US4858286A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic interlocking fastener strips
Assignee: Minigrip Inc
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Filing: 1988-05-23
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Granted: 1989-08-22
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Expires: 2008-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A fastener structure having continuous interlocking flexible plastic profiles on opposing strips adapted to be releasably interlocked to each other, each strip having a pair of ribs and a pair of grooves wherein each rib and each groove of the pairs are of the same size and shape, a blocking boss extending continuously along the outermost of the ribs to engage a rib of the other strip when the strips are misaligned and the wrong rib is pressed into the wrong groove but allowing interlocking when both ribs and grooves are aligned.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl-Heinz Siegel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:18
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L59/00; F16L59/02; F16L59/021; F16L59/022; A; A44; A44B; A44B19/00; A44B19/10; A44B19/16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/07; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S24/00; Y10S24/30; Y10S24/38; Y10S24/39; Y10S24/50; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/45; Y10T24/45152; Y10T24/45157; Y10T24/45168
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An interlocking flexible fastener comprising in combination: confronting first and second fastener members each having web portions and each having releasably interlocking profile portions extending continuously therealong at the edge of the web portion, a first profile portion having a female inner groove and a female outer groove outwardly of the inner groove relative to the web, a second profile portion having a male inner rib and a male outer rib outwardly of the web portion, said ribs being complementary shaped to the grooves to interlock therein with the outer rib properly lockable in the inner groove and the inner rib properly lockable in the outer groove, each of said ribs being of the same size and shape and each of said grooves being of the same size and shape as each other and as the ribs; and a blocking element on one of said ribs preventing said outer rib from entering said outer groove so that proper interlocking is effected only by the outer rib locking in the inner groove and the inner rib locking in the outer groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An interlocking flexible fastener comprising in combination: confronting first and second fastener members each having web portions and each having releasably interlocking profile portions extending continuously therealong at the edge of the web portion, a first profile portion having a female inner groove and a female outer groove outwardly of the inner groove relative to the web, a second profile portion having a male inner rib and a male outer rib outwardly of the web portion, said ribs being complementary shaped to the grooves to interlock therein with the outer rib properly lockable in the inner groove and the inner rib properly lockable in the outer groove, each of said ribs being of the same size and shape and each of said grooves being of the same size and shape as each other and as the ribs; and a blocking element on one of said ribs preventing said outer rib from entering said outer groove so that proper interlocking is effected only by the outer rib locking in the inner groove and the inner rib locking in the outer groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An interlocking flexible fastener constructed in accordance with claim 1: wherein said blocking consists of a projection extending from the outer rib.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An interlocking flexible fastener constructed in accordance with claim 1: wherein said strips are flexible extruded plastic with the blocking means comprising a projection integral with the strips and of the same material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
An interlocking flexible fastener comprising in combination: confronting first and second fastener members each having web portions and each having releasably interlocking profile portions extending continuously therealong, said first portion having female first and second grooves, said second portion having male first and second ribs complementary shaped to the grooves to interlock therein; each of said ribs being of the same size and shape and each of said grooves being of the same size and shape; and each of said first ribs having a blocking element positioned to permit entry of the first ribs into the first grooves but engaging the second ribs to prevent entry of the first ribs into the second grooves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
An interlocking flexible fastener comprising in combination: confronting first and second fastener members each having web portions and each having releasably interlocking profile portions extending continuously therealong, said first portion having female first and second grooves, said second portion having male first and second ribs complementary shaped to the grooves to interlock therein; each of said ribs being of the same size and shape and each of said grooves being of the same size and shape; and each of said first ribs having a blocking element positioned to permit entry of the first ribs into the first grooves but engaging the second ribs to prevent entry of the first ribs into the second grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
A fastener structure having continuous releasably interlocking profiles comprising in combination: opposed flexible plastic continuous fastener strips adapted to be releasably interlocking to each other; one strip having a plurality of ribs thereon the same size and shape; the other strip having a groove thereon shaped and sized to mate with any one of said ribs; one of said ribs being an insertion ib for properly interlocking with the groove and the other of said ribs being an incorrect rib for not interlocking with said groove; and blocking means on one said strips projecting from a rib blocking entry of sa incorrect rib into said groove so that only the correct rib will be interlocked and so that the incorrected ribs will not be inadvertently inserted into said groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A fastener structure having continuous releasably interlocking profiles comprising in combination: opposed flexible plastic continuous fastener strips adapted to be releasably interlocking to each other; one strip having a plurality of ribs thereon the same size and shape; the other strip having a groove thereon shaped and sized to mate with any one of said ribs; one of said ribs being an insertion ib for properly interlocking with the groove and the other of said ribs being an incorrect rib for not interlocking with said groove; and blocking means on one said strips projecting from a rib blocking entry of sa incorrect rib into said groove so that only the correct rib will be interlocked and so that the incorrected ribs will not be inadvertently inserted into said groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A fastener structure having continuous interlocking profiles thereon comprising in combination: opposed flexible continuous fastener strips adapted to be releasably interlocked to each other and having web portions extending in opposite directions so that the strips interlock the web portions extending away from each other; each strip being complementary shaped with a pair of projecting ribs and with a pair of grooves for receiving the ribs of the other strip; a projecting boss extending along the distal rib of the pair of each strip and positioned to engage the rib of the opposite strip and prevent interlocking when the strips are improperly aligned; said boss strengthening the rib against lateral bending; said boss located to permit entry of the ribs into the grooves with proper orientation between the strips.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A fastener structure having continuous interlocking profiles thereon comprising in combination: opposed flexible continuous fastener strips adapted to be releasably interlocked to each other and having web portions extending in opposite directions so that the strips interlock the web portions extending away from each other; each strip being complementary shaped with a pair of projecting ribs and with a pair of grooves for receiving the ribs of the other strip; a projecting boss extending along the distal rib of the pair of each strip and positioned to engage the rib of the opposite strip and prevent interlocking when the strips are improperly aligned; said boss strengthening the rib against lateral bending; said boss located to permit entry of the ribs into the grooves with proper orientation between the strips.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fastener structure having continuous interlocking profiles thereon constructed in accordance with claim 6: wherein said ribs and grooves of each strips of said boss are continuous therealong and are formed by continuous plastic extrusion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fastener structure having continuous interlocking profiles thereon constructed in accordance with claim 6: wherein said boss constitutes a continuous member extending parallel to the ribs and grooves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fastener structure having continuous interlocking profiles thereon constructed in accordance with claim 6: including a web for each of the strips and said boss extends substantially parallel to said web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A fastener structure having continuous interlocking profiles thereon constructed in accordance with claim 6: wherein said fastener strips have plural ribs and said boss extends at substantially right angles to the outermost rib as a backbone for the rib preventing localized bending.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-21 | 1993-02-20 | 1993-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-21 | 1997-02-20 | 1997-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-21 | 2001-02-20 | 2001-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |