Self-engaging, double-sided fastener products

Abstract

A fastener product includes a base of plastic resin and a plurality of discrete fastener elements having stems of the plastic resin that are integrally molded with and extend from the base. The stems are arranged, as molded, in columns and rows with stems of some of the fastener elements projecting from a first surface of the base forming a first field of fastener elements and stems of other of the fastener elements projecting from an opposite, second surface of the base forming a second field of fastener elements. The fastener elements include engageable heads, with heads of the fastener elements forming the first field constructed to engage the heads of the fastener elements forming the second field to allow releasable fastening.

1 . A fastener product comprising: 
 a base of plastic resin; and    a plurality of discrete fastener elements having stems of the plastic resin that are integrally molded with and extend from the base arranged, as molded, in columns and rows, the stems of some of the fastener elements projecting from a first surface of the base forming a first field of fastener elements and stems of other of the fastener elements projecting from an opposite, second surface of the base forming a second field of fastener elements;    the fastener elements including engageable heads wherein heads of the fastener elements forming the first field are configured to engage the heads of the fastener elements forming the second field to allow releasable fastening.    
   
   
       2 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a unitary structure of the plastic resin, the unitary structure defining the first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises more than one layer.  
   
   
       4 . The fastener product of  claim 3 , wherein the layers are adhered together by an adhesive layer.  
   
   
       5 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second fields of fastener elements comprises one or more discrete regions of fastener elements.  
   
   
       6 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener elements of at least one of the first and second fields extend over a length of the fastener product.  
   
   
       7 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener elements have heads that overhang the base in one or more discrete directions.  
   
   
       8 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener elements have heads that overhang the base in multiple directions.  
   
   
       9 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein fastener elements projecting from at least one of the first and second surfaces are arranged in a band with a region adjacent the band free of the fastener elements.  
   
   
       10 . The fastener product of  claim 9 , wherein the fastener elements projecting from each of the first and second surfaces are arranged in multiple, spaced-apart bands.  
   
   
       11 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic resin is a biodegradable or compostable material.  
   
   
       12 . The fastener product of  claim 11 , wherein the plastic resin complies with ASTM D6400-99.  
   
   
       13 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic resin is selected from a group consisting of naturally derived polymers, polyactic acid and polyvinyl alcohol.  
   
   
       14 . The fastener product of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic resin comprises a degradable plastic additive.  
   
   
       15 . A fastener product comprising: 
 a base comprising degradable plastic resin; and    a plurality of discrete fastener elements having stems of the degradable plastic resin that extend from the base, the stems of some of the fastener elements projecting from a first surface of the base forming a first field of fastener elements and stems of other of the fastener elements projecting from an opposite, second surface of the base forming a second field of fastener elements;    the fastener elements including engageable heads formed of the degradable plastic resin wherein heads of the fastener elements forming the first field are configured to engage the heads of the fastener elements forming the second field to allow releasable fastening.    
   
   
       16 . The fastener product of  claim 15 , wherein the degradable plastic resin complies with ASTM D6400-99.  
   
   
       17 . The fastener product of  claim 15 , wherein the degradable plastic resin is selected from a group consisting of naturally derived polymers, polyactic acid and polyvinyl alcohol.  
   
   
       18 . The fastener product of  claim 15 , wherein the degradable plastic resin comprises a standard commodity resin and a degradable plastic additive.  
   
   
       19 . The fastener product of  claim 15 , wherein the base comprises a unitary structure of the plastic resin, the unitary structure defining the first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       20 . The fastener product of  claim 15 , wherein the base comprises more than one layer.  
   
   
       21 . The fastener product of  claim 20 , wherein the layers are adhered together by an adhesive layer.  
   
   
       22 . The fastener product of  claim 15  consisting of the degradable plastic resin.  
   
   
       23 . The fastener product of  claim 22 , wherein the degradable plastic resin dissolves naturally in a human body.  
   
   
       24 . The fastener product of  claim 23 , wherein the degradable plastic resin comprises polyactic acid.  
   
   
       25 . The fastener product of  claim 22  in the form of a plant tie.  
   
   
       26 . The fastener product of  claim 25 , wherein the degradable material is photo-degradable.  
   
   
       27 . A method of making a self-engaging fastener product, the method comprising: 
 molding a flexible, plastic base of plastic resin having multiple, discrete fastener element stems of the plastic resin extending integrally from and molded with the base and arranged in columns and rows, the stems of some of the fastener elements projecting from a first surface of the base forming a first field of stems and stems of other of the fastener elements projecting from an opposite, second surface of the base forming a second field of stems; and    forming engageable heads extending outwardly from the stems forming fastener elements extending from the first and second surfaces, the heads of stems in the first and second fields being configured to engage each other to allow releasable fastening.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of molding comprises 
 continuously introducing molten resin to a gap defined adjacent a periphery of a rotating mold roll having an array of cavities for forming stems of fastener elements, the cavities extending inwardly from the mold roll periphery, such that the resin at least partially fills the cavities to form stems extending integrally from the first surface of the flexible base while excess resin forms at least part of the flexible base of the product;    solidifying the resin;    stripping the solidified resin from the peripheral surface of the mold roll.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of forming engageable heads comprises deforming distal ends of the stems extending from the first and second surfaces to form the fastener elements.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein deforming distal ends of the stems comprises deforming distal ends of stems extending from one of the first and second surfaces, then deforming distal ends of stems extending from the other of the first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein deforming distal ends of the stems comprises deforming distal ends of stems extending from one of the first and second surfaces at a first deformation location, then deforming distal ends of stems extending from the other of the first and second surfaces at a second deformation location that is spaced from the first deformation location.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the first and second deformation locations comprise a gap formed between opposing rolls.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein deforming distal ends of the stems forms fastener elements having heads that extend laterally from the stems in multiple directions.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of molding comprises 
 continuously introducing molten resin to a gap defined between peripheral surfaces of a pair of rotating mold rolls each having an array of cavities for forming the stems, the cavities extending inwardly from respective mold roll peripheries, such that the resin at least partially fills the cavities to form stems extending from the first surface and the opposite, second surface of the flexible base while excess resin forms the flexible base of the product;    solidifying the resin;    stripping the solidified resin from the peripheral surfaces of the mold rolls.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of molding comprises molding a first fastener preform and a second fastener preform, each of the fastener preforms including a base layer and an array of fastener element stems extending integrally therefrom.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  comprising permanently affixing respective faces of the first and second fastener preforms in an opposing relationship forming the flexible base.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of affixing comprises adhering the faces with adhesive.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of affixing comprises introducing the first and second fastener preforms to a nip.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the first and second fields of stems comprise one or more discrete regions of stems.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein stems extending from at least one of the first and second surfaces are arranged in a band with a region adjacent the band free of the stems.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the stems extending from at least one of the first and second surfaces are arranged in multiple, spaced-apart bands.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fastener elements include heads that extend laterally from stems in multiple directions.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fastener elements include heads that extend laterally from stems in one or more discrete directions.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the plastic resin comprises a degradable material.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the degradable material is selected from a group consisting of naturally derived polymers, polyactic acid and polyvinyl alcohol.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the plastic resin complies with ASTM D6400-99.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising introducing a degradable plastic additive to the plastic resin prior to molding.