ARTICLE

Abstract

Article includes: male and female fastening parts secured onto separate locations on the article, the male and female fastening parts being mutually engageable; and at least one article component having a nappable region with which the male fastening part is brought into contact at least partially. The male fastening part includes a multiplicity of male engagement elements where male engagement elements are two-dimensionally arranged, the multiplicity of male engagement elements including two or more male engagement elements each having a top surface that is brought into contact with the nappable region. The respective ones of the male engagement elements of the multiplicity of male engagement elements or of the two or more male engagement elements are made of a same polymer material having a bend elastic constant of 800 MPa or less, or 500 MPa or less, or 450 MPa or less.

Claims

1. An article comprising: male and female fastening parts secured onto separate locations on the article, the male and female fastening parts being mutually engageable; and at least one article component having a nappable region with which the male fastening part is brought into contact at least partially, wherein the male fastening part includes a multiplicity of male engagement elements where male engagement elements are two-dimensionally arranged, the multiplicity of male engagement elements including two or more male engagement elements each having a top surface that is brought into contact with the nappable region, and the respective ones of the male engagement elements of the multiplicity of male engagement elements or of the two or more male engagement elements are made of a same polymer material having a bend elastic constant of 800 MPa or less, or 500 MPa or less, or 450 MPa or less.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the female fastening part includes a multiplicity of loops in which respective loops are upright as a multiplicity of female engagement elements, and the nappable region includes a woven or knitted structure where respective unit structures of the woven or knitted structure are laid-down.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein the woven or knitted structure includes a group of piles where piles are two-dimensionally arranged.

4. The article of claim 2, wherein a maximum number of the unit structures contacted by one top surface is 9 or less, 7 or less, or 5 or less.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein a minimum number of the unit structures contacted by one top surface is 2 or more, or 3 or more.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the bend elastic constant of the polymer material is 100 MPa or more or 150 MPa or more.

7. The article of claim 6, wherein the male engagement element includes a stem and at least one protrusion protruding from the stem, the top surface being a curved surface.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein the top surface has a larger width in a first direction along which the at least one protrusion protrudes from the stem, and a smaller width in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the smaller width is or less of a pitch interval of the male engagement elements or of the rows of the male engagement elements in the second direction.

9. The article of claim 8, wherein the smaller width is or less of the pitch interval.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein the smaller width is in a range of 0.3 mm to 0.9 mm.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the smaller width is in a range of 0.45 mm to 0.75 mm.

12. The article of claim 1, wherein the male engagement elements of the multiplicity of male engagement elements are arranged at a density in a range of 20 pieces/cm.sup.2 to 100 pieces/cm.sup.2.

13. The article of claim 1, wherein the at least one article component is a composite material in which nappable piles are formed on a surface of a soft layer.

14. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a wetsuit, sportswear, clothing, bag or pouch.

15. The article of claim 1, wherein the bend elastic constant is in a range from 100 MPa to 450 MPa.

16. The article of claim 1 in which the article is a wetsuit, wherein the male and female fastening parts are located on both sides of a slide fastener that extends from a neck toward a waist of the wetsuit.

17. The article of claim 1, wherein the polymer material includes a polyester elastomer.

18. The article of claim 1, wherein the male fastening part consists of a polyester elastomer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic partial perspective view of an article according to an aspect of the present disclosure, illustrating that a male fastening part is engaged with a female fastening part appropriately.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view of the article according to an aspect of the present disclosure, illustrating that the male fastening part is partially engaged with the female fastening part and is partially brought into contact with a nappable region in the vicinity of the female fastening part.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic partial perspective view of the male fastening part.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic partial top view of the male fastening part.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic partial side view of the female fastening part viewed in a column direction.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic partial side view of the female fastening part viewed in a row direction.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the article, schematically illustrating that the female fastening part and the nappable region are adjacent to one another.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a schematic partial top view diagram of the female fastening part with regularly arranged loops.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a schematic partial top view diagram of the nappable region with regularly arranged piles.

[0025] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram which illustrates simultaneous occurring of intended engaged state of the male fastening part with the female fastening part and unintended engaged state of the male fastening part with the nappable region.

[0026] FIG. 11 is a comparative chart of working example with comparative example.

[0027] FIG. 12 is a comparative chart among working examples.

[0028] FIG. 13 is a comparative chart among working examples, with a comparative example appended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Hereinafter, non-limiting embodiments and features of the present invention would be discussed with reference to drawings. In a case where an article is a wearable article on a human body, an inward direction matches a direction directed to the human body, and an outward direction matches a direction directed away from the human body. In a case where an article is not a wearable article on a human body, the inward and outward directions may be redefined in light of a main feature of the article. For example, in a case where the article is a bag, its main feature lies in its accommodation space, and thus the inward direction matches a direction directed to the accommodation space and the outward direction matches a direction directed away from the accommodation space.

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates an article 1 according to a non-limiting example, i.e. a portion around a neck of a wetsuit, which includes male and female fastening parts 3,4 and at least one article component 2. The article 1 is a wetsuit and the article component 2 thereof is a fabric portion of the wetsuit, not necessarily limited to this though. The article component 2 may be a composite member having a nappable woven or knitted structure (e.g. piles) formed on a surface of a soft layer.

[0031] In more detail, the wetsuit is produced by sewing multiple fabric pieces of a given thickness (3 mm, 5 mm or the like) with waterproofness and heat-insulating capability. Each fabric piece may have a soft layer such as a lubber-made sponge layer with multiple pores; and a skin layer formed on (e.g. laminated on or embedded in) one or both sides of the soft layer. The skin layer may include a woven or knitted structure for a purpose of better contact with a human skin, and this may be referred to as a jersey layer. The woven or knitted structure may typically include nappable piles, but other structures may be employed instead. Of course, the fabric of the wetsuit may be used in articles other than the wetsuits in some cases.

[0032] The male and female fastening parts 3,4 configure a so-called hook-and-loop fastener, and are respectively secured onto separate locations on the article 1 in a mutually engageable manner. In detail, the two parts are arranged on both sides of a slide fastener extending from a neck toward a waist of a wetsuit. As described below, a fabric portion around the female fastening part 4 includes a nappable region 5 with which the male fastening part 3 may be brought into contact at least partially. Note that, the nappable region 5 is not necessarily formed on the external side of the fabric portion, and may be formed on the internal side of the fabric portion. It is envisaged that the male fastening part 3 may abut on the fabric portion on the back side of the female fastening part 4 (i.e. the internal side of the fabric portion) due to the softness of the fabric portion.

[0033] The male fastening part 3 may be produced through a common injection molding using top and bottom molds or may be produced by using an extruder and a die wheel having a peripheral surface where molding cavities are arranged. The female fastening part 4 may be produced (e.g. woven) from a multiplicity of threads by using an automatic loom. Needless to say, there is no limitation on the number of the male and female fastening parts 3,4 included in the article 1.

[0034] Taking the FIGS. 1 and 2 in front of a reader, the male fastening part 3 is secured (e.g. through sewing or adhesive or the like) on the inner surface of the fabric portion 2a on the left side of the slide fastener, and the female fastening part 4 is secured (e.g. through sewing or adhesive or the like) on the external surface of the fabric portion 2b on the right side of the slide fastener. When a user takes on or off the wetsuit, the user cannot see his or her own back side. Thus, there may be situations where the male fastening part 3 is pushed onto the nappable region 5 of the fabric portion 2b as being shifted rightward from the female fastening part 4 as shown in FIG. 2. To cancel this condition, the user needs to pull the fabric portion 2a off the fabric portion 2b, and then pushes the fabric portion 2a onto the fabric portion 2b again. It would be fine if just one action successfully results in shifting from FIG. 2 to FIG. 1 but if not, further repeating actions would be required. As a result, the contact (i.e. pushing or pressing) of the male fastening part 3 onto the nappable region 5 would be repeated. The repetition of such action in a long term would cause naps raised in the nappable region 5.

[0035] Now, the male fastening part 3 will be described. For the sake of description, a height direction D1, a front-rear direction D2, and a lateral direction D3 are defined for the male fastening part 3. As be appreciated from the following description, the height direction D1 matches a standing direction of a male engagement element 32 from a first base layer 31. The front-rear direction D2 is one direction orthogonal to the height direction D1, and matches a protruding direction of a protrusion 32b from a stem 32a (therefore, this direction may be reversed between the arrays of male engagement elements 32). The lateral direction D3 is a direction orthogonal to the height direction D1 and the front-rear direction D2.

[0036] The male fastening part 3 has a first base layer 31 and a multiplicity of male engagement elements G32 where male engagement elements 32 are two-dimensionally arranged on a main surface of the first base layer 31. The first base layer 31 and each of the male engagement elements 32 are molded integrally from a same polymer material, and the first base layer 31 and the respective male engagement elements 32 are continuous integrally. The first base layer 31 is typically formed to have a constant thickness but may be thinned partially. The first base layer 31 is secured onto the inner surface of the fabric portion 2a by sewing, adhesion, welding or the like, and each male engagement element 32 of the multiplicity of male engagement elements G32 protrudes (e.g. inwardly) from the fabric portion 2a.

[0037] The multiple male engagement elements G32 are arranged two-dimensionally i.e. in M columns and N rows, M and N each indicating a natural number of 2 or more (see FIG. 3). Typically, the multiple male engagement elements G32 are arranged two-dimensionally at an arrangement density in a range of 20 pieces/cm.sup.2 to 100 pieces/cm.sup.2. If it is less than 20 pieces/cm.sup.2, there is a possibility that the article 1 may not have a sufficient peel strength and shear strength based on the engagement of the elements G32 with the female fastening part 4. If it is greater than 100 pieces/cm.sup.2, there is a possibility that naps are more likely raised in the nappable region 5.

[0038] Note that the peel strength is indicated by a force required to peel off one from the other of the engaged male and female fastening parts 3 and 4 in a perpendicular direction to the common plane (e.g. with picking an edge of the male fastening part 3 and pulling it off the female fastening part 4). The shear strength is indicated by a force required to displace one relative to the other of the engaged male and female fastening parts 3 and 4 in the in-plane direction.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates total nine male engagement elements 32 in 3 columns*3 rows, but the number is merely an example. FIG. 3 shows a column direction D.sub.column and a row direction D.sub.row which are referred if needed. The male engagement element 32 are arranged in the row direction D.sub.row such that adjacent male engagement elements 32 define an accommodation space for a loop 43 of the female fastening part 4 described below. The male engagement elements 32 are arranged in the column direction D.sub.column such that formed are spaces allowing the loops 43 to access the male engagement elements 32.

[0040] Each male engagement element 32 is a type of hook with a direction of engagement restricted in one direction with respect to a circumferential direction of the element. Each male engagement element 32 includes a stem 32a that stands on the main surface of the first base layer 31, and at least one (typically single) protrusion 32b that protrudes along the surface from the stem 32a (e.g. a head of the stem 32a) at a height away from the main surface of the first base layer 31. As the protrusion 32b protrudes from the stem 32a, a space SP1 is formed between the protrusion 32b and the main surface of the first base layer 31, allowing engagement between the loop 43 and the protrusion 32b.

[0041] Description follows with reference to FIGS. 4-6. The male engagement element 32 has a top surface 35, a back surface 36 (on the rear side in the front-rear direction), a front surface 37 (on the front side in the front-rear direction), a terminal end surface 38 and a concave surface 39. The front surface 37 rises substantially perpendicularly from the main surface of the first base layer 31. The back surface 36 includes a sloped surface that extends obliquely forward (toward the front surface 37) as rising from the main surface of the first base layer 31. Accordingly, the stem 32a would have a length in the front-rear direction that gradually decrease as being away from the first base layer 31. This may contribute in increased softness of the male engagement element 32.

[0042] The top surface 35 has two curved surfaces on the both front and rear sides extending so as to gradually approach the first base layer 31 from the highest position located farthest from the first base layer 31, and these curved surfaces are coupled to form an arch-like curved surface. The top surface 35 may possibly be a flat surface, for example, that is parallel to a plane where the first base layer 31 is provided, but may preferably be a curved surface from a viewpoint of softer contact with the nappable region 5. When the engaging side of the male fastening part 3 (the multiplicity of male engagement elements G32) is seen in the height direction, it is observed that the top surface 35 and the back surface 36 are adjacent in the front-rear direction for each male engagement element 32.

[0043] A boarder between the top surface 35 and the terminal end surface 38 is positioned in the plane L5. A boarder between the top surface 35 and the back surface 36 is positioned in the plane L4. The planes L4,L5 both are orthogonal to a plane where the first base layer 31 exists, and may be defined based on the following description for the respective male engagement elements 32. The plane L5 is positioned at a location where an imaginary plane (not illustrated), orthogonal to the plane where the first base layer 31 exists, is brought into initial contact with the protrusion 32 of the male engagement element 32 after being shifted rightward from an initial position on the left side of the male engagement element 32 toward that male engagement element 32 when FIG. 5 is seen in front of reader. Next, a plane L6 is set which is parallel to the plane where the first base layer 31 exists and includes a contact point P6 between the male engagement element 32 and the plane L5. The plane L4 is positioned so as to include an intersection point P7 where the plane L6 intersects the male engagement element 32 on the opposite side of the contact point P6.

[0044] Note that the terminal end surface 38 is a curved surface that faces the main surface of the first base layer 31 from an obliquely upward position. The concave surface 39 is formed at an appropriate depth for engagement with the female engagement element (the loop). The concave surface 39 is positioned on the opposite side of the top surface 35 and contributes in increased softness of the protrusion 32b.

[0045] The male engagement element 32 has side surfaces 96,97 by which its lateral width is defined in the lateral direction D3 (see FIG. 4). Typically, the side surfaces 96,97 are in the planes which are orthogonal to the lateral direction D3, allowing the male engagement element 32 to have a constant lateral width and facilitating easier removal of the male engagement element off a molding cavity of a die wheel. The male engagement element 32 may have auxiliary protrusions 33 on the both sides of the stem 32a in the lateral direction D3, but these may be omitted. Arrangement of the auxiliary protrusions 33 allows the male engagement element 32 to have an increased mechanical strength and simultaneously a strengthened coupling with the first base layer 31. The auxiliary protrusion 33 is formed to have a lower height than the stem 32a, thus ensuring sufficient softness of the male engagement element 32. Note that, in FIG. 4, the planes L1, L2 and L3 are set at the center position of the male engagement element 32 in its width direction.

[0046] The male engagement element 32 may possibly be a mushroom-type where a direction of engagement is not restricted with respect to the circumferential direction of the element. The mushroom-type male engagement element has a stem and a head, for example. The stem has a cross sectional shape of circle, oval or polygon or the like. The head is connected to the top end of the stem, and has a top surface of a circular or oval or other shape. The top surface of the head may be a flat or curved surface.

[0047] Further description will be made on the female fastening part 4 and the nappable region 5 with reference to FIGS. 7-10. The female fastening part 4 is secured onto the fabric portion 2b by sewing, adhesion, welding or the like. The female fastening part 4 has a second base layer 41 and a multiplicity of loops G43 where respective loops 43n are upright on the main surface of the second base layer 41, as a group of female engagement elements. The multiplicity of loops G43 may include a random arrangement of the loops 43 (see FIG. 7) or a regular arrangement of the loops 43 (see FIG. 8), and even may include a combination or a mixture of the random and regular arrangements. In a case where the multiplicity of loops G43 is configured regularly, the loops 43 may be arranged two-dimensionally at a density in a range of 20 pieces/cm.sup.2 to 100 pieces/cm.sup.2 likewise the multiplicity of male engagement elements G32. Note that, the loop 43 may have a height that is equivalent to the height of the male engagement element 32. This ensures that the male engagement element 32 is smoothly caught by the loop 43. Equivalent incorporates a fluctuation in +/5% of a prescribed value.

[0048] FIG. 8 shows the female fastening part 4 where the loops 43 are formed regularly. Each loop 43 consists of bundled plural threads (filaments). Pairs of loops 43 arranged in V-shape are repeatedly formed in the course direction, and this pattern repeats in the wale direction. Other manners of knitting may be employed instead.

[0049] FIG. 9 shows a woven or knitted structure that is exposed in the nappable region 5, particularly a group of piles G6 where piles 6 are two-dimensionally arranged. The pile 6 consists of loops of bundled plural threads. A unit structure of the woven or knitted structure, namely the piles 6 are laid-down, unlike the loops 43. Therefore, it would be rare for the male engagement element 32 to be caught by the pile 6 which is in the laid-down state. However, if the male engagement elements 32 were repeatedly pushed onto the piles 6, the piles 6 may be beaten and slackened, and the piles 6 or its component threads may likely rise up from the laid-down state toward the upright state, resulting in a state where the male engagement elements 32 are more likely caught by it. As a result, the male engagement element 32 may be caught by the pile(s) 6 or the component thread(s) 59 in the right portion as shown in FIG. 10, possibly causing the nap(s) and deteriorating the appearance of the fabric portion. Note that the pile 6 is positioned farther than the female fastening part 4 when looked from the male fastening part 3 but this does not help in addressing the problem.

[0050] In the present embodiment, the multiplicity of male engagement elements G32 includes two or more male engagement elements 32 each having a top surface 35 that is brought into contact with the nappable region 5. Furthermore, the respective male engagement elements 32 of the multiplicity of male engagement elements G32 or of the two or more male engagement elements 32 are made of a same polymer having a bend elastic constant of 800 MPa or less, 500 MPa or less, or 450 MPa or less. This suppresses the above-noted beat-triggered rising of the unit structure of the woven or knitted structure by the male engagement element 32. Straightforwardly speaking, the male engagement elements 32 are softened sufficiently compared with common ones (e.g. the comparative example 2 noted below). This suppresses the unit structure of the woven or knitted structure from being easily slackened as beaten by the male engagement elements 32 particularly by the top surfaces 35, thus avoiding deteriorated surface condition of the fabric portion 2b. Preferably, the polymer material has a bend elastic constant of 100 MPa or more, or 150 MPa or more, ensuring sufficient engagement with the loop 43 of the female engagement element. Note that the bend elastic constant should be measured based on JIS K 7171. The polymer material may include a polyester elastomer, but other elastomers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polypropylene-polyethylene block copolymer, vinyl chloride, polyacetal, and polyamide may be used alternatively or additionally.

[0051] Not every male engagement element 32 of the multiplicity of male engagement elements G32 may be brought into contact with the nappable region 5, depending on respective planar sizes of or a relative position between the male fastening part 3 and the female fastening part 4. Therefore, it is envisaged that the male engagement elements 32 of a subset of the multiplicity of male engagement elements G32 are brought into contact with the nappable region 5. Regardless of this, the respective male engagement elements 32 of the multiplicity of male engagement elements G32 are typically molded to have the same shape and the same size from a viewpoint of design or manufacturing efficiency.

[0052] The maximum number of the piles 6 of the woven or knitted structure (in the nappable region 5) contacted by one top surface 35 may be 9 or less, 7 or less or 5 or less. In such case, the load received by each pile 6 would likely be not negligible relatively, likely causing the beat-triggered rising of the piles 6 and likely allowing the male engagement elements 32 to be caught. Therefore, there is a particular advantage in the use of the male fastening part 3 according to the present disclosure. Note that, the pile 6 is a non-limiting example of a unit structure of the woven or knitted structure (the same applies hereinbelow).

[0053] The minimum number of the piles 6 contacted by one top surface 35 may be 2 or more, or 3 or more. The load is shared by the respective piles 6, suppressing the beat-triggered rising of the piles 6.

[0054] The above two conditions may be unified so that the number of the piles 6 contacted by one top surface 35 may be in a range of 2 to 9, 2 to 7, or 2 to 5.

[0055] The top surface 35 may have a larger width W2 in the front-rear direction D2, and a smaller width W1 in the lateral direction D3. The larger width W2 is defined between the two planes L4 and L5 noted above. The smaller width W1 is defined between two parallel planes including the above-noted side surfaces 96 and 97 (see FIG. 4) respectively. The smaller width W1 may be or less of a pitch interval P1 of the male engagement elements 32 or a pitch interval P1 of the rows of the male engagement elements in the lateral direction D3 (see FIG. 4), and may optionally be or more of the pitch interval P1. According to this feature, it is smoothly facilitated that the number of the piles contacted by one top surface 35 is within an appropriate range in relation to a common woven or knitted structure. The area of the top surface 35 may be easily adjusted while suppressing an influence given to the arrangement density of the male engagement element 32 and the features (peel strength, shear strength) of the hook-and-loop fastener. Moreover, the features (peel strength, shear strength) of the hook-and-loop fastener may be improved likewise the working example 4 noted below. The peel strength is preferably 2.0 N/cm or greater, and may be much greater than this. The shear strength is preferably 5.0 N/cm.sup.2 or greater, and may be much greater than this.

[0056] Most typically, the pitch interval P1 is in a range of 0.3 mm to 4.0 mm, or 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the smaller width is in a range of 0.3 mm to 0.9 mm, or in a range of 0.45 mm to 0.75 mm. The larger width is in a range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, or in a range of 0.7 mm to 1.2 mm.

[0057] Aspect ratio (W1/W2) of smaller width/larger width may be 0.2 or more, or 0.4 or more. The smaller width may be purposely increased so as to increase the aspect ratio. Of course, if the aspect ratio were too large, smoother engage with loop 43 of the female engagement element (with a common aperture size) may be difficult. Therefore, the aspect ratio is preferably 1.8 or less, or 0.7 or less.

[0058] By way of precaution, in the adjacent rows of the male engagement elements 32 in the lateral direction (column direction), the protrusions 32b protrude from the stems 32a in opposite directions, but should not be limited to this. It is possible to reverse the protruding direction of the protrusion alternately every one-row or every two-rows. The article should not be limited to the wetsuit, and may be a sportswear or clothing, or a bag or pouch.

WORKING EXAMPLE

[0059] In the comparative examples 1, 2 and the working examples 1-3, respective male fastening part was repeatedly pushed over 1000 times with a same load onto a nappable region of a same pile structure, and the extent of naps in the nappable region was observed. The male engagement elements were hook-type as illustrated except for the comparative example 1, and were arranged as shown in the drawings. The density of the piles was about 5000 pieces/cm.sup.2.

[0060] The comparative example 1 used male engagement elements which are configured by cutting loops of monofilaments instead of the hook-type male engagement elements. Polyamide having a bend elastic constant of 2800 MPa was used as the polymer material of the male fastening part. The arrangement density of the male engagement elements was 60 pieces/cm.sup.2.

[0061] The comparative example 2 used a male fastening part which consists of a polymer material of polypropylene having a bend elastic constant of 1800 MPa. The arrangement density of the male engagement elements was 39.2 pieces/cm.sup.2. The smaller width of the top surface was 0.3 mm. The larger width of the top surface was 1.05 mm.

[0062] The working example 1 used a male fastening part which consists of a polymer material of polyester elastomer having a bend elastic constant of 490 MPa. The arrangement density of the male engagement elements was 39.2 pieces/cm.sup.2. The smaller width of the top surface was 0.3 mm. The larger width of the top surface was 1.05 mm.

[0063] The working example 2 used a male fastening part which consists of a polymer material of polyester elastomer having a bend elastic constant of 290 MPa. The arrangement density of the male engagement elements was 39.2 pieces/cm.sup.2. The smaller width of the top surface was 0.3 mm. The larger width of the top surface was 1.05 mm.

[0064] The working example 3 used a male fastening part which consists of a polymer material of polyester elastomer having a bend elastic constant of 162 MPa. The arrangement density of the male engagement elements was 39.2 pieces/cm.sup.2. The smaller width of the top surface was 0.3 mm. The larger width of the top surface was 1.05 mm.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 11, the nap in the nappable region was suppressed in the working examples 1-3 compared with the comparative examples 1 and 2. In particular, there is a favorable improvement observed around 490 MPa of the bend elastic constant of the working example 1. Based on this result, it may be possible to estimate that the bend elastic constant is preferably 500 MPa or less (or less than 500 MPa), and more preferably 450 MPa or less (or less than 450 MPa). Yet more preferably, in view of the working example 2, it may be possible to estimate that the bend elastic constant is preferably 300 MPa or less or less than 300 MPa. Note that envisioned is a reasonable effect resulting from the bend elastic constant in a range of 500 MPa to 800 MPa, based on comparison between the comparative example 2 and the working example 1.

[0066] In the working example 4, the smaller width of the top surface of the male engagement element was doubled compared with the working example 2. In the working example 5, the smaller width of the top surface of the male engagement element was doubled compared with the working example 3. The pitch interval P1 was constant. As shown in FIG. 12, the naps were further suppressed. As shown in FIG. 13, there were also improvements on the peel strength and shear strength. In view of the working examples 4 and 5, it would be appreciated that advantageously satisfied are two conditions of (i) the bend elastic constant is 300 MPa or less and simultaneously (ii) the smaller width is in a range of 0.3 mm to 0.9 mm or in a range of 0.45 mm to 0.75 mm. The feature on the smaller width may be replaced with an aspect ratio of smaller width/larger width.

[0067] Based on the above disclosure, those skilled in the art may make various changes to the respective features and the respective embodiments. The codes incorporated in the claims are for reference only and should not be referred to for a purpose of limiting the scope of claims.

REFERENCE CODES

[0068] 1: Article [0069] 2: Article component [0070] 3: Male fastening part [0071] 4: Female fastening part [0072] 5: Nappable region [0073] 32: Male engagement element [0074] 32a: Stem [0075] 32b: Protrusion [0076] 35: Top surface [0077] 43: Loop [0078] 59: Component thread