WO2012154232A1

WO2012154232A1 - Adhesive, anti-skid, coercive and susceptible coverings

Info

Publication number: WO2012154232A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/022336
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jose Isai TENA
Original assignee: Tena Jose Isai
Priority date: 2011-05-06
Filing date: 2012-01-24
Publication date: 2012-11-15

Abstract

A coercive first resilient matrix creating a coercive surface, and a susceptible second resilient matrix creating a susceptible surface, magnetically complementary and attracted to the coercive surface. The first matrix includes adhesive substrate; crushed magnetic particles embedded in the obverse side, and a reverse side affixed to the adhesive substrate. Crushed magnetic particles sized greater than 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm. Also, a dispersed grit layer is disposed on the obverse side of the first resilient matrix where the size of the grit is smaller than the magnetic particles, and a layer of adhesive attaches the grit to the obverse side of the first resilient matrix. The substrate, the first resilient matrix, the layer of dispersed grit and the layer of adhesive form an adhesive coercive appliqué. Also, a predetermined susceptible particulate embeds in a second resilient matrix, is magnetically attractively reactive to the coercive force.

Description

ADHESIVE, ANTI-SKID, COERCIVE AND SUSCEPTIBLE COVERINGS

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a genre of personal sports has developed, which requires advanced spatial and tactile skills using a motive platform, often in a three-dimensional playfield. Such sports include surfing, wakeboarding, skateboarding, off-road bicycling, and the like. Often times, during periods of play, the player performs a maneuver in which the player momentarily separates from the motive platform, losing control of the platform briefly during execution of an acrobatic act. In order to maintain lingering contact with a surfboard or wakeboard, one solution included intrusively cutting a recess into the surface of the board, and inserting plates of magnets. The player is required to wear plates of ferromagnetic material in footwear to take advantage of the magnetic coercive field established on the board. This technique is cumbersome and can be uncomfortable to a player, limiting use of the magnetic device to avoid the discomfort. Also, the introduction of heavy plates into the board and feet of the player may cause disturbances with balance and acrobatic maneuvers, as the plates tend to shift while wearing. Traction also may be compromised. The technique also is limited, or impractical when used with smaller, lightweight platforms such as a skateboard, skimmer board, bicycle pedal, wake skate, and so on. Moreover, the requirement of wearing plates on one's feet increases player fatigue, discomfort, and range-of-motion limitations, thereby limiting acrobatic maneuvers. Another solution included the use of magnetic plates in the footwear, and metal zones on the board. Such footwear is prone to attract magnetically-attractable debris, losing coercive strength. A more flexible, universal apparatus is needed. SUMMARY

[0001 ] The embodiments herein provide for a coercive first resilient matrix creating a coercive surface, and a susceptible second resilient matrix creating a susceptible surface, magnetically complementary to the coercive surface. The coercive first resilient matrix includes an adhesive substrate; crushed magnetic particles embedded in an obverse side of a first resilient matrix, wherein a reverse side of the first resilient matrix is affixed to the adhesive substrate. The crushed magnetic particles may be sized from about 0.5mm to about 5.0mm, although a narrower range may be used. Also included are a layer of dispersed grit disposed on the obverse side of the first resilient matrix wherein the size of the grit generally is smaller than the size of the magnetic particles, and a layer of adhesive attaching the grit to the obverse side of the first resilient matrix. The substrate, the first resilient matrix, the layer of dispersed grit and the layer of adhesive form an adhesive coercive applique.

[0002] The coercive surface can include a susceptible surface attracted thereto, formed from a susceptible second resilient matrix. The coercive surface portion is formed having a predetermined susceptible particulate embedded in a second resilient matrix, wherein the predetermined susceptible particulate attractively reacts to a coercive force generated by the magnetic particles of the coercive first resilient matrix.

[0003] A method of forming a coercive surface is provided, including forming a foundation layer; forming a generally resilient layer of between about 3.0 mm to about 30 mm thick atop the foundation layer; and embedding a coercive layer atop the generally resilient layer including crushed magnet particles between about 0.5 mm< length< about 5.0 mm. The method also can include forming a dispersed layer of grit atop the generally resilient layer using a grit size of between about ASTM Sieve Size 20 to about ASTM Sieve Size 600; and forming a sealant layer atop the dispersed layer of grit, wherein the dispersed layer of grit is entrapped in the sealant layer. The coercive surface can be applied by selectively affixing the foundation layer to a motive element. A motive element can be a skateboard, a surfboard, a wakeboard, a wake skate, a water skate, a skimmer board, a tool, a clutch, or a portion of a sandpaper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The invention is generally shown by way of reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. l through FIG. 4C in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a laminar, coercive surface, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates a susceptible surface complementary to the coercive surface of

FIG. 1 , in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for forming the laminar, coercive surface of FIG. 1 , in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 4 is a graphical illustration of a method of FIG. 3, for forming the laminar, coercive surface of FIG. 1 , in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 5A is a strip of a coercive first resilient matrix, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; [001 0] FIG. 5B is an illustration of a skateboard having a coercive first resilient matrix affixedly adhered thereto, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and

[001 1 ] FIG. 5C is an illustration of a shoe having a susceptible second resilient matrix, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[001 2] Some embodiments are described in detail with reference to the related drawings. Additional embodiments, features and/or advantages will become apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned by practicing the invention. In the figures, which are not drawn to scale, like numerals refer to like features throughout the description. The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[001 3] Embodiments of the present invention can include a laminar, coercive surface

1 00 illustrated in FIG. 1 , including a substrate 1 05, and a first resilient matrix 1 1 0 having a reverse side 1 1 2 directed to substrate 1 05 and an obverse side 1 1 4, opposite the reverse side 1 1 2. Substrate 105 can be a cloth, a polyester, a polyethylene, a cotton, a rayon, a paper, a fabric web, a PET film, a fiber mat, or other flexible substrate capable of adhering to matrix 1 1 0. Reverse side 1 1 2 of first resilient matrix 1 1 0 can be adhesively affixed to substrate 105. Substrate 1 05 may have an adhesive backing. First resilient matrix 1 1 0 can be formed of a generally resilient material having a thickness of between about 5.0 mm and 30.0 mm.

[001 4] Examples of a generally resilient material include, without limitation, a polyurethane, a polyesther urethane, a silicon rubber, a neoprene, a butyl rubber, a natural rubber, a latex, an EVA, a silicone compound, or a thermoplastic elastomer. In general, the resilient material can be workable (formable) at a temperature below the Curie point of the magnetic particles 1 1 5, to minimize loss of coercive force due to thermal overheating. Crushed permanent magnetic particles, generally at 1 1 5, can be embedded within obverse side 1 1 4 of first resilient matrix 1 1 0, by manual embedding or by machine embedding. In general, the crushed magnetic particles may be sized non-limitingly between about 0.5 mm to about 5.0mm. Crushed magnetic particles are desirable because they tend to retain their magnetic (coercive) qualities, whereas ground magnetic particles may lose magnetic properties. However, if ground magnetic particles are rendered from between about 0.5 mm to about 5.0 mm, while still retaining their coercive properties over a period comparable to crushed magnetic particles, such ground particles may be used. Edges generally at 1 1 6 of some magnetic particles 1 1 5 may be located above the obverse surface 1 1 4 of first resilient matrix 1 1 0, providing a gritty surface, with some anti-slip properties.

[001 5] To enhance the anti-slip properties of magnet particle-embedded matrix 1 1 0, a layer of dispersed grit 1 20 also can be disposed on obverse side 1 1 4 of first resilient matrix 1 1 0. In general, the size of dispersed grit 1 20 is smaller than the size of the magnetic particles 1 1 5. Grit 1 20 can be a grit of glass, ceramic, aluminum oxide, garnet, quartz, carborundum (SiC), zirconia alumina, and, in general, any mineral with a hardness greater than about 7.0 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Grit size may be AST Sieve No. 20 to ASTM Sieve No. 600, with the size applied to a particular matrix 1 1 0 being maintained within a narrower range to achieve a general consistency of the non-magnetic particle sizes. For example, one non- limiting embodiment can use aluminum oxide grit between ASTM Sieve No. 40 and ASTM Sieve No. 80 as grit 1 20. In another non-limiting embodiment, grit 1 20 sized quartz between about ASTM Sieve No. 200 to about ASTM Sieve No. 400, may be used. A predetermined amount of ferromagnetic particles also may be used as grit and later may be magnetized.

[0016] To maintain contact of the dispersed grit 1 20 with first resilient matrix 1 1 0, an adhesive layer 1 25 can be applied over the dispersed grit 1 20, adhesively affixing grit 1 20 to matrix 1 1 0. Adhesive layer 1 25 can be a layer of a phenolic resin, an epoxy, a siloxane, a glue, or other efficacious sealant. First matrix 1 10 can be formed as a mat or a strip, and cut to a desired shape or formed into predetermined shapes, and formed on, or adhered to, a motive element 1 30. Alternatively, the substrate 1 05 can be adhesive on the reverse of the side contacting matrix 1 1 0, so that substrate 1 05, matrix 1 1 0, magnetic particles 1 1 5, dispersed grit 1 20 and adhesive layer 1 25 form a flexible, adhesive applique of a coercive first resilient matrix that can be applied to a predetermined object, or motive element 1 30. Motive element 1 30 may include, without limitation, a skateboard, a skimmer board, a wakeboard, a surfboard, a snow skate, a wake skate, a BMX-type bicycle pedal, a mountain- or off road-type bicycle, a robotic effector, a tool, or a clutch.

[001 7] Turning to FIG. 2, a complementary surface to a coercive surface is a susceptible surface 200, which forms a susceptible second resilient matrix, and which is attracted by magnetic force to the coercive surface 1 00, when the obverse side of coercive surface 1 00 is approximated to the obverse side of susceptible surface 200. Embodiments of the present invention also include pairing a coercive surface element 1 00 with a susceptible surface element 200. Susceptible surface 200 may include a second resilient matrix 21 0, wherein the predetermined susceptible particulate 21 5 attractively reacts to a magnetic force generated by the magnetic particles. In one embodiment, susceptible surface may include a second resilient matrix 21 0, made of the same or different material as the first resilient matrix 1 1 0, with the second resilient matrix 21 0 being embedded with a predetermined susceptible particulate 21 5, without limitation, a ferromagnetic metal or metal alloy, composite, or ceramic susceptible material, by which second resilient matrix 21 0 may be magnetically coupled to first resilient matrix 1 1 0. That is, the predetermined susceptible particulate 21 5 in second resilient matrix 21 0 attractively reacts to a coercive force generated by the magnetic particles 1 1 5 in first resilient matrix 1 1 0 on a motive element 1 30, thus causing a movement in motive element 1 30.

[001 8] A motive element can have the foundation layer affixed thereto, thereby creating a motive element with a coercive layer. The motive element can be a skateboard, a surfboard, a skimmer board, a wakeboard, a bicycle pedal, a tool, a robotic effector, or a first clutch element. The coercive surface 1 00 can form, in selected instances, a motive element grip. The resilient layer may or may not include a layer of dispersed grit affixed thereupon.

[0019] The motive element grip includes magnetic particles embedded in an obverse side of a first resilient matrix, wherein a reverse side of the first resilient matrix is affixed to a motive element. Typically, the magnetic particles may be sized between about 0.5 mm to about 5.0mm. Also, the first resilient matrix includes an elastomer, an epoxy, or a rubber. The motive element grip also can include a layer of dispersed grit disposed on the obverse side of the first resilient matrix, wherein the particle size of the grit is smaller than the magnetic particles. A layer of adhesive can be used to attach the grit to the obverse side of first resilient matrix.

[0020] Together, the first coercive resilient matrix, the layer of dispersed grit and the layer of adhesive form an coercive surface 1 00 in the form of an adhesive applique, wherein the adhesive applique is selectively affixed to the deck (top surface) of a skateboard, surfboard, skimmer board, wakeboard, water skate, wake skate, or a driven surface of a bicycle pedal, or a tool, a robotic effector, or a clutch element. The layer of dispersed grit may include a predetermined amount of magnetized ferromagnetic grit using a grit size of between about ASTM Sieve Size 20 to about ASTM Sieve Size 600.

[0021 ] A susceptible surface 200 with a second resilient matrix can be formed by embedding susceptible (magnetically attractive) materials thereinto. By attaching the second resilient matrix to a driving source, attractive contact may be made with the coercive surface 1 00 on the motive element 1 30. Susceptible materials include ferro-magnetic metal fragments, powder, bars, discs, or balls which can be in the form of a metal, a metal alloy, a composite material, or a ceramic material. When the susceptible surface 200 is approximated to the coercive surface 100, the two surfaces are magnetically coupled and attracted, although the coupling can be broken with relatively little effort. Accordingly, a susceptible second resilient matrix can be in the form of a shoe, a boot, a footie, a robotic effector target, or a second clutch element.

[0022] Accordingly, certain embodiments of the present invention comprehend an article of footwear, a tool, a working surface, or a clutch element as bearing second resilient matrix 21 0. Alternatively, second resilient matrix may be a coated portion of a metallic element. Where first coercive surface 1 00 is applied to a motive element 1 30 such as a skateboard or a bicycle pedal, second susceptible surface 200 can be a susceptible surface of a sole portion of an athletic shoe. Where first coercive surface 1 00 is applied to a motive element 1 30 such as a surfboard, wakeboard, or skimmer board, second susceptible surface 200 can be an element of a wetsuit-like boot or abrasion-resistant water-suitable slip-on or footie. Unlike prior plate-like susceptible surfaces, surface 200 can be diffuse over an area, thereby being more flexible and, in the case of susceptible footwear, being less intrusive to the foot of the user. Where susceptible second surface 200 is applied to a tool grip, coercive first surface 1 00 may be applied to a grasping mitt, or glove, or robotic effector. In any event, such coercive surface-susceptible surface system can allow a user to have control over the motive element in ways previously not available.

[0023] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, embodiments herein also include a method 300 of forming a coercive surface, which can include forming (S405) a foundation layer 307 and forming (S41 0) a generally resilient layer 309, which may be elastomeric, of between about 3.0 mm to about 30 mm thick atop the foundation layer 307. The flexible foundation layer 307 may be a strip or sheet of a cloth, a paper, a polyester, a PET film, a fabric web, a rayon, a fibre mat, or other flexible substrate capable of holding on to the generally resilient layer 309. Examples of a generally resilient material include, without limitation, a polyurethane, a polyesther urethane, a silicon rubber, a neoprene, a butyl rubber, a natural rubber, a latex, an EVA, or a thermoplastic elastomer. Layers 307 and 309 are bonded to form generally resilient layer 333. Method 400 can continue by applying (S41 5) magnetic particles 31 3 to the generally resilient layer 333 and embedding (S420) a coercive layer 321 within the generally resilient layer 309 including crushed magnet particles 31 3 between about 0.5 mm < length < 5.0 mm. Crushing (S425) magnets 344 may precede embedding (S420), with the crushing (S425) being performed by a non-magnetic crusher, for example, a ceramic roller 323. Crushing (S425) may be performed by a multi-grooved ceramic roller 323, capable of depositing parallel strips of crushed magnetic particles 31 3 on non-magnetic conveyor 327, which may be a coated metallic sheet. Embedding (S420) typically is performed when the generally resilient layer 333 is in a state (e.g., at a working temperature), sufficient to allow the magnetic particles to be embedded thereinto. Embedding roller 329 may be made to have a tacky surface which is capable of holding the magnetic particles until released when they contact the generally resilient layer 309. To facilitate in aligning magnetic particles, an iron bar 395 may be inserted longitudinally to embedding roller 329 to assist in maneuvering the magnetic chips, if desired. Cooling or curing may follow embedding (S425), thereby affixing the magnetic particles within the generally resilient layer. It may be desirable to form a substantially anti-slip (alternatively, non-skid or anti-skid) layer 329 atop the generally resilient layer 309. If so, method 300 can continue by forming (S430) a dispersed layer of grit 331 atop the generally resilient layer 309 using a grit size of between about ASTM Sieve Size 20 to about ASTM Sieve Size 600. To affix the dispersed layer of grit on the generally resilient layer, method 300 can include forming (S435) a sealant layer 335 atop the dispersed layer of grit 331 , wherein the dispersed layer of grit 331 is entrapped in the sealant layer 335. Roller 357 may be used to further embed grit 33 1 into magnetized layer 366. The sealant layer 335 can be an epoxy, a phenolic resin, a silicone material , a rubber, or a glue. Curing (S440) may be performed by heater 339 or may be by other apt curing techniques for the sealant layer 333.

[0024] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an application of a coercive first resilient matrix 500 to a skateboard 550, and FIG. 5C illustrates a pair of shoes 575 soled with a susceptible second resilient matrix 580. In FIG. 5A, coercive matrix resilient matrix 500 can be prepared as a strip of non-skid, magnet impregnated, resilient material having an adhesive 520 may be bonded to the reverse side 51 0 of the first resilient matrix 500. To facilitate storage and application of matrix 500, a peel-off backing 525 can be removably attached to the adhesive 520. Peel-off backing 525 typicaly is removed just prior to matrix 500 being applied to a surface, for example a motive element surface. An example surface may be skateboard 550 having a top deck 460 onto which coercive matrix 500 can be applied. Coercive matrix 555 may be cut-to- fit at the time of application to skateboard 550, may be preformed to fit various types of skateboards including skateboard 550, or may be applied at the time of manufacture of skateboard 550. Obverse surface 560 of skateboard 550 may then be a coercive surface creating a magnetic attraction to susceptible materials. Coercive matrix 555 may cover all of, or a portion of, a motive element, such as skateboard 550. FIG. 5C illustrates a pair of shoes 575 configured with suscepti ble second resilient matrix 580 on the soles 585. Susceptible matrix 580 can be made magnetically attractive by the addition of susceptible material 590, such as, without limitation, iron filings, pins, bars, or plugs. Such susceptible materials may be integrally added to soles 585 during manufacture, or may be added by embedding after shoes 575 have been made. For example, pins may be inserted longitudinally, in parallel with the surface of soles 585 after the shoes have been manufactured. One shoe may be made susceptible. Although iron materials are examples of susceptible materials, the embodiments of shoes 575 are not so limited, and other susceptible materials may be used.

[0025] Although the present invention has been described in terms of example embodiments, it is to be understood that neither the Specification nor the Drawings are to be interpreted as limiting. Various alternations and modifications are inherent, or will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the foregoing disclosure. It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alternations and modifications that are encompassed by the spirit and the scope of the invention. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A coercive surface, comprising:

an adhesive substrate;

crushed magnetic particles embedded in an obverse side of a first resilient matrix, wherein a reverse side of the first resilient matrix is affixed to the adhesive substrate, wherein the crushed magnetic particles are sized between about 0.5mm to about 5.0mm;

a layer of dispersed grit disposed on the obverse side of the first resilient matrix wherein the size of the grit is smaller than the size of the magnetic particles ; and

a layer of adhesive attaching the grit to the obverse side of the first resilient matrix, and wherein the substrate, the first resilient matrix, the layer of dispersed grit and the layer of adhesive form an adhesive coercive applique,

wherein a coercive first resilient matrix is formed.

2. The coercive surface of Claim 1 , further comprising :

a predetermined susceptible particulate embedded in a second resilient matrix , wherein a susceptible second resilient matrix is formed, and wherein the predetermined susceptible particulate forms a susceptible surface magnetically attractive to a coercive force generated by the magnetic particles.

3. The coercive surface of Claim 2, wherein the susceptible second resilient matrix is coupled to the sole of a footwear item.

4. The coercive surface of Claim 1 , wherein the adhesive coercive applique is

conformable to at least a portion of a top surface of a motive element, and is affixedly adhered thereto.

5. The coercive surface of Claim 4, wherein the motive element is a skateboard deck top.

6. The coercive surface of Claim 4, wherein the motive element is a wakeboard deck or a surfboard deck or a skimmer board deck.

7. The coercive surface of Claim 4, wherein the motive element is a BMX-type

bicycle pedal or an off-road bicycle pedal.

8. The coercive surface of claim 2, wherein the applique is conformable to at least a top portion of a skateboard deck, and second resilient matrix is coupled to the sole of footwear configured to be worn with the skateboard deck.

9. The coercive surface of claim 1 , wherein the layer of dispersed grit includes a predetermined amount of magnetized ferromagnetic grit.

1 0. The coercive surface of claim 1 , where the adhesive substrate comprises one of: a cloth, a polyester, a paper, a silicone, a laid mesh, a wire mesh, a rayon, a PET film, a fiber matting, a rubber, or an open netting.

1 1 . The coercive surface of claim 1 , wherein the first resilient matrix comprises an elastomer, an epoxy, or a rubber.

1 2. A method of forming a coercive surface comprising:

forming a foundation layer;

forming a generally resilient layer of between about 3.0 mm to about 25 mm thick atop the foundation layer; and

embedding a coercive layer atop the generally resilient layer including crushed magnet particles between 1 .Omm<length < 3.0mm.

1 3. The method of Claim 1 2, further comprising:

forming a dispersed layer of grit atop the generally resilient layer using a grit size of between about ASTM Sieve Size 20 to about ASTM Sieve Size 600; and

forming a sealant layer atop the dispersed layer of grit, wherein the dispersed layer of grit is entrapped in the sealant layer.

1 . The method of Claim 1 3, further comprising,

selectively affixing the foundation layer to a motive element.

1 5. The method of Claim 1 4, wherein the motive element is one of a skateboard or a skimmer board or a wakeboard, a water skate, a wake skate, or a tool, or a clutch, a robotic effector, or a sandpaper portion.

1 6. A motive element grip, comprising:

magnetic particles embedded in an obverse side of a first resilient matrix, wherein a reverse side of the first resilient matrix is affixed to a motive element, wherein the magnetic particles are sized between about 0.5 mm to about 5.0 mm and wherein the first resilient matrix includes an elastomer, an epoxy, a silicone compound, or a rubber.

1 7. The motive element grip of Claim 1 6, further comprising : a layer of dispersed grit disposed on the obverse side of the first resilient matrix wherein the particle size of the grit is smaller than the magnetic particles; and

a layer of adhesive attaching the grit to the obverse side of first resilient matrix, and wherein the substrate, the first resilient matrix, the layer of dispersed grit and the layer of adhesive form an adhesive applique, wherein the adhesive applique is selectively affixed to the top surface of a skateboard, or a surfboard, or a wakeboard, or a skimmer board, or a water skate, or a wake skate, or a tool, or a clutch, or a robotic effector, or a portion of sandpaper.

18. The motive element grip of Claim 1 6, further comprising :

a layer of dispersed grit disposed on the obverse side of the first resilient matrix wherein the particle size of the grit is smaller than the magnetic particles; and

a layer of adhesive attaching the grit to the obverse side of first resilient matrix, and wherein the substrate, the first resilient matrix, the layer of dispersed grit and the layer of adhesive selectively affixed to the surface of a tool.

19. The motive element grip of Claim 1 6, further comprising : a layer of dispersed grit disposed on the obverse side of the first resilient matrix wherein the particle size of the grit is smaller than the magnetic particles; and a layer of adhesive attaching the grit to the obverse side of first resilient matrix, and wherein the substrate, the first resilient matrix, the layer of dispersed grit and the layer of adhesive form an adhesive applique, wherein the adhesive applique is selectively affixed to the driving surface of a motive element.

20. The motive element grip of Claim 1 6, wherein the layer of dispersed grit includes a predetermined amount of magnetized ferromagnetic grit using a grit size of between about AST Sieve Size 20 to about ASTM Sieve Size 600.