Fastener assembly and method of making the same

Abstract

A fastener assembly includes a molded plastic fastener. The molded plastic fastener includes a filament, a paddle at one end of the filament, and a cross-bar at the other end of the filament. The fastener assembly additionally includes identifying matter, such as a logo, barcode or numerical value, which is provided onto the paddle of the plastic fastener. In one embodiment, the identifying matter is retained onto the paddle using a label. In another embodiment, the identifying matter is printed directly onto the paddle using an inkjet printer. In another embodiment, the identifying matter is formed directly into the shape of the paddle either through the molding process for the plastic fastener or through a subsequent stamping process.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fastener assembly comprising: 
 (a) a plastic fastener comprising, 
 (i) a filament,  
 (ii) a paddle at one end of said filament, and  
 (iii) a cross-bar at the other end of said filament, and  
   (b) identifying matter provided onto the paddle of said plastic fastener.    
     
     
         2 . The fastener assembly of  claim 1  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a label.  
     
     
         3 . The fastener assembly of  claim 2  wherein said label includes an image layer which displays a marking.  
     
     
         4 . The fastener assembly of  claim 2  wherein said label is retained by the paddle of said plastic fastener.  
     
     
         5 . The fastener assembly of  claim 1  wherein said identifying matter is printed onto the paddle of said plastic fastener.  
     
     
         6 . The fastener assembly of  claim 5  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a barcode.  
     
     
         7 . The fastener assembly of  claim 5  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a sequential identifier.  
     
     
         8 . The fastener assembly of  claim 7  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a numerical identifier.  
     
     
         9 . The fastener assembly of  claim 5  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a product identifier.  
     
     
         10 . The fastener assembly of  claim 5  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a company identifier.  
     
     
         11 . The fastener assembly of  claim 1  wherein said paddle is shaped to display said identifying matter.  
     
     
         12 . A fastener assembly comprising: 
 (a) a label, and    (b) a fastener adapted to display said label, said fastener comprising, 
 (i) a filament,  
 (ii) a paddle at one end of said filament, and  
 (iii) a cross-bar at the other end of said filament.  
   
     
     
         13 . The fastener assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the paddle of said fastener is adapted to display said label.  
     
     
         14 . The fastener assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said label includes an image layer which displays a marking.  
     
     
         15 . The fastener assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said label is retained by the paddle of said fastener.  
     
     
         16 . The fastener assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said label is secured to the paddle of said fastener using an adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . The fastener assembly as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said label is secured to the paddle of said fastener using a pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . The fastener assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the paddle of said fastener is insert molded around at least a portion of said label.  
     
     
         19 . The fastener assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the paddle of said fastener is insert molded entirely around said label.  
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a fastener assembly, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) molding a plastic fastener which comprises a filament, a paddle at one end of said filament, and a cross-bar at the other end of said filament, and    (b) applying a label onto the paddle of said plastic fastener.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said molding step is performed using a continuous molding process.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said applying step is performed using a pressure-sensitive labeling device.  
     
     
         23 . A method of manufacturing one or more fastener assemblies, each fastener assembly comprising a label and a fastener adapted to display said label, each fastener comprising a filament, a paddle at one end of said filament, and a cross-bar at the other end of said filament, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing one or more labels, and    (b) molding the paddle of a fastener at least partially around each of said one or more labels.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said molding step is performed using an insert molding process.  
     
     
         25 . A system for manufacturing one or more fastener assemblies, each fastener assembly comprising a label and a fastener adapted to display said label, each fastener comprising a filament, a paddle at one end of said filament, and a cross-bar at the other end of said filament, said system comprising: 
 (a) a molding apparatus for molding one or more of said fasteners, and    (b) a labeling device for applying a label onto each of said one or more of said fasteners.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said system is a continuous in-line system.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said labeling device is a pressure-sensitive labeling device.  
     
     
         28 . A molding apparatus for manufacturing one or more fastener assemblies, each fastener assembly comprising a label and a fastener adapted to display said label, each fastener comprising a filament, a paddle at one end of said filament, and a cross-bar at the other end of said filament, said molding apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a rotatable molding wheel having cavities in a peripheral surface thereof,    (b) a label depositing device for inserting a label into selective cavities in said rotatable molding wheel,    (c) a manifold for applying molten plastic material into the cavities in said rotatable molding wheel such that a layer of controlled film overlies said cavities, and    (d) a knife for skiving the layer of controlled film overlying said cavities.    
     
     
         29 . A method of manufacturing a fastener assembly, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) molding a plastic fastener which comprises a filament, a paddle at one end of said filament, and a cross-bar at the other end of said filament, and    (b) printing identifying matter onto the paddle of said plastic fastener.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said printing step is performed using an inkjet printer.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said identifying matter is printed onto the paddle in the form of a barcode.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said identifying matter is printed onto the paddle in the form of a sequential identifier.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said identifying matter is printed onto the paddle in the form of a numerical identifier.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said identifying matter is printed onto the paddle in the form of a product identifier.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said identifying matter is printed onto the paddle in the form of a company identifier.  
     
     
         36 . A plastic fastener comprising: 
 (a) a filament,    (b) a paddle at one end of said filament, and    (c) a cross-bar at the other end of said filament,    (d) wherein at least a portion of said paddle is shaped in the form of identifying matter.    
     
     
         37 . The plastic fastener of  claim 36  wherein said paddle is shaped to include at least one cut-out for defining said identifying matter.  
     
     
         38 . The plastic fastener of  claim 37  wherein said at least one cut-out is non-circular in shape.  
     
     
         39 . The plastic fastener of  claim 36  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a product identifier.  
     
     
         40 . The plastic fastener of  claim 36  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a company identifier.  
     
     
         41 . A plastic fastener comprising: 
 (a) a filament,    (b) a paddle at one end of said filament, and    (c) a cross-bar at the other end of said filament,    (d) wherein said paddle is shaped to include at least one cut-out which defines an identifying matter.    
     
     
         42 . The plastic fastener of  claim 41  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a product identifier.  
     
     
         43 . The plastic fastener of  claim 42  wherein said identifying matter is in the form of a company identifier.  
     
     
         44 . A method of manufacturing a fastener assembly, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) molding a plastic fastener which comprises a filament, a paddle at one end of said filament, and a cross-bar at the other end of said filament, and    (b) forming at least one cut-out in said paddle, said at least one cut-out defining an identifying matter.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said forming step is performed using a stamping machine.