Fastener and manufacturing method for same

Abstract

A fastener includes a touch-fastener portion and a support base that supports the touch-fastener portion. The touch-fastener portion includes a plurality of fastener-piece portions stacked one on the other in a width direction. Each of the fastener-piece portions includes a support portion and a plurality of engaging elements formed on the support portion and aligned in a single line along a length direction. The support portion is joined to the support base by insert molding using a synthetic resin.

1 . A fastener comprising:
 a touch-fastener portion; and   a support base; wherein:   the touch-fastener portion includes a plurality of fastener-piece portions stacked on one another in a first direction;   each of the plurality of fastener-piece portions includes a support portion and a plurality of engaging elements formed on the support portion, the plurality of engaging elements being aligned in a line along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;   the support portion is joined to the support base by insert molding using a synthetic resin;   the touch-fastener portion includes a touch-fastener intermediate; and   the touch-fastener intermediate includes at least two of the plurality of fastener-piece portions and at least one connection that connects the at least two of the plurality of fastener-piece portions to one another in series.   
     
     
         2 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of fastener-piece portions has a first side surface and a second side surface located one on either side in the first direction;   among any two of the fastener-piece portions adjacent to each other in the first direction, one of the fastener-piece portions is formed with an engaging protrusion on the first side surface, and the other of the fastener-piece portions is formed with an engaging recess in the second side surface; and   the engaging protrusion is in engagement with the engaging recess.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein;
 the touch-fastener intermediate is formed of a fastener piece continuum, the fastener piece continuum including the at least two of the fastener-piece portions connected to each other in series by the at least one connection,   the touch-fastener intermediate is formed by bending the fastener-piece continuum as the at least one connection and by engaging the engaging protrusion with the engaging recess.   
     
     
         5 . The fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the touch-fastener intermediate is formed of a fastener-piece continuum, the fastener-piece continuum including at least four of the plurality of fastener-piece portions and at least three connections, the at least three connections connect the at least four fastener-piece portions to one another in series; and   the touch-fastener intermediate is formed by bending the fastener piece continuum at the at least three connections in a zig-zag manner and by engaging the engaging protrusion with the engaging recess.   
     
     
         6 . The fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of fastener-piece portions have a configuration identical to one another;   each of the plurality of fastener-piece portions is formed with the engaging protrusion on the first side surface; and   each of the plurality of fastener-piece portions is formed with the engaging recess in the second side surface.   
     
     
         7 . The fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of fastener-piece portions includes a plurality of first fastener-piece portions and a plurality of second fastener-piece portions;   the plurality of first fastener-piece portions and the plurality of second fastener-piece portions are alternately stacked on one another in the first direction;   each of the plurality of first fastener-piece portions is formed with the engaging recess in each of the first side surface and the second side surface;   each of the plurality of second fastener-piece portions is formed with the engaging protrusion on each of the first side surface and the second side surface; and   each of the engaging protrusions is in engagement with the engaging recess of the first fastener-piece portion located adjacent in the first direction.   
     
     
         8 . A fastener comprising:
 a touch-fastener portion; and   a support base; wherein:   the touch-fastener portion includes a plurality of fastener-piece portions stacked on one another in a first direction;   each of the plurality of fastener-piece portions includes a support portion and a plurality of engaging elements formed on the support portion, the plurality of engaging elements being aligned in a line along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;   the support portion is joined to the support base by insert molding using a synthetic resin;   the support portion has an upper base portion protruding from the support base and a lower base portion embedded in the support base;   in the first direction, a width of the lower base portion is narrower than a width of the upper base portion; and   regarding any two of the fastener-piece portions adjacent to each other in the first direction, the upper base portions are in contact with each other, and a gap is defined between the lower base portions, the gap being filled with the synthetic resin.   
     
     
         9 . The fastener according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the lower base portion of each of the plurality of fastener-piece portions is formed with a communication opening, the connection openings penetrating the lower base portion in the first direction and being in fluid communication with the gap.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A manufacturing method of a fastener including a touch-fastener portion and a support base that supports the touch-fastener portion, the method comprising:
 a resin molding step of forming a plurality of fastener piece continuums, each of the fastener piece continuums including a plurality of fastener-piece portions connected to one another in series by a connection, the fastener-piece portion having a support portion;   a touch-fastener-portion forming step of forming the touch-fastener portion using the plurality of fastener piece continuums; and   a support base forming step of forming the support base bonded to the support portion by a resin insert molding where the touch-fastener portion is used as an insert;   
       wherein:
 the touch-fastener-portion forming step includes:
 a bending step of forming a plurality of touch-fastener intermediates by bending each of the plurality to fastener-piece continuums at the connection and by stacking the plurality of fastener-piece portions in the first direction; and 
 a stacking step of stacking the plurality of touch-fastener intermediates in the first direction, thereby forming the touch-fastener portion; wherein: 
 
 each of the plurality of fastener-piece portions further includes a plurality of engaging elements formed on the support portion; and 
 the plurality of engaging elements are aligned in a line along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 
 
     
     
         13 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of fastener-piece portions has a first side surface and a second side surface located one on either side in the first direction;   the first side surface is formed with an engaging recess, and the second side surface is formed with an engaging protrusion; and   in the bending step, the engaging protrusion is engaged with the engaging recess, thereby engaging the plurality of fastener-piece portions with one another.   
     
     
         14 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the plurality of fastener-piece portions of each of the plurality of fastener piece continuums include a first fastener-piece portion and a second fastener-piece portion arranged in alternation;   each of the first and second fastener-piece portions has a first side surface and a second side surface located one on either side in the first direction;   the first fastener-piece portion is formed with an engaging protrusion on each of the first and second side surfaces;   the second fastener-piece portion is formed with an engaging recess in each of the first and second side surfaces; and   in the bending step, the engaging protrusion is engaged with the engaging recess, thereby engaging the plurality of fastener-piece portions with one another.   
     
     
         15 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the support portion has an upper base portion and a lower base portion;   in the first direction, a width of the lower base portion is narrower than a width of the upper base portion;   regarding any two of the fastener-piece portions adjacent to each other in the first direction, the upper base portions are in contact with each other, and a gap is defined between the lower base portions; and   in the support base forming step, the gap is filled with the synthetic resin.