US3365757A - Flexible band fitted with hooked elements of the filament type - Google Patents

Description

' Jan. 30, 1968 J. BILLARANT 3,355,757

' FLEXIBLE BAND FITTED WITH HOOKED ELEMENTS OF THE FILAMENT TYPE Filed March 2, 1965 1 1/11, ("'1 5/ $55 a A Z5 25a e B 2d a f k 761 United States Patent 6 Claims. (31. 24-204) This invention relates to flexible bands having filament formed hooked elements to the general type shown in copending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 245,247 filed Dec. 17, 1962, now Patent No. 3,277,547, entitled, Method and Means for Producing Yielding Strips Provided With Elongated Loops and Products Obtained Thereby, and Ser. No. 412,899 filed Nov. 23, 1964, entitled, Machine for the Manufacture of Flexible Bands Fitted With Hooked Elements. As shown therein such hooked elements are obtained by integrally forming one end of a wavy thread in a flexible plate or sole, such that the remainder of the thread projects out of the flexible plate as a series of free loops and then cutting one of the sides of the loops to form a hook. More particularly, the instant invention relates to an improvement of the hook structure and a method for producing same.

In known articles of this type, the cutting of one of the sides of each free loop is performed at a certain distance from the top or summit of the loop in such a manner as to retain the summit which thus forms the curved hooking portion of the desired hook. The hook is secured to and made integral with the flexible band by the stem at the non-cut side of the loop. The portion of the cut side projecting outward from the flexible band still remains in such prior art hooked element.

It has, however, been determined that the remaining portion of the side of loop opposite to that side which forms the stem is liable to hinder the attachment of a cooperating looped element which is intended to engage in the hook. In fact, the prior art structure bears a closer resemblance to a kind of snap-hook than to an open hook.

The object of the invention is to provide a flexible band fitted with hooked elements of the filament type which is not subject to the above-mentioned disadvantage of known articles.

To this end, in accordance with the invention, the portion of that side of loop which is located opposite to the side which forms the stem of the hook is cut substantially flush with the top surface of the sole.

In this manner, the space which is located between the curved extremity of the hook and the sole is completely freed, with the result that a looped element forming part of another sole which is intended to be removably attached to the first sole can thus be brought without difliculty in front of the said hook for the purpose of engaging therein.

In addition to the operation which consists in cutting the loops at a certain distance from the tops of these latter so as to form hooks, it is merely necessary to carry out an operation which consists in cutting flush with the sole the portion of that side of loop which is located opposite to the side forming the stem of the hook.

The operation referred to is carried out with correspondingly greater case if the roots of the loops are anchored in a small excrescence of the plastic material which forms the sole, in addition to the bonding of the thread within the said sole. The sides of loop under consideration are cut flush with the said anchorage, with the result that they are not liable to be flattened under the pressure of the cutting blade. Moreover, the arms of the loops are applied on one side against the forming bars which are intended to shape the said loops.

A better understanding of the invention will be gained from a perusal of the following description and from a study of the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-limitative example, one form of embodiment of 5 a flexible band fitted with hooked elements of the filament type in accordance with the invention.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is, on a large scale, a longitudinal crosssection of a portion of flexible band fitted with hooked elements of the filament type in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-section taken along the line IIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-section showing an intermediate stage of manufacture of the band which is illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The portion of flexible band which is fitted with hooked elements of the filament type as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 is made up of a sole 1 of plastic material in which theinternal loops 2a ofparallel wavy threads 2 are securely anchored in the said sole in such a manner as to form one piece with this latter. For sake of brevity, a description of the manner in which the flexible band with loops is manufactured will be omitted at this point, with reference, however, being made to aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 245,247. The external loops 2b of the saidparallel wavy threads 2 have been cut as shown at A in FIGURE 3 (using a cutter which may typically be of the type shown in aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 412,898), in such a manner that the remaining portions form hooks 2b. The stem ofthe hook is formed by the uncut portion 20 of the external loop of thread which remains embedded in sole 1.

Theexternal portion 2d of the loop which is located opposite thestem 2c of the hook will still remain after the cut at A. Such remaining portion is liable to constitute a hindrance for the hook 2b which is intended to engage with a corresponding looped element forming part of another sole to be attached in removable manner to the sole 1.

In accordance with the invention, those sides of loops such as theside 2d are therefore cut substantially flush with the sole 1 as shown at B, in such a manner that this side ofloop 2d falls and no longer forms part of the article. Such an additional cut may, for example be achieved by an additional cutter, as shown by the longitudinally displaced cutters 15, 15A in FIGURE 4 of aforementioned patent application Ser. No. 412,898. After completion, the said article thus appears as shown in FIG-URE 1, with the locations of the dual cuts performed on the loop being shown at A and B.

The space which is formed near the end of each hook 212 is therefore left completely free as can be visualized from FIG. 1, with the result that the engagement of the said hook with a loop can thus be effected with greater ease.

It will be noted that the cut at B may be facilitated by anchoring the sides of the loops to the base in asmall excrescence 1a of plastic material, such that it may be applied against a formingbar 3 during the cutting operation.

As will be readily understood, this invention is not limited to the form of embodiment which has been described and illustrated but can be provided with any number of modifications without thereby departing from the scope or the spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows. 70 What is claimed is:

1. A yielding strip of the character described comprising a plurality of generally parallel extending threads,

constituted of a yielding plastic material; the undulations of said threads having first and second portions; said first portions embedded in said base sheet; said second portions extending out of 'said base sheet and forming a successive plurality of loops sec'urably anchored to said base sheet; at least a number of said loops cut open along one side at a first location, a short distance from their outer ends to produce hook-shaped elements, said hook-shaped elements secured to said base sheet by the other side of the previously formed loop, said one side having an additional cut flush with said base sheet, such that said hookshaped elements each have a substantial opening along said one side extending from said first location to said base sheet.

2. A fastening member comprising a flexible base sheet of solidified plastic material, a plurality of parallel extending longitudinally undulating threads integrally secured within said base sheet, and providing filament formed hook-shaped elements secured to said base sheet, said hook-shaped elements having a first portion securably embedded in said base sheet, and a second portion extending out of said base sheet, said second portion having a supporting stem communicating with said base sheet, and a generally curved forward portion; said forward portion terminating at a downwardly extending free end; said hook-shaped element having a substantial opening extending from said free end to said base sheet.

3. A fastening member comprising a flexible base sheet of solidified plastic material, a plurality of parallel extending longitudinally undulating threads integrally secured within said base sheet, and providing filament formed hook-shaped elements secured to said base sheet, said'hook-shaped elements having a first portion transversely extending along and securably embedded in said base sheet, and a second portion extending out of said base sheet, said second portion having a supporting stem communicating with said base sheet, and a generally curved forward portion; said forward portion terminating at a downwardly extending free end; said hooked shaped element having a substantial opening extending from said free end to said base sheet.

4. A yielding strip comprising a solidified plastic sole, a plurality of wavy threads having first portions integrally secured within said sole and second portions extending outward of said sole to provide filament type free loops, at least a number of said loops cut open along one side, adjacent the top of the loop, said one side having an additional cut substantially flush with said sole.

5. A yielding strip of the character described, comprising a base sheet constituted of a solidified plastic material, and solely of a plurality of generally parallel extending threads, each of said threads having successive first portions embedded in said base sheet, with a substantial region thereof extending into said base sheet and firmly anchored thereto to provide the sole means for fixedly securing said thread to said base sheet, and successive second'portions of said threads communicating with said first portions and freely projecting outward of said base sheet to provide a successive plurality of loops securably anchored to said base sheet, at least a number of said loops cut open along one side at a first location, a short distance from their outer ends to produce hook-shaped elements, said hook-shaped elements secured to said base sheet by the other side of the previously formed loop, said one side having an additional cut flush with said base sheet, such that said hook-shaped'elements each havea substantial opening along said one side extending from saidfirst location to said base sheet.

6. In a fastening member including a plurality of hookshaped elements securably anchored to a plastic base sheet, said hook-shaped elements formed by threads including a generally U-shaped portion, the body of the U embedded in said base sheet and the arms of the U extending outward of said base sheet to provide the supporting stems for an adjacent pair of hook-shaped elements, a generally curved portion extending forward from'the free end of the U-arms, said hook-shaped elements having a substantial opening extending from said generally curved portion at the forward end of the hook to said base sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,671,494 3/1954 Coulliette 1541 3,009,235 11/ 1961 De Mestral. 3,128,514 4/1964 Parker 24-204 X 3,130,111 4/1964 Izumi. 3,134,152 5/1964 Pei 24203 X 3,135,820 6/ 1964 Hallett. 3,147,528 9/1964 Erb 24--204 3,206,343 9/ 1965 McFarlane 156-72 FOREIGN PATENTS 576,092 4/1958 Italy.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A YIELDING STRIP OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY PARALLEL EXTENDING THREADS, HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY UNDULATING SHAPE, AND A BASE SHEET CONSTITUTED OF A YIELDING PLASTIC MATERIAL; THE UNDULATIONS OF SAID THREADS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS; SAID FIRST PORTIONS EMBEDDED IN SAID BASE SHEET; SAID SECOND PORTIONS EXTENDING OUT OF SAID BASE SHEET AND FORMING A SUCCESSIVE PLURALITY OF LOOPS SECURABLY ANCHORED TO SAID BASE SHEET; AT LEAST A NUMBER OF SAID LOOPS CUT OPEN ALONG ONE SIDE AT A FIRST LOCATION, A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THEIR OUTER ENDS TO PRODUCE HOOK-SHAPED ELEMENTS, SAID HOOK-SHAPED

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