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: A strip material from which portions may be severed and used together as a releasably engageable fastener. The strip material comprises a bonding layer in which are embedded a plurality of U-shaped monofilaments. Each U-shaped monofilament includes two headed stem portions adapted to engage the headed stem portions of another portion of the strip material. The U-shaped monofilaments are disposed in generally straight rows longitudinally of the strip material with a percentage of the center to center spacing dimensions between adjacent longitudinal rows being less than a maximum dimension equal to the diameter of the heads plus the diameter of the stems so that slippage of heads longitudinally of the strip material between these closely spaced rows will be restricted, and with the center to center spacing dimension between the rest of the adjacent rows being greater than the maximum dimension and being selected to help provide a desired level of engagement and disengagement forces between the portions.

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: A method for making a sheet material adapted to be cut into smaller ravel resistant pieces to form portions of a fastener by intersecting (e.g., weaving or knitting) portions of base yarns to form a backing, with at least some of the base yarns being bonded yarns including a first portion formed of a polymeric structural material and a second portion formed of a thermoplastic binding material having a significantly lower melting temperature than the softening temperature of the structural material. Portions of pile yarns are entwined in the backing with the entwined portions of the pile yarns contacting at least one of the bonding yarns, while other portions of the pile yarn project from the backing to form loops or hooks. The backing is heated to soften the binding material so that it flows and, upon cooling, adheres to adjacent portions of the yarns, thereby anchoring the pile yarns in the backing.

Abstract: A hook fastener portion including a thin strong flexible plate like backing and a multiplicity of resiliently flexible spaced hook members projecting at generally a right angle from an upper surface of the backing. The hook members each comprise a stem portion attached at one end to the backing and a head portion at the end of the stem portion opposite the backing that is flush with the stem portion on two opposite sides, projects past the stem portion on two opposite sides, and has a rounded surface opposite the stem portion to help the head portion enter between loops in a loop fastener portion. The hook members are more easily and firmly engaged with many types of loop fastener portions than the hook members on known commercially available hook fastener portions, in large part because they are very small compared to them, and the hook portions do not have an abrasive feel when contacted by a persons skin.

Abstract: A loop fastener portion including a soft flexible sheet-like fibrous structure having a multiplicity of loops along a first surface adapted to be releasably engaged by a mating fastener portion, and a layer of thermoplastic resin adhered to a second major surface of the fibrous structure which anchors the loops in the fibrous structure and is softenable by the application of heat to adhere the fastener portion to a substrate such as the surface of a disposable diaper.