MICROHOOK FASTENER APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mushroom-shaped microfastener having excellent flexibility, improved flagging, and enhanced peel resistance.

SOLUTION: The fastener comprises a web 12 including malleable loops 14 formed integral with one surface of the web 12, and hooks 22 attached to another surface of the web, wherein the loops are adapted to removably engage the hooks. The hooks are equidistantly-arrayed in a plurality of linear rows in a staggered manner across the width of the web, such that each hook is located between two hooks of an adjacent row. The centerline distance between hooks in adjacent rows in the machine direction of the web is greater than the equidistant centerline dimension between adjacent hooks in the same cross-web row. Each hook includes a pedestal 26 attached to the hook side of the web, and a head portion 28 forming part of the pedestal. The head portion extends in a radial direction beyond the radial extent of the pedestal, and the head portion comprises a flat horizontal underside, or a slightly canted underside extending from a radiused connection between the head portion and the pedestal to a rim of the head portion.

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