Strip-form fastening and dispensing

Abstract

A dispenser for strip materials, e.g. hook and loop fastener material, which automatically finds formations in a continuous fastener strip during its dispensing and, at that point in the dispensing procedure, produces a resistance to the remaining supply, that enables parting of the lead unit from the remaining supply, thus dispensing a discrete unit. The dispenser has a receptacle to hold the supply of fastener strip material; it employs a retarding device to provide light drag against the motion of the strip as the leading strip unit moves from the dispenser in response to pull by a user. A detent downstream of the retarding device engages a corresponding formation in the strip material to resist movement of the remaining strip material, so that the strip ruptures along a line of weakness under a user's tension. Also disclosed are dispensable fastener strips of various forms, some advantageously formed by use of needled bat, and methods of forming the fastening strips.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sheet-form material having first and second sides that carry respective fastener elements, fastener elements on at least the first side comprising a non-woven web of entangled fibers of substantial tenacity having a basis weight of between 1.8 to 2.5 ounces per square yard.  
     
     
         2 . The material of  claim 1  wherein the non-woven web comprises a batt of loose, stable fibers that have been entangled and form a non-woven web structure of fibers joined at entanglements, loops of some of the fibers extending from at least one side of the web.  
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 2  wherein the non-woven structure is bonded in a stretched state in which tightened entanglements form knots.  
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 3  wherein the knots are bonded in a stretched state by resin integral with the material that forms the fastening elements on the second side of said strip material.  
     
     
         5 . The material of  claim 2  wherein the batt is of needle punched form.  
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener elements on the second side of the material comprise hooks molded integrally with a base layer.  
     
     
         7 . The material of  claim 6  wherein the web of entangled fibers is bonded to the base layer of the hooks by material of the base layer.  
     
     
         8 . The material of  claim 1  having weakened parting lines at spaced intervals along its length to define individual strip units.  
     
     
         9 . The material of  claim 8  further comprising at least one engagement formation within each strip unit, the engagement formation constructed and arranged to be engaged by a detent to detain the respective unit while a preceding unit is detached by rupture at the parting line by tension applied to the parting line.  
     
     
         10 . An extended length of fastener material forming a series of detachable strip units, said fastener material having 
 a strip-form base defining therein weakened parting lines at spaced intervals along its length to define the strip units therebetween; and    a non-woven web of entangled fibers of substantial tenacity having a basis weight of between 1.8 to 2.5 ounces per square yard and forming an array of engageable loops across a broad side of the base.    
     
     
         11 . The fastener material of  claim 10  further comprising an array of male fastener elements extending from the base and arranged to releasably engage the loops.  
     
     
         12 . The fastener material of  claim 11  wherein the male fastener elements comprise hooks.  
     
     
         13 . The fastener material of  claim 11  wherein the fastener elements are integrally molded with resin of the strip-form base.  
     
     
         14 . The fastener material of  claim 10  wherein each strip unit includes one engagement formation constructed and arranged to be engaged by a detent to detain the respective unit while a preceding unit is detached by rupture at the parting line by tension applied to the parting line.  
     
     
         15 . The fastener material of  claim 10  wherein the non-woven web comprises a batt of loose, stable fibers that have been entangled and form a non-woven web structure of fibers joined at entanglements, loops of some of the fibers extending from at least one side of the web.  
     
     
         16 . The fastener material of  claim 15  wherein the non-woven structure is bonded in a stretched state in which tightened entanglements form knots.  
     
     
         17 . The fastener material of  claim 16  wherein the knots are bonded in a stretched state by resin integral with the material that forms the fastening elements on the second side of said strip material.  
     
     
         18 . The fastener material of  claim 15  wherein the batt is of needle punched form.  
     
     
         19 . The fastener material of  claim 10  wherein the web of entangled fibers is bonded to the base by material of the base.