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: 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 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: A fastener product includes an elongate strap, projections molded of resin extending from a first region of the strap, and a head element molded of resin extending from a second region of the strap. The head element includes a hole sized to receive an end of the strap.

Abstract: A touch fastener product has a base strip of resin carrying both mechanical fastener projections and adhesive, in some cases disposed on raised portions of the base strip. The fastener projections are arranged in discrete fields with lanes between the fields, and the adhesive is disposed within the lanes. The adhesive in each lane is shorter, as measured perpendicularly from the base strip, than the projections nearest the lane, by a distance that is less than ten percent of the width of the lane. In some cases molded stems extend through the adhesive in the lanes. The fastening face of the molded base strip is treated to give the fastening face a higher surface energy than the back face, to resist adhesive delamination during unspooling.

Abstract: A method of making a sheet-form loop product can include placing a layer of staple fibers on a first side of a substrate, the layer of staple fibers including first staple fibers and second staple fibers that are intermingled with one another, where a diameter of the smallest circle capable of circumscribing one of the second staple fibers is greater than a diameter of the smallest circle capable of circumscribing one of the first staple fibers; needling substantially only the first fibers of the layer through the substrate by penetrating the substrate with needles that drag portions of the first fibers through the substrate during needling, leaving exposed loops of the first fibers extending from a second side of the substrate; and anchoring the loops of the first fibers by fusing the second fibers to each other on the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A fabric, such as a loop fastener material, is finished by applying a foam to a surface of the fabric, the foam containing both a liquid binder and a powder. The binder is allowed to flow into pores of the fabric and coat fiber interstices of the fabric as the foam collapses, and is dried to stabilize the fabric. The powder is of a particle size selected to cause most of the powder to remain on the surface of the fabric while the binder is dried to bond the powder to the fabric surface. The powder, as bonded to the fabric surface, is activatable, such as by heat or RF or UV energy, to adhere the stabilized fabric to another surface or to provide a desired surface property.

Abstract: A foam roofing underlayment is provided with a reinforcement membrane having an array of fastener elements for engaging fastener elements on a flexible roof membrane. The underlayment is formed by molding foam between the reinforcement membrane and a carrier membrane. The underlayment in secured to the roof using washers having fastener elements for engaging the fastener elements of the flexible roof membrane. An anti-peel flap with fastener elements is provided around the periphery of the washers. A slip sheet is used between the underlayment and the flexible roof membrane to permit accurate positioning of the flexible roof membrane prior to engagement of the fastener elements. The interstices between the fastener elements provide lateral moisture paths to vents in the flexible roof membrane.

Abstract: A fastening product, in the form of a flexible, sheet-form substrate (102) having a surface (108); a plurality of walls (104) extending from the surface (108) and defining therebetween an array (114) of cells (116) bounded by the walls 122 (104) such that the walls separate adjacent cells of the array, the substrate (102) forming a floor (122) each cell; and a plurality of fastener elements (106) extending from the surface (108) and interspersed among the cells (116). The fastener elements having heads (130) spaced above the surface (108) to define loop engagement overhangs (134) disposed within the cells. The cells (116) of the array (114) are arranged in columns (124) and rows (126), each column and each row comprising at least three of the cells, such that there exists at least one closed path (136) within the substrate (102) that fully circumscribes at least one of the cells.

Abstract: A foam roofing underlayment is provided with a reinforcement membrane having an array of fastener elements for engaging fastener elements on a flexible roof membrane. The underlayment is formed by molding foam between the reinforcement membrane and a carrier membrane. The underlayment in secured to the roof using washers having fastener elements for engaging the fastener elements of the flexible roof membrane. An anti-peel flap with fastener elements is provided around the periphery of the washers. A slip sheet is used between the underlayment and the flexible roof membrane to permit accurate positioning of the flexible roof membrane prior to engagement of the fastener elements. The interstices between the fastener elements provide lateral moisture paths to vents in the flexible roof membrane.

Abstract: A foam roofing underlayment is provided with a reinforcement membrane having an array of fastener elements for engaging fastener elements on a flexible roof membrane. The underlayment is formed by molding foam between the reinforcement membrane and a carrier membrane. The underlayment in secured to the roof using washers having fastener elements for engaging the fastener elements of the flexible roof membrane. An anti-peel flap with fastener elements is provided around the periphery of the washers. A slip sheet is used between the underlayment and the flexible roof membrane to permit accurate positioning of the flexible roof membrane prior to engagement of the fastener elements. The interstices between the fastener elements provide lateral moisture paths to vents in the flexible roof membrane.

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: A molded area fastener product, such as a self-engaging fastener, has a strip-form base of resin with a broad surface from which an array of discrete fastener elements extends. The fastener elements each include a molded stem extending from the broad surface of the base to a curved head that extends toward a front side of the fastener element, forms a crook and ends in a distal tip. In some examples the curved head protrudes beyond the stem on the back side of the fastener element to form an overhang defined by an overhang surface of the head directed toward the base, and the crook is defined in part by an underside head surface that overhangs a lower portion of the stem. In some examples the fastener elements are arranged to provide a high distension overlap when mated with an identical fastener product.

Abstract: Touch fastener products (10) are made by distributing a multiplicity of discrete fastening bits (14, 14a, 14b) over a support surface (12) and fixing the distributed bits (14, 14a, 14b) to the support surface (12), such as by an adhesive (32). Each bit (14, 14a, 14b) has opposite side surfaces (24, 24b, 26, 26b) forming boundaries of surfaces defining projections (16) extending in different directions from the fastening bits (14, 14a, 14b), at least one of the opposite side surfaces (24, 24b, 26, 26b) being non-planar, and each projection (16) has an overhanging head (18). As fixed, each bit (14, 14a, 14b) is oriented with at least one of its projection heads (18) raised from the support surface (12) to releasably engage fibers (30). Bits (14, 14a, 14b) are made by pelletizing shaped rails (36). Applications include securing floor coverings (150).

Abstract: A releasable touch fastening includes a fastener strip (2) and a retention bead (20). The fastener strip includes two parallel rows (6) of opposing closely spaced fastener elements (8) extending from a common base (4) to form a retention channel (10). The two rows are separated by a small distance to receive and capture the retention bead constructed to fit between the fastener rows and under the heads (14) of the fastener elements.

Abstract: A method of forming a medical wrap including 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 for engagement by an array of fastener elements. The fastener elements each have a respective stem extending integrally from a band of resin extending along the substrate. The fastener elements are constructed to snag the exposed fibers when the substrate is wrapped about a patient in an overlapping manner, securing the wrap about the patient with the medical function delivery region in a desired position. The wrap is configured for use as a hot or cold pack, a medical dressing, or drug delivery device.

Abstract: A molded area fastener product, such as a self-engaging fastener, has a strip-form base of resin with a broad surface from which an array of discrete fastener elements extends. The fastener elements each include a molded stem extending from the broad surface of the base to a curved head that extends toward a front side of the fastener element, forms a crook and ends in a distal tip. In some examples the curved head protrudes beyond the stem on the back side of the fastener element to form an overhang defined by an overhang surface of the head directed toward the base, and the crook is defined in part by an underside head surface that overhangs a lower portion of the stem. In some examples the fastener elements are arranged to provide a high distension overlap when mated with an identical fastener product.

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: A releasable touch fastener includes a loop component and a hook component, with a particularly small overall engaged thickness in combination with a high fastening strength, both in peel and shear. The loop component is a woven material, while the hook component may be woven or molded. The molded hook component includes a scrim reinforcement for tear resistance and sewability. The fastener is useful for high cycle applications, such as on non-disposable garments, footwear and luggage.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite fastener material, the composite fastener material, and products derived from the composite fastener material. The method includes providing two longitudinally continuous sheets of material, positioning the two sheets to form a longitudinal, continuous interface between the two sheets, joining the two sheets by introducing one or more molten plastic resins in at least one lane, one lane of the resin extending across the interface under conditions that cause the resin to bond to the two sheets, molding an array of stems from at least one lane of the resin, the stems extending from an exposed surface of the composite material, and forming engageable heads on the stems to form fastener elements, wherein the two sheets differ from one another by one of material composition, thickness, texture, stretchability, breathability, and compressability.