The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 06, 1995
Samuel White Pollard, Durham, NH (US);
Donald L Banfield, Hudson, NH (US);
Peter E Leach, Hooksett, NH (US);
Carol A Watts, Pembroke, NH (US);
Lawrence E Lacombe, Goffstown, NH (US);
Velcro Industries B.V., Curacao, AN;
Abstract
A fastening component of a separable fastener has some portion that is necessary for its fastening function, such as the space adjacent the fastening elements, the base to which the fastening elements are attached or a substrate that is used for another purpose, comprised of a magnetically attractive or electrically conductive porous metal containing layer. The fastening component 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. The porous metal layer may be embedded in the base portion of the fastening component, or any backing substrate, or therebetween. The porous metal layer may be fully or partially embedded. The porous metal may be an expanded, perforated, woven or non-woven structure. Rather than the magnetically attractive porous metal layer being incorporated into the fastening elements or their 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. The porous metal layer may also be located between the fastening elements, such as the hooks or loops, and a protective cover, part of whose function is to prevent foaming material from fouling the fastening elements. The porous metal containing layer may be wholly metal, or it may be a composite of a non-metal phase and a metal phase. Rather than using a separate substrate layer for anchoring such a fastener into a molded article being molded, a three-dimensional pattern may be embossed on the non-fastening surface of the fastener to aid in securing it to the molded article.