Fastener assembly with heat shrinkable film cover

• US 4,710,414 A
• Filed: 07/10/1984
• Issued: 12/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Freeman, Maurice E., Northrup, Walter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US06/629,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 428/43, 428/120, 428/57, 428/910, 428/100, 24/306, 24/444, 297/DIG. 6, 264/46.7
• US Class Current: 428/43
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0076 Adaptations for being fixed to a moulded article during moulding
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0044 for sealing off parts of inserts projecting into the mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/1271 the preformed parts being partially covered
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/91 Product with molecular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2708 Combined with diverse fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2725 with feature facilitating, enhancing, or causing attachment of filament mounting surface to support therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/15 Sheet, web, or layer weakened to permit separation through thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/19 Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24182 Inward from edge of web or sheet

Abstract

An elongate fastener assembly comprising a flexible polymeric backing strip from which project a multiplicity of headed stems adapted to engage loops on materials pressed against the heads, and an open porous permanent attachment layer attached to the surface of the backing strip opposite the stems which has sufficient open area to receive foam to permanently attach the fastener assembly to a foamed article. The fastener assembly has a temporary attachment layer comprising granular ferromagnetic material in a polymeric binder sandwiched between the backing strip and the permanent attachment layer which is adapted to be attracted by magnets to temporarily hold the fastener assembly in position during a foaming process, and has a heat shrinkable film cover means overlaying the heads attached to the edges of the backing strip that will shrink transversely to expose the heads upon the application of heat below 125° C.

Claims

1. In an elongate fastener assembly comprising a backing strip having first and second major surfaces;

a multiplicity of stems each secured at one end to said backing strip, projecting generally normally to the first surface of said backing strip, and having enlarged heads at their ends opposite said backing strip adapted to engage loops on materials pressed against said heads;

an open porous permanent attachment layer attached to the secnod major surface of said backing strip, said permanent attachment layer having sufficient open areas to afford movement of foam into said permanent attachment layer to permanently attach said fastener assembly to a foamed article; and

an elongate film cover means overlaying the heads and having longitudinal edge parts attached along the longitudinal edges of said backing, said film cover means being adapted to expose said heads upon the application of heat;

the improvement wherein said film cover means comprises two longitudinal portions, said portions being sufficiently heat shrinkable in the transverse direction that upon application of said heat each of said portions will shrink towards a different one of said edge parts while remaining in one piece to expose said heads.

2. A fastener assembly according to claim 1 wherein said film cover means comprises a single longitudinal sheet of film longitudinally perforated generally along its center line to define said two portions, said sheet being separable along said perforation to afford transverse shrinking of said portions.

3. A fastener assembly according to claim 1 wherein said film cover means comprises two separate sheets of film having overlapping portions opposite said edge parts.