The present invention relates to laminated or layered assemblies which include a first layer a face of which is secured by adhering to a first face of a second meshed layer. The second layer comprises a base with free loops projecting from a second face of said second layer.
The invention applies particularly to such assemblies which are flexible and which are used for making, for example in the form of bands, the female parts of so-called self-gripping fasteners, the loops of which are intended to engage,in a releasable hooting relationship, with complementary male elements, for example hooks, filiform elements with an enlarged head or the like. These female parts of self-gripping fasteners are used, among others, as adjustable and releasable closures for diapers.
For cost reasons one is led to manufacture the second layer base in a light and open meshed form, and therefore with a mechanically fragile and dimensionally unstable structure, without however sacrificing the quality of the loops which constitute the critical operative member of the self-gripping fastener female part. The fragility and instability of the base involves processing difficulties, which include, among others, positioning and securing at high speed this female part on its support. There are also utilization difficulties, due to relatively high tearing-out stresses to which the base is submitted and which result from the action of the male elements on the loops.
One is therefore led to reinforce the base by adhering it on a more resistant supporting layer, for example a solid, thin and flexible film. This supporting layer can be either an intermediary support, the laminated assembly being then secured to an article, or the article itself.
However some difficulties are met during the manufacturing of such a laminated assembly because the loops have a tendency to also adhere to the supporting layer through the meshes, together with the base material. This destroys their self-gripping ability since the apex of the loops is firmly laid flat against the base and/or the supporting layer and therefore cannot engage the male elements in the desired hooking relationship. As a matter of fact, to effect this lamination, it is generally necessary to firmly press the two assembly members one against another, for example, by means of calenders.