Fastening system with rail segments and bending posts

Abstract

The fastening system includes first and second fastening members, each having a backing and rows of rail segments protruding from the backing. The rails segments have 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. There are rows of posts protruding from the backing of at least the first fastening member. When the first and second fastening members undergo fastening, the posts bend away from the rail segments while the cap portions of the rail segments of the first and second fastening members pass by each other and then return to their original positions after the first and second fastening members are fastened. The fastening system attached to a portion of a package is also disclosed.

1 . A fastening system comprising:
 first and second fastening members, each having a backing having a length, a width, and a thickness and rows of rail segments protruding from the backing, wherein each of the rails segments has a base portion attached to the backing and a 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; and   rows of posts protruding from the backing of at least the first fastening member, wherein the rows of rail segments and rows of posts alternate, wherein each of the posts has a height that is no greater than a height of the rail segments, and wherein when the first and second fastening members undergo fastening, the posts bend away from the rail segments while the cap portions of the rail segments of the first and second fastening members pass by each other and then return to their original positions after the first and second fastening members are fastened.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein when the first and second fastening members are fastened, they can slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to the length of the backing. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the backing of at least one of the first fastening member or second fastening member is formed without through-holes. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , further comprising rows of posts protruding from the backing of the second fastening member, wherein the rows of rail segments and rows of posts on the backing of the second fastening member alternate, wherein each of the posts has a height that is no greater than a height of the rail segments. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the length of the base portion to the width of the base portion is at least 1.5:1. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the backing combined with the height of the rail segments is up to 3300 micrometers. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening system 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. 
     
     
         9 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the posts is up to 95 percent of the height of the rail segments. 
     
     
         10 . The fastening system 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. 
     
     
         11 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion overhangs the base portion on all sides. 
     
     
         12 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastening member has at least three of the rows of rail segments alternating with at least three of the rows of posts. 
     
     
         13 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tie layer on a major surface of the backing of at least one of the first fastening member or second fastening member, opposite the rows of rail segments. 
     
     
         14 . The fastening system of  claim 13 , wherein the tie layer comprises a polyolefin elastomer. 
     
     
         15 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , attached to a portion of a package. 
     
     
         16 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion overhangs the base portion at amount of at least 25 micrometers on the opposing sides. 
     
     
         17 . The fastening system 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 within 20 percent of the cap width. 
     
     
         18 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the length of the base portion to the width of the base portion is at least 5:1. 
     
     
         19 . The fastening system 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 fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the backing combined with the height of the rail segments is up to 800 micrometers.