VELCRO is a registered trademark by Velcro International BV for the whole world. Its use is thus regulated. But Velcro became a generic name to indicate a textile material invented by Georges de Mestral, a Engineer Suisse, and which consists of two bands covered each one with a different Texture, allowing when one puts them in contact to obtain a removable connection quickly. One speaks about car-clutching band.

One uses also the term scratch , by reference to the noise which one obtains when the elements are separated.

History

The car-clutching band was invented in 1948 by Georges de Mestral. The idea came to him when while returning from one walk in the countryside he noticed that it was difficult to remove the flowers of thistles fixed on his pants and the fur of his dog. Georges de Mestral examined them and discovered the possibility of making adhere two materials in a simple and reversible way. He developed the car-clutching band quickly and patented his idea in 1951. De Mestral named its invention " VELCRO" who is the acronym of vel bear and cro chets. Nowadays the applications of this system are very numerous and the word velcro became a generic term for all the types of car-clutching band.

Principle

The car-clutching band consists of two layers: a layer “Hook” which is made small hooks out of plastic of the type “hook S”, and a layer “Velours” covered with inner loops out of plastic. When the two faces are in a hurry one against the other, the hook clutch the loops and maintain the two units layers. When one draws above, the bonds are taken down then take again their position initale, thus making it possible to fulfill their role again.

Use

As the car-clutching band is easy to use, that it does not require any maintenance and does not present any Danger, this one is used in about all the cases where a temporary Accroche is necessary. It is very popular in the clothes where it replaces the buttons or the Zipper, and in the Chaussure S with scratch for the children who cannot make their lace S. yet.

It also makes it possible to make adhere decorative or distinctive elements, as on the Uniforme S the bands Patronymique S or the Grade S. It also makes it possible to fix elements in a provisional way on a Tableau, for the follow-up of operations, or the formation (Flanélographe).

Although fixing is provisional, it can be solid if it is well studied. Thus, the system is used to fix the discs Abrasif S on some Ponceuse S.

Hang in Acier Inoxydable are used in the Industrie Automobile to hang parts like the Pare-chocs. Rather than to cause a setback, the Vibration S of the car maintain in fact hangs it (each being detached hook is supposed réattacher thanks to the random movement which it undergoes).

Solidity of the connection

The solidity of fixing by car-clutching band depends on the one hand on the bond between the two faces and on the other hand nature on the force which tends to separate them. If this fixing is used to bind two rigid surfaces the bond is particularly solid because the force of exerted separation is distributed on all the hooks. Contrary, any force compressing the two parts is applied to all surface, which increases the number of couples buckles/hook. The vibrations can also make it possible rigid parts to reinforce their bonds.

When one or the two parts are flexible, for example a closing of pocket, the two parts can be separated by the action of a force applied to a relatively low number of hooks at the same time. If a flexible part is drawn parallel to the plan from surface from hangs, the force is as well distributed as with rigid surfaces.

It is possible two to maximize the force of adherence between one or more flexible parts:

• By increasing the surface of connection

• By making sure that the force will parallel to be applied the plan of the surface of hangs. For example, the scratch of the shoes can resist a great force with a weak surface of contact, by rolling up of the Languette around a Fente what reduces the force exerted on the velcro by making sure that this one is parallel to exerted the plan of fastener but also by dividing this force into acting like a system of Poulie.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• Facilité use
• Besoin for maintenance almost no one
• Without danger
• the produced noise is useful against the pickpockets.

Disadvantages:

• They tend to accumulate the hair, dust, and any kind of fibers in the surface hooked after a few months of regular use.
• the hooks or the loops can lengthen or break, reducing the quality of fastener after a long moment.
• It arrives that clutching surface clings to objects or other clothing like the scarves or the socks. Moreover, certain materials can be damaged when one tries to remove the scratch there, even if one does it delicately.
• the noise produced during the separation of the velcro can be inappropriate in certain situations.

Internal bonds

• Georges de Mestral
• Velvet
• Hook
• Portemanteau word
• Mark used like name

External bonds

• VELCRO® --Official site
• -- " standard Velvet fabric and method off producing same "
• Nikon Small World Image -- Image high-resolution by Tracy E. Anderson

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