Structured surface with multiple-post caps and method of making the same

• Main Authors: AUSEN RONALD W, HANSCHEN THOMAS P, KOPECKY WILLIAM J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.03.2015
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HABERDASHERY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; JEWELLERY; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROSTHESES; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A structured surface, which includes a thermoplastic backing sheet and a first upstanding element, is disclosed. The first upstanding element includes multiple, spaced-apart posts and a single cap at the distal ends of the multiple, spaced-apart posts. The structured surface furthermore typically includes a plurality of spaced-apart, upstanding posts with caps on their distal ends, where the ratio of the caps to the posts is less than one-to-one. Also disclosed is a method of making a structured surface. The method includes providing a thermoplastic backing sheet with a plurality of spaced-apart, upstanding posts; and deforming the distal ends to form caps on at least some of the spaced-apart, upstanding posts. At least some of the caps upon forming touch at least one adjacent cap to form a conjoined cap at the distal ends of multiple posts.