Multigrip touch closure fasteners

Abstract

Specialized tape and tape-built articles help reduce problems such as load slippage, odd or varying load sizes, or the inconvenience of knots. A touch closure fastening means allows users to releasably fasten together different portions of the article. Example touch closure fastening means include hooks, mushroom heads, loops, a mat, or nanofibers. Some articles include a tape which is laned, striped, staggered, mottled, spiraled around a core, and/or braided; some include multiple tapes braided with one another. Some articles include suture material, polypropylene, nylon, or a para-aramid synthetic fiber in a tape substrate. Some articles include a grip strip to facilitate multigripping—not only does the article releasably fasten to itself, it also restricts movement of a load or other work piece. A grip strip and a tape can be spiraled or braided together. The grip strip has a mechanical indentation grip, or an adhesion grip, for example.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tape-built article comprising:
 at least one tape, the tape having a length and comprising a tape substrate and a touch closure fastening means;   the tape substrate having at least one side, the tape substrate having a length-to-width ratio of at least four; and   the touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate on said at least one side, the touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate along a substantial portion of the tape, namely, along at least three-quarters of the length of the tape.   
     
     
         2 . The tape-built article of  claim 1 , wherein the tape has a length of at least three meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least forty. 
     
     
         3 . The tape-built article of  claim 1 , wherein the tape has a length of at least six meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least fifty. 
     
     
         4 . The tape-built article of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one grip strip which is physically connected to the tape. 
     
     
         5 . The tape-built article of  claim 4 , wherein the grip strip comprises an adhesion grip substance. 
     
     
         6 . The tape-built article of  claim 4 , wherein the grip strip comprises an abrasive grip substance. 
     
     
         7 . The tape-built article of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one of: polypropylene, nylon, or para-aramid synthetic fiber. 
     
     
         8 . A tape-built article comprising:
 at least one tape, the tape having a length and comprising a tape substrate and a touch closure fastening means;   the tape substrate having at least one side, the tape substrate having a length-to-width ratio of at least five;   the touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate on said at least one side, the touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate along a substantial portion of the tape, namely, along at least three-quarters of the length of the tape; and   at least one grip strip which is physically connected to the tape.   
     
     
         9 . The tape-built article of  claim 8 , wherein the tape has a length of at least three meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least forty. 
     
     
         10 . The tape-built article of  claim 8 , wherein the tape has a length of at least six meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least fifty. 
     
     
         11 . The tape-built article of  claim 8 , wherein the grip strip comprises an adhesion grip substance. 
     
     
         12 . The tape-built article of  claim 8 , wherein the grip strip comprises an abrasive grip substance. 
     
     
         13 . The tape-built article of  claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one suture material. 
     
     
         14 . A tape-built article comprising:
 at least one tape, the tape having a length and comprising a tape substrate and a touch closure fastening means;   the tape substrate having at least one side, the tape substrate having a length-to-width ratio of at least four;   the touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate on said at least one side, the touch closure fastening means being physically connected to the tape substrate along a substantial portion of the tape, namely, along at least three-quarters of the length of the tape; and   at least one grip strip which is braided with at least a portion of the tape.   
     
     
         15 . The tape-built article of  claim 14 , wherein the tape has a length of at least three meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least forty. 
     
     
         16 . The tape-built article of  claim 14 , wherein the tape has a length of at least six meters and a length-to-width ratio of at least fifty. 
     
     
         17 . The tape-built article of  claim 14 , wherein the grip strip comprises an adhesion grip substance. 
     
     
         18 . The tape-built article of  claim 14 , wherein the grip strip comprises an abrasive grip substance. 
     
     
         19 . The tape-built article of  claim 14 , wherein the grip strip comprises a mechanical indentation grip. 
     
     
         20 . The tape-built article of  claim 14 , wherein the touch closure fastening means comprises nanofibers.