Flexible Abrasive Loop Structure for Durable Hook Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible abrasive products face issues with unreliable attachment to grinding machines due to loop wear, limited force transmission, and susceptibility to laying down during storage or use, particularly when having an open structure for dust removal.

Innovation Solution

A flexible abrasive product with interconnected loops formed by pairs of bottom-half arcs connected by a protruding head, arranged in rows extending in the wale direction of the cloth, which are interlaced and interconnected outside the cloth to enhance stability and availability for hook-and-loop fastening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If loops are provided as integral parts of base fabric to enable hook-and-loop fastening, then attachment means are readily integrated, but loops wear out and break before abrasive lifetime ends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration of attachment meansVSAvoidloop durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The loop structure is segmented into multiple interconnected loops arranged in rows, where each loop is connected to adjacent loops. This segmentation allows the attachment function to be distributed across multiple independent loop units, so that wear or breakage of individual loops does not compromise the entire attachment system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple loops are merged into interconnected rows where protruding heads of adjacent loops are interconnected. This merging creates a network of loops that share mechanical loads, distributing the stress and force transmission across the entire row rather than concentrating it on single loops, thereby enhancing durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If abrasive product has open structure to improve dust removal, then dust removal is enhanced, but not enough loops are available for establishing connection to machine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removalVSAvoidattachment connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The abrasive product exhibits local quality differentiation: the bulk structure maintains an open, porous configuration for effective dust removal, while specific localized regions contain concentrated rows of interconnected loops. This local concentration of loops in predetermined rows ensures sufficient attachment points are available even when the overall structure is open and porous.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The loop structure is organized into predetermined rows extending in the wale direction, creating a dimensional arrangement where loops are concentrated in specific linear zones. This row-based organization ensures that attachment points are systematically distributed across the surface, providing adequate connection points without requiring a densely filled overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If loops are arranged in traditional configuration, then manufacturing is simple, but loops lay down when product is rolled-up or stacked, making them unavailable for connection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidloop availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The loops are preliminarily configured with protruding heads that extend beyond the cloth surface and are interconnected in predetermined rows. This preliminary configuration, established during manufacturing, pre-positions the loops in an upright, connection-ready state that resists laying down during subsequent handling, rolling, or stacking operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The interconnected loop structure creates a mechanically stable configuration where loops in a row are at equivalent structural levels. The interconnection through protruding heads establishes a balanced, equipotential arrangement that distributes mechanical stresses uniformly, preventing individual loops from collapsing or laying down during storage and handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

4Ease of manufacture

If fewer loops are available for attachment, then manufacturing is easier, but fewer hooks must support higher forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment structureVSAvoidforce transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple loops are merged into interconnected rows where the protruding heads of adjacent loops are connected to one another. This merging creates a load-sharing network where mechanical forces are distributed across multiple loops and their interconnections, allowing the attachment structure to support higher forces without requiring an excessive number of individual loops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3439827B1Abrasive product and a flexible interface for such products
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 KWH MIRKA LTD
  • EP3439827B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3439827B1 patent drawingFigure 1D~6
  • EP3439827B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

Provided is a flexible abrasive product (1) comprising a knitted cloth (2) on a first side of the flexible abrasive product (1), grinding agents (50) applied on a second side of the flexible abrasive product (1) facing the first side, and a plurality of loops (71) protruding from the cloth (2) and from the first side, each loop (71) being formed by a pair of bottom-half arcs (76) connected by a protruding head (77) and the loops (71) being arranged in rows extending in the wale direction (W) of the cloth (2), wherein the bottom-half arcs (76) are interlaced in the cloth (2), and the protruding heads (77) of the loops (71) are interconnected with one another outside of the cloth (2) so as to form rows (73) of interconnected loops (71), which rows (73) extend in the wale direction (W) of the cloth (2).