Method for forming a fastener

A method of forming one or more fasteners, the method comprising:

• providing a first material and a second material, the first material different from the second material, the first material at least partially formed of a thermoplastic;
• co-extruding the first material and the second material to form a mass;
• and
• slicing the mass to form at least one fastener having a skeletal plastic member and a first clip and a second clip integrally formed with the plastic member, wherein:
• i) the first clip and the second clip each include a first member hingedly connected to a second member with a hinge portion at a proximate end of each of the first member and the second member;
• ii) each of the first members and the second members are formed of the first material and each of the first members and second members include a distal end;
• and
• iii) each first member and each second member of the first and second dips include an inner liner formed of the second material for providing a softer contact surface;
• iv) the plastic member includes a first concave surface forming a first channel and a second concave surface forming a second channel;
• v) the hinge portion of the first clip and hinge portion of the second clip are respectively biased toward the first concave surface and the second concave surface upon movement of the distal end of the first member toward the distal end of the second member for each of the first and second clips;
• and
• vi) the inner liners are integrally formed with the first member and second member during the co-extrusion step.

A method of forming one or more fasteners, the method comprising:

• providing a first material and a second material, the first material different from the second material, the first material at least partially formed of a thermoplastic selected from the group of polyamides, polyolefins, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, the second material at least partially formed of a thermoplastic vulcanite;
• co-extruding a first material and a second material to form a mass wherein the mass has a substantially continuous cross-section perpendicular to a direction of emission of the mass from an extruder;
• and
• slicing the mass to form a plurality of fasteners, each of the fasteners having a skeletal plastic member and a first clip and a second clip integrally formed with the plastic member, wherein for each of the plurality of fasteners:
• i) the first clip and the second clip each include a first arcuate member hingedly connected to a second arcuate member with a hinge portion at a proximate end of each of the first member and the second member;
• ii) each of the first members and the second members are formed of the first material and each of the first members and second members include a distal end;
• iii) each of the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member include a mating portion located at a distal end of each of the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member
• iv) each first member and each second member of the first and second clips include an inner liner formed of the second material for providing a softer contact surface;
• v) the plastic member includes a first arcuate concave surface forming a first channel and a second arcuate concave surface forming a second channel;
• vi) the hinge portion of the first clip and hinge portion of the second clip are respectively biased toward the first concave surface and the second concave surface upon movement of the distal end of the first member toward the distal end of the second member for each of the first and second clips;
• and
• vii) the inner liners are integrally formed with the first member and second member during the co-extrusion step;
• viii) the plastic member has a through-hole extending therethrough;
• ix) the inner liners of the first members and the second members are integral with the first members and the second members such that the inner liners rotate with the first members and the second members during opening and closing of the first clip;
• x) the fastener is in its desired configuration upon slicing without having to further shape or other process the fastener;
• and
• xi) the inner liners are substantially coextensive with the first and second members.