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US4726975A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for adapting separable fasteners for attachment to other objects

Assignee: Velcro Industries BV
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Filing: 1986-09-23
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Granted: 1988-02-23
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Expires: 2006-09-23
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Abstract

Abstract An improvement for attaching fastener strips to other objects wherein a strip of fastener material is formed into the surface of urethane foam or the like during molding in a mold. The fastener material comprises a backing strip having an outer surface adapted to mate with the foam material during molding and a fastener strip having an outer surface comprising one-half of a fastening system such as hook and loop fastening material. The backing strip and the fastener strip are attached to one another with their respective inner surfaces in face-to-face relationship with their outer surfaces facing outward. The fastener material fits within a longitudinal groove in the mold and the backing material overlaps the groove. The invention comprises an improved apparatus including a backing strip that is wider than the fastener strip and provides exposed strips on both sides of the fastener strip. A pair of strips of polyethylene film is attached to the exposed strips only along lines adjacent the edges of the fastener strip and forms two unattached gasket strips for contacting the mold and preventing entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard N. Hatch

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 17:23
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/12; B29C33/14; B29C33/16; A; A44; A44B; A44B18/00; A44B18/0069; A44B18/0076; B29C37/00; B29C37/0078; B29C37/0082; B29C44/00; B29C44/02; B29C44/12; B29C44/1261; B29C70/00; B29C70/68; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/58; B60N2/5891; A44D; A44D2203/00; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/04; B29K2705/00; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/44; B29L2031/443; B29L2031/727; B29L2031/729; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/90; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/27; Y10T24/2725; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24008; Y10T428/24017; Y10T428/24174; Y10T428/24182; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249955; Y10T428/249958; Y10T428/249962; Y10T428/249982; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/256; Y10T428/257

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 279 words
A strip of fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold wherein the fastener material comprises a backing strip having an outer surface adapted to mate with the foam material during molding and a fastener strip having an outer surface comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, wherein the backing strip and the fastener strip are attached to one another with their respective inner surfaces in face-to-face relationship with their outer surfaces facing outward, and wherein the fastener material fits within a groove in the mold and the backing material overlaps the groove, characterized in that to prevent the liquid foam-forming material from entering the groove and contaminating the outer surface of the fastener strip (a) the backing strip is wider than the fastener strip and is disposed to provide strips of the inner surface of the backing strip exposed on either side of the outer surface of the fastener strip; and, (b) a pair of strips of polyethylene film are disposed along respective ones of said strips, and said film strips being attached to said strip only along lines adjacent the edges of the fastener strip and extending between the outer edges of the fastener strip and the outer edges of the backing strip to form two unattached gasket strips along either side of the fastening material for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a first pair of gaskets along the respective lines where the backing material contacts the mold adjacent the groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 279 words
A strip of fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold wherein the fastener material comprises a backing strip having an outer surface adapted to mate with the foam material during molding and a fastener strip having an outer surface comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, wherein the backing strip and the fastener strip are attached to one another with their respective inner surfaces in face-to-face relationship with their outer surfaces facing outward, and wherein the fastener material fits within a groove in the mold and the backing material overlaps the groove, characterized in that to prevent the liquid foam-forming material from entering the groove and contaminating the outer surface of the fastener strip (a) the backing strip is wider than the fastener strip and is disposed to provide strips of the inner surface of the backing strip exposed on either side of the outer surface of the fastener strip; and, (b) a pair of strips of polyethylene film are disposed along respective ones of said strips, and said film strips being attached to said strip only along lines adjacent the edges of the fastener strip and extending between the outer edges of the fastener strip and the outer edges of the backing strip to form two unattached gasket strips along either side of the fastening material for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a first pair of gaskets along the respective lines where the backing material contacts the mold adjacent the groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said gasket strips also form a second pair of gaskets along the respective lines where the fastener strip abuts the sidewalls of the groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein: said film strips are fastened to the backing strip from close adjacent the edges of the fastener strip to a point intermediate the edge of the fastener strip and the outer edge of the backing strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 50 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein: said film strips are fastened to the backing strip with an adhesive material containing particles of a magnetically attractable material therein for allowing said backing material and said gaskets in combination therewith to be magnetically attracted towards the upper outer edges of the groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein: said pair of strips each extends over the respective outer edge of the backing strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 276 words
A strip of fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold wherein the fastener material comprises a backing strip having an outer surface adapted to mate with the foam material during molding and a fastener strip having an outer surface comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, wherein the backing strip and the fastener strip are attached to one another with their respective inner surfaces in face-to-face relationship with their outer surfaces facing outward, and wherein the fastener material fits within a longitudinal groove in the mold and the backing material overlaps the groove, characterized in that to prevent the liquid foam-forming material from entering the groove and contaminating the outer surface of the fastener strip: (a) the backing strip is wider than the fastener strip and is disposed to provide equal strips of the inner surface of the backing strip exposed on either side of the outer surface of the fastener strip; and, (b) a strip of polyethylene film, is disposed over the fastening strip and along respective ones of said equal strips, said film strip being attached to said equal strips only along lines adjacent the edges of the fastener strip and extending between the outer edges of the backing strip to form unattached gasket strips along either side of the fastening material for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a pair of gaskets along the respective lines where the backing material contacts the mold adjacent to the groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 276 words
A strip of fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold wherein the fastener material comprises a backing strip having an outer surface adapted to mate with the foam material during molding and a fastener strip having an outer surface comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, wherein the backing strip and the fastener strip are attached to one another with their respective inner surfaces in face-to-face relationship with their outer surfaces facing outward, and wherein the fastener material fits within a longitudinal groove in the mold and the backing material overlaps the groove, characterized in that to prevent the liquid foam-forming material from entering the groove and contaminating the outer surface of the fastener strip: (a) the backing strip is wider than the fastener strip and is disposed to provide equal strips of the inner surface of the backing strip exposed on either side of the outer surface of the fastener strip; and, (b) a strip of polyethylene film, is disposed over the fastening strip and along respective ones of said equal strips, said film strip being attached to said equal strips only along lines adjacent the edges of the fastener strip and extending between the outer edges of the backing strip to form unattached gasket strips along either side of the fastening material for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a pair of gaskets along the respective lines where the backing material contacts the mold adjacent to the groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein: said strip extends over the outer edges of the backing strip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein: said strip is fastened to the backing strip from close adjacent the edges of the fastener strip to points intermediate the edge of the fastener strip and the outer edge of the backing strip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 50 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein: said film strip is fastened to the backing strip with an adhesive material containing particles of a magnetically attractable material therein for allowing said backing material and said gaskets in combination therewith to be magnetically attracted towards the upper outer edges of the groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 220 words
A strip of improved fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold containing a groove in the inner sidewalls thereof for receiving the strip of fastener material during molding comprising: (a) a backing strip having a first outer surface on one side thereof adapted to mate with the foam during molding and a second outer surface on the other side thereof comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, said backing strip being wider than said second outer surface and said second outer surface being disposed to provide strips of said backing strip on either side of said second outer surface, said second outer surface being adapted to fit within the groove with said backing material overlapping the groove; and, (b) a pair of strips of polyethylene film disposed along respective ones of said strips of said backing strip on either side of said second outer surface to form unattached gasket strips along either side of said second outer surface for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a pair of gaskets along the respective lines wherein the backing material contacts the mold adjacent to the groove.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 220 words
A strip of improved fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold containing a groove in the inner sidewalls thereof for receiving the strip of fastener material during molding comprising: (a) a backing strip having a first outer surface on one side thereof adapted to mate with the foam during molding and a second outer surface on the other side thereof comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, said backing strip being wider than said second outer surface and said second outer surface being disposed to provide strips of said backing strip on either side of said second outer surface, said second outer surface being adapted to fit within the groove with said backing material overlapping the groove; and, (b) a pair of strips of polyethylene film disposed along respective ones of said strips of said backing strip on either side of said second outer surface to form unattached gasket strips along either side of said second outer surface for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a pair of gaskets along the respective lines wherein the backing material contacts the mold adjacent to the groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 70 words
The improved fastener material of claim 17 wherein: said film strips are attached along lines adjacent to but spaced from the edges of said second outer surface thus forming two unattached gasket strips along either side of said second outer surface whereby the two innermost of said gasket strips form a second pair of gaskets along the respective lines where said second outer surface abuts the sidewalls of the groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 23 words
The improved fastener material of claim 17 wherein: said pair of strips each extends over the respective outer edge of said backing strip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 45 words
The improved fastener material of claim 17 wherein: said film strips are fastened to said backing strip from adjacent the edges of said second outer surface to a point intermediate said edges of said second outer surface and the outer edges of said backing strip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 53 words
The improved fastener material of claim 17 wherein: said film strips are fastened to said backing strip with an adhesive material containing particles of a magnetically attractable material therein for allowing said backing material and said gaskets in combination therewith to be magnetically attracted towards the edges of the groove in the mold.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4470857A Cited
US4617214A Cited
FR2556271A1 Cited
US4563380A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-02-22 1991-08-24 1992-02-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-02-22 1995-08-24 1996-02-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-02-22 1999-08-24 2000-02-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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