Method and apparatus for slitting and providing selvedge by ultrasonic means on hook and loop type fastener tapes

• US 4,662,037 A
• Filed: 04/15/1985
• Issued: 05/05/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Velcro Industries BV (Chartwell Industries Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Actief Nv (Kbc Groep Nv)
• Inventors: Rocha, Gerald F., Trask, William F., Provost, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US06/723,240
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 24/442, 24/446, 24/447, 24/448, 24/443, 24/90 HA, 24/DIG. 11, 24/693, 156/73.3, 156/73.2, 156/88
• US Class Current: 24/447
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0069 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/086 using a rotary anvil
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7443 by means of ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/306 Applying a mark during joining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/431 Joining the articles to themselves B29C66/4322 and B29C66/4332 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/45 Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/729 Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73161 Roughness or rugosity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81433 being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins comprising a single tooth B29C66/81429, or being patterned
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81435 comprising several parallel ridges, e.g. for crimping comprising a single ridge B29C66/81427
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83411 Roller, cylinder or drum types B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83413 cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83415 the contact angle between said rollers, cylinders or drums and said parts to be joined being a non-zero angle B29C66/83433 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/84121 of different width
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8432 Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2313/00 Use of textile products or fabrics as reinforcement B29K2105/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/729 Hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: D06H 7/045 in line with an embossed or a raised pattern on the fabric; Cutting pile fabric along a loopless or napless zone D06H7/06, D06H7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06H 7/223 : using ultrasonic vibration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/11 : Adhesive
• 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 24/2717 : with distinct structure for sealing securement joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/275 : with feature facilitating or causing attachment of filaments to mounting surface

Abstract

An apparatus for ultrasonically providing selvedge on separable fasteners of the hook and loop-type. Portions of the separable fastener member are ultrasonically softened or melted and pressed toward the surface of the base member so as to be combined, or in some instances, consolidated therewith. The portions may be given a textured appearance by use of a textured anvil having either a simulated selvedge surface or even a trademark or logo impressed, machined or etched thereon. The tape may be provided with several selvedge portions and then slit medially of the portions to provide at least two separable fasteners of smaller width from a separable fastener of wider width.

Claims

1. A hook and loop-type fastener member having an elongated base member and a plurality of engaging elements upstanding from said base member, and a plurality of selvedge portions along the length of said base member comprised of a portion of engaging elements substantially ultrasonically combined with the base member to which said engaging elements are connected such that on subsequent cutting they will not ravel.

2. A hook and loop-type fastener member according to claim 1 wherein said engaging elements are loops.

3. A hook and loop-type fastener member according to claim 1 wherein said engaging elements are hooks.

4. A hook and loop-type fastener member according to claim 1 wherein said engaging elements are mushroom-like hooking elements.

7. The fastener tape according to claim 2 wherein the thickness varies in a wavy pattern alternating between thicker, softer portions and thinner, harder portions.

8. The fastener tape according to claim 2 wherein said selvedge portion is textured with a predetermined appearance.

9. The fastener tape according to claim 2 wherein said selvedge portion is textured with a predetermined logo.

5. A hook and loop-type fastener member having an elongated base member and a plurality of engaging elements upstanding from said base member, and a plurality of selvedge portions along the length of said base member wherein the engaging elements have been softened and fused into the base, said selvedge portions varying in thickness along the length of the tape so as to produce alternating selvedge portions of differing thickness and hardness.

6. A hook and loop-type fastener member according to claim 5 wherein the thickness varies in a wavy pattern alternating between thicker, softer portions and thinner, harder portions.

10. A hook and loop-type fastener tape comprising an elongated base member formed of woven fibers and a plurality of engaging elements upstanding from said woven base member, and a plurality of selvedge portions along the length of said tape, each said selvedge portion formed of a portion of engaging elements substantially ultrasonically combined with the woven base member to which said engaging elements are connected so as to firmly join the woven fibers such that on subsequent cutting they will not ravel.

11. The fastener tape according to claim 10 wherein said engaging elements are loops.

12. The fastener tape according to claim 10 wherein said engaging elements are hooks.

13. The fastener tape according to claim 10 wherein said selvedge portions are textured.

14. A hook and loop-type fastener tape comprising an elongated base member formed of woven fibers and a plurality of engaging elements upstanding from said woven base member, and a plurality of selvedge portions along the lengths of said tape wherein the engaging elements have been softened and fused into the woven base, so as to firmly join the woven fibers to preclude ravelling on subsequent cutting, said selvedge portion varying in thickness along the length of the tape so as to produce alternating selvedge portions of differing heights and hardness.

15. The fasterner tape according to claim 14 wherein the thickness varies in a wavy pattern alternating between thicker, softer portions and thinner, harder portions.

16. The fastener tape according to claim 14 wherein said selvedge portion is textured with a predetermined appearance.