Velcro Industries B.v.

Randall B Kenney

Martin I Jacobs

Brian J Routhier

Gerald F Rocha

Donald L Banfield

Der-Shi Wang

Normand A Cote

A fastening component of a separable fastener is molded out of two separate flows of resin joined under pressure in a nip as the fastening elements are molded in cavities of a cavity roller. The joined flows of resin travel about the cavity roller while being cooled, and are then passed about a stripping roller to pull the formed fastener strip from the cavity roller.

Forming fastener components of multiple streams of resin

A fastening component of a separable fastener has some portion that is necessary for its fastening function, such as the hooks, the base to which the hooks are attached or a substrate that is used for another purpose, comprised of a magnetically attractive constituent. Another portion of the fastening component is comprised of a magnetically inert constituent. The fastening element may be the hook portion or the loop portion of a typical fastener. The fastening elements and the base may be unitary, or of different precursors, such as in a woven fastener component. The magnetically inert constituent may comprise a polymeric plastic or a thermoplastic elastomer. The magnetic attractant may impregnate the magnetically inert constituent, or it may coat or be coated by the magnetically inert constituent. The magnetic attractant may comprise a metal powder. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of iron powder. The magnetic attractant may be an organo-iron or a rare earth metal. In a woven fastener, either the base structure or the hooks may include the magnetic attractant, or both may do so. The material that forms the hooks may be entirely of a magnetically attractive material, with the material that forms the woven base being magnetically inert. Rather than the magnetically attractive material being incorporated into the fastening elements or the base, it may be incorporated into the substrate that is formed from a precursor element that is separate from the base, and that is joined to the base.

Touch fastener with magnetic attractant

Touch fastener with magnetic attractant and molded article containing

Method of making and using a touch fastener with magnetic attractant

A fastener of the hook and loop type intended to be incorporated into plastic articles by plastic molding processes is formed of a known separable fastener member having a base member and a plurality of engaging elements upstanding from one surface thereof. A vinyl plastisol, thermoplastic, or rubber encasement which intimately surrounds the individual engaging elements protects the elements when they are exposed to the harsh environment of a molding process. The fastener is placed in a mold and molded into, as an integral part thereof, a plastic part. The encasement is removable from the engaging elements after the molding process, to expose the engaging elements, without permanently deforming or substantially destroying the fastening performance thereof.

Die cut mold-in

A woven, self-engaging fastener with upright, mushroom-shaped, monofilament engaging elements that are in a thermally relaxed, stress-reduced condition. The engaging elements are arranged in a twill-like pattern such that weft-wise adjacent engaging elements are aligned diagonally to the weaving direction, and with sufficient density to enable the fastener to function as a self-engaging fastener. The fastener is produced by weaving a three-dimensional, double plush weave having two layers of interwoven warp and weft threads, and monofilament fibers interwoven with and passing back and forth between the two layers. The monofilament fibers are relaxed by heating, then severed between the two layers.

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Concord, NH, United States of America

Randall B Kenney