Method for maintaining a fastener in a folded configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9770893-B2
Application number	US-201514837238-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2015
Priority date	Jun 4, 2009
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A method for folding a fastener during a high speed manufacturing process and maintaining the fastener in a folded configuration throughout the high speed manufacturing process. The method includes obtaining an article that has a foldable fastener and moving the article in the machine direction during the high speed manufacturing process. The foldable fastener has first and second opposing surfaces, a web and at least one engaging member joined to the web. The method includes applying a frangible bonding agent to a first portion of the first surface of the fastening system; folding the fastening system such that the frangible bonding agent contacts a second portion of the first surface of the fastening system; and allowing the frangible bonding agent to cool at a temperature of less than 60° C.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for folding a fastener during a high speed manufacturing process and maintaining the folded fastener in a folded configuration throughout the high speed manufacturing process, the method comprising:
obtaining an article comprising a foldable fastener and moving the article in a machine direction during the high speed manufacturing process, the high speed manufacturing process having a cross direction orthogonal to the machine direction, the foldable fastener comprising a web with first and second opposing surfaces, and at least one engaging member joined to the web;
applying a frangible bonding agent that comprises a fugitive adhesive to a first portion of the first surface of the fastener; and
folding the fastener such that the frangible bonding agent contacts a second portion of the first surface of the fastener; and
wherein the fastener is a hook/loop type mechanical fastener;
wherein the engaging member includes a plurality of hooks with gaps between adjacent hooks, and the web includes a plurality of receiving elements that are engageable with the hooks; and
wherein the frangible bonding agent forms a substantially unbroken line that penetrates at least partially into one or more of the gaps between adjacent hooks.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the folded fastener has an Initial Opening Force value of greater than about 2 N according to the Opening Force Test.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the folded fastener has an Aged Opening Force value of less than about 8 N.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is folded such that the frangible bonding agent contacts a second portion of the first surface of the fastener and forms a bond between the first and second portions of the first surface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is folded in the cross direction along a line extending in the machine direction.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the folded fastener is subjected to compression.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a fastening tab and the engaging member is disposed on the fastening tab.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the engaging member is joined to the fastener at a base and the frangible bonding agent is not applied to the base.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frangible bonding agent is applied in a pattern selected from the group consisting of one or more substantially straight lines, an s-shape, a z-shape, a c-shape, a broken line, a t-shape, a cross-shape, spiral-shape, omega-shape, dots and combinations of these.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fugitive adhesive has a strength decay of between about 20%, and 100% according to the Coupon Peel Test.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fugitive adhesive has a strength decay of between about 30% and 70% according to the Coupon Peel Test.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Lange Stephen Joseph
• Kline Mark James
• Tao Jay
• Rezai Ebrahim
• Landgrebe James David

Classifications

• B32B38/18 Primary

  Handling of layers or the laminate · CPC title

• A61F13/15756

  Applying tabs, strips, tapes, loops; Knotting the ends of pads · CPC title

• A61F13/62

  {Mechanical fastening means (A61F13/5611, A61F13/5616, A61F13/581 take precedence);} Fabric strip fastener elements, e.g. hook and loop (A61F13/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B2305/20

  in the form of a non-woven mat · CPC title

• B32B2309/10

  linear, e.g. length, distance, width · CPC title