US 5,942,177 A · Method for a making a separable fastener having a perimeter cover gasket

Abstract

A separable fastener component for use with a complementary separable fastener component has a base member, having a nominal fastening face and a non-fastening face. Carried on the fastening face is a pattern of fastening elements, comprising an interior region carrying fastening elements that are free of any cover. Substantially surrounding the interior region is a perimeter region that carries fastening elements which are covered. The perimeter region of covered fastening elements may be a rectangular or non-rectangular annulus. The fastening elements may be hooks or loops. The fastening component may be incorporated into a molded product, with minimal intrusion of the molding material into the fastening elements of the main region. The perimeter cover forms a gasket seal with the mold in several different configurations and prevents molding material from infiltrating to the uncovered interior region of fastening elements. The perimeter cover need not be removed for use of the fastener component, because the uncovered interior fastening elements function normally. An assembly line method of making the fastening component and a method of molding the fastening component into an article are also disclosed. The cover around the perimeter may be applied either by applying cover material to the perimeter region only, or over the entire fastener area, and then removing the cover material from an interior region.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for embedding a separable fastener component into a molded article, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a separable fastener component comprising:
i. a base member, having a nominal fastening face and a non-fastening face;
ii. carried on said fastening face, a pattern of a first type of fastening elements, said fastening elements selected from the group consisting of hook and loop elements, said pattern comprising:
A. an interior region of fastening elements, free of any cover;
B. substantially surrounding said interior region, a perimeter region;
and
iii. covering each of said fastening elements of said perimeter region, a cover;
b. placing said separable fastener component into a mold, with said fastening face facing a wall of said mold, said wall of said mold comprising a trench shaped and sized to accommodate both said perimeter region carrying covered fastening elements and said interior region carrying uncovered fastening elements;
c. securing said separable fastener component against said mold such that at least one gasket seal is formed between said cover and said mold wall;
and
d. providing molding material to said mold, particularly in the region of said placed separable fastener.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for a making a separable fastener having a perimeter cover gasket

Life of this patent

Method for a making a separable fastener having a perimeter cover gasket

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11