Adhesive-Coated H-Shaped Plastic Fastener for Securement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic fasteners with low coefficients of friction are unreliable in securing items together, as they allow for movement between coupled articles, potentially causing damage and enabling unauthorized separation.
Innovation Solution
A plastic fastener with a flexible filament and an adhesive material, either as a coating or integral to the core, is designed to exhibit tackiness, enhancing securement by increasing frictional forces between coupled items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional plastic fasteners with low coefficients of friction are used, then ease of dispensing is maintained, but reliability of securing items together deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the surface properties of the fastener through adhesive coating or material composition changes. This transforms the fastener from having low friction properties to having high adhesion properties, fundamentally changing how it secures items while maintaining compatibility with existing dispensing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining plastic fastener material with adhesive materials. This creates a composite structure where the plastic component provides structural integrity and the adhesive component provides enhanced bonding, resolving the contradiction between ease of dispensing and reliability of securing.
2Strength
If adhesive material is added to the fastener, then securement strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the adhesive material specifically at the cross-bar surfaces that contact the items, rather than throughout the entire fastener structure. This localized application enhances securement strength where needed while minimizing added complexity and material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fastening function and adhesive bonding function into a single integrated component. By combining these functions in one element, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate mechanical fasteners and adhesives, while achieving enhanced securement strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adhesive-coated fastener effectively limits movement between items, providing enhanced securement and preventing unauthorized separation while being mass producible and inexpensive.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the flexible filament and the first enlargement comprises an adhesive material
Data Source
AI summary
A plastic fastener is rendered tacky so as to adhere to the items which it couples, thereby enhancing securement. The plastic fastener is constructed as an H-shaped staple that includes a pair of parallel cross-bars interconnected by a flexible filament. In one embodiment, the plastic fastener includes an inner plastic core constructed using at least one flexible plastic material and an adhesive-based outer coating constructed using at least one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a heat-activatable adhesive. In another embodiment, the plastic fastener is constructed using a mixture of at least one flexible plastic material and at least one adhesive material. In lieu of incorporating an adhesive material into the plastic fastener, a novel item coupling process achieves fastener tackiness by applying heat onto the plastic fastener either prior to, during, or after being dispensed into the desired items.