Claims
- 1. A method for production of a cushion element in a mold having a mold cavity, the mold comprising a trench for receiving an elongate fastener assembly having a fastening surface bounded by a pair of longitudinally extending margins, the method comprising the steps of:
(i) placing the fastener assembly in the mold; (ii) juxtaposing the fastening surface and the trench; (iii) dispensing a liquid foamable composition in the mold; (iv) substantially encompassing the margins with the liquid foamable composition; and (v) expanding the liquid foamable composition to fill substantially the mold cavity to produce the cushion element.
- 2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the mold comprises a bowl and a lid engageable to define the mold cavity, and Step (i) comprises placing the fastener assembly in the bowl.
- 3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the bowl and the lid are disengaged during Step (iii).
- 4. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the bowl and the lid are engaged after Step (iii).
- 5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the margins are substantially free of fastening surface.
- 6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein Step (ii) further comprises securing the fastener assembly with respect to the trench.
- 7. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the mold comprises a magnet disposed adjacent the trench and Step (ii) further comprises magnetically securing the fastener assembly with respect to the trench.
- 8. The method defined in claim 1, wherein each of the margins comprise a foam seal element.
- 9. The method defined in claim 8, wherein Step (ii) further comprises magnetically compressing the fastener assembly thereby compressing the foam seal element.
- 10. The method defined in claim 8, wherein Step (ii) further comprises magnetically compressing the fastener assembly thereby compressing the a first portion of the foam seal element.
- 11. The method defined in claim 10, wherein Step (iv) comprises contacting an uncompressed, section portion of the foam seal element with the liquid foamable composition.
- 12. The method defined in claim 11, wherein said contacting causes densification of the foam seal element.
- 13. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the foam seal element has an Indentation Force Deflection, when measured pursuant to ASTM D3574-95 in the range of from about 10 to about 1000 pounds·force.
- 14. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the foam seal element has an Indentation Force Deflection in the range of from about 10 to about 500 pounds·force.
- 15. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the foam seal element has an Indentation Force Deflection in the range of from about 10 to about 250 pounds·force.
- 16. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the foam seal element has an Indentation Force Deflection in the range of from about 30 to about 100 pounds·force.
- 17. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the foam seal element comprises a polyurethane foam.
- 18. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the fastener assembly comprises a cover layer which substantially completely covers the fastening surface.
- 19. The method defined in claim 18, wherein the cover layer is adhered to the margins.
- 20. The method defined in claim 1, wherein Step (i) comprises placing the fastener assembly on a raised platform disposed in the mold cavity, at least a portion of each margin extending over an edge of the platform.
- 21. A cushion element comprising a foam body portion and a surface having disposed thereon an elongate fastener assembly, the elongate fastener assembly having a fastening surface bounded by a pair of longitudinally extending margins, at least a portion of the longitudinally extending margins be substantially completely encompassed by the foam body portion.
- 22. The cushion element defined in claim 21, wherein the margins are substantially free of fastening surface.
- 23. The cushion element defined in claim 21, wherein the fastener assembly further comprises a magnetically attractable element.
- 24. The cushion element defined in claim 23, wherein the magnetically attractable element is disposed substantially longitudinally with respect to the fastener assembly.
- 25. The cushion element defined in claim 21, wherein each of the margins comprise a foam seal element.
- 26. The cushion element defined in claim 25, wherein the foam seal element comprises a first portion encompassed by the foam body and a second portion non-encompassed by the foam body.
- 27. The cushion element defined in claim 25, wherein the first portion has a higher density than the second portion.
- 28. The cushion element defined in claim 25, wherein the foam seal element has an Indentation Force Deflection, when measured pursuant to ASTM D3574-95 in the range of from about 10 to about 1000 pounds·force.
- 29. The cushion element defined in claim 25, wherein the foam seal element has an Indentation Force Deflection in the range of from about 10 to about 500 pounds·force.
- 30. The cushion element defined in claim 25, wherein the foam seal element has an Indentation Force Deflection in the range of from about 10 to about 250 pounds·force.
- 31. The cushion element defined in claim 25, wherein the foam seal element has an Indentation Force Deflection in the range of from about 30 to about 100 pounds·force.
- 32. The cushion element defined in claim 25, wherein the foam seal element comprises a polyurethane foam.
- 33. The cushion element defined in claim 21, wherein the fastener assembly comprises a cover layer which substantially completely covers the fastening surface.
- 34. The cushion element defined in claim 33, wherein the cover layer is adhered to the margins.
- 35. The cushion element defined in claim 21, wherein the fastener is disposed in a channel formed in the surface of the cushion element.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/218,175, filed Jul. 14, 2000, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60218175 |
Jul 2000 |
US |