Hook Fastener Polymer Compliance to Prevent Fabric Nap Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The unintentional contact of male fastening parts with nappable surfaces on article components causes naps to rise, leading to a degraded appearance, while maintaining reliable engagement is crucial.
Innovation Solution
The male fastening parts are designed with engagement elements made of a polymer material with a bend elastic constant of 800 MPa or less, arranged to minimize contact with woven or knitted structures, and controlled density and spacing to prevent nap formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the male fastening part is designed for repeated engagement and disengagement with the female fastening part, then the reliability of engagement is improved, but the male engagement elements may unintentionally contact the nappable surface of article components, causing naps to rise and degrading the appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the male engagement elements by specifying a bend elastic constant of 800 MPa or less, 500 MPa or less, or 450 MPa or less. This parameter change makes the engagement elements softer and more compliant, allowing them to deform upon contact with the nappable surface without causing significant damage or nap formation, while still maintaining sufficient engagement reliability with the female fastening part
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making only the male engagement elements that contact the nappable region have low bend elastic constant. The engagement elements are specifically designed with this property in the regions that may contact the article component's nappable surface, while other parts of the fastening system maintain their original properties for reliable engagement
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the male engagement elements are made softer to suppress nap formation, then the appearance of the article is maintained, but the engagement reliability with the female fastening part may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully selects and specifies the bend elastic constant parameter within a particular range (800 MPa or less, 500 MPa or less, or 450 MPa or less) to achieve the optimal balance. This parameter change ensures the engagement elements are soft enough to suppress nap formation during unintentional contact with the article component, while still maintaining sufficient rigidity and strength to reliably engage with the female fastening part's loops
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
This design effectively suppresses nap formation on nappable regions, ensuring reliable engagement and maintaining the appearance of the article.
Implementation Method 1
The respective ones of the male engagement elements of the multiplicity of male engagement elements or of the two or more male engagement elements are made of a same polymer material having a bend elastic constant of 800 MPa or less, or 500 MPa or less, or 450 MPa or less
Data Source
AI summary
Article includes: male and female fastening parts secured onto separate locations on the article, the male and female fastening parts being mutually engageable; and at least one article component having a nappable region with which the male fastening part is brought into contact at least partially. The male fastening part includes a multiplicity of male engagement elements where male engagement elements are two-dimensionally arranged, the multiplicity of male engagement elements including two or more male engagement elements each having a top surface that is brought into contact with the nappable region. The respective ones of the male engagement elements of the multiplicity of male engagement elements or of the two or more male engagement elements are made of a same polymer material having a bend elastic constant of 800 MPa or less, or 500 MPa or less, or 450 MPa or less.