U.S. patent number 3,686,718 [Application Number 04/883,141] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-29 for self-gripping fastening device.
Invention is credited to George C. Brumlik.
United States Patent |
3,686,718 |
Brumlik |
August 29, 1972 |
SELF-GRIPPING FASTENING DEVICE
Abstract
A self-gripping fastening device for connecting together a pair
of articles, only one of which is required to be provided with the
device, comprises a plurality of hooked fastening elements made of
metal wire or coated metal wire, each being secured to one of the
articles. Each of the elements has at least one elongated shank
terminating at its free end in a hook, and bent at its other end to
provide an enlarged portion which anchors the element in the
article to which it is secured by penetration of the shank through
the surface. When the fastening device on the one article is
pressed against the opposing surface of the other article, the free
ends of the fastening elements penetrate and lodge in the other
article to thereby effect adhesion between the pair of
articles.
Inventors: |
Brumlik; George C. (Montclair,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
25382062 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/883,141 |
Filed: |
December 8, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/447;
24/306 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B
18/0015 (20130101); Y10T 24/275 (20150115); Y10T
24/2708 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A44B
18/00 (20060101); A44b 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/204,203,73.12,146,147,228,204 ;85/30,14 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
18,826 |
|
Sep 1898 |
|
GB |
|
589,380 |
|
Mar 1959 |
|
IT |
|
Primary Examiner: Gelak; Bernard A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A self-gripping fastening assembly for connecting together a
pair of articles, said fastening assembly comprising a plurality of
fastening elements secured to one of said articles, each of said
fastening elements comprising an elongated straight stem upstanding
substantially perpendicularly from the upper surface of said
article and having a hook formed at the free end thereof with said
hook curving toward said upper surface and having a penetrating
profile, said stem passing through said article and being bent at
its end opposite said free end to form an anchoring portion
extending laterally from said stem, said anchoring portion
including a loop having at least a portion underlying the lower
surface of said article for preventing said stem from being pulled
out of said article, whereby when said upper surface of said one
article is pressed against the other of said articles, the
penetrating profiles at the free ends of said elongated stems
penetrate said other article and lodge the hooks therein, to
thereby effect adhesion between said pair of articles.
2. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said fastening element is formed from metal wire of a substantially
uniform diameter.
3. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 1 in which
said fastening element is formed from coated metal wire.
4. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 1 wherein
each of said fastening elements comprises a pair of spaced stems
extending from said upper surface of said article, each of said
stems having a hook formed at the free end thereof, and wherein
said loop joins said pair of spaced stems.
5. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 4 wherein
said anchoring portion is formed as a closed loop disposed on the
lower surface of said one article, said loop being in a plane
parallel to said lower surface and being in flush engagement with
the latter.
6. A self-gripping fastening assembly as according to claim 4
wherein said second article is a fabric-like material having fibers
or strands, said pair of stems being inclined to approach one
another at greater distances from said one article, said hooks on
said stems being separated by a gap which is smaller than the
diameter of said fibers or strands, said stems being adapted to
momentarily flex as one or more fibers or strands are forced
through said gap, whereby said fibers or strands are captured
between said pair of stems by the hooks on the ends of said
stems.
7. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 1 in which
said anchoring portion comprises a length of wire bent upon itself
to provide an enlarged body of substantially larger transverse
dimension than the elongated stem of said fastening element.
8. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 7 in which
said anchoring portion is in the form of a knot including said
loop.
9. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 7 in which
each of said fastening elements comprises a single elongated stem
extending through said one article and terminating in a hook at its
free end, the enlarged body of said anchoring portion underlying
said opposite surface of said body, said fastening elements being
rotatable in said one article.
10. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 1 wherein
said anchoring portion is defined by a closed loop having sections
thereof extending on opposite sides of said one article, whereby a
portion of said one article is included within the closed loop.
11. A self-gripping fastening assembly as defined in claim 10
wherein each of said fastening elements also includes a second stem
extending from the loop of said anchoring portion and projecting
from said lower surface of said one article, said second stem
having a hook at its free end.
12. A self-gripping fastening assembly according to claim 7 in
which each of said fastening elements comprises a single elongated
stem extending through said one article and terminating in a hook
at its free end, the enlarged body of said anchoring portion
underlying said opposite surface of said body, said anchoring
portion also including an elongated member underlying said opposite
surface and extending through and connecting the anchoring portion
bodies of selected fastening elements.
13. A self-gripping fastening assembly for connecting together a
pair of objects comprising a sheet-like body, a plurality of
self-gripping fastening elements secured to said body, each of said
fastening elements including a pair of elongated stems extending
respectively from opposite surfaces of said body, each of said
stems having exposed hook means thereon, whereby when said body is
disposed between said pair of objects and the latter are pressed
together, the stems will penetrate and lodge in said objects to
thereby cause said hook means to effect adhesion and join said pair
of objects to one another.
Description
The present invention relates to fastening devices and in
particular to a novel and improved fastening device which is
operative to grip an opposed surface upon contact therewith in a
self-adhering action.
Various self-gripping fasteners, particularly suitable for
releasably fastening fabrics and the like are presently available.
Typical of such fasteners is a self-gripping fastener assembly
presently marketed under the trademark "Velcro" and which is in the
form of pairs of fabric strips which are respectively sewn or
otherwise secured to the opposing fabrics to be fastened together.
In the "Velcro" fastener, multiple rows of small vertically
extending open plastic loops are secured to the outer surface of
one of the matching strips, while matching small plastic hooks are
secured to the outer surface of the opposite strips. Thus, when the
two opposing strips are press-contacted, the hooks on one strip
link with the opposing loops so that the opposing strips are
interlocked in a gripping action. The opposing strips may be
released by pulling them apart with sufficient force to cause the
above-mentioned hooks to disengage from their corresponding
loops.
While the above-described "Velcro" fastener provides an effective
gripping action, the cost of manufacture thereof is relatively
expensive. Furthermore, it is apparent that a "Velcro" type grip
requires that both of the opposing surfaces have matching "Velcro"
type strips in order to effect an interlocking grip.
In my co-pending U.S. Pat. applications, Ser. No. 657,295 filed
July 31, 1967, Ser. No. 675,609 filed Oct. 16, 1967, and Ser. No.
697,527 filed Jan. 12, 1968, I have disclosed similar types of
fastening arrangements employing hooked or barbed filaments,
particularly adapted to be formed of plastic, which filaments are
secured in a random array on the surface of an article by flocking
or like methods of deposition. While such fastening assemblies
provided adequate gripping properties in specific uses, their
gripping strength was limited to the material employed and their
method of attachment.
The present invention is directed to a fastener device which is
relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture, is advantageous
over the "Velcro" type fastener in that only one surface is
provided with fastener means, and is advantageous over the fastener
device of my aforesaid patent applications in that it provides
unusually strong tensile and peel strength and is adapted to be
applied to a surface in selected patterns.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an
economical and simple fastening device having improved gripping
properties, ability to penetrate and grasp opposed surfaces, and
the ability to be made in very fine, miniature form.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastening
device of the character described which is particularly adapted to
be readily and conveniently formed of fine metal wire.
Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening element
which may be applied rapidly and economically to a sheet-like body
by machine in a predetermined pattern in which the elements are
selectively spaced throughout the body, thereby permitting a
fastening assembly to be manufactured with the advantages and
economies of present day mass production techniques.
A further object of the invention is to provide a fastening device
in the form of a sheet-like body having gripping hooks on both
sides thereof, whereby two objects may be fastened to one another
merely by disposing the body between the two objects to be joined
and pressing the latter together to cause the hooks to grip each of
the objects.
In accordance with principles of the present invention, there is
provided a self-gripping fastening device for connecting together a
pair of articles. The device of the present invention comprises a
plurality of fastening elements secured to one of the articles to
be gripped. Each of the fastening elements comprises an elongated
stem extending from one surface of said article and having a hook
formed at the free end thereof. The stem passes through said
article and is bent at its end opposite said free end to form an
anchoring portion extending laterally from said stem, the anchoring
portion being located at least partially on the surface of the
article opposite to the surface from which the stem extends for
preventing said stem from being pulled out of said article.
Accordingly, when the fastening device of the present invention is
pressed against the other article, the elongated stems at their
respective free ends pierce and penetrate the other article and
lodge the hooks therein, to thereby effect adhesion between the
pair of articles.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent during the course of the following specification when
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, of a portion of
a fastening element made of coated wire according to one embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale, of a portion of
a fastening element made of uncoated wire according to a second
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a portion of a fastening element
according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a complete fastening element
utilizing the type of fastening element portion shown in FIG. 1,
the element being shown secured to a portion of a supporting sheet
of material which is shown in section;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 4, of another
embodiment of a fastening element shown secured to a portion of its
supporting sheet;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of fastening
element shown secured to a portion of its supporting sheet;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of fastening
element shown secured to its supporting sheet, and showing the
manner in which the fastening element grasps an opposed
filament;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of two additional embodiments
of fastening elements each utilizing the hook-type fastening
element portion shown in FIG. 1 and each shown secured to its
supporting sheet;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of fastening
element utilizing the fastening element portion shown in FIG. 2 and
shown secured to its supporting sheet;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of fastening
element utilizing the fastening element portion shown in FIG. 3 and
shown secured to its supporting sheet;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of fastening
element shown secured to a portion of its supporting sheet;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of fastening
element in which hooked element portions project from opposite
surfaces of the supporting sheet to which it is secured;
FIG. 14 is an elevational view of yet another embodiment of
fastening element shown secured to its supporting sheet;
FIG. 15 is an elevational view of a plurality of modified fastening
elements shown connected and secured to their supporting sheet by
an anchoring member;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fastening device constructed in
accordance with the present invention comprising a plurality of
fastening elements secured to a supporting sheet of material on one
surface thereof; and
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fastening device similar to FIG.
16, except that a plurality of fastening elements are secured to a
supporting sheet on both surfaces thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 on an
enlarged scale, one embodiment of a portion 10 of a fastening
element, the aforesaid portion 10 being adapted to be used on
various embodiments of fastening elements. For example, the
fastening element portion 10 is utilized with the embodiment of a
complete fastening element 12 shown in FIG. 4. The fastening
element portion 10 is shown in its preferred form as being made of
a length of metal wire 14 having a coating 15 of dissimilar
material. Element portion 10 comprises an elongated stem 16
terminating at its end in a hook 18, the latter being in the form
of an inverted U having a short depending leg 19, and with the stem
16 and hook 18 being disposed in the same general plane. The
coating 15 may be made of glass, plastic, adhesive, dissimilar
metal, semi-conductive material or other suitable material. The
element portion 10 may also be made of non-coated wire, as
presently explained.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a fastening element portion 20 made of
uncoated metal wire comprises an elongated stem 22 terminating at
its end on a sharp ended hook 24 in the form of an inverted V but
with the shorter leg 26 of the V-shaped hook being bent to one side
so that the hook 24 and stem 22 are not disposed in the same
general plane as in the case of the FIG. 1 embodiment. The
fastening element portion 20 is utilized, for example, with a
complete fastening element 28 shown in FIG. 10. The hook 24 in this
instance is made by crimping the metal body of the element portion
20.
In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a fastening element portion 30
comprises an elongated stem 32 terminating at its end in a hook 34.
The hook 34 is defined by a generally laterally and downwardly
depending end portion 36 formed by doubling back on itself an end
section of the stem 32 to form a loop 38 and to dispose the end
portion 36 downwardly and laterally off to the side of the stem 32.
The fastening element portion 30 is utilized, for example, with a
complete fastening element 40 shown in FIG. 11.
It will be appreciated that the hooks 18, 24 and 34 in FIGS. 1, 2
and 3 respectively, are shown by way of illustration, and that a
variety of other hook configurations may be used in practicing this
invention. It will also be understood that any of the element
portions 10, 20 and 30 may be formed of metal wire or coated metal
wire.
Turning now to the complete fastening element, FIG. 4 shows one
embodiment of fastening element 12 in detail on an enlarged scale
and also illustrates the manner in which the fastening element is
mounted on a body 41. The fastening element 12 comprises a length
of coated metal wire bent into the configuration illustrated and
including as a part thereof the element portion 10 of FIG. 1, with
its stem 16 and hook 18. Element 12 also includes a second element
portion 42 having a stem 44 and hook 46 with depending leg 47. The
second portion 42 is identical to the first element portion 10,
except that the hook 46 is turned to the left instead of to the
right. The two element portions 10 and 42 are joined by a
connecting portion 48 which extends perpendicularly therebetween
and serves as an anchor member in mounting the element 12. It will
be seen that the two stems 16, 44 project generally upright from
one side of the body 41 with the base portions of each stem 16, 44
passing through the body 41 to the opposite side where the two
stems are joined by the anchoring portion 48.
FIG. 4 shows only one fastening element, on a portion of a body 41;
however, in order to form a complete article, a plurality of such
fastening elements are utilized. Thus, FIG. 16 shows an article 50
comprising a sheet-like body 41 onto which has been applied a
plurality of fastening elements 12. The article 50 is intended to
be secured to an opposing penetrable surface. To fasten article 50
to an opposing surface, it is pressed against the opposing surface
with sufficient force to cause the fastening elements 12 to
penetrate the opposing material and lodge therein. Article 50 will
thus be firmly interlocked with the opposing material by the
combined gripping action of the large number of fastening elements
12 embedded and locked in the opposing material. The size, number
and distribution density of fastening elements 12 on sheet 41 will
be determined by the size and nature of the opposing material to be
gripped, as described hereinafter in greater detail.
In the preferred form of the article 50, the fastening elements 12
are of uniform size and are made small for mounting closely to one
another in a selected pattern on the sheet 41 such as the pattern
of uniform rows shown in FIG. 16, or in other patterns such as
spirals, etc. Typically, the fastening elements 12, as well as the
alternate embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 15, have an overall
length ranging approximately from one sixty-fourth to one-half
inch, and a diameter ranging approximately from five
ten-thousandths to one one-hundredths of an inch. The fastening
elements may, for example, be formed from wire made from metal,
such as steel, aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, zinc, stainless
steel, beryllium-copper or the like, either bare or coated and
formed in the shapes shown in a manner which will be presently
explained. Typically, the sheet-like body 41 may be made of
plastic, wood, leather, rubber, fabric metal, metal mesh, printed
circuit composite or the like.
In order to provide an article surface with a fastening assembly
capable of gripping an opposing material, a large number of
fastening elements, for example the element 12 of FIG. 4, are
required to be secured to the article 50 in the manner shown. This
may be accomplished by starting with a generally U-shaped piece of
wire having the configuration shown in FIG. 4 but on which the
hooks 18 and 46 have not yet been formed. The aforesaid U-shaped
wire is applied to the article by having the straight legs of the U
penetrate the article 41 from the bottom, the aforesaid being
effected by a suitable machine (not shown), which merely forces the
wire legs of the U through the article 41. A suitable die (not
shown) may be disposed on the side of the article 41 from which the
wire legs emerge to form the hooks 18 and 46 as the fastening
element 12 is applied to the material body 41. Thus, the die may
have separate channels to receive each of the straight stems 16, 44
as they emerge from the article 41 and an arcuate abutment at the
end of the channels to turn or bend back the ends of the stems 16,
44 as the latter encounter the arcuate abutments and are forced
thereagainst by the aforementioned machine. The aforesaid abutments
form the inverted U-shaped hooks 18, 46 on the ends of the stems
16, 44 respectively, as the latter are supported in the channels in
the die. It will be appreciated that a large number of fastening
elements 12 may be applied rapidly by machine in this manner and
further, that such elements 12 may be applied in a predetermined
and uniform pattern in which the elements are uniformly spaced
throughout the article.
As an alternative, the elements 12 may be preformed in the shape
shown in FIG. 4 and merely inserted in that form by machine, the
pre-formed hooks 18 and 46 penetrating the material body 41. In
either mounting process, the transverse portion 48 of element 12
engages the under surface of the material body 41 and anchors the
element in mounted position, preventing the element from passing
entirely through the material body.
With a large number of fastening elements 12 secured in relatively
thick profusion to the support sheet 41 and projecting in
upstanding condition from the surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 16,
the fastening assembly is capable of gripping an opposed object or
material which is sufficiently soft or penetrable to be pierced by
the individual fastening elements. For example, the opposed
material may be made of plastic, plastic foam, foam rubber, fabric,
felt or the like. The article 50 may be secured to the surface of
said opposed object by pressing it thereagainst with sufficient
pressure to cause the exposed portions of the fastening elements 12
to penetrate the material to a depth dependent upon the particular
material involved or the spacing desired. When such pressure is
exerted on the article 50, the metal hooks 18, 46 of each fastening
element 12 will enter the opposed object, and because the fastening
elements are made of metal and the opposing object is made of a
softer material, the hooks 18, 46 will penetrate through the
surface of the opposed object to the desired depth in the
object.
When the article 50 is applied to an opposed material as above
described, the inserted hooks grasp the opposed material and
provide a considerable resistance to disengagement. Thus, when
force is applied in the opposite direction, the short depending
legs 19, 47 (FIG. 4) of each hook 18, 46 pierces or engages the
material of the attached opposed article to restrain movement of
the hook out of said attached article. For a given penetrable
material, the resistance to disengagement therefrom will be
determined by the thickness and strength of the hooks which are
engaged by the penetrable material, by the number of hooks so
engaged and by the strength of the materials so fastened. The
adhesion provided thereby is permanent to a relative degree that is
to say, the hooks will resist withdrawal of the fastening elements
from the attached material unless sufficient force is applied
thereto to cause either a distortion of the hooks or some tearing
or yielding of the attached material on either of the joined
articles.
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a fastening element 52
comprising two upstanding fastening element portions 10, previously
described with reference to FIG. 1, and an anchoring base portion
54 in the form of a closed loop joining the two portions 10 on the
opposite side of the material body 41. The hooks 18 of the element
portions 10, in this instance, face in the same direction. It will
be appreciated that while the loop of the connecting portion 54 is
shown in perspective for illustrative purposes, so that sections
thereof appear spaced from the bottom surface of the body 41, in
the preferred arrangement, substantially the entire loop is
actually disposed in a general plane parallel to and abutting the
bottom flat surface 56 of the sheet-like body 41.
As previously indicated, the diameter of the wire used for making
the fastening elements, typically ranges from five ten-thousandths
to one one-hundredths of an inch. Accordingly, when using extremely
fine diameter wire in this range, it may be desirable to add more
body and provide a more substantial base to the fastening element
in order to enhance its rigidity, particularly the rigidity with
which the fastening element is secured to the body 41. It will be
apparent that the loop in anchoring portion 54 will provide a more
substantial supporting base for the element 52 than the straight
anchoring portion 48 in the fastening element 12 of FIG. 4. As may
be determined by the diameter of the wire used for making the
fastening elements and by the physical properties of the material
of the wire and of the body 41, various configurations, as will
hereinafter be set forth in describing further alternate
embodiments, may be formed in the base of the various fastening
elements to enhance the rigidity as aforesaid.
Returning more specifically to the fastening element 52 of FIG. 5,
it will be appreciated that such elements 52 may be applied to the
material body 41 in substantially the same manner previously
described in connection with the fastening element 12 in the FIG. 4
embodiment. It will further be appreciated that although the hooks
18 on the fastening element 52 both face in the same direction and
the hooks 18 and 46 in fastening element 12 (FIG. 4) face in
opposite directions, an article such as the article 50 shown in
FIG. 16, having affixed thereto a plurality of fastening elements
52, may be applied and fastened to an opposing object and will
function in substantially the same manner, as previously described
in connection with the fastening element 12.
FIG. 6 shows an alternate type of fastening element 58 which
combines features of the elements of FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, fastening
element 58 has oppositely facing hooks 18 and 46, as in the FIG. 4
embodiment, and a connecting portion 54 identical to that of the
FIG. 5 embodiment. In view of the prior detailed description of the
embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5, it is believed that the functional
features of fastening element 58 will be understood without further
repetition.
FIG. 7 shows another form of fastening element 60 somewhat similar
to the element 58 of FIG. 6, but having stems 62, 64 inclined
towards one another. The stems 62, 64 each has an inverted U-shaped
hook 66, 68 with short downwardly depending legs 70, 72
respectively. The stems 62, 64 are disposed and arranged so that
the depending legs 70, 72 of the hooks are slightly separated to
form a space or gap 74 as illustrated. Accordingly, when the
fastening element 60 is mounted on an article which is to be
fastened to a fabric-like material by pressing the article against
the latter, one or more of the fibers or strands, for example the
strand 76 in FIG. 7, of the material will pass downwardly through
the gap 74 between the legs 70, 72. The gap 74 between the legs 70,
72 may be smaller than the diameter of the strand 76, however, the
stems 62, 64 will momentarily flex to widen the gap 74 and allow
the strand 76 to pass therebetween as the article is pressed onto
the fabric-like material. Once the strand 76 passes through the gap
74, the stems 62, 64 will return to their unflexed position in
which the gap 74 is smaller than the diameter of the strand 76.
Thus, the strand 76 will be captured between the stems 62, 64 and
upon any attempt to separate the fastening element 60 from the
material of which strand 76 is a part, the latter will be caught by
at least one of the hooks 66, 68 rather than pass out from between
the stems through the gap 74, in the manner shown in FIG. 7.
Although only one strand 76 is shown in the drawings, it will be
understood that a plurality of such strands may initially pass
downwardly through the gap 74. It will be apparent from the above
that the fastening element 60 of FIG. 7 may be advantageously used
on articles adapted to be fastened to materials consisting of
filaments, fibers or hair to provide a strong adhesion
therebetween.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of fastening element 78 comprising
a single upstanding fastening element portion 10, previously
described with reference to FIG. 1, and an anchoring base portion,
comprising a spiral-like loop 80, and a terminating end portion in
the form of an inverted U-shaped hook 82. As illustrated, the hook
82 has its two legs, 84, 86 embedded in the material body 41 to
thereby firmly anchor the fastening element 78 to said body. It
will be appreciated that although for illustrative purposes the
spiral-like loop 80 is shown in perspective such that sections
thereof appear spaced from the bottom surface 56 of the article 41,
in actual practice, substantially the entire loop 80 would be
disposed in a general plane parallel to and abutting the bottom
flat surface 56 of the body 41. The fastening element 78 may be
applied to the body 41 by starting with a length of wire having the
configuration substantially as shown in FIG. 8 in which the
spiral-like loop 80 is disposed in a single plane and the stem 16
and leg 86 extend substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and in
which the hooks 18 and 82 have not yet been formed. The aforesaid
length of wire is applied by machine to the article by having the
straight stem 16 and leg 86 penetrate the body 41 from the bottom
surface of the latter. A suitable die (not shown) may have a
channel to receive the straight stem 16 and a suitable arcuate
abutment to form the hook 18 on the stem 16 as previously described
in connection with the FIG. 4 embodiment. The die may also have an
abutment to form the hook 82 so that the leg 84 is turned back into
the body 41.
FIG. 9 shows another alternate fastening element 88 comprising two
upstanding fastening element portions 10, previously described, and
a base in the form of a double-looped knot 90 as illustrated. The
knot 90 adds more body and provides a more substantial base to the
fastening element as previously described in connection with the
description of the FIG. 5 embodiment. The fastening element 88 may
be applied by machine in substantially the same manner as
previously described, by inserting the two element portions 10
through the material body 41 until the knot 90 engages the under
surface 56 and serves as anchoring means for the element 88.
FIG. 10 shows a further alternate fastening element 28, previously
mentioned, comprising a single fastening element portion 20, of the
type shown in FIG. 2, having a crimped hook 24. The element 28
includes an anchoring base in the form of a quadruple looped knot
92. The knot 92 provides a more substantial base than the
double-loop knot 90 of FIG. 9. Otherwise, the description of the
FIG. 9 embodiment is equally applicable to FIG. 10.
FIG. 11 shows another alternate fastening element 40, previously
mentioned, having a fastening element portion 30 of the type shown
in FIG. 3, with a looped hook 34. The element 40 also includes an
anchoring base 94 which has been crimped into the irregular
configuration shown. Here again, the crimped base 94 serves the
same anchoring function as the knots 90 and 92 in FIGS. 9 and 10
respectively.
In connection with the elements 20 and 30 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,
it will be observed that since each of these elements has a single
upstanding shank which penetrates the material body 41, and since
the respective anchoring bases 92 and 94 of the elements engage the
bottom surface 56 of the material body without penetrating the
body, the elements 20 and 30 are rotatable in the material body 41.
This rotation permits a screwing-in action of the element hooks as
the latter pierce and penetrate the material body, thereby
facilitating the mounting operation. In addition, rotation of the
hooks tends to restrain longitudinal pull-out of the elements from
the material body in which they are mounted.
FIG. 12 shows another alternate type of fastening element 96 having
upper portions 10 and 42 similar to those of the embodiment of FIG.
4, wherein the hooks 18 and 46 face each other. The fastening
element 96 may be applied to the material body 41 by starting with
a straight piece of wire and forcing the latter longitudinally
through and against suitable dies (not shown) disposed above and
below the body 41 to cause the wire to follow the helical path
shown to form a closed loop 98 in which a portion of the body 41 is
enclosed. Thus, the wire may initially be forced longitudinally
downwardly by a machine (not shown) to penetrate the body 41. Upon
emerging from the bottom of the body 41, the end of the wire will
encounter a first abutment on a lower die to turn the wire
perpendicularly extend along the lower surface of body 41 and then
to turn the wire upwardly to again penetrate the body 41. Upon
emergence from the top of body 41, the end of the wire will
encounter an abutment on an upper die to turn the wire
perpendicularly along the upper surface of body 41 and then
downwardly to again penetrate the body 41. This is followed by
engagement of a second abutment in the bottom die to once again
turn the wire perpendicularly and then upwardly to penetrate the
body 41. The upper die may be provided with a channel having an
abutment at the end thereof to form the hook on the portion 42 as
previously described. It will be appreciated that since the
anchoring base of fastening element 96 is looped about a portion of
the body 41, the element 96 will be firmly anchored to the body 41
preventing either an upward, downward, or lateral
disengagement.
FIG. 13 shows another alternate fastening element 100 comprising an
upper element portion 10, of the type shown in FIG. 1, located
above the body 41, and a lower element portion 102 having a stem
104 and hook 106 similar to the stem and hook in upper portion 10,
except that the element 102 is inverted and is located below the
body 41. The element 100 also includes an anchoring portion in the
form of a closed loop 108. As in the case of the previous
embodiment of FIG. 12, the closed loop 108 encloses a portion of
the body 41 to firmly anchor the fastening element 100 to the body
41. The fastening element 100 may be applied to the body 41
utilizing upper and lower dies (not shown) to form the loop 108 in
a manner similar to that described for the embodiment of FIG. 12,
except that in this instance, the hooks 18 and 106 are formed at
both free ends of the element 100.
It will be observed that the fastening element 100 in FIG. 13
differs from all the other illustrated embodiments in that it
includes fastening hooks on both surfaces of the body 41, so that
objects may be fastened to both sides of said body.
It will be understood that the fastening elements shown herein may
be made of electrically conductive wire so as to serve the function
of electrical connectors as well as to fasten together a pair of
articles. Thus, an assembly of fastener elements of the types
disclosed herein may be mounted on a printed circuit panel and be
employed to join thereto a corresponding circuit panel, at the same
time electrically connecting selected circuit elements on the
panels. In addition, if the fastener elements are made of coated
wire, as previously described, with the coating made of insulating
material, a capacitor effect in complex patterns can be
achieved.
As previously indicated, any of the various fastening elements
shown herein may be made of bare metal wire or coated wire. When
the wire is coated, a greater control over the physical qualities
of the elements may be achieved. For example, the resiliency of the
hooks, as well as tensile strength and peel strength of the
fastening assembly can be selectively varied. The coating may also
be employed to impart rigidity to the stem of each fastener element
while retaining the elasticity of the hooks which may be left
uncoated. Further, if the coating material is softer than the metal
wire, it will also serve to reduce the abrasiveness of the fastener
assembly and prevent scratching of the skin of the user. Suitable
coatings can also be employed to provide resistance to corrosion
and chemical action, as well as making it possible to achieve both
a gripping force and an adhesive force in a combined manner in the
same fastener assembly.
There has thus been provided a variety of base-anchored metal
fastening elements which may be readily mounted in selected
patterns on an article and which present hooked ends capable of
penetrating and gripping an opposed article so as to fasten the two
articles together. Where the elements are of the type shown in
FIGS. 4 through 11, wherein the base anchor portion is located
beneath and in abutment with the bottom surface of the article in
which the elements are mounted, the elements may be preformed and
then mounted by machine in the article in a simple penetration
action. On the other hand, where the elements are of the type shown
in FIGS. 12 through 14, wherein the base anchoring portion is
embedded in the article, the elements are not pre-formed but are
formed by machine during the mounting operation.
FIG. 14 shows another alternate fastening element 110 having a pair
of hooks 112, 114 arranged at different elevations above the body
41. The hook 112 is carried on the end of a straight stem 116 while
the hook 114 is carried on the end of a stem 118 which is partially
coiled, as indicated at 120, around the lower section of the
straight stem 116. The fastening element 110 also includes a closed
loop 122 which extends through the body 41 and anchors the element
110 thereto.
FIG. 15 shows yet a further alternate fastening element 124
comprising an upper portion 30 of the type previously described in
connection with FIG. 3, and a base formed into a knot 126. An
elongated element in the form of a wire 128 passes through a loop
in the knots 126 of a plurality of such fastening elements 124 to
provide a firm anchorage for the fastening element 124 on the body
41. In FIG. 17 there is illustrated an article 130 comprising the
material body 41 with a large number of elements 100 mounted
thereon in a selected pattern. In this view, the element portions
10 and 102 are shown protruding respectively from the top and
bottom surfaces of the body 41. Such an article 130, utilizing the
elements 100, may be used advantageously where it is desired to
join two penetrable objects. In such an instance, it is not
necessary to mount a plurality of fastener elements to one of the
bodies in the manner described in connection with the other element
embodiments herein. Instead, the double-faced article 130 is merely
placed between the two penetrable objects to be joined and the
objects are pressed together, sandwiching the article 130
therebetween. The fastening elements 10 on one surface of the
sandwiched article 130 will then penetrate and grasp one object,
and the elements 102 on the opposite surface of article 130 will
penetrate and grasp the other object, so that the two objects are
effectively joined.
It will be understood that while in the preferred form of fastening
elements, the elements have been shown and described as being made
of metal wire, it is contemplated that the bodies of the elements
may be made of glass in filament form, or single crystal whiskers,
both of which have high tensile strength and resilience. Further,
when the term "wire" is used in this application, it is intended to
include not only the usual drawn wire, but also fine, striplike
filaments cut from sheets of metal, the latter having appreciably
greater tensile strength than drawn wire of very small
diameter.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described herein, it will be obvious that numerous omissions,
changes and additions may be made in such embodiments without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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