A REFASTENABLE FASTENING, THE ENGAGEMENT FORMED BY IT AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE FASTENING

Abstract: The invention relates to a refastenable mechanical fastening device having a base (2, 10), at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3) connected to the base (2, 10) from their one end. The fastening device (1) comprises one or more means (3, 11, 12, 13, 14) attached to the base (2, 10), preventing the non-desirable fastening of the hooklike element to looplike element, and being as high as said hooklike elements (4) or preferably higher than said hooklike elements (4).

Description: A REFASTENABLE FASTENING, THE ENGAGEMENT FORMED BY IT AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE FASTENING This invention relates to a refastenable mechanical fastening, the engagement formed by it and the method of manufacturing the fastening. Refastenable mechanical fastenings usually consist of two parts that fasten onto one another time after time, one part containing hooklike components and the other containing loop¬ like components. This type fastener is commonly known by the name Velcro. These structures enjoy a wide variety of uses; e.g. in shoes, jogging shoes, sportswear, sports equipment, leg parts of scuba divers' suits, ends of sleeves, fastening of bottle to divers' balance vests, diapers. Various types of fasteners, strip sealers and the methods used to manufacture them are presented in publications such as US patent publica¬ tion 2717437, 3009235 and FI publication 59528. The US patent 3009235 describes, how to enhance the firmness of engagement of the separable fastener by forming loops in different heights. However, it is not decribed any teaching, how the non-desirable fastening could be avoided. In the UK pater 1400080 it is described a separable fastener, in which the base or its background is formed to compress. The rigid hooks compress the base of the flexible loops to reach a fastening. Present-day strips employ a loop structure in one strip and hook structure in the other. A strong engagement is formed when the hooks meet the loops. One disadvantage of strips such as these is that they fasten onto one another even when not intended to do so. This being the case, they need to be opened several times before their fastening onto one another is desi¬ red. A strip with the hook part on one side and the loop part on the other is also known art. Another known art strip is the one which has the loop part in front of the hook part as is employed in some shoes. In this case the hook part and loop part have been sewn onto a stron- ger base material one after the other. The loop part is then turned over on top of the hook part to execute the fastening function. The problem with this solution is adjustability be¬ cause for the engagement to be sufficiently strong it is ne¬ cessary to have the entire loop part come into contact with the entire hook part or vice versa. Often the practice is to use unnecessarily long loop or hook strips which are never used for their entire length. This being so, the use of hook- and-loop strips is wasteful. Especially when used in clothing, the hook parts fasten onto not only the actual loop part, but also to other cloths such as wool, and cause wear and even tear in doing so. Another fastener may comprise a tape having a plurality of alternating strips of hook and pile. The refastenable fastening in accordance with the invention, the engagement thus formed and the method for manufacturing the fastening bring about a decisive improvement with respect to the aforementioned shortcomings. In the implementation of this, the invention is characterised by what is presented in the characterisation parts of the claims 1, 7, 8 and 10. The foremost advantage offered by the invention may be seen in that non-desired fastening of the loop and hook parts can be prevented. In addition, waste pieces are avoided. Especially in the case of the preferable embodiment it is possible to use only one kind of strip and thus adjustability is improved. In the following, the invention is described with references being made to the appended drawing, in which: Figures la, b and c show the different fastening stages of two strips. Figure 2a, b, c and d show different forms of pieces, stoppers that can prevent the non-desirable fastening of loops onto the hooks. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the refastenable strip with platelike pieces formed on the strip. In its simplest form, the fastening device in accordance with the invention can be implemented by, for example, leaving loops at suitable intervals along the hooklike element, the said loops not being cut into hook form. Since the loops are at least as high as the hooks or preferably slightly higher with respect to the hooks, they prevent the non-desirable fas- tening of the hooks onto the loop implement, but in doing so they, nevertheless, bend readily when engaging is desired. As a method, the above can be implemented by, for example, moving back and forth the blades used to cut the loops. When the blade is in the front position, it cuts a loop so that it becomes a hook; when in the rear position, it allows a loop past it without cutting it. Thus, every third - tenth loop, for example, can be left uncut. Means such as those described below can also be used as pre- ventative means. In accordance with the invention's method, the loops are firstly woven into the base material 2, 10, the said loops 3 being then cut as the next stage whereupon they become hooks 4. Following the formation of the hooks, several loops are woven into the cloth, the said loops being made as high as tehe hooks or preferably higher than the hooks. An alternative method might, for example, be one in which the loops are made first and then the loops are bent, e.g. using wax, essentially to be in line with the base material. Next, the hook material is woven at selected intervals into the base material. The¬ reafter the hook material is cut to form hooks. If present, bonding wax is washed off and the loop pile is brushed up- right. Figure 1 shows strip or tape 1 in accordance with the inventi¬ on, the base material 2 onto which loops 3 and hooks 4 are woven. The length of the loops 3 is slightly more than that of the hooks 4. Often a difference of only 1-2 mm or even less is sufficient. The length difference is indicated by h in Figure 1. As seen in Figs, la to lc, on coming into contact with one another, without being pressed, the strips 1 and 10 act like normal cloths, that is to say, they do not become engaged to one another. The loop piles support one another and prevent the hooks from touching the opposite side's loop pile. When the strips are pressed against one another on purpose, as if they were press fasteners, the loop pile bends, the opposite hooks penetrate among the opposite loop pile loops and an en¬ gagement is achieved. When compared to known art solutions, the number of hooks can be reduced because now there are hooks on two sides, without the tear strength being essentially changed. The hooks can be of any shape, e.g. mushroom shaped or hooks. they are positioned either asymmetrically or they are in rows. Closed loops, strips of plate or ring-shaped pieces and even triangular pieces made of various flexible plastics or rubber can be employed in place of the loop pile for the purpose of keeping the strips apart from one another. The bottom part of the said pieces can be executed to be such that the hooks can fasten onto them almost as onto loops (e.g. by executing groo¬ ves, recesses onto the outside surface) but so that the surfa¬ ce of their top part is such that hooks cannot fasten onto it. Figures 2 a to d show different types of pieces preventing premature fastening. Number 11 indicates a ball that is advan¬ tageously thin-walled os that it readily collapses. The trian¬ gular piece 12 is also possible and its walls too are advanta- geously thin, the third alternative in figure 2, the plate strip 13, can be either hollow or relatively thin, in which case it will readily give in under pressure, the ringlike pie¬ ce 14 is advantageously hollow in the centre. Pieces 11, 12, 13 and 14 can be placed at intervals of 5 - 8 mm, for example, or at even wider intervals. The plate strip 13 can be 10 mm long and it would be followed by a gap of 10 mm, for example. Figure 3 shows an example of the positioning of strips 13. the symbols o and x in figure 3 depict loops 3 and hooks 4 connec¬ ted to the strip, with only part of the said loops and hooks being drawn into the figure. The height of the loops is of no importance in this case. The above is a description of a method in which loops or hooks are woven into the base material. It is also possible for the hooks and the items preventing non-desirable engaging to be executed into the base material from plastic, for example, or some other corresponάir- heat-sensitive material following which loops are + hen xa.-tened onto the said base. Another possiL : ^ ity is the implementation of a solution accor¬ ding to which the loop and hook parts are executed into sepa¬ rate bases, the said bases being then cut into small pieces, and these pi •. es are then fastened onto the desired base mate¬ rial one after the other. In case of textile base fabrics the loops may be anchored as the result of appropriate weaving technique and so on. The techniques are known to the skilled in the art as is described for example in the US patent No. 3009235. The hooks are normally in the form of J. The loops and hooks are resilient so that they can easily be connected together by pressing by the finger force or the like. The stoppers can be semi-rigid/flexible fibres that can be either straight or bent and the length is measured from the base material to the top of the hook or loop. The amount of the means (3,11,12,13,14) attached to the base (2, 10), preventing the non-desirable fastening of the hooklike element to looplike element depends e.g. on the size of the strip or tape. It is emphasised that, in the above, the invention has been described with reference being made to only one of its advan¬ tageous implementation examples. In no way is this intended to restrict the invention to apply only to this example. Instead, numerous variations are possible within the framework of the inventive idea as defined by the following patent claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A refastenable mechanical fastening device having a base (2, 10), at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3) connected to the base (2, 10) from their one end, charac¬ terised in that the fastening device (1) comprises one or more means (3,11,12,13,14) attached to the base (2, 10), preventing the non-desirable fastening of the hooklike element to loopli¬ ke element, and being as high as said hooklike elements (4) or preferably higher than said hooklike elements (4). 2. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said means (3,11,12,13,14) is composed of looplike ele¬ ments (3) that are as high as the hooklike elements (4), or preferably higher than the hooklike elements (4) . 3. A fastening device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said looplike elements (3) and said hooklike elements (4) are preferably attached to the same strip and onto the same side of the base (2) , the said fastening being preferably re¬ gular by nature. 4. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that, while the fastener is composed of a separate hooklike strip (4) and a looplike strip (3), these being pressed again¬ st one another, said means (2„11,12,13,14) spaced apart is inserted only into the hooklike element's strip (4). 5. A fastening device as claimed in any of the above claims 1 - 4, characterised in that said element is a flexible ball (11), a triangular-shaped means (12), a strip (13) or a rin- glike means (14) or some other means possessing a correspon¬ ding property. 6. A fastening device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the elements are thin-walled and/or hollow. 7. A method of manufacturing a fastening device possessing at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3) , the loops (3) are first woven into the base (2), the said loops being then cut during the next stage, whereupon they turn into hooks (4), characterised in that several loops (3) are woven into the fabric, one or more loop element/s being constructed so that it/they is/are as high as the hooks (4) or higher than the hooks (4) . 8. A method of manufacturing a fastening device possessing at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3), first the loops (3) are woven whereafter the said loops being bent essentially in the direction of the base (2) surface to stay in that position until the hook material has been fastened, whereafter the hook material is woven at desired intervals into the base (2), the hook material being then cut into hooks (4), characterised in that the loop pile is brushed up so that one or more of the loop element/s is formed as high as said hook elements (4) or preferably higher than the hook elements. 9. A method as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the base (2) is made of heat-sensitive material whereupon the loops (5) are fastened to the base (2) after the manufacturing of the hooks (4) and elements preventing non-desirable fas¬ tening. 10. A method of manufacturing a fastening device embodying at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3) connec¬ ted into the base (2), at the cutting stage of the loops to hooks, the blades cutting loops into hooks are moved to and fro in accordance with a pre-defined cycle so that the blade does not cut all of the loops into hooks, but instead leaves some of them to remain as loops, characterised in that, one or more loop/s is/are formed as high as the hooks (4) or prefera¬ bly higher than the hooks. 11. A grip-fastening joint comprising at least two strips con- nectable to each others each strip having a base (2, 10) at least hooklike elements (4) and/or looplike elements (3) con- nected from their one end to the base (2, 10), characterised in that one or more means (3,11,12,13,14) preventing the non- desirable fastening between said two strips are attached to the base (2), said means being as high as said hooklike ele¬ ments (4) or preferably higher than said hooklike elements. 12. A joint as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the looplike elements (3) are as high as the hooklike elements or preferably higher than the hooklike elements (4) . AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 18 May 1993 (18.05.93); original claim 2 cancelled; original claims 1,3,4-8 and 10 amended and r--n---ι-bered;(--laiπ-s 9 and 11 unchanged but renumbered as claims 12 and 13,other claims unchanged (3 pages)] 1. A refastenable mechanical fastening device having a base (2, 10), at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3) connected to the base (2, 10) from their one end, charac¬ terised in that the fastening device (1) comprises one or more means (3,11,12,14) attached to the base (2, 10), preventing the non-desirable fastening of the hooklike element to loopli¬ ke element, said means (3,11,12,14) are as high as said hooklike elements (4) or preferably higher than the hooklike elements (4) . 2- A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said looplike elements (3) and said hooklike elements (4) are preferably attached to the same strip and onto the same side of the base (2), preferably regular by nature. 3. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that, while the fastener is composed of a separate hooklike strip (4) and a looplike strip (3), these being pressed again¬ st one another, said means (3,11,12,14) spaced apart is inser¬ ted only into the hooklike element's strip (4) . 4. A fastening device as claimed in any of the above claims 1 - 4, characterised in that said element is a flexible ball (11), a triangular-shaped means (12), or a ringlike means (14) or some other means possessing a corresponding property. 5. A fastening device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the elements are thin-walled and/or hollow. 6. A method of manufacturing a fastening device possessing at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3), the loops (3) are first woven into the base (2), the said loops being then cut during the next stage, whereupon they turn into hooks (4), characterised in that several loops (3) are woven into the fabric, at least one or more loop element/s being higher than the hooks (4) . 7. A method of manufacturing a fastening device possessing at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3), first the loops (3) are woven whereafter the said loops being bent essentially in the direction of the base (2) surface to stay in that position until the hook material has been fastened, whereafter the hook material is woven at desired intervals into the base (2) , the hook material being then cut into hooks (4), characterised in that the loop pile is brushed up so that at least one or more of the loop element/s is formed as high as, or preferably higher than the hook elements (4). 8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the base (2) is made of heat-sensitive material whereupon the loops (5) are fastened to the base (2) after the manufacturing of the hooks (4) and elements preventing non-desirable fas¬ tening. 9. A method of manufacturing a fastening device embodying at least hooklike elements (4) and looplike elements (3) connec¬ ted into the base (2) , at the cutting stage of the loops to hooks, the blades cutting loops into hooks are moved to and fro in accordance with a pre-defined cycle so that the blade does not cut all of the loops into hooks, but instead leaves some of them to remain as loops, characterised in that, one or more loop/s is/are formed as high as, or preferably higher than the hooks (4) . 10. A grip-fastening joint comprising at least two strips con- nectable to each others each strip having a base (2, 10) at least hooklike elements (4) and/or looplike elements (3) con¬ nected from their one end to the base ( 2 , 10), characterised in that one or more loop means (3,11,12,14) preventing the non-desirable fastening between said two strips are attached to the base (2) , at least some of said loop means being as high as, or preferably higher than said hooklike elements (4). 11. A joint as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the looplike- elements (3) are as high as the hooklike elements or preferably higher than the hooklike elements (4) . 12. A refastenable mechanical fastening device having two mem¬ bers each provided at least with a very large number of close¬ ly spaced interengageable hooking elements, certain of said hooking elements having hooks made of flexible resilient mate¬ rial and certain of said hooking elements having loop like elements of flexible resilient material and each of said mem¬ bers having a base of sheet material with said hooking ele¬ ments secured thereto in positions extending from one surface of the base to which they are secured, the said surfaces of said members are pressed toward one another in face-to-face relation a very large number of hooks will engage a very large number of said loop-like elements to secure said members in said face-to-face relation comprising said loop-like elements being as tall as, or taller than the hooklike elements to pre¬ vent the non-desirable connection between the hooklike element and the looplike element. 13. A fastening device as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that said looplike elements and said hooklike elements are preferably attached to the same strip and onto the same side of the base, preferably regular by nature. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 The cited reference, US, A, 4707893 describes a fabric fastener comprising only male members for fastening a working element having a rough surface formed of a porous material. The male members can be either mushroom or needle like members. The need¬ le one can be taller than the mushroom like. A peeling resistan¬ ce is insured by the mushroom like members. The shear resistance is further enhanced by a deeper penetration of the needle like members into the mat. The needle is not for preventing of fas¬ tening but for improving of fastening. The invention differs from this reference in that the invention comprises one or more means including loop like elements attached to the base preven¬ ting the non-desirable fastening of the hooklike element to looplike element, and said means are as high as or higher than the hooklike elements. The cited US patent does not describe looplike elements. All elements are hooklike elements (column 1, lines 34-37) .

Inventors: IKONEN ALPO, IKONEN MARJA-LEENA, IKONEN, ALPO, IKONEN, MARJA-LEENA
Applicants: IKONEN ALPO, IKONEN MARJA LEENA, IKONEN, ALPO, IKONEN, MARJA-LEENA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A44B18
IPC codes: A44B18