Patents by Inventor James T. Grady

James T. Grady 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).

  • Patent number: 11246381
    Abstract: A method for forming a double-sided loop strap includes: receiving a continuous longitudinal strip of loop material including a strip-form base bearing a field of upstanding loops on a fastening side of the strip bounded by opposite longitudinal edges, folding each of the longitudinal edges away from the fastening side, such that the base overlaps itself, and securing the folded edges in place by permanently bonding together overlapped areas of the base to form the double-sided loop strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Velcro IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Mary L. Watts, James T. Grady, Andrew Collins
  • Patent number: 10793329
    Abstract: A cinching device includes: a buckle including a frame defining an opening; an elongate flexible strap coupled to one portion of the frame and extending away from the frame to a freestanding distal tongue receivable by the opening of the frame, the strap including a first face carrying a plurality of loop-engageable discrete fastening elements and an opposing second face carrying a loop material; and a tab coupled to another portion of the frame, the tab including an exposed touch fastening face engageable with at least one of: the plurality of fastening elements of the first face of the strap or the loop material of the second face of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: James T. Grady, Mary L. Watts
  • Patent number: 10758014
    Abstract: A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: James T. Grady, Peter Iannazzi, Thomas O'Brien, Clinton Dowd, Andrew Collins
  • Patent number: 10531711
    Abstract: A laminated touch fastener is made in a continuous process on a mold roll. Flowable resin is pressed against the mold roll in limited areas to form projections extending from resin layers that are laminated to a flexible substrate while carried on the mold roll. In one example a continuous channel about the mold roll is positioned such that the resin at least partially fills the channel as the layers are formed, thereby forming in the channel a raised portion in which the resin layer is of a greater thickness than at a point between the projections and the raised portion. In another example, grooves in the mold roll receive ribs of a pressure applicator during forming of the layers, the ribs blocking lateral flow of the resin to form a desired edge profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Isaac Soler Medina, James T. Grady
  • Publication number: 20190308785
    Abstract: A cinching device includes: a buckle including a frame defining an opening; an elongate flexible strap coupled to one portion of the frame and extending away from the frame to a freestanding distal tongue receivable by the opening of the frame, the strap including a first face carrying a plurality of loop-engageable discrete fastening elements and an opposing second face carrying a loop material; and a tab coupled to another portion of the frame, the tab including an exposed touch fastening face engageable with at least one of: the plurality of fastening elements of the first face of the strap or the loop material of the second face of the strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: James T. Grady, Mary L. Watts
  • Publication number: 20190082798
    Abstract: A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: James T. Grady, Peter Iannazzi, Thomas O'Brien, Clinton Dowd, Andrew Collins
  • Publication number: 20190000192
    Abstract: A method for forming a double-sided loop strap includes: receiving a continuous longitudinal strip of loop material including a strip-form base bearing a field of upstanding loops on a fastening side of the strip bounded by opposite longitudinal edges, folding each of the longitudinal edges away from the fastening side, such that the base overlaps itself, and securing the folded edges in place by permanently bonding together overlapped areas of the base to form the double-sided loop strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Mary L. Watts, James T. Grady, Andrew Collins
  • Patent number: 10117481
    Abstract: A method for forming a double-sided loop strap includes: receiving a continuous longitudinal strip of loop material including a strip-form base bearing a field of upstanding loops on a fastening side of the strip bounded by opposite longitudinal edges, folding each of the longitudinal edges away from the fastening side, such that the base overlaps itself, and securing the folded edges in place by permanently bonding together overlapped areas of the base to form the double-sided loop strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Mary L. Watts, James T. Grady, Andrew Collins
  • Publication number: 20160309855
    Abstract: A laminated touch fastener is made in a continuous process on a mold roll. Flowable resin is pressed against the mold roll in limited areas to form projections extending from resin layers that are laminated to a flexible substrate while carried on the mold roll. In one example a continuous channel about the mold roll is positioned such that the resin at least partially fills the channel as the layers are formed, thereby forming in the channel a raised portion in which the resin layer is of a greater thickness than at a point between the projections and the raised portion. In another example, grooves in the mold roll receive ribs of a pressure applicator during forming of the layers, the ribs blocking lateral flow of the resin to form a desired edge profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Isaac Soler Medina, James T. Grady
  • Publication number: 20160219989
    Abstract: A method for forming a double-sided loop strap includes: receiving a continuous longitudinal strip of loop material including a strip-form base bearing a field of upstanding loops on a fastening side of the strip bounded by opposite longitudinal edges, folding each of the longitudinal edges away from the fastening side, such that the base overlaps itself, and securing the folded edges in place by permanently bonding together overlapped areas of the base to form the double-sided loop strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Mary L. Watts, James T. Grady, Andrew Collins
  • Patent number: 9399333
    Abstract: A laminated touch fastener is made in a continuous process on a mold roll. Flowable resin is pressed against the mold roll in limited areas to form projections extending from resin layers that are laminated to a flexible substrate while carried on the mold roll. In one example a continuous channel about the mold roll is positioned such that the resin at least partially fills the channel as the layers are formed, thereby forming in the channel a raised portion in which the resin layer is of a greater thickness than at a point between the projections and the raised portion. In another example, grooves in the mold roll receive ribs of a pressure applicator during forming of the layers, the ribs blocking lateral flow of the resin to form a desired edge profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Isaac Soler Medina, James T. Grady
  • Patent number: 9339085
    Abstract: A method for forming a double-sided loop strap includes: receiving a continuous longitudinal strip of loop material including a strip-form base bearing a field of upstanding loops on a fastening side of the strip bounded by opposite longitudinal edges, folding each of the longitudinal edges away from the fastening side, such that the base overlaps itself, and securing the folded edges in place by permanently bonding together overlapped areas of the base to form the double-sided loop strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Mary L. Watts, James T. Grady, Andrew Collins
  • Publication number: 20140157556
    Abstract: A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: James T. Grady, Peter Iannazzi, Thomas O Brien, Clinton Dowd, Andrew Collins
  • Publication number: 20140106952
    Abstract: A method for forming a double-sided loop strap includes: receiving a continuous longitudinal strip of loop material including a strip-form base bearing a field of upstanding loops on a fastening side of the strip bounded by opposite longitudinal edges, folding each of the longitudinal edges away from the fastening side, such that the base overlaps itself, and securing the folded edges in place by permanently bonding together overlapped areas of the base to form the double-sided loop strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Mary L. Watts, James T. Grady, Andrew Collins
  • Patent number: 8685194
    Abstract: A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: James T. Grady, Peter Iannazzi, Thomas O Brien, Clinton Dowd, Andrew Collins
  • Patent number: 8597721
    Abstract: A touch fastener product has a base strip of resin carrying both mechanical fastener projections and adhesive, in some cases disposed on raised portions of the base strip. The fastener projections are arranged in discrete fields with lanes between the fields, and the adhesive is disposed within the lanes. The adhesive in each lane is shorter, as measured perpendicularly from the base strip, than the projections nearest the lane, by a distance that is less than ten percent of the width of the lane. In some cases molded stems extend through the adhesive in the lanes. The fastening face of the molded base strip is treated to give the fastening face a higher surface energy than the back face, to resist adhesive delamination during unspooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Almin Idrizovic, James T. Grady, Bob Yusuo Chang, Mark A. Clarner
  • Publication number: 20130280474
    Abstract: A laminated touch fastener is made in a continuous process on a mold roll. Flowable resin is pressed against the mold roll in limited areas to form projections extending from resin layers that are laminated to a flexible substrate while carried on the mold roll. In one example a continuous channel about the mold roll is positioned such that the resin at least partially fills the channel as the layers are formed, thereby forming in the channel a raised portion in which the resin layer is of a greater thickness than at a point between the projections and the raised portion. In another example, grooves in the mold roll receive ribs of a pressure applicator during forming of the layers, the ribs blocking lateral flow of the resin to form a desired edge profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Isaac Soler Medina, James T. Grady
  • Publication number: 20130067701
    Abstract: A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: James T. Grady, Peter Iannazzi, Thomas O Brien, Clinton Dowd, Andrew Collins
  • Publication number: 20130059111
    Abstract: A touch fastener product has a base strip of resin carrying both mechanical fastener projections and adhesive, in some cases disposed on raised portions of the base strip. The fastener projections are arranged in discrete fields with lanes between the fields, and the adhesive is disposed within the lanes. The adhesive in each lane is shorter, as measured perpendicularly from the base strip, than the projections nearest the lane, by a distance that is less than ten percent of the width of the lane. In some cases molded stems extend through the adhesive in the lanes. The fastening face of the molded base strip is treated to give the fastening face a higher surface energy than the back face, to resist adhesive delamination during unspooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Almin Idrizovic, James T. Grady, Bob Yusuo Chang, Mark A. Clarner
  • Patent number: D565401
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: James T. Grady, Joseph R. Levesque