Mesh hook surface fastener, production method therefor, and production method for surface fastener-attached molded body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mesh hook surface fasteners face challenges when integrated with foamed resin molded bodies through mold-in forming, as the foamable resin liquid often covers the engagement elements, reducing their effectiveness, and the resulting seat structures lack the necessary flexibility and stretchability, leading to discomfort and poor engagement performance.

Innovation Solution

A mesh hook surface fastener design featuring a base layer with parallel strands and intersecting shape holding ribs of varying heights, combined with thermoplastic elastomer resin, which prevents foamable resin liquid from directly reaching the hook-shaped engagement elements and enhances flexibility and stretchability, allowing for effective integration with foamed resin molded bodies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a mesh hook surface fastener is integrated with a foamed resin molded body through mold-in forming, then the engagement elements may be covered by foamable resin liquid, but this reduces their effectiveness and engagement performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemold-in forming integrationVSAvoidengagement performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base layer is divided into multiple strands arranged in parallel, creating a mesh structure that segments the foamable resin liquid flow paths. This segmentation prevents the resin from completely covering the engagement elements while maintaining the mold-in forming integration benefit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different properties to different parts of the base layer. The strands are positioned to create regions that control resin flow locally, ensuring that engagement elements in critical areas remain accessible while allowing integration with the foamed resin molded body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the engagement element surfaces are covered with foamed resin, then the mold-in forming process is simplified, but the surface fastener loses its engagement ability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemold-in forming processVSAvoidengagement ability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh structure of the base layer with parallel strands creates a porous configuration that allows controlled passage of foamable resin liquid. The resin can flow through the mesh to provide integration benefits while the open structure prevents complete coverage of engagement elements, maintaining engagement ability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows partial coverage of engagement elements by foamable resin, recognizing that complete coverage is not necessary for effective engagement. This partial action approach maintains sufficient engagement ability while achieving the manufacturing benefits of mold-in forming

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If the foamed resin molded body has a deep groove for housing the surface fastener, then the surface fastener can be properly positioned, but this increases device complexity and may affect flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface fastener positioningVSAvoidmold structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh structure with parallel strands provides dynamic flexibility to the base layer, allowing it to adapt to the molded body surface without requiring deep grooves. The flexible mesh can conform to shallower recesses while maintaining proper positioning of engagement elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12102193B2Mesh hook surface fastener, production method therefor, and production method for surface fastener-attached molded body

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 KURARAY FASTENING CO LTD

AI summary

A mesh hook surface fastener does not lose engagement ability even when subjected to mold-in forming and gives only a slight feeling of something foreign. The mesh hook surface fastener contains first shape holding ribs (a21) with a relatively small protrusion height and second shape holding ribs (a22) with a relatively large protrusion height which protrude to the opposite side of hook-shaped engagement elements (B1, B2) across a base layer (A1) and are alternately arranged. The heights of the adjacent shape holding ribs (a21, a22) are different, which prevents the direct entrance of a foamable resin liquid and weakens its force. As the force weakens, foaming and curing progress more readily and, as a result, the amount of the foamable resin liquid that passes through meshes of the base layer to reach the hook-shaped engagement elements can be reduced.