Abstract: A method of filling a bag that includes inserting an insulator between first and second side walls of a closure strip and joining an outer surface of the second side wall of the closure strip to an inner surface of a bag wall in a region of the wall behind which the insulator is positioned.

Abstract: A method of fabricating reclosable bags comprising: disposing a releasably engaged closure between a first and a second bag film portions, the closure including a loop-engageable fastener strip comprising an array of loop-engageable fastener elements integrally molded with a sheet-form resin substrate, and a loop strip comprising a plurality of loops carried on a sheet-form resin base; and applying energy to bond the resin substrate of the loop-engageable fastener strip to the first bag film portion and to bond the resin base of the loop strip to the second bag film portion; wherein the loop-engageable fastener strip is not bonded to the loop strip when the energy is applied.

Abstract: Hook-engageable loop materials are provided, which include high bulk yarns. Closure strips employing such materials, and methods of making such materials are also provided.

Abstract: Loop products are provided that include a carrier sheet having a plurality of holes pierced therethrough, a layer of fibers disposed on a first side of the carrier sheet, and a scrim reinforcing layer interposed between the fibers on the first side of the carrier sheet and the carrier sheet. Loops of the fibers extend from the holes on a second side of the carrier sheet, bases of the loops being anchored on the first side of the carrier sheet.

Abstract: A method of filling a bag that includes inserting an insulator between first and second side walls of a closure strip and joining an outer surface of the second side wall of the closure strip to an inner surface of a bag wall in a region of the wall behind which the insulator is positioned.

Abstract: A method of filling a bag includes holding the bag open to define a fill path extending past an obverse side of a closure strip, between the closure strip and an opposed wall of the bag, and pouring contents into the open bag through the fill path.

Abstract: Loop materials are provided for touch fastening. The loop materials include a web of nonwoven fibrous material defining a plane, the web including: (a) raised areas, elevated above the plane of the web, defining loops constructed for engagement with male touch fastener elements; (b) rib areas surrounding the raised areas to anchor the loops; and (c) between the rib areas, either open areas, or planar areas that are substantially in the plane of the web.

Abstract: Molded male touch fastener components, and methods of making such components are disclosed. Components include multiple, discrete features that extend laterally from a common side of an upper end of a formation, for engagement of loops.

Abstract: A loop fastener product is provided including a generally planar nonwoven base of fibers, and a field of loop structures extending from the generally planar nonwoven base of fibers. The field includes (a) generally parallel engageable bands in which the loop structures are exposed on a front surface of the nonwoven base for releasable engagement by hooks; and (b) generally parallel bond area bands, separating the bands of loop structures, in which a major proportion of the loop structures are bonded together in the plane of the nonwoven base. Methods of forming loop fastener products are also provided.

Abstract: Stretchable fastener products are formed by providing a sheet-form fastener tape, slitting the fastener tape to form longitudinally extending bands of fastener tape and separating the longitudinally extending bands to space the fastener tape bands transversely apart. The spaced bands are attached to a sheet form elastic web to form a stretchable fastener product. In some examples, the stretchable fastener product is formed continuously in conjunction with manufacture of the sheet-form fastener tape.

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: Several methods and machines for continuously forming a fastener product having an array of fastener elements extending from a continuous, sheet-form base, employing a mold belt on which the sheet-form base of the product is formed and from which it is subsequently stripped. The belt defines an array of cavities extending from its outer surface, for molding either the array of fastener elements or an array of preform stems that are subsequently reformed into the fastener elements. In some cases the cavities are blind, such as for forming hook-type fastener elements; in other cases, the cavities extend through the belt, such as for forming mushroom-type fastener elements. Various belt constructions and fastener element shapes are also disclosed.

Abstract: Lightweight, hook-engageable materials capable of functioning as hook-engageable fasteners are treated and configured for use for economical and attractive displays and decorations. Laminates of the material with various substrates with associated printing are used to form visually attractive point of purchase, merchandise or trade show displays. Self-supporting or stable materials having lettering or designs on their surface are used to form banners or floor coverings. Non-woven materials with varied areal density of fibers perform those functions with particular economy. Low density knit fabrics are also useful according to broad features of the invention. Methods are shown to produce reinforced corrugated board and desirably laminated and printed materials having hook-engageable surfaces.

Abstract: A loop fastener product is formed by needling a batt of fibers through a carrier sheet such as a plastic film, to form loops on the other side of the carrier sheet. A binder, such as a powder resin or plastic film, is placed over the fiber side of the product and fused to the carrier sheet to bond the fibers in place. In some cases the product is needled in only discrete areas, leaving other areas free of loops. The product may be formed into outer covers for disposable diapers. Fibers of one resin are readily combined with films and backings of other resins to produce particularly thin and low weight loop materials.

Abstract: Methods of forming a loop product are provided. Some methods include (a) introducing a sheet-form substrate and a layer of polymeric fibers into a needle loom, with the fibers disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and (b) needling the fibers through the substrate to form hook-engageable loop structures of the fibers extending from a second surface of the substrate through holes formed in the substrate by the needling. Needling the fibers includes piercing the substrate with a plurality of needles while advancing the substrate in a machine direction at a predetermined speed, while cyclically advancing the needles in the machine direction, during piercing of the substrate, in a manner that causes the needles to travel in a substantially elliptical path, such that while the needles extend through the substrate the needles are moving in the machine direction.

Abstract: A molded plastic hook fastener component for hook and loop fastening has individual raised bases distributed over a common area, each carrying an individual hook element while a laterally contiguous portion of each raised base raises the lower bound for the loop region beneath the fastener head. During molding, fastener elements are pulled from their mold cavities through cavity portions of the raised bases.

Abstract: A reclosable bag is filled through an opening defined between a back side of a folded closure strip secured to an inner surface of the bag on one side of the bag opening, and an inner surface of the other side of the bag opening. The filled bag is sealed by joining the back side of the closure strip to the opposing bag wall at a point outboard of the closure strip and bag opening. The bag is later opened by breaking through a frangible section in a folded portion of the closure strip, between mating bands of hooks and loops. In some cases, an extension of one side of the bag forms a handle or a fitment; in particular, funnels can be formed from integral extensions of the closure strip, integral extensions of the bag-making material, or from a discrete preform which is joined to the bag construction.

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: 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 making a fastener product having discrete regions of fastener element stems extending from a strip-form base includes providing a gap formed along a peripheral surface of a rotating mold roll, the mold roll having a plurality of cavities exposed about the peripheral surface. A sleeve is introduced to the gap. The sleeve is positioned about the mold roll and covers selected cavities. Molten resin is introduced to the gap such that the resin forms at least a part of the strip-form base of the product at the peripheral mold roll surface and at least partially fills a plurality of the cavities to form fastener element stems as projections extending from the strip-form base, while the resin remains blocked from said selected ones by the sleeve. The resin is solidified and stripped from the peripheral surface of the mold roll by pulling the projections from their respective cavities.