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 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: 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: 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 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 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 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.

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: Recloseable bags and methods of fabricating recloseable bags.

Abstract: Methods of forming a loop product are provided. One method includes (a) needling polymeric fibers through a substrate to form hook-engageable loop structures of the fibers extending from one surface of the substrate; and then (b) using heat and pressure to locally soften and bond polymer of the fibers directly to the substrate and adjacent fibers, thereby anchoring the loop structures to resist fiber pullout under fastening loads.

Abstract: Loop materials are provided for touch fastening. Some loop materials include a flexible sheet-form substrate, and hook-engageable fibers secured individually and directly to the substrate, the fibers being disposed in discrete fastening regions of the substrate, leaving fiber-free substrate between adjacent fastening regions. Methods of making and using such loop materials are also provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for forming loop fastener products. One method includes applying heat and pressure to a carded web in a manner which fuses fibers on a back side of the web, thereby forming a bonded web, and then embossing the bonded web to raise discrete regions of the web, each raised region containing hook-engageable fiber portions that are exposed for engagement on a front side of the web and fused on the back side of the web within the region. Another method includes placing staple fibers on a back side of a substrate; needling the staple fibers through the substrate to form a composite, thereby forming loop structures extending from a front side of the substrate; applying heat and pressure to the composite in a manner which fuses fibers on the back side of the substrate while protecting the loop structures on the front side of the substrate; and embossing the composite.

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: Loop products are provided that include a carrier sheet having a plurality of holes pierced therethrough, and a layer of fibers disposed on a first side of the carrier sheet, loops of the fibers extending 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. In some implementations the loop product has an overall weight of less than about 2.0 and wherein the fibers form an overall coverage of at least about 50,000 meters per square meter. In some implementations a majority of the fibers have an individual fiber strength of at least 6 grams and a denier of less than about six.

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 laminate comprising a paper substrate having at least one broad surface to which is laminated a light-weight hook-engageable material or a loop-engageable hook material. The hook-engageable material has a generally sheet-form web body having a first surface laminated to the broad surface of the substrate and a second surface over which hook-engageable fibers or yarns generally extend, the paper substrate having an adhesive material on its side opposite from the low-weight loop material. The laminate is configured to form play, educational or display systems comprising an extended display surface comprised of a first touch fastener surface and objects backed by a second touch fastener surface adapted to mate with the first touch fastener surface, with both the first and second touch fastener surfaces having laminated-sheet form backings.

Abstract: A sheet-form composite has a paper side and a side having a field of fastener hooks. The paper side has a surface formed to be printable, writeable or photo-developable in the presence of the fastener hooks on the obverse side. Weak hook areas enable support of light weight papers upon loop surfaces that are not designed for hook and loop fastening. Selected bands in which hooks reside enable performing other operations in non-hook areas, with which the hooks would interfere, or would be damaged. The composite is useful for display, sales, advertising or adornment, and is readily fed through standard inkjet and other printers. Images are thus acquired and transferred onto the composite by computer.

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.