Fastening member for a molded article

• US 20050189811A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ccl Label Incorporated (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Herrmann, Charles, Petersen, Eric, Cullen, Jim, Schnorberger, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,431,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.650
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0076 Adaptations for being fixed to a moulded article during moulding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/90 Magnetic feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/27 including readily dissociable fastener having numerous, protruding, unitary filaments randomly interlocking with, and simultaneously moving towards, mating structure [e.g., hook-loop type fastener]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24174 including sheet or component perpendicular to plane of web or sheet

Abstract

A fastening member capable of attachment to a molded article is disclosed. The fastening member includes a base with integral longitudinal lips defining the lateral edges of the base and the fastening member. Fastener elements are disposed on the same side of the base as are the lips.

Claims

1. A fastening member suitable for attachment to a molded article, the fastening member comprising:

a. a base comprising a top side and a bottom side;

b. at least one fastener element on the top side of the base extending to a first height from the base; and

c. a first and a second longitudinal lip defining lateral edges of the fastening member formed integrally with the base on the top side, each lip having a width and extending to a second height from the base.

2. The fastening member of claim 1, further comprising a first and a second longitudinal wall, each wall disposed laterally inward of and substantially parallel to a corresponding lip.

3. The fastening member of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal walls extend to the same height from the base as the longitudinal lips.

4. The fastening member of claim 1, wherein the second height is greater than or equal to the first height.

5. The fastening member of claim 1, at least one lip comprising a cavity therein.

6. The fastening member of claim 5, where in the cavity extends substantially the entire length of the lip.

7. The fastening member of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching the fastening member to the molded article.

8. The fastening member of claim 1, further comprising an anchor layer attached to the bottom side of the base.

9. The fastening member of claim 8, wherein the anchor layer is capable of securing the fastening member to molding material in the molded article.

10. The fastening member of claim 8, wherein the anchor layer comprises a fabric.

11. The fastening member of claim 8, further comprising an adhesive between at least a portion of the anchor layer and the bottom side of the base.

12. The fastening member of claim 8, wherein the anchor layer is attached to the bottom side of the base by ultrasonic welding.

13. The fastening member of claim 8, further comprising a magnetically attractable layer between the anchor layer and the bottom side of the base.

14. The fastening member of claim 13, wherein the magnetically attractable layer comprises a metal strip.

15. The fastening member of claim 1, further comprising anchor studs extending from and integral with the bottom side of the base.

16. The fastening member of claim 15, wherein the anchor studs comprise holes extending therethrough.

17. The fastening member of claim 1, further comprising a magnetically attractable layer within the base.

18. The fastening member of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener element is integrally formed with the base.

19. The fastening member of claim 1, wherein the fastener element comprises at least one hook-shaped element.

20. The fastening member of claim 1, wherein the fastener element comprises at least one loop element.

21. The fastening member of claim 1, wherein the base is extruded.

22. The fastening member of claim 21, wherein the lips are co-extruded with the base.

23. The fastening member of claim 1, wherein the lips comprise extensions having a surface substantially parallel to the base and having a width greater than the width of the lips.

24. The fastening member of claim 1, wherein the lips are disposed at about 90 degree angles relative to the top side of the base.

25. The fastening member of claim 1, wherein the lips are disposed at greater than 90 degree angles relative to the top side of the base.

26. The fastening member of claim 1, further comprising a first seal disposed at a first location on the fastening member transversely across and in contact with the base between the lips to provide a first seal at the first end.

27. The fastening member of claim 26, wherein the first seal comprises a non-foam polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyimides, ethylene vinyl acetates, urethanes, and co-polymers or derivatives thereof.

28. The fastening member of claim 26, wherein the first seal comprises a foam material in combination with a non-woven material, a film, or a woven material.

29. The fastening member of claim 26, further comprising a second seal disposed at a second location on the fastening member transversely across and in contact with the base between the lips to provide a second seal at the second end.

30. The fastening member of claim 29, wherein the second seal comprises a non-foam polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyimides, ethylene vinyl acetates, urethanes, and co-polymers or derivatives thereof.

31. The fastening member of claim 29, wherein the second seal comprises a foam material in combination with a non-woven material, a film, or a woven material.

32. A molded article having at least one surface wherein the fastening member of claim 1 is embedded in the at least one surface.

33. A molded article comprising:

a. a body formed from solidified molding material and having at least one surface;

b. a fastening member attached to the body, the fastening member comprising;

i. a base comprising a top side and a bottom side;

ii. at least one fastener element on the top side of the base extending to a first height from the base; and

iii. longitudinal lips defining lateral edges of the fastening member formed integrally with the base on the top side, the lips extending to a second height from the base.

34. The molded article of claim 33, the fastening member further comprising an anchor layer attached to the bottom side of the base.

35. The molded article of claim 34, wherein the anchor layer is attached to the solidified molding material.

36. The molded article of claim 33, wherein the fastening member is embedded in the at least one surface of the body.

37. The molded article of claim 33, wherein the molding material is a foam polymer.

38. The molded article of claim 33, wherein the article comprises an automobile seat.

39. A process for manufacturing a fastening member suitable for attachment to a molded article, comprising extruding a base having a top side and a bottom side, the top side having at least one fastener element and integral longitudinal lips, the lips defining lateral edges of the fastening member.

40. The process of claim 39, further comprising:

a. applying a first non-foam polymer transversely across and in contact with the base between the lips to provide a first seal at a first location;

b. applying a second non-foam polymer transversely across and in contact with the base between the lips to provide a second seal at a second location; and

c. cutting the base to a desired length.

41. The process of claim 40, wherein the base is cut to a desired length after application of the first non-foam polymer and the second non-foam polymer.

42. The process of claim 40, wherein the first non-foam polymer and the second non-foam polymer are applied to the base in fluid form.

43. The process of claim 42, further comprising allowing the fluid first and second non-foam polymer to substantially solidify.

44. The process of claim 40, wherein the first and second non-foam polymer are selected from the same or different group consisting of polyesters, polyimides, ethylene vinyl acetates, urethanes, and co-polymers or derivatives thereof.

45. The process of claim 39, wherein the base comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

46. The process of claim 45, wherein the lips comprise a thermoplastic polymer different from the polymer of the base.

47. The process of claim 46, further comprising co-extruding the lips with the base.

48. The process of claim 39, further comprising attaching an anchor layer to the bottom side of the base.

49. The process of claim 48, further comprising placing a magnetically attractable layer between the anchor layer and the base before attaching the anchor layer to the base.