Multi-layer female component for refastenable fastening device and method of making the same

A multi-zone female component for a refastenable fastening device that is capable of engaging a complementary hook fastening component which has a base with individual hooks extending outward from said base said hooks comprising a stem supported at one end on said base and a blunt head on the opposite end of said stem, said multi-zone female component comprising:

• an entanglement zone for admitting and mechanically entangling at least some of said hooks of said complementary hook component, said entanglement zone comprising a first material having a thickness, said first material comprised of at least one structural element, said first material being capable of providing a multiplicity of openings for said hooks so that a plurality of said hooks of said hook component may readily penetrate said thickness of said first material without forcibly piercing said first material;
• a spacing zone adjacent said entanglement zone for providing space for at least portions of said hooks to occupy after said hooks have penetrated said entanglement zone;
• and
• a backing adjacent said spacing zone for providing a foundation for said entanglement zone and said spacing zone, wherein said entanglement zone and said spacing zone are held in place with respect to said backing with said spacing zone in between said entanglement zone and said backing;
• said entanglement zone comprising a first material selected from the group consisting of:
• a nonwoven web comprised of a plurality of fibers, said nonwoven web being capable of providing interstices between said fibers;
• a woven material comprised of a plurality of yarns that define interstices therebetween;
• a screen comprised of a plurality of structural elements that define interstices therebetween;
• a perforated film having perforations that define interstices in said perforated film;
• and a film having interstices therein;
• said hooks of said complementary hook fastening component having an overall height, and said heads of said hooks having a length, a width, a height, said length and width defining projected plan view dimensions of said heads of said hooks, and said interstices are larger than said projected plan view dimensions of said heads of said hooks.

A multi-zone female component for a refastenable fastening device that is capable of engaging a complementary hook fastening component which has a base with individual hooks extending outward from said base, said hooks comprising a stem supported at one end on said base and a blunt head on the opposite end of said stem, said multi-zone female component comprising:

• an entanglement zone for admitting and mechanically entangling at least some of said hooks of said complementary hook component, said entanglement zone comprising a first material having a thickness, said first material comprised of at least one structural element, said first material being capable of providing a multiplicity of openings for said hooks so that a plurality of said hook component may readily penetrate said thickness of said first material without forcibly piercing said first material;
• a spacing zone adjacent said entanglement zone for providing space for at least portions of said hooks to occupy after said hooks have penetrated said entanglement zone, wherein said spacing zone comprises a second material selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) at least one nonwoven web;
• (b) at least one layer of woven material;
• (c) at least one thickness of a screen;
• and (d) a plurality of loose particles;
• and
• a backing adjacent said spacing zone for providing a foundation for said entanglement zone and said spacing zone, wherein said entanglement zone and said spacing zone are held in place with respect to said backing with said spacing zone in between said entanglement zone and said backing;
• said complementary hook fastening component having hooks which have an overall height, and the heads of said hooks having a length, a width, a height, the length and width defining projected plan view dimensions of said heads of said hooks, and said second material comprising at least one layer of woven material or at least one screen having interstices with dimensions that are larger than said projected plan view dimensions of said heads of said hooks.

A multi-zone female component for a refastenable fastening device that is capable of engaging a complementary hook fastening component which has a base with individual hooks extending outward from said base, said hooks comprising a stem supported at one end on said base and a blunt head on the opposite end of said stem, said multi-zone female component comprising:

• an entanglement zone for admitting and mechanically entanglement at least some of said hooks of said complementary hook component, said entanglement zone comprising a first material having a thickness, said first material comprised of at least one structural element, said first material being capable of providing a multiplicity of openings for said hooks so that a plurality of said hook component may readily penetrate said thickness of said first material without forcibly piercing said first material;
• a spacing zone adjacent said entanglement zone for providing space for at least portions of said hooks to occupy after said hooks have penetrated said entanglement zone, wherein said spacing zone comprises loose particles having a largest dimension of less than or equal to said overall height of said hooks of said mating hook component;
• and
• a backing adjacent said spacing zone for providing a foundation for said entanglement zone and said spacing zone, wherein said entanglement zone and said spacing zone are held in place with respect to said backing with said spacing zone in between said entanglement zone and said backing.

A multi-zone component that is affixed to a substrate to form a female component for a refastenable fastening device, said female component being capable of engaging a complementary hook fastening component which has a base with individual hooks having blunt heads extending outward from said base, said multi-zone component comprising:

• an entanglement zone comprising a first material for admitting and mechanically entangling at least some of said hooks of said complementary hook component, said entanglement zone comprising a first material having a thickness, said first material comprised of at least one structural element, said first material being capable of providing a multiplicity of openings for said hooks so that a plurality of said hooks of said hook component may readily penetrate said thickness of said first material without forcibly piercing said first material;
• a spacing zone comprising a second material for providing space for at least portions of said hooks to occupy after said hooks have penetrated said entanglement zone, wherein
• said entanglement zone and said spacing zone are held in place with respect to said substrate with said spacing zone in between said entanglement zone and said substrate;
• and
• a first joining means for joining said first material with said substrate.