FR3104388A1 - Improved hook-and-loop device and associated molding device. - Google Patents

Abstract

Improved hook-and-loop device and associated molding device Retaining device (10) comprising a base (12) having an upper face (12A) and a lower face (12B), the base extending along a primary direction (DP), having a defined width along a secondary direction (DS ) perpendicular to the primary direction (DP), and a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction (DP) and to the secondary direction (DS), a plurality of retaining elements extending on the upper face of the base, each retaining element comprising a rod, the retaining elements being formed in one piece with the base, the retaining elements being arranged in rows and in columns extending respectively along the secondary direction (DS) and the direction primary (DP), said device being characterized in that at least X rows and/or X columns of the retaining device have distinct numbers of retaining elements, where X is equal to 2. Figure for abstract: Fig. 7.

Description

Improved hook-and-loop device and associated molding device.

This presentation concerns self-gripping devices.

Several systems and methods are known for the production of retaining elements provided with retaining means such as hooks, for example as described in the documents WO2017187096, WO2017187097, WO2017187098, WO2017187099, WO2017187101, WO2017187102, WO2017187103 and WO260187103 and WO26018714.

A recurring problem concerns the production of strips comprising zones with retaining elements, and zones without retaining elements, which is technically complex and expensive. Moreover, it is currently difficult to achieve a clear delimitation between the zones having retaining elements and the adjacent zones devoid of retaining elements.

This presentation thus aims to respond at least partially to the problems mentioned above.

This presentation thus relates to a retaining device comprising a base having an upper face and a lower face, the base extending along a primary direction, having a width defined along a secondary direction perpendicular to the primary direction, and a thickness measured according to a direction perpendicular to the primary direction and the secondary direction, a plurality of retainers extending across the top face of the base, each retainer comprising a rod, the retainers being integrally formed with the base, the retaining elements being arranged in rows and columns extending respectively along the secondary direction and the primary direction, said device being characterized in that at least X rows and/or X columns of the retaining device have distinct numbers of retaining elements, where X is equal to 2. In particular, X is equal to 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 to make it possible to produce a complex pattern with a sufficiently precise level of detail. More generally, X is typically a natural number between Xmin and Xmax, where Xmin can be for example equal to 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 12 or 15 or 20, and Xmax can for example be equal to 500 or 450 or 400 or 350 or 300 or 250 or 200 or 150 or 100 or 50.

According to one example, at least two rows and/or at least two columns of the retaining device have a distinct number of retaining elements, the difference between the numbers of retaining elements of said at least two rows and/or at least two columns being greater than or equal to 1, or more precisely, greater than or equal to 2, or for example greater than or equal to 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 to make it possible to produce a complex pattern with a sufficiently precise level of detail.

According to one example, said plurality of retaining elements form one or more disjoint patterns, each pattern being formed from a plurality of rows and columns of retaining elements.

According to an example, for each pattern, each pair of lines arranged successively in the primary direction has a number of retaining elements whose variation is less than or equal to 10 retaining elements, in particular is less than or equal to 5 retaining elements, which makes it possible, for example, to facilitate demoulding.

According to an example, for each pattern, each pair of rows arranged successively in the primary direction has a number of retaining elements whose variation is less than or equal to 40% of the maximum number of row retaining elements of said pair of rows retaining elements, typically less than or equal to 30% or 15%.

According to an example, for each pattern, each pair of columns arranged successively along the secondary direction has a number of retaining elements whose variation is less than or equal to 15 retaining elements, in particular is less than or equal to 5.

According to an example, for each pattern, each pair of columns arranged successively in the secondary direction has a number of retaining elements whose variation is less than or equal to 40% of the maximum number of retaining elements of the columns of said pair of columns retaining elements, typically less than or equal to 30% or 15%.

According to one example, each pattern is completely surrounded by a region of the upper face of the base devoid of retaining elements, and is located at a distance greater than 1.5 mm, in particular, 2.5 mm from a border of the base, in particular of all the borders of the base.

According to one example, each pattern is delimited by an outer contour, and each pattern comprises, in the zone delimited by its outer contour, at least one zone devoid of retaining elements. According to one example, the outer contour can be bordered on the base by a groove (continuous or discontinuous) or a stud (continuous or discontinuous) and respectively on the molding strip by a stud (continuous or discontinuous) or a groove (continuous or discontinuous).

According to one example, each pattern has at least one row and/or at least one column comprising at least two groups of disjoint retaining elements separated by a zone devoid of retaining elements.

According to an example, for each pattern, at least one, preferably each, zone devoid of retaining elements included in the pattern has a width and a length, such that the ratio between the length and the width is strictly greater than 1 .2 in particular strictly greater than 1.5.

According to one example, said rows and columns are regularly spaced according to a secondary interval and a primary interval respectively. According to another example, said lines are regularly spaced according to a first secondary interval and according to a second secondary interval, the second secondary interval not being an integer multiple of the first secondary interval and the first secondary interval being less than the second secondary interval, and /or said columns are regularly spaced according to a first primary interval and according to a second primary interval, the second primary interval not being an integer multiple of the first primary interval and the first primary interval being less than the second primary interval.

According to one example, each pattern is entirely surrounded by a region of the upper face of the base devoid of retaining elements, said region having a dimension strictly greater than twice the primary interval in the primary direction, and/or strictly greater than twice the secondary interval in the secondary direction.

According to one example, said at least one zone devoid of retaining elements comprised in the zone delimited by the outer contour of each pattern has a dimension along the primary direction strictly greater than twice the primary interval, and a dimension along the direction secondary strictly greater than twice the secondary interval.

According to one example, for each pattern, the ratio between the surface of the zones devoid of retaining element contained in the outer contour of the pattern and the surface comprising retaining elements is less than 1. According to an example, the at least one pattern , is symmetric. According to another example, the pattern is delimited by one or more borders (internal and/or external), the sum of the lengths of the internal and external borders is greater than 70mm, preferably greater than 95mm, preferably greater than 100mm, more particularly greater than 150mm and in some cases less than 5000mm, more particularly less than 3000mm. Thus, the longer the external and internal borders, the more the fakir mat effect is reduced. The retaining element device therefore has a greater ability to cooperate with gripping buckles. According to one example, the pattern is part of a four-sided polygon, each side of which is flush with a portion of the outer perimeter of the pattern and the polygon comprising a perimeter P1. The ratio (Pint+Pext)/P1 is greater than 1, in some cases greater than 1.2 or 1.4 or 1.5 or 1.6, and in some cases less than 20, in particular less than 15. Thus, more the outer and inner borders are longer and the more the fakir mat effect is reduced. The retaining element device therefore has a greater ability to cooperate with gripping buckles.

This disclosure also relates to a molding device for forming a retaining device, for example as defined above, said molding device comprising a molding strip adapted to be mounted on a support, said molding strip extending in a machine direction, having a width defined in a transverse direction perpendicular to the machine direction, and a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction and to the transverse direction, the molding strip having an inner face and an opposite outer face ,
said molding strip having a plurality of cavities arranged in rows and columns extending respectively along the transverse direction and the machine direction, said cavities opening onto the external face of the molding strip, characterized in that at least Y lines and/or Y columns of cavities of the molding strip have distinct numbers of cavities, where Y is equal to 2. In particular, Y is equal to 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 to make it possible to produce a complex pattern with a level sufficiently precise details. More generally, Y is typically a natural number between Ymin and Ymax, where Ymin can be for example equal to 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 12 or 15 or 20, and Ymax can for example be equal to 500 or 450 or 400 or 350 or 300 or 250 or 200 or 150 or 100 or 50.

A line of cavities typically comprises between 1 and 1000 cavities. A column of cavities typically comprises between 1 and 1000 cavities

According to one example, at least two rows and/or at least two columns of the molding device have a distinct number of cavities, the difference between the numbers of cavities of said at least two rows and/or at least two columns being greater than or equal to 1, or more precisely greater than or equal to 2, or for example greater than or equal to 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 to enable a complex pattern to be produced with a sufficiently precise level of detail.

According to one example, said plurality of cavities form one or more disjoint patterns, each pattern being formed of a plurality of rows and columns of cavities.

According to one example, for each pattern, each pair of lines arranged successively along the machine direction has a number of cavities whose variation is less than or equal to 10 cavities, or more precisely less than or equal to 5 cavities, which makes it possible, for example, to facilitate demoulding.

According to an example, for each pattern, each pair of lines arranged successively along the machine direction has a number of cavities whose variation is less than or equal to 40% of the maximum number of cavities of the lines of said pair of lines of cavities, typically less than or equal to 30% or 15%.

According to one example, for each pattern, each pair of columns arranged successively in the transverse direction has a number of cavities whose variation is less than or equal to 15 cavities, or more precisely less than or equal to 5 cavities.

According to an example, for each pattern, each pair of columns arranged successively in the transverse direction has a number of cavities whose variation is less than or equal to 40% of the maximum number of cavities of the rows of said pair of rows of cavities, typically less than or equal to equal to 30% or 15%.

According to one example, each pattern is completely surrounded by a region of the outer face of the molding strip devoid of retaining elements, and is located at a distance greater than 1.5 mm, in particular greater than 2.5 mm from an edge of the molding strip, in particular from all the edges of the molding strip.

According to one example, each pattern is delimited by an outer contour, and each pattern comprises, in the zone delimited by its outer contour, at least one zone devoid of cavities.

According to one example, each pattern has at least one row and/or at least one column comprising at least two disjoint groups of cavities separated by a zone devoid of cavities.

According to an example, for at least one pattern, at least one, or for example each, zone devoid of cavities included in the pattern has a width and a length, such that the ratio between the length and the width is strictly greater than 1 .2, in particular strictly greater than 1.5.

According to an example, for each pattern, at least one, or for example each, zone devoid of cavities included in the pattern has a width and a length, such that the ratio between the length and the width is strictly greater than 1.2 , in particular strictly greater than 1.5.

According to one example, the cavities of the molding device are through.

According to one example, said columns and rows are regularly spaced according to a transverse interval and a machine interval respectively. According to another example, said lines are regularly spaced according to a first transverse interval and according to a second transverse interval, the second transverse interval not being an integer multiple of the first transverse interval and the first transverse interval being less than the second transverse interval, and /or said columns are regularly spaced according to a first machine interval and according to a second machine interval, the second machine interval not being an integer multiple of the first machine interval and the first machine interval being less than the second machine interval.

According to one example, each pattern is entirely surrounded by a region of the outer face of the molding strip devoid of cavities, said region having a dimension strictly greater than twice the machine gap in the machine direction, and strictly greater than two times the transverse interval in the transverse direction.

According to one example, said at least one zone devoid of cavities included in the zone delimited by the external contour of each pattern has a dimension according to the machine direction strictly greater than twice the machine interval, and a dimension according to the transverse direction strictly greater twice the transverse interval.

According to one example, for each pattern, the ratio between the surface of the areas devoid of cavities contained in the outer contour and the surface comprising cavities is less than 1. According to one example, the at least one pattern is symmetrical. According to another example, the pattern is delimited by one or more borders (internal and/or external), the sum of the lengths of the internal and external borders is greater than 70mm, preferably greater than 95mm, preferably greater than 100mm, more particularly greater than 150mm and in some cases less than 5000mm, more particularly less than 3000mm. Thus, the longer the outer and inner borders, the less the “fakir carpet” effect is. The retaining element device obtained using such a molding device therefore has a greater ability to cooperate with gripping loops. According to one example, the pattern is part of a four-sided polygon, each side of which is flush with a portion of the outer perimeter of the pattern and the polygon comprising a perimeter P1. The ratio (Pint+Pext)/P1 is greater than 1, in some cases greater than 1.2 or 1.4 or 1.5 or 1.6 and in some cases less than 20, in particular less than 15. Thus, the longer the outer and inner borders, the less the "fakir carpet" effect. The retaining element device obtained using such a molding device therefore has a greater ability to cooperate with gripping loops.

This presentation also relates to a retaining device comprising a base, typically continuous, having an upper face and a lower face, the base extending along a primary direction, having a width defined along a secondary direction perpendicular to the primary direction, and a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction and to the secondary direction, a plurality of retaining elements extending over the upper face of the base, each retaining element comprising a rod, the retaining elements being formed integral with the base, the retaining elements being arranged in rows and columns extending respectively along the secondary direction and the primary direction, said rows and columns being typically regularly spaced according to a primary interval and a secondary interval respectively , said plurality of retaining elements forming one or more disjoint patterns, each pattern being formed of a plurality of rows and columns of retaining elements, said device being characterized in that the retaining elements each have a stem s extending from the upper face of the base, and a head surmounting the rod, and for a pattern, typically for each pattern, the heads of the retaining elements forming a first end of the pattern along a first direction have a first maximum dimension along a second direction, and the heads of the retaining elements forming a second end of the pattern in said first direction, opposite to said first end of the pattern in the first direction, have a second maximum dimension in said second direction, the second maximum dimension being strictly lower to the first maximum dimension.

According to one example, for a pattern, the maximum dimension of the heads of the retaining elements decreases from the first end of the pattern towards the second end of the pattern in the second direction.

According to one example, the retaining elements forming the first end and the retaining elements forming a second end are arranged on the same column or row. The first direction typically corresponds to the primary direction or the machine direction; the direction from the first end to the second end typically corresponds to the running direction of the tape in the machine direction during its production.

This disclosure also relates to a molding device for forming a retaining device comprising a base provided with a plurality of retaining elements and/or preforms of retaining elements,
the molding device comprising a molding strip formed in a first material and adapted to be mounted on a support, the molding strip extending in a machine direction, having a width defined in a transverse direction perpendicular to the machine direction, and a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction and to the transverse direction, the molding strip having an internal face and an external face, the said molding strip comprising a plurality of cavities, characterized in that a part of the said cavities are at least partially closed by a plugging material, so as to define molding cavities for the formation of retaining elements and/or preforms of retaining elements, and non-functional cavities.

According to one example, the plugging material is distinct from the first material.

According to one example, the plugging material is formed of a single layer. According to another example, the plugging material is formed of several layers, for example between 2 and 20 layers.

According to one example, the plugging material extends over the inner face and/or over the outer face of the molding strip.

According to one example, the plugging material is a resin.

According to one example, part of all of said cavities are at least partially closed off by the plugging material, so as to present at least two separate zones filled with plugging material in each of said cavities.

According to one example, a part of said cavities are at least partially closed off by the sealing material, so as to present in each of said cavities, a zone with the sealing material and a zone devoid of sealing material. Said cavities being through, the area devoid of plugging material is typically through. The plugging material then makes it possible to reduce the section of the through-cavities.

According to one example, the molding cavities are arranged so as to form a pattern on the molding strip, typically a regular pattern.

According to one example, the molding cavities are arranged so as to form one or more disjoint patterns. According to one example, the molding cavities are arranged so as to form a pattern which is repeated on the molding strip, for example between 4 and 600 repetitions of the pattern, or for example between 20 and 200 repetitions of the pattern.

According to one example, the molding strip has a thickness of between 50 and 500 microns, preferably between 70 and 350 microns.

According to one example, among the cavities, between 10% and 90% of the total number of cavities of the molding strip are at least partially closed off by the sealing material, preferably between 20% and 80%.

According to one example, the molding strip has a perimeter of between 200 mm and 3000 mm, in particular between 400 mm and 2000 mm.

According to one example, the molding strip has a density of cavities of between 50 and 3000 per cm², in particular between 100 and 800 cm².

According to one example, the molding strip has edges extending along its ends in the machine direction, and the cavities located at a distance in the transverse direction of between 2 and 5mm, in some cases between 1 and 5mm, in other cases between 2 and 7 mm or even between 1 and 10 mm, the edges of the molding strip extending along the machine direction are closed off.

According to one example, each pattern has at least one row and/or at least one column comprising at least two groups of separate molding cavities separated by a zone of plugged cavities.

This disclosure also relates to a process for preparing such a molding device, in which
- a molding strip is provided formed in a first material and adapted to be mounted on a support, the molding strip extending in a machine direction, having a width defined in a transverse direction perpendicular to the machine direction, and a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction and to the transverse direction, the molding strip having an internal face and an external face,
- A sealing material is applied to the molding strip, so as to close part of the cavities of the molding strip.

According to one example, during the step of applying plugging material, all the cavities of the molding strip are closed off, then a step of removing the plugging material from part of the cavities is carried out to define cavities of cast.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description given below of various embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a retaining device according to one aspect of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a representation of a molding device.

Figure 4 is a representation of a variant of a molding device.

Figure 5 is a detail view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a representation of a retainer.

Figure 7 is a detail view of Figure 6.

Figure 8 schematically shows a pattern of retainers or cavities.

Figure 9 schematically shows another pattern of retainers or cavities.

Figure 10 schematically shows another pattern of retainers or cavities.

Figure 11 schematically shows another pattern of retainers or cavities.

Figure 12 schematically shows another pattern of retainers or cavities.

Figure 13 schematically shows another pattern of retainers or cavities.

In all the figures, the elements in common are identified by identical numerical references.

Figure 1 schematically shows a retainer 10 comprising a base 12, which is typically continuous, and a pattern 14 in the form of a solid disc. As shown in Figure 2, the base 12 has an upper face 12A and a lower face 12B and the pattern 14 is formed by a plurality of retaining elements 16 extending from the upper face 12A of the base 12. By base continuous, it is understood that the base is devoid of through openings or recesses in the areas where there are no retaining elements. Base 12 typically has a constant width.

Each retaining element 16 comprises a rod 18. The base 12, in particular the upper face 12A of the base 12, also comprises zones 20 devoid of retaining elements 16. For reasons of simplification, the retaining elements 16 are represented by hatching in Figure 1. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the retaining device 10 comprises a strip 22 of nonwoven (or woven). For example, the base 12 can be molded over the strip 22 of nonwoven. The base 12 can also be glued to the strip 22 of nonwoven. Pattern 14 may be a single pattern (as shown in Figure 1) or a repeating pattern 14. The pattern 14 is typically delimited by a closed contour 14A.

The base 12 and the retaining elements 16 are typically made of a thermoplastic material, for example an inelastic thermoplastic material. The base 12 and the retaining elements 16 are made in such a way that they can be stretched under the effect of a stretching force exerted in a given direction and without substantially resuming their initial shape and dimensions after releasing this stretching force, in some cases the base breaks under the effect of a stretching force. This is for example a base and the retaining elements which retain a residual deformation or remanence after elongation and relaxation (residual deformation also called "permanent set" or "SET") greater than or equal to 20%, preferably greater than or equal to 30%, of its initial dimension (before elongation) for an elongation of 100% of its initial dimension, at room temperature (23°C – degree Celsius).

The retaining device 10 can be manufactured, for example, by means of an apparatus 100 as represented in FIG. 3. The apparatus 100 makes it possible to manufacture a tape 26 for a retaining device, the tape 26 can then be cut a plurality of retainers 10. The tape 26 comprises the base 12 which is here continuous, and a plurality of retainers 16. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the retainers 16 are hooks, each hook comprising a rod 18 surmounted by a head 24.

The apparatus 100 as shown comprises a molding strip 102 positioned on rotary drive means 104 comprising here two rollers 104A, 104B, a material distribution means 106, for example an injector, adapted to perform an injection of molding material, for example thermoplastic.

The assembly formed by the molding strip 102 and the rotation drive means 104 thus forms a molding device.

By machine direction MD is meant the direction of movement of the molding strip 102 in the apparatus 100 during the manufacture of the retaining device, in accordance with the English acronym for "Machine Direction", and by transverse direction CD, in accordance with the English acronym for "Cross Direction", the direction perpendicular to the machine direction MD. These directions are thus identified on the different figs.

The example illustrated comprising two rollers 104A, 104B is not limiting, the number and arrangement of the roller(s) may vary in particular in order to adapt to the length of the molding strip 102 and to the different positions of the equipment. It would for example be possible to use three rollers or even just one so that the molding strip is arranged on the periphery of the single roller to form a sleeve or "sleeve" or a "screen" according to the English language designations commonly used. In particular, only one of the two rollers can be driven in rotation by motorized means, for example the roller 104A, the other roller 104B being free, that is to say without motorized means, and driven in rotation via the molding strip , itself driven by the roller 104A.

The molding strip 102 as presented comprises an inner face 102A and an outer face 102B, the inner face 102A being in contact with the rotation drive means 104.

The material distribution means 106 is arranged to inject molding material onto the outer face 102B of the molding strip 102.

More specifically, the material distribution means 106 is arranged opposite the molding strip 102, spaced from the molding strip 102 so as to define an air gap e indicated in FIG. 3. The reference A marks the limit of the material injected on the outer face 102B of the molding strip 102, corresponding to the rear edge of the material injected on the molding strip 102 with respect to the direction of movement of the molding strip 102.

The molding strip 102 is provided with a plurality of cavities 102C allowing the production of retaining elements or preforms for the production of retaining elements, for example by a subsequent calendering operation or any other suitable operation. Throughout the description, the term retaining elements will designate retaining elements or preforms for the production of retaining elements intended to form a self-gripping fastener of the hook-hook or hook-loop type.

The cavities 102C are each typically formed so as to define a rod 102C1 extending from the external face 102B towards the internal face 102A of the molding strip 102 and a head 102C2 extending between the rod 102C1 and the internal face 102A of molding strip 102.

The molding strip 102 typically has a thickness comprised between 50 and 500 microns, or typically between 70 and 350 microns.

The molding strip 102 is typically continuous, and typically has a perimeter comprised between 200 mm and 3000 mm, or typically between 400 mm and 2000 mm.

The molding strip 102 has a density of cavities 102C comprised between 50 and 3000 cavities per cm², or typically between 100 and 800 cavities per cm².

It is thus understood that the arrangement of the cavities 102C determines the arrangement of the retaining elements on the retaining device formed using the apparatus 100. The cavities 102C are typically arranged in rows and columns, said rows and columns being arranged respectively in the transverse direction CD and the machine direction MD. Each line and column is made up of one or more cavities 102C, if necessary aligned along the transverse direction CD and the machine direction MD respectively.

Within the same line, the successive cavities 102C are typically regularly spaced according to a transverse interval. Within the same column, the successive cavities 102C are typically spaced regularly according to a machine interval. As a variant, said lines are regularly spaced according to a first transverse interval and according to a second transverse interval, the second transverse interval not being an integer multiple of the first transverse interval and the first transverse interval being less than the second transverse interval, and/or said columns are regularly spaced according to a first machine interval and a second machine interval, the second machine interval not being an integral multiple of the first machine interval and the first machine interval being less than the second machine interval.

The rows and columns of cavities 102C can be aligned, or staggered. More specifically, the various cavities 102C can be arranged so as to be aligned in the transverse direction CD and in the machine direction MD, or be offset so as to form a quincunx or honeycomb pattern, two rows or two columns successive being then shifted respectively along the transverse direction and along the machine direction, by a pitch corresponding to half the transverse interval or to half the machine interval respectively.

As will be seen later, the result is that the retaining elements 16 formed using these cavities 102C are arranged in an arrangement in columns and in rows, respectively in a primary direction and a secondary direction, typically corresponding to the machine direction MD and the transverse direction CD.

In the example illustrated, the heads 24 of the cavities 102C open onto the inner face 102A of the molding strip 102. The cavities 102C are therefore through. Such an embodiment is not limiting, the cavities 102C may also be blind, and therefore not emerge from the internal face 102A of the molding strip 102 and/or the cavities 102C may only comprise a rod 102C1.

The portions of the cavities 102C forming the rods 102C1 typically extend in a direction perpendicular to the outer face 102B of the molding strip 102. The portions of the cavities 102C forming the rods 102C1 typically have a geometry of rotation around an axis perpendicular to the outer face 102B of the molding strip 102, or a geometry having a plane of symmetry extending along a direction parallel to the running direction of the molding strip 102 and/or along a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the casting tape 102.

The portions of the cavities 102C forming the heads 102C2 typically extend radially or transversely with respect to an axis perpendicular to the outer face 102B of the molding strip 102, and may have rotational symmetry around this axis perpendicular to the outer face. 102B of the molding strip 102. The portions of the cavities 102C forming the heads 102C2 typically have a substantially frustoconical or hexahedral shape.

The portions of the cavities 102C forming the heads 102C2 can be linear or curved, for example to form curved portions towards the internal face 102A or towards the external face 102B of the molding strip 102 extending from the portions of the cavities 102C forming the rods 102C1. The molding strip may also have a shape such as those described in patent applications WO0213647 A2 and/or WO0050208 A2.

The portions of the cavities 102C forming the heads 102C2 can have a constant or variable thickness.

In the example shown in the figures, the portions of the cavities 102C forming the heads 102C2 extend radially around the portions of the cavities 102C forming the rods 102C1, and have the general shape of a disc.

The molding strip 102 may have on its internal face 102A or on its external face 102B a particular texturing such as grooves, network of grooves or network of passages forming vents or studs, or be substantially smooth.

The molding strip 102 can be formed by superimposing several strips, and is therefore not necessarily one-piece or one-material. The molding strip 102 can be made up of one or more materials or composites, typically metal of the Ni, Cu, stainless steel type, or any other suitable material.

The material distribution means 106 is typically arranged so as to carry out the injection of molding material into the molding strip 102 in a section of the molding strip 102 where the latter bears against a drive roller, in the occurrence the drive roller 104A in the example shown in Figure 3. The drive roller then forms a bottom for the cavities 102C.

In the case where the injection of molding material is carried out while the molding strip 102 is not resting against a drive roller, the material distribution means 106 can then comprise a base disposed on the other side of the molding strip 102, so that the internal face 102A of the molding strip 102 bears against the base when the injection of material is carried out, the base then forming a bottom for the cavities 102C of the strip of casting 102.

The use of a molding strip 102 associated with drive means 104 compared to the use of conventional forming means such as rollers in which molding cavities are directly made is advantageous for several reasons.

The use of a molding strip 102 is particularly advantageous in terms of modularity. The molding strip can in fact be easily removed and replaced from the drive means, unlike a solid roller for which the disassembly and reassembly operations are particularly complex to carry out. Such an advantage is particularly observed when the two rollers 104A, 104B are fixed to a frame on one and the same side, leaving the end of the other side free to introduce/remove the molding strip. A means of guiding the molding strip can also be used in order to facilitate its introduction and/or removal.

In addition, the production of a molding strip is greatly simplified compared to the production of a roll comprising molding cavities. Such rollers are in fact typically made by stacking successive slices, thus requiring multiple machining operations and resulting in significant stresses during assembly and at each change of reference of hooks and presents a significant mass requiring the maintenance of these rollers by their two ends, which therefore complicates their replacement.

The cavities 102C in the molding strip 102 can be produced by an etching process or by using a laser at the places where it is desired to form retaining elements 16. It is also possible to envisage producing the molding strip 102 with cavities 102C distributed uniformly over the entire molding strip 102 and then coming to block the cavities 102C at the places where it is desired to form zones 20 devoid of retaining elements 16.

More specifically, in order to be able to define different configurations in the arrangement of the retaining elements and thus define a tape having retaining elements arranged so as to form patterns, the molding strip 102 has cavities 102C having a configuration similar to that retaining elements. The cavities 102C are formed directly by the molding strip 102, in the material forming the molding strip 102.

However, it is understood that the production of cavities 102C in the molding strip 102 is complex to produce, more particularly in the case of a non-uniform distribution.

The cavities 102C can thus be made uniformly on the molding strip 102, then part of the cavities thus formed can be at least partially closed off, while another part of the cavities are not closed off. Such total or partial blocking of part of the cavities 102C thus makes it possible to define two subsets of the cavities: functional cavities and non-functional cavities.

Functional cavities denote cavities which can thus be filled with molding material so as to form retaining elements or preforms of retaining elements.

Non-functional cavities denote cavities that have been completely or partially closed off, so that the molding material cannot penetrate them in order to form retaining elements or preforms of retaining elements. It is however understood that due to a possible shrinkage of material, the non-functional cavities can lead to irregularities during the formation of the retaining device, these irregularities having however a smaller dimension compared to the retaining elements or to the preforms formed by the functional cavities, typically one dimension along a direction perpendicular to the upper face 12A of the base 12 at least 5 times lower. In some cases, the cavities 102C of the molding strip 102, according to at least one sectional view perpendicular to the internal face, in this view comprises a dimension W1 at the level of the internal face of the molding strip greater than a dimension W2 at the outer side of the casting strip to allow for improved peel values. In other cases, the cavities 102C of the molding strip 102, according to at least one sectional view perpendicular to the internal face, in this view comprises a dimension W1 at the level of the internal face of the molding strip less than a dimension W2 at the outer face of the molding strip to improve mold release. The ratio between W1/W2 is for example between 0.7 and 1.2, in particular between 0.8 and 1.2 in order to have a good compromise between peel strength and ease of demolding.

The material used to achieve such a total or partial closure of part of the cavities 102C is a plugging material, typically distinct from the injection material. The plugging material is for example a resin. The plugging material can be formed in one layer, or in several deposited layers, typically between 2 and 20 layers, for example deposited successively.

The plugging material may extend over the outer face and/or over the inner face of the molding strip. According to one example, part of the set of cavities 102C are at least partially closed off by the sealing material, so as to present at least two disjoint zones filled with sealing material in each of said cavities. According to one example, a part of the cavities 102C are at least partially closed off by the plugging material, so as to present in each of the cavities 102C, a zone with the plugging material and a zone devoid of plugging material. The cavities 102C being through, the area devoid of plugging material is typically through. The plugging material then makes it possible to reduce the section of the through-cavities. The plugging material is then for example partially removed by laser ablation.

According to one example, between 10% and 90%, or between 20% and 80% of the total number of cavities 102C of the molding strip 102 are at least partially closed.

According to one example, the cavities 102C located at a distance in the transverse direction CD less than or equal to 10 mm from the edges of the molding strip 102 extending in the machine direction MD are closed.

In some cases, the cavities 102 C being at a distance in the transverse direction CD between 2 and 5mm, in some cases between 1 and 5mm, in other cases between 2 and 7mm or even between 1 mm and 10mm, the edges of the molding strip 102 extending along the machine direction MD are closed off.

As a variant, it is possible in a first step to seal all of the cavities 102C of the molding strip, then in a second step to remove the sealing material from part of said cavities 102C.

Alternatively, the cavities 102C can be made by laser drilling in a molding strip 102 initially devoid of cavities 102C. Such a method thus makes it possible to produce the cavities 102C only at the desired locations.

Alternatively, the molding strip 102 can be formed by a differentiated growth process, for example by electroforming or "electroforming" well known in the field of printing, by positioning deposits of resin in a localized manner in order to prevent the growth of a metallic material, for example nickel, in certain areas which will thus define cavities. Alternatively, the molding strip 102 can be formed by a differentiated decrease process, for example by an “etching” process according to the designation commonly used in English.

The cavities 102C can have identical or distinct shapes.

As will be seen later, the cavities 102C can be arranged according to different patterns.

The separation between the strip 26 and the molding strip 102 is marked in FIG. 3 by the reference C, this point corresponding for example to the level from which the base 12 of the strip 26 is no longer in contact with the molding strip. 102. Provision may be made for the molding strip 102 to run over the stripping roller 108, that is to say that the stripping roller 108 forms a lever in the molding strip 102 to facilitate the stripping of the preforms and/or hooks.

In the example shown, the cavities 102C of the molding strip 102 pass through. The apparatus can then comprise an element, such as a doctor blade 110, positioned so as to scrape the internal face 102A of the molding strip 102 to remove the excess molding material if necessary. By injection is meant the action of shaping a molding material by the molten process, for example, distribution, supply, molding, injection, extrusion.

The apparatus presented above and the associated method can also have means and a step for associating a strip 22 of nonwoven (or woven) with the base 12.

Such an association of a strip 22 on a base 12 comprising retaining elements 16 is typically carried out by means of an adhesive, or via a fusion of the base or the strip and/or mechanical anchoring.

In order to achieve such an attachment of a band 22, for example made of non-woven fabric, to the base 12 of the retaining device 10, the proposed apparatus 100 may comprise band drive means 22, suitable for carrying out a power supply strip and to apply the strip against the lower face 12B of the base 12 downstream of the material distribution means 106.

FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically represent an example of apparatus 100 comprising such means.

The apparatus as illustrated is similar to that presented previously with reference to Figure 3; the elements in common are therefore not described again here.

As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the apparatus as presented comprises strip drive means 112, here consisting of two rollers 112A, 112B, configured to perform a strip feed 22 downstream of the distribution means of material 106.

Strip 22 is typically a layer of non-woven material, a thermoplastic film, an elastic film or a composite film, or even a set of thermally consolidated fibers and/or filaments. The band 22 is for example a web of fibers and/or filaments.

In the example shown in Figures 4 and 5, the strip is shown as a layer of non-woven material.

The substrate drive means 110 are configured to supply the equipment with strip 22, and apply this strip 22 against the lower face 12B of the base 12 downstream of the material distribution means 106.

The substrate drive means 110 are configured so that this application is carried out prior to the solidification of the base 12. Thus, this application causes at least partial penetration of the strip 22 beyond a defined plane. by the lower face 12B of the base 12. The reference B in the figures marks the point of contact between the base 12 and the strip 22.

More precisely, the lower face 12B of the base 12 is substantially planar, and defines a plane. The application of the substrate against this face causes penetration of portions of the strip 22, for example of fibers and/or filaments of the layer of nonwoven material in the case where the strip 22 is a layer of nonwoven material on the within the base 12, thereby crossing the underside 12B of the base 12.

Insofar as such an application is carried out prior to the solidification of the base 12, it is not necessary to heat the base 12 and/or the strip 22 in order to achieve such a bond.

By way of example, considering a base 12 made of polypropylene, the application of the substrate against the lower face 12B of the base 12 is typically carried out when the lower face 12B of the base 12 has a temperature between the melting temperature of the material and the Vicat B softening temperature of the material constituting it minus 30° C. (degrees Celsius) or else between the melting temperature of the material constituting it and the Vicat A softening temperature of the material constituting it. More particularly, when the base comprises a material based on polypropylene, the lower face 12B of the base 12 has a temperature of between 75° C. and 150° C., typically of the order of 105° C., this temperature being typically measured using an infrared or laser camera. By VICAT softening temperature is meant the temperature obtained according to one of the methods described in the ISO 306 or ASTM D 1525 standards with a heating rate of 50°C/h and a standardized load of 50N for VICAT B and a standardized load 10N for VICAT A.

Strip 22 may be applied uniformly or unevenly against underside 12B of base 12.

The connection made between the strip 22 and the base 12 can be made uniformly or non-uniformly.

In the case where the strip 22 is a set of thermally consolidated fibers and/or filaments, the connection with the base 12 is also achieved by penetration into the base 12 of part of the fibers and/or filaments of the strip 22.

In the case where the strip 22 is a set of consolidated fibers and/or filaments, for example thermally consolidated, a thermoplastic film, an elastic film or a composite film, it can then result from the connection with the base a shrinkage phenomenon of base 12 as it cools, this shrinkage favoring the bonding surface between the substrate and the base of the ribbon. This shrinkage has no impact on the visual appearance for the end user.

In the case where the strip 22 is a layer of non-woven material, the demoulding of the hooks is carried out easily even with a non-woven whose grammage is less than 80 g/m² (mass of material in grams per square meter of nonwoven). For example, the grammage of the nonwoven can be between 5g/m² and 120g/m², or even between 25g/m² and 100g/m², or even between 10g/m² and 70g/m².

In the case where the strip 22 is a layer of non-woven material, the apparatus may comprise a calendering device upstream of the substrate drive means 112, thus making it possible to carry out a calendering step locally or not of the layer of nonwoven material prior to its application against the base 12.

This method of securing a strip 12 to a base 12 comprising retaining elements 16 is particularly advantageous in that it does not lead to deformation of the base 12, and therefore advantageously makes it possible to retain the shape of the base 12 obtained during the injection step, and in particular to keep the straight edges that can be obtained via the method and the apparatus described above.

This method of joining a substrate to a ribbon can be applied to a process for forming a ribbon as described previously, or more generally to any other process for forming a ribbon comprising retaining elements such as hooks .

Figures 6 and 7 respectively show a view of a portion of tape 26 obtained by means of the apparatus 100 of Figure 4, and a pattern 14 taken in isolation.

The strip portion 26 as presented has several disjoint patterns 14, each pattern 14 being formed of a plurality of retaining elements.

Each pattern 14 is surrounded by a region devoid of retaining elements, thus defining flat or substantially flat regions on the upper face 12A of the base 12.

Patterns 14 are formed by a succession of rows and columns of retaining elements, said columns and rows being arranged respectively in a primary direction DP and a secondary direction DS. The rows and columns are each formed of one or more retaining elements, if necessary aligned respectively along the secondary direction DS or the primary direction DP. A line of retaining elements typically comprises between 1 and 1000 retaining elements, more particularly between 2 and 500 retaining elements. A column of retaining elements typically comprises between 1 and 1000 retaining elements, more particularly between 2 and 750 retaining elements.

The base 12 typically has a constant width, the width of the base 12 being typically measured in the primary direction DP or the secondary direction DS.

The primary direction DP typically corresponds to the machine direction MD of the molding strip 102 described above, and the secondary direction DS typically corresponds to the transverse direction CD of the molding strip 102 described above.

The different rows and columns are typically evenly spaced according to a secondary interval and a primary interval respectively. The primary interval and the secondary interval can be equal or distinct. Alternatively, said lines are regularly spaced according to a first secondary interval and according to a second secondary interval, the second secondary interval not being an integer multiple of the first secondary interval and the first secondary interval being less than the second secondary interval, and/or said columns are regularly spaced according to a first primary interval and according to a second primary interval, the second primary interval not being an integer multiple of the first primary interval and the first primary interval being less than the second primary interval.

Each pattern 14 is typically surrounded by a region of the upper face of the base devoid of retaining elements, said region having a dimension strictly greater than twice the primary interval in the primary direction DP, and/or strictly greater than twice the secondary interval along the secondary direction DS.

The retaining elements 16 defining the rows and columns can be aligned or staggered, which results in particular from the configuration of the cavities 102C of the molding strip 102 used for the production of the retaining device as already described above.

Each pattern 14 is typically surrounded by a region of the upper face 12A of the base 12 devoid of retaining elements, and is typically located at a distance at least equal to 1.5 mm, in some cases at least equal to 2 5 mm from an edge of the upper face 12A of the base 12. By edge of the base 12 is meant an end of the base 12, for example in the main direction DS or in the secondary direction DS.

Figure 7 shows different rows and columns of retaining elements.

This figure shows the lines L1 to L9 which extend successively from one end of the pattern 12 in the primary direction DP, and the columns C1 to C5 which extend within the pattern 12.

The retaining elements 16 are counted on each of the lines L1 to L9 for a given pattern.

In the case of the pattern shown in Figure 7, the lines have the following numbers of retaining elements: L1: 4, L2: 8, L3: 9, L4: 10, L5: 11, L6: 12; L7: 13, L8: 12, L9: 17.

In the same way, the retaining elements 16 are counted on each of the columns C1 to C5 for the pattern shown in Figure 7: C1: 27, C2: 26, C3: 27, C4: 26, C5: 25.

The pattern 12 as proposed thus has at least two rows and/or two columns having distinct numbers of retaining elements. More generally, the pattern as proposed has at least X rows and/or columns of retaining elements having distinct numbers of retaining elements, with X equal to 2, or even in certain cases equal to 3, 4, 5 , or more generally X is a natural number between Xmin and Xmax, where Xmin can be for example equal to 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 12 or 15 or 20, and Xmax can for example be equal to 500 or 450 or 400 or 350 or 300 or 250 or 200 or 150 or 100 or 50.

The pattern thus formed can have different shapes, unlike the continuous and uniform patterns commonly made for retaining elements.

Furthermore, for a given pattern, at least two rows and/or columns have distinct numbers of retaining elements, the difference between the numbers of retaining elements of said two rows or two columns being greater than or equal to 1, or more precisely greater than or equal to 2, or even greater than or equal to 3 or 4 or 5.

In the example shown in Figure 7, considering rows L1 to L9 and columns C1 to C5, the pattern shown thus comprises:
- 3 columns having distinct numbers of retaining elements, the difference between the numbers of retaining elements here being greater than or equal to 1 (columns C1, C2 and C5 for example).
- 2 columns having distinct numbers of retaining elements, the difference between the numbers of retaining elements here being equal to 2 (columns C1 and C5 for example).
- 8 rows having distinct numbers of retaining elements, the difference between the numbers of retaining elements here being greater than or equal to 1 (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L9 for example).
- 2 lines having distinct numbers of retaining elements, the difference between the number of retaining elements here being equal to 4 (L1 and L2 for example, or L2 and L8).

In addition, for each pair of rows or columns arranged successively, the variation in the number of retaining elements between said rows or columns of said pair is typically less than or equal to 10, or even less than or equal to 15.

More generally, for each pair of rows or pair of columns arranged successively, the variation in the number of retaining elements between said rows or columns of said pair is typically less than or equal to 40%, 30% or 15% of the maximum number of retainers for the lines of the pattern. For each pair of columns arranged successively, the variation in the number of retaining elements between said rows or columns of said pair is typically less than or equal to 40%, 30% or 15% of the maximum number of retaining elements for the columns of the pattern. Such characteristics make it possible to modulate the force necessary for the disengagement of the retaining device when the retaining elements are engaged with complementary elements such as retaining elements or a nonwoven material. Such a product is also easier to produce, in particular easier to unmold from the molding device.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the pattern 12 is bordered by a rib 13 here forming a continuous contour around the pattern 14a. In the example illustrated, the rib 13 has a rectangular section. It is however understood that a rib 13 bordering the pattern 14a can have any section, and can be continuous or discontinuous.

Figures 8 to 11 show other examples of patterns that can be formed by the retaining elements and therefore by the cavities used for the formation of the retaining elements.

These figures indicate the primary direction DP and the secondary direction DS.

The different relationships between the numbers of retaining elements or cavities for the different rows and columns of the pattern already described with reference to Figure 7 also apply for the patterns shown in Figures 8 to 11.

The different patterns presented are here inscribed in an external contour, here a circle, having for example a diameter of the order of 24mm, or more generally between 10 mm and 45 mm. The patterns here are formed by areas devoid of retaining elements within the outer contour. It is understood that the geometry of the outer contour may vary, and is not limited to a circle.

In the case of the pattern shown in Figure 8, the areas devoid of retaining elements define a pattern of the lotus flower type. In the case of the pattern shown in Figure 9, the areas devoid of retaining elements define a pattern representing a rose. In the case of the pattern shown in Figure 10, the areas devoid of retaining elements define a pattern representing a flower. In the case of the pattern shown in Figure 11, the areas devoid of retaining elements define a pattern representing a burdock flower. Figure 12 is a variation of Figure 10. Figure 13 is a variation of Figure 9.

As seen in these figures, the density of the retaining elements (or cavities) can vary. Figures 8, 9, 11 and 12 thus show patterns produced with a density of retaining elements (or cavities) of the order of 1093 retaining elements (or cavities)/cm², while Figures 10 and 13 presents patterns produced with a density of retaining elements (or cavities) of the order of 273 retaining elements (or cavities)/cm².

As can be seen in these figures 8 to 13, for each pattern, at least one row and/or at least one column comprises at least two groups of disjoint retaining elements (or cavities), separated by a zone devoid of retainers or cavities.

A zone devoid of retaining elements or cavities means a zone in which, respecting the pitch of the retaining elements or cavities, a retaining element or a cavity would normally have been present.

Considering that the rows and columns of retaining elements are regularly spaced according to a secondary interval and a primary interval respectively, the at least one zone devoid of retaining elements comprised in the zone delimited by the outer contour of each pattern has a dimension along the primary direction DP strictly greater than twice the primary interval, and a dimension along the secondary direction DS strictly greater than twice the secondary interval.

In the same way, considering that the rows and columns of cavities are regularly spaced according to a transverse interval and a machine interval respectively, the at least one zone devoid of retaining elements comprised in the zone delimited by the external contour of each pattern has a dimension in the machine direction MD strictly greater than twice the machine interval, and a dimension in the transverse direction CD strictly greater than twice the transverse interval.

According to one example, for each pattern, the ratio between the surface of the zones devoid of retaining element (or cavities) contained in the external contour and the surface comprising retaining elements (or cavities) is less than 1. The surface of the pattern is defined as being the area covered by circles of radius corresponding to the average pitch and whose center of each circle is positioned respectively, in top view, on the center of the retaining elements (or cavities) and the circumference of each circle passes through the center of at least one adjacent retainer (or cavity). The average pitch may correspond to the distance separating two adjacent retaining elements (or cavities). The at least one area devoid of retainers is the area not covered by the pattern area.

According to an example, for each pattern, at least one, or for example each, zone devoid of retaining elements (or cavities) included in the pattern has a width and a length, such that the ratio between the length and the width is strictly greater than 1.2, in particular strictly greater than 1.5.

In addition to or independently of the various features described previously, the retaining elements 16 can be made so as to each have a rod extending from the base 12, and a head extending to the end of the rod opposite to the base. The retaining elements 16 are then typically made so that for a given pattern 14, the dimension of the head of the retaining elements of the pattern decreases between a first end of the pattern and a second end of the pattern.

More precisely, by considering a given pattern, typically for each pattern of a ribbon, a first direction of the pattern is defined, which can for example be the main direction DP or the secondary direction DS, and the retaining elements 16 forming a first end of said pattern and a second end of said pattern in said first direction. The retaining elements 16 each have a head having a maximum dimension measured along a second direction. The retainers 16 forming the first end of the pattern have a head having a first maximum dimension. The retainers forming the second end of the pattern have a head having a second maximum dimension. The second maximum dimension is strictly less than the first maximum dimension. The retaining elements 16 forming the first end and the retaining elements 16 forming a second end are arranged on the same column or row. The first direction is the MD direction. The first direction being the MD direction, the direction from the first end to the second end is the MD direction.

According to one embodiment, the maximum dimension of the head of the retaining elements is decreasing, typically strictly decreasing from the first end to the second end of the pattern.

According to one example, the ratio of the second maximum dimension to the first maximum dimension is between 1.01 and 1.60, in particular between 1.01 and 1.35, more particularly between 1.02 and 1.15, in some cases between 1.03 and 1.12.

Such a variation of the maximum dimension of the heads of the retaining elements makes it possible to modulate the force necessary to disengage the retaining elements by considering a peeling force from a first end of the pattern towards a second end of the pattern.

The retaining device typically has a peeling force at 180° which is strictly greater than 0.02 N, in certain cases strictly greater than 0.1 N in the primary direction DP and/or in the secondary direction DS.

The “180° Peel” method is a method that measures the peel force, i.e. the force to separate an assembly (here the retaining device) and an application area. This method is described below.

Conditioning of the samples – The samples to be tested are conditioned for 2h (hour) at 23°C+/-2°C with a relative humidity of 50%+/-5%.

Retainer Preparation – The retainer is usually in the form of a tape with the length in either the DP primary direction or the DS secondary direction. A part of the ribbon according to the primary direction DP or the secondary direction DS is stuck on an 80g/cm² paper and a roll of 2kg (kilogram) is applied or passed in rotation on the retaining device is in one direction and then in the other direction. other (back and forth) along the entire length of the ribbon part. The paper and retainer are cut with a slitter into 25.4mm (millimeter) wide strips in the DP primary direction or DS secondary direction at a speed of about 700mm/min ( millimeter per minute). Each strip of paper has a length of 210mm and the anti-slip strip is placed in the center of this strip.

Preparation of the application area – The sample of the application area has, for example depending on the size of the retainer, a width of 50mm in the primary direction DP or the secondary direction DS and the length is at maximum of 200mm and the sample is cut in half according to length.

Assembly – The strip is placed over the application site sample so that the retainer is centered over the application site sample. The 2kg (kilogram) roller is applied or rotated over the strip in one direction and then in the other (back and forth) over the entire length of the strip at a speed of approximately 700mm/min. The sample from the application area is placed in a clamp of a hanger, the cut side being in the clamp and a 1kg weight is suspended from the lower part of the strip for 10s (second). The weight is then removed. This step ensures the assembly of the retainer and the sample from the application area.

Measurement – The assembly is then placed in a tensile testing machine comprising a 100N (newton) measuring cell. The strip is inserted into the upper (mobile) jaw. The force measurement cell reading is set to zero. The sample is inserted from the application area into the lower jaw (fixed) and a slight tension is created. The force should be between 0.02N and 0.05N. During installation, the jaws are separated from each other by 50mm. The assembly is centered between the two jaws. The test is carried out at constant displacement at a speed of 305mm/min and the test stroke is 50mm. This test run is adapted according to the width of the restraint system to be tested.

In order to produce a strip 26 provided with such retaining elements 16, it is understood that the molding strip 102 used for the apparatus 100 has cavities 102C having a configuration similar to that of the retaining elements.

Thus, it is understood that to form a given pattern of retaining elements, the molding strip 102 used has functional cavities 102C arranged in a similar pattern. Non-functional cavities will be assimilated here to an absence of cavities.

More generally, the molding strip 102 having a plurality of cavities 102C arranged in rows and columns extending respectively along the transverse direction CD and the machine direction MD, said cavities 102C opening onto the outer face of the molding strip 102.

A line of cavities typically comprises between 1 and 1000 cavities. A column of cavities typically comprises between 1 and 1000 cavities.

The cavities 102C are arranged so as to form patterns, typically disjoint, on the external face of the molding strip 102. Each pattern is formed by a plurality of rows and columns of cavities 102C.

The different patterns are typically disjoint.

The casting tape can have one or more patterns, which can be repeated on the casting tape.

The different rows and columns are typically regularly spaced according to a transverse interval and a machine interval respectively. The transverse interval and the machine interval can be equal or distinct. According to another example, said lines are regularly spaced according to a first transverse interval and according to a second transverse interval, the second transverse interval not being an integer multiple of the first transverse interval and the first transverse interval being less than the second transverse interval, and /or said columns are regularly spaced according to a first machine interval and according to a second machine interval, the second machine interval not being an integer multiple of the first machine interval and the first machine interval being less than the second machine interval.

Each pattern is typically surrounded by a region of the outer face of the molding strip devoid of retaining elements, said region having a dimension strictly greater than twice the machine gap in the machine direction MD, and/or strictly greater twice the transverse interval in the transverse direction CD.

The cavities 102C defining the rows and columns can be aligned or staggered.

Each pattern is typically surrounded by a region of the outer face of the molding strip devoid of cavities, and is typically located at a distance at least equal to 1.5 mm, in some cases at least equal to 2.5 mm d 'an edge of the outer face of the molding strip. By edge of the molding strip is meant an end of the molding strip, for example along the machine direction MD or along the transverse direction CD.

As for the retaining elements, the patterns formed by the cavities thus have at least two rows and/or two columns having distinct numbers of cavities. More generally, the pattern as proposed presents at least Y rows and/or Y columns of cavities presenting distinct numbers of cavities, with Y equal to 2, or in certain cases equal to 3 or 4 or 5, or more generally Y is a natural number between Ymin and Ymax, where Ymin can be for example equal to 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 12 or 15 or 20, and Ymax can for example be equal to 500 or 450 or 400 or 350 or 300 or 250 or 200 or 150 or 100 or 50.

Furthermore, for a given pattern, at least two rows and/or columns have distinct numbers of cavities, the difference between the numbers of cavities of said two rows or two columns being greater than or equal to 1, or more precisely greater than or equal to 2, or even greater than or equal to 3 or 4 or 5.

In addition, for each pair of rows or columns arranged successively, the variation in the number of cavities between said rows or columns of said pair is typically less than or equal to 10, or even less than or equal to 15.

More generally, for each pair of rows arranged successively, the variation in the number of cavities between said rows or columns of said pair is typically less than or equal to 40%, 30% or 15% of the maximum number of cavities for the rows of the pattern. For each pair of columns arranged successively, the variation in the number of cavities between said rows or columns of said pair is typically less than or equal to 40%, 30% or 15% of the maximum number of cavities for the columns of the pattern.

Alternatively, the pattern could represent other shapes, for example other flower shapes, such as a daisy, a thistle or even a cotton flower or even for example an animal, a logo, a word or a “QR code”.

In variant embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 13, the pattern could be oriented differently, for example at an angle of 90 degrees.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is obvious that modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual features of the different illustrated/mentioned embodiments can be combined in additional embodiments. Accordingly, the description and the drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

It is also obvious that all the characteristics described with reference to a method can be transposed, alone or in combination, to a device, and conversely, all the characteristics described with reference to a device can be transposed, alone or in combination, to a method.

Claims (22)

Restraint device (10) comprising:
- a base (12) having an upper face (12A) and a lower face (12B), the base (12) extending along a primary direction (DP), having a width defined along a secondary direction (DS) perpendicular to the primary direction (DP), and a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction (DP) and to the secondary direction (DS),
- a plurality of retaining elements (16) extending over the upper face (12A) of the base (12), each retaining element (16) comprising a rod (18), the retaining elements (16) being formed in one piece with the base (12), the retaining elements (16) being arranged in rows and columns extending respectively along the secondary direction (DS) and the primary direction (DP),
said device being characterized in that
at least X rows and/or X columns of the retainer have distinct numbers of retainers (16), where X equals 2. A retainer (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least two rows and/or at least two columns of the retainer have a distinct number of retainers, the difference between the numbers of retainers of said at least at least two rows and/or at least two columns being greater than or equal to 1, or more precisely, greater than or equal to 2. A retainer (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said plurality of retainer elements form one or more disjoint patterns, each pattern being formed of a plurality of rows and columns of detention. Retaining device (10) according to Claim 3, in which for each pattern, each pair of lines arranged successively in the primary direction (DP) has a number of retaining elements whose variation is less than or equal to 10 retaining elements , in particular is less than or equal to 5 retainers. Retaining device (10) according to one of Claims 3 or 4, in which for each pattern, each pair of columns arranged successively in the secondary direction (DS) has a number of retaining elements (16) whose variation is less than or equal to 15 retaining elements (16), in particular is less than or equal to 5. Retaining device (10) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, in which each pattern is entirely surrounded by a region of the upper face (12A) of the base (12) devoid of retaining elements (16), and is located at a distance greater than 1.5 mm, in particular greater than 2.5 mm from an edge of the base (12), in particular from all the edges of the base (12). Retaining device (10) according to one of Claims 3 to 6, in which each pattern is delimited by an external contour (14A), and in which each pattern comprises, in the zone delimited by its external contour (14A), at least one zone devoid of retaining elements. A retainer (10) according to claim 7, in which each pattern has at least one row and/or at least one column comprising at least two groups of disjoint retainer elements (16) separated by a zone devoid of retainer (16). A retainer (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein for each pattern, at least one, or preferably each region free of retainers (16) included in the pattern has a width and a length , so that the ratio between the length and the width is strictly greater than 1.2, or in particular strictly greater than 1.5. A retainer (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said rows and columns are regularly spaced at a secondary interval and a primary interval respectively. A retainer (10) according to claim 10, wherein each pattern is entirely surrounded by a region of the upper face (12A) of the base (12) devoid of retainers (16), said region having a dimension strictly greater than twice the primary interval along the primary direction (DP), and/or strictly greater than twice the secondary interval along the secondary direction (DS). Retaining device (10) according to Claim 10 and one of Claims 7 to 11, in which the said at least one zone devoid of retaining elements (16) included in the zone delimited by the external contour (14A) of each pattern has a dimension in the primary direction (DP) strictly greater than twice the primary interval, and a dimension in the secondary direction (DS) strictly greater than twice the secondary interval. Retaining device (10) according to one of Claims 7 to 12, in which for each pattern, the ratio between the surface of the zones devoid of retaining element (16) contained in the outer contour (14A) of the pattern and the area comprising retainers (16) is less than 1. A molding device (100) for forming a retainer, said molding device (100) comprising a molding strip (102) adapted to be mounted on a support (104), said molding strip (102) s extending in a machine direction (MD), having a width defined in a transverse direction (CD) perpendicular to the machine direction (MD), and a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction (MD) and to the transverse direction (CD), the molding strip having an inner face and an opposite outer face,
said molding strip (102) having a plurality of cavities (102C) arranged in rows and columns extending respectively along the transverse direction (CD) and the machine direction (MD), said cavities (102C) opening onto the external face (102B) of the molding strip (102),
characterized in that
at least Y rows and/or Y columns of cavities (102C) of the molding strip (102) have distinct numbers of cavities (102C), where Y is equal to 2. A molding device (100) according to claim 14, wherein at least two rows and/or at least two columns of the molding device (100) have a distinct number of cavities (102C), the difference between the numbers of cavities (102C ) of said at least two rows and/or at least two columns being greater than or equal to 1, or more precisely greater than or equal to 2. Molding device (100) according to one of Claims 14 or 15, in which the said plurality of cavities (102C) form one or more disjoint patterns, each pattern being formed from a plurality of rows and columns of cavities (102C) . Molding device (100) according to claim 16, in which for each pattern, each pair of lines arranged successively along the machine direction (MD) has a number of cavities whose variation is less than or equal to 40% of the maximum number of cavities (102C) lines of said pair of lines of cavities (102C), typically less than or equal to 30% or 15%. Molding device (100) according to one of Claims 16 or 17, in which each pattern is delimited by an external contour, and in which each pattern comprises, in the zone delimited by its external contour, at least one zone devoid of cavities (102C). Molding device (100) according to claim 18, in which each pattern has at least one row and/or at least one column comprising at least two disjoint groups of cavities (102C) separated by a zone free of cavities (102C). Molding device (100) according to one of Claims 18 or 19, in which for each pattern, at least one, or in particular each, zone free of cavities (102C) included in the pattern has a width and a length of so that the ratio between the length and the width is strictly greater than 1.2, in particular strictly greater than 1.5. A molding device (100) according to one of claims 16 to 20, wherein said columns and rows are regularly spaced at a transverse interval and a machine interval respectively. Molding device (100) according to claim 21, in which each pattern is entirely surrounded by a region of the outer face (102B) of the molding strip (102) devoid of cavities (102C), said region having a dimension strictly greater than twice the machine interval in the machine direction (MD), and strictly greater than twice the transverse interval in the transverse direction (CD).