Patents by Inventor Peter J. Mueller
Peter J. Mueller 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: 9651195Abstract: A releasable hanging system having a loop fastener component and a hook fastener component. The loop fastener component includes a flexible patch carrying a field of engageable fibers exposed on a front side of the patch and an adhesive on a back side of the patch. The hook fastener component includes a resin base carrying an array of male touch fastener elements. A significant majority of the male touch fastener elements each extend from the base to a distal tip to overhang the base in a single, common direction. The fastening system can be used to hang an object on a vertical surface such that the male touch fastener elements of the significant majority bear the weight of the object in a downward direction, and such that the significant majority of the male touch fastener elements are oriented so as not to inhibit lifting of the object in an upward direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Velcro BVBAInventors: Bob Yusuo Chang, Peter J. Mueller
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Patent number: 8940207Abstract: A continuous length of material of non-circular cross-section is pelletized to form discrete bits, by feeding the material to a cutting wheel with shaped cutters that form non-planar bits having non-circular axial projections and that are aligned with the material. The material is fed so as to maintain a rotational orientation with respect to the cutters, and so as to avoid buckling. Multiple banks of strands of material are severed simultaneously, thereby producing high volumes of shaped bits that are useful as filling and as filter material, and as friction-enhancing additives.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Peter J. Mueller, Richard H. Fetter, Robert A. Hewitt, Jamie Allen Chomas, Jason Bradley Forgash
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Patent number: 8851440Abstract: A releasable hanging system having a loop fastener component and a hook fastener component. The loop fastener component includes a flexible patch carrying a field of engageable fibers exposed on a front side of the patch and an adhesive on a back side of the patch. The hook fastener component includes a resin base carrying an array of male touch fastener elements. A significant majority of the male touch fastener elements each extend from the base to a distal tip to overhang the base in a single, common direction. The fastening system can be used to hang an object on a vertical surface such that the male touch fastener elements of the significant majority bear the weight of the object in a downward direction, and such that the significant majority of the male touch fastener elements are oriented so as not to inhibit lifting of the object in an upward direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Bob Yusuo Chang, Peter J. Mueller
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Patent number: 8663409Abstract: Touch fastener products (10) are made by distributing a multiplicity of discrete fastening bits (14, 14a, 14b) over a support surface (12) and fixing the distributed bits (14, 14a, 14b) to the support surface (12), such as by an adhesive (32). Each bit (14, 14a, 14b) has opposite side surfaces (24, 24b, 26, 26b) forming boundaries of surfaces defining projections (16) extending in different directions from the fastening bits (14, 14a, 14b), at least one of the opposite side surfaces (24, 24b, 26, 26b) being non-planar, and each projection (16) has an overhanging head (18). As fixed, each bit (14, 14a, 14b) is oriented with at least one of its projection heads (18) raised from the support surface (12) to releasably engage fibers (30). Bits (14, 14a, 14b) are made by pelletizing shaped rails (36). Applications include securing floor coverings (150).Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventor: Peter J. Mueller
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Patent number: 8523088Abstract: A particle sprayer includes a source of discrete particles, a spray outlet coupled to the particle source, and a conduit extending from a pressurized fluid inlet to the spray outlet and configured to constrain a flow of carrier fluid to flow along the conduit toward the spray outlet to propel particles from the particle source away from the spray outlet. The particles including discrete fastening bits having one or more projections, with each projection having an overhanging head for snagging fibers. The particle sprayer may be used to spray fastening bits onto a surface, to turn the surface into a touch fastener.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventor: Peter J. Mueller
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Publication number: 20130008013Abstract: A releasable hanging system having a loop fastener component and a hook fastener component. The loop fastener component includes a flexible patch carrying a field of engageable fibers exposed on a front side of the patch and an adhesive on a back side of the patch. The hook fastener component includes a resin base carrying an array of male touch fastener elements. A significant majority of the male touch fastener elements each extend from the base to a distal tip to overhang the base in a single, common direction. The fastening system can be used to hang an object on a vertical surface such that the male touch fastener elements of the significant majority bear the weight of the object in a downward direction, and such that the significant majority of the male touch fastener elements are oriented so as not to inhibit lifting of the object in an upward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Bob Yusuo Chang, Peter J. Mueller
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Publication number: 20120267033Abstract: Touch fastener products (10) are made by distributing a multiplicity of discrete fastening bits (14, 14a, 14b) over a support surface (12) and fixing the distributed bits (14, 14a, 14b) to the support surface (12), such as by an adhesive (32). Each bit (14, 14a, 14b) has opposite side surfaces (24, 24b, 26, 26b) forming boundaries of surfaces defining projections (16) extending in different directions from the fastening bits (14, 14a, 14b), at least one of the opposite side surfaces (24, 24b, 26, 26b) being non-planar, and each projection (16) has an overhanging head (18). As fixed, each bit (14, 14a, 14b) is oriented with at least one of its projection heads (18) raised from the support surface (12) to releasably engage fibers (30). Bits (14, 14a, 14b) are made by pelletizing shaped rails (36). Applications include securing floor coverings (150).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.Inventor: Peter J. Mueller
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Publication number: 20120181345Abstract: A particle sprayer includes a source of discrete particles, a spray outlet coupled to the particle source, and a conduit extending from a pressurized fluid inlet to the spray outlet and configured to constrain a flow of carrier fluid to flow along the conduit toward the spray outlet to propel particles from the particle source away from the spray outlet. The particles including discrete fastening bits having one or more projections, with each projection having an overhanging head for snagging fibers. The particle sprayer may be used to spray fastening bits onto a surface, to turn the surface into a touch fastener.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Inventor: Peter J. Mueller
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Publication number: 20120074275Abstract: A releasable hanging system having a loop fastener component and a hook fastener component. The loop fastener component includes a flexible patch carrying a field of engageable fibers exposed on a front side of the patch and an adhesive on a back side of the patch. The hook fastener component includes a resin base carrying an array of male touch fastener elements. A significant majority of the male touch fastener elements each extend from the base to a distal tip to overhang the base in a single, common direction. The fastening system can be used to hang an object on a vertical surface such that the male touch fastener elements of the significant majority bear the weight of the object in a downward direction, and such that the significant majority of the male touch fastener elements are oriented so as not to inhibit lifting of the object in an upward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventors: Bob Yusuo Chang, Peter J. Mueller
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Publication number: 20120032006Abstract: A continuous length of material of non-circular cross-section is pelletized to form discrete bits, by feeding the material to a cutting wheel with shaped cutters that form non-planar bits having non-circular axial projections and that are aligned with the material. The material is fed so as to maintain a rotational orientation with respect to the cutters, and so as to avoid buckling. Multiple banks of strands of material are severed simultaneously, thereby producing high volumes of shaped bits that are useful as filling and as filter material, and as friction-enhancing additives.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventors: Peter J. Mueller, Richard H. Fetter, Robert A. Hewitt, Jamie Allen Chomas, Jason Bradley Forgash