Touch fastener configurations

Abstract

A releasable touch fastener has an engagement area configured to produce a twisting about a centroid of the engagement area in the plane of engagement, in response to a unidirectional shear load acting within the plane of engagement. One fastener component has a flexible web carrying a multiplicity of loop-engageable fastener elements, or a region of adhesive, defining the engagement area. Elasticity of the engaged materials enhances the twisting effect.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A touch fastener comprising a female fastener component in the form of a flexible material carrying a field of fibrous loops; and 
 a male fastener component comprising a flexible web carrying a multiplicity of loop-engageable fastener elements extending from an exposed surface of the male fastener component in a fastening area;    the female and male fastener components each permanently arranged on a product in spaced apart relation and positioned to be overlapped to form a releasable fastening that resists shear force applied in a primary shear loading direction; wherein    one of the flexible material of the female fastener component and the flexible web of the male fastener component comprises an elastic material; and wherein    the fastening area comprises one or more discrete regions bounded by exposed areas of the web void of fastener elements, the fastening area defining a fastening centroid along an axis extending in the loading direction, the fastening area arranged asymmetrically about the axis so as to induce a twist in the fastening in response to shear force applied in the loading direction.    
     
     
         2 . The touch fastener of  claim 1  wherein the flexible web of the male fastener component is elastic, the male fastener component comprising a layer of relatively non-extensible resin permanently secured to the web and from which the fastener element stems are integrally molded.  
     
     
         3 . The touch fastener of  claim 2  wherein the fastening area comprises multiple discrete regions each bounded by exposed areas of the web void of the layer of resin.  
     
     
         4 . The touch fastener of  claim 3  wherein the flexible web is resiliently stretchable between the discrete regions of the fastening area in the loading direction.  
     
     
         5 . The touch fastener of  claim 2  wherein the layer of resin is permanently bonded to the flexible web in the fastening area by resin of the layer encapsulating fibers of the flexible web.  
     
     
         6 . The touch fastener of  claim 5  wherein the fastener elements have individual stems integrally molded with the resin encapsulating the flexible web fibers.  
     
     
         7 . The touch fastener of  claim 5  wherein the layer of resin encapsulates the flexible resin to form a local backing on a side of the flexible web opposite the fastener elements.  
     
     
         8 . The touch fastener of  claim 5  wherein the flexible web has a side opposite the fastener elements and void of the resin layer.  
     
     
         9 . The touch fastener of  claim 2  wherein the flexible web comprises a sheet of elastomeric resin, to which the layer of relatively non-extensible resin is bonded in the fastening area.  
     
     
         10 . The touch fastener of  claim 2  wherein the flexible web comprises a woven material that is resiliently stretchable at least in the loading direction.  
     
     
         11 . The touch fastener of  claim 1  wherein the flexible material of the female fastener component is elastic.  
     
     
         12 . The touch fastener of  claim 11  wherein the flexible material of the female fastener component comprises a woven material that is resiliently stretchable at least in the loading direction.  
     
     
         13 . The touch fastener of  claim 1  wherein the elastic material is resiliently stretchable in the loading direction.  
     
     
         14 . The touch fastener of  claim 1  wherein the fastening area comprises multiple discrete regions each bounded by exposed areas of the web void of fastener elements.  
     
     
         15 . The touch fastener of  claim 14  wherein the fastening area comprises two such discrete regions, disposed on opposite sides of the axis.  
     
     
         16 . The touch fastener of  claim 1  wherein the fastening region is L-shaped, with a longer side of the region extending predominantly in the loading direction.  
     
     
         17 . The touch fastener of  claim 1  wherein the fastener elements have individual stems integrally molded with and extending from a surface of the flexible web.  
     
     
         18 . The touch fastener of  claim 17  wherein the fastener elements each have loop-engageable heads disposed at distal ends of their stems and laterally overhanging the flexible web.  
     
     
         19 . The touch fastener of  claim 18  wherein the heads are integrally molded with their stems.  
     
     
         20 . A garment having a releasable closure comprising the touch fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the male and female fastener components are spaced apart on the garment and arranged to be overlapped in releasable engagement to secure the garment about a wearer, with the fastening area arranged asymmetrically about a line extending through the centroid of the fastening area in the primary shear loading direction.  
     
     
         21 . The garment of  claim 20  comprising a disposable diaper.  
     
     
         22 . The garment of  claim 20  wherein the closure is arranged to be positioned along a waist of the wearer as the garment is worn.  
     
     
         23 . The garment of  claim 20  wherein two such closures are positioned spaced apart along an edge of the garment and arranged to each locally induce a twist in the fastening, in response to shear force applied across the edge of the garment, to resist bowing of the garment edge between the closures.  
     
     
         24 . A releasable adhesive fastener, comprising 
 an adhesive fastener component comprising a flexible web carrying a layer of adhesive in a fastening area;    a landing web with an exposed fastening surface configured to releasably adhere to the adhesive when the adhesive is brought into direct with the exposed surface;    the adhesive fastener component and exposed fastening surface each permanently arranged on a product in spaced apart relation and positioned to be overlapped to form a releasable fastening that resists shear force applied in a primary shear loading direction; wherein    one of the flexible web of the adhesive fastener component and the landing web comprises an elastic material; and wherein    the fastening area comprises one or more discrete regions bounded by exposed areas of the flexible web void of adhesive, the fastening area defining a fastening centroid along an axis extending in the loading direction, the fastening area arranged asymmetrically about the axis so as to induce a twist in the fastening in response to shear force applied in the loading direction.    
     
     
         25 . A garment having a releasable closure comprising the adhesive fastener of  claim 24 , wherein the adhesive and fastening surface are spaced apart on the garment and arranged to be overlapped in releasable engagement to secure the garment about a wearer, with the fastening area arranged asymmetrically about a line extending through the centroid of the fastening area in the primary shear loading direction.