Flexible fastener strip assembly and methods of assembling the same

Abstract

Various embodiments of a flexible fastener strip assembly include two or more straight hook fastener elements and an elongated connecting member for joining the hook fastener elements in an end-to-end relationship. Each hook fastener element includes a plurality of hooks and defines at least one elongated hole that extends through an upper and a lower surface of the hook fastener element. The elongated connecting member includes a spine and two or more protrusions that extend from one side of the spine in a width plane, and a width dimension of the spine in the width plane is greater than a thickness dimension of the spine in a thickness plane. Each protrusion is engaged into one of the elongated holes of the hook fastener elements such that the spine is disposed adjacent the lower surface of the hook fastener elements.

1 . An elongated, flexible fastener strip assembly comprising:
 two or more hook fastener elements, each of said hook fastener elements having:
 an elongated base having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, a first end, and a second end opposite said first end, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between said first end and said second end; and 
 a plurality of hooks extending upwardly from said upper surface, 
 wherein each of said hook fastener elements defines at least one elongated hole extending through said upper and lower surfaces; and 
   an elongated connecting member comprising a spine and at least two protrusions, said spine having a width dimension in a width plane and a thickness dimension in a thickness plane, said width dimension being larger than said thickness dimension, and said at least two protrusions extending from a first side of said spine in said width plane,
 wherein: 
 said first protrusion is adapted for securely engaging said at least one elongated hole of a first hook fastener element and said second protrusion is adapted for securely engaging said at least one elongated hole of a second hook fastener element such that said first end of said first hook fastener element is disposed adjacent said first end of said second hook fastener element, said spine is disposed adjacent said lower surfaces of said hook fastener elements, and said width plane is substantially perpendicular to said lower surface of said hook fastener elements, and 
 said elongated fastener strip assembly exhibits flexibility in said thickness plane of said elongated connecting member and stiffness in said width plane of said elongated connecting member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of said protrusions has a head and a neck intermediate said head and said spine, said head having an engaging portion having a length greater than a length of said neck, said engaging portion of said head being disposed adjacent said upper surface of said hook fastener element and said neck being disposed between said lower surface and said upper surface when said protrusion is engaged in said elongated hole of said hook fastener element. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 2  wherein said head has a distal end opposite said engaging portion, said distal end having a length that is less than a length of said elongated hole of said hook fastener element and said engaging portion having a length that is greater than said length of said elongated hole. 
     
     
         4 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 1  wherein said at least one elongated hole is disposed adjacent said first end of each of said hook fastener elements. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 4  wherein:
 said first hook fastener element further defines a first elongated slit, said first elongated slit extending along said longitudinal axis of said first hook fastener element from said first end to a point adjacent said elongated hole adjacent said first end,   said second hook fastener element further defines a second elongated slit, said second elongated slit extending along said longitudinal axis of said second hook fastener element from said first end to a point adjacent said elongated hole adjacent said first end,   said elongated connecting member further comprises a stabilizing member disposed intermediate said first protrusion and said second protrusion, said stabilizing member extending from said first side of said spine in said width plane and having a thickness substantially equal to said spine and said first and second protrusions, and   said stabilizing member is adapted for engaging said first elongated slit and said second elongated slit when said first hook fastener element is secured in an end-to-end relationship with said second hook fastener element.   
     
     
         6 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 5  wherein said first and second protrusions, said spine, and said stabilizing member have a rectangular shaped cross section as taken through the thickness plane of said elongated connecting member. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of hook fastener elements comprises a third hook fastener element, and said plurality of protrusions extending from said first side of said elongated connecting member comprises a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion, said third protrusion adapted for securely engaging an elongated hole disposed adjacent said second end of said second hook fastener element and said fourth protrusion adapted for securely engaging an elongated hole disposed adjacent a second end of said third hook fastener element such that said second end of said second hook fastener element is disposed adjacent said second end of said third hook fastener element. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first and second protrusions and said spine have a rectangular shaped cross section as taken through the thickness plane of said elongated connecting member. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 1  wherein an end portion of at least one of said ends of each of said hook fastener elements forms an arrow shape as viewed from the upper or lower surface of said hook fastener element. 
     
     
         10 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of said hook fastener elements further comprise at least two longitudinal side walls extending upwardly from said upper surface and being disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of said upper surface, said longitudinal side walls having a height substantially equal to a height of said plurality of hooks. 
     
     
         11 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 10  wherein said base, said hooks, and said side walls of each of said hook fastener elements are integrally formed. 
     
     
         12 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 11  wherein said spine and said protrusions of said elongated connecting member are integrally formed. 
     
     
         13 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 12  wherein said spine and said protrusions are die cut from an elongated strip. 
     
     
         14 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 1  wherein said base and said hooks of each of said hook fastener elements are integrally formed. 
     
     
         15 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 1  wherein said elongated connecting member is formed from a material having magnetic properties. 
     
     
         16 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 1  wherein said elongated connecting member is formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         17 . The elongated flexible fastener strip assembly of  claim 16  wherein each of said hook fastener elements comprises a monofilament formed therein having magnetic properties. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a plurality of hook fastener elements in an end-to-end relationship with a connecting member, said method comprising:
 providing two or more hook fastener elements, each of said hook fastener elements having:
 an elongated base having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, a first end, and a second end opposite said first end, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between said first end and said second end; and 
 a plurality of hooks extending upwardly from said upper surface, 
 wherein each of said hook fastener elements defines at least one elongated hole extending through said upper and lower surfaces; 
   providing an elongated connecting member comprising a spine and at least two protrusions, said spine having a width dimension in a width plane and a thickness dimension in a thickness plane, said width dimension being larger than said thickness dimension, said protrusions extending from a first side of said spine in said width plane;   securely engaging said first protrusion in said at least one elongated hole of a first hook fastener element; and   securely engaging said second protrusion in said at least one elongated hole of a second hook fastener element,   wherein said first end of said first hook fastener element is disposed adjacent said first end of said second hook fastener element, said spine is disposed adjacent said lower surfaces of said hook fastener elements, and said width plane of said elongated connecting member is substantially perpendicular to said lower surface of said hook fastener elements.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of providing two or more hook fastener elements comprises die-cutting a straight hook fastener element into two or more separate hook fastener elements. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of die-cutting said straight hook fastener element comprises die-cutting said elongated holes through said upper and lower surfaces of each separate hook fastener element. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of providing said elongated connecting member comprises die-cutting said protrusions from an elongated strip of material having a rectangular cross section as taken through the thickness plane and the width plane. 
     
     
         22 . An elongated, flexible fastener strip assembly comprising:
 a straight hook fastener element comprising:
 an elongated base having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, a first end, and a second end opposite said first end, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between said first end and said second end; 
 a plurality of hooks extending upwardly from said upper surface; and 
 at least one narrow portion extending between two wide portions of said base, wherein said wide portions are able to bend relative to each other through said narrow portion, 
 wherein each of said wide portions of said hook fastener element further defines at least one elongated hole extending through said upper and lower surfaces; and 
   an elongated connecting member comprising a spine and at least two protrusions, said spine having a width dimension in a width plane and a thickness dimension in a thickness plane, said width dimension being larger than said thickness dimension, and said at least two protrusions extending from a first side of said spine in said width plane,
 wherein: 
 said first protrusion is adapted for securely engaging said at least one elongated hole of a first wide portion of said hook fastener element and said second protrusion is adapted for securely engaging said at least one elongated hole of a second wide portion of said hook fastener element such that said spine is disposed adjacent said lower surface of said hook fastener element, and said width plane is substantially perpendicular to said lower surface of said hook fastener element, and 
 said elongated fastener strip assembly exhibits flexibility in said thickness plane of said elongated connecting member and stiffness in said width plane of said elongated connecting member.