Patents by Inventor David P. Kraus

David P. Kraus 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).

  • Fasteners engageable with loops of nonwoven fabrics and with other open structures, and methods and machines for making fasteners
    Patent number: 6991843
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: 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
  • Fasteners engageable with loops of nonwoven fabrics and with other open structures, and methods and machines for making fasteners
    Publication number: 20030106188
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: 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