Claims
- 1. A method for binding at least one article comprising (a) at least partially surrounding the article with a first elongate strap portion that comprises a base sheet configured on at least one surface with an array of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting integrally from the base sheet; the ribs comprising a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and a flange attached to at least one side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet; the underside surface of the outer portion of at least some flanges projecting downwardly toward the base sheet; the array of ribs establishing a first fastening surface that can be pressed against and thereby interconnected with an identical fastening surface; and the flange having a substantial thickness over most of its width such that the stem portion deforms in preference to the flange during peel-type disengagement from an identical fastening surface; and (b) interconnecting the first fastening surface with a second fastening surface carried on a further structural member disposed around the article.
- 2. A method of claim 1 in which the flange has a thickness about the same as the thickness of the stem portion.
- 3. A method of claim 1 in which a flange is attached to both sides of the stem portion.
- 4. A method of claim 3 in which the flanges have a thickness about the same as the thickness of the stem portion.
- 5. A method of claim 3 in which portions of the topmost surface of at least some of the flanges angle downwardly toward the base sheet from the stem portion to form a tapered top rib surface that functions during interengagement of two identical fastening surfaces to direct a rib of one fastening surface into the space between two adjacent ribs of the other fastening surface.
- 6. A method of claim 1 in which the binding strap has a width of about one centimeter or less.
- 7. A method of claim 1 in which the further structural member is a second strap portion, and the second fastening surface is identical to the first fastening surface.
- 8. A method of claim 7 in which the first and second strap portions are integrally connected parts of one strap.
- 9. A method of claim 8 in which the first and second fastening surfaces are disposed on the same major surface of the strap.
- 10. A method of claim 9 in which the strap includes at least one opening through which an end of the strap may be inserted and the first and second fastening surfaces fastened together.
- 11. A method of claim 10 in which the first and second fastening surfaces are on the surface of the strap opposite from the at least one article being bound, and fastening is achieved by inserting through the opening a portion of the strap that carries the first fastening surface, and folding that portion back onto a portion of the strap not inserted through the opening, which carries the second fastening surface.
- 12. A method of claim 11 in which the opening is in the end of the strap opposite the end inserted through the opening.
- 13. A method of claim 12 in which the second fastening surface is on the end of the strap in which the opening is formed and is adjacent the opening.
- 14. A method of claim 12 in which the second fastening surface is on a portion of the strap intermediate the opening and the end of the strap inserted through the opening.
- 15. A method of claim 13 in which the end of the strap inserted through the opening is fastened to the second fastening surface as well as to a third fastening surface disposed on a portion of the strap intermediate the opening and the end of the strap inserted through the opening.
- 16. A method of claim 8 in which the strap is fastened to a ring member, and fastening is achieved by inserting through the ring member a portion of the strap that carries the first fastening surface, and folding that portion back onto a portion of the strap not inserted through the ring member, which carries the second fastening surface.
- 17. A method of claim 16 in which the other end of the strap is also inserted through the ring member and fastened by folding the inserted portion, which carries a third fastening surface, back onto a portion of the strap not inserted through the ring member, which carries a fourth fastening surface.
- 18. A method of claim 9 in which at least one end of the strap is folded back onto itself and held in that position to form a tab at the end of the strap.
- 19. A method of claim 18 in which the folded-back portion of the strap carries a fastening surface.
- 20. A method of claim 1 in which the further structural member is a panel having an apertured area comprising at least one opening, and fastening surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the apertured area adjacent the apertured area; and a first strap portion is inserted through the apertured area and fastened to one adjacent fastening surface, and a second strap portion is inserted through the apertured area and fastened to another adjacent fastening surface.
- 21. A method of claim 8 in which the first and second fastening surfaces are on opposite major surfaces of the strap.
- 22. A method of claim 1 in which the at least one article being bound is of a size to be received between adjacent ribs projecting from the base sheet.
- 23. A method of claim 1 in which the at least one article being bound comprises a body part and the strap carries a wound dressing.
- 24. A method of claim 1 in which the ribs comprise a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and at least one flange attached to each side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet.
- 25. A method of claim 1 in which the elongate strap portion is made by profile extrusion, with the length of the strap portion being transverse to the machine direction of extrusion.
- 26. A method for binding at least one article comprising (a) at least partially surrounding the article with a first elongate strap portion that comprises a base sheet configured on at least one surface with an array of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting integrally from the base sheet and establishing a first fastening surface that can be pressed against and thereby interconnected with an identically configured fastening surface; the ribs comprising a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and a flange attached to each side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet; the underside surface of the outer portions of the flanges projecting toward the base sheet such that when identical fastening surfaces are interengaged, the outer portions of the flanges from one fastening surface nest within the space between the stem portions and outer portion of flanges from the other fastening surface; portions of the topmost surface of at least some of the flanges angling downwardly toward the base sheet from the stem portion to form a tapered top rib surface that functions during interengagement of two identical fastening surfaces to direct a rib of one fastening surface into the space between two adjacent ribs of the other fastening surface; and the flanges having a substantial thickness over at least most of their width such that the stem portion deforms in preference to the flanges during peel-type disengagement from an identical fastening surface; and (b) interconnecting the first fastening surface with a second fastening surface carried on a further structural member disposed around the article.
- 27. A method of claim 26 in which the further structural member is a second strap portion integrally connected to the first strap portion and carrying the second fastening surface, which is identical to the first fastening surface.
- 28. A method of claim 27 in which the integral strap includes at least one opening through which an end of the strap may be inserted to fasten the first and second fastening surfaces together.
- 29. A method of claim 26 in which the elongate strap portion is made by profile extrusion, with the length of the strap portion being transverse to the machine direction of extrusion, and the ribs being transverse to the length of the strap portion.
- 30. A method of claim 26 in which the binding strap has a width of about one centimeter or less.
- 31. A binding strap comprising an elongate base sheet having an array of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting integrally from the base sheet; the ribs comprising a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and a flange attached to at least one side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet; the array of ribs establishing a first fastening surface that can be pressed against and thereby interconnected with an identical fastening surface; the underside surface of the outer portion of the flanges projecting toward the base sheet, and the flanges having a substantial thickness over at least most of their width such that the stem portion deforms during peel-type disengagement from an identical fastening surface in preference to deformation of the flange attached to the stem portion; and the strap having a length and width adapting the strap to be wrapped around one or more articles to apply a binding action on the article(s).
- 32. A binding strap of claim 31 in which the stem portion and flange have about the same thickness, and the stem height is greater than the flange width.
- 33. A binding strap of claim 31 made by profile extrusion, with the length of the strap being transverse to the machine direction of extrusion, and the ribs being transverse to the length of the strap.
- 34. A binding strap of claim 31 having a fastening surface as described on each of the two major sides of the strap.
- 35. A binding strap of claim 34 in which portions of at least one major side of the strap are free from ribs.
- 36. A binding strap of claim 31 in which portions of the side of the base sheet from which ribs project are free from ribs.
- 37. A binding strap of claim 31 which includes at least one opening in the strap through which an end of the strap may be inserted and interconnected with another portion of the strap during a binding operation.
- 38. A binding strap comprising an elongate base sheet having an array of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting integrally from the base sheet and establishing a first fastening surface that can be pressed against and thereby interconnected with an identically configured fastening surface; the ribs comprising a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and a flange attached to each side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet; the underside surface of the outer portions of the flanges projecting toward the base sheet such that when identical fastening surfaces are interengaged, the outer portions of the flanges from one fastening surface nest within the space between the stem portions and outer portion of flanges from the other fastening surface; portions of the topmost surface of at least some of the flanges angling downwardly toward the base sheet from the stem portion to form a tapered top rib surface that functions during interengagement of two identical fastening surfaces to direct a rib of one fastening surface into the space between two adjacent ribs of the other fastening surface; and the flanges having a substantial thickness over at least most of their width such that the stem portion deforms in preference to the flanges during peel-type disengagement from an identical fastening surface; and the strap having a length and width adapting the strap to be wrapped around one or more articles to apply a binding action on the article(s).
- 39. A binding strap of claim 38 prepared by coextrusion from at least two different materials, whereby one portion of the binding strap comprises one material and a different portion of the binding strap comprises a different material.
- 40. A binding strap of claim 38 which comprises a supplementary web attached to the base sheet on the side opposite from which ribs project.
- 41. A binding strap of claim 38 which carries a layer of adhesive on the side of the base sheet opposite from which ribs project.
- 42. A fastener comprising a base sheet configured on at least one surface with an array of parallel, narrowly spaced, elastically deformable ribs projecting integrally from the base sheet; the ribs comprising a stem portion attached to and substantially upright from the base sheet and a flange attached to each side of the stem portion and spaced from the base sheet; the underside surface of the outer portion of the flanges projecting downwardly toward the base sheet; the array of ribs establishing a first fastening surface that can be pressed against and thereby interconnected with an identical fastening surface; and the flange having a substantial thickness over most of its width such that the stem portion deforms in preference to the flange during peel-type disengagement from an identical fastening surface.
- 43. A fastener of claim 42 in which the flanges have a thickness about the same as the thickness of the stem portion.
- 44. A fastener of claim 42 in which portions of the topmost surface of at least some of the flanges angle downwardly toward the base sheet from the stem portion to form a tapered top rib surface that functions during interengagement of two identical fastening surfaces to direct a rib of one fastening surface into the space between two adjacent ribs of the other fastening surface.
- 45. A fastener of claim 42 in strip form about one centimeter or less in width.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/501,900, filed Feb. 10, 2000, and of application Ser. No. 09/569,140, filed May 11, 2000; the contents of both applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09501900 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
09758885 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09569140 |
May 2000 |
US |
Child |
09758885 |
Jan 2001 |
US |