Abstract:
Touch fasteners and methods of making touch fasteners are described. The touch fasteners carry a graphic on the upper surface thereof and can be used, for example in a variety of consumer applications.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method for forming preferably a unitary polymeric hook fastener(20) comprising a flexible backing(22), and a multiplicity of spaced hook elements(9) projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing(22). The hook elements(9) each comprise a stem portion(24) attached at one end to the backing(22), and a head portion(21) at the end of the stem portion(24) opposite the backing(22). The head portion(21) projects in different directions for some adjacent hook members(9) which adjacent hook members(9) each have a flat face(35,36) which flat faces(35,36) are mutually opposing in face to face relation.
Abstract:
Molded touch fastener elements (102) or hooks that feature a head (106) or crook (256) that is quite large with respect to the size of the overall hook, or with respect to the entrance (E) below the hook heads through which the loops must pass for engagement to occur. The hooks are particularly useful for high cycle life applications when mated with low loft loops.
Abstract:
A method of making a touch fastener (10, 11, 50) includes coextruding, sideby-side, a plurality of lanes of polymeric material to form a sheet-form base (12). The sheet-sheet form base (12) includes a lane (14) of a first polymeric material disposed between two lanes (16) of a second polymeric material, the second polymeric material is different from the first polymeric material. The method further includes molding a plurality of discrete fastener element stems (212) extending outwardly from and integral with the sheet-form base (12) in each of the two lanes (16) of the second polymeric material and forming engageable heads (18, 214) on the stems (212).
Abstract:
A unitary fastener of a thermoplastic resin comprising a base film layer having generally parallel upper and lower major surfaces, arranged in a first direction the base film layer being oriented at least in the first direction. The backing layer having on at least one surface separated surface elements extending at an angle to said first direction. The invention is also related to a method of forming a unitary fastener. The method includes the steps of extruding a thermoplastic resin in a machine direction through a die plate having a continuous base portion cavity and one or more rib cavities extending from the base portion cavity, forming a strip having a base layer and continuous rib. This scoring or cutting the ribs and at least a surface layer of the film structure forms predetermined separable elements. This inelastically stretching the strip to separated projections and the separated separable surface elements across the strip. The spacings between adjacent separated separable surface elements comprises an oriented film.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns an extrusion formed reticulated web, mesh or netting including reticulated hook fasteners for use with hook and loop fasteners the polymer netting comprising two sets of strands at angles to each other. The first set of strands are a plurality of oriented (molecular orientation created by stretching) strands extending in a first direction and are generally mutually parallel and linear. The second set of strands are a plurality of substantially parallel strands attached only to a first face of the first set of oriented strands. The first set of oriented strands occupy a first planar cross-sectional area in the thickness direction of the formed netting. Said second set of oriented strands occupy a second planar cross-sectional area in the thickness direction of the formed netting. Preferably, these first and second planar cross-sectional areas are substantially mutually exclusive and are abutting. The polymer netting is preferably made by extruding a thermoplastic resin through a die plate, which die plate is shaped to form a base film layer and spaced ridges or ribs projecting from a surface of the base layer. The spaced ridges or ribs formed by the die form the first set of strands forming the reticulated mesh or netting. The second set of transverse strands are formed by transversely cutting the base layer at spaced locations along a length, at a transverse angle to the ridges or ribs, to form discrete cut portions. Subsequently longitudinal stretching of the ridges (in the direction of the ridges or the machine direction) separates these cut portions of the backing, which cut portion then form the second set of spaced apart strands of the reticulated mesh or netting.
Abstract:
Fastener products, for example for use in hook and loop fasteners are provided. The fastener products include a sheet form backing, and, extending from the backing, a plurality of fastener elements that include a shape memory polymer. Method of making and using such fastener products are also provided.
Abstract:
A method of forming a mold having cavities (240) for molding loop-engageable, hook-shaped fastener elements is provided. The method includes supporting a first plate (236) having an outer surface (242) that defines a plane; cutting said outer surface (242) with a material-cutting beam (231) of a laser (234) along a predetermined curved profile to cut a cavity (240) into said outer surface (242) of said first plate (236), said predetermined curved profile being generally hook-shaped, and positioning a second plate adjacent said outer surface (242) of said first plate (236), said second plate providing a side wall surface for each of said cavities (240) of said first plate (236). A hook product includes a stem portion integrally molded with and extending from a sheet-form base to a distal end, the stem portion having a planar side, and a crook portion extending from the distal end of the stem portion to overhand the sheet-form base in an overhang direction, the crook portion having a flat planar side co-planar with the planar side of the stem, and an upper surface extending upwards form an upper extent of the planar side of the crook portion to an apex.
Abstract:
A fastener component comprises a field of loop-engaging elements (10) each secured to a support (14). At least one of the elements (10) has a molded, cantilever stem (16) secured to the support at a base (12), projecting from the base at an acute angle ( alpha ) to the support (14) substantially linearly along a lengthwise axis to the region of a distal tip (20). The length of the projection upon the support (14) of the portion of the cantilever stem (16) beyond the base (12) is between about 0.5 and 2.0 times the width of the base of the element, and the length of the projection upon the support (14) of the portion of the stem (16) between the tip (20) and the point of its greatest spacing from the support (14) is less than about 0.25 times the width of the base (12). The structure of the element can be useful for engaging very fine fibers that have low loft such as are found in inexpensive non-woven materials, due to minuscule motions of the head of the fastener element during engagement. Molds and methods for forming such fastener components are also disclosed.