Patents by Inventor William L. Huber
William L. Huber has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7727440Abstract: A method of forming a fastener is provided, including (a) forming, from a thermoformable material, a preform product having a sheet-form base and an array of preform stems integrally molded with and extending from the base to corresponding terminal ends; (b) heating the terminal ends of the stems to a predetermined softening temperature, while maintaining the sheet-form base and a lower portion of each stem at a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and (c) contacting the terminal ends with a contact surface that is at a predetermined forming temperature, lower than the softening temperature, to deform the terminal ends to form heads therefrom that overhang the sheet-form base. Fasteners and other methods of forming them are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2004Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Luis Parellada Armela, Juan Sánchez, William Clune, Jefferson Davis, Christopher M. Gallant, Melissa Spezzafero, Mark A. Clarner, William L. Huber, David P. Kraus, Jr., George A. Provost, Howard A. Kingsford, Michel Labrecque
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Patent number: 7275290Abstract: Molded male touch fastener components, and methods of making such components are disclosed. Components include multiple, discrete features that extend laterally from a common side of an upper end of a formation, for engagement of loops.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Mark A. Clarner, George A. Provost, William L. Huber
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Patent number: 7052638Abstract: Forming a fastener component having heads constructed to engage loops formed e.g. of fibers of a mating component, comprises forming, from a thermoformable material, a preform product having a sheet-form base and an array of preform stems integrally molded with and extending from the base to corresponding terminal ends, by a process having a machine direction and a cross-machine direction. Each molded stem has at least two terminal features spaced from one another in the cross-machine direction, the features having a transverse shape about which engaging fibers can bend, the features having a thickness of about 0.25 mm (0.010 inch) or less, preferably about 0.20 mm (0.008 inch), and for personal care products and the like preferably about 0.1 mm (0.004 inch) or less. The terminal ends of the features are heated to a predetermined softening temperature and the terminal ends are contacted to reform the terminal ends to form heads therefrom that overhang the sheet-form base sufficiently to engage loops.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2003Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Mark A. Clarner, George A. Provost, William L. Huber
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Patent number: 6991843Abstract: A method of forming a fastener is provided, including (a) forming, from a thermoformable material, a preform product having a sheet-form base and an array of preform stems integrally molded with and extending from the base to corresponding terminal ends; (b) heating the terminal ends of the stems to a predetermined softening temperature, while maintaining the sheet-form base and a lower portion of each stem at a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and (c) contacting the terminal ends with a contact surface that is at a predetermined forming temperature, lower than the softening temperature, to deform the terminal ends to form heads therefrom that overhang the sheet-form base. Fasteners and other methods of forming them are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2002Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Luis Parellada Armela, Juan Sánchez, William Clune, Jefferson Davis, Christopher M. Gallant, Melissa Spezzafero, Mark A. Clarner, William L. Huber, David P. Kraus, Jr., George A. Provost, Howard A. Kingsford, Michel Labrecque
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Publication number: 20040031130Abstract: Forming a fastener component having heads constructed to engage loops formed e.g. of fibers of a mating component, comprises forming, from a thermoformable material, a preform product having a sheet-form base and an array of preform stems integrally molded with and extending from the base to corresponding terminal ends, by a process having a machine direction and a cross-machine direction. Each molded stem has at least two terminal features spaced from one another in the cross-machine direction, the features having a transverse shape about which engaging fibers can bend, the features having a thickness of about 0.25 mm (0.010 inch) or less, preferably about 0.20 mm (0.008 inch), and for personal care products and the like preferably about 0.1 mm (0.004 inch) or less. The terminal ends of the features are heated to a predetermined softening temperature and the terminal ends are contacted to reform the terminal ends to form heads therefrom that overhang the sheet-form base sufficiently to engage loops.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventors: Mark A. Clarner, George A. Provost, William L. Huber
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Patent number: 6692674Abstract: A fastener product includes a planar base, multiple discrete plateaus molded integrally with and extending from an upper surface of the base each plateau having an upper surface that is smaller in area than an overall area of the base covered by the plateau, and an array of discrete fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from the upper surface of the plateau. The product is molded on a mold roll covered by a sleeve either made of a resilient material or having apertures intersecting an inner surface of the sleeve at an inner opening that is smaller than an outer opening of the aperture at an outer sleeve surface to form an edge of the fastener product of decreased sharpness.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Wallace L. Kurtz, Jr., Ernesto S. Tachauer, Brian J. Vanbenschoten, William L. Huber
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Publication number: 20030106188Abstract: A method of forming a fastener is provided, including (a) forming, from a thermoformable material, a preform product having a sheet-form base and an array of preform stems integrally molded with and extending from the base to corresponding terminal ends; (b) heating the terminal ends of the stems to a predetermined softening temperature, while maintaining the sheet-form base and a lower portion of each stem at a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and (c) contacting the terminal ends with a contact surface that is at a predetermined forming temperature, lower than the softening temperature, to deform the terminal ends to form heads therefrom that overhang the sheet-form base. Fasteners and other methods of forming them are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Luis Parellada Armela, Juan Sanchez, William Clune, Jefferson Davis, Christopher M. Gallant, Melissa Spezzafero, Mark A. Clarner, William L. Huber, David P. Kraus, George A. Provost, Howard A. Kingsford, Michel Labrecque
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Patent number: 6544245Abstract: A bi-stable hook component of a touch fastener can bend into, and remain in, a stable concave position. Another stable position enables initial engagement with a mating component (e.g., a loop component). The concave position applies engagement-enhancing tension to the engaged loops, and in some cases forces end portions of the hooks into close proximity with one another to secure the fastening and to produce a curved touch fastener that, as engaged, can better conform to an underlying curved surface, such as the contour of a wearer's body. Absorbent articles having such a bi-stable fastening system are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Alexander J. Neeb, Richard J. Schmidt, Brian J. Vanbenschoten, William L. Huber, Wallace L. Kurtz, Jr., Ernesto S. Tachauer
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Publication number: 20020169435Abstract: A bi-stable hook component of a touch fastener can bend into, and remain in, a stable concave position. Another stable position enables initial engagement with a mating component (e.g., a loop component). The concave position applies engagement-enhancing tension to the engaged loops, and in some cases forces end portions of the hooks into close proximity with one another to secure the fastening and to produce a curved touch fastener that, as engaged, can better conform to an underlying curved surface, such as the contour of a wearer's body. Absorbent articles having such a bi-stable fastening system are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2001Publication date: November 14, 2002Inventors: Alexander J. Neeb, Richard J. Schmidt, Brian J. Vanbenschoten, William L. Huber, Wallace L. Kurtz, Ernesto S. Tachauer
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Patent number: D516952Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2003Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Howard A. Kingsford, William L. Huber, Heidi S. Tremblay
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Patent number: D527989Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Velero Industries B.V.Inventors: Howard A. Kingsford, William L. Huber, Heidi S. Tremblay
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Patent number: RE42475Abstract: A method of forming a fastener is provided, including (a) forming, from a thermoformable material, a preform product having a sheet-form base and an array of preform stems integrally molded with and extending from the base to corresponding terminal ends; (b) heating the terminal ends of the stems to a predetermined softening temperature, while maintaining the sheet-form base and a lower portion of each stem at a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and (c) contacting the terminal ends with a contact surface that is at a predetermined forming temperature, lower than the softening temperature, to deform the terminal ends to form heads therefrom that overhang the sheet-form base. Fasteners and other methods of forming them are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2009Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Luis Parellada Armela, Juan Sanchez, William P. Clune, Jefferson Davis, Christopher M. Gallant, Melissa Spezzafero, Mark A. Clarner, William L. Huber, David P. Kraus, Jr., George A. Provost, Howard A. Kingsford, Michel Labrecque