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(11)

EP 1 686 870 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 09.08.2006 Bulletin 2006/32 (21) Application number: 04795620.6 (22) Date of filing: 15.10.2004

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A44B 18/00(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2004/034481 (87) International publication number: WO 2005/037010 (28.04.2005 Gazette 2005/17)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 15.10.2003 US 688033 (71) Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V. Curacao (AN)	(72) Inventors: MC DOUGALL, William, B. S. Concord, NH 03301 (US) COTE, Normand, A. Bedford, NH 03110 (US) (74) Representative: Müller-Boré & Partner Patentanwälte  Grafinger Strasse 2 D-81671 München D-81671 München (DE)