A fastener part consisting of at least one planar substrate part (10), on one side of which a plurality of mushroom-head-like fastener elements are arranged, each of which, as an integral part of the substrate part (10), has a solid stem part (17) formed in the manner of a rotational hyperboloid and extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein to the free end of said stem part (17) a head part (16) adjoins, the edge regions of which form hooking possibilities and project at least partially beyond the stem part (17), and wherein said head part (16) has a crater-like depression (20) on its upper side, characterized in that a plurality of further crater-like depressions (23) is incorporated into the further side (22) of the substrate part (10), opposite to the fastener elements, in that both crater-like depressions (20, 23) of at least some of the fastener elements extend concentrically or mainly concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the respective assigned stem part (17), and in that the respective further crater-like depression (23) has a maximum crater depth ranging between 30 to 60%, preferably 50%, of the thickness of the substrate part (10).

A shaped hook member of hook-and-loop fastener including a base plate and a plurality of hook-type engaging elements that rise from a surface of the base plate. The hook-type engaging elements are each tapered from the proximal end to the distal end, and are each curved from a point in the course from the proximal end to the distal end, and the distal end is directed toward the base plate. The plurality of hook-type engaging elements are arranged in rows extending in the same direction as the curving direction of the hook-type engaging elements, and the curving directions of the hook-type engaging elements in two adjacent rows or two adjacent units each of two or more rows are opposite to each other. The base plate and the hook-type engaging element are formed of a semi-aromatic polyamide resin containing a semi-aromatic polyamide and an elastomer.

A touch fastener product having a base sheet with a resin side surface and a male touch fastener element having a head disposed at a distal end of a resin stem and overhanging the base sheet. The head has an overall shape, as projected in a plane parallel to the base sheet, with a perimeter that defines spaced apart extremities corresponding to head sections of different engagement characteristics and disposed at different distances from a centroid of the overall shape. In one example, the head projection has a polygonal perimeter consisting of straight edges of differing lengths connected at radiused corners. In another, the perimeter comprises an unbroken series of at least three arc segments of different curvatures, with centers of the arc segments disposed at different distances from the centroid.

A method of molding resin on a flexible substrate includes forming discrete regions of resin and forcing resin of at least some of the regions into molding cavities to form a respective array of resin projections extending from a resin base of the regions. Forming the discrete regions of resin includes depositing molten resin directly onto either the substrate or a surface in which the cavities are defined. The resin is deposited as the substrate moves in a processing direction, and the resin is deposited by resin sources spaced from each other along the processing direction.

A method for assembling an assembly comprising a tape (100) of retaining elements and a substrate (200), said method comprising the following steps: a step of forming a tape of retaining elements by dispensing a molding material into a molding device (1), so as to form a tape (100) of retaining elements comprising a base (51) presenting a bottom face (511) and a top face (512), the top face (511) of the base (51) being provided with retaining elements; and a step of applying a substrate (200) against the bottom face (511) of the base (51) prior to said bottom face (512) of the base (51) solidifying in such a manner as to cause the substrate (200) to penetrate at least in part beyond a plane defined by the bottom face (511) of the base (51) of the tape (100).

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.

A retaining device including a base having an upper face and a lower face, the base extending along a primary direction, having a width defined along a secondary direction perpendicular to the primary direction, and a thickness measured along a direction perpendicular to the primary direction and to the secondary direction, a plurality of retaining elements extending on the upper face of the base, each retaining element including a rod, the retaining elements being integrally formed with the base, the retaining elements being arranged in rows and in columns extending respectively along the secondary direction and the primary direction, wherein at least X rows and/or X columns of the retaining device have distinct numbers of retaining elements, where X is equal to 2.

Arrays of male fastener elements are formed by molding preforms in cavities defined in one or more adjacent plates and shaped to mold preform arms that extend to a plate side, such as in a cross-machine direction of a continuous molding process. The preforms may be deformed to flatten their upper surfaces and lengthen the arms. Stems of preforms have molded side surfaces and each have width, measured in the longitudinal direction of the strip, that narrows with distance from the strip surface, and also narrows with distance from a parting line extending from the strip surface to the head between the arms.

A fastening tape having flexibility in a longitudinal direction of the fastening tape. The fastening tape includes a plurality of fasteners, a support, and magnetic material positioned on the support. The support defines a plurality of plateaus and a plurality of valleys. The magnetic material is positioned on at least a portion of one of the plurality of plateaus or the plurality of valleys of the support such that a height of the magnetic material varies in the longitudinal direction. Because the height of the magnetic material varies, the fastening tape is more flexible in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the fastening tape is also flexible in the lateral direction.

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).