US 6,656,563 B1Granted

Segmented separable fastener

AssigneeVelcro Industries B.V.

InventorsPeter E. Leach, Christopher M. Gallant

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Abstract

A segmented hook and loop type fastener accommodates molding contours. Each segment may be surrounded by a gasket barrier, or covered, or unprotected. On the fastening face of a base member are a plurality of fastening elements, either hook-type or loop-type. Between and joining each adjacent pair of fastening segments is a flexible neck that is narrower than the fastening segment. The flexible neck region is typically flexible around two or three orthogonal axes. Each segment may have a barrier for use during an operation to incorporate the fastener into a molded body. The barrier would prevent any liquid foaming material from contacting the fastening elements if the fastener is placed in the mold with the fastening elements pressed against the wall of the mold. The cover may be enveloping or space filling. Several different types of apparatus and methods for fabricating such a fastener are also disclosed.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A separable fastener component for use with a complementary separable fastener component, said separable fastener component comprising a continuous, integral strip, said strip comprising:

a. a plurality of fastening segments, each having a length along a length dimension and a width, along a width dimension that is perpendicular to said length dimension, arranged adjacent each other, along said length dimension, each fastening segment comprising:
i. a base member, having a nominal fastening face and a non-fastening face;
and
ii. carried on said fastening face of said base member, a plurality of fastening elements selected from the group consisting of hook-type fastening elements and loop fastening elements, said fastening elements carried by substantially all of said plurality of fastening segments being selected from only one member of said group;
and
b. located between and joining each adjacent pair of fastening segments, only one flexible neck, at approximately a midpoint of each segment width, that:
i. is narrower than said fastening segment;
ii. is integral with said base member of any adjacent segments;
and
iii. is substantially uniform in composition with said base member of any adjacent segments.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.