Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
(OP)
I'm assuming everyone here tries to avoid using trade names when reffering to supplies, tools etc in formal documents (except when it really does need to be that trade name).
With that in mind is there a generic term for velcro?
I got the following on wikipedia but I'm not sure people reading the document would know what I'm on about.
"Generic terminology for these fasteners includes "hook and loop", "burr" and "touch" fasteners."
We use it to hold a camera in place on a tool and I want to get it correct when I refer to it in a modification instruction.
With that in mind is there a generic term for velcro?
I got the following on wikipedia but I'm not sure people reading the document would know what I'm on about.
"Generic terminology for these fasteners includes "hook and loop", "burr" and "touch" fasteners."
We use it to hold a camera in place on a tool and I want to get it correct when I refer to it in a modification instruction.





RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
At first it threw me, until I realized that the patent on Velcro must've run out and everyone was copying it now.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
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RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
I guess I'll try hook and loop.
I was thinking maybe "Velcro (insert trademark symbol) or equivalent" might be clearer but goes against the grain a little.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
I'm not a real engineer, but I play one on T.V.
A.J. Gest, York Int./JCI
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
However, recently I have seen many outerwear manufacturers refer to it as "touch fastener" as it applies to pocket flaps and such.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Why not use Velcro or eqaul. Are there standards for this? What would define the quality.
NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
If they have an alternative, they usually come back and ask "Is hook and loop okay?".
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
I don't want them to come back. Not because I mind the question but because it seems to take them days/weeks to come back with this kind of question by which time it has escalated from being a minor clarification to a show stopper preventing shipping of a several hundred thousand dollar tool.
Yes I know this is probably more of a culture thing etc but I'm trying to work with it while gently massaging it in the right direction.
It's impossible to make a document or product idiot proof, they'll just find a bigger idiot, but the less areas of potential confusion/misuse you leave I'm thinking the better.
If any type of 'hook & loop fastener' will do the job, it doesn't have to be a certain grade etc then why specify one specific make, which implicitly you're doing by putting juse "Velcro".
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
This clearly shows the preferred item, but permits use of a substitute.
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Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
"...hook and loop fastener (the Velcro kind, not the kind on a woman's dress or bra)..."
Just kidding...
DaveAtkins
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Suppose some idiot makes a Velcro substitute out of a (metal) file-card and an appropriate looped metal wire? is that acceptable? No. Not always.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
HOOK, and LOOP goes in the colum titled nomenclature and (VELCRO) goes in the material spec column. However, we have an assigned unique part number to each strip and a qualified parts list so our purchasing dept knonws which vendors, and their product numbers, meet our engineering needs.
Needless to say, we make a lot of part that requre velcro.
Wes C.
------------------------------
Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Those things on a woman's bra or dress are "hook and eyes".
(My twin sister is a fashion designer so I know these things.)
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Lets just say that at the moment this place is a configuration/drawing standards nightmare. So while I can't always make it better I try not to make it worse. Specifying Velcro when it doesn't need to be Velcro brand is I guess over specifying which I was thinking would count as worse.
Also when I posted the question I was working from home hoping to get the spec done before I got back to work and didn't have access to the data that would say what we're calling up.
And finally it's for a field modification document not drawing so I definitely want it generic in case they have to use whatever is at hand (file card might be pushing it but if it works then for once I'll let my usual attempted adherence to standards etc slip, even if this is a little inconsistent with what I say above).
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
Ken
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Trademark names and other terms in common use can lose any legal protections if they should ever come into such common use so as to become a generic term, i.e., Kleenex, Spam, White Out, Donut...
Just recently, Google stated a policy such that the word "Google" should NOT be used as a verb, and my guess is that their policy on this is a preventive measure to protect their name from becoming a common use term.
Never the less, such affinities linking to a product or enterprise may be more beneficial to promotion and recognition than trying to prevent any associations as such.
Coke anyone?
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Thanks for the correction on the proper nomenclature.
We'll see if my wife is impressed with my sudden knowledge of such things the next time I need to help her with her 'hook and eye'.
BTW, I'm a twin too, I have an identical twin brother.
NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
I have heard that in certain parts of the country, the term "Coke" is used to describe ANY kind of soda pop. Is that why you said, " Coke, anyone?"
Here in the Midwest (at least Wisconsin and Illinois), the term "soda" applies to soda pop. Where I grew up (Pennsylvania), it is called "pop."
DaveAtkins
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
When I look up "kardborreband" (literally "burdock band") in my dictionary, I get "Velcro". So it seems to be an accepted generic term.
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Ironically, growing up in another state, my dad worked for 7up and Royal Crown Cola so we didn't ask for any Cokes in our house.
NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
I'm putting the following:
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
In many situations the adhesive bond is weaker than the hook and loop bond.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Just in case:
It's an almost completely non structural application.
The ccu sits on a surface, no vibration no significant load. The velcro is just to stop any load from the routed cables pushing it off.
The existing CCU uses this system with as far as I know no problems in 5+ years.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Not my design, I'm just trying to sustain it.
Thanks for the tip on self adhesive hook & loop not being that adhesive, I seem to recall seeing it on clothing fastener type stuff. However, since it literally just sits on the velcro with very low side load, in a very benign environment, I don't see it being an issue.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Just yesterday I saw stainless steel hook and loop fasteners in the McMaster-Carr catalog.
For corrosion and heat resistance. Life span of only 10 cycles.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Just to finish this thread off....
I actually got hold of some of the stuff we use the other day and...
It's not hook and loop!
It's actually like little lollipops all sticking up.
One side is course and one side finer.
I think I'll stick with the wording I put before but I guess it's inaccurate to call it hook & loop.
Ken
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Using a trade name to describe a product or its feature is not professional.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
In principle the 'Velcro' I'm talking about is the same stuff you see on shoes etc. In practice as my previous post it is subtly different.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
for which i could not find a translation... although: thistle zipper would be a similar concept.
saludos.
a.
RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
So a few weeks ago I was sitting with people from France and Israel and Belgium and no one knew the word "Velcro". When I explained it, they knew what I was talking about but didn't have a word for it.
Are Americans just Velcro-obsessed that we talk about it and others don't?
Hg
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RE: Generic instead of trade name for Velcro
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.