Velcro Quick opening and closing system, which had originally been registered as a trademark in 1951 and later became common use.
Summary
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- 1 Etymology
- 2 History
- 3 Dissemination of use
- 4 Production of Velcro
- 1 Properties
- 5 Ways to clean Velcro
- 6 Gallery
- 7 Sources
Etymology
Acronym formed by the union of two French terms: (vel) ours and (cro) chet. The compound expression can be translated as “velvet hook”.
History
In 1941 the Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral discovered how difficult it was to unhook the fruits of some thistles Arctium burdock ( Arctium lappa and Arctium minus ) from his pants and his dog’s hair – another plant with similar hooks is Xanthium spinosum-, both popularly known, among other names, as arrancamoños.
Velcro forming surface
After verifying the existence of a hook at the end of its spines or thorns, he got to work and invented a closure system with two tapes: the sailboat, which consisted of two components: a linear fabric strip with small hooks and another strip of fabric with smaller loops, which temporarily fix, until they parted. At first cotton , which was impractical. The bra was finally constructed of nylon and polyester .
In 1958 , de Mestral filed a patent application for its hook and loop fastener in Switzerland , which was granted in 1961 .
The term Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries BV.
Dissemination of use
From the second half of the twentieth century, the use of velcro has become so popular that it has displaced cords, zippers, buttons, and an unimaginable variety of objects among these uses in many garments and accessories, including:
- Footwear: Fixing sports shoes
- Textiles: For fixing different types of clothing
- Camping: Tents, storage, awnings, etc.
- Carpets: Fixing carpets to floors and stairs
- Nautical: Sails, storage, fenders, etc.
- Equestrian: Saddlery, anklets, etc.
- Automotive: Upholstery protection, headrest protectors, rugs, et,
- Planes: Secures the headrest protectors, seat upholstery, luggage straps.
- Medical: Rehabilitation and treatment, arm and leg splints, help for the disabled, wrists, shoulder pads, muslin, measurement of blood pressure, etc.
- Furniture: upholstery support, covers, mattresses, etc.
Velcro production
Velcro straps consist of two types of polyamide straps (nylon 66), one called a hook or hook, covered by hundreds of thin hooks (approximately 50 units per square cm), and another called a loop, formed by hundreds of thin curls (also about 50 units per square cm). These tapes are contact bonded and can be easily reopened by separation. When closed, the hooks on one tape penetrate the curls of the other, creating a tight, versatile, and secure closure. The application of strong pressure generates a good closing action.
Velcro tape can be made of nylon through a process that involves weaving, continuous dyeing, washing, special sewing, hook cutting, strip cutting, inspection, weaving, custom cutting and winding. In its process it is examined by opening and closing it 15,000 times.
Properties
Velcro tape (glue) can be washed and dried, as it is not a metallic tape, it is not corrosive and it does not rust. This tape is resistant to heat, cold and acidic and alkaline chemicals.
Ways to clean Velcro
- Pull all the loose material with your fingers. Remove everything you can with your fingers, it is as if you were cleaning a hair brush.
- Pass a pin, toothpick, or other pointed object through each row and use it to lift the dirt between the hooks on the rough side. Work in parallel along the rough side rows.
- Use tweezers to pull out all the dirt, especially after loosening it with the pin or toothpick.
- Use a dry toothbrush. Brush between the rows. Go in one direction and parallel to the rows of hooks. This works best after you have removed the large chunks with the above methods. You don’t need to remove every particle, just the big dirt to get the velcro to work again.
- Use soapy water. As long as the item is waterproof and does not fade. Immerse everything in soapy water. Rub the rough side with an old brush. Soapy water helps more to remove materials such as skin flakes and oil, than others such as hair and threads. Rinse and let dry in the sun.
- Use a cat wire or dog brush and “comb” through the velcro. An eyebrow comb or other small comb can work for you, too, if you have one.
- Roll a roller with adhesive around the velcro. The adhesive is very good for removing almost any object from velcro.
- Use another piece of velcro (the rough side) to remove all hair or dirt.
