Loop fabric for hook and-loop type fastener and method of making the same

• US 6,099,932 A
• Filed: 12/31/1997
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gehring Textiles Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gehring Textiles Incorporated
• Inventors: Gehring, G. Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Terrel
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUDDOCK, ULA CORINNA
• Application Number:
  US09/001,783
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 428/91, 428/99, 442/314
• US Class Current: 428/91
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0034 Female or loop elements A44B18/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/02 Pile fabrics or articles having similar surface features
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0111 One hairy surface, e.g. napped or raised for pile fabrics D03D27/00, D04B1/02, D04B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0112 One smooth surface, e.g. laminated or coated
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/0632 of the touch-and-close type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2395 Nap type surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/463 Warp knit insert strand

Abstract

A loop component for a hook-and-loop fastener includes a knit fabric and a plurality of loops extending along one surface of the fabric and made of a monofilament pile yarn such as nylon. The component is knit on a three or more bar machine with one bar forming the base and two or more additional bars forming floats which are then pulled out of the knit fabric by napping to obtain a fabric having a predetermined thickness. The fabric is then heat sense to stabilize is dimensions, stiffness and other physical properties.

Claims

1. A loop component for a hook-and-loop fastener, said loop component comprising:

a warp knit base formed by a plurality of interconnected yarns; and

a plurality of continuous long floats extending away from the knit base and attached thereto, said long floats being made of a monofilament pile yarn, said floats being formed into loops for the hook-and-loop fastener, wherein said loops are arranged in co-extensive loop systems or extending in the same direction.

2. A loop component for a hook-and-loop fastener comprising:

a warp knit base formed of interlocking yarns, including a pile yarn formed of a monofilament and formed of a plurality of floats disposed on a surface of said warp knit base, wherein said floats have been pulled out of said fabric by napping to form loops along said one surface of said fabric, wherein said loops are arranged in co-extensive loop systems or extending in the same direction.

3. The loop component of said claim 2 wherein said knit fabric is formed on a multiple bar knitting machine including a first bar forming said base and a second and third bars, each forming floats over said base, said floats being pulled during napping to form said loops.

4. The loop component of claim 3 wherein said monofilament is made of nylon.

5. The loop component of claim 3 further comprising a backing applied to one side of said fabric.

6. The loop component of claim 5 wherein said loops and said backing are heat set.

7. The loop component of claim 3 wherein each said second and third bars generate corresponding separate float systems.