Having Filaments Formed From Continuous Element Interwoven Or Knitted Into Distinct, Mounting Surface Fabric Patents (Class 24/445)
  • Patent number: 10472147
    Abstract: New fastening devices and techniques are provided. A self-bonding cord is provided with unlimited possible divisions and self-bonding points. In some embodiments, radially-emanating columns with barbs for self-bonding are provided, where the barbs are angled to promote holding as they are spread by the interposition of other columns during self-bonding of the cord. The columns also define the outer surface of the cord, having outer gripping features that create an outer surface of the cord. In other embodiments, a cord has a memory and conformational structure providing elastic bundling, and encouraging self-bonding and wrapping—with semi-circular semi-ports and outer holding ridges spaced at intervals corresponding with the contact profile of the cord. In a method of use, one wraps various items in at least one loop of the cord, and presses loose ends of the cord together, creating a strong, reversible self-bond. Multiple-strength touch bonding is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Christopher V. Beckman
  • Patent number: 10154706
    Abstract: A flat touch-and-close fastener element, which is detachably connected to a second touch-and-close fastener element, thereby forms a touch-and-close closure. The fastener element has a system of threads (10) of warp and weft threads, as well as pile threads. The individual threads have different chemical and/or physical properties and, for this purpose, are formed of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GOTTLIEB BINDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Konstantinos Poulakis
  • Patent number: 9750595
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to implantable medical devices which include grip-members and methods of reinforcing tissue with such devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jonathan Thomas, Ferass Abuzaina
  • Patent number: 9510931
    Abstract: A method of improving the mechanical properties of a tissue patch is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a tissue patch and placing at least one barbed suture along at least a portion of the tissue patch. The method may further include the step of placing one or more additional barbed sutures in a laterally spaced relation to the barbed suture. The barbed suture may be biodegradable or non-biodegradable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Joseph Hotter, Nilay Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 9138031
    Abstract: A method of making a mechanical fastening strip and a reticulated mechanical fastening strip are disclosed. The method includes providing a backing having upstanding posts; providing interrupted slits through the backing, the interrupted slits being interrupted by at least one intact bridging region; spreading the slit backing to provide multiple strands separated from each other between at least some of the bridging regions to provide at least one opening; and fixing the multiple strands of the backing in a spread configuration. The reticulated mechanical fastening strip includes multiple strands of a backing attached to each other at bridging regions in the backing and separated from each other between the bridging regions to provide openings. Upstanding posts on each of the multiple strands have bases attached to the backing, and each of the multiple strands has a width that is greater than that of the bases of its attached upstanding posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Leigh E. Wood, Thomas J. Gilbert, Mark A. Peltier, Peter Kitzer, Volker Hauschildt, Andreas Urban, William C. Unruh, Kristopher K. Biegler
  • Patent number: 8776331
    Abstract: A mechanical closure part includes a support part and a plurality of closure elements extending away from the support part via stems and provided with head parts (2) on their free ends. The closure elements are subdivided on the support part into groups (4) which form a fictitious annular arrangement in the form of a multi-cornered element having corners equipped with a closure element. A group of closure elements (6) is formed within the respective groups (4) with their head parts (2), in the non-actuated state of the closure, adjoining each other in an adjacent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Konstantinos Poulakis
  • Patent number: 8656564
    Abstract: A fastening fabric structure is disclosed to have a micro-fibriform loop fabric, fabricated by complex, textured micro-fiber yarn and split thereafter to recover more and smaller fibers, all of the fibers forming the micro-fibriform loops or pile loops between the inter-weaving or inter-knitting nodes, and a fibriform pile fabric, fabricated by spun yarn or synthetic filament yarn and sheared to form erected, dispersed non-hook fiber bundles of micro-fibriform pile for fastening the micro-fibriform loops of said micro-fibriform loop fabric. The erected, dispersed non-hook fiber bundles of micro-fibriform pile will not be tangled together, enhancing the fastening ability of the fastening fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Chao-Mu Chou
  • Patent number: 8615854
    Abstract: A fixturing apparatus (100), including a first fixturing surface (230), and a plurality of locking teeth (210) attached to and extending outwardly from that fixturing surface, wherein each locking tooth includes a parallelepiped comprising a rectangular base (310), a first rectangular side (320) attached to a first end of that rectangular base and extending outwardly therefrom, and a second rectangular side (330) attached to an opposing end of the rectangular base and extending outwardly therefrom, wherein a first rectangular side distal end (324) is attached to a second rectangular side distal end 336.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Michael P. Fennell
  • Patent number: 8551377
    Abstract: A touch fastener strip includes a sheet-form material substrate having a front face, an array of fastener elements integrally molded with a resin base layer on the front face of the substrate and an array of discrete regions of resin (e.g., gripping elements) integrally molded with a resin base layer through apertures in the sheet-form material on the back face of the substrate. The array of fastener elements forms a discrete band of fastener elements extending longitudinally along the front face of the fastener strip, and the array of gripping elements forms a discrete band of gripping elements extending longitudinally along the back face of the fastener strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Clinton Dowd
  • Patent number: 8276243
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a hook and loop tie for securing a bundle of cables. The hook and loop tie comprises a loop component, a hook component, and a non-slip component. The loop component has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of loop fastening elements. The hook component is affixed to the loop component, extends from the first end of the loop component toward the second end of the loop component, and has a plurality of hook fastening elements. The non-slip component is affixed to the loop component, extends from the second end of the loop component toward the first end of the loop component, and overlaps at least a portion of the hook component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, David W. West
  • Publication number: 20120096690
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fastening fabric structure, which comprises a micro-fibriform loop fabric structure and a fibriform pile fabric structure. The micro-fibriform loop fabric structure has micro-fibriform loops erected and protruded from the surface of the fabric processed with a fiber splitting treatment to form erected and loosen micro-fibriform loops on the surface of the fabric; the fibriform pile fabric structure has erected and dispersed restrain fiber bundles on the surface of the fabric to form fibriform loops processed with a shearing treatment. Because the micro-fibriform loops are loosen and protruded from the surface of the fabric, the capability of restrain the fibriform pile fabric structure can be greatly enhanced, and the restrain fiber bundles of the fibriform pile fabric structure are prevented from tangling together, thereby greatly increasing the amount of effective fastening fibers and strengthening the fastening and adhering capability of the fastening fabric structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Chao-Mu CHOU
  • Patent number: 8152787
    Abstract: An absorbent article has front and back waist regions that define transversely opposite sides each extending a length Lp from a waist opening to a leg opening of the article. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one side of the article and extending a greatest length La along at least a portion of the length Lp of the side. A tab region of the tab extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least a disposal configuration of the article. The greatest length La of the attachment region is substantially greater than the greatest distance Dt that the tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region. The greatest length La of the attachment region is in the range of about 35 percent to 100 percent of the length Lp of the side of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Faulks, Robert Lee Popp, Michael D. Sperl, Nancy Meetz, Sandra M. Rogers, Lorelle M. Scheibe, Joseph P. Fell, Christine Ann Caneba
  • Patent number: 8051540
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a releasable fastening arrangement that can include a first fastening strip secured to and extending over a substrate surface and having a first surface carrying first fastening elements extending from the surface. The releasable fastening arrangement can also include a second fastening strip having a second surface carrying second fastening elements that are engageable by the first fastening elements to form a releasable fastening. The first surface can include a flexible flap that is formed therein, and that is surrounded by other portions of the first surface. The flap can carry at least one of the first fastening elements, and can flap have a distal edge that is displaceable from the substrate surface under peel loads applied to the at least one first fastening element carried by the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Gallant, Mark A. Clarner, Derrick Slowikowski, Jefferson Davis, Wallace L. Kurtz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8039083
    Abstract: A fabric separable fastener member is provided which comprises a fiber for a base fabric and a fiber for a fastening element firmly anchored by the fused fiber for the base fabric and which is excellent in flexibility and durability without a back-coated layer. The separable fastener member comprises (?1) a ground warp, (?2) a ground weft containing a binder fiber, and (?3) a pile yarn, and the pile yarn (?3) is anchored by the fused binder fiber. In the separable fastener member, each of the ground warp (?1), the ground weft (?2) and the pile yarn (?3) comprises a polyester fiber, the mass ratio of the ground warp (a1) relative to the ground weft (a2) is 40/60 to 80/20, and the mass ratio of the total amount of the ground warp (a1) and the ground weft (a2) relative to the pile yarn (a3) is 90/10 to 50/50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Kuraray Fastening Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukitoshi Higashinaka, Hitoshi Nakatsuka, Toshiyuki Katsuki, Kazuhiko Tanaka, Hiroshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 7950114
    Abstract: A self-adhering device connects two portions in a surface-to-surface interfaced juxtaposition by resiliently interspersing undercut nodules within corresponding receptors. At least one portion is generally flexible. The device may be configured in diverse configurations including alternative geometries, double-sided embodiments, and embodiments with no greater thickness when attached than when unattached. The method of use includes application of a relative compressive force to the portions which may be optionally provided by a sliding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Leonard Arnold Duffy
  • Publication number: 20100313388
    Abstract: A self-sticking fabric structure includes loop-like fabric structure, which is fabricated by complex yarns and split thereafter to recover smaller fibers, substantially all of the fibers forming loop-like fastening elements between each two adjacent inter-weaving or inter-knitting nodes, and a hook fabric structure, which is fabricated by staple fibers for enabling the ends of the staple fibers to protrude over the surface of the fabric and to form a layer of fiber flock type hook-like fastening elements. The fabrication of the self-sticking fabric does not require any further brushing or pile-raising processing process, saving the manufacturing cost, reducing the fabric thickness, and widening the application of the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventor: Chao-Mu CHOU
  • Patent number: 7678316
    Abstract: A method that includes coextruding two or more thermoplastic resin streams through a profiled die plate, which die plate is shaped to form a nonplanar film (three dimensional) preferably with a regularly oscillating peak and valley structure that oscillates from a top surface to a bottom surface forming longitudinally extending ridges on both faces of the film. The film is formed by coextruding the film through the oscillating die plate opening causing partitioning of the resins in different zones in the width direction of the film. Flattening of the film results in a film with side-by-side zones formed of different polymers or relative proportions of polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald W. Ausen, Janet A. Venne, Jayshree Seth
  • Patent number: 7544628
    Abstract: A loop-forming nonwoven material (28) is used as a mechanical closure element, in particular for disposable sanitary articles (2) such as various types of nappies, incontinence articles and pads. A first upper face (40) of the nonwoven material (30) has first larger non-bonded areas (42), which are located at a distance from one another in the form of islands. The first larger non-bonded areas (42) of the nonwoven material are delimited by bonded contours (44) and surrounded by second smaller non-bonded areas (48) lying outside said delimitation and separating the larger areas from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Stupperich, Fridmann Hornung, Ruediger Kesselmeier
  • Publication number: 20080289157
    Abstract: A fabric separable fastener member is provided which comprises a fiber for a base fabric and a fiber for a fastening element firmly anchored by the fused fiber for the base fabric and which is excellent in flexibility and durability without a back-coated layer. The separable fastener member comprises (?1) a ground warp, (?2) a ground weft containing a binder fiber, and (?3) a pile yarn, and the pile yarn (?3) is anchored by the fused binder fiber. In the separable fastener member, each of the ground warp (?1), the ground weft (?2) and the pile yarn (?3) comprises a polyester fiber, the mass ratio of the ground warp (?1) relative to the ground weft (?2) is 40/60 to 80/20, and the mass ratio of the total amount of the ground warp (?1) and the ground weft (?2) relative to the pile yarn (?3) is 90/10 to 50/50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Kuraray Fastening Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukitoshi Higashinaka, Hitoshi Nakatsuka, Toshiyuki Katsuki, Kazuhiko Tanaka, Hiroshi Itoh
  • Publication number: 20080244878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting device having a metallic base plate, from which multiple projections project, and a method for manufacturing this mounting device. The mounting device may be obtained by cutting multiple hook preforms into the surface of the base plate while leaving at least one bending edge per hook preform. Furthermore, hook-like projections are manufactured by bending the hook preforms out of the base plate around the bending edge and possibly lateral protrusions are manufactured on the projections or these are twisted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Kurt Hoehe, Bernd Ruess, Georg Egloff, Franz Schweiggart
  • Publication number: 20080120815
    Abstract: A bendable touch fastener product having a longitudinally continuous foundation member that has an array of touch fastener elements, having respective resin stem extending outwardly from an outer surface of the foundation member, such that the array of fastener element is bounded by longitudinal array edges and spaced apart from opposite side sealing surfaces, and a method of manufacture of the bendable touch fastener product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Kevin Keith Line
  • Patent number: 7200902
    Abstract: A releasable fastener system comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. The loop portion includes a support and a loop material disposed on one side thereof whereas the hook portion includes a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof. When the hook portion and loop portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. The hook elements are formed of a material or have configurations that provide a shape changing capability and/or change in flexural modulus property to the hook elements. In this manner, the shape and/or flexural modulus of the hook elements can be remotely changed to provide a reduction in the shear and/or pull-off forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Lampe Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7193010
    Abstract: An aqueous resin composition satisfying the following criteria (I)–(III). (I) The aqueous resin composition contains (a) an aqueous dispersion of a polyurethane resin obtained from a macromolecular polyol, organic polyisocyanate, chain extending agent and 2,2-dimethylolbutanoic acid, and, if required, (b) an aqueous dispersion of an acrylic resin. (II) When the resin comprising this aqueous resin composition contains mainly a polyurethane resin, the inherent viscosity (?inh) of the polyurethane resin measured at a concentration of 0.5 g/dL in dimethylformamide solution is in the range of 0.2–0.7 dL/g. After this aqueous resin composition is dried, the elastic modulus at 25° C. of the film obtained by heat treatment at 80° C. for 8 hours is in the range of 8.0×106–5.0×108 Pa, and the elastic modulus at 80° C. is 8.0×107 Pa or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kato, Yukitoshi Higashinaka
  • Patent number: 6913810
    Abstract: A faster tape is provided including (a) a molded resin base sheet with an array of integrally molded fastener elements extending from a first side of the base sheet; and (b) a substrate permanently secured to a second side of the base sheet, the substrate comprising first ad second yarns or fibers, the first yarn or fiber comprising a first polymeric material and the second yarn of fiber comprising a second, different polymeric materials, one of the polymeric materials being capable of adhesion to the resin of the base sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Dershi Wang, Howard A. Kingsford
  • Patent number: 6910353
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a printed loop fabric with improved graphic visibility and clarity which may be used as the female portion of a mechanical closure system. The loop fabric is generally comprised of a knit fabric, and more specifically, of a warp knit, weft inserted fabric. One method of creating the printed loop fabric includes coating the backside of the loop fabric with a thermoplastic material and then printing the face side of the coated fabric. Alternatively, the printed loop fabric may be achieved by applying a thermoplastic material to the backside of the loop fabric and printing on the thermoplastic material. The printed loop fabric may also be produced by applying a thermoplastic material to the backside of a low loop fabric and laminating a pre-printed film to the thermoplastic material. The fabric can be made without sacrificing the fabric's hook to loop engagement strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Michael P. Sasser, Kenny Greene, Howell B. Eleazer, John M. Blackman
  • Publication number: 20040187275
    Abstract: An extruded hook fastener strip is created on a roll having hook forming cavities in its surface by extruding plastic material into the interface between the forming roll and a second strip carried by a backing roll. The second strip is firmly bonded to the fastener strip on that side opposite the formed hooks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V., a Netherlands corporation
    Inventors: William J. Kennedy, George A. Provost, Gerald F. Rocha
  • Patent number: 6737147
    Abstract: An extruded hook fastener strip is created on a roll having hook forming cavities in its surface by extruding plastic material into the interface between the forming roll and a second strip carried by a backing roll. The second strip is firmly bonded to the fastener strip on that side opposite the formed hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: William J. Kennedy, George A. Provost, Gerald F. Rocha
  • Patent number: 6681457
    Abstract: A finishing method for obtaining a fiber surface fastener, said method being capable of, with simple processes, firmly fixing entangling portions between a foundation cloth composed of knitted/woven structure or nonwoven fabric and base portions of engaging elements, further, the finishing method being capable of preventing coating agent from adhering to or solidifying on the protruding surfaces of the engaging elements, said surface fastener having excellent softness. While a fiber surface fastener in which a plurality of engaging elements are formed on a foundation cloth thereof is conveyed continuously, powdery hot-melt adhesive is applied to its engaging element formation face from a separate position, the surface fastener is heated at a temperature higher than a melting point of said adhesive for a required time so that the adhesive applied is melted between the base portions of the engaging elements and the foundation cloth, and then said surface fastener is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhisa Okawa, Masashi Doi, Norinaka Hirokawa
  • Publication number: 20030221298
    Abstract: A surface fastener and a product attached with the same surface fastener, having a structure for reducing a sound generated upon separation of a surface fastener member itself and capable of reducing a sound generated upon separation of the product attached with the same surface fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Teiichi Murayama, Shintaro Ohsugi, Akira Ishibashi, Masashi Doi, Mamoru Tanaka, Yoshihiro Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6647600
    Abstract: A hook and loop fastener for flat structures, particularly for textile products, having a hook part and an interlocking part, the interlocking part being made of a nonwoven composite having worked-in, textured, polymeric threads, the nonwoven composite being used as support for the textured threads, and the textured threads forming the loops for the hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Manfred Jöst, Dieter Groitzsch, Gerhard Schaut
  • Patent number: 6565943
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface fastener wherein necessary engaging strength is maintained for a long term, the surface fastener is flexible and has a favorable touch without prickly feeling even when male engaging elements formed of fibers are employed, and strange peeling noise is not generated. The surface fastener includes at least a large number of male engaging elements planted on a foundation cloth which is a woven or knitted fabric or a non-woven fabric and is formed of fibers, the surface fastener being engaged with and disengaged from a mating surface fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Kondo, Masashi Doi, Mitsutoshi Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20030061692
    Abstract: A reclosable closure consists of two longitudinally continuous strips and which, when facially engaged, are held together by hook and loop fastening principles. The inner side of one strip has two fields of hook-engageable loops, separated by a female seal profile portion. The inner side of the other strip has two fields of molded hook elements arranged to engage the loops to hold the closure in its closed condition, and a central male seal profile portion for engaging the female seal profile portion to form a seal when the closure is closed. Another reclosable closure is held together by hook and loop fastening principles and includes a resilient bead that is compressed between opposing sides of the closure, or between spaced rails of an opposing side of the closure, when the hooks and loops of the closure are engaged. The closure is useful, for example, as a bag closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B. V.
    Inventors: Howard A. Kingsford, William H. Shepard, Paul A. Dandurand
  • Publication number: 20020185192
    Abstract: A woven fastener product is shown in which monofilament loops woven in the structure are shown sized and located to provide pin-receiving mounting sleeves as part of the woven structure to fasten a device or object to the woven structure. In one case, a pair of sleeves has a pre-determined spacing corresponding to the spacing between a pair of mounting pins of a pre-determined device such as a wrist watch. In another case, an extensive field of mounting sleeves formed by a series of adjacent, parallel rows of the sleeves enable the mounting on the same band of different devices having different mounting pin spacings, e.g., to enable different size watches to be used on the same type of band. The mounting loops lying between those that correspond with the particular mounted device provide a cushioning effect adding to comfort and secure positioning of the watch or other device on the band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V., a Netherlands corporation
    Inventors: Der-Shi Wang, Pamela C. Wang, David E. Godlewski
  • Patent number: 6477750
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface fastener having a high durability, in which an engaging element yarn for forming loop-like or hook-like engaging elements is fixed firmly to a foundation fabric in a simple configuration. In a surface fastener foundation fabric woven with warps and wefts, the engaging element yarns for forming the loop-like, hook-like or mushroom-like engaging elements are woven into the foundation fabric at a predetermined interval, and cross-woven warps are woven with the engaging element yarns to fix the engaging element yarns to the foundation fabric at before and after each of loop portions of the engaging element yarns. Further, warps of thermal melting yarns are used as the cross-woven warps which are melted so that the engaging element yarns may be welded to the foundation fabric. Consequently, a surface fastener having good feeling and is excellent in strength and flexibility is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhisa Okawa, Norinaka Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 6460228
    Abstract: A monofilament interlaced loop surfaced and thin-profile fastener strip base material that replaces the multifilar nap surfaced and thicker profiled conventional base material and is fabricated into a unitary structural entity by a knitting machine. Among the innovative features are the interlacing of the upper and lower section wraps of the woof elements to form a bottom weave with a woof-oriented nylon monofilament, the overlaps of which continuously bind a pair of adjacent wraps and thereafter skips the next pair of adjacent wraps in an alternating pattern, the vertical linear interlinking of the overlaps by the continuous binding then becoming the wharf element of the bottom weave. The sections of monofilament that are not utilized for binding densely distributed along the bottom weave surface become arch-shaped freestanding loops that are flat and narrow and have an optimal degree of fastening strength and, furthermore, minimal lean propensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Ling-Mei Li
  • Patent number: 6443187
    Abstract: A woven fastener product is shown in which monofilament loops woven in the structure are shown sized and located to provide pin-receiving mounting sleeves as part of the woven structure to fasten a device or object to the woven structure. In one case, a pair of sleeves has a pre-determined spacing corresponding to the spacing between a pair of mounting pins of a pre-determined device such as a wrist watch. In another case, an extensive field of mounting sleeves formed by a series of adjacent, parallel rows of the sleeves enable the mounting on the same band of different devices having different mounting pin spacings, e.g., to enable different size watches to be used on the same type of band. The mounting loops lying between those that correspond with the particular mounted device provide a cushioning effect adding to comfort and secure positioning of the watch or other device on the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Der-Shi Wang, Pamela C. Wang, David E. Godlewski
  • Patent number: 6386242
    Abstract: A flexible hook fastener member having a hook density of 80 to 200 per cm2 and causing little damage to cooperating loop fastening elements. The loops for forming hook fastening elements are produced by thin monofilaments having a fineness of 100 to 200 deniers. The monofilament for forming the hook fastening elements are in reverse phase relation to the adjacent ground warps with respect to the ground wefts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukitoshi Higashinaka, Hiroshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 6332250
    Abstract: A mechanical fastener including a loop member includes a base sheet and a plurality of continuous filaments extending substantially parallel one to another on one surface of the base sheet substantially parallel one direction and the filaments are bonded to the base sheet along at least a pair of bonding zones extending transversely of the filaments to form a plurality of loop elements extending between the pair of bonding zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takamitsu Igaue, Toshimitsu Baba
  • Publication number: 20010016972
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface fastener having a high durability, in which an engaging element yarn for forming loop-like or hook-like engaging elements is fixed firmly to a foundation fabric in a simple configuration. In a surface fastener foundation fabric woven with warps and wefts, the engaging element yarns for forming the loop-like, hook-like or mushroom-like engaging elements are woven into the foundation fabric at a predetermined interval, and cross-woven warps are woven with the engaging element yarns to fix the engaging element yarns to the foundation fabric at before and after each of loop portions of the engaging element yarns. Further, warps of thermal melting yarns are used as the cross-woven warps which are melted so that the engaging element yarns may be welded to the foundation fabric. Consequently, a surface fastener having good feeling and is excellent in strength and flexibility is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhisa Okawa, Norinaka Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 6248419
    Abstract: An extruded hook fastener strip is created on a roll having hook forming cavities in its surface by extruding plastic material into the interface between the forming roll and a second strip carried by a backing roll. The second strip is firmly bonded to the fastener strip on that side opposite the formed hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: William J. Kennedy, George A. Provest, Gerald F. Rocha
  • Patent number: 6202260
    Abstract: A composite touch fastener has an elongated, sheet-form resin substrate, a fibrous loop strip partially encapsulated in, or otherwise permanently attached to, resin of the substrate, and an array of loop-engageable fastener elements integrally molded with resin of the substrate. The loop strip forms a discrete band of hook-engageable, free-standing loops along the length of the substrate, and has a substantially constant fiber density across its width. The array of fastener elements is arranged in a discrete band of fastener elements extending longitudinally along the substrate. The fastener product is useful as a repeated use bag closure, with a pair of grooves and a graspable rib integrally molded into the substrate between the fastener elements and loops. The center portion of the closure seals the bag until it is torn away to expose the mating bands of loops and fastener elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: William Clune, William H. Shepard
  • Patent number: 6202264
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface fastener made of a woven/knitted fabric which is extremely thin and flexible. Designs and the like on a rear face side of the fastener can be clearly seen through engaging elements and a substrate. Also, the fastener has a high productivity, thereby allowing a rational price setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6203645
    Abstract: A female fabric for use in a hook and loop connecting arrangement in which a plurality of spaced substantially parallel yarns having loops projecting from and integral therewith are held in spaced relationship by a suitable adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Michael William Gilpatrick
  • Patent number: 6196031
    Abstract: A knitted loop fabric comprising: a ground of warp yarns or wales (8,11) of stitches forming a network of wales parallel to one another and of weft connecting yarns or weft yarns (6), the latter being connected to the warp yarns to form the ground, and loops (14) knitted into the ground and each consisting of two legs (12, 13)) knitted into the ground and of two strands starting from the legs and of an apex connecting the two strands, the connection between the weft yarns (6) and the wales (8, 11) being such that each weft yarn (6) is first knitted into a first stitch of a first wale (11) in a weft connection, then into a second stitch (7) of a second wale (8) in a stitch connection, then into a third stitch (15) of a third wale in a second weft connection, then into a fourth stitch (9) of a fourth wale (8) in a stitch connection and then into a fifth stitch (10), which corresponds to the first stitch of a subsequent cycle, in a further weft connection, the second wale and fourth wale being disposed in the wa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Aplix
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Ducauchuis
  • Patent number: 6192556
    Abstract: A simple and less expensive nonwoven female component for a mechanical refastenable fastening device (“touch and close fastener”) can be conveniently used in mostly disposable applications such as disposable diapers, disposable operating gowns, disposable underwear and other clothing. The nonwoven fabric female component includes projecting loops formed on one of the superficial sides of the nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric comprises a hydroentangled web, and the loops are projectingly formed by needle punching on or at one of the superficial sides of the hydroentangled web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Japan Vilene Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiko Kikko, Hideo Kimura
  • Patent number: 6035498
    Abstract: A running length of fastener product is formed of longitudinally pre-oriented synthetic resin. The product is characterized by a base web and an array of discrete fastener elements protruding from at least one side of the web, the web being in a laterally stretched molecular oriented condition. After forming a preform having discrete fastener elements integral with a base web in a stretchable state, the preform is stretched in a manner that substantially increases the fastener element spacing and reduces the thickness of the base web. A machine is shown that is capable of lengthwise orienting before forming and widthwise stretching after forming, which employs controlled heating to render the product widthwise stretchable while preserving or achieving a desired shape of the fastener elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Velcro Industties B.V.
    Inventors: Keith G. Buzzell, George A. Provost, Richard G. Maydra
  • Patent number: 5996189
    Abstract: A woven hook-and-loop fastener product includes a base fabric and at least one edge extending in the warp direction that serves as a load-dissipating structure. The edge is a resilient tube structure or a fabric woven to be thicker than the base fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Der-Shi Wang
  • Patent number: 5974635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a female engaging member for a surface fastener carrying engaging elements which has a novel profile and a method of manufacturing a surface fastener which is adapted to continuous manufacturing operation by means of a relatively simple process without requiring serious maintenance efforts. The method will allow to select appropriate engaging force and anti-separation force for the surface fastener. The engaging member for a surface fastener comprises a flat plate-like substrate and a large number of pile-shaped engaging elements arranged on the surface thereof. The pile-shaped engaging elements are made of filaments wound around core threads and thus continuous manufacturing by simple operation is realized. A winding of the filament wound around the core thread has a length greater than that of the outer periphery of the core thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Murasaki
  • Patent number: 5945193
    Abstract: A fastening component of a separable fastener has some portion that is necessary for its fastening function, such as the space adjacent the fastening elements, the base to which the fastening elements are attached or a substrate that is used for another purpose, comprised of a magnetically attractive or electrically conductive porous metal containing layer. The fastening component may be the hook portion or the loop portion of a typical fastener. The fastening elements and the base may be unitary, or of different precursors. The porous metal layer may be embedded in the base portion of the fastening component, or any backing substrate, or therebetween. The porous metal layer may be fully or partially embedded. The porous metal may be an expanded, perforated, woven or non-woven structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Samuel White Pollard, Donald L. Banfield, Peter E. Leach, Carol A. Watts, Lawrence E. Lacombe
  • Patent number: 5875526
    Abstract: A female member of a Hook-and-Loop fastener made of double knit goods, in which a pile is provided at least in a portion on one side A of the double knit goods. The pile contains a crimped yarn, the percentage crimp (K.sub.1) of which is not more than 15%, the single fiber fineness of filaments composing the yarn is not less than 3 denier; and the yarn is knitted together with the yarn composing the other side B of the double knit goods only on one side A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tosirou Yamaguchi