US3708833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separable fastening device
Assignee: American Velcro Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-15
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1991-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A separable fastening device having first and second separable members wherein the first member has a surface of upstanding spear-like protuberances extending from one broad surface of its base and the second member has a surface of complementary engaging elements. The spear-like protuberances are characterized by the property that when the first and second separable fastener members are pressed into face-to-face relationship the spear-like protuberances on the first separable member penetrate the surface of the second separable member and engage the complementary engaging elements of the second separable member and resist separation parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement but are readily separable by peeling forces applied substantially normal to this interfacial plane. The first separable member having a surface of spear-like protuberances has particular utility as part of a separable fastener having reticulated urethane foam as the second complementary member, however it also provides a superior fastening device when used with a second separable member having a surface of complementary engaging elements in loop form.
Inventors
- 👤 W Ribich
- 👤 C Kojabashian
- 👤 L Girard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:08
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B18/00; A44B18/0046; A44B18/0061; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/27; Y10T24/2775
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 1 wherein the configuration of said spear-like protuberances further comprises a concave recess at the unsupported endmost portion of said stem where the sloping upper surfaces of said radial extensions of said spear-like head join with the end of said stem, and a rounded concave configuration on the radial extensions where the sloping lower surfaces of said radial extensions joins with the side surfaces of said stem, said concave recess and configurations mechanically cooperating to facilitate resilient bending of said radial extensions relative to said stem in a plane parallel to the plane of said stem.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 2 wherein said base material is flexible to facilitate peeling said first separable member from the second separable member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 3 wherein said spear-like protuberances are more flexible than said base to facilitate repeated resilient interengagement of said spear-like protuberances with the complementary engaging elements of the second separable member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 2 wherein said first member comprises a molded plastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 5 wherein each stem of said spear-like protuberances tapers from the base toward said head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 6 wherein the spear-like protuberances extend substantially perpendicular to the base of the first separable member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 7 wherein the second separable member has one surface defined by an open cell foamed plastic in which membranes have been removed to provide at least a partial skeletal structure of interconnected closed strands at the surface thereof, the separable members joined in face-to-face relationship with said spear-like protuberances on the first separable member extending into but not through the second separable member and a large number of spear-like protuberances releasably engaging onto a large number of strands at or near the surface of the second separable member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 8 wherein the foamed plastic is reticulated urethane foam having a three dimensional skeletal structure of strands.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 7 wherein the second separable member has a surface of complementary engaging elements in loop form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
205 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 7 wherein the tapered stem of each spear-like protuberance is defined by five flat surfaces defining in cross-section a five sided polygon said surfaces including: a. a surface defining the rear portion of said protuberance, extending from the base to the endmost portion thereof, and substantially perpendicular to said base; b. a surface on each side of said stem tapering from the base toward said head and extending longitudinally along each side of said stem and curving contInuously and smoothly into and throughout each of said radial extensions to define said rounded concave configuration and sloping lower surfaces of said radial extensions, said downward sloping lower surfaces further having an angled relationship with the downward sloping upper surfaces of said radial extensions; and c. two flat surfaces defining the forward configuration of said stem, said surfaces having a symmetrical relationship with said stem and oppositely angled with respect to each other, extending longitudinally along the forward portion of said stem and curving continuously and smoothly throughout each of said radial extensions defining the forward surfaces thereof, said configuration facilitating resilient bending of said radial extensions relative to said stem in a plane parallel to the plane of said stem.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 11 wherein the free end of each of said radial extensions is defined by a flat surface which slopes toward the endmost portion of said stem and extends from the lower sloping surface to the upper sloping surface of said radial extensions, said configuration facilitating improved penetration of said spear-like protuberances of said first separable member into the complementary engaging surface of the second separable member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 7 further including a sharp pointed apex at the top unsupported end of said stem of each protuberance, said apex facilitating improved penetration of the spear-like protuberances of the first separable member into the complementary engaging surface of the second separable member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 13 wherein the side surfaces defining said apex are configured to join with the downward sloping upper surfaces of the adjacent radial extensions of said spear-like head by a continuously curved configuration, the configuration also including a concave recess on each side of said apex to provide resilient bending flexibility to said radial extensions relative to each stem to permit resilient bending in a plane parallel to the plane of said stem.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 14 wherein the second separable member has one surface defined by an open cell foamed plastic in which membranes have been removed to provide at least a partial skeletal structure of interconnected closed strands at the surface thereof, the separable members joined in face-to-face relationship with said spear-like protuberances on the first separable member extending into but not through the second separable member and a large number of spear-like protuberances releasably engaging onto a larger number of strands at or near the surface of the second separable member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 15 wherein the foamed plastic is reticulated urethane foam having a three dimensional skeletal structure of strands.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 14 wherein the second separable member has a surface of complementary engaging elements in loop form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
106 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 14 wherein the free end of each of said radial extensions is defined by a flat surface which slopes toward the endmost portion of said stem and extends from the lower sloping surface to the upper sloping surface of said radial extensions, and the forward portion of said pointed apex is defined by a flat surface which slopes toward the rear of said spear-like protuberance and extends from the base of said apex to the tip, said configuration facilitating improved penetration of said spear-like protuberances of the first separable member into the complementary engaging surface of the second separable member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
205 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 18 wherein the tapered stem of each spear-like protuberance is defined by five flat surfaces defining in cross-section a five sided polygon said surfaces including: a. a surface defining the rear portion of said protuberaNce, extending from the base to the endmost portion thereof, and substantially perpendicular to said base; b. a surface on each side of said stem tapering from the base toward said head and extending longitudinally along each side of said stem and curving continuously and smoothly into and throughout each of said radial extensions to define said rounded concave configuration and sloping lower surfaces of said radial extensions, said downward sloping lower surfaces further having an angled relationship with the downward sloping upper surfaces of said radial extensions; and c. two flat surfaces defining the forward configuration of said stem, said surfaces having a symmetrical relationship with said stem and oppositely angled with respect to each other, extending longitudinally along the forward portion of said stem and curving continuously and smoothly throughout each of said radial extensions defining the forward surfaces thereof, said configuration facilitating resilient bending of said radial extensions relative to said stem in a plane parallel to the plane of said stem.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 1 wherein the second separable member has at least one surface defined by an open cell foamed plastic in which membranes have been removed to provide at least a partial skeletal structure of interconnected strands at the surface thereof such that when the separable members are joined in face-to-face relationship the spear-like protuberances of the first separable member extend into but not through the second separable member and a large number of spear-like protuberances engage onto a large number of strands at or near the surface of the second separable member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
Separable fastening device according to claim 20 wherein the foamed plastic is reticulated urethane foam having a three dimensional skeletal structure of strands.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |