Releasable fastenings with barriers

A releasable fastening comprising:

• a first fastening strip comprising an elongated, flexible base carrying an array of discrete fastener elements arranged in rows and columns, the array extending across a portion of a width of the base, each of the fastener elements having a resin stem extending from an upper surface of the base, and a lip disposed at a distal end of the stem and overhanging the base;
• the upper surface of the base and the stems of the fastener elements together forming a contiguous mass of resin;
• and
• a second fastening strip configured to releasably engage with the first fastening strip, the second fastening strip comprising a flexible base with an array of discrete fastener elements carried on a fastening side thereof, the array of fastener elements arranged in rows and columns and configured to interlock with the fastener elements of the first fastening strip to releasably hold the first and second fastening strips in an engaged state;
• wherein the first fastening strip also comprises a longitudinally continuous rib that extends from the base of the first fastening strip and has a longitudinally continuous, convex outer surface;
• and
• wherein the second fastening strip has a projection extending from the base of the second fastening strip to a longitudinally continuous peak arranged to engage the convex outer surface of the rib of the first fastening strip in the engaged state, such that tension between the fastener elements of the first and second fastening strips balances a compressive force between the peak and convex outer surface region in the engaged state, thereby forming a non-interlocking barrier to resist flow across the fastening with the first and second fastening strips in the engaged state.

A releasable fastening comprising:

• first and second fastening strips, each comprising an elongated and flexible base carrying a field of fastener elements on a planar fastening region extending across a portion of a width of the base, the field of fastener elements of the second fastening strip configured to engage the field of fastener elements of the first fastening strip to releasably hold the first and second fastening strips in an engaged state,
• wherein the first fastening strip further comprises a longitudinally continuous rib residing adjacent the fastening region and extending to an overall height from the base and having a longitudinally continuous, convex outer surface;
• wherein the second fastening strip further comprises a longitudinally extending sealing region residing adjacent the fastening region, the sealing region comprising a channel extending into the base to an overall depth and having a non-planar channel floor;
• and
• wherein the overall height of the rib and the depth and shape of the channel are selected to cause the floor of the channel of the second fastening strip to engage the rib of the first fastening strip when the first and second fastening strips are in the engaged state, such that tension between the respective fastener elements balances a compressive force between the rib and the channel floor, thereby forming a non-interlocking barrier to resist flow across the engaged first and second fastening strips.