Fastener tapes

Abstract

Cooperative touch fasteners are described herein. The fasteners have a sheet-form base portion with an upper face and a lower face. Extending outwardly from, and integral with the upper face of the base portion is a plurality of fastener elements. Additionally, the lower face of the sheet-form base has a pressure adhesive property and is coated with a cross-linkable adhesive. The cooperative touch fasteners can be used to alter garments, hang window coverings and attach finishing covers. Additionally, the fasteners can be used in place of snaps and buttons, in medical devices, with diapers and in conjunction with a variety of manufacturing techniques.

1 . A method of permanently bonding a touch fastener to a material, the method comprising: 
 providing a touch fastener having a sheet-form base having an upper face, a lower face, and a plurality of discrete fastener elements extending outwardly from the upper face of the base, the lower face of the base carrying an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer having a pressure sensitive surface, the adhesive layer including a cross-linkable adhesive;    pressing the touch fastener against the material to temporarily adhere the touch fastener to the material in a desired location; and then    cross-linking the cross-linkable adhesive thereby permanently bonding the touch fastener to the material in the desired location.    
   
   
       2 - 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer contains only one adhesive material, the adhesive material being both pressure sensitive and cross-linkable.  
   
   
       5 . The touch fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is pressure sensitive.  
   
   
       6 . The method of claims  1 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is encapsulated in a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a first area of pressure sensitive adhesive and a second area of cross-linkable adhesive.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a fabric.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener elements comprise molded stems integrally molded with the base.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fastener elements comprise loop-engageable heads integrally molded with the molded stems.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener elements have a height of between about 0.005 and 0.05 inch (0.127 and 1.27 millimeters).  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener elements are arranged with a hook density of at least about 1000 hooks per square inch (155 hooks per centimeter).  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener elements comprise loops.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base is a woven material from which the fastener elements extend as a filament ends.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cross-linking the cross-linkable adhesive comprises heating the cross-linkable adhesive.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the touch fastener further comprises a release liner covering the pressure-sensitive surface.  
   
   
       17 . A method of positioning a touch fastener, the method comprising: 
 temporarily adhering a touch fastener to a material at an initial location, the touch fastener having a sheet-form base with an upper face, a lower face, and a plurality of discrete fastener elements extending outwardly from the upper face of the base, the lower face including an adhesive layer having a pressure-sensitive surface and comprising a cross-linkable adhesive;    determining whether the initial location is a desired location for the touch fastener;    repositioning the touch fastener as necessary to place the touch fastener in a preferred location; and    upon determining that the touch fastener is in a desired location, cross-linking the cross-linkable adhesive, thereby permanently bonding the touch fastener to the material in the desired location.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive layer contains only one adhesive material, the adhesive material being both pressure sensitive and cross-linkable.  
   
   
       19 . The method of claims  17 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is encapsulated in a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a first area of pressure sensitive adhesive and a second area of cross-linkable adhesive.  
   
   
       21 . A method of altering a garment, the method comprising: 
 temporarily adhering a first portion of a touch fastener to one region of a garment, the first portion of the touch fastener having a sheet-form base having an upper face, a lower face, and a plurality of discreet fastener elements extending outwardly from the upper face, the lower face including an adhesive layer having a pressure sensitive portion and comprising a cross-linkable adhesive;    temporarily adhering a second portion of a touch fastener to another region of the garment, the second portion of the touch fastener having a sheet-form base having an upper face, a lower face, and a plurality of discrete fastener elements extending outwardly from the upper face of the base of the second portion and configured to engage the fastener elements of the first portion, the lower face including an adhesive layer having a pressure sensitive portion and comprising a cross-linkable adhesive;    determining whether the first and second portions are at a desirable initial locations and repositioning either or both of the first and second positions as necessary;    when each of the first and second touch fastener position is in a desirable location, permanently bonding that touch fastener portion to a respective regions of the fabric by cross-linking the cross-linkable adhesive of the portion; and    fastening the first and second touch fastener portions together, thereby altering the garment.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein altering the garment comprises changing the hem of the pant.  
   
   
       23 . A touch fastener comprising: 
 a sheet-form base having an upper face and a lower face;    a plurality of discrete fastener elements extending outwardly from the upper face of the base; and    an adhesive layer carried on the lower face of the base, the adhesive layer having a pressure sensitive surface to temporarily adhere the touch fastener to a material in a desired location, the adhesive layer including an adhesive cross-linkable with the touch fastener temporarily adhered in its desired location, to permanently bond the touch fastener in its desired location.    
   
   
       24 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . The touch fastener of  claim 23 , wherein the adhesive layer contains only one adhesive material, the adhesive material being both pressure sensitive and cross-linkable.  
   
   
       27 . The touch fastener of  claim 23 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is pressure sensitive.  
   
   
       28 . The touch fastener of  claim 23 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is encapsulated in a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       29 . The touch fastener of  claim 23 , wherein the lower face comprises a first area of pressure sensitive adhesive and a second area of cross-linkable adhesive.  
   
   
       30 . The touch fastener of  claim 23 , wherein the fastener elements comprise molded stems integrally molded with the upper face of the base.  
   
   
       31 . The touch fastener of  claim 30 , wherein the fastener elements further comprise loop-engageable heads integrally molded with the molded stems.