Fastener strip having sealing vertical wall

• US 6,720,059 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: YKK Corporation
• Original Assignee: YKK Corporation
• Inventors: Minato, Tsuyoshi, Murasaki, Ryuichi, Akeno, Mitsuru, Graham, Craig Jay, Fujisawa, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US09/972,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20020164451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 428/99, 428/100, 428/119, 428/192, 244/46, 244/43, 244/42, 244/52
• US Class Current: 428/100
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/0046 Fasteners made integrally of plastics
• 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 44/1261 Avoiding impregnation of a preformed part
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/06 for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support , or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 33/00 Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/046 characterised by the fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/048 characterised by their structure
• 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 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24174 including sheet or component perpendicular to plane of web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature

Abstract

This invention provides a fastener strip in which fastening elements form a fastener layer on a front face of the fastener strip. Rows of vertical members are disposed along each of the side edges of the fastener layer and each row comprises vertical members formed with an appropriate interval between them for controlling the degree of foam penetration during the molding process. The vertical members anchor the fastener strip to an object during molding of the object and form an effective seal against fouling of the fastening elements.

Claims

1. A fastening device for being molded into an object, comprising:

(a) a base comprising first and second major surfaces, first and second opposed ends, and first and second opposed side edges,

(b) a plurality of fastening elements upstanding from said first major surface of said base,

(c) a plurality of staggered members upstanding from said first major surface of said base between said fastening elements and said edge of said base, for controlling the degree of foam intrusion from said edge of said base during a molding process, and

(d) means for preventing foam intrusion at said ends of said base that comprise a transverse wall located at each end of said base,

whereby said fastening device can be molded into said object without said foam fouling said fastening elements.

5. The fastening device of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said staggered members comprise overlapping rows of blocks.

6. The fastening device of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said staggered members are substantially evenly spaced along their extent from said edge of said base inward to said fastening elements.

7. The fastening device of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said staggered members are variably spaced along their extent from said edge of said base inward to said fastening elements.

2. A fastening device for being molded into an object, comprising:

(a) a base comprising first and second major surfaces, first and second opposed ends, and first and second opposed side edges,

(b) a plurality of fastening elements upstanding from said first major surface of said base,

(c) a plurality of staggered members upstanding from said first major surface of said base between said fastening elements and said edge of said base, for controlling the degree of foam intrusion from said edge of said base during a molding process, and

(d) means for preventing foam intrusion that comprise a series of transverse walls located at intervals along the length of said base,

whereby said fastening device can be molded into said object without said foam fouling said fastening elements.

3. A fastening device for being molded into an object, comprising:

(a) a base comprising first and second major surfaces and at least one edge,

(b) a plurality of fastening elements upstanding from said first major surface of said base,

(c) a plurality of staggered members upstanding from said first major surface of said base between said fastening elements and said edge of said base, for controlling the degree of foam intrusion from said edge of said base during a molding process, and

(d) a perimeter wall upstanding from said first major surface of said base and surrounding said fastening elements,

whereby said fastening device can be molded into said object without said foam fouling said fastening elements.

4. A fastening device for being molded into an object, comprising:

(a) a base comprising first and second major surfaces and at least one edge,

(b) a plurality of fastening elements upstanding from said first major surface of said base,

(c) a plurality of staggered members upstanding from said first major surface of said base between said fastening elements and said edge of said base, for controlling the degree of foam intrusion from said edge of said base during a molding process, and

(d) a ladder wall and a plurality of transverse rungs upstanding from said first major surface of said base and surrounding said fastening elements,

whereby said fastening device can be molded into said object without said foam fouling said fastening elements.

8. A fastening device for being molded into an object, comprising:

(a) a base comprising first and second major surfaces, first and second opposed ends, and first and second opposed side edges,

(b) a plurality of hook fastening elements upstanding from said first major surface of said base,

(c) a plurality of staggered members upstanding from said first major surface of said base between said hook fastening elements and said side edges of said base, for controlling the degree of foam intrusion from said side edges of said base during a molding process, and

(d) means for preventing foam intrusion that comprise a transverse wall located at each end of said base,

whereby said fastening device can be molded into said object without said foam fouling said hook fastening elements.

10. The fastening device of claim 8 or 9, wherein said staggered members comprise overlapping rows of blocks.

9. A fastening device for being molded into an object, comprising:

(a) a base comprising first and second major surfaces, first and second opposed ends, and first and second opposed side edges,

(b) a plurality of hook fastening elements upstanding from said first major surface of said base,

(c) a plurality of staggered members upstanding from said first major surface of said base between said hook fastening elements and said side edges of said base, for controlling the degree of foam intrusion from said side edges of said base during a molding process, and

(d) means for preventing foam intrusion that comprise a series of transverse walls located at intervals along the length of said base,

whereby said fastening device can be molded into said object without said foam fouling said hook fastening elements.

11. A fastening device for being molded into an object, comprising:

(a) a base comprising first and second major surfaces and at least one edge,

(b) a plurality of hook fastening elements upstanding from said first major surface of said base,

(c) overlapping rows of blocks upstanding from said first major surface of said base between said hook fastening elements and said edge of said base, for controlling the degree of foam intrusion from said edge of said base during a molding process, and

(d) a perimeter wall upstanding from said first major surface of said base and surrounding said hook fastening elements,

whereby said fastening device can be molded into said object without said foam fouling said hook fastening elements.

12. A fastening device to be integrated with a surface of a foam-molded product for fixing a surface material, in which at least one row of vertical sealing members is formed on each side edge of said fastening device along a length of a surface of a flat substrate made of thermoplastic resin thereof, and a plurality of fastening elements are formed in an area surrounded by said vertical sealing members, wherein said vertical sealing members are arranged in line along the length of said substrate, wherein gaps allowing passage of a foam resin are formed between said vertical sealing members adjacent to each other, and wherein said substrate additionally comprises a continuous transverse wall disposed on an end portion of said substrate.

14. A fastening device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein at least part of said substrate, said fastening elements and said vertical sealing members contain magnetically attractable material.

15. A forming method of a foam-molded product integrated with a fastening device according to claim 14 such that said fastening elements are exposed outward from the surface of said foam-molded product, comprising:

providing a mold for said foam-molded product with a magnet;

placing said fastening device such that said fastening elements and said vertical sealing members oppose the surface of said mold and fix said fastening device by attracting it magnetically; and

after pouring a foam resin material into said mold, foaming said foam resin material so as to form said foam-molded product and at the same time, anchoring said fastening device on the surface of said foam-molded product integrally.

16. A forming method of a foam-molded product according to claim 15, wherein the surface of said mold on which said fastening device is placed is flat.

17. A forming method of the foam-molded product according to claim 15, wherein said foam-molded product is a cushion body for an automobile.

18. A fastening device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a magnetically attractable substance is provided at least on a rear face of said substrate.

19. A fastening device according to claim 18, wherein at least part of said substrate, said fastening elements, and said vertical sealing members is composed of thermoplastic resin mixed with magnetically attractable powder.

20. A fastening device according to claim 18, wherein a magnetically attractable laminate layer or a magnetically attractable film containing magnetically attractable powder is provided at least on a top face of said vertical sealing members.

21. A fastening device according to claim 12 or 13 wherein a resin layer mixed with magnetically attractable powder is provided on a rear surface of said substrate.

13. A fastening device to be integrated with a surface of a foam-molded product for fixing a surface material, in which at least one row of vertical sealing members is formed on each side edge of said fastening device along a length of a surface of a flat substrate made of thermoplastic resin thereof, and a plurality of fastening elements are formed in an area surrounded by said vertical sealing members, wherein said vertical sealing members are arranged in line along the length of said substrate, wherein gaps allowing passage of a foam resin are formed between said vertical sealing members adjacent to each other, and wherein said substrate additionally comprises continuous transverse walls disposed at predetermined intervals along the length thereof.

22. A fastening device for being molded into an object, comprising:

(a) a base comprising first and second major surfaces and at least one edge,

(b) a plurality of hook fastening elements upstanding from said first major surface of said base,

(c) overlapping rows of blocks upstanding from said first major surface of said base between said hook fastening elements and said edge of said base, for controlling the degree of foam intrusion from said edge of said base during a molding process, and

(d) a ladder wall and a plurality of transverse rungs upstanding from said first major surface of said base and surrounding said hook fastening elements,

whereby said fastening device can be molded into said object without said foam fouling said hook fastening elements.