Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a touch fastener having a plurality of bonding elements spaced relative to one another, located on a backing, and having a head connected to the backing by a stem. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     DO 2004/105536 A1 discloses a touch fastener in which the free ends of the stems of the individual bonding elements are provided with a plurality of individual fibers. The diameter of the respective fibers is chosen to be very thin so that on the free end of each individual fiber only a very small contact surface ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 μm is available. 
     These orders of magnitude, which in preferred embodiments can also be in the nanometer range, enable interaction with a corresponding body in the vicinity on which the touch fastener is to be attached, by van-der-Waals forces classically regarded as a subgroup of adhesion. The conventional touch fastener has good connection properties, but is tied to a correspondingly costly production process. 
     This problem also applies to a touch fastener according to publication WO 01/49776 A2 which provides indications to one skilled in the art to use parts of the foot structure of a gecko directly as biological material, or to artificially imitate it. This adhesive structure has a plurality of spatulae components with each divided into a plurality of individual filaments in the form of a bent cylindrical fastener element on the free end. 
     Conversely, for simplified production, DE 102 23 234 B4 proposed a method for surface modification of an object, in the form of a fastener part with the objective of increasing the adhesion capacity of the bonding element. For this purpose, the free surface is subjected to structuring to form a plurality of projections, with each provided with a foot part and a head part. The head part has a face surface oriented away from the surface. Each projection is formed with a size such that all face surfaces have the same vertical height over the surface. This arrangement yields an adherent contact surface interrupted by mutual distances between the face surfaces. The foot parts of the projections are tilted relative to the surface normals of the surface. 
     It is possible with this known solution to make available the implementation of detachable bonding connections for an extended range of materials, with increased adhesion capacity and the possibility of enabling the setting of predetermined adhesion forces or properties. However, based on the relatively rigid arrangement between the head and backing by the optionally tilted stems, there is still opportunity for improved solutions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide an improved touch fastener with improved adherence and fastening action with the simultaneous possibility of being able to produce these systems economically and reliably. 
     This object is basically achieved by a touch where the head has a head plate with the diameter greater than the diameter at any point of the stem and where the stem is conical and linked to the head plate by an articulation part. The result is that the head in each instance remains adhering to a body in the vicinity, even if the backing should be displaced axially in the plane-parallel direction to this body by a predefinable amount. As a result of coupling by articulation parts, the stems can tilt in the oblique direction within a predefinable framework, without this adversely affecting the coupling of the head relative to the body in the vicinity. Since the head with the head plate can have a very large diameter, the possibility of adhering to the body in the vicinity is improved. 
     In particular, when vibrations occur in which the backing executes short-stroke vibrations relative to the body in the vicinity, the touch fastener according to the invention is an especially good connection solution. The coupling improved in this way even prevails when the respective stem relative to the head from the outset assumes a predefinable alignment in the form of a tilt relative to the vertical. 
     Due to the conical arrangement of the stem elements widening in the direction of the backing, an independent component need not be formed for the articulation site. Rather, the articulation site can be formed due to the direct transition of the conically tapering tip of the stem or its end into the head. Since the respective stem thus has its greatest diameter in the region of the transition to the backing, in the direction of the tapering stem end the intermediate space between adjacent bonding elements is increased. At this site, increased distribution space or embedding space for the heads with their head plates is then available. In this way the diameter ranges for the heads can be dramatically increased, unhindered by the remaining stem structure so that improved adhesion over an enlarged contact surface is achieved. This structure also results in reliable operation of the touch fastener which can be repeatedly detached. Furthermore, the arrangement according to the invention can be economically produced in large numbers. 
     Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure and which are schematic and not to scale: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an extract from a touch fastener with a plurality of bonding elements according to a first exemplary embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view in section of an individual bonding element of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view in section of an individual bonding element of  FIG. 1  in a vertical alignment and in an oblique arrangement without the backing; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side elevational view in section of an individual bonding element according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial side elevational view in section of an individual bonding element according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a partial side elevational view in section of an individual bonding element according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The orders of magnitude addressed with the touch fastener should suffice in the geometrical implementation and are designed such that interaction with a corresponding part, whether in the form of another touch fastener, or in the form of the surface of a body in the vicinity on which the touch fastener according to the invention is to be fixed, can preferably take place by van-der-Waals forces. These van-der-Waals forces constitute a subgroup of adhesion and are formed because the negatively charged electrons swirling around the positive nucleus in an atom are briefly concentrated on one side. For this reason, the atom on this side is temporarily negatively charged, while on the other side conversely it is positively charged. This charging also influences adjacent atoms. In this case, the atoms along the top of the support surface of the head cause the support surface of the head, depending on which charge it receives, to be attracted either by the positive atoms or the negative atoms of the respective opposite surface of the body in the vicinity. 
     The larger the resulting contact surfaces are in total, the stronger the forces which arise. The resulting large-dimensioned head support surfaces arising as a result of the conically tapering stem ends are then favorable for achieving strong van-der-Waals forces. Although the van-der-Waals forces are among the weakest forces in nature, the effect is sufficient to achieve relatively high fastening forces, especially considering that several thousand bonding elements can be on the extremely small space of the backing. If the surface of the respective head should be chemically modified in a corresponding manner, a true chemical bond as the adhesion connection is conceivable. 
     The touch fastener shown in  FIG. 1 , for the purposes of this invention, can be obtained, for example, according to a micro-replication process described in DE 196 46 318 A1. The prior art process is used to produce a touch fastener with a plurality of interlocking means or elements made in one piece with the backing  10  in the form of stems  14  having heads  12 . Preferably, a thermoplastic in the plastic or liquid state is delivered to the gap between a compression roll and a shaping roll. The shaping roll is provided with a screen with cavities open to the interior and the exterior. The two rolls for the production process are driven in opposite directions so that the backing material is formed in the gap between the rolls with the formation of the backing  10 . Since the touch fastener according to the invention has stems  14  made conical, the screen cross section is matched to the exterior contour of the respective support stem  14 . In particular, the screen cross section uniformly tapers conically in the direction of the interior of the roll. 
     Another possibility for obtaining the fastener system shown in the figures is described in DE 100 65 819 C1. In this known method for producing touch fasteners, a backing material in at least one partial region of its surface is provided with touch fastener elements or bonding elements projecting from its plane. A plastic material forming the fastener elements is applied to the backing element providing the backing  10 . The elements are made without a shaping tool at least in one partial region in which the plastic material is deposited by at least one application device in successively delivered droplets. Although the application device yields plastic material with a droplet volume of only a few picoliters via its nozzle, a high-speed process can be implemented such that a touch fastener as shown in  FIG. 1  is obtained in an extremely short period of time. This method also makes it possible, in particular, to produce individual bonding elements as shown in  FIG. 3  where each has a head  12  and a conical stem  14  with an articulation site on part  16 . In turn, these bonding elements can then be applied in a plurality of backings  10  of any form, for example, by cementing or melting on. This backing  10  then need not have a configuration extending flat, but may definitely follow curved paths with convex or concave radii (not shown). 
     Another option for producing the touch fastener according to the invention may involve a thin plastic film being applied, for example, doctored on, onto the free tapering stem end  14  and then to clip it, for example, by a laser, to obtain the desired geometry of the respective head  12 . Films can also be applied in this way for the backing  10 . 
     The backing  10  as well as the heads  12  and the tapering stems  14  with integrated articulation coupling are formed preferably of a plastic material chosen in particular from the group of acrylates such as polymethacrylates, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyoxymethylenes, polyvinylidene fluoride, polymethylpentene, poly(ethylene)-chlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, nylon 6, nylon 6.6, and polybutene. 
     Essentially, plastics with long chains of molecules and good orientation behavior, as well as plastic materials with thixotropic behavior can be used especially effectively. Thixotropic behavior for the purposes of the invention in this connection is to denote the reduction of structural thickness during the shear loading phase and its more or less a prompt but complete restoration during the following rest phase. This breakdown/restoration cycle is a completely reversible process, and thixotropic behavior can be defined as a time-dependent behavior. 
     Furthermore, plastic materials have proven favorable in which the viscosity measured with a rotational viscosimeter ranges from 7,000 to 15,000 mPas. Preferably, it has a value of approx. 10,000 mPas at a shear rate of 10 l/sec. For the purposes of a self-cleaning surface, it has proven favorable to use plastic materials whose contact angle has at least a value of greater than 60 degrees as a result of its surface energy for wetting with water. Under certain circumstances, this surface energy can be further changed by subsequent treatment processes. 
     With respect to the aforementioned requirements, an especially interesting representative of suitable plastic materials is polyvinyl siloxane. The use of this plastic can be provided in particular for forming the heads  12  and their free surface side. 
     For the sake of clarity, the individual bonding elements in  FIG. 1  are shown arranged spaced relatively far apart from one another. In reality, these bonding elements including of the stem  14 , articulation site or part  16 , and head  12  lie tightly against one another. Thus 10,000 to 20,000 of these elements per square centimeter can be located on the homogenous backing  10 . A uniform arrangement is preferred in which all bonding elements have the same distance to one another. Irregular arrangements or those in pattern form (circular, stem-shaped, ellipsoidal, etc.) are also possible. 
     The heads  12  which are disc-shaped in exterior contour can also have other shapes. For example, the heads can be made elliptical or in polygonal form. A hexagonal form has been found to be especially favorable, also relative to the screen shaping process. The same applies to the stems  14 . The conicity for the respective stem  14  is at least one degree of oblique tilt relative to horizontal. Preferably, the conicity is approx. 2.5 to 5 degrees to be able to obtain slender stem elements. The articulation site  16 , shown in  FIG. 2 , has a diameter from approx. 1 to 5 μm, preferably 2 μm, this diameter range being shown in  FIG. 2  as Z 2 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the conical stem  14  as a molded part is connected in one piece to the backing  10 . The connection of the stem  14  to the backing  10  can also be produced via a cement connection (not shown) in the same size range. The thickness of the backing  10  is shown in  FIG. 2  with the opposing arrows W and in terms of magnitude corresponds to the indicated size Z 2 . In particular, when the bonding element as shown in  FIG. 3  is produced without backing  10  and is connected to it only later, for example, by a cement or melt connection method, the backing  10  can also be made larger in terms of the thickness W. On its end facing away from the articulation site  16 , the conical stem has a thickness Z 1  from 5 to 25 μm, preferably from approx. 10 to 20 μm. The diameter Y of the head  12  is in turn, depending on the stem geometry, 30 to 100 μm, preferably approx. 40 μm. The head  12  in terms of its thickness X is chosen to be exceptionally narrow-lipped, and the values can be &lt;1 μm. For an embodiment (not shown) originating from the transition region of the head  12  to the stem  14 , the head tapers to the exterior in terms of width and ends in an annular end edge. Especially high holding forces for the head  12  can be expected for the narrow-lipped feature tapering in this way. 
     The purpose of  FIG. 3  is to illustrate in particular a detachment of the head  12  as a peeling motion from the body  18  in the vicinity. When the stem  14  is tilted around the articulation part by an angle a of approx. 20° relative to the vertical  20 , the peeling motion takes place, i.e., the edge of the head  12  which is the left edge as viewed in  FIG. 3  begins to detach over the contact surface  22  of the head  12  as a rolling motion. Depending on the concept of the touch fastening element, this angle a can also be more than 20°, in particular at least 40°. If in the initial state the stem  14  is not located parallel to the vertical  20 , but rather, extends obliquely, the stem already assumes a starting angle a, that is, the tapered end of the stem  14  ends in an oblique arrangement on the otherwise flat head plate of the head  12 . For a detachment motion in turn a corresponding angle offset can be expected which is then lower this time than for a vertical arrangement of the stems  14  relative to the head plate of the head  12 . 
     As shown, the head plate can be made flat and accordingly can have essentially a uniform thickness. Other cross sectional shapes on head plates can be implemented within the framework of the solution according to the invention. In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the head plate viewed in cross section is made as a double wedge shape, i.e., proceeding from the middle in the region of the stem  14  the head plate narrows to both sides, along bevels tapering away from one another. In the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5 , a single wedge is formed with one side having the greatest thickness and the opposite side having the smallest thickness. In the illustrated embodiment only the top is tilted. The top and underside can also taper toward one another to form a wedge. In the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , in contrast to the above described solutions, the stem  14  is arranged off-center on the underside of the head plate of the head  12 . The head forms a plate made flat. Instead of the head plate made flat, in the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , it can also have other shapes, in particular the wedge cross sectional shapes as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . If a tilted wedge shape is used for the head plate, the oblique surfaces are tilted between 5° to 15°, preferably by 10°. Depending on the peeling direction, the associated angle a can then be set, in particular, can be enlarged. The sharp-edged transitions shown in the figures between the backing band, the stem  14  and the head  12  are preferably round, in particular at the transition between the underside of head  12  and stem  14 . The radial outside edges of the head  12 , at least partially, can likewise be provided with the corresponding rounding to simplify production. 
     While various embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Category: 4