Fastener tapes

Abstract

Cooperative touch fasteners have a sheet-form base with an upper face and a lower face. Extending outwardly from, and integral with the upper face of the base 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 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . 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 and 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 portion and comprising a cross-linkable adhesive;    pressing the touch fastener against the material to temporary 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.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is also pressure sensitive.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is encapsulated in a pressure sensitive adhesive in the pressure-sensitive portion.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the lower face of the touch fastener comprises a first area of pressure sensitive adhesive and a second area of cross-linkable adhesive.  
   
   
       28 . The method of claims  24 , wherein the material is fabric.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the fabric is cotton, linen, or wool.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the fabric is a synthetic fabric or a blend of a synthetic fabric.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the material is leather.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the material is wood.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the fastener elements comprise hooks.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the hooks are integrally molded with the upper face of the base.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the hooks have a height of less than about 0.05 inch (1.27 millimeters).  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the hooks have a height of between about 0.005 and 0.05 inch (0.127 and 1.27 millimeters).  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the hooks are arranged in an array uniformly covering substantially the entire upper face of the base.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the hooks are arranged with a hook density of at least about 100 hooks per square inch (15.5 hooks per centimeter).  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the hook density is at least about 1000 hooks per square inch (155 hooks per centimeter).  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the hooks are mushroomed-shaped.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the hooks comprise palm tree hooks.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the fastener elements comprise loops.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the loops ( 14 ) are of a knit, woven or non-woven material.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the base is a woven material from which the fastener elements extend as a filament ends.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is heat activated.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the heat activated cross-linkable adhesive is a curable hot melt adhesive, or a urethane.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is moisture activated.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the moisture activated cross-linkable adhesive is a urethane.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is radiation activated.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is UV activated.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising a release liner covering the pressure-sensitive portion.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the material comprises a fastening tab of a diaper.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the material comprises a wearable article.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the material comprises a furniture covering.  
   
   
       55 . 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 upper and lower faces and, extending outwardly from the upper face of the base, a plurality of discrete fastener elements, the lower face including an adhesive layer having a pressure-sensitive portion 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.    
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is also pressure sensitive.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is encapsulated in a pressure sensitive adhesive in the pressure-sensitive portion.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the lower face of the touch fastener comprises a first area of pressure sensitive adhesive and a second area of cross-linkable adhesive.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the material is fabric.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the fabric is cotton, linen, or wool.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the fabric is a synthetic fabric or a blend of a synthetic fabric.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the material is leather.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the material is wood.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the fastener elements comprise hooks.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the hooks are integrally molded with the upper face of the base.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the hooks have a height of less than about 0.05 inch (1.27 millimeters).  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the hooks have a height of between about 0.005 and 0.05 (0.127 and 1.27 millimeters).  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the hooks are arranged in an array uniformly covering substantially the entire upper face of the base.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the hooks are arranged with a hook density of at least about 100 hooks per square inch (15.5 hooks per square centimeter).  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the hook density is at least about 1000 hooks per square inch (155 hooks per square centimeter).  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the hooks are mushroom-shaped.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the hooks comprise palm tree hooks.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the fastener elements are loops.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the loops are of a knit, woven, or non-woven material.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the base is a woven material from which the fastener elements extend as filament ends.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is heat activated.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the heat activated cross-linkable adhesive is a curable hot adhesive, or a urethane.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is moisture activated.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the moisture activated cross-linkable adhesive is a urethane.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is radiation activated.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the cross-linkable adhesive is UV activated.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising a release liner covering the pressure-sensitive portion.  
   
   
       83 . 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 and 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 and 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 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.    
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein altering the garment comprises changing the hem of the pant.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 83 , where altering the garment comprises altering the length of a sleeve.