Method and apparatus for adapting separable fasteners for attachment to other objects

• US 4,726,975 A
• Filed: 09/23/1986
• Issued: 02/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Velcro Industries BV (Chartwell Industries Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Actief NV ABN Trust Company
• Inventors: Hatch, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US06/910,494
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 24/306, 24/444, 428/100, 428/900, 428/120, 428/308.4, 428/311.1, 428/317.1, 428/329
• US Class Current: 428/100
• 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 33/16 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/0082 Mechanical anchoring B29C66/303 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/1261 Avoiding impregnation of a preformed part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/68 by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers , e.g. foam blocks mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/04 cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2705/00 Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/443 Chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/729 Hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5891 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/90 Magnetic feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2725 with feature facilitating, enhancing, or causing attachment of filament mounting surface to support therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24182 Inward from edge of web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249958 Void-containing component is synthetic resin or natural rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249962 Void-containing component has a continuous matrix of fibers only [e.g., porous paper, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249982 With component specified as adhesive or bonding agent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/257 Iron oxide or aluminum oxide

Abstract

An improvement for attaching fastener strips to other objects wherein a strip of fastener material is formed into the surface of urethane foam or the like during molding in a mold. The fastener material comprises a backing strip having an outer surface adapted to mate with the foam material during molding and a fastener strip having an outer surface comprising one-half of a fastening system such as hook and loop fastening material. The backing strip and the fastener strip are attached to one another with their respective inner surfaces in face-to-face relationship with their outer surfaces facing outward. The fastener material fits within a longitudinal groove in the mold and the backing material overlaps the groove. The invention comprises an improved apparatus including a backing strip that is wider than the fastener strip and provides exposed strips on both sides of the fastener strip. A pair of strips of polyethylene film is attached to the exposed strips only along lines adjacent the edges of the fastener strip and forms two unattached gasket strips for contacting the mold and preventing entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove.

Claims

1. A strip of fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold wherein the fastener material comprises a backing strip having an outer surface adapted to mate with the foam material during molding and a fastener strip having an outer surface comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, wherein the backing strip and the fastener strip are attached to one another with their respective inner surfaces in face-to-face relationship with their outer surfaces facing outward, and wherein the fastener material fits within a groove in the mold and the backing material overlaps the groove, characterized in that to prevent the liquid foam-forming material from entering the groove and contaminating the outer surface of the fastener strip

(a) the backing strip is wider than the fastener strip and is disposed to provide strips of the inner surface of the backing strip exposed on either side of the outer surface of the fastener strip;

and,

(b) a pair of strips of polyethylene film are disposed along respective ones of said strips, and said film strips being attached to said strip only along lines adjacent the edges of the fastener strip and extending between the outer edges of the fastener strip and the outer edges of the backing strip to form two unattached gasket strips along either side of the fastening material for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a first pair of gaskets along the respective lines where the backing material contacts the mold adjacent the groove.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said gasket strips also form a second pair of gaskets along the respective lines where the fastener strip abuts the sidewalls of the groove.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein:

said film strips are fastened to the backing strip from close adjacent the edges of the fastener strip to a point intermediate the edge of the fastener strip and the outer edge of the backing strip.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein:

said pair of strips each extends over the respective outer edge of the backing strip.

4. The improvement of claim 4 wherein:

said film strips are fastened to the backing strip with an adhesive material containing particles of a magnetically attractable material therein for allowing said backing material and said gaskets in combination therewith to be magnetically attracted towards the upper outer edges of the groove.

6. A strip of fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold wherein the fastener material comprises a backing strip having an outer surface adapted to mate with the foam material during molding and a fastener strip having an outer surface comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, wherein the backing strip and the fastener strip are attached to one another with their respective inner surfaces in face-to-face relationship with their outer surfaces facing outward, and wherein the fastener material fits within a longitudinal groove in the mold and the backing material overlaps the groove, characterized in that to prevent the liquid foam-forming material from entering the groove and contaminating the outer surface of the fastener strip:

(a) the backing strip is wider than the fastener strip and is disposed to provide equal strips of the inner surface of the backing strip exposed on either side of the outer surface of the fastener strip; and

,

(b) a strip of polyethylene film, is disposed over the fastening strip and along respective ones of said equal strips, said film strip being attached to said equal strips only along lines adjacent the edges of the fastener strip and extending between the outer edges of the backing strip to form unattached gasket strips along either side of the fastening material for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a pair of gaskets along the respective lines where the backing material contacts the mold adjacent to the groove.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein:

said strip extends over the outer edges of the backing strip.

8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein:

said strip is fastened to the backing strip from close adjacent the edges of the fastener strip to points intermediate the edge of the fastener strip and the outer edge of the backing strip.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein:

said film strip is fastened to the backing strip with an adhesive material containing particles of a magnetically attractable material therein for allowing said backing material and said gaskets in combination therewith to be magnetically attracted towards the upper outer edges of the groove.

10. A strip of improved fastener material adapted for forming into the surface of urethane foam and the like during molding in a mold containing a groove in the inner sidewalls thereof for receiving the strip of fastener material during molding comprising:

(a) a backing strip having a first outer surface on one side thereof adapted to mate with the foam during molding and a second outer surface on the other side thereof comprising one-half of a touch fastening system, said backing strip being wider than said second outer surface and said second outer surface being disposed to provide strips of said backing strip on either side of said second outer surface, said second outer surface being adapted to fit within the groove with said backing material overlapping the groove; and

,

(b) a pair of strips of polyethylene film disposed along respective ones of said strips of said backing strip on either side of said second outer surface to form unattached gasket strips along either side of said second outer surface for contacting the mold to prevent entry of the foam-forming liquid into the groove such that when the strip of fastener material is positioned in the mold said gasket strips form a pair of gaskets along the respective lines wherein the backing material contacts the mold adjacent to the groove.

11. The improved fastener material of claim 17 wherein:

said film strips are attached along lines adjacent to but spaced from the edges of said second outer surface thus forming two unattached gasket strips along either side of said second outer surface whereby the two innermost of said gasket strips form a second pair of gaskets along the respective lines where said second outer surface abuts the sidewalls of the groove.

12. The improved fastener material of claim 17 wherein:

said pair of strips each extends over the respective outer edge of said backing strip.

13. The improved fastener material of claim 17 wherein:

said film strips are fastened to said backing strip from adjacent the edges of said second outer surface to a point intermediate said edges of said second outer surface and the outer edges of said backing strip.

14. The improved fastener material of claim 17 wherein:

said film strips are fastened to said backing strip with an adhesive material containing particles of a magnetically attractable material therein for allowing said backing material and said gaskets in combination therewith to be magnetically attracted towards the edges of the groove in the mold.