CARRIER FOR THE STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION AND RE-USE OF A PLURALITY OF HOOK AND LOOP FASTENERS

Abstract

This invention relates generally to carriers for carrying a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. More specifically, the invention relates to carriers for carrying a plurality of hook and loop fasteners that define hooks on at least a portion of one side of the fastener and loops on at least a portion of the other.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/571,544 filed on Oct. 12, 2017.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to carriers for carrying a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. More specifically, the invention relates to carriers for carrying a plurality of hook and loop fasteners that define hooks on at least a portion of one side of the fastener and loops on at least a portion of the other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hook and loop fastener or strap, comprises a strip of fabric material having tiny hooks defined on one side of the fastener and smaller loops defined on the other side. When the fastener is looped around onto itself such that the ends of the fastener overlap one another, the overlapping ends, when pressed together, will removably bind to one another due to the tiny hooks “hooking” or catching the smaller loops. Of course, because the binding nature of the hooks to the loops is removable, the bound overlapping ends can be “pulled apart” and again separated from one another for repeated use. The fastener, due to its geometry of binding to itself as a loop, is thus commonly used to bind bundles of materials together, such as ropes, wires, cables and other similar materials.

Because of its ease of use, hook and loop fasteners are used in a wide variety of applications where a temporary fastening of such bundles is required. Such applications often include assembly line work involving cable or wire harnessing operations (i.e., the cable or wire harnessing work stations of an auto assembly plant). However, complications arise in the handling of the fasteners themselves due to the fact that they are only temporarily applied to a wire or cable bundle during harnessing operations and thereafter removed there-from for re-use. The same hooks and loops of the fastener that allow for the ease of bundling or harnessing of materials often cause the fastener to tangle onto itself and/or other fasteners during its storage and re-use, thus resulting in wasted time and effort spent untangling the fasteners.

Thus, what is needed is a carrier for carrying or holding a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. The carrier should allow for both the ready and organized placement of hook and loop fasteners thereon and for the immediate and ready availability of removing the fasteners there-from. When holding the fasteners, the carrier should prevent the fasteners from becoming disorganized and/or tangled with one another. The carrier should include a standard interface that allows it to be stacked vertically with other carriers. The carrier should also have an overall “flat” design such that it can be easily bagged or boxed for its storage and/or shipment. The carrier should further include attachment means to allow it to be attached to another object or hung or mounted onto a wall. The present invention satisfies the foregoing needs and desires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to carriers for carrying a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. More specifically, the invention relates to carriers for carrying a plurality of hook and loop fasteners that define hooks on at least a portion of one side of the fastener and loops on at least a portion of the other.

In one embodiment, the carrier comprises a holding member defining at least one receiver having a bottom adhering surface configured for operable engagement with a first hook and loop fastener of the plurality. In other embodiments, the receiver further comprises at least one aligning surface configured to align an outer edge of the fasteners of the plurality with one another. The at least one aligning surface of the receiver is about spoon or rectangular shaped for aligning the outer edges of a plurality of hook and loop fasteners of respectively similar shape. The aligning surface defines at least one opening for exposing least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners, with the at least one opening is about co-terminus with the at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners, falling beyond the at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners, or falling short of the at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

In another embodiment, the bottom adhering surface defines a rectangle having opposing ends and is configured for engagement with either spoon or rectangular shaped fasteners. At least one end of the bottom adhering surface is about co-terminus with at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners, falls beyond at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners or falls short of at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

Yet other embodiments of the carrier are configured for operable engagement with hook and loop fasteners defining tabs and/or labels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a stack of “spoon” shaped hook and loop fasteners;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a stack of rectangular hook and loop fasteners;

FIG. 3A is a an exploded perspective view of a stack of rectangular hook and loop fasteners having a different hook and loop configuration from that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is an exploded side elevation view of the stack of rectangular hook and loop fasteners of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a carrier for carrying the hook and loop fasteners of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carrier for carrying the hook and loop fasteners of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a carrier for carrying the hook and loop fasteners of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a stack of “spoon” shaped hook and loop fasteners of FIG. 1 having optional tabs;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a stack of rectangular hook and loop fasteners of FIG. 2 having optional tabs; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a stack of rectangular hook and loop fasteners of FIG. 3 having optional tabs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

This invention relates generally to carriers for carrying a plurality f hook and loop fasteners. More specifically, the invention relates to carriers for carrying a plurality of hook and loop fasteners 5 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) that define hooks 15 on at least a portion 17 of one side 20 of the fastener and loops 25 on at least a portion of the other 30.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate fasteners 5, having about elongated “spoon” and rectangular shapes, respectively, each fastener having hook and loop material portions 17 extending along the entire length of their respective opposite sides 20 and 30. The plurality of fasteners 5 are stacked one-on-top-of-another such that the hooks 15 and loops 25 of their respective sides 20 and 30 are operably engaged with one another to form a stack 32. In contrast, FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate rectangular shaped fasteners 5 having hook and loop material portions 17 extending only partially along the lengths of their respective opposite sides 20 and 30, and in apposition with one another. The portions 17 of the sides of the fastener opposite of the hook or loop material portions 17 have no hooks or loops thereon. The plurality of fasteners 5 are thus stacked one-on-top-of-another in alternating positions(i.e., each fastener rotated 180 degrees in relation to another fastener) such that the hook and loop portions of their respective sides 20 and 30 are operably engaged with one another, again to form the stack 32. Due to those portions 17 of the fasteners 5 not having hooks or loops thereon, the stack defines and “alternating fan-fold” configuration. While spoon-shaped and rectangular shaped fasteners are used by example, herein, it is understood that various shapes of fastener are available that may be used as part of or with this invention, to include fasteners having circular, ovular, square, triangular and numerous other shapes and combinations thereof.

Referring to FIG. 4, the carrier 35 comprises a holding member 40 defining at least one receiver 45. The at least one receiver 45 comprises a bottom adhering surface 50 and at least one aligning surface 55. The bottom adhering surface 50 is configured for operable engagement with a first hook and loop fastener 60 of the plurality 5 (FIG. 1) while the at least one aligning surface 55 is configured to align an outer edge 61 of each fastener of the plurality with one another. However, it is understood that the receiver 45 may comprise only the bottom surface 50 without the any aligning surface whatsoever (to be further discussed).

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the bottom adhering surface 50 of the receiver 45 is spoon-shaped and defines at least one hook or loop surface segment 62 configured for operable engagement with the respective hooks 15 or loops 25 of the first fastener 60 of FIG. 1. The hook or loop surface segment 62 of this embodiment covers the entire area of and is unitary with the bottom adhering surface 50 of the receiver 45. However, it is understood that the at least one segment could only partially cover a portion of the area as well. The bottom adhering surface of this embodiment is thus comprised of a material (to be further discussed) having the hooks or loops unitary with or molded into the receiver's bottom surface to create the hook or loop surface. In other embodiments, the bottom adhering surface is preferably smooth and has a layer of hook or loop material attached to at least one segment thereof, via glue or adhesive, to create the hook or loop surface. Yet other embodiments have the layer of hook or loop material attached to at least one segment of the bottom adhering surface with mechanical fasteners such as screws, nut and bolt combinations, rivets or other fasteners known to one of skill in the art, to create the hook or loop surface.

The at least one aligning surface 55 of FIG. 4 is about spoon-shaped to align the plurality of hook and loop fasteners 5 having an outer edge 61 also defining an approximate, elongated spoon (FIG. 1). Although the aligning surface 55 of FIG. 4 is illustrated defining angular corners, it is understood that the aligning surface can define curved corners as well. The plurality of fasteners 5 are stacked one-on-top-of-another within the aligning surface 55 and have the hooks and loops of their respective sides 20 and 30 operably engaged with one another, each having an outer edge about aligned with the aligning surface. The at least one hook or loop portion of the bottom surface of the first fastener of the plurality is operably engaged with the hook or loop surface of the receiver. The at least one aligning surface preferably defines at least one opening 65 such that at least one end 67 of the plurality of fasteners stacked therein are preferably exposed. The end 67 can be about co-terminus with the opening, fall beyond the opening, or fall short of the opening. It is understood, however, that the at least one opening can be defined anywhere along the aligning surface. Regardless, one seeking to use one or more fasteners of the plurality can thus grasp the fasteners' outer ends through the opening to peel and remove one or more of the fasteners from the stack.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of carrier 35. The carrier 35 again comprises a holding member 40 defining at least one receiver 45. Although the at least one receiver 45 of this embodiment again has a bottom adhering surface 50, the at least one aligning surface 55 preferably comprises opposing first and second elongated side surfaces 70 and 75. The bottom adhering surface 50 is again configured for operable engagement with a first hook and loop fastener 60 of the plurality 5 while the first and second elongated side surfaces 70 and 75 are configured to align opposing elongated outer edges 85 and 90 of a plurality of elongated rectangular fasteners (FIGS. 2 and 3) with one another. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the bottom adhering surface 50 of the receiver 45 is preferably of an elongated rectangular shape and defines at least one hook or loop surface segment 62 configured for operable engagement with the respective hooks 15 or loops 25 of the first fastener 60.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the hook or loop surface segment 62 covers the entire area of and is unitary with the bottom adhering surface 50 of the receiver 45. However, it is understood that the at least one segment could only partially cover a portion of the area as well. The receiver of this embodiment defines an adhering bottom surface that is preferably smooth and has a layer of hook or loop material attached to at least one segment thereof, via glue or adhesive, to create the hook or loop surface. Other embodiments have the layer of hook or loop material attached to the at least one segment of the bottom adhering surface with mechanical fasteners such as screws, nut and bolt combinations, rivets or other fasteners known to one of skill in the art, to create the hook or loop surface. In yet other embodiments, the bottom adhering surface is comprised of a material (to be further discussed) having the hooks or loops unitary with or molded into the receiver's bottom surface to create the hook or loop surface.

The opposing side surfaces 70 and 75 of FIG. 5 thus preferably define a channel 80 to align the plurality of hook and loop fasteners 5 defining the opposing, elongated outer edges 85 and 90 of a rectangle. The plurality of fasteners 5 of FIG. 2 are stacked one-on-top-of-another within the channel 80 and have the hooks and loops of their respective sides 20 and 30 operably engaged with one another while the plurality of fasteners 5 of FIG. 3 are stacked one-on-top-of-another in alternating positions (i.e., each fastener rotated 180 degrees in relation to another fastener) such that the hooks and loops portions of their respective sides 20 and 30 are operably engaged with one another. The elongated outer edges of each fastener of FIG. and 3 are about aligned with the receiver's side alignment surfaces. Nonetheless, the bottom hook or loop surface of the first fastener of the plurality is operably engaged with the hook or loop surface of the receiver.

In one embodiment, the channel is “open-ended” such that that the opposing ends 67 and 68 of the plurality of rectangular fasteners stacked therein are exposed via a pair of openings. The ends 67 and 68 can be about co-terminus with the openings, fall beyond the openings, or fall short of the openings. One seeking to use one or more fasteners of the plurality can thus grasp one or both of the fasteners' outer ends through the openings to peel and remove the fasteners) from the stack. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, one end of the channel is “closed” by an end surface 110 of the at least one aligning surface 55 such that only one of the opposing ends of the plurality of fasteners stacked therein is exposed. The end surface is thus configured to align the other opposing end of the plurality. It is understood however, that either end of the fastener may be aligned by end surface 110 as well. With one end of the fastener located at the end surface, the other end is exposed at opening 65. Again, the end can be about co-terminus with the opening, fall beyond the opening, or fall short of the opening. In yet other embodiments, the end surface 110 and/or first and/or second opposing side surfaces 70 and 75 may have the at least one surface opening 65 defined therein to provide multiple access points to the stacked plurality of fasteners 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the carrier 35. The carrier 35 again comprises a holding member 40. The at least one receiver 45 of this embodiment is defined by at least one adhering surface 50 of the carrier, with the at least one aligning surface 55 being absent. The bottom adhering surface 50 is again configured for operable engagement with a first hook and loop fastener 60 of the plurality 5 (FIGS. 1-3) In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the bottom adhering surface 50 of the receiver 45 is preferably of an elongated rectangular shape and defines at least one hook or loop surface segment 62 configured for operable engagement with the respective hooks 15 or loops 25 of the first fastener 60.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the hook or loop surface segment 62 covers the entire area of and is unitary with the bottom adhering surface 50. However, it is understood that the at least one segment could only partially cover a portion of the area as well. The bottom adhering surface is again preferably smooth and has a layer of hook or loop material attached to at least one segment thereof, via glue or adhesive, to create the hook or loop surface. Other embodiments have the layer of hook or loop material attached to the at least one segment of the bottom adhering surface with mechanical fasteners such as screws, nut and bolt combinations, rivets or other fasteners known to one of skill in the art, to create the hook or loop surface. In yet other embodiments, the bottom adhering surface is comprised of a material (to be further discussed) having the hooks or loops unitary with or molded into the carrier itself to create the hook or loop surface.

Although the aligning surface is absent, the plurality of fasteners 5 of FIG. 2 are nonetheless stacked one-on-top-of-another on the bottom adhering surface 50 defining the receiver 45 and have the hooks and loops of their respective sides 20 and 30 operably engaged with one another, while the plurality of fasteners 5 of FIG. 3 are stacked one-on-top-of-another in alternating positions (i.e., each fastener rotated 180 degrees in relation to another fastener) such that the hooks and loops portions of their respective sides 20 and 30 are operably engaged with one another. The elongated outer edges of each fastener of FIGS. 1-3 are about aligned with the bottom adhering surface 50 and one another. Nonetheless, the bottom hook or loop surface of the first fastener of the plurality is operably engaged with the hook or loop surface of the bottom adhering surface.

Because the at least one receiver of FIG. 6 does not define a channel, the opposing ends 67 and 68 of the plurality of fasteners stacked thereon are exposed. At least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners can be about co-terminus with at least one end of the bottom adhering surface, fall beyond at least one end of the surface, or fall short of at least one end of the surface. One seeking to use one or more fasteners of the plurality can thus grasp one or both of the fasteners' outer ends through the openings to peel and remove the fastener(s) from the stack. Also, because there is no channel, multiple access points to the stacked plurality of fasteners 5 are inherently provided.

Regardless of embodiment, the holding member 40 is preferably sheet-form in structure and comprised of rigid or semi-rigid materials to include rubbers, plastics, metals, woods, carbon-fiber or fiberglass materials or any other material understood in the art as providing rigid or semi-rigid properties. However, it is understood that the holding member 40 can have other shape as well, to include shapes embodying cylinders, blocks, or spheres and other shapes as well, alone or in combination. The holding member optionally defines at least one mounting means 112 to facilitate mounting or attaching the carrier to another object. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the at least one mounting means comprises a through penetration of the holding member to facilitate the use of common mechanical fasteners understood in the art. However, in other embodiments, the mounting means may comprise adhesive or magnetic surfaces, hooks, brackets or other similar materials understood in the art attached to, embedded in or unitary with the holding member. It is noted that the carrier is optionally stackable, one-on-top-of-another, to facilitate its improved use and storage. As such, the lower surface of the mounting member may include one or more voids or protrusions for stacking engagement with the at least one receiver 45 located on the member's upper surface of other similar carriers. In the alternative, the lower surface may define at least one receiver as well (as per its upper surface).

Also, the receivers 45 of the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 are comprised of rigid or semi-rigid materials to include as rubbers, plastics, metals, woods, carbon-fiber or fiberglass materials or any other material understood in the art as providing rigid or semi-rigid properties. In one embodiment, the receivers 45 are unitary with or embedded in the holding member 40 while in other embodiments the receivers comprise separate structures removably or permanently attached thereto via adhesives or glues, welds, or mechanical fasteners such as screws, nut and bolt combinations, rivets or other fasteners known to one of skill in the art. A removable attachment of the at least one receiver to the holding member facilitates its selective use in relation to the carrier. Furthermore, although FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate receivers that have a substantially parallel orientation with one another, it is understood that the receiver can have any such orientation in relation to one another, to include, without limitation, oblique, radial, end-to-end, and other relations, alone or in combination.

Depending upon the materials used, the at least one receiver 45 and holding member 40 may be comprised of a common material or each may be comprised of a different material. A commonality of materials typically exists when the at least one receiver and holding member are unitary with one another and created with a molding and/or machining or similar process. Differences in material between the at least one receiver and holding member typically exist when the components are initially independent of one another but attached during an assembly process as discussed above. However, it is understood that these assembled components may be nonetheless comprised of a common material. Depending upon the material composition of the holding member or at least one receiver, either or both components may be readily disposable when no longer used.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 respectively illustrate alternate embodiments of the fasteners of FIGS. 1-3. In these embodiments, at least one end of the fasteners defines a tab 115 for aid in removing a fastener from the stack. In the embodiment illustrated within the figures, the tab comprises fastener material that is folded over and welded, sewn or glued to itself. Preferably, the outer surface is loop material folded over such that it will not engage (i.e., not stick to) the outer surface of loop material the tab of the fastener stacked below it. However, it is understood that the hook material may be folded over as well. For the carrier embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5, the tabs can be about co-terminus with the opening 65 of the receiver, fall beyond the opening, or fall short of the opening. For the carrier embodiment of FIG. 6, the tabs can be about co-terminus with the adhering surface 50 of the receiver, fall beyond the surface, or fall short of the surface.

In other embodiments of the fastener 5, the tab comprises material unitary with the fastener and missing hook and/or loop material from one or both of the fastener's upper and lower surfaces such that the tab surfaces of the fasteners cannot engage one another. In further embodiments, the tab comprises labeling material, missing hook and/or loop material from one or both if its upper and lower surfaces, welded, sewn or glued to the at least one end such that the tab surfaces of the fasteners cannot engage one another. The labeling material may comprise durable textile materials, plastic or rubber sheet-form materials, or other materials understood in the art as suitable for durable tagging or labeling purposes.

In use, at least a first hook and loop fastener of the plurality is received within at least one receiver of a carrier. Each fastener of the plurality defines hooks on at least a portion of one side of the fastener and loops on at least a portion of the other. The first hook and loop fastener operably engages a bottom surface of the receiver while an outer edge of the first hook and loop fastener about aligns with at least one aligning surface of the receiver. The remaining hook and loop fasteners operably engage one another to form the plurality, each having an outer edge about aligned with the alignment surface.

The at least first hook and loop fastener and the remaining fasteners of the stack may be received within a receiver at, their place of manufacture (for later retail or commercial sales distribution) or at their place of use (i.e., at home by a retail user of fasteners or at a work station by a commercial or industrial user). If the first hook and loop fastener of the plurality is received within the receiver at their place of use, it is assumed that the user possesses the carrier and fasteners separately for self assembly (i.e., for placing the fasteners within the receiver).

After at least the first fastener is received within the receiver of the carrier, it and/or one or more of the remaining fasteners of the plurality, if present, may again be removed therefrom for fastening applications. Such a removal occurs by grasping an end of the fastener made accessible through an open channel end or through a surface opening of a side or end surface of the receiver and peeling and removing the fastener from another fastener of the plurality within the receiver, or from the bottom surface of the receiver itself (i.e., if the fastener being removed is the first fastener of the plurality). If the fasteners have tabs, the user grasps the tabs for fastener removal. After the completion of the fastening application, the fastener optionally again placed into the received of the carrier for re-use. If the carrier is not to be used again after all of the fasteners have been removed from its one or more receivers, the fastener may optionally be disposed of in the trash.

While this foregoing description and accompanying figures are illustrative of the present invention, other variations in structure and method are possible without departing from the invention's spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A carrier for carrying a plurality hook and loop fasteners that define hooks on at least a portion of one side of the fastener and loops on at least a portion of the other, the carrier comprising:

a holding member defining at least one receiver having a bottom adhering surface configured for operable engagement with a first hook and loop fastener of the plurality.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the receiver further comprises at least one aligning surface configured to align an outer edge of the fasteners of the plurality with one another.

3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein the at least one aligning surface of the receiver and the outer edge of the fasteners of the plurality are about spoon-shaped.

4. The carrier of claim 3 wherein the aligning surface defines at least one opening for exposing at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

5. The carrier of claim 4 wherein the at least one opening is about co-terminus with the least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

6. The carrier of claim 4 wherein the at least one opening falls beyond the at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

7. The carrier of claim 4 wherein the at least one opening falls short of the at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

8. The carrier of claim 2 wherein the at least one aligning surface comprises opposing first and second opposing side surfaces defining opposing open ends of the receiver and configured to align a pair of opposing elongated outer edges of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners, the plurality of hook and loop fasteners about rectangular-shaped.

9. The carrier of claim 8 wherein the opposing open ends are about respectively co-terminus a pair of opposing ends defined by the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

10. The carrier of claim 8 wherein the opposing open ends respectively fall beyond a pair of opposing ends defined by the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

11. The carrier of claim 8 wherein the opposing open ends respectively fall short of a pair of opposing ends defined by the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

12. The carrier of claim 8 wherein one of the open ends is closed ley an end surface of the at least one aligning surface to define a remaining open end and the plurality of hook and loop fasteners defines a pair of opposing ends, the end surface configured to align a first end of the pair of opposing ends.

13. The carrier of claim 12 wherein the remaining open end is about co-terminus with a second end of the pair of opposing ends.

14. The carrier of claim 12 wherein the remaining open end falls beyond a second end of the pair of opposing ends.

15. The carrier of claim 12 wherein the remaining open end falls short of a second end of the pair of opposing ends.

16. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the bottom adhering surface defines a rectangle having opposing ends.

17. The carrier of claim 16 wherein at least one end of the bottom adhering surface is about co-terminus with at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

18. The carrier of claim 16 wherein at least one end of the bottom adhering surface falls beyond at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

19. The carrier of claim 16 wherein at least one end of the bottom adhering surface falls short of at least one end of the plurality of hook and loop fasteners.