Aplix Corporation

Aplix, S.a.

Patrick J Billarant

Bruno Queval

Marc Woodling

A fastener member for being secured to the surface of a foam body during a molding process in a mold form. The fastener member includes an elongate base having upper and lower opposed faces with fixating elements positioned on the lower face of the base for being positioned within and protected by a mold cavity in a wall of the mold form against foam contamination during the molding process. First and second opposed, elongate sealing ramps positioned on the upper face of the base by respective proximal ends and diverge outwardly and upwardly at an angle oblique to the base and define respective outwardly-extending distal ends. The base is sized to fit within the mold cavity with outer surfaces of the respective first and second ramps engaging and sealingly contacting respective upper wall corners of the mold at points of contact intermediate the proximal and distal ends. A magnetically-attractable material is fixed to the base for being magnetically attracted to a magnet positioned in the mold cavity to thereby seal the cavity against the sealing ramps to prevent foam from entering the mold cavity and contaminating the fixating elements.

Component for overcasting for a moulded object

A fastener assembly for being molded into a foamed structure. The fastener assembly includes a base having first and second opposed major surfaces, first and second opposed ends, and first and second opposed side edges. A multiplicity of attachment members are carried by the base and extend outwardly from the first major surface of the base for mating with complementary attachment members. First and second spaced-apart end seals are attached to respective first and second opposed ends of the base for preventing intrusion of liquid foam past the ends of the base and onto the attachment members during molding of the structure. Each of the end seals defines a solid mass within which the attachment members are embedded. A multiplicity of spaced-apart anchors are carried by the base, and extend outwardly from the second major surface of the base for permanently attaching the fastener assembly to the foamed structure.

Fastener assembly with mechanical end seals

A fastener assembly of the type for being molded into cushions, and including a base having first and second major surfaces defining first and second opposed ends and first and second opposed side edges. A multiplicity of attachment members are carried by the base and extend outwardly from the base for cooperating with complementary attachment members. First and second laterally-extending sealing gaps are respectively positioned adjacent the ends of the base. The sealing gaps are defined by areas of the first major surface of the base being devoid of the attachment members for permitting a sealing dam carried by a mold in which the foamed article is molded to fit into the sealing gaps and sealingly engage the first major surface of the base to form a foam-tight seal between the opposed ends of the base and the sealing dam of the mold to prevent intrusion of liquid foam past the ends of the base onto the attachment members of the base during molding of the article. A multiplicity of permanent anchors is carried by the base and extend outwardly from the second major surface of the base. First and second magnetically-attractable side edge sealing members may be attached to the base adjacent respective ones of the first and second opposing side edges of the base for being attracted to magnets positioned in the mold in which the foamed article is molded to form a foam-tight seal between the side edges of the base and the mold to prevent intrusion of liquid foam past the side edges of the base onto the attachment members of the base during molding of the article.

Fastener assembly with mechanical end seals, method and fastener

A fastener assembly of the type for being molded into cushions, and including a base having first and second major surfaces defining first and second opposed ends and first and second opposed side edges. A multiplicity of attachment members are carried by the base and extend outwardly from the base for cooperating with complementary attachment members. First and second laterally ending sealing gaps are respectively positioned adjacent the ends of the base. The sealing gaps are defined by areas of the first major surface of the base being devoid of the attachment members for permitting a sealing dam carried by a mold in which the foamed article is molded to fit into the sealing gaps and sealingly engage the first major surface of the base to form a foam-tight seal between the opposed ends of the base and the sealing dam of the mold to prevent intrusion of liquid foam past the ends of the base onto the attachment members of the base during molding of the article. A multiplicity of permanent anchors is carried by the base and extend outwardly from the second major surface of the base. First and second magnetically-attractable side edge sealing members may be attached to the base adjacent respective ones of the first and second opposing side edges of the base for being attracted to magnets positioned in the mold in which the foamed article is molded to form a foam-tight seal between the side edges of the base and the mold to prevent intrusion of liquid foam past the side edges of the base onto the attachment members of the base during molding of the article.

Method of fabricating a fastener assembly for being molded into a foamed

A fastener assembly of the type for being molded into cushions, and including a base having first and second major surfaces defining first and second opposed ends and first and second opposed side edges. Hooks are carried by the base cooperating with complementary loops carried on material when pressed against the attachment members on the base. Permanent anchors are carried by the base and are spaced apart sufficiently to allow foam intrusion between the anchors to attach the fastener assembly to a foamed article, such as, for example, a cushion. First and second magnetically-attractable side edge seals are attached to the base for being attracted to magnets positioned in a mold in which the cushion is molded. The side edge seals form a foam-tight seal between the side edges of the base and the mold to prevent intrusion of liquid foam during molding of the article. First and second magnetically-attractable end seals are attached to the base for being attracted to magnets positioned in the mold in which the cushion is molded to form a foam-tight seal between the ends of the base and the mold to prevent intrusion of liquid foam onto the hooks during molding of the article. Each of the first and second end seals include a staple attached to the base for holding the end of the base tightly in the mold and a seal of loops attached to the hooks along both the width of the base and a predetermined length of the base adjacent the respective end of the base for preventing liquid foam intrusion onto the hooks.

Fastener assembly with magnetic side and end seals

Method of manufacturing a fastener assembly

Fastener assembly with magnetic side and end seals and method

A fastening member of the type characterized by having a base carrying on one side thereof gripping fastener hooks for mating connection with complementary gripping fastener fibrous patches. A protective cover engages the base for enclosing the hooks against leakage of molding liquid past the film onto the hooks to protect the hooks against clogging by a molding liquid when molding the fastening member into a molded article in a mold. In the improvement according to the invention, a flexible, granular ferromagnetic attachment strip is provided, and is positioned in overlying relation on top of the hooks. The attachment strip extends along the length of the fastening member within the area enclosed by the temporary thin protective film for being attracted to a magnet in the mold. The ferromagnetic attachment strip temporarily holds the fastening member by magnetic attraction in the mold during the molding process.

Fastening member with ferromagnetic attachment strip

A fastening tape (4) is attached to a molded item (2) such as a seat cushion with a face of gripping hooks (5) turned outwardly to hold a seat cover (3) having complementary fastening member thereon. The tape (4) is molded into the seat cushion (2) during the molding process. Since a liquid molding substance is used, the hooks (5) on the tape (4) are covered with a thin plastic film (17) which prevents the molding liquid from contaminating and clogging the hooks (5). In one embodiment, the film (17) has a relatively low disintegration temperature whereby the heat applied to the mold to cure the cushion (2) disintegrates the film (17) after the cushion has cured, leaving the exposed hooks (5) unclogged and ready for use. In another embodiment, film (17) has a relatively high disintegration temperature and is removed in a separate step subsequent to the molding process by additional heat, such as an open flame.

Method of attaching a fastening tape to a molded article and the

A fastening tape (4) is attached to a molded item (2) such as a seat cushion with a face of gripping hooks (5) turned outwardly to hold a seat cover (3) having complementary fastening member thereon. The tape (4) is molded into the seat cushion (2) during the molding process. Since a liquid molding substance is used, the hooks (5) on the tape (4) are covered with a thin plastic film (17) which prevents the molding liquid from contaminating and clogging the hooks (5). In one embodiment, the film (17) has a relatively low disintegration temperature whereby the heat applied to the mold to cure the cushion (2) disintegrates the film (17) after the cushion has cured, leaving the exposed hooks (5) unclogged and ready for use. In another embodiment, film (17) has a relatively high disintegration temperature and is removed in a separate step subsequent to the molding procoess by additional heat, such as an open flame.

Method for attaching a fastening tape to a molded article

Fastening tape designed to be attached to a molded article during

A tape (4) intended to be attached to a molded article (2) comprises a sole (13) having grippers (5) on one side thereof and anchors (14) on the other side thereof. The side of the sole (13) having the grippers (5) thereon also has two spaced-apart marginal areas devoid of grippers (5) and adapted to be glued temporarily into an internal face of a mold (1) in which the molded article (2) is to be formed. Anchors (14) are comprised of stems (15) having an enlarged head (16) which is molded into the molded article (2) to hold the tape (4) firmly against the molded article (2). The marginal areas devoid of grippers (5) permit tape (4) to lie flush with the surface of the mold (1) while the molded article (2) is being formed.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Patrick J Billarant