Abstract: A fastener member 10 has a generally planar base section 12 and a plurality of engaging strips 14 projecting from one surface of the base section 12 and extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction. Each of the engaging strips 14 has a vertical portion 16 adjoining the base section 12, and a head portion 18 formed at the end of the vertical portion 16. The head portion 18 of the engaging strip 14 is provided with a plurality of slots 20 extending transversely through the head portions 18. The slots 20 may be inclined with respect to the base section 12. The slots 20 guide headed stems of the opposed fastener member, and reduce the pressure necessary for interengagement. Even when the compressive force is applied in the direction inclined to the base section 12 of the fastener member 10, the interengagement can be easily obtained without bending the headed stems of the opposed fastener member by the guiding effect of the slots 20.

Abstract: Fastener elements (10, 12) each include a base (14) and a multiplicity of prongs (16). Each prong (16) includes a head (18) and flange (20) defining an inner stem portion (22) and outer neck portion (24). Heads (18) include inner flat surfaces (25) that abut inner flat surfaces (26) of flanges (20). Two points of engagement are provided along each prong (16) between it and the prongs of a matching fastener element.

Abstract: The invention is a hook fastening material for use with a complementary loop fastening material, which hook fastening material has from about 1600 to about 2500 prongs per square inch and is substantially non-abrasive and non-irritating to human skin. In one embodiment the hook fastening material has prongs with an engaging means at an angle of about 90.degree. to about 160.degree. relative to the extension of the perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. In another embodiment the hook fastening material is formed on a compressible substrate. In still another embodiment the hook fastening material has prongs made of an ethylene vinyl acetate based polymer or a polyethylene based polymer. Methods for making such hook fastening materials and articles of use are also disclosed.

Abstract: An injection-molded thermoplastic device having a field of injection-molded hooks integrally formed in predetermined areas on the device during the injection-molding of the device for releasable attachment to a strap with loops.

Abstract: A molded surface fastener comprising: first and second engaging parts each including a flat hook bed having on its surface a multiplicity of rows of hooks molded integrally of the hook bed; each hook including a raised portion and a hook-shape engaging portion extending forwardly from a distal end of the raised portion, the raised portion having an inclined back surface smoothly curving upwardly from the hook bed and a vertical front surface, each hook having a varying cross-sectional area increasing gradually from a distal end of the hook-shape engaging portion to the base of the raised portion; and the hooks of the first engaging part and the hooks of the second engaging part being arranged in opposite directions, the row direction pitch of the hooks of one of the first and second engaging parts being twice that of the hooks of the other engaging part.

Abstract: A connector means comprising a plurality of parallel ridges configured so that inverted ridge means may be nested between and gripped by certain of the ridges. The connector means also includes means to confirm complete, adjusted interlock of the nested ridges. Also disclosed are products that would incorporate such connector means, and means to produce same.

Abstract: This invention describes a hook design for the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener system, and the hook strip made up of a multiplicity of such hooks projecting from a common base. The hook design encompasses a thickened stem portion projecting from the base and connecting to lobes of a crook portion at a neck. The stem portion is substantially thicker than the crook portion and terminates at the neck. The lobes and the stem are tapered whereby the hook can be easily withdrawn from its mold cavity during the molding operation. The hook is characterized by improved engageability and closure performance.

Abstract: A female component is provided for engaging a complementary hook component in a refastenable fastening device. The female component comprises a nonwoven web secured to a backing. The nonwoven web has characteristics that are specifically suited for entangling and holding the hooks of the mating hook component. The nonwoven web has a basis weight of between about 6 and about 42 grams/meter.sup.2. The nonwoven web may comprise, among other types of nonwovens, a carded web with fibers between about 2.5 cm. and about 13 cm. long, or a spunbonded web with continuous length fibers. The denier of the fibers should be between about 0.5 and about 15. The total area occupied by any bonds between the fibers comprising the nonwoven web is less than about six percent of the total area of the web. The nonwoven web is secured to the backing, preferably autogeneously.

Abstract: A process for making a refastenable mechanical fastening system comprising the steps of providing a depositing member having at least one aperture having a diameter of between about 0.008 inches to about 0.040 inches; providing a molten thermally sensitive material having a storage modulus less than about 5000 dynes/centimeter.sup.2 at the application temperature and a storage modulus of at least about 1.times.10.sup.6 dynes/centimeter.sup.2 at a temperature no more than 40.degree.

Abstract: A plastic molded hook for use with a hook and loop fastening system especially adapted for use with low profile loops. The hook design includes a base, a stem and a crook whereby the volume of the portion of the hook penetrating into a pile of loops is defined as the displacement volume. Hooks especially adapted for use with low profile loops have a displacement volume of less than 6.times.10.sup.-6 cubic inches.

Abstract: The multiple button closure-fastener is a separable strip closure-fastener made from a suitable plastic material comprising a multiple conical male button strip and a multiple conical female button strip. All male and female buttons are coaxial at point of engagement and when pressed together the male buttons snap into the female buttons engaging a like curve causing a pulling together of the male and female surfaces, thus making a mechanical closure with a liquid and hermetic seal. This closure-fastener can also be used in numerous instances where there is no need for a liquid or hermetic seal.

Abstract: A separable fastener includes a pair of fastener pieces. Each of the fastener pieces includes a flat base and a plurality of elastic engagement projections provided on and integral with the base and arranged in a plurality of lateral and longitudinal rows. The engagement projections have respective heads of a uniform size. Each of the heads is supported on the base via a pair of leg pieces united at the upper end to opposed edge portions of the bottom of the head.

Abstract: Hook elements of a surface fastener can intermesh reliably with the loop elements of a companion surface fastener and can be unfastened from the loop elements very smoothly. The integrally molded hook element has softness and strength similar to those of monofilamentary hooks of a woven surface fastener.

Abstract: A system of joining by interengagement, especially suitable for fasteners by interengagement, comprising a first joining device conventionally in the form of a tape, provided on a first interengagement face with a plurality of first interengagement elements which are at least partially elastically deformable, and a second joining device likewise conventionally in the form of a tape, provided on a second interengagement face with the plurality of second interengaging elements which are at least partially elastically deformable, wherein the elements are formed with ridges that interengage.

Abstract: A fastening system for fastening devices using manual pressure includes at least two flexible opposed fastening members each of which has a plurality of alternating flexible burrs and burr seating cavities. The burrs of one member interdigitate with the burr cavities of the other member when pressed together. The head of the burrs lock into the opposing head cavities securely holding the fastened devices from sideways movement and separation. Also, the members disengage using manual force.

Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavitites of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.

Abstract: A surface-type fastener comprises a pair of identical strips and a pluarity of rows of interengaging elements distributed over the strips in offset positional relation to one another to provide engaging spaces. The elements has a relatively large but their engaging arms which are interengageable in the engaging spaces with their neighboring counterparts on the opposite strip.

Abstract: An improved releasably securable fastening system for attaching to a complementary receiving surface is disclosed. The fastening system features an engaging means in the form of a hook-shaped tine. The engaging means is longitudinally spaced away from, or above, a substrate by an upstanding shank. The engaging means forms an included angle, relative to the perpendicular from the plane of the substrate, which is greater than 180.degree. so that the engaging means has a reentrant segment. The reentrant segment of the engaging means provides for more effective securing of the fastening system to a receiving surface. An engaging means having an included angle greater than 180.degree. provides improved resistance to forces which cause separation of the engaging means from the receiving surface.

Abstract: An improved hook for hook and loop fasteners having a profile defined by an inner smoothly contoured generally concave face and an outer generally convex face, said hook comprising a sturdy base intimately engaging a substantially planar base member and extending therefrom to join a resilient hook portion, able to engage a loop applying a force to the hook portion substantially normal to the base member, terminating in a free end, wherein the hook tapers smoothly and continuously downwardly in width from the sturdy base member to the free end such that a loop engaging the hook in tension, with the applied force being substantially normal to the base member, will deform the hook portion resiliently under the applied force to release the loop at a desired applied force and such that a loop engaging the hook in shear, with the applied force substantially parallel to the base member, will engage the sturdy base member, the sturdy base member being sufficiently sturdy that it will not deform to release a loop enga

Abstract: A method of continuously producing an elongated strip-like fastener member is disclosed which facilitates highly efficient formation of the fastener member with a great multiplicity of resiliently flexible hook-like projections. The method comprises the formation of an extrusion of plastic material which is shaped between a pair of coacting first and second rollers. Notably, one of the rollers defines a plurality of hook-forming cavities about its periphery within which the hook projections of the fastener member are formed. The forming roller is suitably cooled so as to effect substantial reduction in the temperature of the molten plastic extrusion from which the fastener member is formed. In this manner, the fastener member may be removed or stripped from the forming roller without opening of the hook-forming cavities, thus promoting highly efficient formation of the fastener member without resort to unduly complex equipment of processes.

Abstract: An improved machine for the continuous production of a separable fastening element includes an endlessly-circulating belt of molding modules that, in the preferred embodiment, cyclically pass by at least two injection heads and two removal-wheels once every revolution. Each injection head includes a single-pump-driven reservoir that feeds an injection and forming die operative to first form a backing layer, and then to form plural hook-like projections, by a wedge-like forcing action of a portion of the backing into hook-like mode cavities. The resulting ribbon then cures and includes the hook-like elements standing off of and integral with the backing. The modules include interdigited mold and spacer plates that are each of a generally-rectangular configuration and that together are cooperative to define releasable hook-like forming cavities and a smooth backing-forming two-dimensional surface.

Abstract: A warp-knit support tape for hook and loop fasteners comprises a foundation including two needle stitches and laid-in weft threads, and a pile portion having chain stitches formed by sinker looping into a multiplicity of pile-loops. The tape system is rendered highly resistant to stretch in either direction. The pile-loops are arranged to line up alternately at the right and at the left of the wales and tilted sidewise alternately in opposite directions.

Abstract: A fastener includes a pad element having number of connecting prongs having two locking ridges disposed thereon. The top locking ridges, which are disposed closest to the tip of the prongs, are smaller than the lower locking ridges, thereby facilitating easy alignment of the unisex fasteners of a mating pad. Back prongs on the pad are used for connecting the pad to a surface of an article having holes for receiving the back prongs such that the connecting prongs are positioned to face upwardly from the surface. The fastener is adapted for use in yieldably or separably anchoring a baseball base in place on a playing field ground support attachment having like-constructed fastener prongs whereby injury to a runner sliding into the base will be minimized due to yielding under a relatively low force or separating under a relatively high force of the fastener prongs upon contact thereof.