Mechanical fastener

A fastener element, comprising:

• a base,
• a multiplicity of prongs extending substantially normal to the base,
• each prong including an enlarged head at its outer end and a flange spaced along the length of the prong between the enlarged head and the base, the enlarged head and the flange of each prong defining an inner stem portion and an outer neck portion of the prong,
• the fastener element adapted to interlock with a second fastener element in a manner so that the head of each prong of both fastener elements engages the peripheral edge portions of at least two flanges of prongs of the other fastener element,
• wherein each flange includes an inner side substantially parallel with the base and the enlarged head includes an inner side substantially parallel with the base, so that upon interlocking of two fastener elements, the inner sides of the enlarged heads of one fastener element engage the inner sides of the flanges of the second fastener element,
• wherein the spacing between the inner stem portions of adjacent prongs is greater than the diameter of the enlarged heads and the diameter of the flanges, so that upon interlocking of two fastener elements, gaps exist between the enlarged heads and the inner stem portion and between the flanges and outer neck portions, providing a flexible interlocking arrangement between two fastener elements,
• wherein the length of the outer neck portion of each prong is greater than the length of the inner stem portion of each prong.