초록 ▼

A method of making a hook strip having J-shaped hooks that can be used as a mechanical fastener. The method includes using an initial substrate of material formed as an array of upstanding precursor stems having distal tips at their ends opposite a backing. In addition, a heat source adapted for hea

A method of making a hook strip having J-shaped hooks that can be used as a mechanical fastener. The method includes using an initial substrate of material formed as an array of upstanding precursor stems having distal tips at their ends opposite a backing. In addition, a heat source adapted for heating and a mechanism for deforming stem tips is provided. The substrate is positioned relative to the heat source such that a portion of the upstanding stems on the array is heated. Subsequently, the substrate is moved to a position relative to the mechanism for deforming to create a hook strip of J-shaped hooks from the heated portion of the upstanding stems. In addition, an article of manufacture, made in accordance with the method, is provided which includes a hook portion of a hook-and-loop type of mechanical fastener.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed:] [1.] A method of continuously forming a hook strip having a plurality of J-shaped hooks that can be used as a mechanical fastener, the method using an initial substrate of material, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a substrate of thermoplastic material having a so

[ What is claimed:] [1.] A method of continuously forming a hook strip having a plurality of J-shaped hooks that can be used as a mechanical fastener, the method using an initial substrate of material, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a substrate of thermoplastic material having a softening temperature comprising a backing having an array of upstanding preformed precursor stems of the thermoplastic material having a softening temperature and having upstanding distal tips at ends of the stems opposite the backing which distal tips have given first cross sectional dimensions;(b) providing a heat source adapted for heating a plurality of stern tips to a temperature above the softening temperature;(c) providing a mechanism for deforming a plurality of stem distal tips;(d) positioning the substrate relative to the heat source such that the distal tip portions of a plurality of upstanding stems are preferentially heated above the softening temperature; and(e) moving the substrate into contact with the mechanism for deforming to create a hook strip having a plurality of J-shaped hooks created by contacting the heat softened distal tip portions of the array of upstanding stems on the substrate with the mechanism for deforming, thereby forming deformed distal tip portions with generally planar upper surface portions on the deformed distal tip portions of the stems wherein the deformed distal tip portions have second cross sectional dimensions different than the first cross sectional dimensions of undeformed distal tip portions of the stems.