Loop materials

• US 20050196580A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Velcro Industries BV (Chartwell Industries Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Velcro Industries BV (Chartwell Industries Ltd)
• Inventors: Provost, George A., Barker, James R.
• Application Number:
  US11/102,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20050196580A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/85
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0011 Female or loop elements A44B18/0007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/06 characterised by a fibrous or filamentary layer mechanically connected, e.g. by needling to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 11/00 Non-woven pile fabrics layered products forming non-woven pile fabrics B32B
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 11/08 formed by creation of a pile on at least one surface of a non-woven fabric without addition of pile-forming material, e.g. by needling, by differential shrinking needling machines D04H18/00
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 18/02 with needles

Abstract

Loop products are provided that include a carrier sheet having a plurality of holes pierced therethrough, and a layer of fibers disposed on a first side of the carrier sheet, loops of the fibers extending from the holes on a second side of the carrier sheet, bases of the loops being anchored on the first side of the carrier sheet. In some implementations the loop product has an overall weight of less than about 2.0 and wherein the fibers form an overall coverage of at least about 50,000 meters per square meter. In some implementations a majority of the fibers have an individual fiber strength of at least 6 grams and a denier of less than about six.

Claims

1. A loop product comprising:

a carrier sheet having a plurality of holes pierced therethrough; and

a layer of fibers disposed on a first side of the carrier sheet, loops of the fibers extending from the holes on a second side of the carrier sheet, bases of the loops being anchored on the first side of the carrier sheet;

wherein the loop product has an overall weight of less than about 2.0 ounces per square yard (67 grams per square meter) and wherein the fibers form an overall coverage of at least about 50,000 meters per square meter.

2. The loop product of claim 1 wherein the coverage is at least 90,000 meters per square meter.

3. The loop product of claim 1 wherein the overall weight is between about 1 and 2 ounces per square yard (33 to 67 grams per square meter).

4. The loop product of claim 1 wherein denier of a majority of the fibers is from about 2 to 4.

5. The loop product of claim 1 wherein a majority of the fibers have tenacity of from about 2 to 7 grams per denier.

6. The loop product of claim 1 wherein a majority of the fibers have individual fiber strength of at least about 6 grams.

7. The loop product of claim 1 wherein the fibers include bicomponent fibers.

8. The loop product of claim 1 wherein the carrier sheet comprises a polymer film.

9. The loop product of claim 1 wherein the carrier sheet comprises a scrim.

10. The loop product of claim 1 wherein the carrier sheet comprises paper.

11. The loop product of claim 1 wherein the loops are configured for releasable engagement by a field of hooks for hook-and-loop fastening.

12. A loop product comprising:

a carrier sheet having a plurality of holes pierced therethrough; and

a layer of fibers disposed on a first side of the carrier sheet, loops of the fibers extending from the holes on a second side of the carrier sheet, with bases of the loops being anchored on the first side of the carrier sheet;

wherein a majority of the fibers have an individual fiber strength of at least 6 grams and a denier of less than about six.

13. The loop product of claim 12 wherein fibers of the layer form an overall coverage of at least 90,000 meters per square meter.

14. The loop product of claim 12 wherein an overall weight of the loop product is from about 1 to 2 ounces per square yard (33 to 67 grams per square meter).

15. The loop product of claim 12 wherein denier of a majority of the fibers is from about 2 to 4.

16. The loop product of claim 12 wherein a majority of the fibers have tenacity of from about 2 to 7 grams per denier.

17. The loop product of claim 12 wherein a majority of the fibers have individual fiber strength of at least about 10 grams.

18. The loop product of claim 12 wherein the fibers include bicomponent fibers.

19. The loop product of claim 12 wherein the carrier sheet comprises a polymer film.

20. The loop product of claim 12 wherein the carrier sheet comprises a scrim.

21. The loop product of claim 12 wherein the carrier sheet comprises paper.

22. The loop product of claim 12 wherein the loops are configured for releasable engagement by a field of hooks for hook-and-loop fastening.

23. A method of making a sheet-form loop product, the method comprising

placing a layer of staple fibers against a first side of a sheet-form substrate, a majority of the fibers having an individual fiber strength of at least 6 grams and a denier of less than about six;

needling fibers of the layer through the substrate by piercing the substrate with needles that drag portions of the fibers through holes formed in the substrate during needling, leaving loops of the fibers extending from the holes on a second side of the substrate; and

then

anchoring fibers forming the loops.

24. A method of making a sheet-form loop product, the method comprising

placing a layer of staple fibers against a first side of a sheet-form substrate;

needling fibers of the layer through the substrate by piercing the substrate with needles that drag portions of the fibers through holes formed in the substrate during needling, leaving loops of the fibers extending from the holes on a second side of the substrate; and

then

anchoring fibers forming the loops;

wherein the loop product has an overall weight of less than about 2.0 and wherein the fibers form an overall coverage of at least about 50,000 meters per square meter.