Patent ID: 7048818
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: A44B,A61F,B29C,B29L,B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a fastener product, the method comprising providing a rotating mold roll having an outer peripheral surface upon which base layer portions of resin may form and having fixed mold cavities shaped to form loop-engageable fastener hook elements on a hook side of the product, the hook elements extending integrally from such base layer portions and having molded free end portions directed generally back toward their respective base layer portions; introducing spaced apart amounts of molten resin to the mold roll in a manner to fill separated groups of the mold cavities and form respective resin base layer portions at the surface of the mold roll while introducing a pre-formed, elastically stretchable sheet material to the spaced-apart amounts of resin to laminate in situ a surface of the sheet material to surfaces of the resin base layer portions opposite the hook side of the product, the base layer portions being spaced-apart from each other and the elastically stretchable sheet material extending between resin base layer portions such that the sheet material is exposed in at least one resin-free region between base layer portions to provide elastic stretchability to the fastener product; cooling the resin in the mold cavities to form molded fastener hook elements integrally molded with and extending from the base layer portions; and thereafter, by application of tension to the fastener product being formed, pulling the molded fastener hook elements, including their said molded free end portions, from the fixed mold cavities of the rotating mold roll to separate the molded fastener hook elements from the mold roll to form an elastically stretchable web product carrying separated groups of fastener hook elements.