Abstract: A sheet-form loop product includes a flexible paper substrate and a layer of staple fibers disposed on a first side of the substrate, exposed loops of the fibers extending from holes through the substrate to a second side of the substrate, with bases of the loops being anchored on the first side of the substrate. The loops can be fastening loops. The product is formed by needling the fibers through the paper and then bonding the fibers. Examples include loop fastener materials, towels, abrasive scrubbing pads and sanding materials.

Abstract: A fastener product includes a base; and an array of fastener projections extending integrally from a first surface of the base, the projections each including a stem portion of resin molded integrally with the first surface of the base, and a head portion disposed at a distal end of the stem portion and configured to releasably engage a complementary fastener element to form a fastening; wherein the stem portions of the fastener projections and at least a portion of the base are integrally formed of a single resin; and wherein at least a portion of the single resin of the base is in a foamed state.

Abstract: A skin attachment member having first and second surface with a plurality of skin penetrating elements extending integrally from the first surface of the backing to a distal tip. The skin penetrating elements are sized to avoid contact with nerves below the epidermal skin layer and have a foam disposed between at least some of the skin penetrating elements. A method of using the skin attachment member to deliver a pharmaceutical composition through the skin.

Abstract: Methods and machines for making fastener products having molded projections or other molded features carried on a surface feature transferring resin in discrete doses through an orifice defined in an outer surface of a rotating die wheel.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable comprising at least one light transmitter extending longitudinally along the cable and a body encompassing the light transmitter. The body includes an exposed surface having an array of fastener elements extending therefrom. The fastener elements arranged and constructed to engage mating fastener elements associated with a supporting surface to selectively secure the cable to the supporting surface.

Abstract: A method for forming a hook-engageable landing zone on a fibrous surface by selecting a region of the surface to form the landing zone, by raising fibers from the surface in the selected region to form fibrous loops extending from the surface, and by anchoring the fibrous loops in the selected region to secure the loops and resist pullout during hook engagement.

Abstract: Various method of making RFID tags, RF-responsive antennae and other circuitry in flexible sheet form with touch fastener elements extending from one side of the sheet, for securing the tags. Some methods include continuous roll forming methods and/or the filling of molded channels with conductive compositions.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable comprising at least one light transmitter extending longitudinally along the cable and a body encompassing the light transmitter. The body includes an exposed surface having an array of fastener elements extending therefrom. The fastener elements arranged and constructed to engage mating fastener elements associated with a supporting surface to selectively secure the cable to the supporting surface.

Abstract: A medical wrap includes a flexible, sheet-form substrate with a discrete medical function delivery region having a surface adapted to be placed against a patient's skin to provide a desired medical effect. The substrate carries a field of fibers exposed on one side thereof for engagement by fastener elements, and an array of fastener elements extending from a side of the substrate opposite the exposed fibers. The fastener elements each have a respective stem extending integrally from a film of resin disposed in a band across the substrate and encapsulating surface features of the substrate. The fastener elements are constructed to snag the exposed fibers when the substrate is wrapped about a patient in an overlapping manner, to secure the wrap about the patient with the medical function delivery region in a desired position. The wrap is useful as a hot or cold pack, medical dressing or drug delivery device.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for an apparatus for continuously molding small fastener elements integral with a base web from a flowable resin. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical mold roll rotatable about an axis and defining small fastener element-shaped mold cavities in the surface thereof, and pressure-applying means to apply operating pressure to force the resin into the cavities at a pressure zone. The pressure-applying means and mold roll define a mold gap therebetween for forming the base web. The advantageous use of relatively long mold rolls, to produce a correspondingly wide web, and the use of higher molding pressures, e.g. to form very small fastener elements, is enabled by various improvements, including means to maintain the mold gap at a desired thickness profile across the length of the molding region of the mold roll under operating pressure. In some cases the pressure-applying means includes a pressure roll, in other cases it includes a resin nozzle assembly or pressure head.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible conductive strip includes: molding a continuous, flexible base of an electrically insulating thermoplastic resin, while forming channels in a surface of the base; at least partially filling the formed channels with a flowable, electrically conductive composition; and then stabilizing the flowable composition in the channels to form a pattern of stable, electrically conductive traces within the channels. A method of forming a flexible circuit board having loop-engageable touch fastener elements includes: molding a continuous, flexible base from an electrically insulating thermoplastic resin, while forming a field of stems integrally molded with and extending from a first side of the base; applying a conductive material to the base to form a pattern of electrically conductive traces in accordance with a circuit design; and forming loop-engageable heads on the stems.

Abstract: A flexible circuit has a roll-molded thermoplastic resin base sheet with an integrally molded mounting structure located to receive a light emitting diode device in an illuminating position. The mounting structure is a pin receptacle constructed to receive a pin of the light emitting diode device. An electrically conductive portion is carried by the resin base and positioned for electric connection to conductors of the device. Another flexible circuit carries discrete integrated circuit chips and a field of fastener elements extending from a surface of a resin strip carrying conductive traces interconnecting the chips.

Abstract: A method of packaging a food product for retail sale includes forming a bag of sheet material and inserting a food product into the bag. The bag includes a ventilated, reclosable closure arranged to secure the bag against loss of bag contents that has first and second bands of fastener elements placed to form the ventilated, reclosable closure along an opening of the bag. The closure allows an amount of air into and out of the bag with the bag in a closed position after the bag has been opened at the opening to access the food product. The first band of fastener elements is an array of male fastener elements with stems extending from a base and heads arranged to engage a field of fibers.

Abstract: A wrap-bag (1000, 1100, 100, 101, 601, 708, 742, 877, 1200, 1300) includes a bag body (1006, 1310, 119, 119??, 618, 724, 756, 876) defining therein a compartment (384) accessible through an opening (379, 616, 722) at one end of the bag body, and, secured to the bag body along one edge thereof and extending therefrom to a free distal end (1003), a flexible strap (1009, 1005, 109, 125, 609, 709, 706, 889, 1312) of width sufficient to span at least a majority of the compartment (384). The strap carries an array of fastener elements (102), each fastener element (102) having a stem extending integrally from a band of resin film extending across the strap and encapsulating surface features of the strap to form an inseparable laminate. The strap is of sufficient length to wrap about an object, with the strap overlapping the bag body to engage the exposed fibers of the bag with the fastener elements (102), to secure the wrap-bag to the object.

Abstract: Cooperative touch fasteners are described herein. The fasteners have a sheet-form base portion with an upper face and a lower face. Extending outwardly from, and integral with the upper face of the base portion is a plurality of fastener elements. Additionally, the lower face of the sheet-form base has a pressure adhesive property and is coated with a cross-linkable adhesive. The cooperative touch fasteners can be used to alter garments, hang window coverings and attach finishing covers. Additionally, the fasteners can be used in place of snaps and buttons, in medical devices, with diapers and in conjunction with a variety of manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: Fastenings, including stretchy or flexible “zebra-like” and “leopard-like” appearing materials, are disclosed having spaced bands or a distribution islands of molded loop-engageable hooks or molded pre-forms for hooks, between which are bands or regions of different character. Molding is by rigid molds filled from the base region of the stems. In embodiments, linear bands or islands of fastener elements are themselves inextensible in the direction of their extent and comprise multiple rows of fastener elements. For ease of forming a uniform, elastically stretchy or flexible product, the bands or islands of fastener elements extend in the machine direction during manufacture.

Abstract: A fastener product includes a base; and an array of fastener projections extending integrally from a first surface of the base, the projections each including a stem portion of resin molded integrally with the first surface of the base, and a head portion disposed at a distal end of the stem portion and configured to releasably engage a complementary fastener element to form a fastening; wherein the stem portions of the fastener projections and at least a portion of the base are integrally formed of a single resin; and wherein at least a portion of the single resin of the base is in a foamed state.

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.