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:
May. 31, 2005
Filed:
Jun. 24, 2003
Keith G. Buzzell, North Waberboro, ME (US);
George A. Provost, Litchfield, NH (US);
Richard G. Maydra, Manchester, NH (US);
Keith G. Buzzell, North Waberboro, ME (US);
George A. Provost, Litchfield, NH (US);
Richard G. Maydra, Manchester, NH (US);
Velcro Industries B.V., Curacao, NL;
Abstract
A running length of fastener product is formed of longitudinally pre-oriented synthetic resin. The product is characterized by a base web and an array of discrete fastener elements protruding from at least one side of the web, the web being in a laterally stretched molecular oriented condition. After forming a preform having discrete fastener elements integral with a base web in a stretchable state, the preform is stretched in a manner that substantially increases the fastener element spacing and reduces the thickness of the base web. A machine is shown that is capable of lengthwise orienting before forming and widthwise stretching after forming, which employs controlled heating to render the product widthwise stretchable while preserving or achieving a desired shape of the fastener elements. There are shown fastener products that include products that are laterally stretched to between two and ten times the width of the original preform fastener products, having lateral rip resistance due to molecular orientation of film form webs produced by stretching, applied to complex or extensive surfaces. Also shown are laminated products formed by joining an added material to the stretched web, and methods for laminating.