Thermal Or Adhesive Patents (Class 24/448)
  • Patent number: 5830298
    Abstract: There is provided a loop fastening material for engaging a suitable male mechanical fastening element for a backing substrate of an oriented sheet material having a first face and a second face and substantially continuously attached to at least the first face a plurality of discrete, multi-filament transversely expanded yarns, such yarn filaments providing open loop structures. The yarns are expanded by transverse orientation of the backing to which it has been previously attached by extrusion bonding, adhesive bonding or the like. The resulting loop fastener provides a low cost, readily manufactured loop having good fastening properties to hook materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Byron M. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5827589
    Abstract: A strap to hold wires or other components permanently or semi-permanently, using a flexible high strength carrier member as the main component of the strap. The strap replaces mechanically retained wire clips. To apply the wire strap, first the back liner is removed and the adhesive or tape member is attached to a substrate. Then the main member is folded over the object to be held and is placed against adhesive, or a hook and loop fastener is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Christopher S. Autterson
  • Patent number: 5786062
    Abstract: Attachment strips that can be withdrawn from an enclosure, each comprising a flexible backing layer, a field of hooks along and projecting from one of its surfaces; and a first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive along one of its surfaces. The strips can be releasably adhered to each other by their layers of adhesive to form a stack in which first and second ends of successive strips are adjacent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Callahan, Jr., Kevin M. Hamer, Patricia R. Konsti, David C. Windorski
  • Patent number: 5773120
    Abstract: A loop material suitable for use in a hook-and-loop fastening system, which loop material includes a bonded carded web having a first side and a second side. The bonded carded web has a basis weight of from about 15 to about 140 grams per square meter and a thickness of from about 1 mm to about 15 mm. The bonded carded web may be thermally pattern bonded. The bonded carded web is composed of fibers having a denier per filament greater than 2, with from 100 to 0 percent by weight of the fibers being thermoplastic polymer fibers and from 0 to 100 percent by weight of the fibers being bicomponent thermoplastic polymer fibers. The first component of the bicomponent fibers has a melting point which is at least about 50.degree. C. lower than the melting point of the second component. The bonded carded web has a plurality of interfiber bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ganesh Chandra Deka, Robert Alan Cool, David William Richards
  • Patent number: 5720740
    Abstract: The invention is a refastenable mechanical fastening system, made of free-formed prongs joined to an embassey or raised substrate. The prongs taper and are nonperendicularly oriented relative to the plane of the substrate. Each prong has an engaging element projecting laterally from the periphery of the prong. The free formed prongs are manufactured by the process of depositing liquid material onto the embossed or raised portion of a moving substrate, stretching the liquid material in a direction parallel to the plane of the embossed or raised substrate and severing the stretched material to form the distal end and engaging element of the prong. The advantageous usage of the fastening system in an article of manufacture, such as a disposable absorbent garment, specifically a diaper, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Dennis Albert Thomas
  • Patent number: 5702797
    Abstract: Molten resin is continuously extruded from an injection die or an extrusion die toward the circumferential surface of a die wheel having in its circumferential surface a multiplicity of hook-element-forming cavities and, at the same time, one or more yarns are introduced between the molten resin and the circumferential surface of the die wheel into an inter-element portion of a substrate sheet between a desired adjacent rows of hook elements in parallel to the hook element rows. The yarns are embedded in and integrally molded with the inter-element portion of the substrate sheet and at the same time, hook elements are molded on the circumferential surface of the die wheel as the hook-element-forming cavities are filled with part of the molten resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakakibara, Ryuichi Murasaki, Shinichi Daijyogo, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5699593
    Abstract: There is provided a loop fastening material for engaging a suitable male mechanical fastening element for a backing substrate of an oriented sheet material having a first face and a second face and substantially continuously attached to at least the first face a plurality of discrete, multi-filament transversely expanded yarns, such yarn filaments providing open loop structures. The yarns are expanded by transverse orientation of the backing to which it has been previously attached by extrusion bonding, adhesive bonding or the like. The resulting loop fastener provides a low cost, readily manufactured loop having good fastening properties to hook materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Byron M. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5695845
    Abstract: A foamed molding having a fastener comprises: a foamed body (41), pile threads (42) each having a leading end protruding from the front side of the first foamed body and a rear end exposing from the back side of the first foamed body, and a foamed body (60) formed on the back side of the foamed body (41). The pile threads (41) each have an extended portion (43) for locking at the leading end thereof. A part of stock solution for forming the foamed body (60) is impregnated from the back side of the foamed body (41) to thereby form an impregnated layer (61) between the foamed body (41) and the foamed body (60), the impregnated layer (61) functioning to secure the rear ends of the pile threads (42). The foamed molding having a fastener can follow a contraction phenomenon produced in the foaming process of foam resin when an impregnated type foamed molding is formed on the back side of the face-like fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: Taro Ogawa, Fumio Goto
  • Patent number: 5691027
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fastener member having a dual purpose cover sheet. The fastener member includes a base sheet, a plurality of engaging members projecting from the base sheet, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on an opposite surface of a base sheet, and a dual purpose cover sheet. The dual purpose cover sheet protects the adhesive layer of a first fastener member, and the engaging members of a second, underlying fastener member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Carey J. Eckhardt, Bradley D. Zinke
  • Patent number: 5691026
    Abstract: A fastener arrangement includes a first fastener member having a base sheet and a plurality of engaging members projecting from the base sheet. The fastener arrangement includes a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface of a base sheet opposite of the engaging members, and a dual purpose cover sheet. The dual purpose cover sheet protects the adhesive layer of the first fastener member, and the engaging members of a second, underlying fastener member. The dual purpose cover is releasably attached to the second fastener member by fusing or by using an adhesive having a first non-tacky consistency and a second tacky consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bradley D. Zinke, Timothy N. Narum
  • Patent number: 5659930
    Abstract: A first foundation fabric having on its one surface a number of raised interlocking elements and a second foundation fabric having weft threads of monofilaments are woven or knitted integrally with each other by means of connecting threads. The first and second foundation fabrics are firmly and integrally united together by a synthetic resin layer to form a surface-type fastener having a thick foundation fabric. The surface-type fastener of the foregoing construction does not require a conventional sewing process, can therefore be produced efficiently, can readily be rolled up on a reel, obviates the need for a complicated inventory management which would occur when the first and second foundation fabrics are stocked separately in view of the dimensions and colors of the respective foundation fabrics, is able to prevent the first and second foundation fabrics from separating during use of the surface-type fastener, and hence continuously maintains the necessary strength throughout the service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhisa Okawa
  • Patent number: 5654067
    Abstract: Described is a loop pile material composed of a textile backing composed of a knit or woven and bound-in loop-forming pile yarns, whereinthe textile backing consists of a multifilament hybrid yarn composed of at least 2 varieties A and B of filaments with or without cofilaments C, wherein said filaments A are textured,the melting point of said filaments B being at least 20.degree. C., preferably at least 40.degree. C., in particular at least 80.degree. C., below the melting point of filaments A,the weight ratio of the filaments A:B being within the range from 20:80 to 80:20, preferably from 40:60 to 60:40, and the multifilament hybrid yarn additionally containing up to 40% by weight of cofilaments C, and the pile consists of loops with a length of 1 to 4 mm formed from a multifilament yarn having a yarn linear density of 30 to 200 dtex and filament linear densities of 5 to 25 dtex and/or from monofilaments having a linear density of 20 to 70 dtex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rolf Dinger, Joachim Wiegand, Armin Fendt
  • Patent number: 5647864
    Abstract: A female component for a refastenable fastening device having an elastomeric adhesive backing and a multiplicity of fibrous elements extending from the backing. The female fastening component is formed by a method comprising the steps of: providing a first lamina comprising an elastomeric, pressure-sensitive adhesive film having a first adhesive surface and a second adhesive surface opposed to said first adhesive surface, a relaxed orientation and an elongated orientation; stretching said first lamina from said relaxed orientation to said elongated orientation; contacting a second lamina comprising a nonwoven web with said first surface of said first lamina in said elongated orientation, thereby directly joining said second lamina and said first lamina to form a laminate; and relaxing said first lamina such that said second lamina is shirred to form catching regions capable of entangling the hooks of a complementary male fastening component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Patrick Jay Allen, Beverly Jean Bross-Kelly, Louis John Viltro, William Robert Vinnage, Jr., David Michael Weirich
  • Patent number: 5616394
    Abstract: A sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, Ronald L. Ott
  • Patent number: 5605729
    Abstract: A storage/dispensing assembly, e.g., a roll or stack, of loop fastener material such as is used in hook and loop fastening system comprising one or more multilayer sheets of loop fastener material arranged such that the adhesive layer of an overlying portion of the loop fastener material is in direct contact with the loop layer of an underlying portion of the loop fastener material. The loops are such that, when the overlying portion of the loop fastener material is removed from the assembly, the loops of the underlying portion are presented in an engagable state. Also, a method for dispensing such loop material from such assemblies such that as the adhesive layer of the overlying portion is separated from the loops of the underlying portion, the loops of the underlying portion are presented in an engagable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kirit C. Mody, Roy D. Erickson, Stephen P. Polski
  • Patent number: 5595567
    Abstract: A loop fastening material having an elastomeric backing joined with a nonwoven web. The backing preferably comprises an elongated orientation, a relaxed orientation and a path of response along which the backing contracts from its elongated orientation to its relaxed orientation. The nonwoven web preferably comprises filaments that are secured to each other at fixed regions by inter-fiber bonds forming a nonwoven web bonding pattern comprising nonwoven web bonding pattern elements. Between the fixed regions, the nonwoven web preferably comprises unsecured regions. The nonwoven web is preferably joined with the backing while the backing is in its elongated orientation. Construction bonds forming a construction bond pattern join the nonwoven web with the backing. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the construction bond pattern intersects with at least two points of each nonwoven web bonding pattern element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Willie F. King, Mark J. Kline
  • Patent number: 5586371
    Abstract: The invention is a refastenable mechanical fastening system including rows of female loops joined to a substrate. The loops taper from the base to the distal end and are typically nonperpendicularly oriented relative to the plane of the substrate. The shanks of each loop may also have an azimuthal angle relative to the machine direction of the substrate. Each loop includes an opening for receiving a portion of the prong of a male hook component. The loops are manufactured by the process of extruding liquid material through the apertures of a depositing member onto a moving substrate to form the base of the loop, stretching the liquid material in a direction parallel to the plane of the substrate, severing the stretched material to form a distal end which fuses with an adjacent amount of stretched material to forma loop. The advantageous usage of the fastening system in an article of manufacture, such as a disposable absorbent article, and more specifically, a diaper is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Dennis A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5518795
    Abstract: An extruded hook fastener strip is created on a roll having hook forming cavities in its surface by extruding plastic material into the interface between the forming roll and a second strip carried by a backing roll. The second strip is firmly bonded to the fastener strip on that side opposite the formed hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Velcro Industries, B.V.
    Inventors: William J. Kennedy, George A. Provost, Gerald F. Rocha
  • Patent number: 5515583
    Abstract: Provided is mixed hook/loop separable fasteners comprising a base fabric provided on one surface thereof intermixedly with a multiplicity of hook-like fastening elements and a multiplicity of loop-like fastening elements; said hook-like fastening elements having a height of 1.3 to 3.8 mm and said loop-like fastening elements having a height of 1.5 to 4 mm and larger by 0.2 to 2.0 mm than the height of said hook-like fastening elements, and said hook-like fastening elements and loop-like fastening elements being provided in a density of 40 to 120 pieces/cm.sup.2 with the ratio of the number of said hook-like fastening elements to the total being 40 to 60%.Also provided are process for producing the above separable fasteners, as well as their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukitoshi Higashinaka
  • Patent number: 5516183
    Abstract: A retention system for an automotive window assembly includes a window insertable onto a recessed generally L-shaped peripheral flange of a flanged window aperture formed in an automotive vehicle body, with the window being adhesively secured to the peripheral flange. The window assembly also has an interior window trim member for covering the interior side of the flange and an edge of the window and an exterior window trim for covering the exterior of the flanged window aperture and an edge of the window. The system further includes a hook and loop type fabric fastening means for securing the window to the flange, for securing the interior trim to the interior side of the flange and for securing the exterior trim member to the window and the exterior body panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventor: Peter N. Gold
  • Patent number: 5447590
    Abstract: Method to produce a female fabric for use in a hook and loop connection in which the maximum number of loops are produced on the loop surface which engages the hooks of the mating hook fabric. The method includes mounting the reed at an obtuse angle to the loopy yarn used to cause the loops extending outwardly from the loopy yarn to be combed upwardly as it exits from the reed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Gilpatrick
  • Patent number: 5436051
    Abstract: A hook or loop component of a hook and loop fastener having a textile ground sheet and filamentary pile, the ground sheet penetrated by a resinous binder of improved properties. Hydrolytically stable cross-linked bonds are formed in a binder under ambient or laundering conditions. Bonds of urea-, ureido-, or urethane-type result from curing of the hook or loop ground-sheet by exposure to water molecules, polyfunctional amines, or polyfunctional alcohols. The resin is applied as a hot-melt, as a neat liquid, or as a solute in a solvent. In a method for applying the resin as a hot-melt, a continuous strip of hook or loop elements is heated to approximately the same temperature as the melted resin and the melted resin is applied, using a coating head and coating knife, to a section of tape suspended between two support points. Other cross-link systems and thermoplastic systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Velcro Industries, B.V.
    Inventors: L. Guy Donaruma, Lawrence E. Lacombe, Gerald F. Rocha
  • Patent number: 5380313
    Abstract: A laminated loop fastening material for a refastenable mechanical fastening system, the loop fastening material being capable of engaging a complementary hook fastening material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David J. K. Goulait, Jerry E. Carstens
  • Patent number: 5369852
    Abstract: Mixed hook/loop separable fasteners comprise a base fabric provided on one surface thereof intermixedly with a multiplicity of hook-like fastening elements and a multiplicity of loop-like fastening elements. The hook-like fastening elements having a height of 1.3 to 3.8 mm and the loop-like fastening elements have a height of 1.5 to 4 mm and larger by 0.2 to 2.0 mm than the height of the hook-like fastening elements. The hook-like fastening elements and loop-like fastening elements being provided in a density of 40 to 120 pieces/cm.sup.2. Also provided is a process for producing the above separable fasteners, as well as their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukitoshi Higashinaka
  • Patent number: 5354591
    Abstract: A sheet of coated abrasive material including a backing having abrasive on one surface and loops projecting from its other surface by which the sheet of coated abrasive material can be held by hooks on the support surface of a pad. The backing comprises a polymeric bonding layer defining its rear surface. The sheet of coated abrasive material comprises a nonwoven sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions bonded in the polymeric bonding layer at spaced bonding locations, and arcuate portions projecting from the rear surface of the backing between the bonding locations to provide the loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ott, Michael R. Gorman, Dennis L. Becker, Donald W. Folske, William L. Melbye, Susan K. Nestegard, David F. Slama, John L. Barry, Jeffrey R. McMahon
  • Patent number: 5325569
    Abstract: A process for making a refastenable mechanical fastening system comprising the steps of providing a depositing member having at least one aperture having a diameter of between about 0.008 inches to about 0.040 inches; providing a molten thermally sensitive material having a storage modulus less than about 5000 dynes/centimeter.sup.2 at the application temperature and a storage modulus of at least about 1.times.10.sup.6 dynes/centimeter.sup.2 at a temperature no more than 40.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David J. K. Goulait, Dennis A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5300058
    Abstract: The invention is an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, comprising a main body portion which is divided into a first half and a second half by a principle transverse centerline, and an oriented hook fastening material joined to the first half and second half of the main body portion. The oriented hook fastening material is oriented in a direction having a vector component perpendicular to the principle transverse centerline of the main body portion. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the disposable absorbent article will have side flaps joined to the main body portion and an oriented hook fastening material joined to the side flaps. In another alternate embodiment of the present invention, the disposable absorbent article will have a combination of a pressure sensitive adhesive and an oriented hook fastening material joined to the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David J. K. Goulait, Dennis A. Thomas, Maureen E. Stanley
  • Patent number: 5231738
    Abstract: Mixed hook/loop separable fasteners comprise a base fabric provided on one surface thereof intermixedly with a multiplicity of hook-like fastening elements and a multiplicity of loop-like fastening elements. The hook-like fastening elements having a height of 1.3 to 3.8 mm and the loop-like fastening elements having a height of 1.5 to 4 mm and larger by 0.2 to 2.0 mm than the height of the hook-like fastening elements. The hook-like fastening elements and loop-like fastening elements being provided in a density of 40 to 120 pieces/cm.sup.2 with the ratio of the number of the hook-like fastening elements to the total being 40 to 60%. Also provided is a process for producing the above separable fasteners, as well as their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yakitoshi Higashinaka
  • Patent number: 5149573
    Abstract: A strip material from which a portion may be severed to form a portion of a fastener. The strip material comprising a polymeric bonding layer; a multiplicity of flexible, resilient, generally U-shaped monofilaments, each monofilament including a central elongate bight portion embedded in the bonding layer, two stem portions extending from the opposite ends of the bight portion and projecting generally normal to an exposed major surface of the bonding layer, and enlarged heads at the ends of the stem portions opposite the bight portion, resiliently elastic material attached to the surface of the bonding layer opposite its exposed major surface, and pressure sensitive adhesive means along an attachment surface of the resiliently elastic material opposite the bonding layer for adhering the strip material to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James J. Kobe, Susan K. Nestegard
  • Patent number: 5058247
    Abstract: An improved releasably securable fastening system for attaching to a complementary receiving surface is disclosed. The fastening system features an engaging means in the form of a hook-shaped tine. The engaging means is longitudinally spaced away from, or above, a substrate by an upstanding shank. The engaging means forms an included angle, relative to the perpendicular from the plane of the substrate, which is greater than 180.degree. so that the engaging means has a reentrant segment. The reentrant segment of the engaging means provides for more effective securing of the fastening system to a receiving surface. An engaging means having an included angle greater than 180.degree. provides improved resistance to forces which cause separation of the engaging means from the receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Dennis A. Thomas, Ted L. Blaney
  • Patent number: 4980003
    Abstract: U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,084 disclosed and claimed a method for making multiple-hook fasteners and the resulting multiple-hooks. A strand of stiffly flexible bendable settable polymeric plastic material is zig-zagged back and forth cross a centerline, with sharply doubled-back bends at each zig and zag. The present method enables the doubled-back bends in such a plastic monofilament to be shaped sharply by initially causing the strand to be nicked or scooped at predetermined intervals to predetermined depth and length by at least one laser beam. The pre-nicked strand is used by feeding it endwise at a predetermined feed rate into a zigzag station wherein it is confined and guided by side walls diverging in the downstream direction and appropriately configured to shape the pre-nicked strand into the desired zigzag configuration. In the zigzag station, its leading, i.e. downstream, portions are slowed down relative to the predetermined feed rate of its incoming, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Erblok Associates
    Inventors: George H. Erb, Susan E. Beard
  • Patent number: 4955113
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a novel fastener means of the type having a plurality of fastening means extending from bight portions 60 bonded to a backing material 48. Products fabricated with the novel fastener means. The apparatus generally comprises means for drawing an array of filaments 46, or other material, onto a forming wheel 14 having a plurality of grooves 28, and land zones 30 between the grooves, means for positioning a plurality of pins 42 against the filaments 46 and aligned with the grooves 28, means for urging the pins 42 into the grooves 28 and thereby forming loops 50 in the filaments 46, and means for placing a backing material 48 against the filaments 46 and bonding the backing material to the filaments at spaced locations. Pins 42 are trapped in spaces 53 between the filaments 46 and the backing material 48. The apparatus further includes means for releasing the pins from the spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Rajala, Lon M. King
  • Patent number: 4861399
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a novel fastener means of the type having a plurality of fastening means extending from bight portions 60 bonded to a backing material 48. Products fabricated with the novel fastener means. The apparatus generally comprises means for drawing an array of filaments 46, or other material, onto a forming wheel 14 having a plurality of grooves 28, and land zones 30 between the grooves, means for positioning a plurality of pins 42 against the filaments 46 and aligned with the grooves 28, means for urging the pins 42 into the grooves 28 and thereby forming loops 50 in the filaments 46, and means for placing a backing material 48 against the filaments 46 and bonding the backing material to the filaments at spaced locations. Pins 42 are trapped in spaces 53 between the filaments 46 and the backing material 48. The apparatus further includes means for releasing the pins from the spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Rajala, Lon M. King
  • Patent number: 4732631
    Abstract: A tape having a series of surface-type fastener pieces is manufactured by intermittently feeding a surface-type fastener tape blank composed of a release sheet of paper and a surface-type fastener of synthetic resin attached by an adhesive layer to the release sheet and comprising a base strip and a plurality of fastening elements, and fusing the surface-type fastener in a predetermined pattern by ultrasonic or high-frequency welding to produce gaps which define a series of surface-type fastener pieces on the release sheet. The release sheet with the series of surface-type fastener pieces attached thereto by the adhesive layer is then separated from a scrap composed of a surface-type fastener web from which the surface-type fastener pieces have been blanked out. Each of the surface-type fastener pieces is fused along its peripheral edge to prevent the fastening elements thereon from unraveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Kozo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 4646397
    Abstract: A surface-type fastener comprising a pair of fabric fastener strips, one fastener strip having on its one surface a number of hook-shaped engaging elements engageable with a number of loop-shaped engaging elements on one surface of the other fastener strip. One surface of each fastener strip has a first region in which the engaging elements are disposed, and a second region devoid of engaging elements. The other surface of the individual fastener strip has, in registry with the first region, an area covered with synthetic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshida