Search

EP-4734826-A1 - ATTACHMENT DEVICE COMPRISNG FLEXIBLE CHAMBERS AND A PRESSURE CONTROL LAYER

EP4734826A1EP 4734826 A1EP4734826 A1EP 4734826A1EP-4734826-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to attachment devices and methods of arranging such devices on a target surface, wherein the attachment device is removably attached to the surface. The device is detached from the surface by a detach mechanism and can be repeatedly reused. The attachment device comprises a surface-mountable layer configured to be removably mountable on the surface when the attachment device is pressed against the surface. The surface-mountable layer further comprises one or more flexible chambers configured to undergo a first state of reversible volume change when the attachment device is pressed against the surface. The attachment device further comprises a pressure control layer configured to reversibly seal the distal opening of the one or more chambers when the external impetus is applied in the first direction.

Inventors

  • WU, LEO HONG

Assignees

  • Lumeo Technology AB

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240626

Claims (14)

  1. 1. An attachment device (1) configured to be removably attached to a surface (100), the attachment device comprising: a surface-mountable layer (11) configured to be removably mountable on the surface when the attachment device is pressed against the surface by means of an external impetus (Fl) applied in a first direction; the surface-mountable layer comprising a proximal side (111) arranged to be mountable to the surface, and a distal side (112) arranged opposite the proximal side; and wherein the surface-mountable layer further comprises one or more flexible chambers (113) arranged therein, each flexible chamber having at least a distal opening (113a) arranged at the distal side of the surface-mountable layer; wherein each of the one or more chambers is configured to undergo a first state of reversible volume change when the attachment device is pressed against the surface; wherein the attachment device further comprises a pressure control layer (12) adjustably arranged at the distal side of the surface-mountable layer, the pressure control layer configured to be pressed against a first surface (112a) of the distal side (112) of the surface-mountable layer when the attachment device is pressed against the surface; and wherein the pressure control layer is configured to reversibly seal the distal opening (113a) of the one or more chambers when the external impetus is applied in the first direction.
  2. 2. The attachment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the surface- mountable layer is further configured to undergo a reversible deformation when the attachment device is pressed against the surface in response to the external impetus (Fl) applied in the first direction; causing the first state of reversible volume change of the one or more chambers such that air is depleted from inside the one or more flexible chambers through the distal opening (113a) of each flexible chamber.
  3. 3. The attachment device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the pressure control layer (12) is further configured to form a vacuum inside the one or more flexible chambers by reversibly sealing the respective distal opening (113a) of the one or more flexible chambers under the first state of reversible volume change of the one or more flexible chambers.
  4. 4. The attachment device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pressure control layer (12) is further configured to reversibly unseal the distal opening of the one or more flexible chambers when the external impetus is applied in a second direction, thereby releasing the vacuum inside the one or more flexible chambers.
  5. 5. The attachment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the surface-mountable layer further comprises: at least a first (11a) and a second (lib) sub-layer formed within the surface- mountable layer, wherein the first sub-layer is arranged proximal to the surface onto which it is removably attached, and wherein the first sub-layer is further configured to flexibly adapt to a shape of the surface.
  6. 6. The attachment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure control layer further comprises, or is arranged to be adjustably mountable to, a first cover layer; the first cover layer comprising one or more cover portions (12al), each cover portion being associated with the distal opening of a respective flexible chamber (113) of the one or more flexible chambers; wherein each cover portion is arranged to adjustably extend over the distal opening of its respective flexible chamber and is configured to enable reversible sealing of the distal opening of each chamber when the external impetus is applied in the first direction.
  7. 7. The attachment device (1) according to claim 6, wherein each cover portion is configured to be arrangeable at a first operational position corresponding to a reversibly sealed state of the distal opening of each chamber in response to the external impetus applied in the first direction, such that the vacuum is formed inside the one or more flexible chambers under the first state of reversible volume change of the one or more flexible chambers; and / or arrangeable at a second operational position corresponding to a reversibly unsealed state of the distal opening of each chamber in response to the external impetus applied in the second direction, such that the vacuum inside the one or more chambers is released.
  8. 8. The attachment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the one or more chambers of the surface-mountable layer further comprises a proximal opening (113c) arranged at the proximal side of the surface-mountable layer.
  9. 9. The attachment device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the surface- mountable layer further comprises or is arranged to be coupled to a reversibly deformable membrane (14) arranged at and extending over the proximal opening of the at least one of the one or more chambers of the surface-mountable layer.
  10. 10. The attachment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the external impetus comprises any one of push, pull, pinch, slide or twist motions.
  11. 11. The attachment device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the surface onto which the attachment device is removably mounted comprises a skin surface.
  12. 12. A method (800) for arranging an attachment device (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 11 to a surface, the method comprising: providing (801) a surface-mountable layer (11) configured to be removably mountable on the surface (100), wherein the surface-mountable layer comprises a proximal side (111) arranged to be mountable to the surface, and a distal side (112) arranged opposite the proximal side; and wherein the surface-mountable layer further comprises one or more flexible chambers (113) arranged therein, each flexible chamber having at least a distal opening (113a) arranged at the distal side of the surface-mountable layer; pressing (803) the attachment device against the surface by applying an external impetus applied to the attachment device in a first direction; pressing (805) a pressure control layer, comprised in the attachment device and adjustably arranged at the distal side of the surface-mountable layer, against a first surface of the distal side of the surface-mountable layer when the attachment device is pressed against the surface; causing (807), each of the one or more chambers, to undergo a first state of reversible volume change by pressing the pressure control layer against the first surface of the distal side of the surface-mountable layer; reversibly sealing (809) the distal opening of the one or more chambers by means of the pressure control layer; thereby removably attaching the attachment device to the surface.
  13. 13. The method (800) according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises: generating (811) a reversible deformation in the surface-mountable layer, when the attachment device is pressed against the surface in response to the external impetus applied in the first direction; causing (813) the first state of reversible volume change of the one or more chambers by causing air to be depleted from inside the one or more flexible chambers through the distal opening of each flexible chamber; forming (815), by means of the pressure control layer, a vacuum inside the one or more flexible chambers by reversibly sealing the distal opening of the one or more flexible chambers under the first state of reversible volume change of the one or more flexible chambers.
  14. 14. The method (800) according to any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the method further comprises: reversibly unsealing (817) the distal opening of the one or more flexible chambers by applying the external impetus in a second direction; causing (819), each of the one or more flexible chambers, to undergo a second state of reversible volume change, by causing the one or more flexible chambers to reversibly transition from the first state of reversible volume change to the second state of reversible volume change such that the vacuum inside the one or more chambers is released under the second state of reversible volume change; causing (821) air to be restored into the one or more flexible chambers through the distal opening of each flexible chamber; and thereby causing (823) the removably attached surface-mountable layer to be released from the surface.

Description

TITLE ATTACHMENT DEVICE COMPRISNG FLEXIBLE CHAMBERS AND A PRESSURE CONTROL LAYER TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an attachment device as well as method of forming such an attachment device. Particularly, embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure relate to an attachment device configured to be removably attached to a surface. BACKGROUND The field of wearable technology, particularly attachment of wearables to surfaces such as skin-attachable sensors, has proliferated across various sectors, including healthcare, fitness and sports, industrial manufacturing, entertainment, fashion, jewelry, and security, among others. These wearables have become vital for real-time health monitoring, tracking human motion, vital signs, biomarkers, and enabling diagnostic applications for various illnesses. The ability to non-invasively monitor such parameters has significantly revolutionized patient care, chronic disease management, and eldercare. In the realm of fitness and sports, such technologies facilitate performance monitoring, offering fitness trackers, smartwatches, and GPS devices as tools for wellness enhancement. The adoption of these devices extends to industrial sectors where they promote safety, efficiency, and productivity by collecting realtime data, enabling activity monitoring, and offering personalized experiences based on user needs. Wearables also play a pivotal role in the entertainment industry, enabling immersive gaming experiences, and virtual reality interactions. Concurrently, wearable technology has penetrated the fashion and jewelry industry, offering body health monitoring, fitness tracking, and personalized skin counseling integrated within fashionable accessories. In the security sector, wearable technology provides robust solutions for individual monitoring and tracking. Other notable applications encompass navigation, smart clothing, and smart tattoos. In summary, the utility of wearable technology has diversified remarkably, improving communication, health, fitness, and providing a broad spectrum of applications across multiple domains. Attachment and adhesion methods form a critical part of the current wearable technology solutions, facilitating the effective application of skin-attachable sensors and electronic devices. Existing methods range from adhesive tapes, silicone adhesives, to polymeric materials without adhesive, among others. Adhesive tapes, commonly used for their easy application, breathability, and durability, vary in type. Alternatively, silicone adhesives offer long-term adhesion, with medical-grade silicone adhesives being widely employed in the medical industry. Polymeric materials without adhesive present an innovative approach, directly bonding to the skin without adhesive requirements. An example of such materials includes rubber-like polymers. Bracelets and crosslinking of viscous tips have also been used. Indeed, while surface-attachable sensors and electronic devices have seen significant advancements, their attachment methods present several challenges that need to be addressed. Adhesive tapes, while widely used, can lead to several issues. For instance when mounted to skin of a user, various skin reactions, such as rashes, blisters, skin stripping, and other side effects may be caused. This can particularly be a problem for individuals with sensitive skin or allergic reactions to specific adhesive materials. Moreover, poor adhesion is another major problem. Over time, adhesive tapes can lose their stickiness, especially with exposure to wet surfaces e.g. water (showering, bathing, swimming) and sweat. This can lead to the device falling off prematurely, compromising the reliability and effectiveness of the device. Silicone adhesives, although designed to be gentle on the skin, present their own challenges including difficulty removing without causing skin trauma. This can be a significant issue, especially for individuals with sensitive skin or for long-term use. Polymeric materials without adhesive offer a potential alternative but have limitations which restricts their usability and compatibility with different devices and surface types. There is a need in the field of attachment devices for development of versatile solutions, which address some of the above-mentioned drawbacks. SUMMARY It is accordingly an objective of the present invention to improve the current state of the art and to mitigate at least some of the above-mentioned problems. These and other objectives are achieved by providing an attachment device and methods of arranging such a device on target surfaces including attachment and detachment mechanisms as defined in the appended independent and dependent claims. The term exemplary is in the present context to be understood as serving as an instance, example or illustration. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an attachment device configured to be removably attached to a surface.