Printable Hook and Loop Structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021289891-A1
Application number	US-202016821262-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 17, 2020
Priority date	Mar 17, 2020
Publication date	Sep 23, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A printable hook and loop engaging structure is configured to create a temporary bind as one half of a hook and loop connection with another half of the hook and loop connection. The printable structure includes a substrate and a print-receptive topcoat coupled to the substrate. The substrate includes a fastening surface that is one of a hook fastening surface and a loop fastening surface of the hook and loop connection. The print-receptive topcoat is opposite from the fastening surface of the substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A printable structure configured to create a temporary bind as one half of a hook and loop connection with another half of the hook and loop connection, the printable structure comprising:
a substrate having a fastening surface in which the fastening surface is one of a hook fastening surface and a loop fastening surface of the hook and loop connection; and a print-receptive topcoat coupled to the substrate on a side opposite the fastening surface.

2 . The printable structure of claim 1 , wherein the printable structure has a thickness dimensioned to be received by a printer.

3 . The printable structure of claim 2 , wherein the thickness is between 2 mils and 80 mils.

4 . The printable structure of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer received on the substrate on the side of the substrate opposite the fastening surface, the adhesive layer binding the substrate to the print-receptive topcoat.

5 . The printable structure of claim 4 , further comprising a polymer film disposed between the adhesive layer and the print-receptive topcoat in which the adhesive layer binds to the polymer film.

6 . The printable structure of claim 4 , wherein the print-receptive topcoat is thermal heat transfer printable, wherein the side opposite the fastening surface of the substrate is textured with surface relief in a direction parallel to a direction of thickness of the printable structure, and wherein the adhesive layer fills in the surface relief such that the print-receptive topcoat is leveled to facilitate the application of even pressure upon thermal heat transfer printing of the printable structure.

7 . The printable structure of claim 1 , wherein the printable structure is a flexible band configured to be rolled into a spiral.

8 . The printable structure of claim 1 , wherein the fastening surface is the hook fastening surface.

9 . A cartridge for reception in a printer, the cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body; and a roll of the printable structure of claim 1 .

10 . A hook and loop fastening system for securing elements, the fastening system comprising:
a securing portion configured as a strap that includes a hook fastening surface and a loop fastening surface, the hook fastening surface configured to create a temporary bind with the loop fastening surface when the hook fastening surface engages the loop fastening surface; and a labeling portion comprising a printable structure dimensioned to be received by a printer and having a fastening surface configured to engage at least one of the hook fastening surface and the loop fastening surface of the securing portion, thereby creating a temporary bind with the at least one of the hook fastening surface and the loop fastening surface of the securing portion.

11 . The hook and loop fastening system of claim 10 , wherein the printable structure includes a thermally printable surface.

12 . The hook and loop fastening system of claim 11 , wherein the labeling portion includes a facesheet containing the thermally printable surface and a fastener substrate containing the fastening surface.

13 . The hook and loop fastening system of claim 12 , wherein the facesheet includes a thermal heat transfer-receptive topcoat and a polymer film.

14 . The hook and loop fastening system of claim 12 , wherein an adhesive adheres the facesheet to the fastener substrate.

15 . The hook and loop fastening system of claim 11 , wherein a thickness is defined as an orthogonal segment between the thermally printable surface and the fastening surface is between 2 mils and 80 mils.

16 . The hook and loop fastening system of claim 11 , wherein the fastening surface is a second hook fastening surface configured to engage the loop fastening surface of the securing portion.

17 . The hook and loop fastening system of claim 11 , wherein the fastening surface is a second loop fastening surface configured to engage the hook fastening surface of the securing portion.

18 . A method for producing a printable hook and loop fastening system, the method comprising:
producing a substrate having a fastening surface that is configured to engage with a hook and loop connection thereby creating a temporary bind; and applying a facesheet that is machine printable to the substrate thereby creating a first assembly.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:
applying an adhesive layer between the substrate and facesheet, in which the facesheet is thermal heat transfer printable, the adhesive layer configured to create a sufficiently smooth surface such that the facesheet may be applied in a substantially even surface relief such that the facesheet is leveled to facilitate the application of even pressure upon thermal heat transfer printing of the printable hook and loop fastening system.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the facesheet includes a polymer film layer in contact with the adhesive layer and a thermal heat transfer-receptive topcoat.

21 . A method of printing on a printable structure that is configured to create a temporary bind as one half of a hook and loop connection with another half of the hook and loop connection, the method comprising:
feeding the printable structure through a printer; and printing on a print-receptive topcoat of the printable structure that is on an opposite side from a fastening surface that is one half of the hook and loop connection.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the printable structure is fed into the printer from a cartridge.

23 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
severing a portion of the printable structure after printing on the print-receptive topcoat and attaching the portion of the printable structure to a securing portion that includes a hook fastening surface and a loop fastening surface.

Assignees

• Brady Worldwide Inc

Inventors

• Bellon Scott M
• Mess Steven

Classifications

• A44B13/0029 Primary

  characterised by their way of fastening to the support (A44B13/0052 and A44B13/0058 take precedence) · CPC title

• G09F3/205

  specially adapted for electric cables, pipes or the like · CPC title

• B41J15/044

  Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices · CPC title

• G09F3/14

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

• G09F3/0295

  Labels or tickets for tubes, pipes and the like · CPC title