A self-engaging fastener has a flexible base sheet and an array of discrete fastener elements projecting from a broad side of the base sheet. Each fastener element has a stem extending from the base sheet and a head at a distal end of the stem, the head overhanging the base sheet on multiple sides of the stem. The heads of the discrete fastener elements are arranged in a pattern of hexagonal groupings of fastener element heads bordering central regions void of fastener element heads, with each fastener element head spaced from edges of the array being part of three adjacent groupings. The product features a particularly high separation resistance for the area of the product covered by the heads.

A connection system has a first adhesion segment, on which a first connection region is formed, a second adhesion segment, on which a second connection region is formed, and a solidifiable liquid connection substance for connecting the two adhesion segments in a material fit, wherein at least one of the two connection regions is formed flexibly, such that, when the liquid connection substance is introduced between the two connection regions which are opposite one another in an assembly arrangement of the two adhesion segments, a material connection is formed between the two connection regions automatically as a result of the elastocapillary effect via the liquid connection substance.

A method of forming a retaining device with hooks, wherein: a molding strip is provided that presents an inside face and an outside face, and that has a plurality of cavities, each cavity defining a stem extending from the outside face towards the inside face and including an end forming a head that extends from the stem towards the inside face of the molding strip; the molding strip is positioned on rotary drive means, the inside face of the molding strip being arranged to bear against the drive means; and molding material is dispensed against the outside face of the molding strip.

A molding apparatus includes a movable molding surface with molding cavities, a pressure shoe with a stationary outer surface that defines in cooperation with the molding surface a pressure zone, and a resin source configured to introduce molten resin into the pressure zone to be forced into the molding cavities by pressure in the pressure zone. The molding surface is movable with respect to the pressure shoe to introduce molding cavities to the pressure zone to be filled with resin while the outer surface of the pressure shoe and the molding surface define in between an entrance gap of decreasing width upstream of the pressure zone. The outer surface of the pressure shoe is spaced from the molding surface in the pressure zone to define a minimum gap at which the outer surface of the pressure shoe has a slope parallel to the molding surface. The pressure shoe is adapted to be held in a flexed condition against resin in the pressure zone while forcing resin into the cavities, with the outer surface of the pressure shoe curved upstream of the pressure zone.

A molded surface fastener, in which many magnetic particles can be contained in a closer part with respect to a magnet of a molding die, and further a front surface and a rear surface can be easily identified, is provided. In the molded surface fastener of the invention, a magnetic region containing magnetic particles is formed on at least a part between right and left resin intrusion barrier portions, and a magnetic raised portion which is lower than engaging elements and contains the magnetic particles therein is disposed between the engaging elements adjacent in a length direction within the magnetic region.

A method for producing a plastic product including a support (30) having protruding stem parts (36) having at their free ends head parts (38) with a wider diameter compared with the stem parts (36). The stem parts and the head parts are formed in cavities (16) of a moulding screen (12) that are formed, on their sides facing away from the support (30) in a shaping zone of the moulding screen (12). The shaping zone is sealed off from the environment by a counter-face (20) such that a predefinable amount of air enclosed in the shaping zone exerts a counter-pressure on the plastic material introduced into the respective cavity (16) of the shaping zone to support the shaping process.

A surface bonding fastener includes first and second members that can be fastened with each other. Each of the first and second members includes a base sheet and a plurality of fastening units on and integrally molded with the base sheet. Each of the fastening units has first and second hooks. The first hook has a first body and a first hook portion. The second hook has a second body and a second hook portion. The first and second bodies are adjacent to each other in a transverse direction and integrally formed on the base sheet. The first and second hook portions are respectively extend from the first and second bodies and bended toward opposite directions. An overlapping degree between the first and second bodies in a longitudinal direction is configured to be determined by a desired fastening strength between the first and second members.

A molding apparatus (10) for forming a retaining device. The molding apparatus (10) comprises a molding strip (12) and a molding support (24). The molding strip (12) has an inside face (14), an outside face (16), and a plurality of through cavities (18) extending from the outside face (16) to the inside face (14), the molding strip (12) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and presenting both a transverse direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X), and also a height direction (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and to the transverse direction (Y). The inside face (14) is configured to press against a molding face (26) of the molding support (24), wherein the inside face (14) of the molding strip (12) and/or the molding face (26) of the molding support (24) includes an array of passages, the array of passages forming vents and connecting together the cavities (18) when the molding strip (12) is pressed against the molding support (24).

A fastener in the form of a flexible strip with a layer of resin having opposite longitudinal edges, and an array of discrete fastening elements carried on a surface of the flexible strip. Each fastening element has a resin stem extending upward from, and contiguous with, the layer of resin, the stem having opposite lateral side surfaces facing the edges of the flexible strip, and a wing protruding from one of the lateral side surfaces of the stem and spaced above the layer of resin. The wing defines an area in a vertical plane coincident with one of the side surfaces of the stem. As measured perpendicular to the layer of resin, the centroid of the area is closer to the lowermost point of the area than to the uppermost point of the area.

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.