Systems and methods for joining hook fastener structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9750311-B2
Application number	US-201414263580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2014
Priority date	Apr 28, 2014
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for joining two or more pieces of hook fastener tape. In some embodiments, the two or more pieces of tape are spliced together using ultrasonic welding. At least one of the splicing components used to splice the tapes together may be configured so that the component influences the profile of a connecting portion along which the two tapes are welded together. In some cases, at least one of the splicing components may be configured to minimize deformation of the tapes as they are welded together.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A welded hook fastener tape comprising:
a first tape comprising a first base and a plurality of first hooks that project from the first base;
a second tape comprising a second base and a plurality of second hooks that project from the second base;
a pair of walls that longitudinally extend along edges of both the first and second tapes and that project from the first and second bases; and
a welded connection segment in which a portion of the first tape and a portion of the second tape are overlaid and welded together, the welded connection segment disposed between the plurality of first hooks and the plurality of second hooks and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein:
the top surface comprises two non-recessed portions and a recessed portion disposed between the two non-recessed portions; and
the bottom surface is generally flat.

2. The welded hook fastener tape of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of walls at least partially aligns with a respective one of the two non-recessed portions and wherein at least some of the plurality of first and second hooks at least partially align with the recessed portion.

3. The welded hook fastener tape of claim 1 , further comprising at least one longitudinal member that extends along at least a portion of the welded hook fastener tape.

4. The welded hook fastener tape of claim 1 , wherein the welded connection segment is formed via ultrasonic welding.

5. The welded hook fastener tape of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is recessed relative to the two non-recessed portions.

Assignees

• Ykk Corp America
• Ykk Corp

Inventors

• NOZAKA Kazuhiro
• Nakata Yoshifumi
• Dokyu Chieko
• Hawkins Iii John Rene
• Pfeuffer Howard Joseph
• Rice Eric Tham

Classifications

• B29C66/81427

  comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth · CPC title

• F16G3/16

  Devices or machines for connecting driving-belts or the like · CPC title

• A44B18/0061

  Male or hook elements (A44B18/0053 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/81463

  comprising a plurality of single pressing elements, e.g. a plurality of sonotrodes, or comprising a plurality of single counter-pressing elements, e.g. a plurality of anvils, said plurality of said single elements being suitable for making a single joint · CPC title

• A44B18/0073 Primary

  Attaching means · CPC title