Method for coupling together a plurality of items and plastic fastener for use therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11247802-B2
Application number	US-201615391129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2016
Priority date	Dec 27, 2016
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A plastic fastener is rendered tacky so as to adhere to the items which it couples, thereby enhancing securement. The plastic fastener is constructed as an H-shaped staple that includes a pair of parallel cross-bars interconnected by a flexible filament. In one embodiment, the plastic fastener includes an inner plastic core constructed using at least one flexible plastic material and an adhesive-based outer coating constructed using at least one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a heat-activatable adhesive. In another embodiment, the plastic fastener is constructed using a mixture of at least one flexible plastic material and at least one adhesive material. In lieu of incorporating an adhesive material into the plastic fastener, a novel item coupling process achieves fastener tackiness by applying heat onto the plastic fastener either prior to, during, or after being dispensed into the desired items.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic fastener, comprising:
(a) a flexible filament having a first end and a second end; and
(b) a first enlargement disposed at the first end of the flexible filament;
(c) wherein the flexible filament comprises:
(a) an inner plastic core; and
(b) an outer coating comprising one or more adhesive materials;

wherein the outer coating comprising one or more adhesive materials is deposited onto the inner plastic core of the flexible filament.

2. The plastic fastener of claim 1 wherein the inner plastic core comprises one or more flexible plastic materials.

3. The plastic fastener of claim 2 wherein the inner plastic core is constructed using at least one material from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, and polyurethane.

4. The plastic fastener of claim 1 wherein the adhesive material is constructed using at least one material from the group consisting of at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive and a least one heat-activatable adhesive.

5. The plastic fastener of claim 1 wherein at least one of the flexible filament and the first enlargement is constructed of a mixture comprising:
(a) at least one flexible plastic material; and
(b) at least one adhesive material.

6. The plastic fastener of claim 5 wherein the at least one plastic material is constructed using at least one material from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, and polyurethane.

7. The plastic fastener of claim 5 wherein the at least one adhesive material is constructed using at least one material from the group consisting of at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive and a least one heat-activatable adhesive.

8. The plastic fastener of claim 1 wherein the first enlargement is a cross-bar.

9. The plastic fastener of claim 8 further comprising a second enlargement disposed at the second end of the flexible filament.

10. The plastic fastener of claim 9 wherein the second enlargement is a cross-bar.

Assignees

• Avery Dennison Corp

Inventors

• Cooper William J
• Simard Jay

Classifications

• B65C7/003 Primary

  using paddle-shaped plastic pins (using plastic pins for affixing buttons to garments A41H37/008) · CPC title

• G09F3/037

  having tie-wrap sealing means · CPC title

• C09J7/10

  without carriers · CPC title

• G09F3/14

  by strings, straps, chains, or wires · CPC title

• C09J7/38

  Pressure-sensitive adhesives [PSA] · CPC title