Touch fastener with magnetic attractant and molded article containing same

• US 6,129,970 A
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Velcro Industries BV (Chartwell Industries Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Velcro Industries BV (Chartwell Industries Ltd)
• Inventors: Jacobs, Martin I., Routhier, Brian J., Kenney, Randall B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US09/365,273
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 428/99, 428/100, 428/120, 428/900, 24/444, 24/451, 24/452
• US Class Current: 428/100
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0049 obtained by moulding processes compression moulding or articles of indefinite length characterised by the shape of the surface B29C43/222; screen moulding B29C67/08
• 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 2043/465 having one or more cavities, e.g. for forming distinct products
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/16 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0014 producing flat articles having components brought in contact outside the extrusion die
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/12 Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/13 Articles with a cross-section varying in the longitudinal direction, e.g. corrugated pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/355 Conveyors for extruded articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/729 Hook and loop-type fasteners
• 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 24/2783 having filaments constructed from coated, laminated, or composite material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2792 having mounting surface and filaments constructed from common piece of material
• 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 428/24182 Inward from edge of web or sheet

Abstract

A fastening component of a separable fastener has some portion that is necessary for its fastening function, such as the hooks, the base to which the hooks are attached or a substrate that is used for another purpose, comprised of a magnetically attractive constituent. Another portion of the fastening component is comprised of a magnetically inert constituent. The fastening element may be the hook portion or the loop portion of a typical fastener. The fastening elements and the base may be unitary, or of different precursors, such as in a woven fastener component. The magnetically inert constituent may comprise a polymeric plastic or a thermoplastic elastomer. The magnetic attractant may impregnate the magnetically inert constituent, or it may coat or be coated by the magnetically inert constituent. The magnetic attractant may comprise a metal powder. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of iron powder. The magnetic attractant may be an organo-iron or a rare earth metal. In a woven fastener, either the base structure or the hooks may include the magnetic attractant, or both may do so. The material that forms the hooks may be entirely of a magnetically attractive material, with the material that forms the woven base being magnetically inert. Rather than the magnetically attractive material being incorporated into the fastening elements or the base, it may be incorporated into the substrate that is formed from a precursor element that is separate from the base, and that is joined to the base.

Claims

1. A component of a two component separable hook and loop fastener, said component for use with a loop fastener, comprising:

a. a base, having a fastening surface and a non-fastening surface and comprising a uniform, homogeneous body of a magnetically inert constituent that is intimately associated with a magnetic attractant constituent, substantially throughout the entire volume of said base; and

b. extending from said fastening surface of said base, a plurality of hook fastening elements, directly attached to said base such that they directly touch and adhere to said base.

2. The component of claim 1, said magnetically inert constituent comprising a thermoplastic.

3. The component of claim 1, said magnetically inert constituent comprising a thermoplastic elastomer.

4. The component of claim 1, further comprising a substrate that is formed from a precursor element that is separate from said base, and that is joined to said base.

5. The component of claim 4, wherein said fastening elements and said substrate are coextruded.

6. A molded article comprising:

a. a body molded from a molding material, said body having at least one surface and an interior body region;

b. fixed to said surface of said molded body, a separable hook fastener component for use with a complementary separable loop fastener component, said separable fastener component comprising;

i. a base, having a fastening surface and a non-fastening surface comprising a uniform, homogeneous body of a magnetically inert polymeric constituent that is intimately associated with a magnetic attractant constituent, substantially throughout the entire volume of said base; and

ii. extending from said fastening surface of said base, a plurality of hook fastening elements, directly attached to said base such that they directly touch and adhere to said base.

7. The molded article of claim 6, said magnetically inert constituent comprising a polymeric plastic.

8. The molded article of claim 7, said plastic comprising a thermo plastic.

9. The molded article of claim 7, said plastic comprising a thermoplastic elastomer.

10. The molded article of claim 7, said polymeric plastic selected from the group consisting of:

polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acetal, acrylic, polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, polyurethane, polysulfone and thermoplastic elastomers.

11. The molded article of claim 6, further comprising a substrate that is joined to said base.