Mechanical fastener
US6076238A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 20, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T24/2792
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A mechanical fastener including a plurality of engaging stems located in unordered arrangements, which repeat on a substrate. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a mechanical fastener with a plurality of repeating unordered arrangements, where the arrangements repeat in more than one direction. The unordered arrangements of the engaging stems allow pairs of the fasteners to interengage with themselves, or in other words, to self-mate. Additionally, the unordered arrangements of engaging stems allow the fasteners to interengage at any relative angular orientation with a relatively constant engagement force, and a relatively constant disengagement force regardless of their angular orientation. The unordered arrangements of engaging stems also allow pairs of fasteners to interengage at any relative planar position with a relatively constant engagement force and a relatively constant disengagement force regardless of their planar position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.