Slidingly engagable fasteners and method of manufacturing same
OwnerLeonard Arnold Duffyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improved Fasteners of the Slidingly Engagable type are provided in uni-directional and multi-directional orientations, in single and double-sided configurations, and in a range of designs which also include provisions for attaching certain embodiments of such fasteners to a substrate material. A method of economically producing such fasteners and products incorporating such fasteners in diverse materials by utilizing an apparatus which includes a set of interengaging dies is also provided.
Claims47
A slidingly engageable fastening device operable upon application of a relative shearing force, comprising:
- a first portion that includes:
- a first base having a first basal surface;
- and
- a plurality of first undercut segments spaced from said first basal surface;
- and
- a second portion for slidingly engaging with said first portion upon application of a relative shearing force with respect to said first and second portions, said second portion including:
- a second base having a plurality of fenestrations and a second basal surface;
- a plurality of stems each having a first end attached to said second base and a second end distal from said second basal surface;
- and
- at least one second undercut segment attached to each of said plurality of stems at said second end and extending away from said each stem.
A slidingly engagable fastening device operable upon application of a relative shearing force, including:
- a first portion comprising:
- a first base having a first basal surface;
- and
- at least one first island attached to said first base, said at least one first island having at least one undercut segment spaced from said first basal surface;
- and
- a second portion for slidingly engaging with said first portion upon application of a relative shearing force with respect to said first and second portions, said second portion including:
- a second base having a plurality of fenestrations and a second basal surface;
- a plurality of second islands attached to said second base and defining at least one aperture for receiving said at least one first island.
A double-sided interlocking fastening device, comprising:
- a base having a first basal surface and an opposing second basal surface;
- a plurality of first islands attached to said base and extending away from said first basal surface;
- a plurality of second islands attached to said base and extending away from said second basal surface generally opposite said plurality of first islands;
- wherein sets of two adjacent said first islands and sets of two adjacent said second islands each define apertures for receiving and slidingly engaging with one another.
A slidingly engageable fastener, comprising:
- a first portion that includes:
- a base having a first basal surface and a second basal surface opposite said first basal surface;
- and
- a plurality of first islands attached to said base and extending away from said first basal surface, wherein sets of two adjacent said first islands each define an aperture for receiving and slidingly engaging with a plurality of second islands;
- and
- a plurality of attachment devices engaging said first portion and extending away from said second basal surface.
A fastening device secured to a substrate material, comprising:
- a first portion that includes:
- a first base having a first basal surface and a second basal surface spaced from said first basal surface;
- and
- a plurality of first islands attached to said first base and extending away from said first basal surface, wherein adjacent pairs of said plurality of first islands each define an aperture for receiving, and interlocking with, a plurality of second islands;
- and
- a backing structure for confronting said second basal surface and being attachable to said first portion, said backing structure for securing said first portion to the substrate material when said backing structure is attached to said first portion.
An interlocking device for engaging a plurality of first islands, comprising:
- a base having a plurality of fenestrations and a basal surface;
- and
- a plurality of second islands attached to said base and defining a plurality of apertures for receiving the plurality of first islands, each of said plurality of second islands including at least three of said undercut segments spaced from one another.
An interlocking device for engaging a plurality of first islands, comprising:
- a base having a plurality of fenestrations and a basal surface;
- and
- a plurality of second islands attached to said base and defining a plurality of apertures for receiving the plurality of first islands, said plurality of second islands including undercut segments spaced from one another;
- wherein at least two of said undercut segments extend over each of at least some of said plurality of fenestrations.
A method of molding a structure that includes a base having a plurality of fenestrations and a plurality of islands integral with the base, each of the plurality of islands having a plurality of undercut segments, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first die having a molding axis and a plurality of gates each defining a corresponding one of the plurality of fenestrations and at least a portion of one of the plurality of undercut segments, each of said plurality of gates having a contact surface substantially perpendicular to said first molding axis;
- providing a second die having a plurality of contact regions each for engaging a corresponding one of said plurality of gates at said first surface;
- and
- engaging said first die and said second die with one another substantially along said molding axis such that said contact surface of said first die engages said contact region of said second die.
A method of producing a structure that includes a base having a plurality of fenestrations and further includes a plurality of islands integral with the base, each of the plurality of islands having a plurality of undercut segments, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first die having a molding axis and a plurality of gates each defining a corresponding one of the plurality of fenestrations and at least a portion of one of the plurality of undercut segments, each of said plurality of gates having a contact surface substantially parallel to said molding axis;
- providing a second die having a plurality of contact regions each for engaging a corresponding one of said plurality of gates at said contact surface;
- and
- engaging said first die and said second die with one another substantially along said molding axis such that said contact surface of said first die engages said contact region of said second die.
A method of molding a structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first rotating mold that includes at least one first die having at least one gate;
- providing a second rotating mold that includes at least one second die corresponding to said at least one first die, said second die having at least one first cavity;
- engaging said at least one first die with said at least one second die such that said at least one gate is received within said at least one first cavity, thereby defining at least one second cavity within said at least one first cavity;
- and
- providing a flowable material to said at least one second cavity.
An apparatus for molding a structure that includes a base having a plurality of fenestrations and further includes a plurality of islands integral with the base, each of the plurality of islands having a plurality of undercut segments, comprising:
- a first die having a molding axis and a plurality of gates each defining a corresponding one of the fenestrations and at least a portion of one of the plurality of undercut segments, each of said plurality of gates having a contact surface substantially perpendicular to said first molding axis;
- a second die having a plurality of contact regions each for engaging a corresponding one of said plurality of gates at said first surface;
- and
- a mechanism for engaging said first die and said second die with one another substantially along said molding axis such that said contact surface of said first die engages said contact region of said second die.
An apparatus for molding a structure that includes a base having a plurality of fenestrations and further includes a plurality of islands integral with the base, each of the plurality of islands having a plurality of undercut segments, comprising:
- a first rotating mold that includes at least one first die having at least one gate;
- a second rotating mold that includes at least one second die corresponding to said at least one first die, said second die having at least one first cavity;
- wherein said at least one first die is engagable with said at least one second die such that said at least one gate is received within said at least one first cavity, thereby defining at least one second cavity within said at least one first cavity;
- and
- a mechanism for providing a flowable material to said at least one second cavity.
An apparatus for forming a structure that includes a base having a plurality of fenestrations and further includes a plurality of islands integral with the base, each of the plurality of islands having a plurality of undercut segments and a thickness, comprising:
- a first die having a forming axis and a plurality of punching segments each defining a corresponding one of the fenestrations and at least a portion of ones of the plurality of undercut segments, each of said plurality of punching segments having a punching surface generally perpendicular to said forming axis;
- a second die having a plurality of cavities each for receiving a corresponding one of said punching segments, said punching segments extending into said cavities by a distance at least equal to said island thickness:
- and
- a mechanism for engaging said first die and said second die with one another substantially along said forming axis so as to form a malleable material into the shape of said structure.
An apparatus for forming a structure that includes a base having a plurality of fenestrations and further includes a plurality of islands integral with the base, each of the plurality of islands having a plurality of undercut segments, comprising:
- a first roller that includes at least one first die having at least one punching segment;
- a second roller that includes at least one second die corresponding to said at least one first die, said second die having at least one first cavity;
- wherein said at least one first die is engagable with said at least one second die such that said at least one punching segment is received within said at least one first cavity, thereby defining at least one second cavity within said at least one first cavity;
- and
- a mechanism for forming a maleable material within said at least one second cavity.
A product, comprising:
- a slidingly engagable fastener that includes:
- a first portion comprising:
- a first base having a first basal surface;
- and
- a plurality of first undercut segments spaced from said first basal surface;
- and
- a second portion for slidingly interlocking with said first portion upon application of a force to one of said first and second portions in a direction generally parallel to said first basal surface, said second portion including:
- a second base having a plurality of fenestrations and a second basal surface;
- a plurality of stems each having a first end attached to said second base and a second end distal from said second basal surface;
- and
- at least one second undercut segment attached to each of said plurality of stems at said second end and extending away from said each stem.
A product as in 44, further comprising a component having a third portion and a fourth portion spaced from said third portion, said third portion containing said first portion and said fourth portion containing said second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.