Importance

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Abstract

Fastener products having a multiplicity of fastener elements extending from a strip-form base, the base including first and second attachment members for attachment of a substrate therebetween, are formed by continuously introducing molten resin to a gap defined adjacent a peripheral surface of a rotating mold roll. The resin forms part of the strip-form base of the product at the peripheral mold roll surface and fills an array of fixed cavities defined in the rotating mold roll to form portions of the fastener elements as projections extending from a first side of the sheet-form base. While the resin is on the mold roll, a sheet material is introduced. The sheet material is folded about a longitudinal fold line to form first and second overlapping fold portions and is introduced under conditions selected to cause the second fold portion to become permanently bonded to resin of the base, while leaving the first fold portion remaining free to be subsequently unfolded from said second fold portion about said fold line. The resin is solidified and stripped from the peripheral surface of the mold roll by pulling the projections from their respective cavities. In some embodiments, a spring section is integrally molded with and extends laterally from a fastening section of the fastener product. The spring section is formed by at least one undulation of the sheet form base that allows the spring section to stretch elastically in a lateral direction upon application of lateral tension to the fastening assembly.

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First Claim