Molded fastener elements with lateral wings
AssigneeVelcro IP Holdings LLC
InventorGregory K. Kopanski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fastener in the form of a flexible strip with a layer of resin having opposite longitudinal edges, and an array of discrete fastening elements carried on a surface of the flexible strip. Each fastening element has a resin stem extending upward from, and contiguous with, the layer of resin, the stem having opposite lateral side surfaces facing the edges of the flexible strip, and a wing protruding from one of the lateral side surfaces of the stem and spaced above the layer of resin. The wing defines an area in a vertical plane coincident with one of the side surfaces of the stem. As measured perpendicular to the layer of resin, the centroid of the area is closer to the lowermost point of the area than to the uppermost point of the area.
Claims13
A fastener, comprising:
- a flexible strip comprising a layer of resin and having opposite edges extending longitudinally along the flexible strip;
- and
- an array of discrete fastening elements carried on a surface of the flexible strip, each fastening element comprising
- a resin stem extending upward from, and contiguous with, the layer of resin, the stem having opposite lateral side surfaces facing the edges of the flexible strip;
- and
- a wing protruding from one of the lateral side surfaces of the stem and spaced above the layer of resin, the wing having an underside surface facing and overhanging the layer of resin, and an upper surface facing away from the layer of resin,
- the wing defining an area in a vertical plane coincident with one of the side surfaces of the stem, the area having a lowermost point and an uppermost point with respect to perpendicular distance from the layer of resin, the area defining a centroid,
- wherein as measured perpendicular to the layer of resin, the centroid is closer to the lowermost point than to the uppermost point.
A method of molding a fastener product, the method comprising:
- pressing flowable resin into a mold defining an array of closed fastener element cavities extending inward from a surface of the mold;
- solidifying the pressed resin in the cavities along with a layer of resin formed on the surface of the mold;
- and
- stripping the solidified resin from the cavities by tension applied to the layer;
- wherein each cavity is shaped to form:
- a resin stem extending upward from, and contiguous with, the layer of resin, the stem having opposite lateral side surfaces facing the edges of the flexible strip;
- and
- a wing protruding from one of the lateral side surfaces of the stem and spaced from the layer of resin, the wing having an underside surface facing and overhanging the layer of resin, and an upper surface facing away from the layer of resin,
- the wing defining an area in a vertical plane coincident with one of the side surfaces of the stem, the area having a lowermost point and an uppermost point with respect to perpendicular distance from the layer of resin, the area defining a centroid,
- wherein as measured perpendicular to the layer of resin, the centroid is closer to the lowermost point than to the uppermost point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.