Patents Assigned to Velcro Industries B.V.
  • Touch Fasteners With Embedded Fibers
    Publication number: 20090035509
    Abstract: A method of making a touch fastener includes continuously introducing molten resin to a pressure zone at a peripheral surface of a rotating mold roll, such that pressure in the pressure zone forces some of the resin into an array of stem cavities defined in the mold roll to form resin stems while a remainder of the resin forms a base at the roll surface, interconnecting the stems. The method includes forming engageable heads on the stems to form fastener elements and introducing a quantity of discrete, loose fibers to the resin. The fibers pass through the pressure zone with the resin and become individually and separately bonded to the resin to become part of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventor: Wallace L. Kurtz, JR.
  • Touch Fasteners With Embedded Particles
    Publication number: 20090033000
    Abstract: A method of making a touch fastener includes continuously introducing molten resin to a pressure zone at a peripheral surface of a rotating mold roll, such that pressure in the pressure zone forces some of the resin into an array of stem cavities defined in the mold roll to form resin stems while a remainder of the resin forms a base at the roll surface, interconnecting the stems. The method includes forming engageable heads on the stems to form fastener elements and introducing a quantity of discrete, loose particles to the resin at an entrance to the pressure zone, such that the particles become part of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventor: Wallace L. Kurtz, JR.
  • Shear fasteners
    Patent number: 7478460
    Abstract: A fastener element with a sheet-form base and an array of wedge-shaped engageable elements molded integrally with a surface of the sheet-form base. The wedge-shaped elements each have a steep side and a gradually rising side, and are arranged with their steep sides all directed in a common sense, such that the array can engage a similar array of oppositely-directed wedge-shaped elements to resist shear motion. The distal edges of the wedges are curved in top view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Gallant, William P. Clune
  • ARRAYS OF FASTENER ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20090010735
    Abstract: A molded area fastener product, such as a self-engaging fastener, has a strip-form base of resin with a broad surface from which an array of discrete fastener elements extends. The fastener elements each include a molded stem extending from the broad surface of the base to a curved head that extends toward a front side of the fastener element, forms a crook and ends in a distal tip. In some examples the curved head protrudes beyond the stem on the back side of the fastener element to form an overhang defined by an overhang surface of the head directed toward the base, and the crook is defined in part by an underside head surface that overhangs a lower portion of the stem. In some examples the fastener elements are arranged to provide a high distension overlap when mated with an identical fastener product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Gallant, Mark A. Clarner, Clinton Dowd
  • ANCHORING LOOPS OF FIBERS NEEDLED INTO A CARRIER SHEET
    Publication number: 20080305297
    Abstract: Methods of forming a loop product are provided. Methods include needling polymeric fibers through a substrate to form hook-engageablc loop structures of the fibers extending from one surface of the substrate and then using heat and pressure to soften and bond polymer of the fibers directly to the substrate and adjacent fibers, thereby anchoring the loop structures to resist fiber pullout under fastening loads. Loop products are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: James R. Barker, George A. Provost
  • NEEDLING LOOPS INTO CARRIER SHEETS
    Publication number: 20080305704
    Abstract: Methods of making a sheet-form loop product are provided. One method includes placing a layer of staple fibers against a first side of a substrate comprising a nonwoven web; needling fibers of the layer through the substrate by penetrating the substrate with needles that drag portions of the fibers through the substrate, leaving exposed loops of the fibers extending from a second side of the substrate; and anchoring fibers forming the loops by fusing the fibers to each other and to filaments of the nonwoven web on the first side of the substrate, while substantially preventing fusion of the fibers on the second side of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, James R. Barker
  • Snap closures
    Patent number: 7462313
    Abstract: A method of forming snap closures includes molding a series of discrete male and female snaps extending integrally from a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Christopher M. Gallant
  • Articles and methods of their formation
    Patent number: 7461437
    Abstract: A fastener product includes a base; and an array of fastener projections extending integrally from a first surface of the base, the projections each including a stem portion of resin molded integrally with the first surface of the base, and a head portion disposed at a distal end of the stem portion and configured to releasably engage a complementary fastener element to form a fastening; wherein the stem portions of the fastener projections and at least a portion of the base are integrally formed of a single resin; and wherein at least a portion of the single resin of the base is in a foamed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Gallant, Gregory A. Carr, Howard A. Kingsford
  • Touch Fastener Products
    Publication number: 20080284060
    Abstract: Touch fasteners for use as mold inserts in molding seat foam buns include selvedges that deflect under pressure to engage a mold surface in face-to-face contact. Another touch fastener includes a base with an exposed thermally activatable resin surface that has a softening point low enough to be activated by the exothermic foaming reaction to adhere the fastener in the foam bun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Keith Line, Daniel Lee Janzen, Paul Joseph Voigt
  • Forming discrete fastener element regions
    Patent number: 7451532
    Abstract: A method of making a fastener product having discrete regions of fastener element stems extending from a strip-form base includes providing a gap formed along a peripheral surface of a rotating mold roll, the mold roll having a plurality of cavities exposed about the peripheral surface. A sleeve is introduced to the gap. The sleeve is positioned about the mold roll and covers selected cavities. Molten resin is introduced to the gap such that the resin forms at least a part of the strip-form base of the product at the peripheral mold roll surface and at least partially fills a plurality of the cavities to form fastener element stems as projections extending from the strip-form base, while the resin remains blocked from said selected ones by the sleeve. The resin is solidified and stripped from the peripheral surface of the mold roll by pulling the projections from their respective cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, William H. Shepard, William P. Clune
  • Transferring Resin for Forming Fastener Products
    Publication number: 20080272512
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for making fastener products (117) having molded projections (110) or other molded features carried on a surface (130) feature a transfer device (135) having an outer surface with at least one transfer area (H) relatively raised with respect to another area (L) of the outer surface of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventor: William P. Clune
  • Skin Penetrating Touch Fasteners
    Publication number: 20080269670
    Abstract: A skin attachment member having first and second surface with a plurality of skin penetrating elements extending integrally from the first surface of the backing to a distal tip. The skin penetrating elements are sized to avoid contact with nerves below the epidermal skin layer and have a foam disposed between at least some of the skin penetrating elements. A method of using the skin attachment member to deliver a pharmaceutical composition through the skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventor: Howard A. Kingsford
  • Delivering resin for forming fastener products
    Patent number: 7438847
    Abstract: Methods and machines for making fastener products having molded projections or other molded features carried on a surface feature transferring resin in discrete doses through an orifice defined in an outer surface of a rotating die wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: William P. Clune, Robert Thomas, Howard A. Kingsford
  • Filling and using reclosable bags
    Patent number: 7424796
    Abstract: A method of filling a bag that includes inserting an insulator between first and second side walls of a closure strip and joining an outer surface of the second side wall of the closure strip to an inner surface of a bag wall in a region of the wall behind which the insulator is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: William H. Shepard, William P. Clune, George A. Provost
  • Touch fastener products
    Patent number: 7425360
    Abstract: Touch fasteners for use as mold inserts in molding seat foam buns include selvedges that deflect under pressure to engage a mold surface in face-to-face contact. Another touch fastener includes a base with an exposed thermally activatable resin surface that has a softening point low enough to be activated by the exothermic foaming reaction to adhere the fastener in the foam bun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Keith Line, Daniel Lee Janzen, Paul Joseph Voigt
  • Submerged hooks
    Patent number: 7422783
    Abstract: Articles having cooperative fasteners are described. The cooperative fasteners comprise an elongated fastening strip with male fasteners extending from a first surface and foam disposed on the first surface, where at least a portion of the foam extends to a height greater than the height of the male fastener elements. In some instances the article is a hat, a mat, a bag, a garment, or a hair roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Heidi S. Tremblay, Richard Schmidt, Wallace L. Kurtz, Jr., William H. Shepard
  • STRAPPING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20080201915
    Abstract: A strapping system including a strap having opposite first and second faces carrying first and second arrays of touch fastening elements respectively and a buckle assembly releasably attached to one end of the strap and defining an opening sized to receive an opposite end of the strap. The buckle assembly includes a buckle and an attachment portion coupled to the buckle, the attachment portion having opposing surfaces that releasably engage the touch fastening elements on the first and second faces of the strap, respectively, to releasably secure the buckle to the strap, wherein the strap includes touch fastening elements engageable with other touch fastening elements of the strapping system when the buckle assembly attached to the strap to secure the strapping system about an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: Josep Obiols, Gemma Rovira
  • Light transmission
    Patent number: 7412139
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable comprising at least one light transmitter extending longitudinally along the cable and a body encompassing the light transmitter. The body includes an exposed surface having an array of fastener elements extending therefrom. The fastener elements arranged and constructed to engage mating fastener elements associated with a supporting surface to selectively secure the cable to the supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Howard A. Kingsford, Kristel Ferry, David P. Kraus, Jr., Mark A. Clarner, William P. Clune
  • Reclosable packaging
    Patent number: 7406810
    Abstract: A method of fabricating reclosable bags comprising: disposing a releasably engaged closure between a first and a second bag film portions, the closure including a loop-engageable fastener strip comprising an array of loop-engageable fastener elements integrally molded with a sheet-form resin substrate, and a loop strip comprising a plurality of loops carried on a sheet-form resin base; and applying energy to bond the resin substrate of the loop-engageable fastener strip to the first bag film portion and to bond the resin base of the loop strip to the second bag film portion; wherein the loop-engageable fastener strip is not bonded to the loop strip when the energy is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: William P. Clune, William H. Shepard, George A. Provost
  • Bristle array
    Patent number: D578772
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: George A. Provost, Mark A. Clarner