In recent years, it has been found that a non-flexible Velcro can also be Name produced. This new kind of Velcro is so strong, parts of cars can be fastened together with the tape. Bumpers and hoods can be connected to the frame of the car for a safe bond. Even more surprising is that the vibrations made by the car make the bond more secure instead of tearing it apart. The military is working on a Zip It Shut With Velcro "silent Velcro" that can be used on military uniforms and for hidden weapons and messages. By Jane Runyon Velcro has become a part of everyday life. It is safe. It is strong. Anyone can use it. And to think, it all started when a man got frustrated while pulling burrs out It all started with a leisurely of his dog's hair and off his own . Ideas can come at any time and any place. walk. lived Maybe you'll come up with an idea like this. in Switzerland in 1948. He loved to walk in the foothills of the Alps. He and his dog would Zip It Shut With Velcro hike there almost every day. He sat down after his walk one day to pull burrs from his dog's fur Questions and from his jacket. It was a tough job. The burrs didn't want to come loose easily. He 1. The idea for Velcro came from nature. had to pull and tug. He began to wonder how such a little thing could get such a A. False good hold. He decided to examine the burrs under a microscope. B. True

George de Mestral had a very curious mind. He had always been interested in 2. What two parts make up Velcro? inventing. He designed a plane when he was only twelve years old. He applied for and received a patent for his invention. A patent is a promise from the government A. P's and Q's that no one else can make or sell the inventor's design unless he says it is all right. B. Hots and colds Inventing something at the age of twelve that earned a patent was very special. C. Hooks and loops D. Dots and dashes When de Mestral looked at the Burdock burrs on his coat under a microscope, he was very surprised. He saw that the stickers on the burrs each had a tiny little hook 3. What is a patent? at the end. When these little hooks came in contact with the fur on the dog or the tiny woolen loops of thread on his jacket, they hooked and held. This started his mind working. Why couldn't he invent his own set of hooks and loops?

De Mestral worked with a weaver to make his idea a reality. The weaver was able to make two pieces of tape. One piece had tiny flexible hooks on it. The other tape had hair-like loops. When the two tapes were pressed together, a bond was formed. The two tapes were fastened together. Because the two tapes were flexible, they could be peeled apart and used over and over again.

A patent for de Mestral's invention was applied for in 1951. He decided to call 4. What did George de Mestral like to do? his new Velcro. He came up with this name by using two French words. A. Tie his shoes is French for velvet. is French for hook. In 1952, de Mestral and B. Clean his jacket his friend, Alfred Gonet started their own company called Velcro S.A. C. Make patents D. Invent Over the years, people have found many ways to use Velcro. Many children have worn shoes with Velcro closures. Older people who have trouble bending over to tie their shoes are finding Velcro much easier to use. Jackets, purses, gloves, and boxes have all been made with Velcro . Some people have even made Velcro suits and lined walls with the second half of the tape. When the person throws him or herself at the wall, the Velcro is strong enough to hold the entire body to the wall. Name

5. How does Velcro work?

6. Which is Velcro NOT used for? A. Fastening parts of cars B. Fastening shoes C. Fastening purses D. Fastening envelopes 7. What gave de Mestral the idea for Velcro? A. The Alps B. A rip in his coat C. His shedding dog D. Burrs on his dog and coat 8. Velcro is safe to use by all ages. A. True B. False

Describe something you use that has a velcro closure. Then tell what it would be like without velcro. What other way could it be closed?