Longitudinal bead molding

Abstract

An edge-beaded fastener product such as a cushion cover tie-down has a molded profile bead secured to and extending along a flexible strip adjacent a longitudinal edge of the strip. The profile bead has a shoulder or an inboard sidewall extending away from the strip, such as for retaining a clip or hog ring. The flexible strip may have a reinforced region, inboard of the shoulder, in which resin contiguous with resin forming the profile bead encapsulates surface features of the strip. The product is made by molding resin directly onto the strip. Multiple lanes of resin may be molded on a single substrate, which is severed to form individual strips with severed, exposed strip edges.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An edge-beaded fastener product comprising:
 an elongated, flexible strip having opposite longitudinal edges; and   a molded profiled bead secured to and extending along the flexible strip adjacent one of the longitudinal edges of the strip, the profiled bead having an inboard sidewall extending away from the strip,   wherein the flexible strip has a reinforced region, inboard of the inboard sidewall of the profiled bead, in which resin contiguous with resin forming the profiled bead encapsulates surface features of the strip, the reinforced region being of finite width and having an inboard edge spaced from the profiled bead and the longitudinal edges of the strip.   
     
     
         20 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , further comprising a longitudinal rib of resin at an inboard edge of the reinforced region, the rib, reinforced region and profiled bead comprising portions of a contiguous mass of resin. 
     
     
         21 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , wherein the molded profile bead is disposed adjacent an exposed longitudinal edge of the strip. 
     
     
         22 . The fastener product of  claim 21 , wherein the molded profile bead has a severed edge coincident with the exposed longitudinal edge of the strip. 
     
     
         23 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , wherein the reinforced region is at least as wide as the profile bead. 
     
     
         24 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , wherein the profile bead is longitudinally continuous. 
     
     
         25 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , wherein the profile bead is segmented, with segments of the profile bead spaced apart along an edge of the strip. 
     
     
         26 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , further comprising a pad of resin projecting from a side of the strip within the reinforced region, spaced from the longitudinal edges of the strip and aligned with a gap between adjacent profile bead segments. 
     
     
         27 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , further comprising a longitudinal rib of resin at an inboard edge of the reinforced region; wherein the rib, reinforced region and profile bead comprise respective portions of a contiguous mass of resin. 
     
     
         28 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , wherein the flexible strip defines apertures through the strip. 
     
     
         29 . The fastener product of  claim 28 , wherein the apertures are disposed within the reinforced region. 
     
     
         30 . The fastener product of  claim 29 , wherein the reinforced region comprises rims of resin extending about the apertures and projecting from the strip. 
     
     
         31 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , wherein the profile bead is disposed on only one broad side of the strip. 
     
     
         32 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , wherein the profile bead includes two bead portions each disposed on a respective side of the strip and each having an inboard sidewall extending away from the strip. 
     
     
         33 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , wherein the profile bead has a longitudinal flange extending away from the strip and disposed inboard of the sidewall, such that the flange and sidewall define a longitudinal recess therebetween. 
     
     
         34 . The fastener product of  claim 19 , further comprising a wire embedded within the profile bead. 
     
     
         35 . A cushion cover tie-down comprising:
 an elongated, fabric strip with opposite longitudinal edges; and   a molded profile bead of resin secured to and extending along the strip adjacent one of the longitudinal edges; the profile bead comprising an inboard sidewall extending away from the strip and disposed adjacent an exposed longitudinal edge of the strip.   
     
     
         36 . The cushion cover tie-down of  claim 35 , wherein the exposed longitudinal edge of the strip features severed ends of fibers of the fabric strip, with the bead of resin encapsulating surface fibers of the strip adjacent the severed fiber ends. 
     
     
         37 . The cushion cover tie-down of  claim 35 , wherein the molded profile bead is contiguous with resin impregnating material of the flexible strip in a reinforced region between the sidewall of the molded profile bead and an exposed surface of the flexible strip. 
     
     
         38 . A cushion cover tie-down comprising:
 an elongated, fabric strip with opposite longitudinal edges; and   a molded profile bead of resin secured to and extending along the strip adjacent one of the longitudinal edges;   wherein the profile bead comprises
 an inboard sidewall extending away from the strip, and 
 a longitudinal flange extending away from the strip and positioned inboard of the sidewall, such that the flange and sidewall define a longitudinal recess therebetween.