Microstructure arrangement for gripping low coefficient of friction materials

Abstract

A microstructure arrangement having a substrate; a set of pillars having a cross section area in the range of 10 μm 2 to 160,000 μm 2 and a pitch in the range of 20 μm to 1000 μm. The set of pillars can be on a set of pillars having a cross section area less than that of the pillars. The set of pillars can be defined by pillars each having a cross section width from 0.5 μm to 100 μm and a pitch in the range of 1 μm to 200 μm; and, wherein the set of pillars can be configured to cooperate to have a physical property of a grip force in excess of 50.0 N with a contact area of 25% or less, as determined by the friction testing method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microstructure arrangement for gripping a low coefficient of friction material comprising:
 a substrate disposed on a gripping surface;   a set of pillars disposed on the substrate with each pillar having a cross section area in a range of 100 μm 2  to 160,000 μm 2 ; and,   wherein the set of pillars are configured to cooperate to have a physical property of a grip force in excess of 50.0 N with a contact area of 25% or less, as determined by the friction testing method.   
     
     
         2 . The microstructure arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the set of pillars have a coefficient of friction in a range of about 0.7 to about 1.4. 
     
     
         3 . The microstructure arrangement of  claim 1  wherein said grip force is in excess of 55.0 N with a contact area of 20% or less. 
     
     
         4 . The microstructure arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the grip force is in excess of 60.0 N with a contact area of 10% or less. 
     
     
         5 . The microstructure arrangement of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is carried by a surface of one of a wheel, finger tips of a glove, palm of a glove, brake pad, brake drum, brake rotor, clutch plate, plier, grasper, retractor, surgical tools, laparoscopic tool and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The microstructure arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the set of pillars has an angle of orientation to the substrate of greater than 75 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . A microstructure arrangement for gripping a low coefficient of friction material comprising:
 a substrate disposed on a gripping surface;   a set of pillars carried on the substrate having a first pillar having a height relative to the substrate in the range of 10 μm to 160,000 μm and a pitch determined from the center of a second pillar in the range of 20 μm to 1000 μm; and,   wherein the set of pillars define a microstructure arrangement on said substrate configured to provide a coefficient of friction in a range of about 0.7 to about 1.4 against a material taken from the group consisting of human skin, steel, polymer, and any combination thereof.