Abstract: A mushroom-type hook strip for a hook-and-loop fastener has a flexible backing of thermoplastic resin and, integral with backing, an array of upstanding stems distributed across at least one face of the backing, each having a mushroom head. The stems have a molecular orientation as evidenced by a birefringence value of at least 0.001. The mushroom-type hook strip can be produced continuously by injecting resin into cavitites of a cylindrical mold while evacuating and cooling the cavities so that the cooled resin becomes molecularly oriented, thus affording to the stems excellent stiffness, durability, and tensile and flexural strength.

Abstract: A disposable garment or diaper including a laminate and a hook and loop fastener for fastening together portions of the laminate to secure the diaper to an individual. The fastener includes a loop fastener portion adjacent a first end of the laminate comprising a multiplicity of loops, a pair of flexible elongate polymeric tab assemblies having first end portions attached at opposite sides to the laminate adjacent a second end of the laminate and having distal end portions unattached to the laminate, and hook fastener portions at the distal end portions of the tab assemblies comprising a plurality of projecting hook members adapted to make releasable engagement with the loops.

Abstract: Disposable diapers can be manufactured at high production speeds by using for the waistband a heat-shrinkable plastic film that is dimensionally stable at ordinary room temperature and shrinks in one direction at least 25% within 5 seconds at 54.degree. C. Such a heat-shrinkable plastic film can be made by uniaxially cold-stretching a thin extrudate of a blend of an EVA copolymer and an (A-B) block copolymer of polystyrene and polyisoprene.

Abstract: A disposable garment or diaper having a fastener including fastener portions adapted for releasably mechanically engaging each other; and a bonding layer of room-temperature non-tacky thermoplastic material adhering one of the fastener portions to a thin polyolefin layer of the garment and being bonded to that polyolefin layer under heat and pressure that leaves the polyolefin layer substantially undeformed. The bonding layer holds the fastener portion to the polyolefin film with greater force than that which is required to separate the engaged fastener so that the fastener may be repetitively closed and opened.

Abstract: An article can be releasably attached to a fabric or other foraminous substrate by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape fastener, the backing of which has an array of bluntly pointed stems protruding beyond the pressure-sensitive adhesive. The back face of the fastener can have an adhesive layer by which it can be adhered to a sanitary napkin, and the napkin can be releasably attached to an undergarment by allowing the stems to penetrate into openings in the fabric of the undergarment until the pressure-sensitive adhesive becomes releasably bonded to the fabric. The fastener can be more supple and less obtrusive than are "Velcro" fasteners and can be produced at significantly lower cost.

Abstract: The back ears of a contoured disposable diaper are shirred to become stretchable and elastically retractable. Because of this, the diaper can be pulled snugly around the buttocks and the waist merely by applying ordinary fingertip pressure to the fastening tabs. The shirring can be provided by incorporating into the back ears of a flat diaper-forming blank a piece of heat-elasticizable material and then heating each diaper that is cut from the blank to shrink the piece. A preferred heat-elasticizable material comprises a substantially flat inelastic web to which is heat bonded a plurality of parallel elastomeric strands extended to at least about three times their relaxed length.

Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided which includes an outer liquid-impermeable film and a bilayer film bonded to the liquid-impermeable film as a peel-resistant reinforced fastening area. The bilayer film comprises a reinforcing layer and a room-temperature-nontacky bonding layer. The bonding layer holding the reinforcing layer to the liquid-impermeable film with greater force than that which the fastening tape applies when adhered to the top of bilayer film.

Abstract: Supported initiators for the radiation-activated polymerization of cationically-polymerizable compounds, particularly epoxide group-containing compounds, are described. The supported initiators comprise a particulate carrier and a photocatalytic ionic salt. The supported initiators are especially useful for the polymerization of cationically-polymerizable compounds in which the ionic salt alone is not soluble.