Touch Fastener Structure for Easier Planar Engagement Molding

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fasteners with touch fasteners are difficult and expensive to manufacture due to the complexity of forming a large number of engaging elements in a planar arrangement.

Innovation Solution

A fastener design featuring a touch-fastener portion composed of stacked fastener-piece portions with engaging elements aligned in a line, joined to a support base through insert molding, allowing for easier and less costly manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large number of engaging elements are arranged in a planar manner on the touch fastener, then the fastening function is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening functionVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The touch fastener is divided into multiple fastener-piece portions stacked in the thickness direction. Each portion contains engaging elements arranged in a line, and the portions are connected through connections. This segmentation allows the engaging elements to be arranged in a planar manner across multiple stacked portions while simplifying the manufacturing process for each individual portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging elements are arranged in a line along the width direction on each fastener-piece portion, and multiple portions are stacked in the thickness direction. This dimensional arrangement creates a planar distribution of engaging elements across the surface while maintaining simple linear arrangement on each portion, facilitating easier manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a large number of engaging elements are arranged in a planar manner on the touch fastener, then the fastening function is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The touch fastener is divided into multiple fastener-piece portions stacked in the thickness direction. Each portion contains engaging elements arranged in a line, and the portions are connected through connections. This segmentation allows the engaging elements to be arranged in a planar manner across multiple stacked portions while simplifying the manufacturing process for each individual portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging elements are arranged in a line along the width direction on each fastener-piece portion, and multiple portions are stacked in the thickness direction. This dimensional arrangement creates a planar distribution of engaging elements across the surface while maintaining simple linear arrangement on each portion, facilitating easier manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the touch fastener and base member are used as inserts in insert molding, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the complexity of forming the touch fastener with many engaging elements remains

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidtouch fastener structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch fastener is divided into multiple fastener-piece portions stacked in the thickness direction. Each portion contains engaging elements arranged in a line, and the portions are connected through connections. This segmentation allows the engaging elements to be arranged in a planar manner across multiple stacked portions while simplifying the manufacturing process for each individual portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging elements are arranged in a line along the width direction on each fastener-piece portion, and multiple portions are stacked in the thickness direction. This dimensional arrangement creates a planar distribution of engaging elements across the surface while maintaining simple linear arrangement on each portion, facilitating easier manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 fastener can be manufactured more easily and cost-effectively by resin molding and insert molding, ensuring strong and functional attachment for automobile interior components.

Implementation Method 1

synthetic resin is injected into the mold so that the filling space and the openings formed in the base member are filled with the synthetic resin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Implementation Method 2

The support portion is joined to the support base by insert molding using a synthetic resin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInsert molding:

Data Source

PatentUS20250344812A1Fastener and manufacturing method for same

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 NITTA MOLD CORP

AI summary

A fastener includes a touch-fastener portion and a support base that supports the touch-fastener portion. The touch-fastener portion includes a plurality of fastener-piece portions stacked one on the other in a width direction. Each of the fastener-piece portions includes a support portion and a plurality of engaging elements formed on the support portion and aligned in a single line along a length direction. The support portion is joined to the support base by insert molding using a synthetic resin.