Compressively resilient loop structure for hook and loop fastener systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved loop portion of a hook and loop fastening system. The loop portion is a two-layer composite including a compressively resilient backing material and a layer of fibrous loop material. The loop material is placed adjacent the bottom surface of the backing material and then a plurality of the loop fibers are needled or stitched through the backing material to form a plurality of loops which project above the top surface of the backing material. Due to the resilient nature of the backing material, when a hook member is brought into engagement with the loop material, the backing material compresses thereby exposing a greater portion of the individual loops for engagement with the hooks. Once the hooks have been engaged, the backing material expands back to make the exposed portion of the loops smaller. As a result, more individual engagements between hook and loop elements occur and there is less play between the hook members and loop elements thereby yielding a more firmly engaged hook and loop system as evidenced by increased peel strengths when compared to conventionally-backed loop structures. To add increased strength to the structure, the layer of loop material may contain an adhesive to bond the fibers and more firmly anchor the loops so as to lessen the chance of their disengagement during separation of the hook members from the loop members. Lastly, the adhesive employed may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive to permit the adherence of the loop structure to another substrate such as a diaper outercover.