Stealthy loop material for hook and loop fastener

Abstract

A loop material for a hook and loop fastener, which has ink jet printing on a face of the loop material, wherein the loop material has a shear strength of at least 10 pounds per square inch as measured by ASTM D-5169 and a peel strength of at least 1 pound as measured by ASTM D-5170. The printing on the face of the loop material substantially reduces the sound level associated with disengagement of the loop material from a hook material. A process for preparing the loop material is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A loop material for a hook and loop fastener, said loop material having ink jet printing on a face of the loop material, wherein the loop material has a shear strength of at least 10 pounds per square inch as measured by ASTM D-5169 and a peel strength of at least 1 pound per inch as measured by ASTM D-5170. 
     
     
         2 . The loop material of  claim 1 , having a disengagement sound level of less than 64 dB during disengagement from a complementary hook material. 
     
     
         3 . A camouflage garment comprising the loop material of  claim 1  applied to a substrate garment bearing a camouflage design, wherein the ink jet printing on the face of the loop material is identical to the camouflage design of the substrate garment such that the loop material blends into the background of the substrate garment in the visible range and in the near infrared range of the light spectrum. 
     
     
         4 . Military law enforcement, hunting and/or tactical gear comprising the loop material of  claim 1  applied to substrate gear bearing a camouflage design, wherein the ink jet printing on the face of the loop material is identical to the camouflage design on the substrate gear such that the loop material blends into the background of the substrate gear in the visible range and in the near infrared range of the light spectrum. 
     
     
         5 . A hook and loop fastener comprising the loop material of  claim 1  and a hook material. 
     
     
         6 . A method for making a loop material for a hook and loop fastener, said method comprising:
 providing a basic loop material; and   ink jet printing on a face of the basic loop material to provide the loop material of  claim 1 ,   wherein the method is conducted without attaching the loop material on a frame.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising washing the loop material to provide the loop material with a shrinkage not exceeding about 3% in a warp or fill direction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the loop material has a disengagement sound level which is reduced by at least 9 dB relative to the basic loop material.