Abstract: The present invention concerns a reticulated web, mesh or netting the polymeric netting comprising two sets of strands at angles to each other and formed from a profile extruded three dimensional film having a first face and a second face. The profile extruded film is cut in regular intervals along the X-dimension on one or more faces or alternatively in alternating fashion on the first face and the second face. The cut film is then stretched (oriented) in the lengthwise dimension creating a nonplanar netting characterized by land portions on the top and bottom surfaces with connecting leg portions extending between the land portion on the top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an extrusion formed reticulated web, mesh or netting including reticulated hook fasteners for use with hook and loop fasteners the polymer netting comprising two sets of strands at angles to each other. The first set of strands are a plurality of oriented (molecular orientation created by stretching) strands extending in a first direction and are generally mutually parallel and linear. The second set of strands are a plurality of substantially parallel strands attached only to a first face of the first set of oriented strands. The first set of oriented strands occupy a first planar cross-sectional area in the thickness direction of the formed netting. Said second set of oriented strands occupy a second planar cross-sectional area in the thickness direction of the formed netting. Preferably, these first and second planar cross-sectional areas are substantially mutually exclusive and are abutting.

Abstract: There is provided a laminate of a thermoplastic backing to a fibrous web. This laminate, for example, could be used as a loop laminate for use in a hook and loop fastening system or an intermittently bonded elastic fibrous laminate. The laminate comprises a thermoplastic backing layer, having a first face and a second face. The backing layer has a plurality of projections extending from at least the first face of the backing. A fibrous web is attached to the backing at the location of at least some of the projections. The thermoplastic material of the backing, at the location of the projections, penetrates into the fibrous web encapsulating at least in part fibers of the fibrous web. The fibrous web preferably penetrates into at least some of the projections. The fibrous web is generally not attached, or very lightly attached, to the backing layer over at least some portion of the distance between adjacent projections.

Abstract: There is provided a coextruded film or film layer comprises at least two sets of regions, a first set of regions formed predominately of a first thermoplastic polymer and a second set of regions formed predominately of a second thermoplastic polymer arranged in an alternating side-by-side manner. These side-by-side polymer regions generally extend in a machine direction in a continuous manner. The film or film layer has a first face and a second face. On at least one face, one of the regions of the first thermoplastic polymer bridges over the adjacent lane of another (the second thermoplastic polymer region or a third thermoplastic polymer region) thermoplastic polymer region creating on the first face a continuous layer of the first thermoplastic polymer. The opposite face comprises at least in part the other thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a hook strand. These hook strands have a base layer with first top face and a second bottom face and two side faces. Hook elements on the strand extend from at least one face and the hook elements have engaging arms that extend at an angle of from 1 to 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal extent of the strands.

Abstract: The present invention concerns breathable fasteners for use with hook fastener systems. The breathable fastening system comprises a first breathable mechanical fastener surface, which is generally a loop or fibrous type surface that can optionally be joined to a breathable backing loop, and a recon large area breathable hook type fastener. The hook type fastener generally has an integral film backing which film backing has a porosity of from 0.0001 to 0.005 cm3, a backing thickness of from 25 to 200 ?m, a stiffness of from 10 to 2000 Gurley units and a hook or projection containing surface area of at least 10 cm2.

Abstract: There is provided a loop laminate for use in a hook and loop fastening system or a hook and loop fastening system. The loop laminate first comprises a backing layer, having a first face and a second face. The backing layer has a plurality of elevated projections extending from at least the first face of the backing layer wherein some of the projections extend by a distance of at least 50 ?m. A loop material is attached to at least some of the projections such that said loop material is raised off the backing layer over at least some portion of the distance between adjacent attached projections to allow for hook heads of hooks to easily penetrate the loop material.

Abstract: A unitary fastener of a thermoplastic resin comprising a base film layer having generally parallel upper and lower major surfaces, arranged in a first direction the base film layer being oriented at least in the first direction. The backing layer having on at least one surface separated surface elements extending at an angle to said first direction. The invention is also related to a method of forming a unitary fastener. The method includes the steps of extruding a thermoplastic resin in a machine direction through a die plate having a continuous base portion cavity and one or more rib cavities extending from the base portion cavity, forming a strip having a base layer and continuous rib. This scoring or cutting the ribs and at least a surface layer of the film structure forms predetermined separable elements. This inelastically stretching the strip to separated projections and the separated separable surface elements across the strip.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an extrusion formed reticulated web, mesh or netting including reticulated hook fasteners for use with hook and loop fasteners the polymer netting comprising two sets of strands at angles to each other. The first set of strands are a plurality of oriented (molecular orientation created by stretching) strands extending in a first direction and are generally mutually parallel and linear. The second set of strands are a plurality of substantially parallel strands attached only to a first face of the first set of oriented strands. The first set of oriented strands occupy a first planar cross-sectional area in the thickness direction of the formed netting. Said second set of oriented strands occupy a second planar cross-sectional area in the thickness direction of the formed netting. Preferably, these first and second planar cross-sectional areas are substantially mutually exclusive and are abutting.

Abstract: The present invention method is directed at coextruding a predetermined initial melt stream through at least one profiled die insert, which die insert inlet is shaped to form a nonlinear melt stream from the incoming initial melt stream. The die insert inlet has a nonlinear opening where the die insert opening structure is located between an upper boundary to a lower boundary. The die insert is positioned so as to redirect the flow of one or more of the melt streams or regions of the incoming melt stream. The initial melt stream at the die insert inlet is generally redirected in the cross direction to the original flowpath of the material melt stream. The nonlinear melt stream formed at the die insert inlet then converges within the die insert into a substantially more linear or rectangular melt flow stream at the die insert outlet opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming preferably a unitary polymeric hook fastener comprising a flexible backing, and a multiplicity of spaced hook elements projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing. The hook elements each comprise a stem portion attached at one end to the backing, and a head portion at the end of the stem portion opposite the backing. The head portion projects in different directions for some adjacent hook members which adjacent hook members each have a flat face which flat faces are mutually opposing in face to face relation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a hook strand. These hook strands have a base layer with first top face and a second bottom face and two side faces. Hook elements on the strand extend from at least one face and the hook elements have engaging arms that extend at an angle of from 1 to 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal extent of the strands.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming preferably a unitary polymeric hook fastener comprising a flexible backing, and a multiplicity of spaced hook members projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing wherein each hook member comprises a multiplicity of hook head elements projecting in substantially the same direction. The hook members each comprise a stem portion attached at one end to the backing, and a head portion at the end of the stem portion opposite the backing. The head portion can also extend from a side of a stem portion or be omitted entirely to form alternative projections which can be other forms than a hook member. The head portion preferably projects past the stem portion on at least one of two opposite sides. At least the hook head portions have two or more hook head elements on at least one of the two opposing sides of the stem.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a reticulated web, mesh or netting the polymeric netting comprising two sets of strands at angles to each other and formed from a profile extruded three dimensional film having a first face and a second face. The profile extruded film is cut in regular intervals along the X-dimension on one or more faces or alternatively in alternating fashion on the first face and the second face. The cut film is then stretched (oriented) in the lengthwise dimension creating a nonplanar netting characterized by land portions on the top and bottom surfaces with connecting leg portions extending between the land portion on the top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: Coextrusion of multiple polymeric components into a single layer cast film is relatively common in the art. Often, multiple polymeric flow streams are combined in a die or feedblock in a layered fashion to provide a top to bottom multilayer film. The diverse polymer flowsteams are typically combined in a feedblock section or the like and then flow in a layered configuration into a conventional coat hanger die arrangement, where the flowstreams flatten out into a film-like flowstream and are extruded onto a casting roll or the like. This arrangement creates films where the polymers form into layers in the thickness dimension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a stretched mechanical fastening web laminate (1) comprising a thermoplastic web layer (13) having two major surfaces, one of the major surfaces bearing a multitude of male fastening elements (14) suitable for engagement with a corresponding female fastening material, and on its other major surface a fibrous web layer (11), said method comprising the steps of (i) providing the fibrous web layer (11) having an initial basis weight, (ii) passing the fibrous web layer (11) through a nip formed by two rolls (101), (103), one of them having cavities (120) that are the negatives of a plurality of male fastening elements (14), introducing a molten thermoplastic resin into the cavities (120) in excess of an amount that would fill the cavities (120) which excess forms the thermoplastic web layer (13), allowing the resin to at least partially solidify and stripping of a precursor web laminate (10) thus formed comprising the fibrous web layer (11) and the th

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a hook strand. These hook strands have a base layer with first top face and a second bottom face and two side faces. Hook elements on the strand extend from at least one face and the hook elements have engaging arms that extend at an angle of from 1 to 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal extent of the strands.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming preferably a unitary polymeric hook fastener comprising a flexible backing, and a multiplicity of spaced hook elements projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing. The hook elements each comprise a stem portion attached at one end to the backing, and a head portion at the end of the stem portion opposite the backing. The head portion projects in different directions for some adjacent hook members which adjacent hook members each have a flat face which flat faces are mutually opposing in face to face relation.

Abstract: A method for forming a unitary polymeric projection or fastener comprising a thin, strong flexible backing, and a multiplicity of thin spaced hook members projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing the method generally including extruding a thermoplastic resin through a die plate which die plate is shaped to form a base layer and spaced ridges, ribs or hook elements projecting above a surface of the base layer. When the die forms the spaced ridges or ribs the cross sectional shape of the hook members are formed by the die plate while the initial hook member thickness is formed by transversely cutting the ridges at spaced locations along their lengths to form discrete cut portions of the ridges. Subsequently longitudinal stretching of the backing layer (in the direction of the ridges on the machine direction) separates these cut portions of the ridges, which cut portion then form spaced apart hook members.

Abstract: A method for forming a unitary polymeric projection or fastener comprising a thin, strong flexible backing, and a multiplicity of thin spaced hook members projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing the method generally including extruding a thermoplastic resin through a die plate which die plate is shaped to form a base layer and spaced ridges, ribs or hook elements projecting above a surface of the base layer. When the die forms the spaced ridges or ribs the cross sectional shape of the hook members are formed by the die plate while the initial hook member thickness is formed by transversely cutting the ridges at spaced locations along their lengths to form discrete cut portions of the ridges. Subsequently longitudinal stretching of the backing layer (in the direction of the ridges on the machine direction) separates these cut portions of the ridges, which cut portion then form spaced apart hook members.