illustrate use of removably self-adhering tapes 708 to
secure the ends of two conventional ropes 2300 (e.g., hemp or nylon
ropes) which are knotted together. Cross-sectional views in FIGS.
25 and 26, and a side view in FIG. 27, each illustrate use of
removably self-adhering tapes 708 to secure loads of work pieces
2500. The work pieces 2500 may be irregularly shaped, as in FIGS.
25 and 27, or they may each be similar or identical in shape to one
another, as in FIG. 26.
[0089] A wide variety of work pieces 2500 can be secured in whole
or in part by tapes 708 and/or by tape-built articles such as
articles created by spiraling and/or braiding tape(s) 708. Some of
the many examples of work pieces include pipes, logs, tubing,
lumber, leather goods, textile goods, items containing plastic,
items containing wood, and flesh. Some of the many examples of uses
for tape 708, braided tape articles, and spiral tape articles
include securing a flashlight to one's forearm, lashing goods
together, medical uses noted below, tasks which might otherwise be
performed using ropes knotted to themselves and/or to one another
and/or to other items, tasks which might otherwise be performed
using bungee cords, and tasks which might otherwise be performed
using cargo covers or netting. For tasks in which tape-built
articles replace or supplement conventional ropes, the tape-built
articles may have dimensions similar to the conventional ropes, in
terms of width or length or both. For example, some tape-built
ropes are at least three meters long, and some are at least six
meters long.
[0090] Before turning to FIGS. 28 and 29, note that nano- or
micro-sized hooks, loops, and/or mat can be deposited on biosafe
substrates such as materials used in sutures. Some examples of
suture materials include plain catgut, chromic catgut,
polyglycolide, polydioxanone, polyglactin, poliglecaprone,
polytrimethylene carbonate, glycomer, nylon, polybutester,
polypropylene, silk, and polyester.
[0091] U.S. Pat. No. 8,030,376 to Kurz, incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety in jurisdictions permitting such
incorporation, describes processes for dispersing a plurality of
unaggregated particles, such as nanoparticles and microparticles,
in a viscous medium. The dispersions can be used for making a
variety of useful materials, such as carbon nanotube
composites.
[0092] For example, one process discussed in Kurz includes:
providing a nanocarrier dispersion comprising a dilute
concentration of individual nanoparticles dispersed or dissolved in
a nanocarrier solvent, the nanocarrier solvent characterized as
being soluble in a viscous medium, the nanocarrier dispersion
having a viscosity substantially lower than the viscosity of the
viscous medium; contacting the nanocarrier dispersion within the
viscous medium, at least a portion of the nanocarrier solvent
diffusing out of the nanocarrier dispersion and into the viscous
medium; and continuously removing the nanocarrier solvent from the
viscous medium to give rise to a plurality of nanoparticles
dispersed or dissolved in the viscous medium. Another method of
dispersing particles in a viscous fluid includes: providing an
particle solution comprising solvent, particles, and polymer, the
particle solution being characterized as comprising well dispersed
individual particles and said solvent characterized as being more
soluble in water than in the viscous fluid; continuously contacting
droplets of the particle solution with the viscous fluid in a
droplet contact zone to form a mixture comprising the particles,
the solvent, and the viscous fluid; transporting the droplets of
the particle solution away from the droplet contact zone, the
transported droplets being richer in solvent exterior to the
droplet zone, the particles and polymer entering the viscous fluid;
and contacting the viscous fluid with an aqueous phase at an
interface zone located exterior to the droplet contact zone while
simultaneously extracting at least a portion of the solvent out of
the viscous fluid. Another method of dispersing particles in a
viscous medium includes: providing an particle solution comprising
a plurality of particles and a solvent, the particle solution being
characterized as comprising essentially well dispersed individual
particles, and said solvent characterized as being more soluble in
water than in the viscous medium; contacting the particle solution
with the viscous medium in a dispersion zone to form a one-phase
mixture comprising the particles, the solvent, and the fluid
medium; and contacting said one-phase mixture with an aqueous phase
at an interface zone located exterior to the dispersion zone while
simultaneously extracting at least a portion of the solvent out of
the one-phase mixture and into the aqueous phase. A method of
dispersing particles in an fluid medium includes: providing an
particle solution comprising a plurality of particles and a
solvent, the particle solution being characterized as comprising
essentially well dispersed individual particles, and said solvent
characterized as being more soluble in water than in the fluid
medium; contacting the particle solution with the fluid medium in a
dispersion zone to form a one-phase mixture comprising the
particles, the solvent, and the fluid medium, said contacting
occurring while simultaneously sonicating both the particle
solution and the fluid medium in the dispersion zone; and
contacting said one-phase mixture with an aqueous phase at an
interface zone located exterior to the dispersion zone while
simultaneously extracting at least a portion of the solvent out of
the one-phase mixture and into the aqueous phase.
[0093] More generally, familiar processes for creating nanohooks,
nanosized mushroom heads, nanoloops, and/or nanomat can be combined
with familiar processes for depositing nanotubes on material which
is safe for a patient if left inside after surgery, or familiar
processes for forming such nano features on such safe materials, or
with familiar processes for adhering a touch closure fastening
means to a substrate. As a result, one can obtain surgical grade
tape strands which self-adhere in a releasable manner.
[0094] FIG. 28 illustrates one such surgical tape strand portion
2800 having microblended nano-sized hooks and mat touch closure
fastening means 2802. Surgical tape strands may be used by surgeons
as retractive ties to temporarily hold blood vessel, nerves, or
other tissue aside to provide better access to a surgical area, for
example, and for doing so without crowding the surgical field with
conventional retractors and clamps. They may also be used as
temporary clamps or ligatures, or as sutures which have the
advantage of avoiding some or all of the tissue puncturing that
might otherwise occur, because the surgical tape strands releasably
self-adhere. The longitudinal section view of FIG. 29 shows a
surgical tape strand 2800 wrapped around a blood vessel 2900 to
help hold a stent 2902 in place. Some surgical tape strand
embodiments are roughly the diameter of suture material, while
others are larger.
[0095] Some embodiments address technical problems evident in or
created by work piece slippage or load shifting, by providing tapes
708 which not only releasably adhere to themselves or another
constituent tape of a braided or spiraled article, but also
restrict or inhibit slippage and shifting by pressing one or more
grips 1402 against the work pieces 2500 or other parts of a
load.
[0096] Some embodiments address technical problems evident in or
created by odd or varying load sizes, by providing tapes 708 and
tape articles which self-adhere along their length. Bungee cords,
tarps, and ratchet straps each presume a particular load size and
shape, whereas tape ropes 1900, for example, are much more flexible
in accommodating odd or varying load sizes and shapes. Like
conventional ropes, tape ropes can be snugged against a load in a
manner limited to a large extent only by rope length, but unlike
conventional ropes, tape ropes can be fastened without knots, and
some of them--those including grips--also help hold the cargo from
slipping or sliding. Problems caused by knot complexity or knot
bulk are avoided by using a tape rope's touch closure fastening
means instead of tying knots, in situations where that is safe and
effective. If a load can be scratched or indented or punctured,
then tape rope including a corresponding grip can be used to help
secure the load. For example, framing lumber and firewood can be
scratched without harming them, so an abrasive grip embedded in a
tape rope can be used. Carpets can be punctured without harming
them, so a spike grip embedded in a tape rope can be used to help
secure them. Tape ropes made with materials suitable for marine
use, such as polypropylene, nylon, and Kevlar.RTM. para-aramid
synthetic fiber material (mark of E. I. DuPont de Nemours and
Company), can be enhanced as taught herein with embedded touch
closure fastening means and/or grips.
CONCLUSION
[0097] Although particular embodiments are expressly illustrated
and described herein as devices, or processes for using devices, it
will be appreciated that discussion of one type of embodiment also
generally extends to other embodiment types. For instance, the
descriptions of fastening devices also help describe processes for
using such devices, and vice versa. It does not follow that
limitations from one embodiment are necessarily read into
another.
[0098] Reference herein to an embodiment having some feature X and
reference elsewhere herein to an embodiment having some feature Y
does not exclude from this disclosure embodiments which have both
feature X and feature Y, unless such exclusion is expressly stated
herein. The term "embodiment" is merely used herein as a more
convenient form of "device, process, system, article of
manufacture, and/or other example of the teachings herein as
applied in a manner consistent with applicable law." Accordingly, a
given "embodiment" may include any combination of features
disclosed herein, provided the embodiment is consistent with at
least one claim.
[0099] Not every item or feature shown in the Figures need be
present in every embodiment. Conversely, an embodiment may contain
item(s) and/or feature(s) not shown expressly in the Figures.
Although some possibilities are illustrated here in text and
drawings by specific examples, embodiments may depart from these
examples. For instance, specific technical effects or technical
features of an example may be omitted, renamed, grouped
differently, arranged differently, repeated, instantiated in
different materials, or be a mix of effects or features appearing
in two or more of the examples. Functionality shown at one location
may also be provided at a different location in some embodiments;
one of skill recognizes that functionality can be obtained in
various ways in a given situation without necessarily omitting
desired technical effects from a collection of interacting devices
and other items viewed as a whole.
[0100] Reference has been made to the figures throughout by
reference numerals. Any apparent inconsistencies in the phrasing
associated with a given reference numeral, in the figures or in the
text, should be understood as simply broadening the scope of what
is referenced by that numeral. Different instances of a given
reference numeral may refer to different embodiments, even though
the same reference numeral is used.
[0101] As used herein, terms such as "a" and "the" are inclusive of
one or more of the indicated item or step. In particular, in the
claims a reference to an item generally means at least one such
item is present and a reference to a step means at least one
instance of the step is performed.
[0102] Headings are for convenience only; information on a given
topic may be found outside the section whose heading indicates that
topic.
[0103] All claims and the abstract, as filed, are part of the
specification.
[0104] While exemplary embodiments have been shown in the drawings
and described above, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art that numerous modifications can be made without
departing from the principles and concepts set forth in the claims,
and that such modifications need not encompass an entire abstract
concept. Although the subject matter is described in language
specific to structural features and/or procedural acts, it is to be
understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims
is not necessarily limited to the specific technical features or
acts described above the claims. It is not necessary for every
means or aspect or technical effect identified in a given
definition or example to be present or to be utilized in every
embodiment. Rather, the specific features and acts and effects
described are disclosed as examples for consideration when
implementing the claims.
[0105] All changes which fall short of enveloping an entire
abstract idea but come within the meaning and range of equivalency
of the claims are to be embraced within their scope to the full
extent permitted by law.
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