Hook and Loop Fastening System with Optimized Hook Dimensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hook and loop fastening systems with fibrous female materials often fail to capture and retain loops effectively due to hooks not being configured for the fibrous material, leading to unreliable fastening.
Innovation Solution
The male fastening material is designed with hooks that have specific dimensions and features, such as overall hook height, vertical engagement effective area, and recessed portions on the arms, which are sized in relation to the fibrous material's thickness and fiber cross-sectional dimensions, allowing for effective capture and retention of loops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hooks are made larger to capture more loops, then fastening reliability improves, but the hooks cannot penetrate the fibrous material effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling hook dimensions including hook height, cap height, stem length, and engagement effective area. These parameters are optimized to achieve the right balance between penetration capability and loop capture effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between hook size and fastening reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the concept of engagement effective area as a two-dimensional parameter (width and height dimensions) rather than just considering hook size in one dimension. This dimensional approach allows for capturing more loops by increasing the effective engagement area while maintaining appropriate hook penetration capabilities.
2Length of moving object
If hooks are made smaller to penetrate fibrous material, then penetration capability improves, but loop capture and retention effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple hook parameters simultaneously including hook height, cap height, stem length, and engagement effective area. By carefully controlling these parameters within specific ranges, the hooks achieve both sufficient penetration into the fibrous material and effective loop capture, resolving the contradiction between size and effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses loop capture effectiveness by introducing the engagement effective area parameter that considers both width and height dimensions. This allows smaller hooks to capture adequate loops by optimizing the two-dimensional engagement area rather than relying solely on hook size.
3Strength
If hook dimensions are increased to engage more loops, then fastening strength improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular parameter ranges for hook dimensions (hook height, cap height, stem length, engagement effective area) that balance fastening strength with manufacturability. These optimized ranges allow for achieving strong fastening without requiring excessive manufacturing precision, making the design practical for production.
4Reliability
If hooks are designed with complex geometry to improve loop retention, then retention effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves improved loop retention through optimized geometric parameters (hook height, cap height, stem length, engagement effective area) rather than through complex geometries. This parameter-based approach maintains simple hook geometry while achieving reliable loop retention, avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable absorbent article having a fastening system with male and female components is disclosed. The female component may include a fibrous material having an overall thickness and an overall fiber cross-sectional dimension. The male component may include a plurality of hooks configured to engage the female component, the hooks having features with dimensions relating to the overall thickness and/or the overall fiber cross-sectional dimension of the fibrous material.