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US5077870A
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Mushroom-type hook strip for a mechanical fastener
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1990-09-21
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2010-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavitites of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Melbye
- 👤 Susan K. Nestegard
- 👤 Leigh E. Wood
- 👤 Marvin D. Lindseth
- 👤 Dale A. Bychinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:36
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B18/00; A44B18/0046; A44B18/0061; A44B18/0065; A44B18/0049; B; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/02; B29C59/022; B29C59/025; B29C67/00; B29C67/0044; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/27; Y10T24/2792
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A mushroom-type hook strip that can be used in a hook-and-loop mechanical fastener, said strip comprising a homogeneous backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with said backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each of said stems having a base adjacent said backing and a mushroom head at the end of the stem opposite said backing, said stems having a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefrigence value of at least 0.001.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A mushroom-type hook strip that can be used in a hook-and-loop mechanical fastener, said strip comprising a homogeneous backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with said backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each of said stems having a base adjacent said backing and a mushroom head at the end of the stem opposite said backing, said stems having a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefrigence value of at least 0.001.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 1 wherein the stems are of substantially identical shape and are each slightly tapered to a smaller cross sectional area adjacent the head than at the base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 2 wherein said hook strip has a fillet at the base of each of said stems.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 3 wherein said stems are substantially circular in cross section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 1 wherein said stems are of substantially uniform height and said mushroom heads are of substantially uniform diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 5 wherein said stems are from 0.5 mm to 5 mm in height.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 6 wherein said backing is from 0.1 mm to 5 mm in thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 7 wherein said stems are substantially circular in cross section and the ratio of the diameters of the mushroom head and the stem of each of said stems is from 1.5:1 to 3:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 1, wherein said backing of the hook strip is substantially continuous and is wound up into a roll for convenient storage and shipment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 1 wherein the spacing of the headed stems is so configured that two pieces of the hook strip can interengage to provide a mechanical fastener.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 10 wherein the headed stems are of substantially identical size and shape and the spacing between adjacent heads along said hook strip is less than the diameter of the heads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A hook strip as defined in claim 11 wherein said stems are substantially circular in cross section and the stems are each slightly tapered to a smaller diameter adjacent the head than at the base.
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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) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |