Fastener having unequal number of rail segments and posts

Abstract

The fastener includes a backing and rows of rail segments and rows of posts protruding perpendicularly from the backing. The rows of rail segments and rows of posts alternate. Each of the rail segments has a base portion attached to the backing and a cap portion distal from the backing. The cap portion has a cap width that is greater than a width of the base portion, and the cap portion overhangs the base portion on opposing sides. A number of posts in one of the rows of posts is more than a number of rail segments in one of the rows of rail segments. Each of the posts has a height that is no greater than a height of the rail segments and a length that is different from the length of the rail segments. A fastening system that includes the fastener and a package that includes the fastener are also described.

1 . A fastener comprising:
 a backing having a length, a width, and a thickness; and   rows of rail segments and rows of posts protruding perpendicularly from the backing, wherein the rows of rail segments and rows of posts alternate;   wherein each of the rail segments has a base portion attached to the backing and only one cap portion distal from the backing, wherein the cap portion has a cap width that is greater than a width of the base portion, wherein the cap portion overhangs the base portion on opposing sides, wherein a number of posts in one of the rows of posts is more than a number of rail segments in one of the rows of rail segments, and wherein each of the posts has a height that is no greater than a height of the rail segments and a length that is different from the length of the rail segments.   
     
     
         2 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the base portion of the rail segments is greater than a length of the posts. 
     
     
         3 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the number of posts in one of the rows of posts is at least 1.5 times the number of rail segments in one of the rows of rail segments. 
     
     
         4 . The fastener of  claim 2 , wherein the length of the base portion of the rail segments is at least two times the length of the posts. 
     
     
         5 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the backing combined with the height of the rail segments is up to 3300 micrometers. 
     
     
         6 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein each of the posts has at least one of a height-to-width aspect ratio that is at least 1.5:1 or a height-to-length aspect ratio that is at least 1.5:1. 
     
     
         7 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the posts have a lower bending stiffness than the rail segments. 
     
     
         8 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the posts is up to 95 percent of the height of the rail segments. 
     
     
         9 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the post has a base attached to the backing and a distal tip, wherein the distal tip has a cross-sectional area that is less than or equal to a cross-sectional area of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion overhangs the base portion on all sides. 
     
     
         11 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein a shortest distance between one of the posts and one of the base portions of the rail segments in adjacent rows is substantially the same as the cap width. 
     
     
         12 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener has at least three of the rows of rail segments alternating with at least three of the rows of posts. 
     
     
         13 . The fastener of  claim 1 , further comprising a tie layer on a major surface of the backing opposite the rows of rail segments and rows of posts. 
     
     
         14 . The fastener of  claim 1 , attached to a portion of a package. 
     
     
         15 . A fastening system comprising first and second fastener members, wherein at least one of the first or second fastener members comprises the fastener of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The fastening system of  claim 15 , wherein when the first and second fastener members are fastened, they can slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to the length of the backing. 
     
     
         17 . A fastening system comprising first and second fastener members, wherein each of the first and second fastener members comprises the fastener of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The fastener of  claim 13 , wherein the tie layer comprises a polyolefin elastomer. 
     
     
         19 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the number of posts in one of the rows of posts is at least twice the number of rail segments in one of the rows of rail segments. 
     
     
         20 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the backing combined with the height of the rail segments is up to 800 micrometers.