A system of attachment surface structures that find their best use in the form of repeatedly removable straps and bands for securing one object to another. The surfaces are preferably constructed of narrow sheets of flexible polymer plastic materials having generally high tensile strength. A first embodiment includes shaped parallel ridges on one surface that interlock with mating parallel ridges on an opposing surface. These parallel ridges may be double sided (interlocking on both sides of each shaped ridge with the next shaped ridge on either side) or single sided (interlocking with a single ridge oriented 180 degrees from the first). Further embodiments include an array of shaped posts of various regular geometric shapes that interlock with an opposing array of similar or distinct posts.

A mechanical fastener is disclosed that includes a thermoplastic backing and multiple, upstanding fastening elements that have a post with a proximal end attached to the thermoplastic backing and a distal end comprising a cap larger in area than a cross-sectional area of the post. The basis weight of the mechanical fastener is in a range from 25 grams per square meter to 75 grams per square meter, and the height of the multiple, upstanding fastening elements is up to 300 micrometers. Fastening systems and disposable absorbent articles including the mechanical fastener are also disclosed.

In this molded surface fastener, an engaging element includes a columnar stem portion, and micro pawl portions protruding outward from an upper end outer peripheral edge of the stem portion in a plan view of the engaging elements. A pawl width dimension of the micro pawl portions is smaller than a line segment connecting two points on the upper end outer peripheral edge of the stem portion. The micro pawl portions protrude toward a base portion. This molded surface fastener has a high peel strength and a shear strength with respect to a female surface fastener.

Embodiments related to a touch fastener and its methods of manufacture and use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the touch fastener may include a substrate with a first portion and a second portion displaceable relative to the first portion. A first fastening element may be formed in the first portion. When the first portion is displaced relative to the second portion, a force and/or moment generated by the displacement may cause the first fastening element to be deployed.

This manufacturing method of a molded surface fastener involves a primary molding step for forming a primary molded body and a secondary molding step for compressing a provisional element of the primary molded body while heating the same. A molding apparatus is provided with a mold member comprising multiple penetration holes and multiple concave portions, whereof each penetration hole communicates to at least one concave portion; in the primary molding step, the molding apparatus is used to form a primary molded body comprising a provisional element having a primary stem portion and a pawl portion is formed from the protruded portion by compressing the provisional element. By this means, it is possible to stably manufacture a molded surface fastener that has an engaging element comprising a pawl portion that projects from the outer peripheral edge of an engaging head portion.

A mesh hook surface fastener does not lose engagement ability even when subjected to mold-in forming and gives only a slight feeling of something foreign. The mesh hook surface fastener contains first shape holding ribs (a.sub.21) with a relatively small protrusion height and second shape holding ribs (a.sub.22) with a relatively large protrusion height which protrude to the opposite side of hook-shaped engagement elements (B.sub.1, B.sub.2) across a base layer (A.sub.1) and are alternately arranged. The heights of the adjacent shape holding ribs (a.sub.21, a.sub.22) are different, which prevents the direct entrance of a foamable resin liquid and weakens its force. As the force weakens, foaming and curing progress more readily and, as a result, the amount of the foamable resin liquid that passes through meshes of the base layer to reach the hook-shaped engagement elements can be reduced.

In this molded surface fastener, plural engaging elements having a stem portion and an engaging head portion formed integrally on the stem portion are standing on the base portion, at least one pawl portion having a pawl width dimension narrower than a width dimension at a boundary between the stem portion and the engaging head portion is protruded on an outer peripheral edge part of the engaging head portion, and a back surface of pawl of the pawl portion is formed at different angles with respect to a back surface of head portion of the engaging head portion. Such a molded surface fastener of the present invention has a substantial engaging force with respect to a female surface fastener and can make a texture of its surface comfortable.

A fastener includes: a base; a plurality of hooks extending from the base, the plurality of hooks sized to receive a corresponding hook of a plurality of hooks of another fastener; and a plurality of ribs extending from the base, the plurality of ribs sized to receive a corresponding rib of a plurality of ribs of the other fastener.

A method of making a mechanical fastener. The method includes providing a slit web having mechanical fastening elements, applying tension to the slit web in the machine direction, and spreading the slit web in the cross-machine direction by moving the slit web over a crowned surface to provide a spread mechanical fastening web. The slit web includes a plurality of interrupted slits that are interrupted by intact bridging regions of the web. The crowned surface may be an air bearing, or at least a portion of the crowned surface is a low-friction surface, and the crowned surface and the slit web are not moving at the same speed in the same direction. The crowned surface may be provided with at least one ridge.

A fastening tab for an absorbent article, the fastening tab comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end comprising a backing including a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein said first major surface is provided with a release surface, wherein the fastening tab further comprises a mechanical fastening patch, said patch comprising on one side male fastening elements and on the opposite side an adhesive, wherein the patch is releasably attached to the release surface via the adhesive, said distal end comprising a backing including a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein said first major surface has a structure or is provided with a structure that is adapted to be releasably engaged by said male fastening elements of the patch. Fastening tapes comprising a plurality of such fastening tabs, wherein the fastening tabs are arranged in an endless form on the tape so that individual fastening tabs can be provided from the fastening tape by cutting the tape across its width and rolls of such fastening tapes.