Interesting Facts About Velcro

Interesting Facts About Velcro thumbnail
Velcro can be purchased at fabric and craft stores.

Used in everything from clothing to space shuttles, Velcro is a hook and loop fastener system invented by George de Mestral in 1955. The system is made up of two sides, a rough side filled with tiny hooks and a soft fuzzy side. Since its invention, Velcro has become one of the most versatile and important inventions in the history.

  1. Inventor

    • Born in Switzerland, de Mestral earned an electrical engineering degree. The Swiss engineer's inspiration for Velcro came when burrs caught on his clothing during a hike. De Mestral investigated the burrs under a microscope and noticed that each one was covered with tiny hooks that grabbed on to fiber, fur and hair.

    Name

    • The name Velcro is derived from the French words velour and crochet, meaning velvet and hooks. Velcro is the brand name for the hook and loop fasteners.

    Astronauts

    • NASA Apollo astronauts made Velcro popular in the early 1960s. They used Velcro to keep pens, food and equipment from floating away in space.

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References

  • Photo Credit velcro image by Fuzzphoto from Fotolia.com

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