Male fasteners with angled projections

Abstract

A male component of a male and female fastening system, such as a hook and loop fastener, that can remain fastened to a female component under high levels of shear force. The male component has a backing material with projections extending from the backing material at an angle toward the direction of fastener force. The combination of the male component with a standard female loop component results in a secure fastening system. The combination of the male component with a standard female loop component is particularly beneficial when used in absorbent articles.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A male and female fastening system comprising a male component and a female component; 
 the female component including a loop backing and a plurality of loops protruding from it;    the male component including a hook backing and a plurality of projections protruding from the hook backing, each projection having a first longitudinal surface portion consisting essentially of a first polymer and a second longitudinal surface portion adjacent the first longitudinal surface portion and including a second polymer.    
     
     
         2 . The male and female fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal surface portion protrudes from the hook backing at an angle non-perpendicular to the hook backing.  
     
     
         3 . The male and female fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the projections comprise an engaging portion protruding from an end of the projection on the second longitudinal surface portion of the projection.  
     
     
         4 . The male and female fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer and the second polymer shrink to a different extent when cooled from a molten state.  
     
     
         5 . The male and female fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second polymers is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, and polyolefins.  
     
     
         6 . The male and female fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second polymers comprises a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene copolymers, propylene copolymers, and butene copolymers.  
     
     
         7 . The male and female fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal surface portion protrudes from the hook backing at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees relative to the plane.  
     
     
         8 . The male and female fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal surface portion protrudes from the hook backing at an angle of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees relative to the plane.  
     
     
         9 . The male and female fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal surface portion protrudes from the hook backing at an angle of about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees relative to the plane.  
     
     
         10 . A method of making a male component of a male and female fastening system, comprising the steps of: 
 heating at least two polymers, each of which shrink to a different extent when cooled;    transferring the heated polymers to a mold;    cooling the polymers; and    removing the cooled polymers from the mold;    wherein the cooling causes the polymers to set in a shape of a plurality of projections protruding from a plane at an angle relative to the plane.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the polymers is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, and polyolefins.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the polymers comprises a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene copolymers, propylene copolymers, and butene copolymers.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the difference in shrinking causes the at least two polymers to set in a shape of a plurality of projections protruding from the plane, each projection having a first longitudinal surface portion consisting essentially of a first polymer and a second longitudinal surface portion adjacent the first longitudinal surface portion and including the first polymer and a second polymer.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first longitudinal surface portion protrudes from the plane at an angle non-perpendicular to the plane.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least some of the projections comprise an engaging portion protruding from an end of the projection on the second longitudinal surface portion of the projection.