Molded surface fastener and cushion body formed integrally with the molded surface fastener

Abstract

The invention provides a molded surface fastener and a cushion body formed integrally with it wherein a molded surface fastener has first resin invasion preventing means of an expandable resin material for molding a cushion body on each of right and left side edge portions along a longitudinal direction of a thermoplastic-resin base member surface, a number of engaging elements provided between the invasion preventing means, and second resin invasion preventing means for sectioning the engaging elements into desired number of regions along the longitudinal direction of the base member and extending in a width direction between adjacent sectioned regions, the second resin invasion preventing means comprising a function for engaging / disengaging a mating engaging element, thereby the molded surface fastener securing a required binding force.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a surface fastener having male engaging elements composed of plural hook pieces which engage mating loop-like female engaging elements on one surface of its flat base member and invasion preventing means at least along right and left side edge portions in a longitudinal direction of the base member for blocking an invasion of a molding resin material into an engaging-element forming region when this product is molded. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] Passenger seats of automobiles or trains, and various kinds of sofas and office chairs have a cushion body inside their surface skin materials. As this cushion body, so-called rock wool, which is obtained by entangling stiff fibers such as palm fibers and flax or synthetic fibers and hardening with rubber or the like, or molded bodies made of various kinds of expandable resin materials are used. These cushion materials have a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a molded surface fastener that can prevent the invasion of expandable resin material into the engaging elements of a cushion body during the molding process. This is achieved by integrating the fastener with the cushion body and providing first resin invasion preventing means on the right and left side edge portions of the base member. The second resin invasion preventing means is also provided to section the engaging elements into a desired number of regions and prevent the invasion of expandable resin material along the width direction of the base member. The molded surface fastener is integrated with the cushion body and can be used in various applications such as automobile seats, sofas, and office chairs.

Problems solved by technology

If it is intended to effectively manufacture the cushion materials having such a complicated surface shape in large quantities considering its cushion performance, the aforementioned rock wool that requires a number of manufacturing processes cannot meet the demand.

However, because there is a limit to be stretched depending on a material, many wrinkles are likely to occur particularly between a seating surface and a peripheral side surface and up to now, great efforts have been made to remedy this phenomenon.

Further, since this integral molding integrates the cushion body and the surface skin material throughout their entire surfaces, if, for example, a strong force is applied in a direction in which the surface skin material deflects on the surface of the cushion body during actual usage, a shearing force is generated between the surface skin material and the cushion body, the cushion body is often partially torn and then, the surface skin material is separated.

As a result, the invasion into the engaging-element forming region is completely blocked.

Thus, the engaging elements in the region in which the expandable resin material invades loses its function as engaging elements and as a consequence, a binding force originally demanded as a surface fastener cut into a predetermined length cannot be secured.

As a result, it becomes more difficult to obtain a desired binding force.

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