Patent Publication Number: US-2012029461-A1

Title: Fastening Members with Indicium

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the invention generally relates to fastening members including an indicium, and which are suitable for use in absorbent article. In one aspect, the invention relates to fastening members having an indicium, which resembles a macro-mechanical fastener and is visible on a garment facing surface of the fastening member. One particular aspect of the invention further relates to fastening members having an indicium, which resembles a macro-mechanical fastener that is visible on a garment facing surface of the fastening member and also includes an actual mechanical fastener disposed on a body facing surface of the fastening member. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art is replete with fastening members for use in disposable absorbent articles that are positioned about the lower torso of a wearer. Disposable absorbent articles include diapers, training pants and the like. Typical fastening members are in the form of a tape disposed in one of the waist regions of the disposable absorbent article. The tape includes a fastener on one of its sides, typically the body facing side, for engaging a complementary or receiving member disposed on the other waist region of the disposable absorbent article. For example, the fastener may an adhesive, which provides suitable attachment of the absorbent article about the waist of a wearer when the adhesive is in contact with a film. Alternatively, the fastener may be a micro mechanical fastener such as a plurality of “hooks,” which provide suitable attachment of the absorbent article when the hooks engage at least some of the fibers of a fabric such as a knitted or nonwoven material. The tape itself can be made of various materials such as one or more layers of a film, a fibrous nonwoven material, or laminates of such materials. Some of the tapes are substantially white, while others are tinted or include color for improved aesthetic. However, such tapes are typically opaque and do not allow the care giver to see the fastener through the tape. This may result in the improper positioning of the fastener by the care giver, in particular when the care giver is a new parent, on the complementary fastening surface or receiving member. The improper positioning of the fastener may itself cause the absorbent article to get detached from the wearer lower torso. It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a fastening member with an indicium, which is visible and can help a care giver identify the position of a fastener for its proper engagement to the complementary fastening surface or receiving member. It is a further object of the invention to provide an indicium that is aesthetically pleasing and improves the garment like appearance of the disposable absorbent article. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the invention is directed to a fastening member for an absorbent article, the fastening member having longitudinal and transverse axes. The fastening member includes a tape having a garment facing surface and a body facing surface, an actual fastener disposed on the tape. The actual fastener is adapted to engage a complementary surface. The fastening member also includes and a macro-mechanical fastener indicium that is visible on or through the garment facing surface of the tape. 
     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a fastening member for an absorbent article, the fastening member having a longitudinal axis. The fastening member includes a tape with a garment facing surface and a body facing surface. The fastening member also includes an actual fastener joined to the tape. The actual fastener includes a micro-mechanical fastener having a base and a plurality of engaging elements adapted to engage a fibrous complementary surface. The fastening member includes a macro-mechanical fastener indicium that is visible on or through the garment facing surface of the tape. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to a fastening member for an absorbent article having a longitudinal axis. The fastening member includes a tape having first and second side edges, a longitudinal axis, a garment facing surface and a body facing surface. The fastening member also includes a fastener having a first side edge, a second side edge and a longitudinal axis. The fastener is joined to the tape such that the longitudinal axis of the fattener is disposed between the longitudinal axis of the tape and the second side edge of the tape. The fastening member also includes a macro-mechanical fastener indicium that is visible on or through the garment facing surface of the tape. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium includes an outer contour and a longitudinal axis. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium is disposed on the fastening member such that the longitudinal axis of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium is between the longitudinal axis of the tape and the second side edge of the fastener. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. None of the drawings are necessarily to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, garment facing surface view of a fastening member in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, body facing surface view of a fastening member in accordance with one embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A through 3E  are schematic, garment facing surface view of a fastening member in accordance with other embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4A through 4B  are schematic, garment facing surface view of fastening members having an arc-like edge; 
         FIGS. 5A through 5E  are schematic, cross-sectional view of fastening members in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is garment facing surface view of an absorbent article including a pair of fastening members in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 7A through 7C  are schematic illustrations of a process for cutting a fastening member from a continuous strip of material(s) in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Definitions: 
     The term “absorbent article” herein refers to devices which absorb and contain body exudates and, more specifically, refers to devices which are placed against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body, such as: incontinence briefs, incontinence undergarments, absorbent inserts, diaper holders and liners, feminine hygiene garments and the like. An absorbent article may have an absorbent core having a garment surface and a body facing surface, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned adjacent the body surface of the absorbent core, and a liquid impermeable backsheet positioned adjacent the garment facing surface of the absorbent core. 
     The term “disposable” is used herein to describe absorbent articles which generally are not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or reused as absorbent articles (i.e., they are intended to be discarded after a single use and, preferably, to be recycled, composted or otherwise discarded in an environmentally compatible manner). 
     The term “diaper” herein refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons about the lower torso. 
     The term “pant”, as used herein, refers to disposable garments having a waist opening and leg openings designed for infant or adult wearers. A pant may be placed in position on the wearer by inserting the wearer&#39;s legs into the leg openings and sliding the pant into position about the wearer&#39;s lower torso. A pant may be preformed by any suitable technique including, but not limited to, joining together portions of the article using refastenable and/or non-refastenable bonds (e.g., seam, weld, adhesive, cohesive bond, fastener, etc.). A pant may be preformed anywhere along the circumference of the article (e.g., side fastened, front waist fastened). While the term “pant” is used herein, pants are also commonly referred to as “closed diapers”, “prefastened diapers”, “pull-on diapers”, “training pants” and “diaper-pants”. Suitable pants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,433, issued to Hasse, et al. on Sep. 21, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,234, issued to Buell et al. on Oct. 29, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,487, issued to Ashton on Sep. 19, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,489, issued to Johnson et al. on Sep. 19, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,464, issued to Van Gompel et al. on Jul. 10, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,861, issued to Nomura et al. on Mar. 3, 1992; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/171,249, entitled “Highly Flexible And Low Deformation Fastening Device”, filed on Jun. 13, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,545, issued to Kline et al. on Apr. 27, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,908, issued to Kline et al on Sep. 28, 1999. 
     The term “machine direction (MD)” or “longitudinal” herein refers to a direction running parallel to the maximum linear dimension of the article and/or fastening material and includes directions within ±45° of the longitudinal direction. 
     The term “cross direction (CD)”, “lateral” or “transverse” herein refers to a direction which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. 
     The term “joined” encompasses configurations whereby an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element, and configurations whereby an element is indirectly secured to another element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element. 
     Description: 
     Fastening Member. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a fastening member  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that in  FIG. 1 , the garment facing surface of the fastening member  10  (i.e. the surface that faces garment when the absorbent article is worn) faces the viewer. Conversely, it should be noted that in  FIG. 2 , the body facing surface of the fastening member  10  (i.e. the surface that faces the body when the absorbent article is worn) faces the viewer. The fastening member  10  includes a tape  10  having a longitudinal axis L and transverse axis T. The tape  20  includes first and second transverse edges  120 ,  220  and first and second longitudinal edges  320 ,  420 . 
     The portion of the tape in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge  320  is the portion that is joined to the absorbent article. The fastening member  10  also includes an actual fastener  30  that is joined to one of the body or garment facings surface of the fastening member  10 . In one embodiment, the actual fastener is disposed on the body facing surface of the fastening member  10 . The fastener  30  has a longitudinal axis Lf and a transverse axis. The transverse axis of the fastener  30  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , coincides with the transverse axis T of the tape  20 . But embodiments where the transverse axis of the fastener does not coincide with the transverse axis T of the tape  20  are also contemplated. The fastener  30  has first and second longitudinal edges  130 ,  230  and first and second transverse edges  330 ,  430 . The transverse edges  330 ,  430  of the fastener  30  represented in  FIGS. 1 and 2  coincide with the transverse edges  120 ,  220  of the tape  20 . It should be noted that embodiments where one or both transverse edges  330 ,  430  do not coincide with transverse edges  120 ,  220  of the tape are also within the scope of the invention. It can be advantageous for the longitudinal edge  230  of the fastener  30  to be disposed inboard of the longitudinal edge  420  of the tape. Among other benefits, when a longitudinal edge  230  of the fastener  30  is disposed inboard of the longitudinal edge  420  of the tape, the portion of the tape  20  that is located between the longitudinal edge  230  and the longitudinal edge  420 , is free of fastener, which allows a care giver to peel the tape easily by grabbing this portion of tape. The fastener  30  may have any suitable transverse length. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the longitudinal edge  130  of the fastener  30  is disposed between the longitudinal axis L of the tape. The fastener  30  may be any known suitable fastener such as a layer adhesive, a layer cohesive or a mechanical fastener. It can be advantageous to have the fastener  30  in the form of a plurality of micro-mechanical fasteners such as hooks, prongs or mushroom. Non-limiting examples of such micro-mechanical fasteners are available from 3M, VELCRO or Aplix and typically include a base or film with a plurality of engaging elements projecting away from the base. In one embodiment, the base of the micro-mechanical fastener is joined to the body facing surface of the tape  20  such that the engaging elements projects away from the body facing surface of the tape  20 . Each of the engaging elements is adapted to engage one or more of the fibers present on the surface of a receiving member (also referred as a landing zone), which can be made of a knitted or nonwoven fabric. The base of the micro-mechanical fastener can have a thickness of les than 2 mm, less than 1 mm or even less than 0.5 mm for increased flexibility. The engaging elements projecting from the base may have a height (measured from the base to the tip of the engaging element) of between 0.1 mm and 5 mm, between 0.1 mm and 2.5 mm or even between 0.1 mm and 1 mm. The number of engaging elements present on the fastener can be at least 10, at least 25, at least 50 or even at least 100 per cm 2  of micro-mechanical fastener for increased engagement with a complementary fibrous surface. 
     The fastening member  10  includes an indicium  40  that is visible on or through the garment facing surface of the tape  20 . In one embodiment, the indicium  40  replicates the outer visible surface of macro-mechanical fastener that is commonly used in actual clothing articles. For the sake of clarity, the macro-mechanical fastener indicium (ia)  40  described herein is (are) not an actual fastener and is not capable by itself of being fastened to a button loop or buttonhole. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  can be chosen from at least one of a sew-through button, a shaft or shank button (that may or may not be covered by a aesthetically pleasing fabric), and a push or snap button. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  represented in  FIG. 1  is a sew-through button that has a substantially circular outer edge  140 , two holes  240  and a thread  340  going from one of the holes to the other hole. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  has a transverse axis, which coincides with the transverse axis T of the fastening member. It should be noted however that embodiments where the transverse axis of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  does not coincide (i.e. is offset) with the transverse axis T of the fastening member  10  are also within the scope of the invention. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  has a longitudinal axis Li. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  can be disposed anywhere on the fastening member  10 . When at least a portion of, or the whole fastener  30  is disposed on the body facing surface of the tape  20  between the longitudinal axis L of the fastening member and the longitudinal edge  420  of the tape  20 , it can be advantageous to position the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  such that the longitudinal axis Li of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is present between the longitudinal axis L of the fastening member  10  and the longitudinal edge  420  of the tape  20 . Without intending to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  visible from the garment facing surface of the tape  20 , helps a care giver identify the position of a fastener on the fastening member for its proper placement and further engagement to the complementary fastening surface or receiving member. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is positioned on the fastening member such that the longitudinal axis Li of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is disposed between the longitudinal axis L of the fastening member and the longitudinal axis Lf of the fastener  30 . As a result of the positioning of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 , at least a portion of the projected outer contour of macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  intersects the inner longitudinal edge  130  of the fastener  30 . Among other benefits, it is believed that a care giver is less likely to “miss” the corresponding fastening surface by using the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  previously discussed as a guide in particular when the corresponding fastening surface is narrower than the waist portion of the absorbent article as further discussed below. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  may have any shape and size suitable to help and guide the care giver in positioning the fastener on the complementary fastening surface. The inner surface area (i.e. within the outer edge  140 ) can be at least 5 mm 2 , at least 15 mm 2 , at least 25 mm 2 , or greater. At least a portion of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  within the outer edge  140  include one or more colors and/or gradients of one or more colors, which distinguish the colored portion(s) from the tape  20 . In one embodiment, the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is asymmetric relative to its longitudinal axis Li and includes a portion  440  that is darker than a portion  540 . Among other benefits, a portion  440  that is darker than a portion  540  and positioned on the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  such that each portion  440 ,  540  is disposed on respective sides of the longitudinal axis Li, replicate the effect a natural light source would have and enhances the three-dimensional appearance of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 . In one embodiment, the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is asymmetric relative to its transverse axis and includes a portion  640  disposed on one of the sides of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  relative to its transverse axis. The portion  640  can have a light color that provides a sharp contrast with the portions of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  immediately adjacent the portion  640  and also provides a sharp contrast with portions of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  disposed on the other side of its transverse axis. Among other benefits, the portion  640  replicates light reflection on an actual macro-mechanical fastener. 
       FIGS. 3A-3E  illustrate alternative macro-mechanical fastener indicia. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  represented in  FIG. 3A  replicates a sew-through button having a substantially flat outer surface and two holes  240 , two threads  340  extending between the holes  340 . 
     It should be noted that in this embodiment, the holes  240  are not parallel to the transverse axis of the fastening member  10 . The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  represented in  FIG. 3B  replicates a sew-through button having a three-dimensional outer surface, four holes  240  and two threads  340  extending between respective pairs of holes  340 . The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  represented in  FIG. 3C  replicates a sew-through button having a three-dimensional outer surface, two holes  240  and two threads  340  extending between the two holes  340 . The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  illustrated in  FIG. 3C  has the outer contour and shape of a star. It should be noted that although many actual sew-through button used on clothing have a disc shape, any other shape such as rectangular, triangular or other more complex shapes are also within the scope of the invention. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  represented in  FIG. 3D  replicates a snap button (also called a push button) having a three-dimensional outer surface, an outer contour  1140  and an inner contour  2140 . In can be advantageous to have the area of the tape located inside the inner contour  2140  of substantially a same color as the area of the tape located outside the outer contour  1140  to emphasize the presence of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 .  FIG. 3E  illustrate a fastening member including first and second macro-mechanical fastener indicia  40  and  40 ′. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 ′ is substantially identical in appearance to the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 . But it should be understood that a fastening member having a plurality of macro-mechanical fastener indicia having different appearance is also within the scope of the invention. For example, a fastening member may include a first macro-mechanical fastener indicium replicating a macro fastener having a given appearance and a second macro-mechanical fastener indicium replicating a macro fastener having a different appearance such as via its shape, size, color and/or functionality (e.g. sew-through v. push button). 
     It will be appreciated that although the fastening members represented in  FIGS. 1 through 4E  have a substantially rectangular shape, the fastening member may have any suitable shape. For example, the fastening members represented in  FIG. 4A and 4B  have an arc-like edge  120  and a longitudinal edge  220   
     As previously discussed, it can be advantageous for a macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  to be visible from or through the garment facing surface of a fastening member. A macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  can be provided on a fastening member by printing the substrate forming for example the tape with one or more inks. It should be noted that when rubbing-off of the ink is a concern, inks that have good crockfastness resistance may be employed. In the alternative, inks with lower crockfastness may also be employed but it can be beneficial to cover the printed area with a lacquer. Cross-sectional views of fastening members (taken along transverse axis T) having a macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  are schematically represented in  FIGS. 5A-5E . In one embodiment, a macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is disposed on the garment facing surface of the tape  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . In another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5B , a macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is disposed on the body facing surface of the tape  20  such that the fastener  30  covers at least partially or even in its entirety the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 . A fastener  30  covering at least a portion of the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  reduces the chances the indicium may rub-off due to chemical or mechanical action. Such an embodiment can be advantageous when the indicium is printed via an ink that tends to rub-off easily. If the size of macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is equal or less than the width of the fastener  30 , the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  can also be disposed on a back surface of the fastener (i.e. the surface opposite to the surface from which the engaging elements projects). Although the tape  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  includes a single layer of material, it is understood that embodiments where the tape  20  includes more than a single layer of material are also within the scope of the invention. For example, the tape  20  can include two or more layers of materials that are laminated to each other to form a tape. In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 5C-5D , the tape  20  includes a first layer of material  520 , which is joined to a second layer of material  620 . In one embodiment, the first layer of material  520  is one of a fibrous nonwoven material and a film, and the second layer  620  is one of a fibrous nonwoven material and a film. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5C , the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is present on the outer surface of the first layer of material  520 , which forms the garment facing surface of the fastening member. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5D , the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is present on the inner surface of the first layer of material  520 , and is nevertheless visible from garment facing surface of the fastening member. The macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  can also be present on the inner surface of the second layer of material  620  and is then covered by the first layer of material  520 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5E , the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is present on the outer surface of the second layer of material  620 , and is nevertheless visible from garment facing surface of the fastening member. As previously discussed, positioning the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  on a surface other than the outermost surface of the tape can prevent the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  from rubbing-off due to mechanical or chemical action. The tape  20  can include additional layers of material such as at least one additional layer of a fibrous nonwoven material such that the tape forms a laminate of garment facing fibrous nonwoven, a body facing nonwoven and a film disposed between the garment facing and the body facing fibrous nonwoven materials. 
     Absorbent Article. 
     As previously discussed, a fastening member with an indicium, which is visible can help a care giver identify the position of a fastener for its proper engagement to the complementary fastening surface or receiving member. This can be accomplished by incorporating any of the previously discussed fastening members to an absorbent article while improving the aesthetic and garment like appearance of the disposable absorbent article. The garment facing side of an absorbent article  5  in a flat out state is represented in  FIG. 6 . The absorbent article  5  includes a liquid pervious topsheet (not shown), a liquid impervious backsheet  15  and an absorbent core (not shown). The absorbent article may include a pair of side panels  25 , which are joined to a waist region of the absorbent article as is well know in the art. The side panels  25  can be substantially inelastic but it can be advantageous to provide the absorbent article with elastically extensible side panel. The absorbent article  5  includes a pair of fastening members  10  that are joined to a distal portion of the respective side panels  25 . The absorbent article can also include a receiving member  35  joined to the opposite waist region of the absorbent article. The receiving member  35  provides a complementary surface, which is suitable to interact with the fastening members  10  in order to attach the absorbent article about the lower torso of a wearer. In one embodiment, the receiving member  35  is joined to the backsheet  15  of the article such that the receiving member  35  is substantially centered about the longitudinal axis La of the article  5 . In one embodiment, the transverse length of the receiving member is less than the transverse length of the absorbent article. As a result, the article can include two portions  315  on each transverse side of the receiving member  35  that are not adapted or less adapted to interact with the fastener of the fastening members  10 . One skill in the art will understand that the smaller the receiving member is then the larger these portions  315  become and the greater the risk a care giver may not apply the fasteners to the receiving member  35 . The usefulness of the embodiments of the invention becomes even more apparent when the distance between the transverse edge of the receiving member and the transverse edge of the absorbent article is greater than the distance between the distal transverse edge  125  of the side panels  25  and the transverse edge  420  of the fastening member  10 . Each indicium, and in particular macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 , can be used as a guide that helps the care giver position the fastener (less visible to the care giver) on the receiving member. In order to enhance the garment-like appearance of the absorbent article and also communicate the usefulness of the indicia on the fastening member, it can be advantageous to provide the backsheet  15  with additional indicia. In one embodiment, the backsheet includes one or more indicium  115  that replicate a pocket such as the pocket found in an actual piece of clothing. A pocket indicium can include a macro-mechanical fastener indicium  1115  that is similar to the macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  present on the fastening member  10 . The backsheet  15  can also include other garment-like attributes such as seams  215  that replicate actual seams that are typically present on a piece of clothing. It can also be advantageous to include one or more macro-mechanical fastener indicium  1215  in the proximity of at least one of the seam indicium  215  to replicate separate portions of clothing that are fastened together and are present in the crotch portion of a wearer. 
     Process/Method of Making. 
     The fastening members previously described can be obtained by cutting a plurality of individual fastening members  10  from a continuous (i.e. long length) strip material. Such continuous strip of material can be in the form of a roll that is unwound and then cut. The continuous strip of material can include one or more layer forming the tape portion of the fastening member, at least one continuous strip of fastener material disposed on one side of the continuous material forming the tape and a plurality of individual indicia (such as the macro-mechanical fastener indicia previous described) that are distant and separate from each other. Although the particular location of the transverse cut has no impact on the continuous strips of materials forming the tape portion and the fastener of the fastening member, it is beneficial to cut the continuous strip such that at least one macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  is present in its entirety on the resulting individual fastening members  10  as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 7A . In one embodiment schematically illustrated in  FIG. 7B , it can be advantageous to cut a plurality of individual fastening members  10  from a continuous strip of material including a continuous strip of material suitable to form the tape portion  20  of the fastening member and two or more continuous strips of fastener materials  30 ,  30 ′. The two continuous strips of fastener material are joined to the continuous strip of material suitable to form the tape such that strips of fastener material are separated from each other by a distance sufficient to provide a grabbing portion on respective left and right fastening members. The continuous strip of fastening member material includes a first plurality of individual macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  and at least a second plurality of individual macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 ′. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the second plurality of individual macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 ′ is the mirror image of the first plurality of individual macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 ′ relative to the longitudinal axis of the continuous strip of fastening member material. 
     As previously discussed, the shape of the fastening member  10  can be, but is not necessarily, rectangular. A process of cutting individual and separate fastening members having an arc-like edge is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 7C . It should be noted that in this embodiment, the fastening member from the cut is integral with the side panel material  25 . But individual fastening members may also be obtained by this process. A continuous strip of fastening member material includes a continuous strip of tape-like portion material  20 , a continuous strip of fastener material  30 , a first plurality of individual macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  and a second plurality of individual macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 ′. Due to the more complex shape of the fastening members, it can be advantageous to dispose the plurality macro-mechanical fastener indicia  40 ,  40 ′ such that the first plurality of individual macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40  and the second plurality of individual macro-mechanical fastener indicium  40 ′ are offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the continuous materials (i.e. offset in the cross direction). When the individual macro-mechanical fastener indicia are offset, each fastening member can be “nested,” which minimizes the amount of waste. 
     Although the individual macro-mechanical fastener indicia may be printed before or after the continuous strip of fastener material  30  is joined to the other materials, it can be beneficial to print the individual macro-mechanical fastener indicia  40  before the continuous strip of fastener material  30  is joined to the printed continuous strip of material  20 . Without intending to be bound by any theory, it is believed that printing the indicia before joining the fastener material  30  minimizes potential damage or contamination of the fastener material, which may occur if the fastener material is joined to the material  20  before it is printed. 
     The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm. 
     Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.