Laminated touch fasteners

Abstract

A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A touch fastener product, comprising:
 a flexible substrate having a surface with a characteristic that varies across the surface, the surface comprising both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region; and   an array of fastening projections extending from a resin layer, the resin layer having an edge disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.   
     
     
         21 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         22 . The product of  claim 21 , wherein the surface is a fibrous surface of the non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         23 . The product of  claim 21 , comprising a tie layer disposed between the non-woven fabric and the resin layer within the first region of the substrate surface. 
     
     
         24 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein a first portion of the resin layer is more securely fixed to the substrate surface than a second adjacent portion of the resin layer. 
     
     
         25 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein the resin layer defines a plurality of slits within the second portion of the resin layer, the slits defining discrete flaps that are flexible outward from the substrate surface. 
     
     
         26 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the substrate surface carries a layer of ink within the first region. 
     
     
         27 . The product of  claim 26 , wherein the layer of ink reflects infrared radiation to a different degree than the substrate surface in a region adjacent the layer of ink, such that an edge of the layer of ink is detectable by an infrared detection system. 
     
     
         28 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the surface characteristic comprises porosity. 
     
     
         29 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the surface characteristic comprises surface height variability. 
     
     
         30 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the second region of the substrate surface is engageable by the fastening projections. 
     
     
         31 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the second region of the substrate surface comprises a regularly patterned plurality of discrete three dimensional features. 
     
     
         32 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the fastening projections comprise hooks. 
     
     
         33 . A touch fastener product comprising:
 a flexible substrate defining an open channel, the substrate having an average basis weight within the channel that is essentially equal to an average basis weight of the substrate in a region adjacent the channel, and   an array of fastening projections extending from a resin layer disposed within the channel such that a portion of the substrate surface adjacent the channel is exposed.   
     
     
         34 . The product of  claim 33 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         35 . The product of  claim 34 , wherein the surface is a fibrous surface of the non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         36 . The product of  claim 34 , comprising a tie layer disposed between the non-woven fabric and the resin layer within the channel. 
     
     
         37 . The product of  claim 33 , wherein the substrate surface carries a layer of ink within the channel. 
     
     
         38 . The product of  claim 37 , wherein the layer of ink reflects infrared radiation to a different degree than the substrate surface in a region adjacent the layer of ink, such that an edge of the layer of ink is detectable by an infrared detection system. 
     
     
         39 . The product of  claim 33 , wherein the surface characteristic comprises porosity. 
     
     
         40 . The product of  claim 33 , wherein the surface characteristic comprises surface height variability. 
     
     
         41 . The product of  claim 33 , wherein the substrate surface outside the channel is engageable by the fastening projections. 
     
     
         42 . The product of  claim 33 , wherein the fastening projections comprise hooks.