Staggered Molded Surface Fastener for Consistent Loop Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing molded surface fasteners with regularly aligned engaging elements suffer from inconsistent loop engagement due to varying separation distances between engaging pawl portions, leading to reduced peel strength and compatibility issues with non-woven fabrics.
Innovation Solution
A molded surface fastener design featuring engaging elements with symmetrical pawl portions disposed at symmetrical positions relative to a center line, arranged in a staggered pattern to maintain consistent separation distances between pawl portions, enhancing loop engagement and stability across different non-woven fabrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If engaging elements are arranged in a regular aligned pattern, then manufacturing is simplified, but loop engagement consistency deteriorates due to varying separation distances between pawl portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by shifting the arrangement pattern of engaging elements between adjacent element rows. Specifically, odd-numbered element rows are shifted by half the pitch interval in the machine direction compared to even-numbered element rows. This asymmetric offset arrangement ensures that pawl portions from adjacent rows maintain consistent separation distances, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and engagement consistency.
2Strength
If engaging elements are arranged with consistent pawl separation distances, then peel strength is improved, but element arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the element rows into odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows with different arrangement patterns. By dividing the overall arrangement into two distinct segmented groups with systematic offsets, the patent achieves consistent pawl separation distances across all adjacent rows while maintaining a manageable level of arrangement complexity through the regular alternation pattern.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
In a molded surface fastener (1, 2, 3) in which an engaging element (10, 17, 18, 60, 70) includes at least two engaging pawl portions (13, 73) protruded outward, a plurality of the engaging elements (10, 17, 18, 60, 70) is disposed in a line along a machine direction (MD) to form an element row (15, 65, 75), a plurality of the element rows (15, 65, 75) is arranged side by side in a cross direction (CD), each of the engaging elements (10, 17, 18, 60, 70) has, as the engaging pawl portions (13, 73), at least a pair of symmetrical engaging pawl portions (13, 73) which are disposed each other at symmetrical positions in the cross direction (CD) and are respectively protruded in the cross direction (CD) sides, and a plurality of the engaging elements (10, 17, 18, 60, 70) is arranged in a staggered pattern. Thereby, the molded surface fastener (1, 2, 3) can appropriately and stably exert desired performance such as peel strength with respect to more types of non-woven fabrics.