Fasteners engageable with loops of nonwoven fabrics and with other open structures, and methods and machines for making fasteners

Abstract

A method of forming a fastener is provided, including (a) forming, from a thermoformable material, a preform product having a sheet-form base and an array of preform stems integrally molded with and extending from the base to corresponding terminal ends; (b) heating the terminal ends of the stems to a predetermined softening temperature, while maintaining the sheet-form base and a lower portion of each stem at a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and (c) contacting the terminal ends with a contact surface that is at a predetermined forming temperature, lower than the softening temperature, to deform the terminal ends to form heads therefrom that overhang the sheet-form base. Fasteners and other methods of forming them are also provided.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 870,063, filed May 30, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,378, which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 231,134, filed Jan. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,276. This application is also a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 808,395, filed Mar. 14, 2001 pending. This application also claims priority fromunder U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 295,937, filed Jun. 4, 2001. The entire contents of each of the foregoing are hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This invention relates to touch fasteners commonly known as hook and loop fasteners and to self-engaging fasteners. In many aspects it deals with the particular case in which hooks engage flexible loops such as are formed of fibers of thin nonwoven materials and the like.BACKGROUND[0003]The present invention relates to male fastener components that engage in openings of a female component, in particular to loops formed by fibers of a nonw...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]The fastener elements of the invention have a head geometry that advantageously provides a strong attachment to a female fastener component. The fastener elements are particularly well adapted for use in fastener tapes for attaching an insect screen to a window frame, as the head geometry provides a strong engagement with the mesh of the insect screen. Insect screen fastener tapes of the invention exhibit good peel strength and thus good resistance to detachment due to wind. The methods of the invention allow the fastener elements to be manufactured using a relatively simple and economical process.

[0030]Other and very important aspects of the present invention go beyond window screening to provide male fastener elements capable of improved engagement with loops formed by fibers of thin nonwoven materials, or with other open structures.

Problems solved by technology

With such materials, effective loop height does not permit transition of loading from the hook head to the hook stem during peeling action, as does occur with expensive loop products that have higher loop height.

Such peeling force on the component causes it to flex and progressively peel from the other.

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