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.

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: The invention relates to fastener molding. In one aspect, a molding apparatus includes a cylindrical member defining a void extending radially inward from a peripheral surface of the member. The molding apparatus also includes an insert member configured to be disposed within the void.

Abstract: Methods of making touch fasteners include forming lanes of polymeric material into a sheet-form base and forming discrete elements extending from the sheet-form base. Corresponding touch fasteners are also disclosed.

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: Touch fastener components include a sheet-form base and an array of touch fastener elements on an engaging side of the sheet-form base. Each touch fastener element includes a stem extending outwardly from the sheet-form base and an engageable head extending from a distal end of the stem. The touch fastener components carry indicia, e.g., molded indicia, on a surface thereof, the indicia including features smaller than the touch fastener elements and visible from the engaging side of the sheet-form base.

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: A method of producing a fastener product having a multiplicity of fastener elements extending from a base. The method includes introducing molten resin to the circumferential surface of the mold roll under pressure conditions and forcing some of the resin into molding cavities to mold an array of fastener elements integrally with resin disposed at the circumferential surface of the mold roll.

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: The invention relates to fastener molding. In one aspect, a molding apparatus for forming a sheet-form fastener product includes a first ring defining a plurality of voids extending inwardly from a circumferential surface of the ring. The voids are circumferentially spaced apart from one another by portions of the ring including recessed regions that partially define molding cavities. The molding apparatus also includes multiple plug members configured to be disposed within the voids. The plug members and the portions of the ring therebetween cooperate to define the molding cavities when the plug members are disposed within the voids. The molding cavities are shaped to mold, from molten resin forced into the molding cavities from a peripheral surface of the molding apparatus, an array of fastener elements having overhanging heads for releasable engagement with a mating fastener product.

Abstract: A method for forming a fastener product includes folding a sheet material about a longitudinal fold line to form a longitudinal edge portion overlapping only an adjacent portion of the sheet material, leaving another portion of the sheet material exposed as a remainder portion. The folded sheet material is continuously introduced to a gap adjacent to a surface of a rotating mold roll. Moldable resin is introduced between the sheet material and the mold roll to fill fixed cavities in the rotating mold roll to form portions of the fastener elements as stems bonded to one of the overlapping edge portion and the remainder portion. Additional material is bonded to the other of the overlapping edge portion and the remainder portion with the bonding occurring in the gap. The resin is solidified, then, stripped from the surface of the mold roll by pulling the stems from their respective cavities.

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 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: 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 molding apparatus for forming a sheet-form fastener product includes a mold roll that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and has a circumferential surface defining a plurality of apertures that extend inwardly from the circumferential surface. Multiple inserts having first and second ends are retained within corresponding apertures of the mold roll such that the first end of each insert is directed toward the circumferential surface of the mold roll. The inserts have surfaces that at least partially define blind molding cavities shaped to mold, from molten resin forced into the molding cavities from the circumferential surface of the mold roll, an array of fastener elements having overhanging heads for releasable engagement with a mating fastener product.

Abstract: Recloseable bags and methods of fabricating recloseable bags.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a fastener product having a multiplicity of fastener elements extending from a sheet-form material. Molten resin is extruded through an extrusion nozzle and gas is introduced into the resin within the extruder to provide an interrupted flow of resin from the nozzle to deposit discrete regions of molten resin onto the sheet-form material. The discrete regions of molten resin are spread apart along a longitudinal direction of the sheet-form material. The molten resin is permanently bonded to the sheet-form material, and a multiplicity of fastener elements are molded from each discrete region of resin.

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.