METHODS FOR MAKING FASTENERS

摘要

There is provided a fastener for engaging with a loop fabric, comprising a base having a front surface with a multiplicity of engaging projections. At least some of the engaging projections having a top surface end and an attached end. The at least some engaging projections top surface ends form an edge angle surrounding the projections. A mantle surface extending from the top surface end edge to the attached end. Generally at least one contour line of a side view of the mantle surface is strictly convex from the top surface edge to the attached end. The attached end can be fused to the front surface of the base and the top surface forming an edge at least partially surrounding the projection. There is also provided a first method for forming a fastener, comprising: . providing a multiplicity of suitable polymer particles; . providing a base with a front surface; . providing a contact release surface of a suitable surface energy; . dispersing, on the contact release surface, the multiplicity of polymer particles thereby forming separate preform projections sitting on and projecting from the release surface to corresponding terminal ends; . transforming the polymer particles, dispersed on the contact release surface, into an at least semiliquid state of a suitable viscosity, at least some of said particles being in contact with the contact release surface for a time sufficient to transform into preform projections having contact edges influenced by the surface energies of the polymer particles and of the contact release surface; . contacting and fixing the front surface of the base with the terminal ends of at least some of the preform projections; . removing the base, thereby separating the preform projections fixed thereto, from the release surface; and . thereby forming engaging projections projecting from the front surface of the base. There is also provided a second method for forming a fastener, comprising: . providing a multiplicity of suitable thermoplastic particles; . providing a base with a front surface; . randomly dispersing and adhering, on the base front surface, the multiplicity of polymer particles thereby forming separate projections attached and projecting from the base front surface to corresponding terminal ends; . providing a deformation means having a contact surface ; . contacting the terminal ends of the projections with the contact surface of the deformation means to deform the terminal ends so that they form a rim comprising an acute edge angle( the process of transforming the polymer to form a acute contact angle is also termed sharpening) thereby forming engaging projections