Back to results
US 5,657,516 AGranted
Dual structured fastener elements
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsJames G. Berg, Jennifer M. Aamodt, Clyde D. Calhoun, Harlan L. Krinke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener and a method of fastening articles employing the fastener are provided. The fastener includes a fastener element adapted to be mated in an interlocking arrangement to a complementary fastener element. The fastener element has a plurality of mating cavities. The mating cavities include a mating surface which is adapted to interlockingly engage a mating element projecting from the complementary fastener element.
Claims27
A self-mating fastener element comprising:
- a polymeric substrate comprising a plurality of mating elements projecting therefrom, the mating elements each comprising a mating surface
- wherein a cross-section of each mating element through the mating surface comprises a plurality of microprotrusions extending therefrom, the microprotrusions having a height of no more than about 400 microns and a width of no more than about 400 microns;
- wherein the fastener element is capable of being self-matingly engaged such that the engaged fastener element is separable by a disengagement force directly proportional to the number of interlockingly engaged microprotrusions.
A fastener comprising first and second fastener elements;
- the first fastener element comprising a first unitary polymeric substrate having a plurality of solid first mating elements projecting therefrom, the first mating elements each having a first mating surface wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the first mating surface comprises a plurality of first microprotrusions extending therefrom, and the first microprotrusions are capable of flexing in a leaf spring-like manner;
- the second fastener element comprising a second unitary polymeric substrate having a plurality of solid second mating elements projecting therefrom, the second mating elements each having a second mating surface wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the second mating surface comprises a plurality of second microprotrusions extending therefrom, and the second microprotrusions are capable of flexing in a leaf spring-like manner;
- and
- wherein the fastener elements are capable of being engaged by an engagement force such that at least one first mating element is retained by an interlocking interaction of the first and second mating surfaces in a mating cavity defined by adjacent second mating elements;
- and the engaged fastener elements are separable by a disengagement force directly proportional to the engagement force.
2 more elements
A fastener comprising first and second fastener elements;
- the first fastener element comprising a first unitary polymeric substrate having a plurality of solid first mating elements projecting therefrom, the first mating elements each having a first mating surface wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the first mating surface comprises a plurality of first microridges extending therefrom;
- and
- the second fastener element comprising a second unitary polymeric substrate having a plurality of solid second mating elements projecting therefrom, the second mating elements each having a second mating surface wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the second mating surface comprises a plurality of second microridges extending therefrom;
- wherein the first and second mating surfaces each have a draft of less than about 10.degree.;
- the first and second microridges have a height of no more than about 250 microns and a width of no more than about 250 microns;
- at least one of the fastener elements is formed from a resilient material;
- and
- the fastener elements are capable of being engaged by an engagement force such that at least one first mating element is retained in a mating cavity defined by adjacent second mating elements by an interlocking interaction of the first and second mating surfaces;
- and the engaged fastener elements are separable by a disengagement force directly proportional to the engagement force.
6 more elements
A fastener comprising first and second fastener elements;
- the first fastener element comprising a first unitary polymeric substrate having a plurality of first mating elements projecting therefrom, the first mating elements each having a first mating surface wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the first mating surface comprises a plurality of randomly oriented first microprotrusions extending therefrom;
- the second fastener element comprising a second unitary polymeric substrate having a plurality of second mating elements projecting therefrom, the second mating elements each having a second mating surface wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the second mating surface comprises a plurality of randomly oriented second microprotrusions extending therefrom;
- and
- wherein the fastener elements are capable of being engaged by an engagement force such that at least one first mating element is retained in a mating cavity defined by adjacent second mating elements by an interlocking interaction of a multiplicity of the first and second microprotrusions;
- and the engaged fastener elements are separable by a disengagement force having a direct, continuous relationship to the engagement force.
2 more elements
A method of fastening an article comprising:
- (a) providing a first and second fastener elements attached to the article;
- the first fastener element comprising a first unitary polymeric substrate having a plurality of solid first mating elements projecting therefrom, the first mating elements each having a first mating surface, wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the first mating surface comprises a plurality of first microprotrusions extending therefrom, and the first microprotrusions are capable of flexing in a leaf spring-like manner;
- the second fastener element comprising a second unitary polymeric substrate having a plurality of solid second mating elements projecting therefrom, the second mating elements each having a second mating surface wherein a cross-section perpendicular to the second mating surface comprises a plurality of second microprotrusions extending therefrom, and the second microprotrusions are capable of flexing in a leaf spring-like manner;
- and
- (b) applying an engagement force to the first and second fastener elements such that at least one first mating element is retained in a mating cavity defined by adjacent second mating elements by an interlocking interaction of the first and second mating surfaces;
- wherein the engaged fastener elements are separable by a disengagement force directly proportional to the engagement force.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.