US5720740A — Refastenable mechanical fastening system attached…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

A fastening system for attaching to a complementary receiving surface, the fastening system comprising: (A) a substrate having at least one protrusion, each said protrusion having a prong attachment surface; and (B) a free formed prong in direct contact with said prong attachment surface of at least one said protrusion, each said prong comprising: (i) a base, (ii) a shank joined to said base, said shank being contiguous with and projecting outwardly from said base; and (iii) an engaging means for securing the fastening system to the complementary receiving surface so as to cause mechanical interference between said engaging means and said receiving surface, said engaging means being joined to said shank of said prong and projecting laterally from a periphery of said shank.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 124 words

A fastening system for attaching to a complementary receiving surface, the fastening system comprising: (A) a substrate having at least one protrusion, each said protrusion having a prong attachment surface; and (B) a free formed prong in direct contact with said prong attachment surface of at least one said protrusion, each said prong comprising: (i) a base, (ii) a shank joined to said base, said shank being contiguous with and projecting outwardly from said base; and (iii) an engaging means for securing the fastening system to the complementary receiving surface so as to cause mechanical interference between said engaging means and said receiving surface, said engaging means being joined to said shank of said prong and projecting laterally from a periphery of said shank.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

A fastening system according to claim 1 wherein at least one said prong is manufactured from thermoplastic material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

A fastening system according to claim 2 wherein at least one said prong is manufactured from a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polyesters and polyamides.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

A fastening system according to claim 3 wherein said engaging means comprises a hook-shaped tine laterally projecting substantially beyond one side of said shank.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

A fastening system according to claim 4 having a plurality of prongs, wherein said engaging means of said prongs laterally project in substantially the same direction.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

A fastening system according to claim 4 having a plurality of prongs, wherein said engaging means of said prongs laterally project in a generally random orientation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

A fastening system according to claim 4 wherein said shank tapers in a converging fashion from said base to said engaging means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

A fastening system according to claim 7 wherein said prong has a ratio of base cross sectional area to highest elevation cross sectional area ranging from about 4:1 to about 9:1.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

A fastening system according to claim 4 wherein said engaging means is longitudinally spaced from said attachment surface of said substrate a distance of about 0.3 mm to about 0.5 mm.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

A fastening system according to claim 4 wherein said shank is oriented at an angle &from about 40° to about 80° relative to said substrate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

A fastening system according to claim 4 wherein said engaging means is generally semispherically shaped.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

A fastening system according to claim 11 wherein said shank has a distal end and said engaging means has a diameter of at least about 1.5 times the diameter of said distal end of said shank.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

A fastening system according to claim 12 wherein said engaging means is longitudinally spaced from said substrate a distance of about 0.2 millimeters to about 0.8 millimeters.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

A fastening system according to claim 1 wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, rubber, vinyl polyolefinic films, knitted fabric, woven materials and nonwoven materials.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

A fastening system according to claim 1 wherein said substrate has from about 16 to about 62 protrusions per square centimeter.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

A fastening system according to claim 15 having a plurality of prongs wherein said prongs are arranged in an array of rows, wherein each row is generally equally spaced from the adjacent row.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

A fastening system according to claim 16 wherein a row of prongs is offset from the adjacent row of prongs approximately one-half pitch.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 183 words

A fastening system for attaching to a complementary receiving surface, the fastening system comprising: (A) a substrate having at least one protrusion, each said protrusion having a prong attachment surface; and (B) a free formed prong in direct contact with said prong attachment surface of at least one said protrusion, each said prong comprising: (i) a base, (ii) a shank joined to said base, said shank having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being contiguous with said base and projecting outwardly from said substrate protrusion, said shank further having a leading angle and a trailing angle, said leading angle being substantially different from said trailing angle, said shank being nonperpendicularly oriented relative to said prong attachment surface; and (iii) an engaging means for securing the fastening system to the complementary receiving surface so as to cause mechanical interference between said engaging means and said receiving surface, said engaging means being joined to said distal end of said shank such that said engaging means laterally projects radially outwardly beyond a periphery of said shank and away from said substrate protrusion.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 183 words

A fastening system for attaching to a complementary receiving surface, the fastening system comprising: (A) a substrate having at least one protrusion, each said protrusion having a prong attachment surface; and (B) a free formed prong in direct contact with said prong attachment surface of at least one said protrusion, each said prong comprising: (i) a base, (ii) a shank joined to said base, said shank having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being contiguous with said base and projecting outwardly from said substrate protrusion, said shank further having a leading angle and a trailing angle, said leading angle being substantially different from said trailing angle, said shank being nonperpendicularly oriented relative to said prong attachment surface; and (iii) an engaging means for securing the fastening system to the complementary receiving surface so as to cause mechanical interference between said engaging means and said receiving surface, said engaging means being joined to said distal end of said shank such that said engaging means laterally projects radially outwardly beyond a periphery of said shank and away from said substrate protrusion.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 86 words

A disposable absorbent article comprising: (A) a liquid impervious backsheet; (B) a liquid pervious topsheet at least partially peripherally joined to said backsheet; (C) an absorbent core intermediate to said topsheet and said backsheet; and (D) a means for releasably securing said disposable article to a wearer, said means comprising: (i) a receiving surface joined to said disposable absorbent article at a first position; and (ii) a fastening system according to claim 1 joined to said disposable absorbent article in spaced relation from said receiving surface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

A disposable absorbent article according to claim 19 wherein said means for releasably securing said disposable absorbent article to a wearer has a peel strength of at least about 200 grams.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

A disposable absorbent article according to claim 20 wherein said means for releasably securing said disposable absorbent article to a wearer has a peel strength of at least about 500 grams.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-02-23	2001-08-25	2002-02-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-02-23	2005-08-25	2006-02-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-02-23	2009-08-25	2010-02-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Refastenable mechanical fastening system attached to substrate protrusion

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