Surface fastener

Abstract

To provide a surface fastener that can be easily produced, is excellent in strength, has necessary engagement force and can withstand the repetition of use. In a surface fastener for achieving mechanical bonding by entanglement or engagement of a pair of engaging elements, at least one of the engaging elements comprises a sheet-like substrate and a plurality of stem bodies disposed as protrusions on the substrate, and each stem body is made of a composite body of a soft and flexible elastic resin material and a hard resin material having high rigidity.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A surface fastener for achieving mechanical bonding by entanglement or engagement of a pair of engaging elements, wherein at least one of said engaging elements comprises a sheet-like substrate and a plurality of stem bodies disposed as protrusions on said substrate, and each of said stem bodies comprises a composite body of a soft and flexible elastic resin material and a hard resin material having high rigidity.  
     
     
         2 . A surface fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said surface fastener is a hook-loop system fastener comprising pairs of loop-like engaging elements and hook-like engaging elements wherein said stem body forms said hook-like engaging element.  
     
     
         3 . A surface fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein said loop-like engaging element and said hook-like engaging elements are disposed on opposing surfaces of one substrate.  
     
     
         4 . A surface fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein said loop-like engaging element and said hook-like engaging elements are disposed on the surfaces of different substrates.  
     
     
         5 . A surface fastener according to  claim 4 , wherein said hook-like engaging elements further are formed on a substrate which further comprises a reinforcing member on the back surface of said substrate on which said hook-like engaging elements are disposed.  
     
     
         6 . A surface fastener according to  claim 4 , wherein said reinforcing member is a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a knitted fabric or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A surface fastener according to  claim 4 , wherein said hook-like engaging element further comprises an adhesive layer on the back of said substrate on which said hook-like engaging elements are disposed.  
     
     
         8 . A surface fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein said stem body has a top having a disc shape, a mushroom shape, a key shape, a wedge shape or an arrowhead shape.  
     
     
         9 . A surface fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein said stem body is a composite body having a two-layered structure of a center member and an outer cladding member encompassing a substantial portion of the outer periphery of said center member.  
     
     
         10 . A surface fastener according to  claim 9 , wherein said center member is made of said elastic resin material and said outer cladding member is made of said hard resin material.  
     
     
         11 . A surface fastener according to  claim 9 , wherein said center member is made of said hard resin material and said outer cladding member is made of said elastic resin material.  
     
     
         12 . A surface fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein said stem body comprises a trunk made of said hard resin material and a top made of said elastic resin material.  
     
     
         13 . A surface fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein said stem body is a composite body having a three-layered structure of a center member, an intermediate member sequentially encompassing a substantial portion of the outer periphery of said center member and an outer cladding member.  
     
     
         14 . A surface fastener according to  claim 13 , wherein said center member and said outer cladding member are made of said hard resin material, and said intermediate member is made of said elastic resin material.