Velcro that doesn't make any noise when you rip it open. I'm not sure how it would work, but perhaps 3M (the inventors of Post-It notes) would be able to come up with something.
-- redhed, Jan 22 2001

Garden State http://en.wikipedia...en_State_%28film%29
In Garden State (released 2004), one of the characters was rich as the result of inventing silent velcro [imaginality, Apr 04 2007]

Garden State Tranny http://www.script-o...vie-transcript.html
CTRL + F "Velcro" [Night, Apr 05 2007]

Yeah, 'cause to this day, whenever I hear the sound of Velcro, I think of those surfer wallets (e.g. Lightening Bolt/Op/Hang Ten) that were popular during the 70's...I didn't like the 70's, bra.
-- iuvare, Jan 22 2001


Classified, huh? I suppose you could provide a link, but then you'd have to kill us all...
-- PotatoStew, Jan 23 2001


Yeah, I hear the only person they were willing to tell was PeterSealy.

I also came up with sites which talk about a project by the US military. No details anywhere.
-- Monkfish, Jan 23 2001


That sounds rather far fetched, Waugsqueke. No, it'll be classified because the aliens want to get hold of it...
-- Lemon, Jan 23 2001


You could have a magnetic strip in place of the Velcro for a wallet. That would be very silent and secure. Of course it might erase the magnetic information on your credit cards as well.
-- RobGraham, Jan 24 2001


what's wrong with a good old zipper, if you don't want your "enemies" to hear you? okay, perhaps there's a little noise there so why not adapt those things from ziplock bags? They're pretty silent and you can open and close it as easily as velcro.

But silent velcro would be great, no embarassing ripping sound.
-- nano_mars, Mar 16 2001


Zippers are fine when you're not caked with mud, sand and plant life. But zippers get stuck very easilly. That's why the military has been using buttons for so long. They're quiet, durable and easy to replace with your pocket sewing kit.
-- algioru, Jun 04 2001


waugsqueke, Ricky Martin?! I've heard some pretty horrifying things in my time and that's one of the worst.
-- moonsprite, Oct 01 2001


interesting fact. the inventor of Velcro did take it to 3M who laughed at him and sent him away with such a ridiculose idea! guess they thought it was half baked.
-- teatime, Feb 06 2002


What a superb contextless de-waugsqueked quote from moonsprite! One can only imagine.
-- pottedstu, Feb 06 2002


On a less-pragmatic note, sometimes you might want to use silent velcro instead of zippers if the design calls for it, for aesthetic reasons. Zippers are better for two planes joining at the edges; velcro is better for overlapping edges. Sometimes overlap looks cooler. Looking cooler rules.
-- sera, Feb 06 2002


Gracious. I wish I could remember myself.
-- waugsqueke, Feb 06 2002


I happen to have a product line booklet of velcro products in a box. I've just tested them all and all but one made about the same level of noise. The quietest was the "low profile plastic mushroom", so that would be a good place to start. I'm wondering if it would be possible to make it out of rubber, except the mechanics could get a bit squishy.
-- TheLightsAreOnBut, Apr 04 2007


Horses tend to get startled by strange sounds on or near their bodies, so I always trained mine by saying "velcro" clearly in a particular tone of voice, and then after a second I would open the saddle bag or whatever other device I was using.
-- normzone, Apr 04 2007


You would think, that if it can get used to the sound of your voice saying Velcro, it could also get used to the sound of Velcro...
-- DrCurry, Apr 04 2007


Yes, but a warning is a form of insurance. I have never tried shooting from horseback, but a shoot-trained horse is worth money to hunters. I wonder what the cue is.
-- normzone, Apr 05 2007


Baked within the movie "Garden State"

Oh, I see [imaginality] is on the ball.

[see link]
-- Night, Apr 05 2007



random, halfbakery