Fun Facts About Hook and Loop Tape
Everyone knows that Velcro has had substantial impacts on industries since its invention in 1948. Many of us see it every day: on our clothes, our bags, our shoes and on almost any product that requires two ends to attach; however, most of us don’t know the story of how the product was invented or the facts surrounding its history.
Hook and loop tape serves so many amazing purposes, let’s take a few minutes and explore some fun and interesting facts about hook and loop tape.
Fact 1: NASA helmets feature Velcro patches to allow astronauts to scratch their noses. NASA is credited with the initial wave of popularity of hook and loop tape – the public took notice of the product’s extensive use in space in the 1960s. NASA first used hook and loop to fasten space suits as well as hold equipment in place in space.
Fact 2: A new type of Velcro is eight times stronger than the original.
Fact 3: The U.S. military produced a quiet type of Velcro for stealthy operations.
Fact 4: Velcro was not invented by NASA. George de Mestral, the Swiss inventor of Velcro, created the product in the 1940s. He found the design inspiration in nature, specifically from burdock burrs which attached to him and his dog on their daily walks. The timeline from inspiration to invention to patent was 14 years. De Mestral tested a variety of materials before selecting another recent invention – nylon – for his creation. George de Mestral was posthumously inducted to the Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999.
Fact 5: De Mestral’s patent expired in 1978, at which point his product became the property of what is today known as VELCRO® BVBA.
Fact 6: Hook and loop was originally marketed as a “zipperless zipper.”
Fact 7: Hook and loop fasteners were patented by De Mestral in 1955 as “velcro” a combination of the French words velour (velvet) and crochet (hook).
Fact 8: In the book, Why Didn’t I Think of That? Bizarre Origins of Ingenious Inventions We Couldn’t Live Without, authors Bob Golden and Allyn Freeman claim a 2-inch square of hook and loop can hold a person who weighs 175 pounds. In They All Laughed…From Light Bulbs to Lasers: The Fascinating Stories Behind the Great Inventions, author Ira “Science Friday” Flatow boasts a 5-inch square portion of hook and loop can support an entire ton (2,000 pounds). A 2 square-inch piece of Velcro can support a 175-pound person.
Fact 9: In the last 50 years, many new types of Velcro were invented. Besides the near silent version created by the U.S. military, industrial Velcro was introduced, which is composed of steel wires that create an incredibly strong bond at high temperatures. Today, most types of consumer Velcro are made from two materials: nylon and polyester.
Fact 10: Hook and loop tape comes in a wide variety of styles, sizes, applications, and materials – from the classic nylon hook and loop to the woven steel wire version designed for extremely high temperatures.
Fact 11: Hook and loop made from polyester is impervious to moisture and sunlight, which do not degrade its strength or holding power, but polyester hook and loop has a short lifespan of only 3,500 or so pulls.
Fact 12: The classic hook and loop fastener made of nylon can’t handle the heat, moisture, or UV radiation, though in optimal conditions it has a lifespan of 10,000 or more openings and closings.
Velcro hook and loop tape remains one of the most useful Velcro products available. Because of advancements in Velcro technology, only a small amount of the material is now needed to produce a strong, durable bond. This has led to an increase in popularity and application of velcoins.
4 SURPRISING AND INNOVATIVE USES FOR VELCRO, THE MODERN WONDER
Like we mentioned earlier, Velcro, that ubiquitous modern wonder, was invented by a mountaineer named George de Mestral after a hike in the woods. Upon returning home, he noted burrs clinging to his clothes, and he wondered if the same properties that made the burrs stick could be replicated.
Pursuing the idea, he came up with a combination hook and look tape system that he called “Velcro,” combining the words “velvet” with “crochet.
There are some surprising ways that Velcro is used. Here are just a few:
1. Improved Tourniquet
The so-called Combat Application Tourniquet is a recent innovation, using a plastic tourniquet attached with Velcro strips. It is easy to use and saves lives on the battlefield.
It even can be applied with one hand, and it can be fastened quicker than traditional tourniquets, which are made out of bandages. The Velcro is sturdy enough to stay firmly in place.
2. Keep Cushions From Sliding
A wooden dining set looks lovely with matching chairs. However, sitting for a long time on hardwood becomes uncomfortable.
That is why many people use seat cushions, often attached to the chairs with ties. This strategy works for a while, but ties have tendencies to rip over time. This is especially true with squirming children.
An effective alternative is securing Velcro strips on the bottom of the cushion and on top of the wooden seat. This prevents slipping and sliding, and it is a durable hold.
3. NASA
The popularity of Velcro often is attributed to NASAs widespread use of the product, starting in the 1960s. It has served NASA astronauts well, securing all manner of tools and devices in the weightlessness of space.
Not only does this keep items from floating around, but it also makes them available for easy retrieval. Velcro is an integral component in spacesuit design, as well.
4. Keep Tablecloths From Blowing Away
Eating outdoors on a picnic table is a popular pastime during the spring and summer, whether it’s done in a park or on a deck, in the yard or while camping. A tablecloth sometimes is used to keep the dishes and food from touching the surface of the table, which has been exposed to weather, bugs, and birds.
However, a gust of wind can pick up the tablecloth and overturn the items on top of it. A creative solution is to use Velcro on the table and under the cloth to keep it securely in place.
People always are coming up with new uses for Velcro, and some industries rely on Velcro.
Contact Feiner Supply Today
Velcro has countless uses in a variety of industries and in the home. To buy bulk Velcro, including various specialties, such as Velcro hook and loop tape, use Feiner Supply.
To purchase bulk Velcro or Velcro hook and loop tape, contact Feiner Supply. We offer affordable prices and deals on shipping. For help matching your project with the right Velcro products, Call us at 800-645-3256 today!
Check out our website for the many hook and loop varieties and lots of great ideas and applications. Whether you need lots or only a little, contact Feiner Supply for more information.