Fasteners engageable with loops of nonwoven fabrics and with other open structures, and methods and machines for making fasteners

USRE42475E1 · kind E1 · reissue

Assignee

• Velcro Industries B.V. · NL

Inventors

• Luis Parellada Armela · Argentona, ES
• Juan Sanchez · Argentona, ES
• William Clune · Northwood, US
• Jefferson Davis · Emory, US
• Christopher M. Gallant · Nottingham, US
• Melissa Spezzafero · Danville, US
• Mark A. Clarner · Hopkinton, US
• William L. Huber · Epsom, US
• David P. Kraus, Jr. · Amherst, US
• George A. Provost · Litchfield, US
• Howard A. Kingsford · The Villages, US
• Michel Labrecque · Vars, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 2, 2009
• Grant date: Jun 21, 2011
• Expiry date: Nov 2, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

A method of forming a fastener is provided, including (a) forming, from a thermoformable material, a preform product having a sheet-form base and an array of preform stems integrally molded with and extending from the base to corresponding terminal ends; (b) heating the terminal ends of the stems to a predetermined softening temperature, while maintaining the sheet-form base and a lower portion of each stem at a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and (c) contacting the terminal ends with a contact surface that is at a predetermined forming temperature, lower than the softening temperature, to deform the terminal ends to form heads therefrom that overhang the sheet-form base. Fasteners and other methods of forming them are also provided.