US 12,421,638 B2
Making soft fabric touch fasteners
Stephen R. Arata, Kingston, NH (US); and Gregory K. Kopanski, Candia, NH (US)
Assigned to Velcro IP Holdings LLC, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed by Velcro IP Holdings LLC, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed on Feb. 25, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/800,418.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/911,509, filed on Oct. 7, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/811,839, filed on Feb. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0277718 A1, Sep. 3, 2020
Int. Cl. D06C 27/00 (2006.01); A44B 18/00 (2006.01); B29C 51/00 (2006.01); B29C 69/00 (2006.01); D04H 1/00 (2006.01); D04H 1/46 (2012.01); D04H 1/732 (2012.01); D04H 11/00 (2006.01); D04H 11/08 (2006.01); D06C 7/00 (2006.01); D06C 11/00 (2006.01); D06C 13/00 (2006.01); D06C 13/08 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC D06C 27/00 (2013.01) [A44B 18/0019 (2013.01); B29C 51/004 (2013.01); B29C 69/001 (2013.01); D04H 1/46 (2013.01); D04H 1/732 (2013.01); D04H 11/08 (2013.01); D06C 7/00 (2013.01); D06C 11/00 (2013.01); D06C 13/08 (2013.01); B29L 2031/729 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a male touch fastener product, the method comprising:
shearing distal portions of loops extending from a side of a flexible fabric, leaving fibers extending from the side of the flexible fabric in place of the sheared loops, the fibers extending to respective free distal ends comprising resin, while leaving other loops extending from the side of the fabric intact; and then
heating the distal ends with energy supplied by a linear energy source while the flexible fabric is curved about a support surface to splay the free distal ends, such that the resin of the distal ends flows to form enlarged heads on the extending fibers, while leaving at least some of the other loops intact;
wherein the shearing and heating leave intact at least 10 percent of the loops extending from the side of the flexible fabric prior to shearing; and
wherein as a result of the shearing and heating, at least some of the enlarged heads are spaced below an upper extent of a loft defined by the loops left intact with the flexible fabric in a flat condition.