MXPA00002277A - Loop material, its manufacture, and its use in products - Google Patents

Abstract

Lightweight, non-woven loop products for hook-and-loop fastening are disclosed, as are methods for making them and end products employing them. The products are non-woven webs of entangled fibers of substantial tenacity, the fibers forming both a sheet-form web body and hook-engageable, free-standing loops extending from the web body. The product is stretched and stabilized to produce spaced-apart loop clusters extending from a very thin web of taut fibers. In important cases a binder is added to stabilize the product in its stretched condition. An example of the loop product is produced by needle-punching a batt of staple fibers in multiple needle-punching operations, applying a foamed acrylic binder, and then stretching the needled batt and curing the binder with the batt stretched. Other forming techniques are disclosed and several novel articles and uses employing such loop products are described, such as for filters and fasteners.

Description

BINDING MATERIAL, ITS MANUFACTURE AND ITS USE IN PRODUCTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to fastener material, particularly the material to be crimped with fastener members, to form a fastener, its manufacture and use, and fasteners comprising said fastener material. In the production of woven and nonwoven materials, it is common to form the material as a continuous rewind subsequently. In woven and bonded jazo materials, filaments or threads are included that form loops in the structure of a fabric to form straight loops for crimping hooks. As the hook and loop fasteners find wider application ranges, especially in cheap, desirable products, some forms of non-woven materials have been suggested to serve as a loop material in order to reduce the cost and weight of the loop product while it provides an adequate closing performance in terms of shear and shear strain. However, the cost of the loop component remains a major factor limiting the extent of the use of hook and loop fasteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been understood that non-woven fabrics constructed with some structural characteristics are capable of functioning well for their intended purpose such as hook-and-loop fastening fabrics. while particular advantage is provided in relation to manufacturing expense and other properties. According to one aspect of the invention, a loop fastener component and a hook and loop fastener, comprising a network of entangled non-woven fibers having a generally flat web body of at least one face from which fibers extend in the form of loops hooked by hook, it is characterized because the network, including the body of the network and the loops, weighs less than approximately 135 grams per square meter, that the body of the network comprises a non-uniform fiber distribution, in which the fibers are in relatively high concentrations in base regions of the hooked loops by hook, and in relatively lower concentrations in regions located between the bases of the loops, and that a substantial number of fibers in regions of lower concentration are found taut in the body plane of the network and extend in different directions that come from the bases of the loops. Various modalities have one or more of the following characteristics; The bases of the loops contain portions of tense fibers of the network body prepared around the fibers that form the loop; The taut fibers of the bases contribute to the definition of freestanding formations that extend from the plane of the network body and contain the hook-and-loop loops; The autoestabies formations have elongated trunks from each of which multiple snap hooks extend by hook; The relatively high concentrations of fibers in the bases of hooked loops define tight fiber entanglements; The combined weight of the net body and ties is approximately 68 grams per square meter; and The loops are installed across the face of the network body in a relatively random pattern. In some embodiments, a solidified fluid adherent matter is concentrated at the bases of the tazos. Adherent material can be selected from the group consisting of acrylics, urethanes, polyvinyls, formaldehydes. glyoxal and epoxies. Preferably, the solidified fluid adherent material is formed in the bases of the ties at least partially as a result of the capillary flow prior to solidification. In some cases, the solid, fluidized adherent material composes between approximately 20 and 40 percent (preferably, approximately one third) of the total weight of the network, including the ties. In some modalities, the loop fastener component is combined with a layer of termspipestic material, such that a second face of the net body, opposite the face from which the hook-and-loop loops extend, is encapsulated in the layer of thermoplastic material . Preferably, hook elements are integrally mopped on a surface of the thermoplastic material layer. Various practices have one or more of the following. The thermoplastic fibers of the network are fused by heat at the bases of the hooked loops by hook; The loop fastener component is formed from a cotton, in initial non-woven, perforated sheet of given dimension, with the net of the component of the loop fastener, in its general extension plane, in a stabilized stretched condition of at least one area. 20 percent (preferably, at least 50 percent and more preferably, at least 100 percent) greater than the area of the initial sheet cotton; The network is in a stretched condition of at least 20 percent in at least one first direction in the general plane of extension of the network; and The network is in a stretched condition of at least 20 J5 percent in each of the two orthogonal directions in the general plane of network extension. In some embodiments, the initial sheet cotton comprises layers of generally parallel fibers with fibers of some layers oriented at acute angles with respect to the fibers of other -20 layers, and, as a result of stretching, the acute angles between the fibers of the body. The webs corresponding to different layers of the initial sheet cotton are generally larger than the corresponding angles in the initial sheet cotton, while at least many of the fibers corresponding to each layer remain relatively parallel. In some cases, the layers of a longitudinally extending initial sheet cotton extend predominantly transversely through the sheet cotton, and, as a result of longitudinal stretching of the initial sheet cotton, the acute angles between the fibers of the net body corresponding to different layers of the initial sheet cotton are generally greater than the angles corresponding in the initial sheet cotton. Various embodiments contain one or more of the following characteristics: The loop fastener component has a total thickness, including the net body and a majority of the loops, of less than about 4.0 mm, preferably less than about 2.5 mm; The hook-and-loop loops extend from associated loop bases within the network plane to an average loop height, measured as the perpendicular distance from the network body, of between about 0.5 and 1.0 mm; The network has a total thickness, including the network body and a majority of loops, the average loop height being between approximately 0.5 and 0.8 times the total thickness of the product; EJ loop fastener component has between approximately 8 and 160 bundles of tight fibers per square centimeter of the net area, from which the crimps are extended by hook; The network is generally composed of fibers having a tenacity of at least 2.8 grams per day (preferably, at least 5.0 grams per diner and more preferably at least 8.0 grams per diner). The loops extend from the network body to variable heights to form a multinivei installation of looped loops; The fibers are of a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene polypropylene, nylon, homopolymers, blends, copolymers, alloys, or coextrusions thereof and natural fibers; The loop fastener component has a Gurley stiffness of less than about 300 milligrams; and The loop fastener component includes separate reinforcing strands that extend at least one direction into the plane of the net body. According to another aspect. The invention provides a box comprising a first closing portion having loops, and a second closing portion having hooks constructed to engage the loops of the first closing portion in order to hold the box in an open or closed position, being characterized the box in which the first closure portion comprises the loop fastener product described above. In some embodiments, the closure portions, first and second, have a combined total thickness of, crimp and at rest, less than about 1.9 m. According to another aspect, an article of ? & S ^ ?? & amp; ®M & X clothes available. The article of clothing has a fabric and a fastener with hooking elements installed for crimping fabric ties in order to form a releasable fastener for retaining the article of clothing in which the garment characterizes the article of clothing in which the fabric comprises the component. loop fastener described above. According to another aspect, an air flow is provided, characterized in that the filter comprises the loop fastener product described above installed to intercept and filter an air flow. According to other aspects, geotextiies barriers are provided, one aspect. The barrier comprises the previously described Jazo fastener product installed to intercept and filter an underground water flow. In another aspect, the barrier comprises the loop fastener product described above installed to stabilize a floor layer boundary. According to another aspect of the invention, a fastener product has a polymer base in sheet form with hooks integrally molded with and extending from one side of the base, and a loop material permanently attached to and extending on an opposite side of the base, the product loop material comprises the above described loop fastening material, with the loops of the adapted loop fastening material to be linked by the hooks of the product. The product can be formed, for example, by the use of the techniques described in U.S. Patent 5,518,795. The invention also provides, in combination, a hook fastener product having hooks extending from a hook surface. same, and the loop fastener product described above, the hooks of the hook fastener product being adapted to engage the loops of the loop fastener product in order to form a releasable fastener, In some particularly advantageous embodiments of the fastener, the hook fastener product and the loop fastener product have a combined, crimp and at rest total thickness of less than about 1.9 rom, preferably less than about 1.3 mm. By "hook-engaging" and similar terms used above and throughout this specification, it is understood that the loop material defines openings of adequate size to receive the tip or upper end portion of a male fastener element (such as a mushroom or hook-shaped element, for example) to form a subjection. By the word "entanglements" is meant the knots in which a multiplicity of fibers in the non-woven web are intertwined. These entanglements can be relatively loose, since they are formed directly by a process of drilling, for example, or are tightened after the formation of the entanglements. By the word "knots" is understood entanglements that have been tightened! apply tension to their interlaced fibers in at least one direction in the plane of the network. and they remain in a tight state at least partially. By "stabilized", it is understood that the network is processed to generally maintain its flat dimensions. In other words, a ZrxXÍXrZ "stabilized" net in a stretched condition will generally keep its dimensions stretched and will not relax or stretch more significantly under normal use conditions. One way to "stabilize" the network, for example, is to solidify the adhesive material in a significant proportion of its entanglements. It has also been understood that such loop fabrics as described are advantageously produced by employing certain methods and techniques of manufacturing. An important aspect of the invention is a method for forming a loop fastener component for the fastening of hook and Jazo from a cotton wool in nonwoven sheet generally entangled fibers. The method is characterized by stretching the sheet cotton in at least one direction, thereby producing a stretched web of less than about 135 grams per square meter and having a generally flat web body with a non-uniform fiber distribution, with fibers in relatively high concentrations in base regions of hook-linkable loops extending from the network body, and in relatively lower concentrations in regions of the network between the bases of the loops, with a substantial number of fibers in regions of concentrations lower tensioning in the plane of the network body, and extending in different directions leaving the bases of the loops; and then stabilizing the net in its stretched condition. Various embodiments of the method of the invention have one or more of the following characteristics; Stretching causes the taut fibers of the net body to be prepared around fibers that form loops at the base of the loops; The sheet cotton is stretched in a manner in which the fibers of the bases contribute to the definition of freestanding formations that extend from the plane of the network body and which contain the hook-and-loop loops; The sheet cotton is stretched in a manner in which the formations comprise elongated logs from each of which multiple looped loops extend by hook; The sheet cotton is stretched in a manner in which the relatively high concentrations of fibers in the bases of the hook-linkable loops define tight fiber entanglements; The sheet cotton is stretched to produce a net having a weight, including loops, of less than about 68 grams per square meter; and The loops are placed across a face of the net body in a relatively random pattern as the sheet cotton is stretched, In some currently preferred methods of the method, the web is stabilized in its stretched condition by solidifying a fluid adhereous material, applied to the network body under conditions that concentrate the adherent material in the bases of the bonds. The fluid adherent material can be selected, for example, from the group consisting of acrylics, urethanes, polyvinyls, formaidohydes, glyoxals and epoxies. Preferably, the fluid adherent material is applied under conditions which allow the fluid adherent material to be formed at the bases of the bonds, a. less partially as a result of capillary flow prior to solidification, Bn many cases, the fluid adherent matter is applied before to a! less some of the stretches. Various embodiments of the method of the invention have one or more of the following characteristics: A selected amount of adherent material is applied, so that the adherent material makes up between about 20 and 40 percent (preferably about one third) of the total weight of the adhesive. the network, including ties; The sheet cotton is provided with fusible thermoplastic fibers embedded therein, the stretched web stabilizing under conditions which cause the fusible thermoplastic fibers to melt down at the bases of the hooked loops by hooks; The network is stabilized in a stretched condition in which the network has, at its general breadth of extension, an area of at least 20 percent (preferably, at least 50 percent and more preferably, at least 100 percent) greater than the area of the sheet cotton prior to stretching; The sheet cotton is stretched at least 20 percent in a first direction in the general plane of extension of the network body; The sheet cotton is stretched at least 20 percent in each of the two orthogonal directions in the overall length of the network body; The initial sheet cotton comprises layers of generally parallel fibers with fibers of some layers oriented at acute angles with respect to fibers of other layers, characterized the product in which, as a result of stretching, the acute angles between the corresponding network body fibers different layers of the initial sheet cotton are generally greater than the corresponding angles in the initial sheet cotton, whereas a! less many of the fibers corresponding to each layer remain relatively parallel. The layers of a longitudinally extending initial sheet cotton extend predominantly transversely through the cotton in Jala, and the sheet cotton is stretched longitudinally under conditions that increase the acute angles between the fibers of the network body corresponding to layers. In some embodiments, the stretched web is combined with a layer of thermoplastic material, so that a second face of the net body opposite the face from which the hook-and-loop loops extend is encapsulated in the layer of thermoplastic material. Hooks are preferably molded integrally with an exposed surface of the layer of the thermoplastic material. According to another aspect of the invention, a method for forming a loop fastener component for hook and loop fastening from a generally flat nonwoven sheet cotton of entangled fibers is characterized by first stretching the sheet cotton in at least one direction, thus producing a stretched web having a generally flat web body with a non-uniform fiber distribution, with fibers in relatively high concentrations in 5 hook-linkable loop base regions extending from the network body, and in relatively lower concentrations in regions of the network between the bases of the loops, with a substantial number of fibers in regions of lower concentration being taut in the plane of the network body, and extending in different directions that depart from JO Jas bases of ties; and then stabilize the network in its stretched condition. In some cases, the network stabilizes in its stretched condition by solidifying a fluid adherent matter, applied to the network body under conditions that concentrate the adjatent matter in the bases of the network. iazos. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for filtering air, characterized by the installation of the network of the loop fastener product described above in order to intercept an air flow to be filtered, according to another aspect, provides a method for filtering the groundwater, characterized by the installation of the loop fastener product network described above to intercept a groundwater flow by filtering, and by securing the network in position by crimping the loops of the fastener product. tie with a stretch of hook fastening tape.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for stabilizing the floor, characterized by the network installation of the loop fastener product described above between adjacent layers of ground to be stabilized, and the securing of the network in 5 position when crimping the loops of the loop fastener product with a length of hook fastening tape. The invention can provide a very inexpensive loop product which can crimp and hold hooks very effectively, as in the hook and loop fasteners, Bi loop product can be Particularly useful in combination with extremely small, inexpensive molded hooks, such as fasteners for disposable products, such as diapers, medical devices or packaging, in use as a geotextile barrier, the loop product of the invention is easily secured in place by stretches. of fastening tape J5 hook, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. Figure 1 is an enlarged side view of a hook and loop fastener. Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged views, in plan and side, respectively, of a loop fastener product. Figure 2A is a plan view of a loop fastener product, magnified 50X and showing the structure of the network; and Figure 2B is a schematic view of the structure shown in Figure 2A, Figure 3A is a more enlarged portion of the photograph of Jcá ^^^^^^^^^ n ^^^^^^^^^^^ Figure 3; Figure 3B is a schematic of the structure in the main plane of Figure 3A; and Figure 3C is a highly enlarged view of a portion of the Jazo fastener product of Figure 3, Figure 4A is an enlarged side view of a hook-and-loop fastener product made by ultrasonically welding a product of tie to a hook product. Figure 4B illustrates a two-sided fastener product formed with loops on one side and hooks on lit. Figure 5 illustrates a machine and process for forming the product of Figure 4B, Figure 6 illustrates a loop material containing longitudinal fibers. Figures 7A-7F depict illustrative products incorporating the loop material of Figure 2; in order, the illustrated products are; The outer fabric of a disposable diaper (Figure 7A); a discarded surgical gown FIG. 7B); a box lid (Figure 7C); a bag closure (Figure 7D); an air filter (Figure 7E); and a geotextile barrier (Figure 7F), Figure 8 is a top view of an apparatus for making non-woven fabrics. Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 8, Figure 10 shows an alternative installation of the second stage of drilling of the apparatus of Figure 9, Figures 11 and 11A are views, in plan and side, respectively, of a cotton sheet of perforated material after the second stage of drilling. Figure 12 is a schematic view of an apparatus for stretching and stabilizing a non-woven material, Figures 12 and 12B are enlarged views of the area 12A in the Figure 12 under two different operating conditions, and Figure 12C illustrates another embodiment in which the product is stabilized by fused fibers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a molded hook fastener product 10 which crimps the jazos of a very thin loop product 12, the photograph is quite large, as shown by the scale on the left side of the photograph. The smaller divisions of the scale each represent a length of 0.40 mm. The hook product 10 is of the CFM-29 designation, available from Velero U.S.A, Inc. of Man in Ester. New Hampshire, E.U.A ,, and has hooks of only 0.38 mm in height. Referring also to Figures 2 and 2A, the loop product 12, a device of the present invention, is very thin (as evidenced by the scale of the photographs and its lack of opacity) and has relatively unbonded fibers that form loops that they extend from one side of a tangle of continuous, tangled fibers. In this and the following photographs all graduations of scale, unless otherwise specified, are in 4e 0.40 mm increments.

As shown in Figure 2, and especially in Figure 2A, a substantial number of the fibers of the tangle of the loop product 12 are strained (i.e., not loose, regionally straight), extending between the knots 18 of ia. Loop product fabric. The tensioned fibers have been straightened by the tension applied in at least one direction in the plane of the fabric tangle. The individual fibers of the tangle follow an undefined pattern as in a woven product, but they extend in different directions within the plane of the fabric tangle. The loops that extend from the loop product are from the same fibers that comprise the tangle but extend beyond the general mass of the tangle, outside the tangle plane, generally from associated knots. 18, The knot density of the sample shown in the photograph was determined to be approximately 180 knots per square centimeter when counting the number of knots visible within a given square area. The knots themselves are quite tight, formed of several monofix fibers, and are interconnected by the tense fibers that extend between them. Between the knots, the tangle of thin fiber is not very dense and is pure enough to allow images to be easily observed through it. For economical applications, the fabric preferably weighs less than about 68 grams per square meter. In this particular modality, the fibers of the tangle are maintained in their straight-line condition, by means of an acrylic adberehie material, based on water, (not seen in the photograph) applied to the side of the ' It is the tangle opposite the ties to join the fibers of the tangle in its tense condition in order to stabilize the dimensions of the area of the fabric, and to secure the ties at their associated knots. Adhesive material generally varies between 20 and 40% of the total weight of the fabric and in the presently preferred embodiments represents approximately one third of the total weight of the product. The resulting fabric is dimensionally stable and sufficiently strong to be suitable for further processing by standard breast management techniques. The fabric also has a light stiffness, like a starched felt, which can be mitigated by softeners or mechanical work if desired. The schematic view of Figure 2B illustrates the structure of the flat network 12, as seen from one side of the network, Bn this view, the loop-linked loops extend out of the plane of the network, from a Jado, the network 12 is composed of a non-uniform distribution of entangled fibers, with relatively high concentrations of the fibers in the bases, B, of corresponding loop structures, and relatively lower concentrations of the fibers in regions, R, which are between the bases of Jazo, B. The relatively high concentrations of fibers in bases B correspond to entanglements of tight fibers. As illustrated in this scheme, and visible in Figure 2A, a substantial number of fibers in the regions, R, between the loop bases are strained in the plane of the network, extending in different directions leaving from the bases of the network. tie, B, by "tense", it is understood that a large percentage of these ^ g ^ Hg ^ a inter-base fibers does not have elasticity or loosening, so that it can transmit an extensible force applied with little or no displacement. It is believed that the stretched fiber portions extending through the regions scattered between the loop bases represent some of the beneficial properties of the loop product, giving it a significantly high strength-to-weight ratio as a fastener component. Near the center of both Figure 2A and Figure 2B is a particularly visible B-loop base, from which the tensioned fibers can be observed to emanate in a radial pattern. It is also noted that there are some fibers which are at least partially wound around other fibers of the loop base. These rolled fibers are the result of stretching, during which the stretched fibers encounter loop fibers that extend through the flat net. As the net stretches further, the loop fibers provide obstructions around which The stretched net base fibers are prepared as they move within the network piano. Therefore, the bases, B, of the loop structures contain both portions of the pylon forming fibers extending out of the plane of the net and the prepared portions of taut fibers which are generally located in the plane of the net. The prepared portions of the strained fibers within the loop bases therefore contribute, as the network stretches, to the definition of the iazo autoestabies formations. When the network is stabilized by adherent matter, for example, these bases B become relatively rigid knots e.

Importantly, they provide support for their associated ties. Therefore, the stretched and stabilized network, in some aspects, resembles a flat armature, with its taut fibers that come out forming extensible members between the base knots. Since the tensioned fibers can easily "deviate" out of their plane as the network is fied, the structure maintains an advantageously high flexibility while resisting stretching and shrinking within its original plane. The individual fibers of Jazo fabric 12 shown in Figure 2 have a low diner and substantial tenacity (ie, tensile strength per unit diameter) for working with very small hooks such as those illustrated in Figure 1. It has been found that fibers with tenacity fluids of at least 2.8 grams per diner provide good closure performance, and fibers with a tenacity of at least 5 or more grams per diner (preferably even 8 or more grams per diner) are even more preferred in many cases. In general terms for a limited loop closure, the higher the loop tenacity, the stronger the closure will be. The yarn fibers 12 of Figures 1 and 2 are artificial 6-diners polyester fibers (cut into 10.16 centimeter sections) and as a result of the manufacturing method, they are in a moiecular oriented, extracted state, having been extracted with a proportion of extraction of at least 2: 1 (i.e., at least twice its original length) under cooling conditions that allow molecular orientation to occur, to provide a fiber toughness of about 3.6 grams per diner. The fibers in this example are of round cross section and are crimped at about 3 crimps per cm. Such fibers are available from E.J, Du Pont de Nemours & Co, Inc., in Wllmington, DeJawere under the designation T-3367 PE T-794W 6x4, £ 1 diner of the loop fiber should be chosen with the size of the hook in mind, with lower diner fibers typically selected for use with smaller hooks. For low cycle applications for use with larger hooks (and therefore preferably larger diameter loop fibers), fibers of lower tenacity may be employed, As an alternative for fibers of round cross section, fibers of other cross sections having aspects of angular surface, for example fibers of pentagonal or pentaioblated cross section. can improve knot tightening for certain applications. Regardless of the particular construction of the individual fibers, they are selected to have a surface character that allows for detachment within the tangles that form knots during tightening to allow the stretching of the sheet cotton without the undue breakage of the fiber. Referring to Figures 3, 3A and 3B, the loops 14 of the loop fabric 12 of this embodiment project basically from one side of the fabric. The stabilizing adherent matter, in this case, is applied to the other side. The product of Jazo is extremely thin for use with very small hooks. EJ product shown, for example, works well with hooks of approximately 0.4 mm in height and has a height of toAM loop ba. (i.e., the height of the loops 14 from the general near surface of the fiber tangle 16) of approximately 1.40 mm. The loop product has a total thickness, t, including a majority of the loops, of only about 2.3 mm. When the loop height is measured in products without a distinguishable visibility greater than the tangle surface, the near surface of the tangle is defined as the lowermost flat surface above about 80 percent of the total fiber mass. The loops vary preferably in height for a good erecting, and the average Jazo height should generally be greater than the height of the hooks with which the loop product will be used, and preferably between 2 and 10 times the height of the upper end of the loop. the hooks used for applications that require good shear deformation resistance. For fasteners that are basically loaded to the detachment, or by loads perpendicular to the plane of the base, the loops can be up to 15 times the height of the upper end of the hooks. For example, for use with CF-29 0.4 mm hooks (which have an upper end height of 0.15 rom), the average height f of the loops should be between approximately 0.3 and 1.5 mm good performance of shear deformation. For use with 2.5mm CFM-24 hooks (which have an upper end height of 0.43mm and are available from Velero U, S, A, Inc.), the average height of the loops It should be at least 0.89 mm and can be as high as 6.4 mm for applications that focus on the load to detachment. For low cost, flexible loop fabrics, the average Jazo height should-generally be between about 0.5 and 1.5 mm, and should be between about 0.5 and 0.8 times the total thickness, t, of the loop product. As seen in Figures 3A and 3B, the loops 14 extend from the freestanding groups of loop fibers extending from the fibrous web 16. The groups 20 which have various loops of monofixes 14 extending from a common trunk. elongated, substantially vertical 22 are called "lasso trees". Another example of a "loop tree" is seen in FIG. 3C. Each loop tree 20 extends from a corresponding node 18 on which the group loops are supported. The interstices between the individual filaments in the trunk portion -22 of each tree or at the base of each bush, and in each knot 18 provides trajectories for igniting the liquid adherent matter, under the influence of the surface tension of the adherent matter. liquid, in order to provide additional localized strength and stiffness. Importantly, the density of groups in the plan view is very low (Figures 2 and 2A), leaving enough space between the "branches" of the surrounding trees to accommodate the hooks and bend the loop material during the crimping. solidified adherent matter 21 can be observed at the knots in the widely magnified plan view of Figure 3C. Applied in liquid form in this example, preferably before the knots are tightened, the adhering material helps to secure the ties so that they do not pull out of the net, Referring again to Figure 1, with an appropriate clearance between the ties for the hooks, the fully crimped bra. { that is, the loop product and the coupling hook product together) have a total thickness of only the sum of the thickness of the hook product (including the hooks) and the "ground" portion of the loop product (i.e. the thickness of the tangle 16 between the loop groups, Figure 3B), Bn other words, the freestanding loops of the loop product are not added to! thickness of the completed bra. Due to the ultra-thin soil portion 16 of the loop product described herein (see Figure 3B), the combination of the loop product 12 with the coupling hook product 10 provides a very small fastener. For example, the crimped fastener of Figure 1 has a total thickness of only about 1.3 mm; thinner, in this case, than the total thickness of the non-crimped loop product, since the higher loop groups are somehow compressed by the hooked product crimped with shorter loop groups). In addition to being advantageously thin, the loop fabric formed according to the new principles is particularly flexible. Flexibility can be very important in some fastener applications, especially when the fastener must flex during use, such as when used in a clothing article. In such cases, the loop product of the invention should have a bending stiffness of less than about 300 milligrams, preferably less than about 100 milligrams, as measured with a Gurley-type tester. More details about the use of Gurley-type testers can be found in Method T 543 OM-94, published in 1984 by the Tecbnical Association of Pulp and Paper (TAPPJ, Various synthetic or natural fibers can be used in the invention. Wool and cotton can provide sufficient fiber strength Currently, thermoplastic synthetic man-made fibers which have substantial tenacity for making a thin, inexpensive loop product that has a good sealing performance when placed in pairs with hooks are preferred. For example, polyolefins (for example, polypropylene or polyethylene), polyesters (for example, polyethylene terephthalate), polyamides (for example, nylon), acrylics and mixtures, alloys, copolymers and coextrusions of the same are suitable. , EJ polyester is currently preferred.For a product that has some electrical conductivity, a small percentage of metallic fibers. For example, loop products of up to about 5 to 10 percent fine metallic fiber, for example, can be advantageously used for grounding or other electrical applications. Various adhesive materials can be used to stabilize the fabric. By "adherent matter" is meant a material within the tangle (other than the fibers that form the main fastener loops) that secures the Jazo fibers at their associated knots. In some applications, the adhering material is an adhesive. In other applications, the adhering material is in the form of poorly fused polymer fibers dispersed along and entangled within the fabric. These poorly fused fibers fuse to moisten the entanglements that form knots and then cool and solidify them to secure the loops and stabilize the fabric. The adherent material preferably penetrates and totally permeates the interstices between the individual fibers in the entanglements of the tangle. When a liquid adverb material is used, the adherent material is preferably selected to have a sufficiently low viscosity and surface tension to allow it to flow towards unclogged (or tightening) entanglements. In the modalities in which the entanglements are subsequently tightened (such as the loop product shown in Figure 2), this selected distribution of the fluid adherent material helps to secure the knots with minimum reinforcement of the total product and without requiring substantial amounts of material. adherent matter. In any case, the amount and penetration of the adhering material should be selected to avoid substantial interference with the desired hook-in-loop function of the loops while adequately stabilizing the tangle and securing the ties in order to prevent them from pulling on their associated entanglements. . For use in applications in which the loop product may come into direct contact with sensitive skin, such as in diapers, the amount and type of adherent matter must also be selected to be biocompatibies in order to avoid skin irritation. Since the irritation may be aggravated by rigidity, preferably only sufficient adherent material is applied to perform the above functions. In some applications, for example, those in which the loop product adheres directly to $ *, «> < ^^ t ^ -.

As a support fabric and which does not require substantial fastener strength, the loop product can be provided without an adherent material. In important cases, the adherent material also includes an organic or inorganic fire retardant, such as antimony oxide, zinc borate, aluminumium trihydrate or decabromobiphenyl oxide. The specific loop product 12 of Figures 1 and 2 includes about one third by weight acrylic adherent material based on water produced by mixing 80 parts of "NACRYLIC" X-4280, a self-reactive acrylic emulsion, with 20 parts of " X-LINK "2804, a self-degrading, polyvinyl acetate / acrylate emulsion, both available from the National Starch and Resin Company in Bridgewater, New Jersey. As produced, the loop 12 product consists substantially of only the fibers extracted from the thin tangle, some of which extend out from the tangle to form loops, and the adhering matter. Without any additional support or lamination, it is strong enough to be handled as a cloth material, and can be applied to surfaces such as a closure member by means of sewing, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, radio frequency welding or other known joining means, Figure 4A, for example, shows a hook and loop product 22 formed by ultrasonically welding a piece of the loop material 12 of Figure 2 to a piece of the hook product CFM-29. The resulting product 22 can be formed in a closed band by crimping its loops with its hooks. Figure 5B is an enlarged view of the seam 24 securing the loop product to a substrate. Referring to Figure 6, another loop fabric material 26 includes, in addition to the extracted fibers, molecularly oriented, randomly placed previously described, longitudinal solid longitudinal fibers 28 that extend substantially in one direction to increase the tensile strength of the finished fabric in the direction of the strands. For this purpose the diameter of the longitudinal monofilaments is selected so that it is larger than the needles' tines to reduce the crimping of the monofilaments by the needles during the drilling process. The monofluments 28 are preferably crimped to allow a limited amount to be stretched in the machine direction as the fabric is stretched before being stabilized. Alternatively, a stretchable canvas of substantially large film or fibers may be incorporated into the fiber network to increase the tensile strength in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction. FIG. 4B illustrates a one piece fastener product consisting of a lamination of the above described loop material and molded hook tape, Bi product 200 has a base 302 with fully molded hooks 304 projecting from one side and the above described nonwoven loop material 12 secured to the other side. At interface 306 between the two layers the plastic coming from the base 302 flows around and entraps some of the fibers of the base network of loop material 12, encapsulating one face of the net in thermoplastic material in order to form a permanent laminate of The two layers. Due to the extremely light nature of the non-woven material of the invention, care must be taken to encapsulate only the net and to leave the functional loops exposed for crimping with hooks 304, The properties of the non-woven material, the viscosity of the plastic and the pressure In the groove (see figure 5) it will determine the degree to which the plastic flows into the fibrous network, or alternatively, the degree to which the non-woven material will be embedded within the plastic, resulting bi-product is particularly thin and flexible, due in part to the thinness of the loop material. The product of Figure 4B can be formed economically by the process and apparatus illustrated in Figure 5EJ extruder 308 merges and forces the fused plastic 310 through the nozzle 312 into the slot 314 between the base roller 316 and the cavity roller 318 which contains cavities to form the hooks of a hook type strip fastener and Very familiar tie. The strip fastener material formed in the slot 314 is transported around the periphery of the cavity roller 318 and around the pitch roller 320, which helps pull the finished product 300 from the cavity roller and from there to a device finished, not shown. Although many methods are possible for feeding sheet material into the forming section of the hook forming device, FIG. 5 illustrates a device particularly well suited for that purpose, when introducing the loop material 12 into the slot 314 at the same time as the same. fused plastic 310 is forced into the slot, the loop material will be intimately bonded to the fastener to become an integral part of the strip fastener structure. Optionally, a set of pins 322 on the edges and around the periphery of the support roll 316 convey the loop material 12 to the slot 6 in a flat, unwrinkled state. In order to secure the proper tension-and alignment of the secondary sheet material, a roll 324 of loop material 12 is mounted on a triggering device and is screwed -around the deflection roller 326 into a network straightening device 328, well known in the art as it is typically sold by the Fife Manufacturing Company, which ensures that the web of the loop material is centered as it is fed into the support roller 316 around the spiral roll 330, which has projections of elastomeric material which firmly hold the sheet and impact it against the support roller 316 and on the pins 322. The pins 322 and the roller 316 supply the network in the slot 314 together with the fused plastic 310, As the plastic fused 310 is forced by the pressure imposed on it by the narrow space of the slot 314, it flows into the cavities in the cavity roller 318 and also pores the pores in the face adjacent to the supporting material 316. Thus, the jazo material is intimately bonded to the base of the forming hook-forming belt in order to form the laminated product 300. For more detail about the proper operation of the apparatus of Figure 5"the reader is referred to the U.S. Patent, 5,260,015 to Kennedy, et al, which discloses laminates made with heavier loop materials. The very low thickness and rigidity of the above described loop material, together with its low cost and good closing performance. Jo make a particularly useful component of many other products, too. Referring to FIG. 7A, a diaper 50 has an outer wrap 52 made from the loop product described above, so that it can be crimped by hooks 80 where it is on a significant proportion of its surface, while providing the "use" surface. "External to the article, Bn other preferred embodiments, not shown, a panel or piece of the loop product is laminated (directly or through a carrier sheet) to the outer lining of a diaper, in order to provide a" deposit "area In an advantageous case, a panel of the loop product is laminated to a carrier film, which, on its back, has a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive for automated application to linings. diaper or the like during the diaper manufacture, Figure 7B shows a surgical gown 54 made from the loop material of the invention and capable of "hooking" p or hooks 80 at any point on a large portion of its surface. As with the diaper constructions described aboveAs an alternative, a panel or piece of the loop product can be attached to the outer surface of a surgical gown. In such applications where the products are considered disposable after a single use, the loop material only needs to support a relatively small number of latching cycles (eg, from 3 to 5) during the life of the product. We refer to this as "low cycle" applications. The loop products in this category can be manufactured to! Stretch fabric bored by more than 100%, as much as 150% or more. Other applications, such as bandaging, may require the loop to withstand a greater number of cycles and greater stress. These high-strength applications, of "relatively high cycle", are generally achieved by forming loops with fibers of higher diner (or greater tenacity) than those suitable for lower operating conditions. For example, 15 diner poyester fibers are advantageously used for high cycle, high strength applications, which employ large hooks such as CFM 15 (0.89 mm high) or MV 8 (2.5 mm high) or fasteners of mushroom type, all available in USA Jnc Sailboat, Loop products in this category can be prepared by stretching in the range of 50 percent to 100 percent stretch, for example. Figure 7C shows a box 56 with hook closure strips 58 that engage loop closure strips 60 of our loop product to hold the box fingers 62 in a closed position. The tie closure strips 60 have pressure-sensitive adhesive backings, by which they are permanently applied to the fins of the box 62, supplied as nozzle cutting sections on a release liner. The loop strips 60 can be applied to the fins of the box with a common automatic labeling head, for example. The box is useful for applications in which it must be opened repeatedly while its content is consumed progressively, for example, a box of pet food.

There are many different adhesive and backing materials that can be included on the back (ie, "non-loop") side of the loop product, either in place of or in addition to the tack material described above. For example, a tackifying adhesive can be formulated so that it is pressure sensitive, with no release liner, such that the final product can be applied to a substrate by the application of pressure. Without a release liner, as the product is rolled or wound, the pressure-sensitive backing is placed against and adheres to the hook-and-loop ties to hold the product in rolled form until it is unrolled by peeling, leaving a sufficient amount of undisturbed adhesive on the back of the fabric in order to secure the product to a substrate. Other coatings, such as heat-sensitive or "heat-fused" coatings, or water-activated or solvent-activated coatings, can also be used with proper heating or application of activation fluid at the time of activation to secure the Jazo material. The article on which a closure is desired, In cases where it is recommended that the fiber material be of the same type as, or compatible with, a substrate material on which it is desired to secure the Jazo fabric, the loop product. it can be directly thermally fused to the substrate. For example, Figure 7D shows a polyethylene bag 64 to which a polyethylene hook 66 and a polyethylene tie strip 68 have been thermally bonded or bonded. It can be closed quickly by simply pressing one end together. of the closure, by means of opposite fingers and sliding the fingers from one end to the other of the closure. Such a closure does not require that the exact alignment of the coupling sections be ensured and may allow some desirable ventilation and filtration through the secured closure. Such a filtration closure, venting, which is practically enabled by the low cost of the loop product of the invention, is useful for vegetable containers and bags of carbon tablets, for example. The closure also allows the equilibrium of the internal and external pressure of the bags or packages constructed to be transported in aerial load carriers. The loop product can be laminated by flame to other materials, such as open cell foam, the process Flame Jamming not only adheres the loop product to the foam, but stabilizes the foam. Products economically produced in this way include disposable medical devices, such as limb or joint trusses, chest strap straps, and blood pressure cuffs. Other products include merchandise and merchandise displays with large loop product surfaces on which hooks can be used to mount various displays. The low density of Jazo Jo material makes it useful as a filter medium to filter air flows of relatively high volume, such as in HVAC systems and the like. Figure 7E shows the loop material described above, associated with a suitable structure as a cheap, replaceable stream, 80, hardened by suitable proportions of adherent material and / or a reinforcing agent applied to the network, the loop material being preferably It permanently corrugates to increase the surface area of the filter that intercepts an air flow and to improve the rigidity of the filter. Figure 7F illustrates an example of the use of the nonwoven material of the Invention as a geotextile material, such as a silt screen for a soil drainage system. A pit 350 is formed on the ground, at or below the level of the soil. floor of a foundation, for example, and a wide, continuous length 352 of the non-woven material, formed according to the process described aboveis placed at the length of the pit, a layer 354 of stone is placed on the nonwoven material 352 at the bottom of the pit, and a perforated or slotted drainage pipe 356 is placed on top of layer 354 of the pit. stone. The pipe is then covered with another layer 358 of stone to form a highly permeable layer around the outside of the pipe, the interior of which defines the drainage. The stone layers form open interstices for the free flow of groundwater into the pipeline. The edges of the length 352 of the nonwoven material are then pulled on the stone and overlapped to form a continuous tube around the stone and the pipe. The edges of nonwoven material are maintained in this superimposed condition by a continuous stretch of hook fastener product 360 having latching elements extending from a hem to engage and retain the fibrous jaws of the nonwoven material. Subsequently, the pit re-fills. The porous structure of the non-woven material 352 allows the groundwater to drain from the surrounding soil to the stone and to the pipe while providing water to the soil. At the same time a suitable barrier to the sand and silt would otherwise obstruct the interstices of the stone layer and the crevices in the pipe. The nonwoven material described above can also be used in other geotextiies applications. For example, large sheets of material, edge to edge, can be placed over large areas in order to stabilize the boundary between the different types of soil. Advantageously, the clamping properties of the material described above allow the adjacent sheets to be easily joined with stretches of fastener product of hooks. The joining of adjacent sheets of light stabilization material with continuous fastening tape helps to keep the sheet in place and to maintain the continuity of the barrier formed by the non-woven material, referring to figures 8 and 9, an apparatus for producing he J5 above described loop material includes a feeder 110 (with, for example, tiebreakers, mixer boxes or feeder boxes), which feeds artifact fibers of a desired length of shrunk fibers to the carders 112. cardada 112 cardan artificial fibers to produce fiber networks carded 114, which are picked up by the starting aprons 116 of the transverse overlaps 120. The transverse overlaps 120 also have overlapping aprons 118 that traverse a floor apron 122 in an alternating movement. Transverse lappers place carded networks 114 of, for example, approximately 30 to 45 cm in width and approximately 2.54 cm in thickness on the floor apron 122, to form several thicknesses of cross-linked network in order to form a sheet cotton 124 of, for example, approximately 2.3 to 3.0 m in width and approximately 10, 16 cm thick. During carding, the material is stretched and pulled into a tangle similar to clothes consisting basically of parallel fibers. With almost all of its fibers extending in the direction of the race, the tangle has some resistance when pulled in the direction of the race but almost no resistance when pulled in the direction transverse to the race, since the resistance to the transverse direction it results only from a few entanglements between the fibers. It is important to note that the direction of the carding is not the machine direction of the finished product. During transposition, the tangle of carded fiber is placed in an overlapping zigzag pattern, creating sheet cotton 124 of multiple layers of alternating diagonal fibers. The diagonal layers, which extend in the transverse direction of the cardage, extend further through the apron 122 that extend along its length. For example, we have used sheet cotton that has been transversely overlapped to form layers that extend anywhere from about 6 to 18 degrees from the transverse direction of the finished product. Accordingly, the resulting transposed sheet cotton 124 has more resistance to the transverse direction J (ie, through the apron 122) than its resistance to the machine direction (ie, along the apron 122). Note that the machine direction of the end product is in the same direction as the direction along the apron 122. The sheet cotton 124 has little resistance to machine direction because the fiber layers are merely placed one on another and in no way are woven together. The properties of the material and the manufacturing process can be affected by the angle of transposition. An angle of greater inclination can balance the resistances to the transversal and machine direction, which can affect the operation of the fastener and the ease of manufacture, Bn some cases, with a greater transposition of machine-direction, the initial resistance can be eliminated. The address of the machine described below, still obtaining a useful product. In preparation for the perforation, the sheet cotton 124 is gradually compressed into a sharp groove between the floor apron 122 and a moving upper apron 138 in order to reduce its thickness to approximately one centimeter. Then a relatively thin, low density sheet cotton may be produced. The perforation of the sheet cotton 124 is carried out in multiple stages of sequential drilling in order to provide a very high density of needle penetrations without destroying the cotton in low density sheet.In the presently preferred method, fietting needles having fiber crimping spikes on their sides are used. The perforation with needle gives cohesion to the cotton in Jámina, The tines of the needle push the fibers of a layer of the cotton in Jaámina to other layers, entangling the fibers of different layers that are oriented in different directions. The resulting entanglements hold together the cotton sheet.

From the floor apron 122, the sheet cotton is passed to a first needle loom 140 with two piercing stations 142 and 144 having rows of grooved needles (ie, armed with barbs). The piercing station 142 pierces with needle the cotton in artificial fiber sheet from its upper surface to a density in the range of 15 to 25 perforations per square centimeter, Bn this embodiment, the cotton in sheet was perforated with needle at a density of 21 perforations per square centimeter. Subsequently, the piercing station 144 pierces needle with cotton wool once it has been perforated a second time, with the needles penetrating the cotton sheet from its upper surface at a density in the range of 78 to 140 perforations per square centimeter to produce a jade cotton drilled 146, Bn this example, the second hole is at a density of 111 holes per square centimeter, We refer to the operation of the loom 140 as the first stage of drilling. Additional information on the processes of drilling can be obtained from the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) of Cary, North Carolina, which publishes the INDA Nonwovens Handbook. After the first stage of drilling, the perforated sheet cotton 146 is passed between drive rollers 148 -and towards a J-shaped box accumulator 150, which, apart from containing a cotton sheet bank to accommodate variations in processing speeds, allows the cotton in a perforated sheet to relax and cool before entering the second stage of drilling. Alternatively, the perforated sheet cotton 146 may be wound after the first piercing step, with the second line perforated. If the perforated sheet cotton can pass directly from the first stage of drilling to the second stage of drilling without any accumulation, but care must be taken to ensure that the sheet cotton is sufficiently cool and relaxed to withstand the second stage of drilling . As a result of needle perforation, the fibers of the sheet cotton are highly random and chaotic. However, the fundamental pattern of the alternating diagonals remains unchanged, though hidden, from the J-shaped box accumulator 150, the perforated sheet cotton 146 is pulled through a guide / diffuser 152 (of, for example, the one-on-two configuration) to properly apply slight tension to the sheet cotton as is customary for the hole, without significant tension of the sheet cotton. This then passes through a second needle loom 154 for a second hole stage. The operation of this second stage is referred to as "super leaky", since it is a very dense secondary drilling operation and produces many loops of substantial lift. The teat 154 has a single perforation stage 156 in which the perforated sheet cotton 146 is drilled with needle from the lower Jado to produce high-elevation loops extending from the upper Jado. To produce such loops, the sharp points of slotted needles * '** - ^ x ^ - "- 4d - The loom 154 extends a substantial distance (e.g., approximately 6.3 mm) beyond the thickness of the cotton in the opposite direction as the needles of the first stage of drilling, moving the individual fibers away from the volume of cotton in foil to form straight loops. When the needles contract, the loops remain. The loops may be formed from fibers that are originally placed on the opposite side of the sheet cotton, or from fibers extracted from the middle of the sheet cotton. In any case, the needles drag the fibers outward from the sheet cotton and let them extend from the sheet cotton volume as loops, which gives a fuzzy appearance to one side of the super-perforated sheet cotton. This super-boring process does not require special base plates or special support brushes in which the needles extend., such as those employed on loosely structured or random looms, although such techniques can be used to advantage when, for example, large loops are desired for use with large hooks. The super-boring is characterized basically as an extremely dense bore, in the order of approximately 155 to 310 boreholes per square centimeter, or preferably approximately 217 boreholes per square centimeter. Standard needles armed with barbs are used, such as the needles for felting 15x18x42x3 C222 G3017 triangular section. During this secondary drilling operation, the individual fibers of the sheet cotton are pushed through the loop side of the cotton sheet to produce relatively high, loose loops. Together, these loops give the cotton drawstring Jado in super-perforated foil a look and feel and ampiloso. Too much extension of the individual Jazo fibers at this point can cause them to break during the subsequent tension, so the distance the needles extend through the sheet cotton is selected in consideration of the diner and the tenacity of the fibers used. . We have found that extending the needles approximately 6.3 mm beyond sheet cotton works well for 6 diner fibers with a tenacity of approximately 3.5 grams per diner. Bn a mode illustrated in Figure 10, the needle loom 154 has a second additional piercing station 158. After producing high lift loops extending from one surface, the rolled cotton is super pierced with needle in the other direction to produce loops extending from its other surface, such so that both sides have extended ties. After leaving the loom 154, the super-perforated cotton sheet 160 is divided into two functional sections of 114 cm and rolled into rolls 162. As shown in Figure 11, the cotton fibers in sheet 160 have become entangled by the process of needle drilling to create loose entanglements throughout the sheet cotton. At this stage, sheet cotton is not an acceptable loop product for many gancbo-and-jazo fastening applications, since the individual loops can be relatively easily separated from the cotton on the sheet and are not well supported on them. entanglements.

After the super-boring, the definition of the loop, see figure 11 A, on the functional side of the cotton on the sheet is not as different as it can be after the tension used to produce products with loop trees. This structural difference can be observed when comparing Figures 11, 11A with Figures 2 and 3, for example, Bn another mode (not illustrated), the second stage of drilling is omitted, in its place, the needle looms 142 and 144. The first stage of drilling (Figure 9) is configured to super-drill with a needle in both directions in the sheet cotton, the loom 142 perforates by needle the cotton in sheet from the top to a ratio of 39 perforations per square centimeter. , penetrating the needles the cotton in sheet and extending through the bottom of the cotton sheet a distance of 10.2 millimeters. The loom 144 then pierces the cotton in Jala from the lower part to a ratio of 39 perforations per square centimeter, the needles penetrating the cotton sheet and extending through the upper part of the sheet cotton a distance of 7.1. millimeters to form loops on the upper side of the sheet cotton. The needles of the loom 144 tend to take the fibers that have been pushed through the bottom of the sheet cotton by the needles of the loom 142 and force them back through the cotton on the sheet in the formation of loops on the upper side. Although this process results in a relatively small number of Jazos in the lower part of the finished product, due to the first bore of the loom 142, the resulting product has been found useful for some applications. The density, speed and penetration of holes in the looms 142 and 144 can be varied to produce a product substantially without loops in the back or with looped loops with hooks extending from both sides. The cotton in Jala following the super-perforated has a considerable amount of elevation and resilience, forming bonds and other fibers of the cotton in Chamina, soft and loose arches between the entanglements. At this point, sheet cotton is very flexible. and the density of the fibers decreases gradually in each piece of material. At first glance, it can be difficult to say which side has been super-holed, if only one side has been attached to that action, Bn this example, the cotton in sheet 160 has a total thickness, including Jazos, of about 4.8 mm and a weight between about 68 and 135 grams per square meter. Referring to FIG. 12, a rolled length of cotton in super-perforated sheet 160 is unwound from the roll 162 by drive rollers 165 and towards a J-shaped box accumulator 166, allowing the roll 162 to be replaced and the cotton divided. in Jámina without interrupting additional processes. The J-shaped box also allows the sheet cotton to recover from any elastic deformation caused by the rolling process. The cotton in Jamina 160 is pulled from the accumulator 166 through a guide 168 to center the cotton in the cross machine machine direction. The guide 168 includes three rollers in a two-on-one configuration. The rollers, first and second, $ 70 and 172, have spiral surfaces of fishbone pattern, left and right, that originate in the center of the roller, which, slightly overlapped, drives any wrinkle in the sheet cotton towards its edges to remove them. The third roller, roller 174, is a sectional rupture roller for tensioning any half of the cotton on the sheet to guide the fabric to the left or right, as desired. From the guide 168, the sheet cotton passes through a tension controller 176 which maintains a desired tension in the cotton on the sheet through the subsequent process of applying the adhering material. Controlling the difference between the speed of the tension controller 176 and the downstream drive rolls 202, applies a desired amount of tension in the machine direction to the sheet cotton before the machine transverse tension. In some cases, a substantial tension in the machine direction is not intentionally applied, with any elongation in the machine direction observed only at the minimum network processing voltage in the supply sheet cotton, in other cases, voltage in the direction of machine is purposely induced by driving the drive rolls 202 faster than the tension controller 176, Bn the mode in which the sheet cotton 160 is super-bored to produce jaws extending from only its front side 188 , the cotton sheet 160 passes immediately through a coating station 190 in which, a foamed adhesive, based on water 192 (ie, a water based adhesive, moistened with -4§- entrained air) is applied to the back 194 of the sheet cotton through its breadth. Referring also to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the foamed liquid adhesive is pumped at a controlled rate through a narrow, long opening, 196, into the surface of the top portion of the apicator 198 as the laminated cotton is wetted. through the opening, thereby causing the adhesive to partially penetrate the thickness of the sheet cotton. The positioning rods 200, on either side of the opening 196, are raised and JO is lowered to control the amount of pressure between the sheet cotton 160 and the applicator 198. The penetration depth of the adhesive in the sheet cotton is controlled (for example, by the flow rate and the consistency of the adhesive 192, the speed of the cotton sheet 160 and the position of the bars 200), to cover enough Jo or J5 penetrate the fiber entanglements sufficiently to keep the product in its final form, while avoiding the application of adhesive 192 to the fiber-forming portions of the front side 188 of the sheet cotton. The foaming of the liquid adhesive before application helps to produce a uniform coating of the backing of the cotton or sheet and helps limit the penetration of the fluid adhesive into the sheet cotton. After the semi-stable foam is applied, it has a consistency similar to a heavy cream, but the bubbles explode quickly to leave a liquid coating flowing as a result of wetting and surface tension, towards the tight fiber entanglements. . Alternatively, the foam Sg! - **! Xs. It can have a thicker consistency, more similar to shaving cream, to further reduce the penetration of the cotton on the sheet and form more than a different resinous backing. A non-collapsible (ie, stable) urethane or acrylic foam is useful, for example, to produce a radio frequency weldable backing that functions as a water barrier. Such a product has particular application in garments and disposable diapers. It is important that the adhering material (for example, the adhesive 192) does not interfere with the portions that form loops of Jas JO fibers on the front side 188 of sheet cotton. It is not necessary that the knot bases be completely covered by the adherent material; it is sufficient that they are secured by the adhering material in the finished product to stabilize the fabric against significant additional stress and to strengthen the knot bases. Preferably, the material The adhesive is at least partially in liquid form to penetrate the entanglements before and while subsequently tightening during stretching. The capillary action of the liquid adherent matter is such that the examination of the finished product shows that the adherent matter is found almost exclusively in the knots of the network (at the base of the loops, for example) and, therefore, does not tend to negatively affect the functionality of the freestanding links or the flexibility of the network. After leaving the coating station 190, the material is subjected to stretching in the plane of the network. If Currently preferred, the network is wound through rollers of i ^ i ^ variable speed drive 202 and on a tensioning structure 204 for cross machine stretching. { that is, the stretching in the machine transverse direction). The speed of the drive rollers 202 is adjustable with respect to both. tension control 176 as to the rails 206 of the tensioning structure, in order to originate a predetermined amount of machine direction stretching in the cotton on the sheet, either between the tension control 176 and the drive rollers 202 or between the drive rollers 202 and the rails of the structure 206, or both. In some embodiments, no permanent stretch is applied in the machine direction but the cotton in Jala remains, however, in tension to control the penetration of the adhesive and maintain the proper space between the rail pins of the structure. In other embodiments, the cotton in Jala is generally stretched, in total, between about 20 percent and 50 percent in the machine direction before laying, As it enters the tensile structure 204, the cotton in sheet of 114 centimeters of width 160 is crimped along its edges by pins of the structure rails 206 which maintain the dimension of the material in the machine direction as it is stretched in the transverse direction of the machine. The spacing (of, for example, about 4.8 mm) between the adjacent pins is maintained throughout the entire length of the tensioning structure, so that no additional tension is applied in the machine direction. Because of the perforation, the sheet 160 cotton must have sufficient tensile strength to be properly crimped by lfajÉÉ8ifaa-rfi ^^ qt iaift »Ífa ^ the-rail trackers and support the subsequent cross-machine stretch. The tensioning structure 204 has a sharp section where the rails 206 are separated in a constant, constant range ratio, 5 over a machine direction length of about 3 meters to a final amplitude which may vary from 114 cm to approximately 165 to 175. cm. In this particular embodiment, this equates to a cross machine stretch of approximately 50 percent. In general, to take advantage of the savings that can be made according to the invention, the sheet cotton should be stretched to increase its area by at least about 20 percent (we call this "percentage stretch of the area"), preferably more than approximately 60 percent stretch of the area and more preferably more than about 100 percent of stretching the area, in order to increase the area of the product while tightening the entanglements containing the adherent matter of the cotton in Jala that contributes to improve the resistance of the individual bonds, we have found that in some cases the cotton in Super-perforated sheet can be stretched, by the use of the above method, at least 130 percent of the area or more and provide very useful hook crimping properties. The greater the tension, the greater the total production and the lower the weight of the final product. Even higher percentages of total machine transverse stretch can be used, for example through the use of multiple stages of laying in situations where the ? »^^^ ifefe ^ a ^ ^ &« ugly ^ iMB9teiai ^ Mii ^^? ^ 4 ^^ »¿-» - »> j.i cotton sheet is constipated to withstand stretching. and still be able to reasonably link hooks. In one case, the super-perforated sheet cotton above was stretched from an initial width of 114 cm to 165 cm, softened (by the addition of a softener), divided into an amplitude of 114 cm, stretched a second time up to a - 165 cm length before applying an adherent material and still had hooked loops for hooks, useful, In some cases, amplitudes of the final product can be achieved from 1.8 to 2.4 meters or even much higher. In a preferred embodiment, the initial non-woven web material used to manufacture the loop component is a substantially dense, needle-punched, non-woven network of fibers that are placed in an apparently chaotic and tangled manner. One side, the "fluffy side", has an excess of loose, large loop fibers created during a second needle-piercing process. The net stretches first up to 130 percent of its initial length in the machine direction. This stretching results in narrowing - the material narrows to 80 percent of its initial amplitude, from 114 cm to 91 cm. It is then covered with an adherent material. Then, it stretches up to 175% of its narrow width, from 91 cm to 160 cm. During this process the material becomes much more dispersed, with groups of fibers similar to a spider (see bases B of Figure 2B) that serve to support the loop. The mechanism by which this change occurs refers to the method by which the initial / nonwoven web is manufactured, when the loop material formed of a sheet cotton -5.1- Transposed in a highly diagonal manner is stretched in the machine direction, it is observed that little tension is placed on the constituent fibers. This is because the vast majority of the fibers run in a diagonal direction that remains close to the machine's transverse direction. The application of tension in the machine direction tends to increase the angles at which the diagonals are placed (that is, it moves them at a 45 degree angle with the machine direction). They become more inclined or rotate up to a degree towards the machine direction, very similar to the angles of Jas legs in a more inclined folding chair development when the chair is open. And just like the base of the leg of a folding chair that becomes narrower as the chair gets taller, the material narrows and loses amplitude as it stretches. This is evidenced by breaking a piece of such material in the machine direction: the fibers do not break, they merely separate from each other. Because little stress is placed on the fibers until they are almost parallel, a mere 30 percent stretch does not disturb the chaotic installation of the fibers and few changes can be observed under the microscope. Although the fibers are re-oriented, the installation does not look less chaotic, since the fibers themselves are never driven under enough tension to straighten. The second stretch of the previous mode, carried out in the transversal direction of the machine, produces drastic changes.

Although somewhat more inclined as a result of the first stretch, the fibers still extend more in the transverse direction of the machine than in the machine direction. The fact that the fibers are oriented more closely to the machine transverse direction means that a smaller elongation is required before the fibers are sufficiently close to the transverse direction to experience tension. When the tension is applied, it causes the fibers to try to straighten by themselves and reorient in the machine transverse direction. If the network was not previously drilled with a needle, the material would probably lose all cohesion at this point. However, the needle piercing of the net causes the fibers coming from different layers with different orientations to entangle each other. Due In these entanglements, the fibers can not be straightened. As machine transverse tension is applied, the entanglements tend to cluster together to generate knots that resemble "spiders" since they have a nucleus with many apparent legs emanating from the nucleus. in different directions. Each spider is formed at a point where one J5 needle originated a multilayer entanglement, which he tried to separate during the stretch in the transverse direction, the set of the entanglements giving them the appearance of a spider. Each lazo on the fluffy side corresponds to a point where it was pierced with a needle; consequently, after stretching in the transverse direction, each The loop on the fluffy side is placed at the center of the corresponding knot similar to a spider. This was observed in an experiment where the functional loops (ie, the outer region of the hairy Jado) of the product were colored purple. All the purple in the colored product was visible in the centers of the spiders formed in the bases of the iazos.

On the other hand, when the non-villous side of the fabric was colored, no bestowal of color was observed aj > center of spiders. Only the functional loops of hairy side corresponded to needle perforations and it was observed that only these loops had spiders around them. It is believed that the presence of the loop and its corresponding entanglement is enormously responsible for the formation of the spider or knot, and the fact that a loop is pulled through the net means that there is now a vertical fiber (ie, a fiber that extends outside the plane of the network) around which the horizontal fibers of the network are entangled. In this way, many of the loops in the finished loop have a spider at their base, which provides increased resistance to the loop support. Stretching the sample of experimental purple tie beyond the point at which the loops of maximum height tend to draw the colored loops of purple back to the plane of the network. The greater the stretching, the smaller the growth of the ties, until finally they begin to push themselves out of their entanglements. When this happens, the spider that has formed around them disappears and the entangled fibers straighten and sink back into the net. With an increased stretch, after many loops have been dragged back and their entanglements have faded, the material loses its cohesion, the fibers slide between them and the material breaks away, From this examination, it seems that the material is stronger in the transverse direction of the machine, attributed to the fact that the carded cloth is transposed at an angle closer to this direction, In order to change the cutting angle progressively away from the transverse direction of the machine, more resistance must be achieved in the machine direction. Also, stretching in the machine direction tends to reorient the fibers toward the machine direction. However, since they start very close to the transverse direction, the mere 30 percent elongation experienced by the material in the longitudinal stretch described above is insufficient to place enough tension on the fibers in order to straighten them or cause spiders or knots to form. However, stretching in the machine direction is considered important for laminated cottons transposed highly in the transverse direction, which would otherwise have a placement that is too transdlrectional to achieve a uniform stretch in the transverse direction; in that case, the fibers are so close to the transverse direction that they do not tangle so significantly nor separate properly in the final product. In their place, they remain fairly close to each other and almost parallel. When the spiders are formed in such cases, they lengthen in the transverse direction and closely together, and the fine material is much denser, because in the above described mode the fibers are already more in the transverse direction than in the direction of machine and because the stretch in the applied transverse direction is greater, the fibers are placed under tension during the elongation in transverse direction. The fibers entangled during needle piercing tend to pile up and as the fibers tend to straighten, these entanglements form radial patterns of fibers similar to that of fibers. . r? f > r.- & tz ^.? spiders It was also observed that spiders are formed in the place of functional loops created by deep needle piercing, the fibers of which have been dragged through part or all of the net, consequently, the loop fibers entangle the other fibers and They form spiders. This means that in the finished product, the loops have spiders at their base, securing the loop fibers in the net. Another way of saying this is that the "Jazo trees" (see figure 3B), which do not appear differently in pre-stretched sheet cotton, obtain their final shape as the fibers of the soil portion of the the net is pulled and the entanglements behind them tighten during the stretch to form knots. As the cotton sheet is stretched. Tension in the web's taut fibers forces some of the loop trees to remain erect, so that the total thickness of stretched sheet cotton (with functional loops) may actually be greater than unrolled sheet cotton. To extend the borticultural analogy, the homogeneous thickness of the loop surface of the undrawn sheet cotton becomes the garden of separate groups of the stretched product. Although the loop trees or loop formations correspond to places where the sheet cotton was perforated during the super-bore, the resulting "hole" of formations does not exhibit the same orderly pattern after the net is stretched, as it could be. anticipate by the pattern of perforations of the process of bored. We believe that the installation of iazo formations is randomized during the stretching process, since the The distances between the entanglements change as a function of the properties, direction and number of the fibers that connect different knots. The resulting product has no apparent order in the installation of loops extending from its surface. Despite the relatively wide loop separation that is achieved, after hardening of the adherent matter, it is found that the loops are so strongly supported. and so available ai link by the hooks that a network unusually treated according to these techniques can work excellently despite having a cobweb appearance. Referring again to Figure 12, although stretched sheet cotton is held on the rails of structure 206 in its stretched condition, it passes through a furnace 208 in which the product is heated to dry and degrade acrylic adherent matter. and stabilize the dimensional integrity of cotton in Jamina, EJ furnace 208 is essentially a convection dryer with Venturi air nozzles that blow hot air up and down the network to evaporate some of the water from the adhesive, Bn this example, time and heating temperature are about one minute and 190 degrees C, respectively. In some embodiments (not shown), the sheet cotton is retained on the structure rails 206 so that the secondary coating passes through additional coating stations and drying ovens, thereby forming a desired laminate structure for particular applications. In another embodiment, the hook-and-loop loops are formed by being perforated on both sides of the net, by means of super-boring techniques acting on artificial fibers that have been described or by other known techniques. After forming the loops the net is passed through a bath of adherent material, in some cases, when the loops are relatively hard and the adhering material is of suitably low viscosity, after removal from the bath the adhering material drains from ties and ties, by their own resilience and rigidity, summarize their self-stable posture while capillary action retains adherent matter at the center of the cloth. The net is then subjected to stretching and hardening as above. In other cases, where the loop material is less hard, auxiliary means are used to remove excess adherent matter after passing through the bath, either by passing the fabric through a pressure roller slot or by holding both sides from the fabric to an air blade, or by staining followed, in each case for example, by blowing air or otherwise loosening the loops and causing them to remain straight. Other embodiments that carry loops link them by hook on one or both sides, and that incorporates, fibers of adherent material fusible to heat or other constituents of union mergeable to! heat are joined by non-contact means such as by means of bursts of hot air directed on both sides of the fabric at temperatures sufficient to fuse the heat-fusible bonding material. and to assure the structure of the tile in its stretched condition. Heat-fusible fibers or other colored material of -m black or otherwise adapted to absorb radiant heat, can be activated by radiant heaters to join the floor portion of the fabric following the stretch. Care should be taken, in such cases, to avoid mitigation of the crimping properties of the freestanding ties. Referring again to FIG. 12, the stretched Jama cotton leaves the oven 208 still attached to the pins, and then the pins are pulled by a release device 210 and a pair of drive rollers 212. The broad sheet cotton The finished one is then cut, if desired, into suitable wide widths by a cutting disc 214 and wound onto a surface driven reel 216. A dancer 218 between the drive rollers 212 and a cutter disc 214 monitors tension in the cotton In foil to control the speed of the reel 216, the cutter disc 214 can also be used to trim the edges of the cotton on the sheet which includes the material outside the structure rails through the tenter structure. Optionally, the finished sheet cotton can be brushed before or after the winding to untangle the loosely attached loop fibers to improve the consistency of the closure operation between the first crimp and the subsequent ones with a hooked product. Referring to Figure 12C, an alternative process employs heated rollers or "hot cans" 209 or pits to stabilize the back side of the fabric in its stretched condition. This mode does not require a coating or adhesive when using thermoplastic fibers, since the fibers are fused together íocaímente by heat. The cooled rollers 211 engage the loop side of the fabric during the step, to avoid damage to the hooked loops. In order to produce the product of Figure 8, the longitudinal, continuous fiber strands 28 are added to the cotton on the sheet before needle piercing. These fibers are preferably crimped enough to allow the fibers to retain their integrity after the needle piercing process, to stretch a limited amount in the machine direction as the sheet cotton is stretched. It will be understood that the technique of Stretching - described above can be used to take advantage over other non-woven networks that define the loop, stretches. Thus, in its broadest aspects, it is not intended to limit the invention to the use of needle-punched networks.

Networks formed by entangling air stream or hydro can, for example, be used. In most cases where performance of significant strength is desired, it is preferable to employ non-woven materials formed of artificial fibers to take advantage of their molecular oriented, entrained structure or other fibers of substantial tenacity. Other features and advantages of the invention will be understood, and are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (1)

1. > - CLAIMS 1, A loop fastener component of a hook-and-loop fastener, comprising a non-woven web (12) of entangled fibers, having a web body generally piano (16) from at least one face of which fibers are stretched in the form of crimps by hook (14), characterized in that the net (12), which includes the net body (16) and the loops (14), has a weight of less than about 135 grams per square meter, wherein the network body comprises an uneven distribution of fibers, in which the fibers are found in relatively high concentrations in base regions (B) of the hook-linkable loops (14), and in relatively lower concentrations in regions ( R) that are between the bases (B) of the bonds; and in which a substantial number of fibers in regions (R) of lower concentration is taut in the plane of the network body (16) and extend in different directions leaving the bases (B) of the loops (14), 2, The loop fastening component according to claim 1, characterized in that the bases (B) of the loops (14) contain tense stretches of fibers of the network body prepared around looped fibers, 3, Bi component of loops according to Ja claim 2, characterized in that said taut fibers of the bases (B) contribute to the definition of freestanding formations (20) that extend from the plane of the network body (16) and that contain the crimps by hook (14), -m 4. The loop fastening component according to claim 3, characterized in that the self-standing formations (20) comprise elongated trunks (22), from each of which multiple engageable loops are extended by hook (14), 5. The fastening component of tie according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the relatively high concentrations of the fibers in the bases (B) of the hook-and-loop loops define tight fiber entanglements. 6, The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the combined weight of the net body (16) and the loops (14) is less than about 68 grams per square meter. 7, The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loops (14) are placed through the face of the net body (16) in a relatively random pattern. 8, The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a solidified fluid adherent material (21) is concentrated in the bases (B) of the loops. 9, The loop fastening component according to claim 8, characterized in that the solidified fluid adherent material (21) is selected from the group consisting of acrylics, urethanes, polyvinynes, formaldehydes, glyoxals and epoxies. HM ^ fite »10, The loop fastening component according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the solidified fluid adherent material (21) is configured at fas' bases (B) of the beams at least partially as a result of capillary flow prior to solidification, 11, The loop fastening component according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the solidified fluid adherent material (21) makes up between approximately 20 and 40 percent of the total weight of the net (12), including ios loops (14), 12, The loop fastening component according to claim 11, characterized in that the solidified flowable adhesive material (21) makes up approximately one third of the weight of the net (12), including the loops (14), 13, The loop fastener component according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is combined with a layer (302) of thermoplastic material, a second face of the net body. { 16), opposite the face from which the crimping loops extend by hook (14), being encapsulated in the layer of thermoplastic material, 14, The loop fastening component according to claim 13, characterized in that the hook elements (304 ) are molded integrally on a surface of the layer (302) of thermoplastic material, 15, The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermoplastic fibers of the network (12) are fused by heat in the bases (B) of the hook-and-loop loops (14), 16. The fastening component of tie according to any of a ^ g í & ^ & the preceding claims formed from a perforated initial nonwoven sheet cotton (160) with needle of given dimension, characterized in that the net (12) of the loop fastening component, at its general extension plane, is in a stretched condition , stabilized from at least an area 20 percent greater than the area of cotton in Jala initiated (160), 17, The loop fastening component according to claim 16, characterized in that the network (12) has at least an area 50 percent greater than the area of the initial sheet cotton. { 160). 18, EJ loop fastener component according to the claim 16, characterized in that the net (12) has at least one area 100 percent greater than the area of the initial sheet cotton (160), 19. The cup fastening component according to any of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the network (12) is in a stretched condition of at least 20 percent in at least one first direction in the general plane of extension of the net (12), 20. The loop fastening component according to any of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the net (12) is in a stretched condition of at least 20 percent in each of the two orthogonal directions in the general plane of extension of the net, 21. The loop fastening component according to any of the claims 16 to 20 characterized in that the initial sheet cotton (160) comprises layers of generally parallel fibers, with fibers of some layers oriented at acute angles with respect to the fibers of other layers, characterized in that, as a result of stretching, the sharp angles between the fibers of the net body (16) corresponding to different layers of the initial sheet cotton (160) are generally greater than the corresponding angles in the initial sheet cotton (160), whereas less many of the fibers corresponding to each layer remain relatively parallel, 22, Bi loop fastener component according to claim 21, characterized in that the layers of a longitudinally extending initial sheet cotton (160) extend predominantly transversely to each other. through the cotton in Jamina, characterized in that, as a result of the longitudinal stretching of the cotton in lamina initi (160), the acute angles between the fibers of the net body (16) corresponding to different layers of the cotton in initial lamina. { 160) are generally greater than the corresponding angles in the starter sheet anion (160), 23. The loop fastener component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a total thickness (t) which includes a! network body (16) and a majority of the loops (14), of less than about 4.0 mm, 24. The loop fastening component according to claim 23, characterized in that the network (12) has a total thickness. { !), which includes the network body (16) and a majority of the loops (14), of less than about 2.5 mm, 25. The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the crimpable loops by hook (14) extend from the associated loop bases (B) within the plane of the network to an average height of loops (bi), measured with the perpendicular distance from the network body (16), from between approximately 0.5 and 1.0 rom, 26, £ 1 loop fastener component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the network (12) has a total thickness (t), which includes the network body (16) and a most of the loops (14), and where the average loop height (bt) is between approximately 0, 5 and 0.8 times the total thickness. { !) of the product, 27, The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has between about 8 and 160 fiber entanglements tightened per square centimeter of net area, from which the crimps extend by hook ( 14). 28, The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the network (12) is composed generally of fibers having a tenacity of at least 2.8 grams per diner. 29, The loop fastening component according to claim 8, characterized in that the net (12) is generally composed of fibers having a tenacity of at least 5.0 grams per diner, 30, The loop fastening component according to the claim 29, characterized in that the net (12) is generally composed of fibers having a tenacity of at least 8.0 grams per diner, the yoke holding component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loops (14) are extend from the network body (16) to varying heights (b¿) to form a uiti-nivet installation of hook-and-loop loops (14), 32. The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fibers are of a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene polyethylene, nylon, homopoiomers, mixtures, copolymers, alloys or coextrusions thereof and natural fibers. 33. The Jazo fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a Gurley stiffness of less than about 300 milligrams, 34. The loop fastening component according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes separate reinforcing strands ( 28) extending at least in one direction within the piano of the network body (16), 35. A box (56) comprising a first closing portion (60) having loops, and a second closing portion (58). ) having hooks constructed to engage the loops of the first closure portion to hold the box (56) in an open or closed position, characterized in that the box the first closure portion (60) comprises the loop fastener product of either the preceding claims, 36, The box according to claim 35, characterized in that the closing portions, first and second, (58 and 60) have a combined total thickness , crimped and at rest, of less than approximately 1.9 m. 37. A disposable article of clothing (50, 54) having a cloth and a fastener with fastener elements Installed for crimping the loops of the fabric to form a Jiberabie fastener for retaining the article of clothing (50, 54) in the wearer. characterized the article of clothing because the fabric comprises the loop fastening component of any of claims 1 to 34. 38, An air filter (80), characterized in that the filter comprises the loop fastener product according to any of claims 1 to 34 installed to intercept and filter an air flow. 39, A geotextile barrier (352), characterized in that the barrier comprises the loop fastener product of any of claims 1 to 34 installed to intercept and filter an underground water flow. 40, A geotextile barrier (352), characterized in that the barrier comprises the loop fastener product of any of claims 1 to 34 installed to stabilize a boundary of the floor layer. 41, A fastener product having a sheet-shaped polymer base (302) with hooks (304) integrally molded with and extending from one side of the base, and a tazo material permanently bonded to and extending over a base. opposite side of the base, the product characterized in that the product loop material comprises the loop fastening material (12) of any of claims 1 to 34; and wherein the loops (14) of the loop fastening material (12) are adapted to be crimped by the hooks (304) of the product. 42, Bn combination, a hook fastener product (10) having hooks extending from a surface thereof; and the loop fastener product according to any of claims 1 to 34, the hooks of the hook fastener product being adapted to engage the loops (14) of the loop fastener product to form an insertable fastener, 43. The combination according to claim 42, characterized in that the hook fastener product (10) and the fastener product of iazo have a total combined thickness, crimped and at rest, of less than about 1.9 mm, 44. The combination according to claim 43, characterized in that the fastener product hook (10) and the loop fastener product have a combined total thickness, crimped and at rest, of less than about 1.3 rom, 45, A method for forming a loop fastener component for fastening hook and loop from a nonwoven web generally piano (160) of entangled fibers , characterized by the method of stretching the sheet cotton (160) in at least one direction, thus producing a stretched net (12) weighing less than about 135 grams per square meter and having a flat generairoente network body (16) with a non-uniform distribution of fibers, with fibers in relatively high concentrations in base regions (B) of hook-linkable loops (14) extending from the network body (16), and in relatively lower concentrations in regions (R) ) of the network between the bases (B) of the loops, with a substantial number of fibers tapering in regions (R) of lower concentration in the plane of the network body (16) and extending in different directions leaving the network. e the bases (B) of the ties; and the stabilization of the net (12) in its stretched condition, 46. The method according to claim 45, characterized in that the stretching causes the tensioned fibers of the net body to be prepared around the fibers forming tazos in the bases (B). ) of the ties. { 14), 47. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that the ihminated polygon is stretched in such a way that the fibers of the bases (B) contribute to the definition of freestanding formations (20) that extend from the piano of the body. of net (16) and contain the looped loops by hook (14). 48. The method according to claim 47, characterized in that the cotton sheet is stretched in a way that the formations (20) comprise elongated logs (22) from each of which multiple looped loops extend by hook (14). 49. The method according to any of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the sheet anion is stretched in a manner such that the relatively high concentrations of fibers in the bases (B) of the hook-linkable loops define tight fiber entanglements, The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the sheet cotton is stretched in order to produce a net (12) having a weight, including the loops (14), -7¿ > less than about 68 grams per square meter, 51, 1 method according to any of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the loops (14) are placed across the face of the network body (16) in a relatively random pattern as the sheet cotton (160) is stretched, for example, according to any of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the web (12) is stabilized in its stretched condition by solidifying a fluid adherent material (21), applied to the network body (16) under conditions that concentrate the adherent matter in the bases (B) of the loops, 53, The method according to claim 52, characterized in that the fluid adherent material (21) is selected from the group consisting of acrylics , urethanes, polyynyls, formaidohydes, g.oxoxalos and epoxies, 54. The method according to claim 52 or 53, characterized in that the fluid adherent material (21) is applied under conditions that allow in which the adherent matter is defined in the bases (B) of the ties, a! less partially as a result of capillary flow prior to solidification. 55, The method according to claim 54, characterized in that the fluid adherent material (21) is applied before at least some stretching. 56. The method according to any of claims 52 to 55, characterized in that a selected amount of the adherent material (21) is applied, in such a way that the adherent material makes up between -74- about 20 and 40 percent of the total weight of the net (12), including the loops (14), 57, Bi method according to claim 56, characterized in that a selected amount of the adherent material (21) is applied, in such a way which adhesive material makes up approximately one third of the total weight of the net (12), including the loops (14), 58, Bi method according to any of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the stretched network (12) is combined with a layer (302) of thermoplastic material, in such a way that a second face of the network body (18) opposite the face from which the crimping loops extend by hook (14), is encapsulated in the layer of thermoplastic material, 59, The method according to claim 58, characterized in that the hooks (304) are molded integrally with an exposed surface of the layer (302) of thermoplastic material, 60, method according to any of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the sheet cotton (160) is provided with meltblown thermoplastic fibers embedded therein, and in that the drawn net is stabilized under conditions which cause the fusible thermopthastic fibers to be fused by heat in the bases (B) of the ties crimps by hook. 61. The method according to any of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the network (12) is stabilized in a stretched condition, in which the network has, in its general extension plane, an area at least 20 percent larger than the area of cotton - "- '; i?" liiMÍimt? ifff? ITrr -12 - in sheet (160) prior to stretching, 62. The method according to claim 61, characterized in that the net (12) is stabilized in a stretched condition in which the net has, in its general plane of extension, an area at least 50 percent greater than the area of the sheet cotton (160) prior to stretching, 63, 1 method according to claim 61, characterized in that the net (12) is stabilized in a stretched condition in which the net has, in its plane general extension, an area at least 100 percent greater than the area of the pellet in foil (160) prior to stretching, 64, £ 1 method according to any of the claims 61 to 63, characterized in that the sheet cotton (160) is stretched at least 20 percent in a first direction in the general plane of extension of the net body (16), 65, Bi method according to any of claims 61 to 63, characterized because the sheet cotton (160) is stretched at least 20 percent in each of the two generally orthogonal directions in the general extending plane of the net body (16), 66, The method according to any of the preceding method claims , characterized in that the initial sheet cotton (160) comprises layers of generally parallel fibers, with fibers of some layers oriented at acute angles with respect to the fibers of other layers, characterized in that, as a result of stretching, the acute angles between the fibers of the net body (16) corresponding to different layers of the starter sheet in cotton (160) are generally greater than the corresponding angles in the cotton in Jámi na initial (160), while at least many of the fibers that correspond to each layer remain relatively parallel, 67, E! The method according to claim 66, characterized in that the layers of a longitudinally extending cotton sheet 160 extend predominantly transverse through the sheet cotton, characterized in that the cotton sheet is stretched longitudinally under increasing conditions. the acute angles between the fibers of the net body (16) corresponding to different layers of the initial sheet cotton (160). 68, An air filtration method, characterized by the installation of the network (12) of the loop fastener product of any of claims 1 to 34 to intercept a flow of air to be filtered, 69. A groundwater filtration method , characterized by the installation of the net (12) of the loop fastener product of any of claims 1 to 34 to intercept an underground water flow by filtering, and by securing the network in its position by crimping the loops (14). ) of the loop fastener product with a length of hook fastening tape. { 360), 70. A method of soil stabilization, characterized by the installation of the net (12) of the loop fastener product of any of claims 1 to 34 between the adjacent layers of soil to be stabilized, and by the securing of the ground. net in its position by crimping the loops (14) of the loop fastener product with a length of the hook fastening tape (360), 71. A method for forming a loop fastener component for fastening the hook and loop from a fastener. cotton in non-woven sheet generally piano (160) of entangled fibers, characterized by the method by stretching the sheet cotton (160) in at least one direction, thus producing a stretched net (12) having a network body generally piano ( 16) with a non-uniform distribution of fibers, with fibers in relatively high concentrations in base regions (B) of hook-linkable loops (14) extending from the network body (16), and in concentrations rel Atively lower in regions (R) of the network between bases (B) of the loops, with a substantial number of fibers tapering in regions. { R) of lower concentration in the plane of the network body (16) and extending in different directions leaving the bases (B) of the loops; and the stabilization of the net (12) in its stretched condition, 72, EJ method according to claim 71, characterized in that the net (12) is stabilized in its stretched condition by solidifying a fluid adherent material (21), applied to the body of network (16) under conditions that concentrate adherent matter in the bases (B) of the iazos. 73. A loop component of a hook and loop fastener, the loop component comprising a nonwoven body. { 12) of fibers having a basis weight of less than about 135 grams per square meter, the fibers forming a sheet-like base (16) containing strained sections of fiber that extend into a common plane between tightly knotted knots, and a greater multiplicity of iazo formations (20) dispersed through the base, each loop formation having a trunk (22) of fibers pulled together by tense fibers of the base and extending from an associated node (B) into the base. common plane of the base, and multiple hook-and-loop loops (14) formed from fibers of the trunk and extending from the main trunk for crimping by means of fastening elements of a coupling component, 74, £ 1 iazo component according to claim 73 , characterized in that the majority of the fibers forming the trunks and the hook-and-loop loops are crimped. JO 75, £ 1 loop component according to claim 73, characterized in that the knots of the base each correspond to an associated previous penetration of the fiber body by a needle, 76. The loop component according to claim 75, characterized in that Fiber body comprises artificial fibers, J5 crimped, 77. Bi loop component according to claim 73, characterized in that the fibers comprising the trunks of the loop formations are secured together by an adherent material (21) hardened in interstices within the trunks, 20 78. The component according to claim 77, characterized in that the hardened adhesive material makes up between approximately 20 and 40 percent of the total weight of the fiber body, 79, E! loop component according to claim 73, characterized in that the fibers comprising the trunks of Jas 25 loop formations are secured together by portions of surfaces fused at least some of the fibers comprising the trunks. 80. The loop component according to claim 73, characterized in that the fibers comprising the loops of the loop formations are secured together by interlacing the loops of the fibers. 81. The loop component according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a layer (302) of resin laminated to the base of the fiber body, 82, The loop component according to claim 81, characterized in that the resin layer forms projections of hook (304) formed to engage the pieces of component, 83, EJ component of Jazo according to claim 73, characterized in that it has a basis weight of less than about 68 grams per square meter. 84, EJ component of Jazo according to claim 73, characterized in that the base in the form of a sheet has between approximately 50 and 1000 knots tightened per square centimeter of area, from which the hook-shaped loop formations extend. 85, A method for forming a loop fastener component for hook and Jazo fastening from a generally flat nonwoven sheet (160) of entangled fibers, the method comprising stretching the cotton in Jala by at least 20 percent. in at least one direction in its plane, thus producing a stretched net (12) weighing less than 135 grams per square meter and having a network body generally piano. { 16) with hook-linkable loops (14) extending therefrom, a substantial number of fibers of the body being regionally taut in the plane of the network body, and extending in different directions coming out from the bases (B) of the ties; and stabilizing the net in its stretched condition, 88, The method according to claim 85, characterized in that the sheet cotton is retained against shrinkage in a perpendicular direction within its plane during stretching. 87, Ex method according to claim 86, characterized in that it further comprises, after stretching the cotton sheet in said direction, stretching the cotton in sheet in a! minus 20% in said perpendicular direction. 88, EJ method according to claim 85, characterized in that it further comprises, while stretching the sheet cotton in said one direction, stretching the cotton on a sheet by at least 20% in a second direction perpendicular to said direction - and within the plane of the sheet. Sheet cotton, 89, Bi method according to claim 85, characterized in that the stretching increases the area of the sheet cotton by at least 50%. 90, Bi method according to claim 85, characterized in that the stretching causes the regionally tensioned fibers of the network body to be prepared around the fibers forming loops at the bases of the loops. 91. Bi method according to claim 90, characterized in that the sheet cotton is stretched in a way that the loop forming fibers form freestanding formations (20) extending from the piano of the net body (20), each formation containing multiple fibers and framing multiple hook-and-loop ties by hook (14),