FASTENERS BONDED TO SUBSTRATE MATERIALS WITHOUT PUNCTURING THE MATERIALS

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for fasteners bonded to substrate materials without puncturing the materials. An example fastening system includes a male fastener component and a female fastener. The example male fastener component includes a base plate bonded to a first substrate material without puncturing the first substrate material, and a post integrally formed with the base plate, the base plate and the post formed of a polyurethane material. The example female fastener component includes a housing defining a cavity configured to engage with the post of the male fastener component. The housing is made of the polyurethane material and bonded to a second substrate material without puncturing the second substrate material.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/355,706, filed Jun. 28, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is directed to fasteners for use with clothing, bags and other accessories using a reusable molded closure design in the form of a post or other shape that can be directly injected, cast, bonded or molded onto a surface of the item to be fastened.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, there are two different types of snaps used to join fabric or other loose materials: either a post-style or a prong-style. As shown in FIG. 1, the post-style has a shaft that extends through the fabric and the prong-style snap has barbs that penetrate through the fabric. Prong-style snaps attach onto the fabric with capped prong ring on one side and a socket or stud on the other side. Prong-style snaps are usually used on loosely woven or knit fabrics. Post-style snaps attach through the fabric with a capped post and corresponding stud or socket on the other side. Post-style snaps are usually used on densely woven and/or natural/synthetic fabrics. Snaps are available in brass, steel, stainless steel and plastics such as nylon and nylon blends. In both cases the snaps sandwich the material and due to penetration can weaken the fabric or material in that section. In addition, due to the sandwiching of the cap and socket or stud, you have added material stack-up height since there is a part on each side of the material. Thus, it becomes problematic if only one side of the material is available for mounting due to dimensional and/or comfort constraints.

Snaps are typically measured in ligne units which was used in France prior to adoption of the metric system (1 mm=0.4433 ligne). It is still used today to measure size of watch movements, buttons and ribbons. Thus, with snaps you are limited to ligne sizes and circular snaps. Due to sizing and shape constraints, typical snaps may not fully attach two materials or you may need to use multiple snaps which creates gaps between snaps or multiple snaps which creates more work for a user to attach. Snaps can also be ordered based on various force specs but this becomes more challenging as the snap becomes smaller in size and if a specific force is needed, custom tooling and larger production runs are required.

Another traditional fastener option used with loose fabrics and particularly clothing are buttons. However, buttons suffer from some of the same issues as snaps discussed above. They require a hole to be placed through one component of the material such that the button can be pushed through it. Buttons are sewn on, and the sewing often comes undone. Indeed, it is common to provide additional buttons with an item of clothing because this is such a common failure mode. Moreover, both buttons and snaps necessarily become a visible component of the object being fastened because they protrude through the surface. This may detract from the appearance of decorative fabrics. It would be beneficial to have a fastening system that does not protrude through the fabric material to be joined—both to protect the material integrity and to keep the fasteners out of sight.

Yet another prior art fastening system is velcro. Typically velcro is sewn onto a fabric, once again requiring perforation of the fabric. Alternatively, it is adhered with an adhesive, which may give way and leave a sticky residue. Moreover, velcro gets dirty over time and loses its strength, and also produces an audible sound when being pulled apart that has become associated with cheap or inexpensive designs.

Traditionally, snaps are rigid parts made of metal or injected-molded plastic. As disclosed below, the adjustable durometer closure (a) facilitates closures with a variety of durometers that provide a softer based closure that improves comfort, ease-of-use, and (b) facilitates seamless integration on a much wider array of fabrics onto which the closure can be directly injected, casted, bonded or molded. For example, instead of using capped post penetrating the material with a corresponding stud or socket, the adjustable durometer closure may be bonded on the material (such as on the inside surface where it is not visible during wear) with no penetration.

SUMMARY

The appended claims define this application. The present disclosure summarizes aspects of the embodiments and should not be used to limit the claims. Other implementations are contemplated in accordance with the techniques described herein, as will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description, and these implementations are intended to be within the scope of this application

Example embodiments are disclosed for fasteners bonded to substrate materials without puncturing the materials. An example fastening system includes a male fastener component and a female fastener. The example male fastener component includes a base plate bonded to a first substrate material without puncturing the first substrate material, and a post integrally formed with the base plate, the base plate and the post formed of a polyurethane material. The example female fastener component includes a housing defining a cavity configured to engage with the post of the male fastener component. The housing is made of the polyurethane material and bonded to a second substrate material without puncturing the second substrate material.

An example fastening system a first fastener component and a second fastener component. The first fastener component is formed onto, via molding, to a first surface of a flexible material without puncturing the flexible material. Additionally, the first fastener component includes a plurality of posts. The second fastener component is formed onto, via molding, to a second surface of the flexible material without puncturing the flexible material. The second fastener component is configured to mate with the first fastener.

An method of fastening two surfaces includes inserting a post of a first fastening component into a cavity defined by a second fastening component. The first fastening component is molded onto a first surface without puncturing the first surface and the second fastening component molded onto a second surface without puncturing the second surface. The example method also includes applying force to the first fastening component and the second fastening component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to embodiments shown in the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and related elements may be omitted, or in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated, so as to emphasize and clearly illustrate the novel features described herein. In addition, system components can be variously arranged, as known in the art. Further, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 illustrates a post-style snap that has a shaft that requires a hole to penetrate a fabric and a prong-style snap that has barbs that penetrate through the fabric.

FIG. 2 illustrates exploded views of snap posts bonded to substrates in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate example straight snap posts.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E illustrate example undercut snap posts.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example ledge post.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E illustrate an example set of posts that define an interlocking channel.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate various closures based on the posts of FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5, and 6A, 6B.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate examples of male fastener component bonded to a substrate material.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate examples of female fastener component bonded to a substrate material.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example male fastener component snap fit with a corresponding female fastener.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example fastener component with posts arranged in an array bonded to a substrate material.

FIG. 12 illustrates a male fastener and a female fastener component bonded to a same substrate material.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a male fastener component bonded to a substrate material with a slot.

FIG. 14 illustrates a connector with both a male component and a female component connected together.

FIG. 15 illustrates a male fastener component and a female fastener component bonded to a substrate material that, when engaged, form a gasket.

FIG. 16 is an example of a fastener bonded with an article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

As describe below, a mating pair of posts and/or slots (sometimes referred to as “fastener components”) are bonded directly to a first surface of a flexible or semi-rigid material (sometime referred to herein as “fabric” or a “substrate material”) using a molding technique such as compression molding. While the term “fabric” is used, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention disclosed herein could be used to join various materials together across numerous applications. For example, the present invention provides a stronger, more versatile, and more attractive alternative to a velcro bond, and could be used across essentially the same broad functions for which velcro is used (e.g., not just clothing, but numerous applications where two surfaces are to be temporarily joined.)

To form the bond between the fastener components and the fabric, a polyurethane blend is spread on a tool and closed in a vacuum to eliminate air bubbles. The polyurethane blend is placed in an oven to be allowed to cure slightly. The fabric is placed over the tools and placed in a heat press under pressure to finalize curing and bonding the fastener components to the fabric. In such a manner, the posts and/or slots are affixed to the fabric without puncturing the fabric. In some examples, the posts and/or slots are bonded directly onto the fabric. Alternatively, in some examples, the post and/or slots are integrally formed with a base plate of the same material that is bonded directly onto the fabric without puncturing the fabric. In some such examples, the base plate is thin (e.g., less than a millimeter) and flexible to flex with the fabric. In some examples, the base plate of the posts is flexible and the base plate of the slots is rigid. The posts are configured to mate with the corresponding slots. In some examples, the posts and slots are configured to press fit together. To press fit together, the posts are forced under pressure into a slightly smaller diameter slot and held together by friction. In some examples, the posts and slots are configured to snap fit together. To snap fit together, the posts include a flared lip and the slots are resilient and flexibly extend to receive and contract around the flared lip. In some examples, an array of posts is configured to mate with a corresponding array of posts via an interlocking fit. Additionally, the posts may be configured to mate with a non-flexible slot within an item. For example, the post may be configured to mate with a universal serial bus (USB) port on a cellular phone or speaker to aid retention thereto.

FIG. 2 illustrates exploded views of posts 200 bonded to substrates 202 and 204 in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The posts 200 are formed by applying polyurethane (PU) to a casting mold (not shown). The substrate(s) 202 and 204 are positioned on the casting mold and pressure is applied to the substrate(s) 202 and 204, the polyurethane, and the casting mold. The pressure cures the polyurethane in the shape of the casting mold (e.g., the posts 200) and adheres the polyurethane posts 200 to the substrate(s) 202 and 204. In some examples, the bonding strength of the posts 200 and the substrate material 202 and 204 is at least 2.5 kilograms per centimeter squared. In some examples, the durometer of the cured posts 200 is 45 Shore A to 90 Shore A hardness. In the illustrated example, the substrates include a flexible or semi-rigid substrate material 202 and/or a hot melt film 204. In some examples, the posts 200 are bonded to a substrate material or a combination of substrate materials. For examples, the posts 200 may be bonded to (a) the flexible or semi-rigid substrate material 202, (b) the hot melt material 204, or (c) a combination of the flexible or semi-rigid substrate material 202 and the hot melt material 204. As another example, the posts 200 may be bonded to the flexible or semi-rigid substrate material 202 while the flexible or semi-rigid substrate material 202 is bonded to the hot melt material 204. The flexible or semi-rigid substrate material 202 may include any suitable flexible or semi-rigid material, singly or in combination, such as neoprene, leather, cotton, wool, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, rayon, and/or lycra, etc. Additionally, the substrates may be solid, knit, or woven, etc.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate example straight posts 300. The straight posts 300 of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are examples of posts that mate with a corresponding slot through press fitting. The straight posts 300 are an example of the posts 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an example straight posts 300. In the illustrated example of 3A, the straight posts 300 includes a cap 302, a body 304, and a flange 306. The cap 302 includes a tapered portion so that a base of the cap 302 has different dimensions than a top of the cap 302. The base of the cap 302 and the top of the body 304 of the straight posts 300 have the same cross-section and are the same dimensions. In the illustrated example, the height of the body 304 is greater than the height of the cap 302. However, the ratio of the height of the body 304 and the height of the cap 302 may vary. The flange 306 flares out from a base of the body 304 to increase the bonding area between the straight posts 300 and the substrate(s) 202 and 204 of FIG. 2 to provide adhesion and strength. FIG. 3B illustrates top views and sides views of the straight posts 300 that do not include the flange 306 of FIG. 3A. In the illustrated examples of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the cap 302 and the body 304 of the straight posts 300 have a circular, a superellipse (sometimes referred to as a “squircle”), and a hexagonal horizontal cross-section. However, the cap 302 and the body 304 of the straight posts 300 may have any elliptical, regular polygon, or irregular polygon cross-section. Indeed, the present invention is not limited geometrically like traditional snaps, and can instead take on decorative outlines/shapes while still providing the desired temporary fastening function.

Additionally, in some examples, the cross-section of the cap 302 and the body 304 is different from the cross-section of the flange 306. For example, the cap 302 and the body 206 may have a hexagonal cross-section and the flange 306 may have a circular cross-section. FIG. 3C illustrated a side view of the straight posts 300. As illustrated in FIG. 3C, in some examples, the straight post 300 is made of different types of polyurethane that have different durometers. In the illustrated example of FIG. 3C, the cap 302 is made of a first polyurethane layer 308 that has a first durometer and the body 304 are made of a second polyurethane layer 310 that has a second, different durometer. For example, the first polyurethane layer 308 may have a shore durometer of 55 and the second polyurethane layer 310 may have a shore durometer of 70.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E illustrate example undercut posts 400 with flared lips. The undercut posts 400 are an example of the posts 200 of FIG. 2. The undercut posts 400 of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E are examples of posts that mate with corresponding slots through snap fitting. In the illustrated example of FIG. 4A, the undercut post 400 include a cap 402 and a body 404. In some examples, the undercut post 400 also includes a flange 406. In the illustrated example, the base of the cap 402 has a larger diameter than the top of the body 404. In the illustrated example of FIG. 4B, the cross-sections of the cap 402 and the body 404 of the undercut post 400 are rectangles. FIG. 4C illustrates the undercut post 400 that includes the cap 402 with a straight bevel 408. The difference between the base of the cap 402 and the top of the body 404 defines an overhang 410 that has a length L. Additionally, the body 404 has a height H. FIG. 4D illustrates the undercut post 400 that includes the cap 402 with a curved bevel 412. The difference between the base of the cap 402 and the top of the body 404 defines an overhang 410 that has a length L. Additionally, the body 404 has a height H. FIG. 3D illustrates the undercut post 400 that includes the cap 402 with a tapered base 414. The bottom of the tapered base 414 matches the top of the body 404. The difference between the top of the tapered base 414 (e.g., the widest portion of the cap 402) and the top of the body 404 defines a length L. Additionally, the tapered base 414 tapers at an angle θ.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example ledge post 500. The ledge post 500 is an example of the posts 200 of FIG. 2. In the illustrated example, the ledge post 500 includes a cap 502 and a body 504. In the illustrated example, the cross-section of the cap 502 is larger than the cross-section of the body 504. Additionally, the body 504 is offset to one of the sides of the cap 502. The ledge post 500 is configured so that when a first ledge post 506 is bonded to a first substrate 508, and a second ledge post 510 is bonded to a second substrate 512, the first ledge post 506 interlocks with the second ledge post 510.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E illustrate an example set of posts 600 and 602 that define an interlocking channel 604. The posts 600 and 602 are an example of the posts 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of a first fastener component comprising a first set of posts 600 bonded to a first substrate 606 to define the interlocking channel 604. FIG. 6B illustrates a cross-section of the posts 600 bonded of the first substrate 606. The posts 600 have a tapered wall 608. FIG. 6C illustrates second fastener component comprising a second post 602 bonded to a second substrate 610. The second post 602 is configured to interlock with the first posts 600 when the first and second fastener components are connected. FIG. 6D illustrates a cross-section of the second post 602. The second post comprises tapered walls 612 configured to interlock with tapered walls 608 of the first set of posts 600 so that (a) when a vertical force is applied to the fastener components, the fastener components remain interlocked, and (b) when a horizontal force is applied to the fastener components, the fastener components, the second post 602 slides in the interlocking channel 604 defined by the first posts 600. FIG. 6E illustrates a cross-section of the first substrate 606 connected to the second substrate 610 via the first and second fastener components. In the illustrated example, the second post 602 fits within the interlocking channel 604 defined by the first set of posts 600.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate various closures 700-704 based on the posts 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 502 of FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5, and 6A, 6B. FIG. 7A illustrates a closure 700 that defines a cutout portion 708. In the illustrated example, the cutout portion 708 is sized so that a body of an undercut post (e.g., the undercut post 400 of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E) is movable within the cutout portion 708 and the cap of the undercut post prevents the undercut post 400 from being removed from the closure 700 without the application of force. FIG. 7B illustrates a closure 702 defining multiple slots 710 to accept posts 200 bonded to a substrate 712. For example the closure 702 and the substrate 712 may be watch bands or straps of a baseball cap. This embodiment conveniently allows for clothing items (for example) to be adjusted without tailoring or alterations.

FIG. 7C illustrates a post 704 with a non-geometric shape bonded to a first substrate (not shown) interlocking with the posts 200 acting as a closure bonded to a second substrate 714. A non-geometric shape is a decorative or ornamental shape that does not have a defined geometric pattern (e.g., geometric patterns such as a triangle, a rectangle, a square, a circle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a oval, a parallelogram, a trapezoid, a rhombus, etc.). In the illustrated example, the post 704 has an organic shape to snap fit into a path defined by the posts 200.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate examples of male fastener component 800 and 802 bonded to the substrate material 202 and 204. FIG. 8A illustrates the male fastener component 800 that includes posts 804 integrally formed with a base plate 806. In the illustrated example, the post 804 includes a flared lip for snap fitting with a corresponding female fastener. However, the posts may be any of the example posts 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 502 of FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5, and 6A, 6B. The base plate 806 is bonded (e.g., via compression molding) to the substrate material 202 and 204. The base plate 806 may be of any desired thickness. In some examples, the base plate 806 is flexible to deform with the substrate material 202 and 204. In some examples, the base plate 806 is less than one millimeter (mm) thick. FIG. 8B illustrates the male fastener component 802 without the base plate 806 of FIG. 8A. The posts 804 of the male fastener component 802 are bonded to the substrate material 202 and 204 without being otherwise connected to each other. In this arrangement, even though the posts 804 are not connected other than via the substrate material, the posts 804 together comprise the male fastener component 802.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate examples of female fastener component 900 and 902 bonded to a substrate material 202 and 204. FIG. 9A illustrates the female fastener component 900 defining cavities 904 configured to accept posts (e.g, the posts 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 502 of FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5, and 6A, 6B) to form a snap fit or a press fit. In the illustrated example, the cavities 904 are configured to accept a post with a flared lip to form a snap fit. FIG. 9B illustrates the female fastener component 902. The female fastener component 902 comprises housings 906 which define the cavities 904 that are configured to accept posts. Although, the housings 906 are not connected other than via the substrate material, the based 906 together comprise the female fastener component 902.

FIG. 10 illustrates the example male fastener component 800 snap fit with the corresponding female fastener component 900. The posts 804 of the male fastener component 800 engage with the cavities 904 of the female fastener component 900. In the illustrated example, the posts 804 have a flared lip and the corresponding cavities are configured to engage with the flared lip to snap fit the male fastener component 800 and the female fastener component 900. However, the posts 804 and the cavities 904 may be configured to engage to form a press fit.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example array fastener 1100 with posts 1102 arranged in an array bonded (e.g., via compression molding) to the substrate material 202 and 204. The posts 1102 are spaced to engage another array fastener 110 to form an interlocking fit, where flared lips of the posts 1102 of one of the array fastener 1100 interlock with the flared lips of the posts 1102 of one of the other array fastener 1100.

FIG. 12 illustrates a male fastener component 1200 and a female fastener component 1202 bonded to the same substrate material 202 and 204. The fastener components 1200 and 1202, when engaged, cause the substrate material 202 and 204 to form a loop. In some examples, the male fastener component 1200 includes multiple posts to facilitate adjusting the size of the loop. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a male fastener component 1300 bonded to the substrate material 202 and 204 defining a slot 1302 on an end opposite the male fastener component 1300. When the slot 1302 engages with the posts of the male fastener component 1300, the the substrate material 202 and 204 to forms a loop, In the illustrated example, the the male fastener component 1300 includes multiple posts to facilitate adjusting the size of the loop.

FIG. 14 illustrates a connector 1400 with both a male fastener component 1402 integrally formed with a female fastener component 1404. The male fastener component 1402 is on a first end 1406 and the female fastener component 1404 is on the second end 1408. A post 1410 of the male fastener component 1402 is configured to engage with a cavity 1412 defined by the female fastener component 1404. In the illustrated example, the post 1410 of the male fastener component 1402 has a flared lip configured to snap fit into the cavity 1412. To snap fit, the resilient female fastener component 1404 flexibly extends to receive and contract around the flared lip.

FIG. 15 illustrates a male fastener component 1500 and a female fastener component 1502 bonded to the substrate material 202 and 204 that, when engaged, form a gasket. The gasket fills the space between two surfaces to hinder leakage (e.g., fluid, electromagnetic radiation, etc.) into and/or out of the interior space that the gasket surrounds. The male fastener component 1500 includes a continuous post 1504 that extend from the surface of the male fastener component 1500 around the geometry of the male fastener component 1500. The female fastener component 1502 defines a continuous cavity 1506 configured to engage with the continuous post 1504. In the illustrated example, the continuous post 1504 of the male fastener component 1500 includes a flared lip to snap fit with the continuous cavity 1506 of the female fastener component 1502. In some examples, bodies 1508 of the fastener components 1500 and 1502 are formed of a material with a relatively hard durometer and the continuous post 1504 of the male fastener component 1500 is formed of a material with a softer durometer. In some such examples, the continuous post 1504 of the male fastener component 1500 is resilient and the flared lip flexibly engages into the continuous cavity 1506 of the female fastener component 1502.

FIG. 16 is an example of fastener components 1600 bonded with an article 1602. In the illustrated example, the fastener components 1600 are male fastener components. However, the fastener components 1600 may be female fastener components or a combination of male and female fastener components. The fastener components 1600 are bonded to a surface of the article 1602. As a result, the substrate material 202 and 204 is not punctured. Because the substrate material 202 and 204 is not punctured, the article 1602 may be waterproof or water resistant.

As can be seen from these examples, various geometries are made possible by the new method of attaching posts to textiles that does not require the textile to be pierced. Additionally, this method does not require the textile to be reinforced or backed. Additionally, the posts of the illustrated examples facilitate an interface between soft goods (e.g., a helmet liner) and hard goods (e.g., a helmet). In some examples, the textile may be worn next to the skin without ameliorating the contact on the skin of the back of the post-style snap and the prong-style snap.

Claims

1. A fastening system comprising:

a male fastener component comprising: a base plate bonded to a first substrate material without puncturing the first substrate material; and a post integrally formed with the base plate, the base plate and the post formed of a polyurethane material; and

a female fastener component comprising a housing defining a cavity configured to engage with the post of the male fastener component, the housing made of the polyurethane material and bonded to a second substrate material without puncturing the second substrate material.

2. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the post of the male fastener component is configured to press fit into the cavity of the housing of the female fastener component.

3. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the post of the male fastener component comprises a flared lip and the base of the female fastener component is resilient and flexibly expands to receive and contract around the flared lip.

4. The fastening system of claim 3, where the post of the male fastener component comprises a resilient flared lip that flexibly deforms to enter the cavity of female fastening component to snap fit into the cavity of female fastening component.

5. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the male fastening component and the female fastening component is cast onto the respective substrate material, thereby forming a permanent bond thereto.

6. The fastening system of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the male fastening component and the female fastening component is cast onto the respective substrate material via compression molding.

7. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the base of the post is integrally formed of a first polyurethane and a tip of the post is formed from a second different polyurethane that has a different hardness than the first polyurethane.

8. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the base plate flexible and is less than a millimeter thick.

9. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the post has a non-geometric shape.

10. A fastening system comprising:

a first fastener component formed onto, via molding, to a first surface of a flexible material without puncturing the flexible material, the first fastener component comprising a plurality of posts; and

a second fastener component formed onto, via molding, to a second surface of the flexible material without puncturing the flexible material, the second fastener component configured to mate with the first fastener.

11. The fastening system of claim 10, wherein the second fastener component defines a plurality of slots configured to engage with the plurality of posts via press fitting.

12. The fastening system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of posts have flared lips.

13. The fastening system of claim 12, wherein the second fastener component defines a plurality of slots configured to engage with the plurality of posts via snap fitting.

14. The fastening system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of posts of the first fastener component are arranged in a first array, wherein the second fastener component comprises a plurality of posts arranged in a second array, and wherein the plurality of posts of the first fastener component are configured to interlock with the plurality of posts of the second fastener component.

15. The fastening system of claim 10, wherein the first fastener component comprises a base plate integrally formed with the plurality of posts, the base plate being flexible to deform in conjunction with the flexible material.

16. The fastening system of claim 12, wherein the second fastener component comprises a base plate, and wherein the plurality of cavities are defined within the base plate.

17. The fastening system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of posts have non-circular cross-sections.

18. A method of fastening two surfaces, comprising:

aligning a post of a first fastening component with a cavity defined by a second fastening component, the first fastening component molded onto a first surface without puncturing the first surface and the second fastening component molded onto a second surface without puncturing the second surface; and

applying force to press the post of the first fastening component into the cavity of the second fastening component.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein applying the force to the first fastening component and the second fastening component causes the second fastening component to flexibly expand to receive the post, the cavity contracting around the a flared lip of the post.