IP Library Granted Patent US 11,077,587
Granted Patent B2
US 11,077,587 · App. 16/161,029 · Granted Aug 3, 2021

Stretchable surfaces with programmable texture

Inventors: James Pikul (Ithaca, NY); Itai Cohen (Ithaca, NY); Robert Shepherd (Ithaca, NY)
Assignee: Cornell University
B29C41/52B23K26/40B29C35/0805B29C39/006B29C39/10B29C41/003B29C41/12B29C41/20B29C41/22B29C2035/0838B29K2083/00B29K2105/206B29L2031/702
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,077,587
App. No.
16/161,029
Granted
Aug 3, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure may be embodied as a method for creating a restriction pattern from a mask material having a strain (ε mask ) an for mapping elastomeric membrane having a strain (ε membrane ) into a target 3D shape. The method may include discretizing the target 3D shape into a plurality of radial segments, and a radial strain (ε r ) is determined for each radial position (r) on each radial segment of the plurality of radial segments. A restriction pattern is determined, wherein the restriction pattern comprises a quantity of mask material for each position r to provide a composite strain (ε mask , ε silicone ). In some embodiments, the method further includes depositing a first membrane layer into a mold and placing mask material into the first membrane layer according to the determined restriction pattern. The first membrane layer is cured.

Claims (19)

1. A method for creating a mesh pattern from a mesh material having a strain (ε mask ) for mapping an elastomeric membrane having a strain (ε membrane ) into a target 3D shape, comprising:

discretizing the target 3D shape into a plurality of radial segments;

determining a radial strain (ε r ) for each radial position (r) on each radial segment of the plurality of radial segments; and

determining a mesh pattern comprising a quantity of mesh material for each position r to provide a composite strain (ε mask , ε silicone ).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

depositing a first membrane layer into a mold;

placing mesh material onto the first membrane layer according to the determined mesh pattern; and

curing the first membrane layer.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising depositing a second membrane layer onto the mesh material and first membrane layer.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein placing the mesh material onto the first membrane layer further comprises:

treating the mesh material according to the mesh pattern; and

removing excess mesh material to leave the mesh pattern.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a laser is used to treat the mesh material.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein

the mesh material placed onto the first membrane layer comprises a plurality of fibers, and wherein the act of placing further comprises embedding the mesh material within the first membrane layer.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first membrane layer comprises silicone.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein each fiber of the plurality of fibers is flexible.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each fiber in the plurality of fibers is substantially inextensible in a longitudinal direction.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mesh pattern comprises a plurality of concentric rings.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2019
From: PIKUL, JAMES; COHEN, ITAI; SHEPHERD, ROBERT
To: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 050372/0169 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62572282 · Oct 13, 2017
Related Publication 20190126516A1 · May 2, 2019