Energy dissipating touch fastener links

A flexible energy dissipating link for a tether, the link comprising:

• an elongated and flexible base having first and second longitudinal end portions;
• and
• a plurality of flexible touch fasteners permanently coupled to the flexible base between the first and second end portions, each touch fastener engaged with at least one other of the touch fasteners to define a closure having multiple parallel shear planes in which the engaged touch fasteners are simultaneously loaded in response to a tensile load applied along the link at the first and second end portions, and
• wherein the engaged touch fasteners are configured to disengage by shear along the multiple shear planes in response to a tensile overload between the first and second end portions of the base.

An energy dissipating link for a tether, the link comprising:

• an elongated and flexible base having opposite, first and second end portions spaced from one another by a longitudinal distance along the base;
• a first touch fastener permanently attached to the base solely by a first coupling located entirely within the first end portion of the base;
• and
• a second touch fastener permanently attached to the base solely by a second coupling located entirely within the second end portion of the base,
• wherein the first and second couplings are spaced from one another by at least the longitudinal distance, and
• wherein the second touch fastener is engaged with the first touch fastener to form a releasable closure comprising a longitudinal shear plane, the engaged touch fasteners configured to disengage by shear along the shear plane in response to a tensile overload between the first and second end portions of the base.