FASTENING ARTICLE AND PROCESS FOR CREATING SAME

Background

As is known, materials made of strips or sheets provided with a plurality of loop elements and/or a plurality of hook elements are widely used as fastening elements in a variety of applications. For example, fastening strips or small bands can be applied to portions of articles of wearing apparel in order to form a removable connection between two portions of a single article of wearing apparel or to define zones in which portions of other articles may be joined, as a further example, strips provided with a multiplicity of loop elements and of the elements may be used as clamps in order to hold tools or articles of various types; likewise, for illustrative purposes, further use of the strips described hereinabove is made in the field of coverings for articles of furnishing, such as chairs, interior motor-vehicle seats, armchairs, sofas, and similar items. In such applications, one or more strip elements, which may, for example, be provided with loops, are secured to the structure to be covered, and one or more strip elements, which may, for example, be provided with hooks, are secured to the covering; in this way, when the covering is brought into proximity with the structure to be covered, a removable connection can be formed between the said covering and the structure to be covered. Recently, the strip elements described hereinabove have also been used in the field of disposable articles, such as, for example, articles (such as bandages and similar items) intended for medical use, diapers, and others as well. The above described fastening articles present a plurality of loop elements an one or both surfaces of the strip and adequately oriented such as to be able to cooperate with corresponding hook shaped counter-elements depending upon the type of trip materials, the loop elements may be made in different ways.

A first type of strip material involves the creation of loop elements obtained from a piece having a base layer defining the main body of the strip material. This strip material is created by forcing a plastic resin into a formation groove defined between two surfaces;

l at least one of the surfaces contains cavities shaped such as to define the said loop elements on the surface of the plastic film that is simultaneously formed U.S. patent No. 3,504,863 shows an example of a strip like material with loop elements integrally associated with a part having a plastic base film.

A second known alternative involves the creation of a fabric which, during formation, is provided with loop elements that are secured to one surface of the said fabric. United States patent No. 5,664,441 shows a textile material of this type that is provided with ring elements. During the phase consisting of the creation of the strip of textile material, the loop elements are formed by threads that are interwoven with the warp threads of the textile material. Although the product just described offers a certain degree of stability for the joint between the ring elements and the base textile material, this type of product involves the weaving of the loop elements simultaneously with the creation of the base textile substrate, furthermore, the presence of a base textile body consisting of weft and warp threads is essential to the connection of the loop elements, which consequently cannot be applied to base substrates of a non-textile nature.

A third type of fastening articles provided with loop elements involves the application of the loop elements to a previously created laminar substrate. This product is described in United States patent No. 6,209,359, which illustrates a procedure for creating loop elements on a film or on a non- woven material. Such loop elements are created through the use of a plurality of threads which, appropriately fed to the corresponding needles, are inserted into the previously created strip. Each of the threads forms loop elements on a first side of the strip material and eyelets on a second side of the strip material. In practice, each thread passes through the strip material forming, on a first side, the loop elements and, on the opposite side, eyelets positioned across the holes from which exit the loop elements formed with the same thread. Although the procedure just described allows loop elements to be applied to previously manufactured materials in sheet form, this procedure does not ensure a secure connection between the loop elements and the underlying material in sheet form. In other words, in practice, the repeated joining and separation of the loop elements to and from the corresponding hook elements often entails the partial or total unraveling of the threads forming the said loop elements from the base body.

Under these circumstances, one goal of the present invention is to offer a new fastening article provided with loop elements that are secured, in an effective and stable manner, to a base body of the article. A further goal is to offer an article whose structure allows the creation of loop elements during a phase following the phase consisting of the production of the base body of the article. Another goal is to offer an article provided with loop elements that are satisfactorily linked regardless of the structure of the base body. Last, yet another goal of the invention is to offer a procedure that allows the creation of the said fastening article provided with loop elements that are effectively secured to the base body, and also to offer a piece of equipment that is appropriate for the implementation of the said procedure.

Summary of the invention

One or more of the above-mentioned goals are achieved substantially by a fastening article, specifically, a fastening article provided with loop elements that can join with other elements in order to create a removable connection (for example, a connection of the so-called "hook and loop" type), according to one or more of the attached claims. One or more of the above-mentioned goals are likewise achieved by a procedure for the creation of the said article, and by a piece of equipment for the implementation of the said procedure, according to one or more of the attached claims.

Various aspects of a fastening article, a procedure for the creation of a fastening article, and of a piece of equipment for the implementation of the procedure according to the invention are also illustrated in summary form hereinbelow. A first aspect involves an article consisting of a base body whose thickness is small in comparison with the extent of the other two dimensions, for example, the base body may consist of material in the form of a strip or in the form of a sheet. The base body includes a first surface and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface; at least one first thread coupled with the base body and defining loop elements, which extend away from the first surface and form engagement apertures; at least one second thread that is different from the first thread, that passes through the entire thickness of the base body, in correspondence of a plurality of through-holes, and that engages the first thread to the base body in cooperation with one among the plurality of engagement areas or points. The loop elements are, for example, of the type that form engagement openings intended to cooperate with corresponding hook counter-elements carried by the article itself or by a body different from the article that is the subject of the invention, so as to form connections of the so-called "hook and loop" type. The phrase "engagement areas or points" refers to zones in which the second thread interacts with the first thread and engages with the base body: such engagement points are of limited size, and, obviously, are not punctiform. In a second aspect, in accordance with the first aspect, the article includes a plurality of first threads, engaged to the base body, each of which threads defines a respective series of loop elements, and a plurality of second threads, distinct from the first threads, which second threads pass through the entire thickness of the base body and bind the first threads to the base body. In a third aspect, in accordance with the first or second aspect, each of the second threads engages at least one respective of the said first threads to the base body, in cooperation with a plurality of engagement points.

In a fourth aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, each of the second threads engages two of the corresponding first threads, in cooperation with a plurality of engagement points.

In a fifth aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the said first thread (or the said first threads, in the case of multiple first threads) passes (or pass) through the base body in cooperation with a plurality of first holes, and presents (present) a plurality of portions that extend from the side of the said first surface, as well as a plurality of portions that extend from the side of the said second surface.

In a sixth aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the second thread (or the second threads, if the article includes multiple second threads) passes (pass) through the base body in correspondence of a plurality of second holes, and presents (present) a plurality of portions that extend from the side of the said first surface, as well as a plurality of portions that extend from the side of the said second surface.

In a seventh aspect, in accordance with the fifth or sixth aspect, the portions of the first thread that extend from the side of the said first surface define the said loop elements.

In an eighth aspect, in accordance with the sixth or seventh aspect, the portions of the second thread that extend from the side of the said first surface define further loop elements. In a ninth aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the portions of the first thread, or of a predetermined number of first threads, that extend from the side of the said second surface form a plurality of first locking eyelets that bind corresponding portions of the second thread (or of the second threads).

In a 10th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the portions of the second thread, or of a predetermined number of second threads, that extend from the side of the said second surface form a plurality of second locking eyelets that bind corresponding portions of the first thread (or of the first threads).

In an 11th aspect, in accordance with the 9th or 10th aspect, each of the said first locking eyelets includes a first tract of a first thread from a respective one of the said first holes to a respective one of the said second holes; a joining tract that follows the first tract and that is positioned about, or in correspondence with, the said respective one of the said second holes; and a second tract of the said first thread that leads to the same one of the said first holes through which the first thread returns to the side of the said first surface.

In a 12th aspect, in accordance with the 10th or 11th aspect, each of the second locking eyelets includes a first tract of a second thread from a respective one of the said second holes to a respective one of the said first holes; a joining tract that follows the first tract and that is positioned around, or in correspondence with, the said respective one of the said first holes; and a second tract of the said second thread that leads to the same one of the said second holes through which the second thread returns to the side of the said first surface.

In practice, at least for a predetermined number of first and second threads engaged with the base body, the fastening article provides for two portions of the same first thread to exit, on the side of the second surface, through a same one of the first holes, leading to a second, adjacent hole so as to engage two portions of the second threads exiting therefrom, thereby forming a concatenated series of first and second eyelets that are inserted into one another, engaging the first and second threads to each other. In a 13th aspect, in accordance with the 11th or 12th aspect, the article has a predetermined number of first threads, of which the first and second tracts pass through the base body in correspondence with the first holes and are inserted into the respective second eyelet, thereby creating a bond between the first thread and respective second thread and between the said threads and the base body, by creating the above-mentioned engagement points. In a 14th aspect, in accordance with the 12th or 13th aspect, the first and second tracts of each second thread pass through the base body and the respective first eyelet, in correspondence with each of the said second holes, thereby creating a bond between the first and the respective second thread and between the said threads and the base body.

In a 15th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 9th through 14th aspects, the first locking eyelets extend in a direction substantially parallel to the base body, in such a way that they are located substantially adjacent to the second surface. In a 16th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 10th through 15th aspects, the second locking eyelets extend in a direction substantially parallel to the base body, in such a way that they are located substantially adjacent to the second surface. In practice, the first and second threads are tensioned in such a way that the eyelets are inserted into one another, in the manner described above, and are located substantially in alignment with the second surface.

In a 17th aspect, in accordance with any one of the ninth through 16th aspects, each of the first threads is positioned along at least one predetermined segment of the said article, so as to:

a) Form one of the said loop elements,

b) Pass through the base body, in correspondence with one of the said first holes,

c) Form one of the said first locking eyelets (each of the first threads positioning in proximity to an adjacent second hole),

d) Return to the side of the said first surface, through the same one of the said first holes, e) Form a subsequent of the said loop elements,

f) Again pass through the base body, in correspondence with a subsequent one of the said first holes,

g) Form a series of the said first locking eyelets (in proximity to a further second, adjacent hole), h) Return again to the side of the said first surface, through the said subsequent one of the said first holes,

and so on, repeating a plurality of times the steps described in items (e) through (h), so as to form, along the said predetermined segment of the article, a series of loop elements and a series of first locking eyelets. The segment of the article is typically a segment that runs longitudinally along the article.

In an 18th aspect, in accordance with the immediately preceding aspect, the first holes through which a same first thread passes are located along two side-by-side lines, (in the example and in practice, these side-by-side lines consists of two parallel lines positioned along the working direction of the article); each time it returns to the side of the said first surface, the first thread is shifted from a first hole located on one of the said lines to a first hole located on the other of the said side-by-side lines, so as to form loop elements that are oriented transversely in relation to the side-by-side lines on which the said first holes are located (i.e., transversely in relation to the working direction of the article). For example, the loop elements may form a 45-degree angle in relation to the working direction of the article.

In a 19th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 10th through 18th aspects, each of the second threads is positioned along at least one predetermined segment of the said article, so as to:

a) Form one of the said further loop elements,

b) Pass through the base body, in correspondence with one of the said second holes, c) Form one of the said second locking eyelets (located in proximity to an adjacent first hole), d) Return to the side of the said first surface, through the same one of the said second holes, e) Form another of the said further loop elements,

f) Again pass through the base body, in correspondence with a further one of the said second holes,

g) Form a further one of the said second locking eyelets (located in proximity to an adjacent second hole),

h) Return again to the side of the said first surface, through the same further one of the said second holes, and so on, repeating a plurality of times the steps described in items (e) through (h), so as to form, along the said predetermined segment of the article, a series of further loop elements and a series of second locking eyelets. The segment of the article is typically a segment that runs longitudinally along the article. For example, the loop elements formed by the first threads lie side by side with the further loop elements formed by the second thread along the working direction of the article.

In a 20th aspect, in accordance with the 19th aspect, the second holes through which passes a single given second thread are located along two side-by-side lines. (In the example and in practice, these side-by-side lines consists of two parallel lines positioned along the working direction of the article); each time it returns to the side of the said first surface, the second thread is shifted from a second hole located on one of the said lines to a second hole located on the other of the said side- by-side lines, so as to form further loop elements that are oriented transversely in relation to the side-by-side lines on which the said second holes are located (i.e., transversely in relation to the working direction of the article). For example, the further loop elements may form a 45-degree angle in relation to the working direction of the article. In a 21st aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, each series of loop elements formed by one of the said first threads extends along a longitudinal direction of the article (in practice, along the working direction of the article). In a 22nd aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing 8th through 21st aspects, each series of loop elements formed by one of the said second threads extends along a longitudinal direction of the article (in practice, along the working direction of the article).

In a 23rd aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing 8th through 22nd aspects, the first and second threads are mutually arranged along a longitudinal direction of the said article and alternate between one another in a longitudinal direction of the article, such that:

- each series of loop elements formed by a single given first thread is transversely flanked by a series of the said further loop elements formed by a single given second thread; and

- each series of further loop elements formed by a single given second thread is transversely flanked by a series of loop elements formed by a single given first thread.

In a 24th aspect, in accordance with the 23rd aspect, the article ensures that, on the side of the said second surface, each of the first locking eyelets associated with the loop elements of a single given first thread cooperates with a respective one of the second locking eyelets associated with an adjacent series of further loop elements, forming a second thread adjacent to the first thread. In practice, the portions of a first thread (i.e., the first and second outgoing and returning tracts) that pass through each first hole are inserted into the second eyelet defined in correspondence with the said first hole by a second thread located adjacent to the first thread. In turn, the portions of the second thread (i.e., the first and second outgoing and returning tracts) that pass through each second hole are inserted into the first eyelet defined by the first thread in correspondence with the said second hole. This arrangement creates a series of concatenated first and second eyelets that bind, in a stable manner, a directly adjacent first thread and a directly adjacent second thread.

In a 25th aspect, in accordance with the 23rd or 24th aspect, the article includes a predetermined number of the said first threads, each of which is transversely interposed between two of the said mutually flanking second threads. Indeed, each first thread typically passes through two series of first holes (one on each side of the loop elements). On the side of the said first surface, each of the said first threads forms a series of loop elements interposed between the two series of further loop elements, each of which is formed by a respective one of the mutually flanking second threads; and, on the side of the said second surface, each of the said first threads forms a series of first locking eyelets, each of which cooperates with a respective one of the said second locking eyelets formed by one of the said mutually flanking second threads and a series of first locking eyelets, each of which cooperates with a respective one of the said second locking eyelets formed by the other of the said mutually flanking second threads. In practice, for the first threads located between two adjacent second threads, the portions of a first thread (i.e., the first and second outgoing and returning tracts) pass through a first series of first holes and are inserted into the second eyelets defined by the second thread located adjacent to the first thread from the first series of first holes. Portions of the said single first thread also pass through a second series of first holes and are inserted into the second eyelets defined by the second thread located adjacent to the first thread from the second series of first holes. In turn, portions of the second threads (i.e., the first and second outgoing and returning tracts) adjacent to the said first thread pass through respective second holes and are inserted into the first eyelets defined by the first thread. This arrangement creates a series of concatenated first and second eyelets on each side of the series of loop elements formed by the first thread. In a 26th aspect, in accordance with the 23rd, 24th, or 25th aspect, the article includes a predetermined number of the said second threads, each of which is transversely interposed between two of the said mutually flanking first threads. In practice, multiple first threads and second threads may be provided, which alternate with one another in such a way that (except for the first thread and the last thread) all of the first and second threads are respectively interposed between two second threads and between two first threads. Each second thread interposed between two first threads forms, on the side of the said first surface, a series of the said further loop elements interposed between the two series of loop elements, each of which is formed by a respective one of the mutually flanking first threads. Moreover, each second thread interposed between two first threads forms, on the side of the said second surface, a first series of second locking eyelets, each of which cooperates with a respective one of the said first locking eyelets formed by one of the said mutually flanking first threads, and a second series of second locking eyelets, each of which cooperates with a respective one of the said first locking eyelets formed by the other one of the mutually flanking first threads. In a 27th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 17th through 26th aspects, each series of first through-holes for a first thread is aligned (for example, along a single given straight line) with a respective series of second through-holes for a second thread, in such a way that the first and second holes are positioned in an alternating manner along a single given line. In the case of a plurality of first threads and a plurality of second threads, there will be a plurality of position lines, along each of which first and second holes, alternating with one another, are located. In a 28th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 17th through 27th aspects, the article includes:

- a plurality of first threads that define respective series of loop elements;

- a plurality of second threads that define respective series of further loop elements;

which series of loop elements and of further loop elements are mutually flanking and which are bound to the base body; wherein:

- in correspondence with first holes located along a single given line, the first and second segments of the first locking eyelets formed by a single first thread pass through the second locking eyelets formed by a single second thread; and

- in correspondence with second holes located along a single given line, the first and second segments of the second locking eyelets formed by a single second thread pass through the first locking eyelets formed by the said first thread.

In a 29th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the base body does not include any woven material, with the second thread being separate from the material forming the said base body and engaging the said first thread in correspondence with a plurality of engagement points located on the side of the said second surface.

In a 30th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the profile and dimensions of the said loop elements substantially correspond to those of the said further loop elements.

In a 31st aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the profile and/or dimensions of the said loop elements are different from those of the said further loop elements.

In a 32nd aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the article includes at least one first engagement thread that is located along the longitudinal direction of the article and that engages a single given one of the said first threads or a single given one of the said second threads.

In a 33rd aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the article includes at least one second engagement thread that is located along the longitudinal direction of the article and that engages a single given one of the said first threads or a single given one of the said second threads.

In a 34th aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspects, the first and second ligature threads define transversely a region of the article into which is extended longitudinally one or more of the said first threads and one or more of the said second threads. It should be noted that, as an option, several regions may be provided that are transversely separated one from the other by zones of the article that contain no loop elements. The transversely opposed sides of each region include an initial thread and a final thread (in practice, one of the first threads or one of the second threads), which are flanked, but only on one respective adjacent side, by another of the first or second threads. Therefore, the initial thread (and, analogously, the final thread) in a region exhibits a series of eyelets (referred to hereinafter as "terminal eyelets") that are not bound with the eyelets of a respective adjacent second thread or first thread. For this purpose, the first ligature thread joins, to the base body, the terminal eyelets of the initial thread located on the periphery of the said region, while the second engagement thread joins, to the base body, the free eyelets of the final thread corresponding to an opposing transverse periphery of the said region. In this way, all of the eyelets of all of the first and second threads in the region are bound to one another or are bound with the ligature threads, so as to bind the loop elements to the laminar body, doing so in a stable manner.

In a 35th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the first thread or threads may be created in a variety of ways: for example, the first thread may be a single elongated element, or may include a plurality of mutually flanked filaments, or may include a plurality of filaments that are twisted upon themselves. Furthermore, some first threads may be made in one of the above-mentioned ways, while others are made in another of the above-mentioned ways. Analogously, the second thread or threads may be created in a variety of ways: for example, each second thread may be a single elongated element, or may include a plurality of mutually flanked filaments, or may include a plurality of filaments that are twisted upon themselves. Furthermore, some second threads may be made in one of the above-mentioned ways, while others are made in another of the above-mentioned ways.

In a 36th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the base body is a material in strip form, with one or more layers, or a material in sheet form, with one or more layers. For material in strip form, the base body includes one or more longitudinal bands provided with loop elements and placed substantially in a central location, so as to leave lateral edges along the base body that contain no loop elements. In a 37th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the said base body alternatively includes:

- one or more layers of material made of non-woven fabric; or

- one or more layers made of paper; or

- one or more layers made of cardboard; or

- one or more layers made of a plastic material; or

- one or more layers made of a spongy material; or - one or more layers made of a woven material.

The base may also consist of a combination of the types of layers described above. In such a case, the various materials may be laminated together so as to form a composite laminated body. For example, the base body may be made of one or more layers of non-woven material that is joined (for example, by lamination) to one or more layers of spongy material, which may be joined to a plastic film. Alternatively, one or more layers made of paper or cardboard may be covered with layers of plastic material. Regardless of its structure, it should be noted that the base body may also include one or more inserts made of a magnetic or magnetizable material.

In a 38th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the base body is a pre-made manufactured product consisting of weft threads interwoven with warp threads, in which both the said first thread and the said second threads are different from the weft threads and warp threads of the base body. In other words, the second thread passes through the base body in correspondence with holes whose position is not linked to the location of the weft and warp threads, while the second thread engages the first thread in correspondence with a plurality of engagement points located on the side of the said second surface.

In a 39th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the first loop elements define loops intended to cooperate with corresponding hook counter-elements (consisting of actual hooks, or mushroom-shaped elements, or elements having another shape that are present in the said article or in a separate article) in order to create a connection of the so-called "hook and loop" type.

In a 40th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the first and second threads are present in a plurality of discrete zones that are spaced apart from one another so as to form an article in which the loop elements (and the further loop elements, if any) are grouped in longitudinal or transverse strips, separated by zones containing no loop elements.

In a 41st aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the first and second threads are present in a plurality of discrete zones that are spaced apart from one another so as to form an article in which the loop elements (and the further loop elements, if any) are grouped in sectors that are entirely surrounded by zones containing no loop elements. In greater detail, the area of the zones containing no loop elements is larger than the distance between two adjacent through-holes for the first or second threads. In a 42nd aspect, in accordance with either one of the foregoing 40th or 41st aspects, the first and second threads pass through the zones containing no loop elements, doing so without forming any loop elements, and instead simply passing through first and/or second holes, uniting loop elements belonging to separate regions. In other words, a plurality of first and second threads may extend along the base body and, for certain segments, may form loop elements and further loop elements, respectively, while for other segments the said threads are simply bound to the base body without forming any loop elements. In a 43rd aspect, a process is provided for the creation of a fastening article, which process includes the following steps:

- Moving a previously created base body to a working station, the base body having a first surface and a second surface facing the first one;

- Engaging to the base body, at said working station, at least one first thread, so as to define the loop elements, which loop elements extend outwardly from the first surface and form engagement openings;

- Engaging to the base body, at said working station, at least one second thread, different from the first thread, which second thread passes through the base body, with the creation, on the side of the said second surface, of a plurality of zones in which the first thread can be bound to the base body.

As an option, the process described herein can be employed to create the article according to any one of the first through 42nd or 73rd through 75th aspects. In a 44th aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspect, the phase of engaging at least one first thread includes engaging, to the base body, a plurality of first threads, each of which first threads defining a respective series of loop elements, and the phase of engaging at least one second thread includes engaging a plurality of second threads, different from the first threads, which second threads pass through the base body and bind the first threads to the base body.

In a 45th aspect, in accordance with either one of the 43rd or 44th aspects, the phase of engaging at least one first thread to the base body includes inserting each of the said first threads through the base body, in correspondence with a plurality of first holes, so as to form a plurality of portions that extend along the side of the said first surface and a plurality of portions that extend along the side of the said second surface. In a 46th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 43rd through 45th aspects, the phase of engaging at least one second thread to the base body includes inserting each of the said second threads through the base body, in correspondence with a plurality of second holes, so as to form a plurality of portions that extend along the side of the said first surface and a plurality of portions that extend along the side of the said second surface.

In a 47th aspect, in accordance with either one of the 45th or 46th aspects, during the phase of engaging the first thread(s) to the base body, the portions of the first thread(s) that extend on the side of the said first surface define the said loop elements.

In a 48th aspect, in accordance with either one of the 46th or 47th aspects, during the phase of engaging the second thread(s) to the base body, the portions of the second thread(s) that extend on the side of the said first surface define further loop elements. In a 49th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 45th through 48th aspects, during the phase of engaging the first thread(s) to the base body, the portions of the first thread(s) that extend on the side of the said second surface are arranged in such a way as to form a plurality of first locking eyelets that bind respective portions of the second thread(s). In a 50th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 46th through 49th aspects, during the phase of engaging the second thread(s) to the base body, the portions of the second thread(s) that extend on the side of the said second surface are arranged in such a way as to form a plurality of second locking eyelets that bind respective portions of the first thread(s). In a 51st aspect, in accordance with either one of the 49th and 50th aspects, each of the said first locking eyelets, as formed during the phase of engaging the first thread(s) to the base body, includes:

- a first tract of a first thread, extending from a respective one of the said first holes to a respective one of the said second holes;

- a linking tract that follows the first segment and that is located in around, or in correspondence with, the said respective one of the said second holes; and

- a second tract of the said first thread, extending toward the said same one of the said first holes, through which the first thread returns to the side of the said first surface. In a 52nd aspect, in accordance with either one of the 50th and 51st aspects, each of the said second locking eyelets, as formed during the phase of engaging the second thread(s) to the base body, includes:

- a first tract of a second thread, extending from a respective one of the said second holes to a respective one of the said first holes;

- a joining tract that follows the first segment and that is located around, or in correspondence with, the said respective one of the said first holes; and

- a second aspect of the said second thread, extending toward the said same one of the said second holes, through which the second thread returns to the side of the said first surface.

In a 53rd aspect, in accordance with either one of the 51st and 52nd aspects, the phases of engaging the first and second threads to the base body are essentially simultaneous, with the said first threads being inserted in correspondence with each of the first holes, so that the first and second segments of each first thread pass through the base body and the respective second eyelet, creating a bond between the first and the respective second thread, as well as a bond between the said threads and the base body.

In a 54th aspect, in accordance with the 53rd aspect, the second threads are inserted in correspondence with each of the second holes, so that the first and second segments of each second thread pass through base body and the respective first eyelet, creating a bond between the first and the respective second thread, as well as a bond between the said threads and the base body.

In a 55th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 49th through 54th aspects, the first locking eyelets are arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the base body, so as to be substantially adjacent to the second surface.

In a 56th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 50th through 55th aspects, the second locking eyelets are arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the base body, so as to be substantially adjacent to the second surface.

In a 57th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 50th through 56th aspects, during the said phase of engaging the first thread(s) to the base body, each first thread is guided by a respective first thread guide operating on the side of the said first surface, and cooperates with at least one pair of needles that pass through the base body, doing so in a back-and-forth motion oriented transversely in relation to the said first and second surfaces. In a 58th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 51st through 57th aspects, during the said phase of engaging the second thread(s) to the base body, each second thread is guided by a respective second thread guide operating on the side of the said first surface, and cooperates with at least one pair of needles that pass through the base body, doing so in a back-and-forth motion oriented transversely in relation to the said first and second surfaces.

In a 59th aspect, in accordance with the 56th aspect, during the said phase of engaging a first and second mutually flanking threads to the base body, the said needles and the said thread guide operating in the following way: a1 ) A first needle is advanced, creating one of the first holes through the said base body;

a2) A second needle is advanced, creating one of the second holes through the said base body; b1) The first needle and the first thread guide are moved in a relative manner, so that the first thread forms one of the said loop elements and so that the first thread is positioned in a groove in the said first needle;

b2) The second needle and the second thread guide are moved in a relative manner, so that the second thread forms one of the said further loop elements and so that the second thread is placed in a groove in the said second needle; c1) The first needle is then withdrawn and passes back through the base body, doing so in correspondence with the said first hole, carrying the first thread through the said first hole to the side of the said second surface;

c2y The second needle is then withdrawn and passes back through the base body, doing so in correspondence with the second first hole, carrying the second thread through the said second hole to the side of the said second surface; d) The base body and the said needles are shifted relative to one another in a working direction of the base body; e1) The first needle is advanced again, and, thanks to the relative displacement between the needles and the base body, passes through the base body, forming another of the said second holes, such that the portion of the first thread that is carried to the side of the said second surface forms one of the said first locking eyelets;

16 c i lici'i'i'i ΊΊ: C I I Ι.' I." Γ / I> I I I.' e2) The second needle is advanced again, and, thanks to the relative displacement between the needles and the base body, passes through the base body, forming another of the said first holes, such that the portion of the second thread that is carried to the side of the said second surface forms one of the said second locking eyelets; g1) The first needle and a further second thread guide are moved in a relative manner, so that a further second thread forms another of the said further loop elements;

g2) The second needle and the first thread guide are moved in a relative manner, so that the first thread, located adjacent to the second thread, forms another of the said loop elements; hi) The first needle is then withdrawn and passes back through the base body, doing so in correspondence with the same first hole formed in phase (e1), carrying the second thread through the said first hole, and through the first locking eyelet, as formed in phase (e1), to the side of the said second surface;

h2) The second needle is then withdrawn and passes back through the base body, doing so in correspondence with the same first hole formed in phase (e2), carrying the further first thread through the said first hole, and through the first locking eyelet, as formed in phase (e2), to the side of the said second surface; i) The base body and the said needles are shifted relative to one another in a working direction of the base body; j1) The first needle is advanced again, and, thanks to the relative displacement between the needles and the base body that occurred in phase (i), passes through the base body, forming another first hole, such that the portion of the second thread that was carried, during phase (hi), to the side of the said second surface forms one of the said second locking eyelets;

j2) The second needle is advanced again, and, thanks to the relative displacement between the needle[s] and the base body that occurred in phase (i), passes through the base body, forming a further second hole, such that the portion of the first thread that was carried, during phase (h2), to the side of the said second surface forms one of the said first locking eyelets.

Phases (a) through (j2) are repeated a predetermined number of times so as to form, along the said predetermined segment of the article, a series of loop elements and a series of first locking eyelets, as well as a series of further loop elements and second locking eyelets.

17 c i lici'i'i'i ΊΊ: C I I Ι.' I." Γ / I> I I I.' In a 60th aspect, in accordance with the 59th aspect, the phases described above are coordinated in the following way:

- Phases (a1) and (a2) take place simultaneously or are performed in accordance with a predetermined synchronous ratio, so as to avoid interference between the moving parts.

- Phases (b1) and (b2) take place simultaneously or are performed in accordance with a predetermined synchronous ratio, so as to avoid interference between the moving parts.

- Phases (c1) and (c2) take place simultaneously or are performed in accordance with a predetermined synchronous ratio, so as to avoid interference between the moving parts.

- Phases (e1) and (e2) take place simultaneously or are performed in accordance with a predetermined synchronous ratio, so as to avoid interference between the moving parts.

- Phases (f1 ) [sic] and (f2) [sic] take place simultaneously or are performed in accordance with a predetermined synchronous ratio, so as to avoid interference between the moving parts.

- Phases (g1) and (g2) take place simultaneously or are performed in accordance with a predetermined synchronous ratio, so as to avoid interference between the moving parts.

- Phases (hi) and (h2) take place simultaneously or are performed in accordance with a predetermined synchronous ratio, so as to avoid interference between the moving parts.

- Phases (j1) and (j2) take place simultaneously or are performed in accordance with a predetermined synchronous ratio, so as to avoid interference between the moving parts. It should be noted that the foregoing phases have been described with reference to two threads: if articles with numerous first threads and numerous second threads are to be created, the respective needles and thread guides will be employed.

In a 61st aspect, in accordance with either one of the 56th and 60th aspects, phases (a) through (j2) are repeated for each flanking pair of first and second threads, through the use of side-by-side needles.

In a 62nd aspect, in accordance with any one of the 59th, 60th, and 61st aspects, each first thread is placed in cooperation with two side-by-side needles and each second thread is placed in cooperation with two side-by-side needles, adjacent first and second threads cooperate alternatively with a shared needle, which, during one phase, takes the first thread and carries it to the side of the second surface, so as to form a first eyelet, and then, during a subsequent phase, takes a second thread and carries it to the side of the second surface, doing so through the first eyelet, thus forming a second eyelet that is concatenated with the first eyelet. In a 63rd aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspect, the needles are positioned and actuated in such a way that the first hole through which a first thread of a single given series of loop elements passes are positioned in the form of two side-by-side lines. In a 64th aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspect, the needles and the thread guide are positioned and actuated in such a way that each time the first thread returns to the side of the said first surface, the said first thread is shifted from a first hole located on one of the said lines to a first hole located on the other of the said side-by-side lines, so as to form loop elements that are oriented transversely in relation to the side-by-side lines on which the said first holes are located.

In a 65th aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspect, the needles are positioned and actuated in such a way that the second holes through which the second thread in a single given series of loop elements passes are positioned in the form of two side-by-side lines. In a 66th aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspect, the needles and the thread guide are positioned and actuated in such a way that each time the second thread returns to the side of the said first surface, the said second thread is shifted from a second hole located on one of the said lines to a second hole located on the other of the said side-by-side lines, so as to form loop elements that are oriented transversely in relation to the side-by-side lines on which the said second holes are located.

In a 67th aspect, in accordance with any one of the 60th through 66th aspects, the first and second threads are positioned side-by-side with each other in the longitudinal direction, and alternated in transverse direction, such that each series of loop elements is flanked on one or both of its transverse sides by a series of further loop elements, and such that each series of further loop elements is flanked on one or both of its transverse sides by a series of loop elements.

In accordance with a 68th aspect, equipment is provided for the creation of a fastening article, said equipment including:

- a supporting structure that defines at least the working station;

- a unit that conveys the base body toward the working station;

- a plurality of needles operatively associated with the supporting structure and capable of being moved back and forth through the base body, forming the said first and second holes and engaging the first and second threads with the base body; - a plurality of thread guides operatively associated with the supporting structure and intended to cooperate with the said needles in order to convey the first and second threads to the said needles;

- actuator units that are carried by the supporting structure and that act on the said needles and on the said thread guides;

- a programmable control unit operatively associated with the said actuator units; and

- at least one memory device that is connected to the control unit and that stores a program which, when it is executed from the control unit, allows the control unit to command the said actuators and the said conveyor unit, so as to allow the execution of the procedure in accordance with any one of the 43rd through 67th embodiments.

In a 69th aspect, in accordance with the 68th aspect, the needles are mounted on a needle-carrier bar, so as to be able to be advanced and withdrawn synchronously. In a 70th aspect, in accordance with the 68th aspect or with the 69th aspect, the thread guides are carried by one or more bars that allow the simultaneous movement of a plurality of thread guides.

In a 71st aspect, in accordance with any one of the 68th through 70th aspects, the equipment also includes profiling bars that are operatively associated with the supporting structure, which profiling bars operate on the side of the base body on which the loop elements are to be formed, and are inserted into the loop elements during the formation phase so as to impart the desired profile to the said loop elements. The profiling bars may also be carried by a shared supporting element (or by a series of supporting elements, each of which supports a group of profiling bars) that allows the simultaneous shifting of a plurality of profiling bars. The actuators also act on the profiling bars (or on the supporting elements thereof), and the control unit when executing said program coordinating the actuators in such a way that the movement of the profiling bars is synchronized with that of the needles, the thread guides, and the conveyor unit, so as to allow the formation of the loop elements during the execution of the said procedure. In a 72nd aspect, in accordance with any one of the 68th through 71st aspects, said units include a separate actuator unit for the movement of the needles, a separate actuator unit for the movement of the thread guides, a separate actuator unit for the movement of the profiling bars, and a separate actuator unit for the movement of the conveyor unit. In a 73rd aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspect, each actuator unit may include one or more pneumatic pistons, one or more hydraulic pistons, or one or more electric motors. In a 74th aspect, an article is provided in accordance with any one of the first through fourth, sixth, or 35th through 41st embodiments, in which each of the second threads passes through the base body in correspondence with holes arranged along a line, which is preferably a straight line, so as to form a plurality of series of holes that are lined in such a way that the second threads are positioned in parallel, with each of them being located along the respective straight line, and with each of them extending along the longitudinal axis of the base body or of the article.

In a 75th aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspect, each first thread, in correspondence with the opposite facing sides of each of the loop elements, forms pairs of base portions which are arranged substantially in correspondence with two holes of two adjacent series of holes. The second threads pass through the holes and secure the base portions to the base body.

In a 76th aspect, in accordance with the preceding aspect, adjacent first threads may exhibit base portions that are positioned along a single given a series of holes alternating with one another, in such a way that the second thread, passing through the holes located along a single given straight line, secures to the base body certain base portions of the two first threads that are directly adjacent to one another. In a 77th aspect, in accordance with any one of the foregoing aspects, the loop elements are present on the first surface and on the second surface. If the loops are present on both surfaces, the zones affected by the loop threads on one of the surfaces may meet or may be offset in relation to the zones affected by the loop on the opposite surface. Alternatively, the side opposite the side of the surface provided with loops may be provided with a plurality of hook elements.

Detailed description

A detailed description will now be provided of certain realizations of a fastening article, for example, in the form of a strip or in the form of a sheet of material, along with a detailed description of a process for the creation of the said article and of an equipment for the implementation of said process in accordance with the present invention. The description is offered solely for illustrative purposes, and therefore is not limitative, and refers to the attached drawings, which are likewise non- limitative, on which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of one portion of a fastening article and also of the means proposed for joining the first and second threads intended for the formation of loop elements on the said strip;

- Figure 1 A is an enlarged schematic view of one part of the article shown in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of the upper part of the article shown in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of the lower part of the portion of the strip illustrated in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line I V-l V in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 5 shows a fastening article provided with a plurality of loop elements distributed in such a way as to form, on one surface of the fastening article, a plurality of areas provided with loop elements that are separate, both transversely and longitudinally, from zones that contain no loop elements;

- Figure 5A is an enlarged view of detail "A" in Figure 5;

- Figure 6A shows a fastening article in which a plurality of loop-element zones are formed in which the loop elements are separated longitudinally from one another and are spaced in alternation with zones that contain no loop elements;

- Figure 6B shows a fastening article in which a plurality of loop-element zones are formed in which the loop elements are separated transversely from one another and are spaced in alternation with longitudinal bands that contain no loop elements;

- Figure 6C is an enlarged view of detail "A" in Figure 6A;

- Figure 6D is an enlarged view of detail "A" in Figure 6B;

- Figures 7A through 7G show various phases of the procedure for the formation of the series of loop elements on one surface of a previously created fastening article, for the sake of clarity, the figures in question show only three of the needles that are involved in the procedure; however, the presence of this limited number of needles must not be viewed as a limitation;

- Figure 8 is a schematic view of a piece of equipment for the creation of articles according to the invention;

- Figure 9 is a side view of a sliding wing needle that can be used in the process illustrated in figures 7A through 7G;

- Figure 10 is an enlarged view of a detail shown in Figure 9;

- Figure 11 shows a variant of a sliding needle that can be used in the process illustrated in figures 7A through 7G;

- Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the sliding needle shown in Figure 11 ;

- Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of one portion of an article according to a variant in accordance with the invention;

- Figure 14 shows a further form of a fastening article provided with a plurality of loop elements on its upper surface; and

- Figure 14A is an enlarged view of detail "A" in Figure 14. With reference to the attached figures, reference 1 collectively designates a joining article that includes a base body 2 having a first surface 2a and a second surface 2b opposed to the first surface. A portion of the article 1 is shown in Figure 1, while Figure 1 A is an enlarged view of a detail in Figure 1. As it can be seen, the base body of the article 1 has a thickness "t" that is reduced in relation to the other two dimensions. The base body includes, for example, a material in the form of the strip or a material in the form of a sheet, whose thickness is substantially smaller than the width and length of the said base body. This circumstance imparts to the base body the ability to flex and therefore to follow the profile of a body to which the fastening article may be required to be associated.

From a structural viewpoint the base body may be created in various ways. For example, the base body may consist of a pre-made textile fabric consisting of weft threads interwoven with warp threads. Alternatively, the base body may include one or more layers of non-woven material (known on the market as "non-woven" material). In accordance with a further alternative, the base body may include one or more layers of paper or cardboard material. In yet another variant, the base body may be made of one of more layers of plastic material, for layers of plastic material, the plastic may be either compact or expanded, so as to form layers of spongy material. Obviously, the base body may also consist of either a strip of material or a piece of material in the form of a sheet made of a combination of layers of different materials, such as, for example, one or more of the materials described hereinabove. In one example, shown in Figure 13, the base body includes a layer of so-called "non-woven" material, to whose lower surface a layer of spongy material (for example, expanded plastic) is joined.

As shown, for example, in Figure 1, the article 1 includes a predetermined number of first threads 3 (two first threads are visible in Figure 1), which are engaged with the base body in such a way as to form a plurality of loop elements 10. In practice, each first thread 3 forms a respective plurality of loop elements 10, which are defined by respective further portions of each first thread. As can be seen in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, the loop elements 10 are positioned at a distance from the first surface 2a of the base body 2: in other words, the loop elements 10 emerge in relation to a seating plane of the base body so as to create engagement openings 10a that are located between the first surface 2a and each loop element, these openings can engage, for example, the hook elements carried by a further fastening article or by a further zone of the said same article 1. In the example shown in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, the first threads are located along a single line of direction, in such a way that the various loop elements 10 of each first thread are substantially located along a respective strip of the base body.

Still with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, it should be noted that the fastening article 1 also includes a predetermined number of second threads 4, which are separate from the first threads 3, and which pass through the thickness of the base body 2 in correspondence with a plurality of points and engage the first threads with the base body. In practice, each second thread 4 passes through the base body in correspondence with a multiplicity of holes, and engages at least one respective first thread in correspondence with a plurality of zones or points located on the side of the second surface. At a more detailed level, it should be noted, as shown in the example given in figures 1 through 4, that each of the second threads forms, extending from the first surface, corresponding further loop elements 20, which define respective engagement openings 20a. In practice, the first threads form a plurality of first loop elements 10 and the second threads form a plurality of further loop elements 20.

For ease of understanding, in figures 1 through 4 the first threads 3 are graphically differentiated from the second threads 4. However, from a constructive viewpoint, the first and second threads may be identical or may be differentiated structurally or aesthetically, depending on the requirements of the article that is to be created. As it can be seen, particularly in Figure 2, the first and second threads are positioned in such a way that they alternate with one another, so as to define zones 5 that includes series of first loop elements alternating between zones 6 that includes series of second loop elements. In order to ensure an effective connection between the loop elements 10, the further loop elements 20, and the base body, each of the first and second threads passes through the base body respectively in correspondence with first holes 15, 15' and second holes 25, 25', thereby forming portions that extend outward in correspondence with the second surface 2b of the base body 2. These portions can be seen in Figure 1, in which they are represented with broken lines, and in Figure 3, which shows the second surface of the base body.

With reference in particular to Figure 3 and Figure 4, it should be noted that both of the portions of the first threads and those of the second threads extending outward on the side of the second surface of the base body form a plurality of eyelets. In particular, reference 11 indicates the first locking eyelets formed by the first threads 3, while reference numeral 21 indicates the second locking eyelets formed by the second threads 4. The first locking eyelets 11 engage the respective portions of the second thread that exit from the respective holes passing through the base body. Analogously, the second locking eyelets 21 engage the respective portions of the first thread that pass through corresponding holes made in the base body. More specifically, considering one of the first threads and with reference to Figure 1A, it should be noted that, proceeding along the base body, the first thread passes through the base body in correspondence with a respective first hole 15 passing from the side of the first surface 2a to the side of the second surface 2b. On the side of the second surface 2b, the first thread continues, forming a first locking eyelet 11. More specifically, this locking eyelet has a first segment 12 of the first thread exiting from a respective one of the first holes 15 toward a respective one of the second holes 25; a linking segment 13 following the first segment 12 is located in around, or in correspondence with, the said respective one of the second holes 25; and, last, a second segment 14 leading to the said same first hole 15 from which the first segment of the said same first thread exited. Immediately downstream from second segment, the first thread 3 turns back to the side of the first surface, so as to form one of the loop elements 10: in other words, the first thread 3 passes through the said same first hole 15 twice. Thereafter, the first thread proceeds toward another first hole 15', forming a loop element 10. The first hole 15' is separated transversely from the first hole 15 by a distance that is equal to the distance between two adjacent needles, and is separated longitudinally from the first hole 15 by a distance that is equal to the working or processing pitch of the base body, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. When the first thread is applied to the base body 2, the loop element 10 is formed thanks to the cooperation of the thread with a profiling bar 30. After passing through the base body in correspondence with the first hole 15', the first thread forms a further eyelet 11', which, in the same manner described earlier for the eyelet 11, has a first tract 12' that is directed toward a second hole 25'; a joining tract 13' position in around to, or in correspondence with, the hole 25'; and a second tract 14' leading to the first hole 15'. Thereafter, the first thread passes back through the base body in correspondence with the first hole 15' and forms a new loop element 10, the said first thread then proceeds to another of the said first holes 15 and passes through the base body again, so as to form another of the first eyelets 11. As can be seen in Figure 1, each of the first eyelets 11, 11' is developed in the direction of a respective second hole 25, 25', so as to capture, and engage with the base body, portions of the second thread exiting from each second hole in the direction of the side of the second surface, which portions, in turn, form second eyelets 21, 21'.

Indeed, analogously with the procedure described in connection with one of the first threads, but focusing now on one of the second threads 4 (as can be seen in Figure 1 A, in which the second thread 4 is flanked on the right by the first thread 3, as described earlier), it should be noted that this is second thread 4, after having formed one of the said further loop elements 20 on the side of the said first surface, passes through the base body in correspondence with one of the second holes 25', subsequently forming, on the side of the said second surface, one of the said second eyelets 21'. Like the first eyelets, each of the second eyelets 21' includes a first tract 22' of a second thread leading from a respective one of the second holes 25' to a respective one of the first holes 15'; a joining tract 23' following the first tract and located around, or in correspondence with, a respective one of the said first holes 15'; and a second tract 24' leading from the said same second hole to the same one of the second holes 25' through which the second thread returns again to the side of the first surface.

Subsequently, the second thread forms another of the further loop elements 20, and then proceeds to another of the second holes 25. Thereafter, the second thread goes back to the side of the second surface 2b of the base body 2, and forms another of the said second locking eyelets 21 having the previously described layout, i.e., a first tract 22 leading to a first hole 15; a joining tract 23 located around, or in correspondence with, the first hole 15; and a second tract returning to the second hole 25. This way, the second thread also passes twice through the holes 25 and 25', so as to form the second locking eyelets on the side of the second surface 2b.

As can be seen in Figure 1 and Figure 2, each of the first and second threads forms a respective series of loop elements and further loop elements, which alternate with locking eyelets. Whereas the loop elements 10, 20 are positioned on the side of the first surface, the locking eyelets 11, 11' and 21, 21' extend on the side of the second surface. Thus, each first thread presents and forms a series of loop elements intercalated with locking eyelets. Analogously, each second thread presents and forms a series of further loop elements intercalated with second locking eyelets.

Summarizing the foregoing description, and with reference to the attached figures 1 through 4, it should therefore be noted that each of the first threads 3 presents consecutive portions located along a predetermined segment of the article that is the subject of the invention, so as to form one of the loop elements 10; pass through the base body in correspondence with one of the first holes 15, thus forming one of the first locking eyelets 11; return to the side of the first surface, doing so through the same one of the first holes 15; form a subsequent loop element 10; pass again through the base body in correspondence with a successive first hole 15', thus forming another of the first locking eyelets 11'; return again to the side of the first surface, doing so through the successive one of the first holes 15', and so on, repeating the foregoing pattern so as to form a plurality of loop elements 10 and a plurality of locking eyelets 11, 11'.

As can be seen in the figures, in practice the first locking eyelets 11 , 11' extend outward from the through-holes of the first thread, and thus are arranged sequentially along opposing sides 10b and 10c of each loop element. The first segments (or "outgoing" segments) 12, 12' and the second segments (or "returning" segments) 13, 13' of each first thread pass through the base body 2, doing so in correspondence with each of the first holes 15, 15', and also through the second eyelet 21 , 21', passing in correspondence with the said first hole in such a way as to interlace the first threads with the second threads. As can be seen in Figure 1 , the second threads are arranged in an analogous way: proceeding in the direction of each second thread 4, this second forms a further loop element 20, passes through the base body in correspondence with one of the second holes 25, forms one of the second eyelets 21, returns to the side of the first surface, doing so through the said same second hole 25, forms one of the second eyelets 21, returns to the side of the first surface, doing so through the said same second hole 25, forms another of the said further loop elements 20, passes back through the base body in correspondence with a second hole 25' that is located at a distance from the second hole 25, forms another of the second eyelets 21', and so on. The first and second segments of each second thread, which pass through the base body (as a continuation of the opposing sides 20b, 20c of each loop element) in order to form a respective second eyelet, are thus inserted into a respective first eyelet, thus creating an engagement between the first thread and the respective second thread, and between the said threads and the base body.

Each first thread passes through first holes 15 and through first holes 15', the first holes 15 are aligned in relation to one another along an ideal straight line "R", analogously, the first holes 15' are also aligned in relation to one another and are located at a distance from the first holes 15 along an ideal straight line "R1". Each second thread passes through second holes 25 and through second holes 25', the second holes 25 are aligned in relation to one another. Analogously, the second holes 25' are also aligned in relation to one another and are located at a distance from the second holes 25. As can be seen in Figure 1 and in Figure 1A, the first threads are interposed transversely between two adjacent second threads (which, for ease of reference, will be referred to hereinbelow as the "adjacent second thread on the right and on the left"), and vice-versa. The first holes 15 through which a first thread passes are positioned so that they are aligned with the second holes 25, through which passes a second thread that is immediately adjacent to the said first thread and that is located to the left of the first thread along the straight line "R". Analogously, the first holes 15' through which the said same first thread passes are positioned so that they are aligned (along "R1") with the second holes 25', through which passes a second thread that is immediately adjacent to the said first thread and that is located to the right of the first thread. In practice, the first threads are positioned such that with each return to the side of the first surface, the first thread is shifted from a first hole 15 located on a line to a first hole 15' located on another of the said side-by-side lines "R" and "R1", so as to form loop elements 10 that are positioned transversely in relation to the side-by-side seating lines of the first holes. The seating lines or ideal straight seating lines at the first holes are positioned parallel to one another and are located at a distance, so as to define the breadth of the loop elements. In a similar way, a predetermined number of second threads 4 pass through the base body multiple times, forming a series of further loop elements 20 and a dual series of second locking eyelets 21, 21', which are arranged as a continuation of the respective sides 20b and 20c of the loop elements, and engaging the locking eyelets of the first threads that extend adjacent to the said second thread. Likewise with reference to the second holes through which the said same thread passes, it should be noted that the said second holes 25, 25' are positioned along two lines or side-by-side ideal straight lines ("R" and "R1"). Each time said same second thread returns to the side of the first surface, said second thread is shifted from a second hole 25 located on one of the said lines to a second hole 25' located on another of the said side-by-side lines, so as to form further loop elements 20 positioned transversely in relation to the side-by-side seating lines of the second holes. In practice, the second holes 25 are aligned with the first holes 15 on the said same ideal straight seating lines "R", while the second holes 25' are aligned with the first holes 15' on the said same ideal straight seating lines "R1", thereby forming further loop elements that have an appropriate pitch and that flank the loop elements 20.

The breadth and, in general, the profile of the loop elements and of the further loop elements may be practically identical. However, articles can be created in which the first and second loop elements are not necessarily identical.

Each series of loop elements 10 formed by the said same first threads extends in a longitudinal direction "L" along the article; each series of further loop elements 20 formed by each of the second threads extends in the same longitudinal direction "L" along the article. The first and second threads 3 and 4 are positioned flanking one another in the said longitudinal direction, and alternate with one another in such a way that each series of loop elements formed by a given single first thread is transversely flanked by a series of further loop elements formed by a second thread. In practice, in the example shown in figures 3 and 4, each series of further loop elements 20 and each series of loop elements 10 are transversely intercalated with one another, thereby forming series of first loop elements alternating with series of second loop elements. As can be seen in the attached figures, on the side of the second surface, each of the first locking eyelets 11, 11' associated with the loop elements 10 of a single given thread 3 cooperates with a respective one of the second locking eyelets 21, 2 associated with the adjacent series of further loop elements 20, which series is formed by a single given second thread 4. On the side of the second surface 2b, each of the first locking eyelets of a single given thread cooperates with a respective one of the second locking eyelets associated with the series of further loop elements formed by a single given second thread adjacent to the said first thread. Looking at the attached figures, one should note that the article 1 may include a plurality of first threads defining respective series of loop elements and a plurality of second threads defining respective series of further loop elements. These series of loop elements are flanked and engaged with the base body in such a way that, in correspondence with the first holes located along the said same line, the first and second tracts (i.e., the outgoing and returning tracts, respectively) of the first locking eyelets, as formed in a single first thread, pass through the second locking eyelets formed by a single second thread, and, in correspondence with the second holes, which are located along the said same line, the first and second tracts of the second locking eyelets formed by the said same second thread pass through the first locking eyelets formed by the first thread.

As can be seen, the first and second thread (or the first and second threads) are separate from material forming the base body: thanks to their specific location, the first and second thread are bound to one another, and to the base body, in correspondence with a plurality of engagement points located on the side of the second surface. In practice, the article 1 includes at least a predetermined number of first binding threads (on the side of the second surface, in correspondence with the reciprocally interconnected first and second eyelets) of a respective second thread that is located adjacent to, and to the right of, the first thread and that is bound to the left (still on the side of the second surface, in correspondence with the reciprocally interconnected first and second eyelets) of a respective second thread that is located adjacent to, and to the left of, the first thread.

The foregoing predominantly structural description will now be followed by the description of a process for the creation of an article, for example, of the type shown in figures 1 through 4.

Specifically, with reference to figures 7A through 7G, the following description will illustrate the successive phases of a procedure for connecting a first or second thread to a base body. As can be seen in these figures, a previously created base body 2 is moved toward a working station 50, in correspondence with which one or more first thread 3 and one or more second thread 4 are connected to the base body so as to form the fastening article according to the invention. The following description shows how a thread (which may be either a first or second thread) is connected to the base body: when a large number of first or second threads must be connected, the various needles act on each thread in the manner described hereinbelow, it should be noted that the connection of each thread entails the use of two needles, the immediately adjacent thread uses one of the two needles that were used for the preceding thread, as well as a further needle, and so on. In practice, the nth thread uses the nth needle and the (n+1)th needle. Turning now to the detailed description of the phases for the connection of each thread, it should be noted that the base body, which has reached the working station 50, receives at least one first thread and at least one second thread 3 and 4. The first thread is joined to the base body in such a way as to define the loop elements 10 that were described above, which loop elements, as was noted, extend outwardly from the first surface and form a plurality of engagement loops. Likewise in correspondence with the working station 50, the second thread 4, which is distinct from the first thread and distinct from the material forming the base body, is engaged with the said base body in such a way that the said second thread passes entirely through the thickness of the base body, and in such a way that a plurality of engagement zones, in which the first thread is bound to the base body, are created on the second surface 2b. Although, obviously, the option cannot be ruled out of creating an article that consists solely of a single first thread and a single second thread, in practice the base body is associated with a plurality of first threads and a plurality of second threads, which threads are engaged with the base body through the use of means that will be described more thoroughly hereinbelow. In any event, the first and second threads 3 and 4 are engaged with the base body in such a way that the said threads pass through the base body in correspondence with the first holes 15, 15' and, respectively, in correspondence with the second holes 25, 25'. Following the engagement of the first and second threads with the base body, each of the first threads displays a plurality of portions that extend from the side of the first surface, thereby forming the loop elements 10, and a plurality of portions that extend from the side of the second surface, thereby forming the first locking eyelets 11, 11'. Analogously, following the engagement of the second threads with the base body, each of the second threads passes through the base body via a plurality of second holes 25, 25' and forms a plurality of portions that extend outward from the side of the first surface, thereby defining the further loop elements 20, and a plurality of portions that extend outward from the side of the second surface, forming the second locking eyelets 21, 21' The locking eyelets and the loop elements that are formed, respectively, by the first and second threads occupy the previously described locations, and present first and second segments, as well as linking segments, all of which are described hereinabove and which therefore will not be discussed in further detail hereinbelow.

As the base body advances in the working direction (indicated by arrow 51 in figures 7A and 8), typically in a step-by-step manner, the first and second threads 3 and 4 are gradually connected to the base body, forming the loop elements on the said base body and gradually defining the first and second eyelets, which interact in the manner described hereinabove.

During the phase in which the first thread or threads are engaged with the base body, each first thread is guided by a respective thread guide 52 that operates on the side of the first surface and that cooperates with at least one pair of needles 53, 54, as shown in figures 7A through 7G. In practice, the thread guide 52 delivers a respective thread (for example, a first thread 3 or a second thread 4) alternately to one of two mutually supported needles. The needles in turn are provided with an alternating back-and-forth movement, and pass through the base body in such a way as to form the first and second holes 15, 15' and 25, 25'. Figures 7A through 7G illustrate the phases of engagement of a first thread 3. In greater detail, during the phase consisting of the engagement of each first thread with the base body (or, in any event, during the phase consisting of the engagement of at least a predetermined number of the first threads with the base body), each thread guide 52 intended to receive a respective first thread cooperates with a respective pair of mutually supported needles, as described hereinbelow.

In a first phase (Figure 7A), a first needle 53 is advanced in the direction 60 shown in Figure 8 (that is, in a direction that is transverse - e.g., perpendicular - to the base body), thereby creating a first hole 15 through the base body 2. After passing through the base body, the first needle 53 engages the first thread 3, which is delivered to the said needle by the respective thread guide 52. As shown in the attached figures, for this purpose the needle 53 is provided with a groove 53a in which the thread can be housed.

As shown in figures 7A and 7B, the first needle passes through the base body and moves sideways to a bar 55 located in proximity to the first surface and engaging a plurality of just-formed loop elements 10. In practice, during the formation of the loop elements 10, the bar 55 makes it possible to ensure that a sufficient quantity of thread remains on the side of the first surface, so as to define loops 10 that are essentially countershaped to the profiling bar 55. After having passed through the base body and over the bar, the first needle 53 receives the respective first thread, which, as noted hereinabove, is delivered by the respective thread guide (see Figure 7B): as it can be seen the first thread 3 is also engaged with the base body and exits from another first hole 15', in a first phase (see Figure 7A), the portion 3a of the first thread, located between the free end of the thread guide 52 and the first surface 2a, extends outward from a part located opposite the first needle with respect to the bar 55. Then (see Figure 7B) the first needle and the thread guide 52 are moved in relation to one another, in such a way that the said portion 3a of the thread passes over the bar 55 and forms, in cooperation with the said bar, one of the loop elements 10, as can be seen in Figure 7B, in the example shown, it is the thread guide that is shifted laterally, passing over both the bar 55 and the needle 53). In summary: the first thread (which, as indicated on the attached drawings, is engaged with the base body), having already formed other loop elements, exits from the base body through one of the first holes and takes a position on the side of the bar opposite the side on which the first needle is operating. A relative movement of the bar 55 and of the first needle 53 causes the first thread to engage the groove in the said first needle, passing over the bar 55 and the body of the first needle, as shown in Figure 7B. In practice, the relative movement of the first needle and of the thread-guide bar is achieved by moving the thread-guide bar along a course that brings the first thread from the position shown in Figure 7A to the position shown in Figure 7B. Next, the first needle is withdrawn in the direction 70, and is moved in such a way that it passes back through the base body, in correspondence with the said same first hole 15 from which it previously exited. This movement carries the first thread through the said first hole and to the side of the second surface.

As shown in Figure 7C, this movement entails the formation of an eyelet 11. At this point, the base body 2 is advanced by one step in the working direction 51 and then the first needle 53 is again advanced and moved through the base body 2, thereby forming one of the second holes and defining one of the first locking eyelets 11. More specifically, during this phase, in which the first needle is advanced through the base body, the thread 3, which was previously engaged (see Figure 7C) in the groove in the first needle, is shifted relative to the body of the first needle, thereby forming an eyelet 11 that, however, remains on the side of the said second surface 2b (see Figure 7D). The advancement of the first needle entails the sliding of the said eyelet along the body of the said first needle, while the anterior portion of the first needle, which passes through the base body, remains free of the presence of the first thread. At this point, thanks to an appropriate movement of the thread-guide bar 52, the first thread is moved in such a way that it passes over the profiling bar 55 and the body of the second needle 54, which has also passed through the base body in correspondence with a further first hole 15'.

As can be seen in Figure 7D, the portion 3a of the first thread that is located between the surface 2a and the free end of the thread guide is located between the two needles 53 and 54, in such a way that the exit of the needles 53 and 54 does not interfere with the portion 3a. At this point the thread guide is moved in relation to the second needle, in such a way that the portion 3a of the first thread passes over the body of the second needle and is then engaged by the groove in the second needle (see figures 7E and 7F). The second needle is then withdrawn through the laminar body, forming a further locking eyelet (see Figure 7G). The base body 2 is then advanced by a further step in the direction designated by reference 51 , and the procedure is repeated in accordance with the phases shown in figures 7A through 7G, starting again with the first needle, which passes through the laminar body as shown in Figure 7A, and continuing with the subsequent phases as described hereinabove. Although the process described immediately above involves only the engagement of a first thread 3, in reality, during the phases as described, at least one second thread 4 is also simultaneously engaged with the base body. In reality, a plurality of first and second threads, alternating among themselves transversely in the working direction 51, are simultaneously engaged with the laminar body thanks to the use of a plurality of needles, thread guides, and profiling bars that are appropriately actuated in the manner described above in connection with the first thread 3. In practice, needle 54 and a subsequent needle (for example, needle 56 in the attached figures 7A through 7G, which is positioned alongside needle 54 on the side opposite needle 53) make it possible to engage a second thread, adjacent to thread 3, as shown in figures 7A through 7G. Each first thread cooperates with a pair of adjacent needles during the phase consisting of the connection of the first thread to the base body. Analogously, each second thread cooperates with a pair of needles during the respective phase consisting of the engagement with the base body.

To obtain the structure of the article 1 as described, first and second adjacent threads cooperate with a shared needle: in practice (with reference once again to figures 7A through 7G), the two adjacent needles 53 and 54 allow the connection of the first thread 3, and, simultaneously, the first needle 53 operates in certain phases involving the engagement of a second thread adjacent to the first thread (for example, on the right side), while needle 54 cooperates with another second thread adjacent to the first thread (for example, on the left side). Obviously, each first thread and each second thread are guided by a respective thread guide. In order to explain how adjacent threads are engaged with the body 2, the operating phases for the engagement of the two adjacent threads are illustrated further hereinbelow.

A first needle 53 is advanced so as to create one of the first holes 15 through the said base body 2. Essentially simultaneously, or in accordance with a predetermined synchronism, a second needle 54 is advanced so as to create one of the second holes 25' through the said base body (see Figure 7A).

Then the first needle 53 and the first thread-guide 52 are moved relatively in such a way that the first thread forms one of the loop elements and the first thread is placed in a groove in the first needle (see Figure 7B). Essentially simultaneously, or in accordance with a predetermined synchronism, the second needle 54 and the second thread-guide 57 are moved relatively in such a way that the second thread, adjacent to the first thread, forms one of the said further loop elements and the second thread is placed in a groove in the said second needle (see Figure 7B). The first needle 53 is then withdrawn and passes back through the base body, doing so in correspondence with the said first hole, transporting the first thread through the said first hole to the side of the said second surface, essentially simultaneously, or in accordance with a predetermined synchronism, the second needle 54 is withdrawn and passes back through the base body, doing so in correspondence with the said second hole 25', transporting the second thread 4 to the side of the said second surface, doing so through the said second hole (see Figure 7C). The base body and the said needles are then shifted relative to one another by one step in a working direction 51 of the base body.

The first needle is advanced again, and, thanks to the relative shift between the needles and the base body, passes through the base body, forming another of the said second holes 25: the portion of the first thread that was transported to the side of the said second surface is positioned along the body of the first needle so that it can then form one of the said first locking eyelets 11. In turn, the second needle 54 is advanced again, and, thanks to the relative shift between the needles and the base body, passes through the base body, forming another of the said first holes 15', the portion of the second thread transported to the side of the said second surface forms one of the second locking eyelets 21' (see Figure 7D).

At this point (see Figure 7E and Figure 7F), the first needle 53 and a further second thread guide (operating to the right of the first thread guide 52 with reference to the plane of the drawing shown in Figure 7E) are moved relatively in such a way that a further second thread forms another of the said further loop elements, analogously, the second needle 54 and the first thread guide are moved relatively in such a way that the first thread 3, located adjacent to the further second thread, forms another of the said first loop elements. During this phase, the thread-guide 57, operating to the left of the thread-guide 52, delivers the second thread 4 to a further first needle 53.

Then (see Figure 7G) the first needle 53 is withdrawn and passes back through the base body, doing so in correspondence with the said second hole 25 that was just formed, transporting the second thread 4 to the side of the second surface, doing so through the said second hole and through the first eyelet previously formed around the body of the said first needle, essentially simultaneously, or in accordance with a predetermined synchronism, the second needle 54 is withdrawn and passes back through the base body, doing so in correspondence with the said first hole 15' that was just formed, transporting the first thread 3 to the side of the second surface, doing so through the said first hole and through the second eyelet 21 previously formed around the body of the said second needle.

Once again, the base body and the said needles are shifted in relation to one another in a working direction of the base body.

Then (with reference again to Figure 7A) the first needle is advanced again, and, thanks to the relative shift between the needles and the base body in this phase, passes through the base body so as to form a further first hole: the portion of the second thread, as just transported (during the phase preceding the last relative shift needles-base body) to the side of the said second surface, will form another of the second locking eyelets, essentially simultaneously, or in accordance with a predetermined synchronism, the second needle is again advanced, and, thanks to the relative shift between needles and base body as mentioned above, passes through the base body so as to form a further second hole: the portion of the first thread, as transported to the side of the said second surface, forms one of the said first locking eyelets.

The phases described above are repeated a predetermined number of times so as to form, along the said designated segment of the article, a series of loop elements and a series of first locking eyelets, as well as a series of further loop elements and second locking eyelets. Specifically, the phases described above are repeated for each pair of first and second side-by-side threads, which obviously employ side-by-side needles: in practice, each first thread cooperates with two side-by-side needles, and each second thread cooperates with two side-by-side needles, as mentioned earlier, adjacent first and second threads cooperate with a shared needle.

The needles are positioned and actuated in such a way that the first holes 15 and 15', through which passes a first thread in a given single series of loop elements, are located along two side-by-side lines "R" and "R1" (see Figure 1A). In turn, the first thread guides are positioned and actuated in such a way that every time the first thread returns to the side of the said first surface, the said first thread is shifted away from a first hole 15 located on one of the said lines and toward a first hole 15' located on the other one of the said side-by-side lines, so as to form loop elements 10 that are positioned transversely in relation to the side-by-side lines "R" and "R1" that are seating lines for the said first holes. In practice, in the event of numerous first threads, first thread guides are provided that are carried by a bar that can simultaneously move a multiplicity of thread guides.

Analogously, the needles are positioned and actuated in such a way that the second holes 25 and 25', through which passes the second thread in a given single series of loop elements, are located along two side-by-side lines "R" and "R1" (again, see Figure 1A). The second thread-guides are positioned and actuated in such a way that every time the second thread returns to the side of the said first surface, the said second thread is shifted away from a second hole 25 located on one of the said lines and toward a second hole 25' located on the other one of the said side-by-side lines, so as to form the further loop elements 20 that are positioned transversely in relation to the side-by-side lines that are the seating lines for the said second holes. The second thread guides may also be carried by a single bar. Furthermore, if the movement to be imparted to the first and second threads is the same, then all the thread-guides may be located on the same single bar. It should also be noted that during the implementation phase, the various threads are appropriately tensioned, so that once the first eyelets and the second eyelets have been released from the respective needles, the said eyelets extend in a direction that is essentially parallel to the base body, and are located essentially adjacent to the second surface.

As shown in Figure 8, the procedure as described may be implemented by means of a piece of equipment 500 that includes a supporting structure 501 that defines at least the working station 50: in practice, the supporting structure typically includes a frame that can house the components described below. The equipment includes a conveyor unit 502 that transports the base body to the working station for example, conveyor rollers may be provided, one or more conveyor belts, transporter clamps operating on the lateral edges of the base body, combined systems, or transport systems of yet another type.

The supporting structure carries a plurality of needles 53, 54, the needles are operatively associated with the supporting structure and can be moved back and forth (in the directions designated by references 60 and 70), so as to pass through the base body, forming the said first and second holes, and engaging the first and second threads with the base body, a plurality of thread guides 52, 57 are operatively associated with the supporting structure and are intended to cooperate with the said needles in order to deliver the first and second threads to the said needles.

Actuator units (not shown) carried by the supporting structure act upon the said needles and upon the said thread-guides. The actuator units typically consist of electric motors. However, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators (for example, pistons), or combined systems that include electric motors with hydraulic or pneumatic pistons, may also be provided. The conveyor unit also contains a motor (for example, an electric motor), or other types of actuators that, upon receiving a command from the control unit, act upon the specific conveyor elements of the said unit. A programmable control unit is operatively connected to the said actuator units, and is equipped with, or connected to, at least one memory device that stores a program which, when the said program is executed by the control unit, allows the control unit to control the said actuators and the said conveyor unit, so as to enable the execution of a process, as described above, for the creation of the fastening article.

In greater detail, the needles may be mounted on the needle-carrier bar, so that they can be moved forward and backward synchronously, the thread guides may be carried by one or more bars that allow the simultaneous movement of a plurality of the thread guides. The equipment may also include profiling bars 55 that are operatively associated with the supporting structure, the said bars operate on the side of the base body where the loop elements must be formed, and are inserted into the loop elements during the formation phase in order to impart to the said loop elements the desired profile. The profiling bars may also be carried by a shared support (or by a series of supports, each of which supports one profiling-bar group) that enables the simultaneous shifting of a plurality of profiling bars. The actuators also act upon the profiling bars (or on their supports), and the said control unit when it executes the said program, unit coordinates the actuators so that the movement of the profiling bar is synchronized with the movement of the needles, the thread guides, and the conveyor unit, and also enables the creation of the loop elements during the execution of the said procedure. It should be noted that both the article 1 and, consequently, the associated implementation procedure may include numerous variants.

For example, Figure 5 and figures 6A and 6B show examples that include first and second threads located in discrete zones 100 of the base body, each of which zones is substantially smaller in area than the surface 2a of the said base body. To better clarify: the first and second threads may be located exclusively in correspondence with longitudinal strips, or transverse strips, or isolated zones entirely surrounded by portions of the base body that contain no loops. Figure 6A illustrates transverse strips 101 of loop elements, each of which contains extended first and second threads. A first binding thread 102 and a second binding thread 103 define each strip transversely. Each strip is crossed by a longitudinal portion of one or more of the said first threads and of one or more of the said second threads. The transversely opposing sides of each strip include an initial thread and a final thread (in practice, one of the first or one of the second threads; in Figure 6A, the initial thread and the final one are a first thread, designated as 3', and a second thread, designated as 4'), which are flanked by another of the first or second threads only on a respective adjacent side. Therefore, the initial thread (and, analogously, the final thread) has a series of eyelets (hereinafter referred to as "terminal eyelets") that are not engaged with the eyelets of a respective adjacent second or first thread. For this purpose, the first binding thread 102 binds to the base body the terminal eyelets of the initial thread located at the periphery of the strips 101 , while the second binding thread links to the base body the terminal eyelets of the final thread, in correspondence with an opposing transverse periphery of the strips 101. This way, all of the eyelets of all of the first and second threads in a region are engaged with each other or with the binding threads, so that the loop elements are bound in a stable manner to the laminar body.

Figure 6C shows an enlarged view of the detail defined by box "A" in Figure 6A. As can be seen in Figure 6C, the binding thread 103 forms a chain 106 that, in this case, engages the second thread 4'. Obviously, the binding thread acts alternately on a first thread or on a second thread, depending on whether one or the other is the last in a series of side-by-side threads. The binding thread 102 is engaged with the base body and to thread 3' in an analogous manner. In the example shown in Figure 6A, each first thread and each second thread has longitudinal segments (in correspondence with the strips 101) in which the threads form the loop elements and the further loop elements (if any), alternating with longitudinal segments in which the first and second threads form chains that contain no loop elements. In strip 101 in Figure 6C, the first and second threads are engaged with the base body 2 in the manner described above, whereas in the zones that contain no loop structures, each first or second thread forms a chain structure. Each chain structure 105 consists of a portion of thread (either a first thread or a second thread) that is inserted into a first (or second) hole 15a in order to arrive at the side of the second surface 2b, that forms an eyelet around, or in correspondence with, a hole 15b, that returns to the said same hole 15a, and that comes back to the side of the first surface 2a. The thread is then inserted into the said hole 15b, forms a further eyelet around a hole 15c, returns to the hole 15b, and passes back through the laminar body. This sequence is repeated for the length of the chain structure. When the zone that contains no loop elements comes to an end, the threads start to form the loop elements 10, and, optionally, the further loop elements 20, as previously described. It should be noted that the chain structures 106 of the binding threads 102 and 103 consist of a thread connected to the laminar body in the manner described for the chain structures 105. It should also be noted that the initial thread (and, analogously, the final thread) has a series of eyelets that are not engaged with the eyelets of a respective adjacent second or first thread, but that rather are engaged with the eyelets of the chain structure 106. Figure 6B illustrates longitudinal strips 101 of loop elements, each of which contains extended first and second threads. A first binding thread 102 and a second binding thread 103 define each strip transversely. Each strip contains a longitudinally extended portion of one or more of the said first threads and of one or more of the said second threads. The transversely opposing sides of each strip include an initial thread and a final thread (in practice, one of the first or one of the second threads; in Figure 6B, the initial thread and the final one in strip 101 are a second thread 4), which are flanked by one of the first threads only on a respective adjacent side. Therefore, the initial thread (and, analogously, the final thread) in a given region has a series of eyelets that are not engaged with the eyelets of a respective adjacent first thread. For this purpose, the first binding thread 102 binds to the base body the eyelets of the initial thread located at the periphery of the said region, while the second binding thread links to the base body the eyelets of the final thread, in correspondence with an opposing transverse periphery of the said region. This way, all of the eyelets of all of the first and second threads in a region are engaged with one another or with the binding threads, so that the loop elements are bound in a stable manner to the laminar body. As can be seen in the enlarged detail in Figure 6D, the threads form a chain structure 107 whose structure is analogous to that of structures 105 and 106, whose eyelets interface with those of the initial or final thread.

Figure 5 shows discrete zones formed by islands 101 in which the loop elements 10, 20 are present, said loop elements being longitudinally separated from the other discrete zones due to the interposition of longitudinal zones 104 that contain no loop elements. The discrete zones 101 are also separated transversely from further zones 104' that contain no loop elements, in Figure 5, the said zones 104' are longitudinal strips not crossed by first and second threads, while zones 104 are crossed by first and second threads that create connecting chains between longitudinally consecutive zones 101. In other words, the zones in which the loop elements are present are entirely surrounded by surfaces that contain no loop elements.

As can be seen in the examples, the zones that contain no loop elements may be larger than the distance between two adjacent through-holes for the first or second threads. For example, the longitudinal or transverse distance between adjacent discrete zones 101 is equal to two or more times the distance between adjacent holes.

In the example shown in figures 5, 5A, and 6A through 6D, the first and second threads that form the loop elements in the discrete zones run through the zones that contain no loop elements, doing so without forming loop elements, but instead simply passing through first/second holes: this arrangement ensures that loop elements belonging to separate regions can nevertheless be joined, inasmuch as they consists of the said same first or second thread. In other words, a plurality of first and second threads may be provided, which threads extend along the base body and which, for certain segments, form loop elements and further loop elements, respectively, and which, for certain segments, are simply engaged with the base body without forming any loop elements. The manufactured items shown in figures 1, 5, 5A, and 6A through 6D can be employed to create bands or belts, which may for example be 40 mm to 50 mm wide, and whose central portion includes one or more strips of loop elements. For example, by leaving, on the edges of the bands or belts, strips that contain no loop elements, it can be guaranteed that stitches can be applied that allow the band or belt to be joined to a body to which the article must be fastened.

Last, with reference to the example shown in Figure 14, it should be noted that in an embodiment, the article 1 includes a base body having a mutually opposing first surface 2a and a second surface 2b. One or more threads 3 extend along the longitudinal axis of the base body 2, and each of the said threads forms a plurality of loop elements 10 that define engagement openings 10a. Second threads 4 pass through the laminar body and bind each first thread, doing so in correspondence with a first and a second series of engagement zones 10b and 10c located on the side of the first surface. More specifically, each of the second threads passes through the base body, doing so in correspondence with holes 35 located on a line, and preferably on a straight line, so as to provide a plurality of series of holes that are aligned in such a way that the second threads are parallel, regardless of the length of the respective straight line, along the longitudinal axis of the base body 2 or of the article 1. More specifically, each first thread, in correspondence with the facing opposite sides of each of the loop elements 10, forms a pair of base portions 10b, 10c, which are positioned essentially in correspondence with two holes 35 if two series of adjacent holes. The second threads pass through the holes 35 and secure the base portions to the base body 2. More specifically, each of the second threads (see the enlarged detail in Figure 14a) forms a chain whose structure is analogous to that of the chain 105, as described above, which binds the base portions 10b and 10c of the first threads.

Adjacent first threads may have base portions that are located along a single given series of holes 35 that alternate with one another, in such a way that the second thread (such as the second thread 4' in Figure 8), when passing through the holes 35 located along a single given straight line, secures, to the base body, portion 0b of a thread 3 and portions 10c of an immediately adjacent thread 3.

It should be noted that, despite the fact that in the foregoing examples, the loop elements are present on the first surface, articles may also be envisioned in which the loop elements are also created on the second surface. For example, loops of the type shown in Figure 1 may be created on the first surface 2a, and loops of the type illustrated in Figure 14 may be created on the second surface. Alternatively, loops of the type shown in Figure 1 or loops of the type shown in Figure 14 may be created on both of the surfaces 2a and 2b. If the loops are present on both of the services, then the zones affected by these loops on a given surface may coincide, or else may be offset in relation to the zones affected by the loops on the opposite surface.

Alternatively, for the example shown in Figure 14 and also for the examples illustrated in figures 1, 5, 6A, and 6C, the side opposite the one on which the surface 2a is located may be provided with a plurality of hook elements.

Last, certain needles that can be employed in the procedure and in the equipment, as described, are illustrated in figures 9 through 12. In particular, the figures show two models of wing needles that include a main body 200 and a slide 201 guided by the main body. The main body has a sharply pointed anterior terminal portion 202 in which a groove 203 is also defined. In use, the said groove is intended to receive the thread that is to be connected to the base body. The slide 201 is shifted at least between an open position, in which the slide allows the thread to be placed in or removed from the groove, and a closed position, in which the anterior terminal portion 204 of the slide closes the groove 203. The main body includes a posterior terminal portion 205 that is connected to the units that move the needles. The slide also has a posterior terminal portion 206, which is connected to the movement units in order to produce the relative shift between the slide and the main body of the needle, so that the slide can be shifted between the open position and the closed position. The major difference between the needle shown in Figure 9 and the one shown in Figure 11 lies in the profile of the anterior terminal portion, which, as can be seen in the enlarged views in Figure 10 and Figure 12, may be either sharply pointed or rounded.