It is well known that plastic shower curtains can develop mildew and/or mold where the curtain adheres to another surface and remains moist, such as the edge of a bathtub. A shower curtain with at least a portion of the surface being non-smooth is disclosed. In some embodiments, appendages extend outwardly from the surface of the curtain. The appendages prevent the surface of the curtain from adhering to another surface via surface tension of water. Furthermore, the appendages create an air gap that enables air to flow freely between the curtain and its adjacent surface. The appendages also reduce the surface area of the curtain in contact with the adjacent surface.

A heat-embosssed non-woven that is suitable for producing a decorative layer for a car passenger compartment includes: thermoplastic fibers, being needled and having a maximum tensile elongation of at least 30%; and embossed recesses that have base surfaces at a bottom thereof. A ratio between a thickness of the non-woven in a region of the base surfaces of the recesses and a thickness of the non-woven in a region of the non-embossed regions is at most 0.1. A fraction of a total surface area of the non-woven made up by a total base surface area of the recesses is from 0.5% to 30%.

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.

Aspects disclosed herein relate to forming on a substrate fastener elements suitable for use in touch fastener by employing vibration forming methods. The processes described provide for a greater flexibility in manufacturing than prior methods and overcome certain limitations in prior forming techniques. Further, the product made can embody a variety of different configurations suitable for a given application. Employing vibration forming methods, such ultrasonic forming methods, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate material than materials used with convention methods of touch fastener formation.

A fastening strip for touch fasteners is provided which includes a corrugated portion as well as fastening elements. The corrugated portion allows the strip to be bent in a plane perpendicular as well as parallel with the longitudinal axis of the strip such that it may be applied to curved surfaces and remain substantially flat. Fastening elements such as hooks, loops, mushroom-shaped, bulbous and double hooks may be included on both sides of the strip and on the walls of the channels that form the corrugations as well as between the corrugations. The corrugated fastening strips may be useful for automotive seating and diaper applications. Processes for forming the corrugated fastening strip area also disclosed.

Touch fastener products, as well as apparatus and methods for manufacturing such products, are described. The methods and apparatus feature certain mold cavity shapes that are designed to facilitate demolding of hammer hook touch fastener elements exhibiting desirable fastening properties. Such mold cavity shapes can be combined with particularly soft molding resins to produce useful fastening products.

Aspects disclosed herein relate to forming on a substrate fastener elements suitable for use in touch fastener by employing vibration forming methods. The processes described provide for a greater flexibility in manufacturing than prior methods and overcome certain limitations in prior forming techniques. Further, the product made can embody a variety of different configurations suitable for a given application. Employing vibration forming methods, such as ultrasonic forming methods, allows for the use of a wider variety of substrate material than materials used with convention methods of touch fastener formation.

The invention relates to a process for the production of a structured surface on a polymeric material. In the production process, the polymeric material is brought into contact with a surface-structuring mold which comprises, on a first side, channels of length at least 10 m, open toward the first side, and then the removal of the surface-structuring mold from the polymeric material, where the structured surface is obtained on the polymeric material. The polymeric material is brought into contact with the surface-structuring mold at ambient pressure.

Methods and systems for mechanically forming one or more surface protrusions integrally from a garment material, the one or more surface protrusions extending outwardly from a garment surface of the garment material, include pre-heating at least one selected area of the garment material; placing the at least one selected area of the garment surface that is pre-heated against a first surface of a forming die, the first surface having a plurality of openings which have a configuration and orientation corresponding with the configuration and orientation of the one or more surface protrusions of the garment material. The garment surface may be softened by application of a source of energy, at least some of the softened garment surface positioned into at least one opening of the plurality of openings.

A male touch fastener product has an array of discrete fastening elements extending from a resin base. The elements are formed by molding stems and then deforming at least a rim of a distal end of each head to form an overhanging mushroom-type fastener element. Some are deformed against a hard surface to form flat fastener elements, and others are deformed against a compliant surface and form umbrella-shaped fastener elements. The fastener element heads feature particular structural relationships that enhance their performance, particularly with low-lying fibers.