Polyester Surface Fastener Hook Loop Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hook and loop surface fasteners made from polyamide fibers face issues such as water and moisture absorption, leading to shape changes, poor engagement strength, and difficulty in dyeing with polyester clothes, while polyester-based fasteners often lack sufficient engagement strength or flexibility.

Innovation Solution

The use of polyethylene terephthalate-based monofilaments for hook fastener elements and polybutylene terephthalate-based multifilaments for loop fastener elements, anchored by heat fusion bonding to a polyester resin base fabric, ensuring high engagement strength, durability, and flexibility without the need for adhesive coatings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If polyamide fibers are used for surface fastener elements, then flexibility and ease of manufacture are improved, but water and moisture absorption causes shape changes and loss of engagement strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidengagement strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from polyamide to polyester fiber, which has different hygroscopic properties. Polyester fibers absorb less moisture than polyamide, preventing the shape changes and engagement strength loss that occur with polyamide fasteners when exposed to water or humidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite construction where polyester fibers are combined with a heat-fusible adhesive resin. The adhesive resin is applied to the back surface of the base fabric to anchor the fiber roots, creating a composite material system that provides both flexibility and reliable engagement strength without moisture-related degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If polyamide fibers are used for surface fastener elements, then flexibility is improved, but uniform dyeing with polyester clothes cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoiddyeability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses homogeneous polyester fibers for both the base fabric and the fastener elements (hook or loop). This ensures uniform dyeability across all components, allowing the entire product to be dyed in one process to achieve consistent color shades, eliminating the need for separate dyeing operations for polyamide and polyester components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

3Reliability

If adhesive coatings are applied to anchor fiber roots, then engagement strength is improved, but flexibility and appearance quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement strengthVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the adhesive resin only locally to the back surface of the base fabric where the fiber roots need anchoring, rather than coating the entire fastener assembly. This localized application provides sufficient engagement strength while minimizing the impact on overall flexibility and appearance quality of the visible surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If polyester fibers are used for surface fastener elements, then uniform dyeability with polyester clothes is improved, but engagement strength may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedyeabilityVSAvoidengagement strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite structure where polyester fibers are combined with a heat-fusible adhesive resin that is applied to anchor the fiber roots to the base fabric. This composite approach maintains the uniform dyeability of polyester while providing sufficient engagement strength through the adhesive bonding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution provides a surface fastener with high engagement strength, durability through repeated use, and uniform dyeability with polyester fabrics, maintaining flexibility and appearance, suitable for clothing applications.

Implementation Method 1

wherein the ground weft yarns comprise sheath-core heat fusible fibers, and the hook fastener elements and the loop fastener elements are anchored by fusion bonding to the ground weft yarns which form the base fabric

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat fusion bonding: Thermal Energy Storage

Data Source

PatentEP2762029B1Surface fastener and surface fastener latch element combination
Publication Date: 2017.11.08 KURARAY FASTENING CO LTD
  • EP2762029B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2762029B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A surface fastener which includes a hook surface fastener (A) and a loop surface fastener (B), or a mixed surface fastener (C). The hook surface fastener (A) has hook fastener elements made of monofilaments on a surface of a base fabric. The loop surface fastener (B) has loop fastener elements made of multifilaments and capable of engaging with the hook fastener elements on a surface of a base fabric. The mixed surface fastener (C) has hook fastener elements made of monofilaments and loop fastener elements made of multifilaments on the same surface of a base fabric. The monofilaments are made from a polyethylene terephthalate-based polyester resin, and the multifilaments are made of a polybutylene terephthalate-based polyester resin.