FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device to be detachably connectable to a surface by means of an adhesion force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a device, which is known from DE 44 11 232 Al, comprises a lighting element and a battery charged by solar energy. The device can be detached from a wall in a room in order to be placed in the sun so as to recharge the battery. The device is detachably connected to the wall by means of an adhesive layer being applied to a rigid surface of a body of the device. The adhesive layer provides a strong adhesion force between the device and the wall.

A disadvantage of the known device is that since the adhesive layer is attached to a rigid surface, a relatively large pulling force is needed to disconnect the adhesive layer since the whole adhesive layer must be disconnected in one action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which can be firmly attached to a surface by means of an adhesion force and easily removed therefrom.

This object is achieved by means of the device according to the invention in that the device comprises a flexible element which is provided on a first side with adhesion means and which on a second side remote from the first side cooperates with a rigid element which is movable with respect to the flexible element from a first position in which the flexible element has a rigidity comparable with the rigidity of the rigid element to a second position in which the flexible element is bendable. As long as the rigid element is in its first position the flexible element will also be rigid, so that there is a strong adhesion force between the device and the surface, for example a wall. The adhesion force between the flexible element and the surface can be obtained by means of an adhesive like a glue, magnets, suction cups etc. However, if a person wants to remove the device from the surface, the rigid element is brought into its second position and the flexible element can be bent so that the flexible element and therefore the adhesion means thereon can be peeled off gradually from the surface. The force needed to peel off the adhesion means is relatively small.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the flexible element is provided on the second side with a number of notches, each notch being bounded by at least two opposite walls, wherein the walls are moved towards each other by bending the flexible element.

Due to the notches the flexible element can be bent. Such a flexible element can easily be manufactured. The amount of bending depends inter alia on the number of notches and the distance between the opposite walls.

Another embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the rigid element comprises protrusions which are located inside the notches in the first position of the rigid element and outside the notches in the second position of the rigid element. If the protrusions are located in the notches, the flexible element cannot be bent. Only if the protrusions are located outside the notches, the walls of the notches can be moved towards each other so that the flexible element can be bent.

A further embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that in the first position of the rigid element, the rigid element is in abutment with the second side of the flexible element and that in the second position of the rigid element, the rigid element is located at a distance from the second side of the flexible element.

Due to the abutment the flexible element has about the same rigidity as the rigid element, so that the flexible element cannot be bent.

Yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the device comprises an actuator connected to the flexible element.

By means of the actuator the flexible element can be pulled away from the surface, starting with the portion located closest to the actuator. By further moving the actuator away from the surface, the flexible element and therefore the adhesion means thereon will be peeled off gradually from the surface. A yet further embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the device comprises a support at least provided with the actuator and the rigid element, wherein a part of the support is detachably connected to the flexible element remote from the actuator. By disconnecting the support, the actuator can be moved with respect to the surface on which the device is mounted, so that the device can be detached therefrom. As long as the support is connected to the flexible element, the device cannot be removed from the surface. An embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the rigid element is provided with at least three guide elements being movable with respect to each other, wherein the flexible element comprises a non-elastic endless strap, extending over the three guide elements, at least a part of the strap being provided with the adhesion means on a side remote from the guide elements. In a first position of the guide elements, the strap will be tensioned so as to be relatively stiff. In a second position of the guide elements, wherein the guide elements are located closer to each other, the strap is relatively loosely located around the guide elements, so that the strap is relatively flexible and can be peeled off the surface to which it is connected. Another embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that adhesion means is a synthetic dry or wet adhesive, a magnet or a number of suction cups.

Such a dry adhesive comprising carbon nano tubes and /or synthetic polymer micro fibres makes use of Van der Waals-forces. The adhesive power will nearly be constant even after repeated placing and removing of the device. It is also possible to use a wet adhesive which needs to be renewed after removal of the device from the surface. Magnets and suction cups will also provide strong adhesion forces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figs. IA- 1C are schematic side views of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, showing respectively the device connected to a surface and the removal of said device from the surface, Figs. 2A-2B are cross sections of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, showing respectively the device connected to a surface and the removal of said device from the surface,

Fig.3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the flexible element of the device as shown in Figs. 2A-2B, Figs.4A-4D are schematic side views of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention, showing respectively the device connected to a surface and the removal of said device from the surface,

Figs. 5A-5C are perspective views of the device as shown in Figs. 4A, 4C and 4D, respectively,

Figs. 6A-6D are schematic side views and a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention, showing respectively the device connected to a surface and the removal of said device from the surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the Figures, like parts are indicated by the same numerals. Figs. IA- 1C show a device 1 according to the invention, comprising a flexible element 2, an adhesive layer 3 provided on a first flat surface 4 of the flexible element 2 and a rigid element 5. The flexible element 2 is provided on a side remote from the flat surface 4 with a number of notches 6 extending from a second flat surface 7 of the flexible element 2 towards the first flat surface 4. Each notch 6 is bounded by two opposite walls 8. The rigid element 5 comprises a number of protrusions 9 located at a distance from each other and having dimensions corresponding to the distance between the notches 6 and the dimensions thereof. In the position of the device 1 as shown in Fig. IA, the device 1 is connected by means of the adhesive layer 3 to a wall 10. Since the adhesive layer 3 is provided over the whole surface 4 a relatively strong connection is obtained between the device 1 and the wall 10. The protrusions 9 are inserted into the notches 6 so that the rigid element 5 is connected to the flexible element 2. Due to the connection between the rigid element 5 and the flexible element 2, the flexible element 2 has a rigidity that corresponds to the rigidity of the rigid element 5.

If a user wants to remove the device 1 from the wall 10, he pulls at the rigid element 5, so that the rigid element 5 is moved in a direction as indicated by arrow Pl. The protrusions 9 will be moved out of the notches 6 (see Fig. IB) and the rigid element 5 and the flexible element 2 become separated. The force needed to remove the protrusions 9 from the notches 6 is less than the adhesion force between the flexible element 2 and the wall 10.

Next, the user will grasp one end of the flexible element 2 and move it away from the wall 10 in a direction as indicated by arrow P2. The flexible element 2 will be bent near each end of a notch 6, of which walls 8 will be moved towards each other (see Fig. 1C). By further moving the end of the flexible element 2 in the direction as indicated by arrow P2, the flexible element 2 together with the adhesive layer 3 will be peeled off gradually from the wall 10. Since each time only a small part of the connecting surface between the wall 10 and the adhesive layer 3 is uncovered, the force necessary to remove the flexible element 2 from the wall 10 is relatively small.

The rigid element 5 can be provided with a lighting device, a speaker, a display, a clock, a picture frame etc., which can easily be attached to the wall 10 and if necessary or desired easily removed therefrom to be positioned at another place of the wall 10 or at another wall 10. The adhesive layer 3 is a dry or wet adhesive. Fig 2A and Fig 2B show another embodiment of a device 11 according to the invention, which device 11 is provided with a flexible element 12, an adhesive layer 13 provided on a first flat surface 14 of the flexible element 2 and a rigid element 15.

The flexible element 12 is provided on a side remote from the flat surface 14 with a number of notches 16 extending from a second flat surface 17 of the flexible element 12 towards the first flat surface 14. Each notch 16 is bounded by two opposite walls 18. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a part of the circularly shaped flexible element 12 with radially and tangentially extending notches 16.

The rigid element 15 comprises a circular disk 19 and an axially extending reinforcement cylinder 20. The device 11 is also provided with a support 21 into which the rigid element 15 is located. The support 21 is further provided with an actuator element 22 extending perpendicularly to the disk 19 and connected with an end 23 to the centre of the flexible element 12. The support 21 comprises two click fingers 24 which are engaged with edges 25 on the flexible element 12. The edges 25 are at opposite sides of the actuator 22. Furthermore, the support 21 supports two lighting elements 26, for example LEDs being operated by means of batteries (not shown) which are located in the support 21. In the position as shown in Fig. 2A, the device 11 is attached by means of the adhesive layer 13 to the wall 10. The disk 19 of the rigid element 15 is in abutment with the surface 17 of the flexible element 12 and prevents the flexible element 12 from being bent. The click fingers 24 keep the support 21 firmly attached to the flexible element 12. If a user wants to remove the device 11 , he places his fingers in grooves 26 in the vicinity of the click fingers 24 and exerts forces in the direction as indicated by the arrows P3, P4. Due to these forces the click fingers 24 will be brought out of engagement with the edges 25. The support 21 can now be displaced in a direction indicated by arrow P5, perpendicular to the wall 10. By moving the support 21 also the rigid element 15 and the actuator 22 will be moved away from the wall 10. Since the rigid element is no longer in abutment with the whole surface 17, the flexible element 12 can now be bent. Starting from the centre the adhesive layer 13 will be peeled off the wall 10. The movement of the support 21 in the direction as indicated by arrow P5 will be continued until the adhesive layer 13 is disconnected from the wall 10.

Figs. 4A-4D and Figs 5A-5C show another embodiment of a device 31 according to the invention, which device 31 is provided with a flexible element 32, an adhesive layer 33 provided on a first flat surface 34 of the flexible element 32 and a rigid element 35. The flexible element 32 is provided on a side remote from the flat surface 34 with a number of notches 36 extending from a second flat surface 37 of the flexible element 32 towards the first flat surface 34. Each notch 36 is bounded by two opposite walls 38. The rigid element 35 comprises a number of protrusions 39 located at a distance from each other and having dimensions corresponding to the distance between the notches 36 and the dimensions thereof. The rigid element 35 is connected by means of a hinge 40 to the flexible element 32. At a side remote from the hinge 40 the flexible element 32 is provided with a click finger 41. The click finger 41 is in engagement with an edge 42 on the rigid element 35.

In the position of the device 1 as shown in Fig. 4A, 5A, the device 31 is connected by means of the adhesive layer 33 to a wall 10. Since the adhesive layer 33 is provided over the whole surface 34, a relatively strong connection is obtained between the device 31 and the wall 10. The protrusions 39 are inserted into the notches 36, so that the rigid element 35 is connected to the flexible element 32. Due to the connection between the rigid element 35 and the flexible element 32, the flexible element 32 has a rigidity that corresponds to the rigidity of the rigid element 35. If a user wants to remove the device 31 from the wall 10, he disconnects the click finger 41 from the edge 42, after which he pivots the rigid element 35 about the hinge 40 in a direction as indicated by arrow P6 (see Fig 4B, 5B, 4C). The protrusions 39 will be moved out of the notches 36 and the rigid element 35 and the flexible element 32 become separated. He will then pull the rigid element 35 in a direction perpendicular to the wall

10 as indicated by arrow P7, whereby the adhesive layer 33 will gradually be peeled off the wall 10. During this peeling off, the flexible element 32 will be bent and walls 38 of the edges 36 will be moved towards each other. Figs. 6A-6D show a fourth embodiment of a device 51 according to the invention. The device 51 comprises a rigid element 52 and a flexible element 53. The rigid element 52 comprises two T-shaped guiding profiles 54. In each leg 55 of the T-shaped profile 54 an end of an elongated guide element 56 is slidably located. The outer guide elements 56 are connected by means of a rod 57 to the centrally located guide element 56. The flexible element 53 comprises a non-elastic endless strap 58 extending around the three guide elements 56. On a side remote from the guide elements 56, the strap 58 is provided with an adhesive layer 59.

In the position as shown in Fig. 6A, the device 51 is connected to the wall 10 by means of the adhesive layer 59. The outer guide elements 56 are located near ends of the legs 55 whilst the centrally located guide element 56 is positioned at the crossing of the legs 55. Preferably at least one guide element 56 is locked in its position. In this position the strap 58 is tensioned around the guide elements 56 and the strap 58 as well as the adhesive layer 59 attached thereto are almost as rigid as the rigid element 52 itself. If a user wants to remove the device 51 , he unlocks the guide element 56 and moves the central guide element 56 in a direction perpendicular to the wall, as indicated by arrow P8 (see Figs. 6B and 6C). The outer guide elements 56 will be moved towards each other and as a result the strap 58 will go slack around the guide elements 56. At the same time the user moves the device 51 as a whole in the direction as indicated by arrow P8. Edges of the adhesive layer 59 will consequently be peeled off from the wall 10. By further moving the central guide element 56 towards the end of the leg 55, the outer guide elements 56 will move closer to each other, the strap 58 will slacken and the adhesive layer 59 can gradually be peeled off the wall 10.

The devices 1 , 11, 31 and 51 can be used for detachably connecting a lighting element to a wall.

It is possible to use batteries for the lighting element. However, it is also possible to charge the lighting element by induction or to use electric cables.

It is also possible to use a relatively thin magnetic layer on the flexible element and to provide the wall with a steel plate, whereby the connection between the flexible element and the wall is obtained by means of a magnetic adhesion force. In the same manner as with an adhesive layer, the magnetic layer can be peeled off the wall using relatively little force. The magnetic layer can also be provided on the wall, in which case a bendable steel layer is provided on the flexible element. It is also possible to provide the flexible element with a large number of suction cups, whereby a relatively large holding force is obtained when all the suction cups are connected by suction to a wall. By peeling off the flexible element in a manner as discussed above, the suction cups will be disconnected one after another, so that the force needed for removing the flexible element from the wall is relatively small.