US4946527A — Pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener and method o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 82 words

A pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener having a textured fastening surface comprising: a backing web having a first surface and a second surface, said backing web exhibiting a pattern of discrete, bulbous surface aberrations projecting from said first surface, each of said bulbous surface aberrations having a base portion and an end portion; and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated over and bonded to at least a portion of the surface of said bulbous surface aberrations to define the fastening surface of the fastener.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 82 words

A pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener having a textured fastening surface comprising: a backing web having a first surface and a second surface, said backing web exhibiting a pattern of discrete, bulbous surface aberrations projecting from said first surface, each of said bulbous surface aberrations having a base portion and an end portion; and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated over and bonded to at least a portion of the surface of said bulbous surface aberrations to define the fastening surface of the fastener.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

The fastener of claim 1 wherein said end portion of each of said bulbous surface aberrations comprises at least one microbubble substantially coinciding with the point of maximum amplitude of said bulbous surface aberration to which said microbubble is joined about its periphery to said base portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The fastener of claim 2 wherein said microbubble comprises a highly flexible membrane which is thinner than said base portion of said bulbous surface aberration.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

The fastener of claim 3 wherein said microbubble comprises a continuous membrane.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

The fastener of claim 4 wherein said microbubble exhibits a maximum internal cross-sectional area, as measured in its fully expanded condition in a first plane oriented perpendicular to the amplitude of said bulbous surface aberration, which is greater than the minimum internal cross-sectional area of said relatively thicker base portion, as measured in a second plane oriented parallel to said first plane.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The fastener of claim 1 wherein said layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive is coated over and bonded to at least the surface of said bulbous surface aberrations.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The fastener of claim 6 wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive is coated over and bonded to said first surface of said backing web.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The fastener of claim 7 wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive is uniformly coated over and bonded to said first surface of said backing web to form a continuous thin layer of adhesive.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 140 words

A pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener having a textured fastening surface comprising: a backing web having a first surface and a second surface, said backing web exhibiting a pattern of discrete, bulbous surface aberrations projecting from said first surface, each of said bulbous surface aberrations having a base portion and an end portion, the end portion of each of said bulbous surface aberrations comprising at least one microbubble substantially coinciding with the point of maximum amplitude of said bulbous surface aberration, said microbubble comprising a highly flexible, continuous membrane joined about its periphery to said base portion and which is thinner than said base portion of said bulbous surface aberration; and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated over and bonded to at least the surface of said end portions of said bulbous surface aberrations to define the fastening surface of the fastener.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 140 words

A pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener having a textured fastening surface comprising: a backing web having a first surface and a second surface, said backing web exhibiting a pattern of discrete, bulbous surface aberrations projecting from said first surface, each of said bulbous surface aberrations having a base portion and an end portion, the end portion of each of said bulbous surface aberrations comprising at least one microbubble substantially coinciding with the point of maximum amplitude of said bulbous surface aberration, said microbubble comprising a highly flexible, continuous membrane joined about its periphery to said base portion and which is thinner than said base portion of said bulbous surface aberration; and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated over and bonded to at least the surface of said end portions of said bulbous surface aberrations to define the fastening surface of the fastener.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

The fastener of claim 9 wherein said pattern of bulbous surface aberrations is greater than about 20 bulbous surface aberrations per square inch.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The fastener of claim 10 wherein said pattern of bulbous surface aberrations is less than about 62,500 bulbous surface aberrations per square inch.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The fastener of claim 9 wherein said backing web comprises a polymeric material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The fastener of claim 12 wherein said polymeric material of said backing web is wettable by said pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

The fastener of claim 13 wherein said polymeric material of said backing web is corona-treated.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 59 words

The fastener of claim 14 wherein said polymeric material of said backing web exhibits a low degree of molecular orientation, a low yield strength and a high elongation characteristic, as measured prior to transformation into said backing web, said polymeric material further exhibiting a tendency to strain harden when subjected to elongation during its transformation into said backing web.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 93 words

The fastener of claim 15 wherein said microbubble comprises a highly flexible, substantially adhesive impervious, continuous membrane which is thinner than said base portion of said bulbous surface aberration, said microbubble exhibiting a maximum internal cross-sectional area, as measured in its fully expanded condition in a first plane oriented perpendicular to the amplitude of said bulbous surface aberration, which is greater than the minimum internal cross-sectional area of said relatively thicker base portion to which it is joined about its periphery, as measured in a second plane oriented parallel to said first plane.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

The fastener of claim 9 wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive is an emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

The fastener of claim 9 wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive is a hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The fastener of claim 9 wherein said layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive is uniformly coated over said first surface of said backing web to form a continuous thin layer of adhesive.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 166 words

A pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener having a textured fastening surface comprising: a backing web having a first surface and a second surface, said backing web comprising a polymeric material, said backing web exhibiting a pattern of discrete, bulbous surface aberrations projecting from said first surface, each of said bulbous surface aberrations having a base portion and an end portion, said end portion of each of said bulbous surface aberrations comprising at least one microbubble substantially coinciding with the point of maximum amplitude of said bulbous surface aberration, said microbubble comprising a highly flexible, continuous membrane joined about its periphery to said base portion and which is thinner than said base portion of said bulbous surface aberration, said backing web having greater than about 20 bulbous surface aberrations per square inch and less than about 62,500 bulbous surface aberrations per square inch; and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated over and bonded to said first surface of said backing web to define the fastening surface of the fastener.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 166 words

A pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener having a textured fastening surface comprising: a backing web having a first surface and a second surface, said backing web comprising a polymeric material, said backing web exhibiting a pattern of discrete, bulbous surface aberrations projecting from said first surface, each of said bulbous surface aberrations having a base portion and an end portion, said end portion of each of said bulbous surface aberrations comprising at least one microbubble substantially coinciding with the point of maximum amplitude of said bulbous surface aberration, said microbubble comprising a highly flexible, continuous membrane joined about its periphery to said base portion and which is thinner than said base portion of said bulbous surface aberration, said backing web having greater than about 20 bulbous surface aberrations per square inch and less than about 62,500 bulbous surface aberrations per square inch; and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated over and bonded to said first surface of said backing web to define the fastening surface of the fastener.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

The fastener of claim 20 wherein said pattern of bulbous surface aberrations comprises a regularly repeating pattern.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The fastener of claim 21 wherein said pattern of bulbous surface aberrations comprises a regularly spaced pattern.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

The fastener of claim 22 wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive is an emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 26 words

The fastener of claim 23 wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a coat weight of between about 0.002 g/in 2 to about 0.08 g/in 2 .

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 51 words

A fastening system comprising: a first member comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener having a textured fastening surface according to claims 1, 4, 8, 9, 20, or 24; and a landing member having a textured contacting surface engageable with said textured fastening surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener of said first member.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 27 words

The fastening system of claim 25 wherein said contacting surface of said landing member exhibits a pattern of discrete, bulbous surface aberrations engageable with said fastening surface.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 34 words

The fastening system of claim 26 wherein said landing member additionally comprises a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated over and bonded to at least a portion of the surface of said bulbous surface aberrations.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 128 words

A method of fastening two objects together, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first member having a first pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener having a textured fastening surface and comprising a backing web having a pattern of discrete bulbous surface aberrations projecting from a first surface of the backing web to form the fastening surface, and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive material coated over and bonded to at least a portion of the surface of said bulbous surface aberrations as claimed in claims 1, 9, or 20; (b) providing a landing member having a textured contacting surface; and (c) contacting the textured fastening surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener containing said bulbous surface aberrations of said first member to the textured contacting surface of said landing member.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 28 wherein said landing member exhibits a pattern of discrete, bulbous surface aberrations projecting from said contacting surface.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 29 wherein said landing member additionally comprises a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated over and bonded to at least a portion of the surface of said bulbous surface aberrations.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-08-06	1994-02-05	1994-08-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-08-06	1998-02-05	1998-08-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-08-06	2002-02-05	2002-08-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Pressure-sensitive adhesive fastener and method of making same

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