Provided is a method of producing a layered article by which a sufficient production speed can be achieved, and preferably, a variation in fusion strength can be suppressed and hence a variation in product quality can be reduced. The method of producing a layered article of the present invention includes fusing at least part of a single-layer body or a laminate including at least one layer including a non-woven fabric of fiber having a fiber diameter of 100 m or less through ultrasonic welding.

A vehicle cover assembly comprising; a flexible cover; one or more side rails; and a fastener assembly that is secured to a vehicle bed comprising; a cover fastener that is on one or more edge regions of the flexible cover; and a side rail fastener with one or more rows of fasteners comprising; a plurality of dual hooks on the base that releasably connect with the cover fastener of the flexible cover; and a plurality of spacers between the plurality of dual hooks.

A welding method heats a surface to be welded of a continuous strip member with a laser beam. The welding method pressurizes the strip member and a continuous film to weld the surface to the film, when or after heating the surface with the laser beam. The welding method preheats the surface before heating the surface with the laser beam. A welding device includes a heat device having an infrared light source disposed to extend along a feed path for the strip member. The heat device is configured to irradiate the surface with infrared light to heat the surface with infrared light. The welding device includes a pressure device configured to pressurize the strip member and the film to weld the surface to the film.

The molded surface fastener has a base portion, right and left resin-intrusion-preventing wall portions standing on the base portion, and a plurality of engaging elements disposed between the right and left resin-intrusion-preventing wall portions. The resin-intrusion-preventing wall portions contain magnetic particles, and at least a part of a region formed of the resin-intrusion-preventing wall portions and the base portion has a concentration gradient portion in which a concentration of the contained magnetic particles is decreased toward at least one direction. This makes it possible to enhance the adhesion property between the part containing the magnetic particles and the part substantially containing no magnetic particles, and to suppress occurrence of cracks or the like between the containing part and the non-containing part of the magnetic particles at the time of manufacturing the molded surface fastener and at other times.

Apparatus and process are described for forming projections on a substrate for use as hook-type fasteners in touch fastening systems, wherein vibration energy may be used to soften a substrate which may be positioned between a mold and a source of vibration. The mold may include a plurality of cavities into which the softened substrate may be forced to form the projections. The substrate may comprise a film, sheet, web, composite, laminate, etc. and be useful as an attachment strip for temporary or permanent fastening. The source of vibration may be an ultrasonic horn. The process to form such projections may be operated in a continuous, semi-continuous or intermittent manner.

Provided is a molded surface fastener capable of stably having high engaging strength with respect to a loop member. The molded surface fastener of the present invention includes a base portion and a plurality of engaging elements provided with a stem portion and an engaging portion, and is formed of synthetic resin containing lubricant at 0.15 wt % or more and 1.00 wt % or less. A top end surface of the engaging element is formed to be flat, and the engaging portion has a hanging portion which hangs down obliquely downward toward the base portion.

Methods of making a male touch fastener product, by shearing distal portions of loops extending from a side of a flexible fabric, leaving fibers extending from the side of the flexible fabric in place of the sheared loops, the fibers extending to respective free distal ends, while leaving other loops extending from the side of the fabric intact, and then heating the distal ends with energy supplied by a linear energy source, such that resin of the distal ends flows to form enlarged heads on the extending fibers, while leaving at least some of the other loops intact. A male touch fastener product has a flexible fabric base with a broad side, and fibers extending from the broad side of the base. The fibers form both loops of fibers, each loop extending from the base at two spaced-apart points, and fiber segments extending from the base to respective distal fiber ends spaced from the base. Each distal fiber end forms an enlarged head of fiber resin for snagging other fibers.

A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.

A hook fastener includes a stem having two lateral edges, a first surface, and a second surface. A cap extends from an upper end of the stem, and the cap includes an upper surface, a first end, a second end, and a pair of overhanging portions. The upper surface of the cap is sloped between the first end and the second end. The first and second ends are at opposite longitudinal ends of the cap, and each overhanging portion extends in a lateral direction from the stem.

A surface fastener molding apparatus includes a supporting structure and a second supporting structure for axially supporting a mold roll in a rotatable manner at a first end side and a second end side of the mold roll which is opposite to the first end side. The mold roll includes a circumferential surface in which a plurality of mold cavities for molding engaging elements of the surface fastener is provided. A first linear driving means and second linear driving means are provided which are for, respectively, advancing or retracting the first supporting structure and the second supporting structure. The degree of closeness between the extruding nozzle and the mold roll is regulatable across the first end side and the second end side of the mold roll, based on at least one activation of the first driving means and the second driving means.