Patent Abstract:
An adhesively mounted single-sided clamp-like device for producing a compressive force or tensile force includes a body, a plunger movably connected with the body, and a double-sided stretch releasing adhesive attached to at least one of the body and the plunger. The body and/or plunger can be firmly adhesively bonded to a surface or object and later cleanly removed from the surface or plunger without damaging the surface and without leaving adhesive residue by stretching the adhesive.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a device that can be used to apply either a compressive force or a tensile force to a surface or object, and more particularly, to such a device that is attached to a surface using stretch releasing adhesive, whereby the device can be firmly attached to the surface but may be easily and cleanly removed from the surface without damaging the surface. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Suction attachable clamps are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,116 (Haese), for example, discloses a suction attachable retaining clamp for holding an object such as a molding or mounting bracket against a surface such as a windshield. U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,503 (Conner) discloses a suction clamp for holding moldings in place on front or rear windshields of automobiles, while an adhesive material sets or dries, and it simultaneously prevents damage to the adjacent surface. Such clamps, however, are limited to producing clamping or compressive forces, and work best on clean, slightly moistened, non-porous surfaces such as metal and glass. 
   There is therefore a need for a device that can function not only as a clamp but also as a device to exert a pulling or tensile force when needed. There is also a need for such a device that can be used for a variety of end use applications and can be used on a variety of surfaces under a variety of conditions. 
   It would therefore be desirable to provide a simple and inexpensive single-sided clamp-like device that can be securely fastened to a surface and readily removed without damaging the surface or leaving unwanted residue that can be used as both a clamp to exert a compressive force, and as a device to produce a pulling or tensile force. It would also be desirable to provide a device that can be used on a wide variety of surfaces including metal, glass, paper, masonry and unfinished wood, and is not limited to use on non-porous surfaces such as metal and glass. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes the above-identified limitations in the field by providing a simple and inexpensive single-sided clamp-like device that can be applied to a surface and can be used not only as a clamp, but can also be used to produce a pulling or tensile force at a selected location on a surface or an object. The present invention also provides a device that can be used on a wide variety of surfaces including paper, wood, and masonry, and is not limited to use on non-porous surfaces such as metal and glass. 
   In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device for applying a tensile or compressive force to an object or surface comprising a body, a plunger movably connected with the body, and a double-sided stretch releasing adhesive attached to at least one of the body and the plunger, whereby the body and/or the plunger can be firmly adhesively bonded to a surface and cleanly removed from the surface without damaging the surface by stretching the adhesive. 
   In a specific aspect of the invention, the stretch releasing adhesive is attached to the body. In another aspect, the stretch releasing adhesive is attached to the plunger. 
   In one embodiment, the body includes a connecting portion containing a through bore, a pair of legs extending in the same direction from opposite sides of the connecting portion, and a pair of feet portions arranged perpendicular at the end of each leg. Each foot portion is provided with stretch releasing adhesive to attach the body to a surface. 
   In one aspect of the invention, the plunger is threadably connected with the body, whereby the plunger can be rotated clockwise and counter clockwise to produce the compressive and tensile forces. In another aspect, the plunger is slidably connected with the body and the plunger is biased by a spring or the like to produce the forces. 
   In another embodiment, the body includes a main body portion and a cantilever portion extending laterally outwardly from the main body portion, wherein the plunger is movably connected with the cantilever portion. 
   In another aspect, the plunger is provided with a head that is adapted to receive a stretch releasing adhesive. The plunger may also include a handle opposite the head to facilitate manual actuation of the plunger. 
   In a particular aspect, the invention may be used interchangeably to produce either a compressive (i.e. clamping) force or a tensile (i.e. pulling) force where in the past, two separate devices were needed to create compressive and tensile forces. 
   The present invention can be used for a wide variety of uses and applications such as holding an object in place while an adhesive, such as a hot melt adhesive, glue, or epoxy sets, dries, or otherwise cures. This may be useful, for example, to mount a soap dish to a ceramic tile wall using epoxy. In addition, the device may be used to removably mount one or more items on a surface such as decorations, a banner, or a flag, whereby the item may be readily and repeatably removed and/or replaced by simply loosening the device to remove the item without removing the device itself from the surface. The device may also be provided with a pointed tip or drill bit to mark, pierce, or form a hole in a surface or object. The present invention may find use in woodworking, crafts, or other uses in the home, office, or in industrial applications. For example, the present invention may be used to stamp or emboss a piece of paper or piece of wood. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a device  2  including a body member  4 , a plunger member  6  rotatably attached to the body member  4 , a pair of double-sided stretch releasing adhesive strips  8   a  attached to the body member  4  to removably adhesively bond the body member  4  to a surface  10 , and a double-sided stretch releasing adhesive strip  8   b  attached to the plunger member  6  for adhesively bonding the plunger member  6  to either the surface  10  or an object (not shown) arranged between the plunger member  6  and the surface  10 . 
   Stretch releasing adhesives represent a class of high performance pressure-sensitive adhesives combining strong holding power with clean removal and no surface damage. Such stretch releasing adhesives are useful in a wide variety of assembling, joining, attaching, and mounting applications. The double-sided adhesive strips  8   a,b  may be any conventionally known stretch releasing adhesive tape including a stretch releasing adhesive tape with an elastic backing, a stretch releasing adhesive tape with a highly extensible and substantially inelastic backing, or a stretch releasing adhesive tape comprising a solid elastic pressure sensitive adhesive. 
   Specific tapes suitable for use in the various embodiments of the present invention include the pressure sensitive adhesive tapes with elastic backings described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,312 (Korpman), the pressure sensitive adhesive tapes with highly extensible and substantially inelastic backings described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,581 (Kreckel et al.) and Bries et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,962), and the solid elastic pressure sensitive adhesive described in German Patent No. 33 31 016. 
   A suitable double-sided commercially available stretch releasing adhesive is the product sold under the trade designation COMMAND adhesive by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. This product is currently manufactured as discrete strips with one end of the strip including a non-adhesive pull tab to facilitate stretching of the strip during removal. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the body member  4  includes a bridge portion  4   a  containing a threaded opening  12  for receiving the plunger member  6 , a pair of parallel leg portions  4   b  extending perpendicularly in the same direction from opposite sides of the bridge portion  4   a , and a pair of feet portions  4   c  extending outwardly in opposite directions from the ends of the leg portions  4   b . The adhesive strips  8   a  are affixed to the bottom surfaces of the feet portions  4   c  to adhesively bond the body member  4  to surface  10 , and thereby securely bond the device  2  to the surface  10 . 
   Plunger  6  is arranged generally perpendicular to the bridge portion  4   a  and includes a cylindrical threaded body portion  6   a  rotatably engaging the opening  12  in the body member  4 , a handle  14  arranged at one end of the body portion  6   a  to facilitate manual rotation of the plunger  6 , and a head  16  arranged at the end of the body portion  6   a  opposite the handle  14 . The handle  14  is arranged above the bridge portion  4   a  of the body member  4  to allow a user to readily access the handle  14 , and thereby manually rotate the plunger  6 . The head  16  is arranged below the bridge portion  4   a  and is axially movable by rotational actuation of the plunger  6  via handle  14  either in the direction of the surface  10 , thereby to apply a compressive force to the surface, or away from the surface  10 , thereby to generate a tensile force relative to the surface. Head  16  is preferably connected with the plunger  6  with a slip fit type of connection to allow the body portion  6   a  and the head  16  to move independently. That is, when the body portion  6   a  of the plunger  6  is rotated, the head  16  may pivot to remain in contact with the surface but does not rotate. 
   To use the device  2  to apply a force to surface  10  or an object (not shown) arranged between the plunger  6  and the surface  10 , the plunger  6  is rotated such that the head  16  moves in the direction of the surface  10 . As the plunger  6  moves toward and engages the surface  10 , a compressive force will be exerted on the surface  10  or on the object. It will be recognized that when the device is used in this manner (i.e. as a clamp to generate a compressive force), adhesive strips  8   a  are needed to maintain the device  2  in engagement with surface  10 , but that adhesive strip  8   b  is not needed because the plunger  6  is maintained in contact with surface  10  via compression. Stated another way, when the device  2  is used as a clamp, the plunger  6  is forced against the surface  10  which, in turn, forces the body member  4  away from the surface  10 , and the adhesive strips  8   a  serve to hold the body member  4  in contact with the surface  10  to allow the plunger  6  to exert a compressive force on the surface. To remove the device  2  from the surface  10 , each adhesive strip  8   a  is stretched in the known manner to simultaneously debond the adhesive strip from the device and the associated surface. 
   Conversely, to use the device  2  to generate a pulling or stretching force on surface  10  or on an object (not shown) arranged between the surface  10  and the head  16 , stretch releasing adhesive strip  8   b  is attached to the head  16 , thereby to adhesively bond the plunger  6  to surface  10  or to the object (not shown) arranged between the head  16  and the adhesive strip  8   b . When the plunger  6  is rotated such that the head  16  moves away from the surface  10 , a tensile force will be exerted on the surface  10  or on the object. When used in this manner (i.e. as a pulling device to generate a tensile force relative to the surface), adhesive strip  8   b  is needed to attach the plunger  6  to the surface  10  or the object, but it will be recognized that adhesive strips  8   a  are not needed to secure the device  2  to the surface because the device is maintained in contact with the surface  10  via compression. 
     FIG. 3  shows a device  102  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The device  102  is similar to the device  2  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  except the device  102  includes a spring  120  for urging the plunger  106  toward or away from the surface  110 , thereby to produce a compressive or tension force on the surface  110 , respectively. 
   The device  102  includes a body member  104 , a plunger  106  movably connected with the body member  104 , a pair of double-sided stretch releasing adhesive strips  108   a  attached to the body member  104  to removably adhesively bond the body member  104  to the surface  110 , and a double-sided stretch releasing adhesive strip  108   b  attached to the plunger  106  for adhesively bonding the plunger  106  to surface  110  or an object (not shown) arranged between the plunger  106  and the surface  110 . 
   The body member  104  includes a bridge portion  104   a  containing an opening  112  for slidably receiving the plunger  106 , a pair of parallel leg portions  104   b  extending perpendicularly in the same direction from opposite sides of the bridge portion  104   a , and a pair of feet portions  104   c  extending outwardly in opposite directions from the ends of the leg portions  104   b . The adhesive strips  108   a  are affixed to the bottom surfaces of the feet portions  104   c  to adhesively bond the body member  104  to surface  110 , and thereby securely bond the device  102  to the surface  110 . 
   Plunger  106  is arranged generally perpendicular to the bridge portion  104   a  and includes a cylindrical body portion  106   a  slidably engaging the opening  112  in the body member  104 , a handle  114  arranged at one end of the body portion  106   a  to facilitate manual actuation of the plunger  106 , and a head  116  arranged at the end of the body portion  106   a  opposite the handle  114 . The handle  114  is arranged above the bridge portion  104   a  of the body member  104  to allow a user to readily access the handle  114 , and thereby manually actuate the plunger  106 . 
   Spring  120  is arranged between the bridge portion  104   a  of the device  102  and the head  116 . When the plunger  106  is manually urged upwardly away from the surface  110 , the spring  120  is compressed and biases the head  116  in the direction of the surface  110 . It will be recognized that when the device is used in this manner (i.e. as a clamp to generate a compressive force), adhesive strips  108   a  are needed to maintain the device  102  in engagement with surface  110 , but that adhesive strip  108   b  is not needed because the plunger  106  is maintained in contact with surface  110  via compression. Stated another way, when the device  102  is used as a clamp, the plunger  106  is forced against the surface  110  via spring  120  which, in turn, forces the body member  104  away from the surface  110 , and the adhesive strips  108   a  serve to hold the body member  104  in contact with the surface  110  to allow the plunger  106  to exert a compressive force on the surface. To remove the device  102  from the surface  110 , each adhesive strip  108   a  is stretched in the known manner to debond the adhesive strip from the device and surface simultaneously. 
   Alternatively, the spring  120  can be a tension spring that is attached to the bridge portion  104   a  and the head  116 , such that when the spring is urged downwardly in the direction of the surface  110 , the spring is put in tension. In this manner, when the head  116  is attached to the surface  110  via adhesive strip  108   b , a tensile force is produced on the surface  110 . When used in this manner (i.e. as a pulling device to generate a tensile force relative to the surface), adhesive strip  108   b  is needed to attach the plunger  106  to the surface  110  or the object, but it will be recognized that adhesive strips  108   a  are not needed to secure the device  102  to the surface because the device is maintained in contact with the surface  110  via compression. 
   As with the device  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , head  116  is preferably connected with the plunger  106  with a slip fit type of connection to allow the body portion  106   a  and the head  116  to move independently. 
     FIG. 4  shows a device  202  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention including a body member  204 , a plunger member  206  rotatably attached to the body member  204 , a pair of double-sided stretch releasing adhesive strips  208   a  attached to the body member  204  to removably adhesively bond the body member  204  to a surface  210 , and a double-sided stretch releasing adhesive strip  208   b  attached to the plunger member  206  for adhesively bonding the plunger member  206  to surface  210  or an object  218  arranged between the plunger member  206  and the surface  210 . The device of  FIG. 4  is particularly suited for generating a tensile or compressive force in a tight location such as a corner, where the devices shown in  FIGS. 1–3  would not fit. 
   The body member  204  includes a main body portion  204   a  and a cantilever portion  204   b  containing a threaded opening  212  for receiving the plunger member  206 . The cantilever portion  204   b  extends laterally outwardly from the main body portion  204   a . Adhesive strips  208   a  are affixed to the bottom of the main body portion  204   a  to adhesively bond the body member  204  to the surface  210 , and thereby secure the device  202  to the surface  210 . 
   Plunger  206  is arranged generally perpendicular to the cantilever portion  204   b  and includes a cylindrical threaded body portion  206   a  rotatably engaging the opening  212  in the body member  204 , a handle  214  arranged at one end of the body portion  206   a  to facilitate manual rotation of the plunger  206 , and a head  216  arranged at the opposite end of the body portion  206   a . The handle  214  is arranged above the cantilever portion  204   b  of the body member  204  to allow a user to readily access the handle  214 , and thereby manually adjust the plunger  206 . The head  216  is arranged below the cantilever portion  204   b  and may be rotatably urged either in the direction of the surface  210  to apply a force to the surface, or urged away from the surface  210  to generate a tensile force relative to the surface by rotating the plunger  206  via handle  214 . 
   Device  202  is used to apply a force to object  218  in the same manner as the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , that is, the plunger  206  is rotated such that the head  216  moves in the direction of the surface  210 . As the plunger  206  moves toward and engages the object  218 , a compressive force will be exerted on object  218 . And to use the device  202  to impart a pulling or stretching force on object  218 , stretch releasing adhesive strip  208   b  is attached to the head  216 , thereby adhesively bonding the plunger  206  to the object  218 . In this manner, when the plunger  206  is rotated such that the head  216  moves away from the surface  210 , a tensile force will be exerted on the object  218 . 
   Because of its cantilevered design, the device  202  of  FIG. 4  is less stable than the device  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Consequently, when the device  202  of  FIG. 4  is used as either a clamping device to generate a compressive or as a pulling device to generate a tensile force, it is desirable to include stretch releasing adhesive strips  208   a  to firmly bond and thereby secure the body member  204  to the support surface  210 . As with the device  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the device  202  is used to generate a tensile force, adhesive strip  208   b  is required, but when the device is used as a clamp, adhesive strip  208   b  may be omitted. 
   The device, including both the body member and the plunger, may be formed of a variety of materials depending on the particular intended end use application of the device. Suitable materials include metals such as steel, synthetic plastic materials such as polycarbonate and polyvinyl chloride, and wood. The particular material selected is not significant to the invention hereof, so long as it provides the desired combination of properties such as adequate strength, low cost, and ease of manufacture. 
   It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concept set forth above. For example, it will be recognized that the size and shape of the device may be modified to adapt the device for certain specific end use applications, that the body member and plunger may be movably attached by means other than a threaded connection, that the number and size of the adhesive strips may be varied, that the plunger may be provided with a pointed tip, drill bit, or other implement depending on the specific end use application intended for the device, and that the location of the cantilever portion  204   b  may be moved. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1