EP1066770A1

EP1066770A1 - A laminated surface fastener tape

Info

Publication number: EP1066770A1
Application number: EP00305815A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Katsumi Okazaki
Original assignee: YKK Europe Ltd
Current assignee: YKK Europe Ltd
Priority date: 1999-07-09
Filing date: 2000-07-10
Publication date: 2001-01-10
Also published as: GB2351768A; GB9916206D0

Abstract

A surface fastener tape has a layer of moulded hook material 6 bonded to a layer of textile material 8 which can be gripped by the hooks of the hook material. The tape has weakened regions 12 along its length, formed by a groove or perforations, so that lengths of tape can be torn from a reel 4.

Description

The present invention relates to a laminated surface fastener tape, and in particular to a tape having moulded hooks formed on one side and a cooperating layer formed from textile on the other side.
Fastener tapes in which hooks are formed on one side and loops on the other are well known. There are various methods for producing such tapes depending in particular on the way in which the hooks are formed - may be they moulded or produced by knitting or weaving. In a simple form, strips of hook material and loop material can be sewn together or bonded together by adhesive. With moulded hooks, the strip of material carrying the hooks can be "moulded" onto the textile material so that the base web of the hook material penetrates the textile material to form a secure bond.
US-A-5 260 015 describes a method for moulding a hook material onto a backing of textile, which can incorporate loops.
The moulded hook members are typically mushroom shaped, being formed by stems which are melted at their upper end, or J-shaped as seen in US-A-5 260 015.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a laminated fastener tape which can be supplied as a roll and from which short sections can be easily dispensed to form ties for other products, such as plant ties, cable ties, etc.
In JP-A-7-79812 panels of moulded mushroom shaped hooks are formed on a planar, moulded substrate which is grooved to facilitate cutting. The mushroom shapes of one panel engage with those of a like panel.
In JP-A-62-7209 an elongate strip of loop material is perforated across its width and other shapes, such as circles or triangles may be formed by perforations.
In JP-A-61-77809 an elongate tape of loop material is divided along its length by grooves where it may be cut.
W094/02091 discloses a tape, having loops on one surface and hooks on the other, which is used as a bandage. The tape has apertures along its length, and arcuate cut outs at its edges to provide flexibility. The cut outs on opposite edges are not aligned. The tape can be manually ripped, starting from a cut out portion.
We have found that a laminated fastener tape having a moulded hook layer and a co-operating textile layer, such as a loop material, is remarkably difficult to tear and is not easy to cut with scissors. It appears that the difficulty with tearing comes especially from the tear resistance of the moulded hook layer. While the textile layer increases the cutting difficulty.
Although W094/02091 suggests ripping a tape starting from an arcuate cut out, it is likely to be difficult in practice, and result in an unsightly termination for the tape.
The present invention provides a laminated fastener tape having a moulded hook layer and a co-operating textile layer which, in use, is engaged by hooks of the hook layer, wherein the moulded hook layer has a weakened region which extends across its width at intervals along the length of the tape.
The weakened region may be formed during moulding, or by forming or cutting the layer after moulding. The weakened region may be a groove or recess which extends all or part way across the width of the tape. It may be a cut or break which extend substantially completely through moulded hook layer to the textile backing layer.
Perforations may be provided which extend completely through the thickness of the tape, that is both through the moulded layer and the textile layer, or extend only through the plastics layer.
With the present invention it is easier to cut the tape at the weakened region, or it may even be torn simply by pulling apart the adjacent section of the tape. Thus, it is possible to provide a roll of ties of hook and loop fastener material.
The invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reel of laminated surface fastener material;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of one embodiment of the material of figure 1, showing a weakened region formed by a groove;
Figures 3a to 3e are side views of the portion of figure 2, and illustrating different embodiments of the material and different groove arrangements;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of another embodiment of the material of figure 1, showing a weakened region formed by perforations; and
Figures 5a to 5e are side views of the portion of Figure 4 and illustrating different embodiments of the material and different types of perforations.
Referring to Figure 1, an elongate strip 2 of laminated surface fastener material is shown wound onto a reel 4. The strip has a layer 6 of moulded surface fastener material which is laminated with a layer 8 of textile material which is complementary to, i.e. it engages with, the moulded layer 6 when the strip is rolled or folded to bring the opposite layers together.
Referring to Figure 2, this shows a portion 10 of the laminated tape 2 with a weakened region 12 formed by a groove 14 which extends across the full width of the tape 2. The groove could extend only part way across the tape, but it is most desirable to ensure that the tape is sufficiently weakened so that it is easy to cut, or preferably, to tear manually, while obtaining an acceptable, clean, cut or tear.
Referring to Figure 3a, the tape 2 is formed from a moulded strip 16 of J-shaped hook type material. The J-shaped hook type material 16 is well known in the art, as its method of manufacture. The material when moulded comprises a continuous base layer 18, with hooks 20 extending up from its upper surface. A textile layer 22 is bonded to the base layer 18 by an adhesive layer 24. In this embodiment, the groove 14 extends through the base layer 18 to the adhesive layer 24. The groove 14 is formed by cutting across the width of the layer 6.
The textile layer 22 can be woven, non-woven or spun-bonded material as known in the art. It may be formed with loops per se for engaging the hooks 20, or may have an open structure or pile which is engaged by the hooks.
In the embodiment of Figure 3b, the groove extends through the adhesive layer 24 also, to the upper surface 26 of the textile layer 22.
Figure 3c shows an embodiment in which the moulded layer 16 is intimately formed with the textile layer 22. This can be done by moulding the layer onto the surface of the textile material, as described for example in US-A-5 260 015. The material of the base layer 18 will extend a little way into the upper surface of the textile layer 22.
Figure 3d shows an embodiment in which the groove 14 extends only part way into the base layer 18. This feature could also be used with the embodiment of Figure 3a.
Figure 3e shows an embodiment in which a groove 28 is also formed in the underside 30 of the textile layer 22.
Figure 4 shows a tape portion 10 in which the weakened region 12 is formed by perforations 32. The line of perforations extends across the full width of the tape. Preferably there are several perforations across the tape, but a single perforation or cut could be used extending across a substantial proportion of the tape width. Very preferably the perforations extend to each edge of the tape, forming a break at the tape edge, to facilitate tearing of the tape. However the perforations 32 can stop short of the tape edges 34 provided the tape edge region is sufficiently weak to tear readily.
Figures 5a to 5c show embodiments in which the layer 6 is a moulded J-shaped hook like material 16 which is bonded to the textile layer 22 by a layer of adhesive 24, as in the embodiment of Figures 3a and 3b. The perforations extend through the moulded layer 16, and optionally through the adhesive layer 24 (Figure 5b) and the textile layer 22 (Figure 5c).
Figures 5d and 5e show embodiments in which the layer 16 is moulded directly on to the textile layer 22, as in the embodiments of Figures 3d and 3e.
In Figure 5d the perforations extend through the moulded layer 16 only, and in Figure 5e they extend through both layers 16, 22.
The perforations 32 may be formed during moulding of the layer 16, or they may be formed by cutting or stamping of the moulded layer. It will be appreciated that in the embodiments of Figure 5a for example it is possible to form the perforations before bonding to the textile layer as the perforated moulded tape can still be handled quite easily.
The moulded layer can be of the mushroom hook type or other hook type as well known in the art. The hooks can be injection moulded to shape, or moulded and then formed further by deforming the upper ends of the stems by heating and pressing. The hooks are typically formed in rows and columns. They may face in a common direction or may face in both directions along the tape or even across the tape.
A space may be provided in the hook pattern where a groove or perforations are to be formed, but this is not essential.
The textile material layer 8 may be woven or knitted or spun bonded material for example. A loop material is illustrated in Figure 5a but this is not essential. The material could have a pile, a weave or other open structure which the hooks 20 can engage.
A relatively wide tape may be formed and then cut along its length to form a narrower tape if desired.
Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing form the scope of the invention as set forth herein.

Claims

A laminated surface fastener tape having a moulded hook layer (16) and a cooperating textile layer (22) which, in use, is engaged by the hooks (20) of the hook layer (16), wherein the moulded hook layer has a weakened region (12) which extends across the width of the tape (10) at intervals along its length.
A tape as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weakened regions (12) are formed during moulding of the hook layer (16).
A tape as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weakened regions (12) are formed by cutting the hook (16) layer after moulding, or during formation of the laminate.
A tape as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a weakened region (12) is a groove or recess (14) which extends all or part way across the width of the tape (10).
A tape as claimed in claim 4, wherein the groove (14) extends completely through the moulded layer (16), to form a break in that layer (16).
A tape as claimed in claim 4, wherein a groove (14) is provided in both the moulded layer (16) and in the textile layer (22).
A tape as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a weakened region is formed by perforations (32).
A tape as claimed in claim 7, wherein a perforation (32) extends through the edge (34) of a tape (10).
A tape as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the perforations (32) extend completely through the tape (10) in the thickness direction.
A laminated surface fastener tape having a moulded hook layer (16) and a cooperating textile layer (22) which, in use, is engaged by the hooks (20) of the hook layer (16), wherein the moulded hook layer has a weakened region (12) which extends across the width of the tape (10) at regular intervals along its length, whereby the tape can be torn by hand at the weakened regions (12) to provide ties of hook and loop material of predetermined length.