When did the military start using Velcro?

In 2004 Velcro brought their products to the Army market. Clothing was kitted out with Velcro to provide a more practical uniform for soldiers out in the field. Currently it's used to mount electronic devices such as iPads and laptops to desk.

When was Velcro first used on military uniforms?

Only 11 percent of 2,700 soldiers surveyed by the Army wanted to keep the Velcro-sealed pockets. Hook-and-loop-tape has been a part of the most recent Army uniform since it was first issued in 2004, and will still be used on other parts of the uniform.

Why does the military use Velcro?

Velcro® Makes Patches Even Better

The flag patches mentioned above, for example, attach to uniforms with Velcro®. That allows them to be removed quickly as needed. In a field deployment, the full-color flag can easily be replaced with a muted color “subdued” style that doesn't stand out against camouflage.

When did the military start using Velcro patches?

Among the first and most notable such identifiers was the “Kearny Patch”—a red piece of cloth affixed to the caps of the officers under the command of Brigadier General Phillip Kearny, U.S. Army 3rd Division, III Corps, during the early years of the American Civil War (1861-65).

Was Velcro invented for the military?

Velcro in the Army

The hook-and-loop material became used on the Army Combat Uniform, a lighter version of their original battle attire. However, soldiers disliked the material and caused much uproar through complaints over the noise it created and how the fabrics collected dust.

Tactical Velcro Opening Secret-Special Forces

What does the Army call Velcro?

A shelter. While “hooch” is sometimes used to refer to a service member's room in a building, it is most commonly used to mean a small tent, sometimes improvised from items like tarps or ponchos. Commonly called Velcro.

When was Velcro first used on blood pressure cuffs?

In 1983, when the Post was reporting on more widespread uses of Velcro, it still explained what the product was: “the sticky stuff that holds blood-pressure cuffs tight, that anchors the cloth squares on the back of airliner seats and that has turned up in the last few years in a variety of new uses, including on ...

Will the army get rid of Velcro?

Say goodbye to a lot of that Velcro on the Army Combat Uniform. The service is making six changes to the uniform that include stripping Velcro from the sleeve pocket, elbow patches, knee patches and lower leg pocket flap.

Why do some patches have Velcro?

Velcro backings are a smart choice all the way around. Not only do they make the patches easy to move from one uniform to the next, they also protect garments from damage. If you want to stray away from the task of sewing or ironing on patches, you'll definitely want to order Velcro backings on your custom patches.

What are Velcro patches called?

The word that has become synonymous with hook and loop fasteners is only “allowed” to be used by the company known for making those fasteners. And it's for this reason that our patches making use of this attachment type are always called hook and loop patches.

When was hook and loop invented?

The Original Hook & Loop Patent

This first patent was issued on March 16, 1954 in Switzerland. From the French words “velour” (velvet) and “crochet” (hook), de Mestral created the iconic VELCRO^® trademark to identify his brand of hook and loop fastener.

Where did Velcro originate?

The VELCRO® brand of hook and loop was invented by a man named George de Mestral in the 1940's while hunting in the Jura mountains in Switzerland. Mr. de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, realized that the tiny hooks of the cockle-burs were stuck on his pants and in his dog's fur and wondered how they attached themselves.

When did Army switch to OCP?

Army OCP Uniforms

On 1 July 2015, the official rollout of the Army OCP uniform began, and U.S. Army soldiers could purchase them at 20 locations throughout the United States and South Korea. Even more locations were able to sell them later in 2015.

Why do military pants have buttons?

A zipper allows medical personnel to undo the top far easier than searching for a pair of scissors or undoing all of the buttons. The hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro) is to help give it a smooth appearance. Buttons on the trousers serve a completely different purpose. The buttons keep them sealed better than a zipper.

What are BDUs called now?

As late as 2014, BDUs were worn by officers of the U.S. Public Health Service as the prescribed uniform for deployment, but have since been replaced by a variant of the U.S. Coast Guard's Operational Dress Uniform.

Can you iron on a Velcro patch?

Iron on velcro is the best. I currently am using this for BSA uniforms. The scouts have been ironing on their shirts (soft side for washing reasons) for changing patches primarily rank and position patches. It saves so much wear and tear from repeatedly sewing and ripping out when they need to change.

What does hook and loop mean on patch?

A hook and loop patch has a special type of backing that allows you to easily adhere to different surfaces. Hook-and-loop is similar to Velcro-to adhere to the patch, you need two different attachment sides. One side has tiny hooks, while the other side has small loops that the hooks attach too.

What do you do with Velcro patches?

The loop, the soft, fuzzy portion of the Velcro® product, is usually sewn onto the clothing item while the hook, the rough, scratchy side, is applied to the patch. Uniformed workers can easily sew the loop to an apparel item's sleeve or chest area and then attach a hook fastener patch.

When did the army get rid of the beret?

In 2011, the Army replaced the black wool beret with the patrol cap as the default headgear for the Army Combat Uniform. In 2019, the Army proposed the creation of a new grey beret for USASOC soldiers qualified in psychological operations (PSYOP), but has yet to receive its official approval.

Is the beret still authorized with ACU?

The new policy will make the patrol cap the standard. But the beret isn't going anywhere. It will remain as the standard for the Army service uniform, and as an optional uniform item with the ACU -- at the discretion of commanders.

Who has Velcro patent?

On September 13, 1955, George de Mestral was granted the patent for VELVET TYPE FABRIC AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME (Velcro®), U.S. Patent No. 2,717,437. George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer and the man credited with inventing “velvet type fabric,” came up with the idea for Velcro® after he and his dog went on a hike.

Did Velcro lose their trademark?

Velcro® is not the only one who is losing their brand value due to the trademark genericide. There are others as well.

Why is it called Velcro?

How did he choose a brand name for his hook and loop fastener? To commercialise his invention, George de Mestral needed a memorable brand name. And the VELCRO® trademark has a pretty unique origin. It's a combination of the French words “velour” (velvet) and “crochet” (hook), essentially meaning “hooked velvet”.