Mechanical restoration of a deformed loop structure

Details Mechanical restoration of a deformed loop structure Mechanical restoration of a deformed loop structure

1998-06-05

2001-03-06

Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)

Surgery

Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material

Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...

C604S385101, C226S052000

Statutory Invention Registration

active

H0001952

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hook-and-loop fastening systems. More particularly, it relates to manufacturing processes for articles comprising hook-and-loop fastening systems. Even more particularly, it relates to an improvement in continuous processes for the attachment of loop structures of hook-and-loop fastening systems to articles of manufacture.
2. Background Art
The general public, frequently erroneously, refers to the ubiquitous hook-and-loop fastening system as “Velcro®” regardless of the manufacturer or the technical form of the system. The various hook-and-loop fastening systems have found extensive use wherever repeated attachment and reattachment, fastening and unfastening are required. Articles of clothing such as jackets and shoes commonly use hook-and-loop systems. One major use of hook-and-loop systems is in disposable diapers. (In this particular application the hook-and-loop system is sometimes called a “mechanical fastening” system.) While the present invention can be used in a wide variety of applications, and while its use in such wide variety is not disclaimed, for the sake of simplicity it will be discussed and described in conjunction with its use in the manufacture of disposable diapers.
There are numerous patents in which various hook-and-loop systems are described as well as patents in which various methods of affixing the hook-and-loop systems to disposable diapers are described.
Examples of patents describing hook-and-loop systems include U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,815 issued to Scripps on Jul. 11, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,060 issued to Nestegard on Jan. 16, 1990; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,326 issued to Wood et al on Nov. 27, 1990.
Examples of patents describing disposable diapers which can benefit from use of the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003 issued to Kenneth B. Buell on Jan. 14, 1975; U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on Sep. 9, 1992; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,274 issued to Buell on Jun. 22, 1993; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that other diaper structures can also benefit from use of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is of an improvement in continuous processes for manufacturing articles comprising hook-and-loop fastening systems. The improvement comprises the steps of:
a.) Providing a loop structure comprising a plurality of loop elements, the loop elements being affixed to a support substrate, the support substrate being substantially free of article attachment adhesive;
b.) Deforming at least a portion of the loop elements by winding the loop structure upon itself to form a parent roll;
c.) Unwinding the loop structure from the parent roll;
d.) Restoring at least a portion of the deformed loop elements by contacting the deformed loop elements with a mechanical restoration device; and
e.) Introducing the loop structure comprising the restored loop elements into the continuous process.
The restoration device can be a brush having particular properties or a solid surface having specified roughness characteristics.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4782988 (1988-11-01), Nishiyama
patent: 4894060 (1990-01-01), Nestegard
patent: 1 182 436 (1959-06-01), None
patent: 2 767 653 (1999-03-01), None
patent: WO 94/23609 (1994-10-01), None

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