Abstract: A strapping system including a strap having opposite first and second faces carrying first and second arrays of touch fastening elements respectively and a buckle assembly releasably attached to one end of the strap and defining an opening sized to receive an opposite end of the strap. The buckle assembly includes a buckle and an attachment portion coupled to the buckle, the attachment portion having opposing surfaces that releasably engage the touch fastening elements on the first and second faces of the strap, respectively, to releasably secure the buckle to the strap, wherein the strap includes touch fastening elements engageable with other touch fastening elements of the strapping system when the buckle assembly attached to the strap to secure the strapping system about an object.

Abstract: Fastener products and related methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the fastener products include an elongate strap defining an aperture and a row of projections extending from the elongate strap. A portion of the elongate strap including one or more of the projections can be passed through the aperture to retain the fastener product in a fastened state.

Abstract: An electrical cable includes first and second conductive strips and an electrically insulative base extending between and joining the first and second conductive strips and electrically isolating the first conductive strip from the second conductive strip. The first and second conductive strips each include an electrically conductive thermoplastic resin in contact with a longitudinally continuous electrical conductor, the electrically conductive thermoplastic resin having a lower electrical conductivity than the electrical conductor. The electrically conductive thermoplastic resin forms an exposed surface of the cable and a field of fastener elements extending from the exposed surface. Lighting systems and electrical fastening devices include similar features.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a releasable fastening arrangement that can include a first fastening strip secured to and extending over a substrate surface and having a first surface carrying first fastening elements extending from the surface. The releasable fastening arrangement can also include a second fastening strip having a second surface carrying second fastening elements that are engageable by the first fastening elements to form a releasable fastening. The first surface can include a flexible flap that is formed therein, and that is surrounded by other portions of the first surface. The flap can carry at least one of the first fastening elements, and can flap have a distal edge that is displaceable from the substrate surface under peel loads applied to the at least one first fastening element carried by the flap.

Abstract: A touch fastener has a base and an array of discrete fastener elements each extending from the base and together forming with the base a contiguous mass of resin. Each discrete fastener element includes a stem rising from the base, and a head overhanging the base from a front side of the stem to a distal edge, the front side of the stem, an underside of the head, and an upper surface of the base together forming, in side profile, a generally curved retention space boundary surface such that the boundary surface forms, at its innermost extent, a retention cavity defined between curvature discontinuities spaced from both the base and the distal edge.

Abstract: A carpeted surface is protected with a temporary carpet protection sheet that includes a lightweight non-woven or knit fibrous material laminated with a resin backing into which at least portions of fibers of the fibrous material are embedded, or to which resin of the fibers is directly and chemically fused. Male touch fastener elements extend along the backing and are arranged in spaced apart fastening regions adjacent the longitudinal edges of the fibrous material. The male touch fastener elements are configured to be both releasably engageable with the hook-engageable fibers of the fibrous material, when the protection sheet is arranged in overlapping fashion, and releasably engageable with looped carpet tufts. A protection system features multiple lengths of such protection sheet joined by hook seaming tape.

Abstract: A method of forming a substantially air-impermeable composite material includes introducing a sheet-form film and a loop material into a nip formed between a first roll and a second roll, introducing molten resin into the nip between the film and the loop material, and allowing the molten resin to cool so that the film becomes attached to the loop material by the cooled resin.

Abstract: A wire retaining system includes a wire clip and fastening receiver for releasable attachment of a wire clip on a supporting surface to retain a wire. The receiver includes an adhesive backing and touch fastener elements. The wire clip includes two wire receptacles with respective receptacle openings facing different directions and touch fastener elements for engagement with the touch fastener elements of the receiver. A first receptacle is oriented with the receptacle opening facing a desired direction and the wire extends across the receptacle. The releasable wire clip can be reoriented with the second receptacle facing a desired direction and a second wire extending across the second receptacle. The wire clip can be packaged preassembled on a light strand with the touch fastener elements of the wire clip and receiver engaged. A method of forming fastener products includes forming a rigid extrusion having fastener elements formed from extruded rail segments.

Abstract: A carpeted surface is protected with a temporary carpet protection sheet that includes a lightweight non-woven or knit fibrous material laminated with a resin backing into which at least portions of fibers of the fibrous material are embedded, or to which resin of the fibers is directly and chemically fused. Male touch fastener elements extend along the backing and are arranged in spaced apart fastening regions adjacent the longitudinal edges of the fibrous material. The male touch fastener elements are configured to be both releasably engageable with the hook-engageable fibers of the fibrous material, when the protection sheet is arranged in overlapping fashion, and releasably engageable with looped carpet tufts. A protection system features multiple lengths of such protection sheet joined by hook seaming tape.

Abstract: A touch fastener including an elongated base having multiple segments connected by articulable joints. Each segment has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of touch fastener elements extending from the lower surface of the base. A flexible barrier extends across at least one articulable joint between adjacent base segments. The fastener may include a magnetically attractable material disposed along a center region of the upper surface of the base. The fastener base may define a pair of first and second notches in opposite longitudinal edges of the base at the articulable joint to allow bending of the base. The base may also define a slit extending through the base from a longitudinal edge thereof at the articulable joint.

Abstract: Methods of forming a sheet-form product can include: providing a forming surface having a multiplicity of inwardly extending forming cavities; forming a multi-layer sheet in the interior of which is a parting surface defined by materials of limited compatibility, material of the sheet lying on each side of the parting surface having peelable tensile strength; pressing the multi-layer sheet against the forming surface to cause the multi-layer sheet to substantially conform to and fill the cavities; and peeling the multi-layer sheet apart at the parting surface, whereby material directly engaging the forming surface defines a sheet-form member having a multiplicity of hollow formations.

Abstract: This invention relates to molding apparatus and related systems and methods. In one aspect of the invention, a mold roll, assembly includes an inner member and multiple molding tools disposed about a circumference of the inner member, each molding tool including at least one molding plate that at least partially defines a molding cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to molding systems and related methods. In one aspect of the invention, a molding apparatus includes a first cylindrical roll that is rotatably coupled to a frame and an adjacent pressure device, the frame is configured so that a substrate can pass through a nip formed between the first cylindrical roll and the pressure device while a portion of the substrate extends laterally beyond at least the frame and the first cylindrical roll.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making fastener products (117) having molded projections (110) or other molded features carried on a surface (130) feature a transfer device (135) having an outer surface with at least one transfer area (H) relatively raised with respect to another area (L) of the outer surface of the device.

Abstract: Rigid substrates having molded fastener projections, and methods of making the same are disclosed. A substrate has a beam stiffness, measured as a product of an overall moment of inertia of a nominal transverse cross-section and an effective modulus of elasticity of a material from which the substrate is made, that is greater than about 200 lb-in2 (0.574 N-m2). In situ lamination of hook, bands or islands on surfaces of a rigid substrate held in a planar orientation or presenting a planar surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to molding systems and related methods. In one aspect of the invention, a molding apparatus includes a first cylindrical roll that is rotatably coupled to a frame and an adjacent pressure device, the frame is configured so that a substrate can pass through a nip formed between the first cylindrical roll and the pressure device while a portion of the substrate extends laterally beyond at least the frame and the first cylindrical roll.

Abstract: A material for covering a surface of a home or building is provided in the form of a flexible laminate having a fastening side comprising a sheet-form fastener component, and an opposite side formed by a sheet of paper laminated to the fastener component to increase the dimensional stability of the fastener component for covering and fastening over a wide area. The fastener component can have either hooks or loops. The laminate is particularly useful for laying flooring with low backlash between adjacent pieces.

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.

Abstract: A wire retaining system includes a wire clip and fastening receiver for releasable attachment of a wire clip on a supporting surface to retain a wire. The receiver includes an adhesive backing and touch fastener elements. The wire clip includes two wire receptacles with respective receptacle openings facing different directions and touch fastener elements for engagement with the touch fastener elements of the receiver. A first receptacle is oriented with the receptacle opening facing a desired direction and the wire extends across the receptacle. The releasable wire clip can be reoriented with the second receptacle facing a desired direction and a second wire extending across the second receptacle. The wire clip can be packaged preassembled on a light strand with the touch fastener elements of the wire clip and receiver engaged. A method of forming fastener products includes forming a rigid extrusion having fastener elements formed from extruded rail segments.

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.