阅读说明：本技术 前或后开口的侧边闭合式吸收制品 (Front or rear open, side-closed absorbent article ) 是由 B·约翰逊 S·克莱斯肯斯 J·R·奈德特 K·M·巴林杰 T·A·索尔森 V·史蒂文斯 于 2018-05-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了具有前后开口特征的吸收制品。一种制品可包括：吸收插件,所述吸收插件包括外覆层、衬里以及在所述外覆层与所述衬里之间的吸收芯；联接到所述插件并且包括弱化区域以及第一腰带部分和第一底片部分的第一腰片,所述第一腰带部分和所述第一底片部分包括弹性元件；以及第二腰片。所述第一腰片可以沿着所述制品的侧边缘粘结到所述第二腰片。所述第一腰带部分的所述弹性元件中的一个可以与第二个横向间隔开,从而在所述弹性元件中的所述第一个与所述弹性元件中的所述第二个之间横向地形成腰带非弹性化区域,并且所述弱化区域可以至少部分地延伸穿过所述腰带非弹性化区域。(Absorbent articles having front and back opening features are disclosed. An article of manufacture may comprise: an absorbent insert comprising an outer cover, a liner, and an absorbent core between the outer cover and the liner; a first waist panel coupled to the insert and comprising a weakened area and a first waist band portion and a first backsheet portion, the first waist band portion and the first backsheet portion comprising elastic elements; and a second waist panel. The first waist panel may be bonded to the second waist panel along the side edges of the article. One of the elastic elements of the first waistband portion may be laterally spaced from a second one of the elastic elements, thereby forming a waistband non-elasticized region laterally between the first one of the elastic elements and the second one of the elastic elements, and the weakened region may extend at least partially through the waistband non-elasticized region.)

1. An absorbent article extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the article comprising a front region, a crotch region and a back region, the article having a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, and further comprising:

an absorbent insert having an inset front waist edge and an inset back waist edge, and comprising an outer cover, a liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the liner;

a first waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert and comprising a weakened area, the first waist panel having a first waist panel bottom edge, a first waist panel top edge, a first waist panel exterior surface and a first waist panel interior surface, the first waist panel further comprising a first waist band portion and a first backsheet portion, each of the first waist band portion and the first backsheet portion comprising one or more elastic elements; and

a second waist panel joined to the absorbent insert,

wherein the first waist panel is bonded to the second waist panel adjacent to the first side edge of the absorbent article and the second side edge of the absorbent article,

wherein a first one of said elastic elements of said first waistband portion is laterally spaced from a second one of said elastic elements of said first waistband portion to thereby laterally form a waistband non-elasticized region between said first one of said elastic elements and said second one of said elastic elements, and

wherein the weakened area extends at least partially between the first waist panel bottom edge and the first waist panel top edge and through the waistband non-elasticized area.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the waistband non-elasticized region extends longitudinally through the entire first waistband portion.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein a first one of said elastic elements of said first backsheet portion is laterally spaced from a second one of said elastic elements of said first backsheet portion to laterally form a backsheet non-elasticized region between said first one of said elastic elements of said first backsheet portion and said second one of said elastic elements of said first backsheet portion, and

wherein the weakened area extends at least partially between the first waist panel bottom edge and the first waist panel top edge and through the backsheet non-elasticized area.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein said backsheet non-elasticized region extends longitudinally through the entirety of said first backsheet portion.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said first one of said elastic elements of said first waistband portion and said second one of said elastic elements of said first waistband portion each comprise an elastic strand.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the waistband non-elasticized region comprises a waistband non-elasticized region transverse width of between about 2mm and about 20 mm.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein:

the first waist panel is coupled to the absorbent insert through a first attachment region and the second waist panel is coupled to the absorbent insert through a second attachment region, the first attachment region comprising an attachment region top edge, an attachment region bottom edge, attachment region longitudinal side edges, and a total attachment region zone,

wherein the first attachment region further comprises an adhesive-free region extending in the longitudinal direction, and

the weakened area overlaps the adhesive free area.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the first waist panel comprises a crease proximate to the first waist panel top edge, the crease dividing the first waist panel into a first waist panel first portion and a first waist panel second portion, and wherein the weakened area extends through at least a portion of the first waist panel first portion and the first waist panel second portion.

9. A method of forming an absorbent article comprising:

moving a first waist panel material in a machine direction, the first waist panel material comprising a first waistband portion and a first backsheet portion, each of the first waistband portion and the first backsheet portion comprising a plurality of elastomeric strands extending in the machine direction;

moving a second waist panel material in the machine direction, the second waist panel material being spaced apart from the first waist panel material and the second waist panel material comprising a second waistband portion and a second backsheet portion, each of the second waistband portion and the second backsheet portion comprising a plurality of elastomeric strands extending in the machine direction;

forming a weakened area in the first waist panel material;

severing at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first backsheet portion;

severing at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion;

positioning an absorbent insert adjacent to the first waist panel material and the second waist panel material, the absorbent insert comprising an outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent body disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, the absorbent insert further comprising a front insert region, a crotch insert region, and a back insert region;

coupling the front insert region to one of the first waist panel material and the second waist panel material, wherein at least a portion of the absorbent main body overlaps at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first backsheet portion or the second backsheet portion;

joining the back insert region to the other of the first waist panel material and the second waist panel material, wherein at least a portion of the absorbent main body overlaps at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first backsheet portion and the second backsheet portion;

folding the insert such that the first waist panel material is adjacent to the second waist panel material; and

bonding the first waist panel material to the second waist panel material at discrete bond locations.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising severing each of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising severing each of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first backsheet portion.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the severed ends of at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the severed first waistband portion are set back toward each other forming a waistband non-elasticized region, and wherein the weakened region extends through the waistband non-elasticized region.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the weakened area extends through at least a portion of the first waist band portion of the first waist panel material and

severing at least one of the plurality of elasticized strands of the first waistband portion comprises severing the at least one of the plurality of elasticized strands at one or more locations, each of the one or more locations disposed laterally between about 1mm to about 10mm from an edge of the weakened area.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the weakened area extends through at least a portion of the first waist band portion of the first waist panel material and

severing at least one of the plurality of elasticized strands of the first waistband portion comprises severing the at least one of the plurality of elasticized strands at one or more locations, each of the one or more locations disposed between about 1mm to about 5mm laterally from an edge of the weakened area.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first waist panel material further comprises a first waist panel outer surface and a first waist panel inner surface, and wherein the method further comprises:

folding a portion of the first waist panel material over the first waist band portion to form a crease dividing the first waist panel into a first waist panel first portion and a first waist panel second portion such that the first waist panel second portion is disposed on the first waist panel interior surface, and

wherein the weakened area extends through at least a portion of the first waist panel first portion and the first waist panel second portion.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising intermittently applying adhesive to the at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion, and wherein severing the at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion comprises severing the at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion at a location where adhesive is not present on the at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion.

17. An absorbent article extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the article comprising a front region, a crotch region and a back region, the article having a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, and further comprising:

an absorbent insert having an inset front waist edge and an inset back waist edge, and comprising an outer cover, a liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the liner;

a first waist panel defining a first waist band portion and a first backsheet portion, each of the first waist band portion and the first backsheet portion comprising one or more elastic elements, the first waist panel being coupled to the absorbent insert through a first attachment region, the first attachment region comprising an attachment region top edge, an attachment region bottom edge, an attachment region longitudinal side edge, and a total attachment region zone, the first waist panel having a first waist panel bottom edge, a first waist panel top edge, a first waist panel outer surface, and a first waist panel inner surface, and the first waist panel further comprising a weakened area; and

a second waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert through a second attachment region, the second waist panel being bonded to the first waist panel proximate to the first side edge of the absorbent article and the second side edge of the absorbent article,

wherein a first one of said elastic elements of said first waistband portion is laterally spaced apart from a second one of said elastic elements of said first waistband portion, thereby forming a waistband non-elasticized region laterally between said first one of said elastic elements and said second one of said elastic elements,

wherein the weakened area extends at least partially between the first waist panel bottom edge and the first waist panel top edge and through the waistband non-elasticized area,

wherein the first attachment area further comprises a low strength attachment area and a high strength attachment area, the high strength attachment area being disposed proximate the attachment area bottom edge, and

wherein the low-strength attachment region has a first peel strength and the high-strength attachment region has a second peel strength, the second peel strength being greater than the first peel strength.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the first attachment region further comprises an adhesive free region extending in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the weakened region overlaps the adhesive free region.

19. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the first attachment area further comprises a first high strength attachment area and a second high strength attachment area, the first high strength attachment area being disposed proximate the attachment area bottom edge and the second high strength attachment area being disposed proximate the attachment area top edge.

20. The absorbent article according to claim 17, wherein the first waist panel comprises a crease proximate to the first waist panel top edge, the crease dividing the first waist panel into a first waist panel first portion and a first waist panel second portion, and wherein the weakened area extends through at least a portion of the first waist panel first portion and the first waist panel second portion.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to side-closed absorbent articles, and more particularly, to side-closed absorbent articles that can be opened from the front or back.

Background

Continuing to wear the absorbent article after the exudates have penetrated the absorbent article may result in some different undesirable effects. For example, wearing absorbent articles that retain body exudates for extended periods of time may increase the likelihood of skin irritation. Further, continued wearing of such absorbent articles may also result in an increased likelihood that the liner system of the absorbent article may become damaged. For semi-solid fecal material, these undesirable effects may be more common. Such fecal material can have difficulty penetrating the body side liner of the absorbent article and tend to spread over the surface of the body side liner.

When referring to baby care absorbent articles, side-closed absorbent article products, including infant and adult products, are commonly referred to as training pants and pull-up diapers, and more traditional open absorbent articles may retain such exudates until the article is removed. In addition, each style of absorbent article (side closed and open) may provide different benefits and disadvantages. For example, side-closed articles utilize a backsheet design that more closely mimics traditional undergarments, which may provide enhanced fit. However, open absorbent articles may be easier to adequately remove because the product can be unfolded and folded at the waist to contain body exudates. Side-edge closed articles are typically removed by sliding the article down the body of the wearer, but body exudates can soil the legs of the wearer or be removed by tearing the side edges of the article. However, tearing the side edges of such articles may fold the article to contain exudates, and such a folded state is difficult to maintain. Accordingly, there is a need for a side-closed absorbent article that can be removed in an easier manner and that provides better ability to fold and remain folded to contain body exudates.

Disclosure of Invention

The absorbent articles disclosed herein are side-closed articles designed to be easily opened, easily folded and maintain a folded shape. Generally, the absorbent articles disclosed herein are configured with a front or back waist panel that is removably attached to an absorbent insert and includes a weakened area that is easy to tear. Additional features of the absorbent articles of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description that follows.

In a first embodiment, an absorbent article may extend in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the article comprising a front region, a crotch region, and a back region, the article having a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, and may further comprise: an absorbent insert having an inset front waist edge and an inset back waist edge, and comprising an outer cover, a liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the liner; a first waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert and comprising a weakened area, the first waist panel having a first waist panel bottom edge, a first waist panel top edge, a first waist panel exterior surface and a first waist panel interior surface, the first waist panel further comprising a first waist band portion and a first backsheet portion, each of the first waist band portion and the first backsheet portion comprising one or more elastic elements; and a second waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert. The first waist panel may be bonded to the second waist panel adjacent to the first side edge of the absorbent article and the second side edge of the absorbent article. A first one of the elastic elements of the first waistband portion may be laterally spaced apart from a second one of the elastic elements of the first waistband portion, thereby forming a waistband non-elasticized region laterally between the first one of the elastic elements and the second one of the elastic elements, and the weakened region may extend at least partially between the first waist panel bottom edge and the first waist panel top edge and through the waistband non-elasticized region.

In a second embodiment, the waistband non-elasticized region of the first embodiment may extend longitudinally across the entire first waistband portion.

In a third embodiment, a first one of said elastic elements of said first backsheet portion of the first or second embodiments may be laterally spaced from a second one of said elastic elements of said first backsheet portion to laterally form a backsheet non-elasticized region between said first one of said elastic elements of said first backsheet portion and said second one of said elastic elements of said first backsheet portion, and said weakened region may extend at least partially between and through said first waist panel bottom edge and said first waist panel top edge.

In a fourth embodiment, the backsheet non-elasticized region of the third embodiment may extend longitudinally through the entire first backsheet portion.

In a fifth embodiment, the first one of the elastic elements of the first waistband portion and the second one of the elastic elements of the first waistband portion of any of the first to fourth embodiments can each comprise an elastic strand.

In a sixth embodiment, the waistband nonelasticized region of any of the first through fifth embodiments may comprise a waistband nonelasticized region transverse width of between about 2mm and about 20 mm.

In a seventh embodiment, the first waist panel of any one of the first to sixth embodiments may be coupled to the absorbent insert through a first attachment region and the second waist panel is coupled to the absorbent insert through a second attachment region, the first attachment region comprising an attachment region top edge, an attachment region bottom edge, an attachment region longitudinal side edge, and a total attachment region zone, the first attachment region may further comprise an adhesive free region extending in the longitudinal direction, and the weakened region may overlap the adhesive free region.

In an eighth embodiment, the first waist panel of any one of the first to seventh embodiments may comprise a crease proximate to the first waist panel top edge, the crease dividing the first waist panel into a first waist panel first portion and a first waist panel second portion, and the weakened area may extend through at least a portion of the first waist panel first portion and the first waist panel second portion.

In a ninth embodiment, a method of forming an absorbent article can comprise: moving a first waist panel material in a machine direction, the first waist panel material comprising a first waistband portion and a first backsheet portion, each of the first waistband portion and the first backsheet portion comprising a plurality of elastomeric strands extending in the machine direction; moving a second waist panel material in the machine direction, the second waist panel material being spaced apart from the first waist panel material and the second waist panel material comprising a second waistband portion and a second backsheet portion, each of the second waistband portion and the second backsheet portion comprising a plurality of elastomeric strands extending in the machine direction; forming a weakened area in the first waist panel material; severing at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first backsheet portion; severing at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion; positioning an absorbent insert adjacent to the first waist panel material and the second waist panel material, the absorbent insert comprising an outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent body disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, the absorbent insert further comprising a front insert region, a crotch insert region, and a back insert region; coupling the front insert region to one of the first waist panel material and the second waist panel material, wherein at least a portion of the absorbent main body overlaps at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first backsheet portion or the second backsheet portion; joining the back insert region to the other of the first waist panel material and the second waist panel material, wherein at least a portion of the absorbent main body overlaps at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first backsheet portion and the second backsheet portion; folding the insert such that the first waist panel material is adjacent to the second waist panel material; and bonding the first waist panel material to the second waist panel material at discrete bond locations.

In a tenth embodiment, the ninth embodiment may further comprise severing each of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion.

In an eleventh embodiment, the ninth or tenth embodiment can further comprise severing each of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first backsheet portion.

In a twelfth embodiment, the severed ends of at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the severed first waistband portion of any of the ninth to eleventh embodiments can be retracted away from each other, thereby forming a waistband non-elasticized region, and wherein the weakened region extends through the waistband non-elasticized region.

In a thirteenth embodiment, the weakened area of any one of the ninth to twelfth embodiments may extend through at least a portion of the first waist panel material, and severing at least one of the plurality of elasticized strands of the first waist panel portion may comprise severing the at least one of the plurality of elasticized strands at one or more locations, each of the one or more locations disposed between about 1mm to about 10mm laterally from an edge of the weakened area.

In a fourteenth embodiment, the weakened area of any one of the ninth to thirteenth embodiments may extend through at least a portion of the first waist panel material, and severing at least one of the plurality of elasticized strands of the first waist panel portion may comprise severing the at least one of the plurality of elasticized strands at one or more locations, each of the one or more locations disposed between about 1mm to about 5mm laterally from an edge of the weakened area.

In a fifteenth embodiment, the first waist panel material of any one of the ninth to fourteenth embodiments may further comprise a first waist panel exterior surface and a first waist panel interior surface, and wherein the method may further comprise folding a portion of the first waist panel material over the first waist panel portion to form a crease dividing the first waist panel into a first waist panel first portion and a first waist panel second portion such that the first waist panel second portion is disposed on the first waist panel interior surface, and the weakened area may extend through at least a portion of the first waist panel first portion and the first waist panel second portion.

In a sixteenth embodiment, any of the ninth to fifteenth embodiments may further comprise intermittently applying adhesive to the at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion, and severing the at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion may comprise severing the at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion at locations where adhesive is not present on the at least one of the plurality of elastomeric strands of the first waistband portion.

In a seventeenth embodiment, an absorbent article may extend in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the article comprising a front region, a crotch region, and a back region, the article having a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, and may further comprise: an absorbent insert having an inset front waist edge and an inset back waist edge, and comprising an outer cover, a liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the liner; a first waist panel defining a first waist belt portion and a first backsheet portion, each of the first waist belt portion and the first backsheet portion comprising one or more elastic elements, the first waist panel being coupled to the absorbent insert through a first attachment region, the first attachment region comprising an attachment region top edge, an attachment region bottom edge, an attachment region longitudinal side edge, and a total attachment region zone, the first waist panel having a first waist panel bottom edge, a first waist panel top edge, a first waist panel outer surface, and a first waist panel inner surface, and the first waist panel further comprising a weakened area; and a second waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert through a second attachment region, the second waist panel being bonded to the first waist panel proximate to the first side edge of the absorbent article and the second side edge of the absorbent article. A first one of the elastic elements of the first waistband portion may be laterally spaced apart from a second one of the elastic elements of the first waistband portion, thereby forming a waistband non-elasticized region laterally between the first one of the elastic elements and the second one of the elastic elements. The weakened area may extend at least partially between the first waist panel bottom edge and the first waist panel top edge and through the waist belt non-elasticized area, and the first attachment area may further comprise a low strength attachment zone and a high strength attachment zone, the high strength attachment zone being disposed proximate the attachment area bottom edge, wherein the low strength attachment zone has a first peel strength and the high strength attachment zone has a second peel strength, and the second peel strength may be greater than the first peel strength.

In an eighteenth embodiment, the first attachment region of the seventeenth embodiment can further comprise an adhesive-free region extending in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the weakened region overlaps the adhesive-free region.

In a nineteenth embodiment, the first attachment region of the seventeenth or eighteenth embodiment can further comprise a first high strength attachment region and a second high strength attachment region, the first high strength attachment region disposed proximate the attachment region bottom edge and the second high strength attachment region disposed proximate the attachment region top edge.

In a twentieth embodiment, the first waist panel of any one of the seventeenth to nineteenth embodiments may comprise a crease proximate to the first waist panel top edge, the crease dividing the first waist panel into a first waist panel first portion and a first waist panel second portion, and the weakened area may extend through at least a portion of the first waist panel first portion and the first waist panel second portion.

The above summary of the present disclosure is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. Advantages and attainments, together with a more complete understanding of the disclosure, will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Aspects of the disclosure may be further understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable side-closed absorbent article of the present disclosure in a wear configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disposable side-closed absorbent article of FIG. 1 with the front panel in a partially open position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 in an open configuration;

FIG. 4 is a close-up of the front waist panel of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 with the weakened area highlighted;

FIG. 5 is a close-up of the front waist panel of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 with the attachment area highlighted;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the front waist panel of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 with the elastic elements of the waistband region highlighted;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the front waist panel of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 with the elastic elements of the waist region highlighted;

FIG. 8A is a cross-section of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 6, viewed along line 9-9;

FIG. 8B is a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 6, viewed along line 9-9; and is

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the absorbent article of fig. 1 shown in an opposite view from fig. 1.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure generally relates to side-closed absorbent articles that may be opened from the front or back. More specifically, the article of the present disclosure may have a front waist panel and a back waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert. At least one of the front waist panel and the back waist panel may be releasably attached to the absorbent insert and may comprise a weakened area that is easy to tear. Thus, the user or caregiver can tear the absorbent article along the weakened sections to make the absorbent article easier to remove from the wearer. Depending on the location of the weakened region, the side-closed articles of the present disclosure may be opened from either the front side or the back side.

Each of the examples in the following detailed description, including those shown in the various figures, is given by way of illustration and is not meant as a limitation. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment or figure can be used on another embodiment or figure to yield a still further embodiment, unless expressly stated to the contrary. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such modifications and variations.

Although some suitable dimensions, ranges, and/or values are disclosed in connection with various components, features, and/or specifications, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates that desired dimensions, ranges, and/or values may deviate from those explicitly disclosed.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiments thereof, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Many modifications and variations of this disclosure can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the above exemplary embodiments should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention.

Defining:

the term "absorbent article" refers herein to articles that can be placed against or in proximity to (i.e., adjacent to) the body of the wearer to absorb and contain the various liquid, solid, and semi-solid exudates discharged from the body. Such absorbent articles as described herein are intended to be discarded after a limited period of use rather than being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. It is understood that the present disclosure is applicable to a variety of disposable absorbent articles including, but not limited to, diapers, training pants, sport pants, swim pants, feminine hygiene products including, but not limited to, catamenial pads, incontinence products, medical garments, surgical pads and bandages, other personal care or health care garments, and the like, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The term "acquisition layer" refers herein to a layer capable of receiving and temporarily holding liquid body exudates to decelerate and diffuse the gush or burst of liquid body exudates and subsequently release the liquid body exudates therefrom into another layer or layers of the absorbent article.

The term "joined" refers herein to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, etc., of two elements. Two elements will be considered to be bonded together when they are joined, attached, connected, attached, etc., directly to one another or to one another, such as when each element is directly bonded to intermediate elements. The bonding of one element to another element may be performed by continuous or intermittent bonding.

The term "carded web" refers herein to webs that contain natural or synthetic tuft length (staple length) fibers having a fiber length of typically less than about 100 mm. The bundle of tufted fibers may be subjected to an opening process to separate the fibers, then the fibers are sent to a carding process, where the fibers are separated and carded to align them in the machine direction, after which the fibers are deposited on a moving wire for further processing. Such webs typically undergo some sort of bonding process, such as thermal bonding using heat and/or pressure. Additionally or alternatively, the fibers may be subjected to an adhesion process to bond the fibers together, for example, by using a powder adhesive. The carded web may undergo fluid entanglement, such as hydroentanglement, to further entangle the fibers and thereby improve the integrity of the carded web. Because the fibers are aligned in the machine direction, the carded web, once bonded, typically has a machine direction strength (machine direction strength) that is greater than the cross machine direction strength (cross machine direction strength).

The term "film" refers herein to a thermoplastic film made using an extrusion and/or shaping process such as a cast film or blown film extrusion process. This term encompasses porous films, cut films and other porous films that constitute liquid transfer films, as well as films that do not transfer fluid, such as, but not limited to, barrier films, filled films, breathable films, and oriented films.

The term "gsm" refers herein to grams per square meter.

The term "hydrophilic" refers herein to fibers or fiber surfaces that are wetted by aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wetting of a material can in turn be described in terms of the contact angles and surface tensions of the liquids and materials involved. Apparatus and techniques suitable for measuring the wettability of a particular fibrous material or blend of fibrous materials can be provided by a Cahn SFA-222Surface Force analysis System (Cahn SFA-222Surface Force Analyzer System) or a substantially equivalent System. Fibers having contact angles less than 90 are considered "wettable" or hydrophilic and fibers having contact angles greater than 90 are considered "nonwettable" or hydrophobic when measured using this system.

The term "light transmittance" or "optical transmission" refers herein to a measured property of one or more substrates as defined by the light transmittance test described further herein.

The term "liquid impermeable" refers herein to one or more layers of a laminate through which liquid bodily exudates, such as urine, will not pass under ordinary use conditions in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminate at the point of liquid contact.

The term "liquid permeable" refers herein to any material that is not liquid impermeable.

The term "meltblown" refers herein to fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging high velocity heated gas (e.g. air) streams which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which may be to microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al, which is incorporated herein by reference. Meltblown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, are generally smaller than about 0.6 denier, and may be tacky and self-adhering when deposited onto a collecting surface.

The term "nonwoven" refers herein to a material or web of material that is formed without the aid of a fabric weaving or knitting process. The material or web of material may have a structure of individual fibers, filaments or threads (collectively "fibers"), which may be intercalated (interlaid), but in a manner different from that recognizable in a knitted fabric. The nonwoven material or web may be formed from a number of processes such as, but not limited to, a meltblown process, a spunbond process, a carded web process, and the like.

The term "flexible" refers herein to materials that are compliant and readily conform to the general shape and contours of the wearer's body.

The term "spunbond" refers herein to small diameter fibers formed by: molten thermoplastic material is extruded as filaments from a plurality of fine capillaries of a spinneret having a circular or other configuration, and the diameter of the extruded filaments is then rapidly reduced by conventional processes such as draw-off and drawing and the processes described in U.S. patent nos. 4,340,563 to Appel et al, 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al, 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al, 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, 3,502,763 to Hartmann, 3,502,538 to Peterson, and 3,542,615 to Dobo et al, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Spunbond fibers are substantially continuous and typically have an average denier of greater than about 0.3, and in one embodiment between about 0.6, 5, and 10 and about 15, 20, and 40. Spunbond fibers generally do not become tacky when they are deposited onto a collecting surface.

The term "superabsorbent" refers herein to a water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic material capable of absorbing at least about 15 times its weight, and in one embodiment at least about 30 times its weight, in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride under most favorable conditions. Superabsorbent materials can be natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. In addition, the superabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials such as silica gels or organic compounds such as crosslinked polymers.

The term "thermoplastic" refers herein to a material that softens and sets when exposed to heat and which substantially returns to a non-softened condition when cooled.

The term "user" or "caregiver" refers herein to a person: which fit an absorbent article, such as, but not limited to, a diaper, training pants, incontinence products, or other absorbent articles, around the wearer of one of these absorbent articles. The user and the wearer may be the same person.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable side-closed absorbent article 10 of the present disclosure in a wear configuration, and fig. 3 is a plan view of the article 10 in an open configuration. Generally, the article 10 is a side-closing absorbent article that may be used for children or adults. The article 10 may comprise a front waist panel 12 and a back waist panel 14. The front waist panel 12 may be joined to the back waist panel 14 along their lateral edges, such as by side seam bonds 17, and may be separated from each other along their central regions. The absorbent insert 16 may span between and be attached to the front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14. As can be seen in fig. 3, the absorbent insert 16 may include an insert front region 31 having an insert front edge 30, an insert crotch region 33, and an insert rear region 35 having an insert rear edge 32. In use, the insert front region 31 may be positioned on the front region of the wearer and the insert rear region 35 may be positioned on the rear region of the wearer. The insert crotch region 33 may be at least partially disposed between the legs of the wearer and may even span a portion of both the front and back regions of the wearer.

In general, the absorbent insert 16 may include a plurality of different layers. For example, the absorbent insert 16 may include an outer cover 18, a bodyside liner 27, and an absorbent body disposed between the outer cover 18 and the bodyside liner 27. In various embodiments, the outer cover 18 can be partially or completely breathable and/or liquid impermeable, and at least some portions can be elastic, stretchable, or non-stretchable. The outer cover 18 can be constructed of a single layer in some embodiments, and can be constructed of multiple layers in other embodiments, such as where the outer cover 18 includes one or more laminates of materials. The outer cover 18 may include a spunbond fabric, a film, a meltblown fabric, an elastic netting, a microporous web, a bonded carded web, and/or a foam provided by an elastomeric or polymeric material.

In some contemplated embodiments, the outer cover 18 can be a single layer of liquid impermeable material, such as a polymeric film. The outer cover 18 can be suitably stretchable and more suitably elastic in at least the transverse direction 4 of the absorbent article 10, and can be stretchable and more suitably elastic in both the transverse direction 4 and the longitudinal direction 2. In further embodiments, the outer cover 18 can be a multi-layer laminate in which at least one layer is liquid impermeable. In some embodiments, the outer cover 18 can be a two-layer construction that includes an outer layer (not shown) and an inner layer (not shown) that can be bonded together, such as by a laminate adhesive. Suitable laminating adhesives may be applied continuously or intermittently as beads, sprays, parallel swirls, or the like, but it is understood that the inner layer may be bonded to the outer layer by other bonding methods including, but not limited to, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, and the like.

In embodiments where the outer cover 18 includes multiple layers, the outer layer of the outer cover 18 may be any suitable material, and may be a material that provides a generally cloth-like texture or appearance to the wearer. One typical example of a material suitable for use as an outer layer of the outer cover 18 may be about 20gsm spunbond polypropylene nonwoven web. The outer layer may also be constructed of the same materials from which the bodyside liner 27 may be constructed as described herein, and it may also be apertured to enhance evaporation of urine in the event that the inner layer is vapor permeable. In some embodiments, the outer cover 18, or at least the outer layer of the outer cover 18 when the outer cover 18 is a multi-layer construction, can be embossed and/or matte-treated to provide a more cloth-like texture or appearance.

At least one inner layer of the outer cover 18 (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 18 when the outer cover 18 has a single layer construction) is liquid impermeable and can be vapor permeable (i.e., "breathable") or vapor impermeable. The liquid-impermeable inner layer (or the liquid-impermeable outer cover 18 when the outer cover 18 has a single layer construction) can be made of a thin plastic film. The liquid impermeable inner layer (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 18 when the outer cover 18 has a single layer construction) can inhibit liquid bodily exudates from leaking out of the absorbent article 10 and wetting articles such as bed sheets and clothing, as well as the wearer and caregiver. As some specific examples, the outer cover 18 may be constructed of a microporous polymeric film (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene) or a nonwoven material that has been coated or otherwise treated to impart a desired level of liquid impermeability.

The bodyside liner 27 of the absorbent article 10 shown in fig. 3 may cover the absorbent body 26 and the outer cover 18, and may isolate the wearer's skin from waste liquid retained by the absorbent body 26. In various embodiments, the absorbent insert 26 may further comprise a fluid transfer layer (not shown) and/or an acquisition layer (not shown), which layers will be located between the bodyside liner 27 and the absorbent body 26. In various embodiments, the bodyside liner 27 may be bonded to the acquisition layer and/or the fluid transfer layer in different configurations via adhesives and/or by point-and-fusion bonding. Point fusion bonding can be accomplished using ultrasonic energy, thermal energy, or pressure energy, and any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the bodyside liner 27 can extend beyond the absorbent body 26 to cover a portion of the outer cover 18 and can be bonded thereto to substantially enclose the absorbent body 26 between the outer cover 18 and the bodyside liner 27. It is contemplated that the bodyside liner 27 may be narrower than the outer cover 18. However, in other embodiments, the bodyside liner 27 and the outer cover 18 can have the same width and length dimensions, for example, as depicted in the embodiment shown in figure 3. In other embodiments, the bodyside liner 27 may be wider than the outer cover 18.

In some embodiments, it is also contemplated that the bodyside liner 27 may be constructed from more than one segment of material, such as a central region of material that is different from one or both of the lateral regions (not shown) of the bodyside liner 27. The bodyside liner 27 may have different shapes, including rectangular, hourglass, or any other shape. The bodyside liner 27 can be suitably conformable, soft, comfortable, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin, and can be the same as or less hydrophilic than the absorbent body 26 to allow body exudates to readily penetrate the absorbent body 26 and provide a relatively dry surface to the wearer.

The bodyside liner 27 can be manufactured from various types of materials, such as synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester or polypropylene fibers), natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foams, reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, and the like. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to, rayon, wood, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat bondable fibers, polyolefins, such as, but not limited to, copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene and aliphatic esters, such as polylactic acid, finely perforated film webs, mesh materials, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Various woven and nonwoven fabrics can be used for the bodyside liner 27. The bodyside liner 27 may comprise a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a polymeric film, a film-fabric laminate, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Examples of nonwoven fabrics may include spunbond fabrics, meltblown fabrics, coform fabrics, carded webs, bonded carded webs, bicomponent spunbond fabrics, spunlaced fabrics, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. The bodyside liner 27 need not be a single layer structure and, thus, may comprise more than one layer of fabric, film and/or web, as well as combinations thereof. For example, the bodyside liner 27 may include a support layer and a protrusion layer that may be hydroentangled. The protrusion layer may comprise hollow protrusions such as those disclosed in USPN 9474660 to Kirby et al.

For example, the bodyside liner 27 may be composed of a meltblown or spunbond web of polyolefin fibers. Alternatively, the bodyside liner 27 may be a bonded carded web composed of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The bodyside liner 27 can be composed of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material can optionally be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. The surfactant can be applied by any conventional means such as spraying, printing, brushing, and the like. The surfactant may be applied to the entire bodyside liner 27, or may be selectively applied to specific sections of the bodyside liner 27.

In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 27 can be composed of a nonwoven bicomponent web. The nonwoven bicomponent web may be a spunbond bicomponent web or a bonded carded bicomponent web. An example of a bicomponent staple fiber comprises a polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fiber. In this particular bicomponent fiber, the polypropylene forms the core and the polyethylene forms the sheath of the fiber. Fibers having other orientations, such as multi-lobed, side-by-side, end-to-end, may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 27 may be a spunbond substrate having a basis weight of from about 10 or 12 to about 15 or 20 gsm. In one embodiment, the body side liner 27 may be a 12gsm spunbond-meltblown-spunbond substrate with 10% meltblown content applied between the two spunbond layers.

While the outer cover 18 and bodyside liner 27 may comprise elastomeric materials, it is contemplated that the outer cover 18 and bodyside liner 27 may be constructed from generally non-elastomeric materials. In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 27 can be stretchable, and more suitably elastic. In some embodiments, the bodyside liner 27 may be suitably stretchable and more suitably elastic in at least the lateral direction 4, while in other embodiments, the bodyside liner 27 may be stretchable and more suitably elastic in both the lateral direction 4 and the longitudinal direction 2.

The front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14 are generally partially elasticized materials that encircle the waist and body of the wearer when the article 10 is worn by the wearer. The front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14 may generally comprise a plurality of material layers having one or more elastic elements, such as the elastic elements 21, 23, sandwiched therebetween. Figure 9A and figure 9B depict some embodiments having multiple layers of the front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14. For example, the front waist panel 12 can be seen to comprise an outer front waist panel 82 having an outer front waist panel surface 91 and an inner front waist panel 84 having an inner front waist panel surface 92. Similarly, the back waist panel 14 may also comprise a plurality of layers. In some embodiments, layers 82, 84 may be formed from two separate webs, while in other embodiments, layers 82, 84 may be formed from a single web that has been folded to form two layers.

In general, the outer front waist panel layer 82 can be formed from any suitable fibrous nonwoven web. For example, the outer front waist panel layer 82 may be formed from nonwoven webs such as staple fiber webs and more continuous webs of fibers or filaments such as those found in meltblown webs and spunbond webs. Through-air bonded carded staple fiber webs are particularly suitable for the outer front waist panel layer 82 because fibers such as bicomponent fibers may be used, including polyethylene based polymers for the sheath to provide a softer feel and feel, while the core of bicomponent fibers may be made of polymers such as polypropylene and Polyester (PET) to provide other properties such as stiffness and compression elasticity. The inner front waist panel layer 84 can be made of any of the same materials as the outer front waist panel layer 82. In at least some embodiments, the inner front waist panel layer 84 can be made from a spunbond web or a combination of a spunbond web and a meltblown web, which are typically made from polypropylene-based polymers. Generally, the basis weight of the front waist panel 12 may be between about 10gsm and about 100gsm, including both the outer front waist panel 82 and the inner front waist panel 84 and any inter-panel adhesive disposed between the inner front waist panel 84 and the outer front waist panel 82. In other embodiments, the basis weight of the front waist panel 12 may be between about 16gsm and about 50gsm, including both the outer front waist panel 82 and the inner front waist panel 84 and any inter-panel adhesive disposed between the inner front waist panel 84 and the outer front waist panel 82. In further embodiments, the basis weight of the front waist panel 12 may be between about 16gsm and about 35gsm, including both the outer front waist panel 82 and the inner front waist panel 84 and any inter-panel adhesive disposed between the inner front waist panel 84 and the outer front waist panel 82.

As shown in figure 1, the front waist panel 12 may extend a front waist panel length 36 from the front waist panel bottom edge 11 to the front waist panel top edge 13 (as shown in figure 3 and figure 4). The front waist panel top edge 13 may correspond to the end of the outer front waist panel layer 82 that is adjacent to the elasticized waistband portion 24. As better seen in fig. 8A, the front waist panel top edge 13 may be disposed at the longitudinal top edge 19 of the article 10, but this is not necessary in all embodiments. In at least some embodiments, such as shown in figure 8B, the outer front waist panel 82 may comprise a folded front waist panel portion 90 that is folded over the inner front waist panel 84. In such embodiments, the front waist panel top edge 13 may be disposed longitudinally below the longitudinal top edge 19 of the article 10.

The absorbent body 26 can be suitably configured to be generally compressible, conformable, flexible, non-irritating to the wearer's skin, and capable of absorbing and retaining liquid body exudates. The absorbent body 26 may be manufactured in a variety of sizes and shapes (e.g., rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shaped, I-shaped, hourglass-shaped, etc.) and from a variety of materials. The size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 6 should be compatible with the body shape of the intended wearer (infant to adult) and the liquid load imposed by the intended use of the absorbent article 10. The absorbent body 26 may have a length and width that may be less than or equal to the length and width of the absorbent article 10.

In some embodiments, the absorbent body 26 may be composed of hydrophilic fibers, cellulosic fibers (e.g., wood pulp fibers), natural fibers, webs of synthetic fibers, woven or nonwoven sheets, scrim netting or other stabilizing structures, superabsorbent material, binder materials, surfactants, selected hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials, pigments, lotions, odor control agents or the like, as well as combinations thereof. In at least one embodiment, the absorbent body 26 can be a matrix of cellulosic fluff and superabsorbent material. In various embodiments, the absorbent body 26 may be constructed of a single layer of material, or in the alternative, may be constructed of two or more layers of material.

Various types of wettable, hydrophilic fibers can be used in the absorbent body 26. Examples of suitable fibers include: natural fibers; cellulose fibers; synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as rayon; inorganic fibers composed of an essentially wettable material, such as glass fibers; synthetic fibres made of intrinsically wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as special polyester or polyamide fibres, or synthetic fibres composed of nonwettable thermoplastic polymers, such as polyolefin fibres which have been hydrophilized by suitable means. The fibers can be hydrophilized, for example, by treatment with surfactants, treatment with silica, treatment with materials having suitable hydrophilic moieties that are not readily removable from the fibers, or by coating non-wettable, hydrophobic fibers with hydrophilic polymers during or after fiber formation. Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. The superabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials such as silica gels or organic compounds such as crosslinked polymers. In one embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be free of superabsorbent material, or in an alternative embodiment, consist entirely of superabsorbent material.

The elastic elements 21, 23 may form an elasticized backsheet portion 22 and an elasticized waistband portion 24, respectively, of the article 10. In general, the elastic elements 21, 23 may be disposed between the layers of the front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14 and held in place by an elastic adhesive. Although shown as elastomeric strands in the figures, the elastic elements 21, 23 may comprise elastic strands, ribbons or sheets. In some embodiments, the elastic elements 21, 23 may comprise a single unitary elastic element spanning the elastic backsheet portion 22 and the elastic waistband portion 24, e.g., an elastic film. The elastic element may comprise spandex, natural or synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomeric material, or heat activated elastomeric material. More generally, the elastic elements 21, 23 may be any elastomeric material capable of being elongated by at least about 50%, desirably about 350%, and capable of returning to at least about 250%, and desirably within about 150%, of its original length after being elongated by about 300%. Some specific examples of elastic elements 21, 23 include heat activated elastic materials in which the elastic elements 21, 23 are composed of spandex elastomer strands, thermoplastic elastomers, or natural or synthetic rubbers, or may be activated by heat treatment after the elastic elements 21, 23 are secured in the front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14.

As seen in more detail in fig. 3, fig. 6 and fig. 7, the elastic elements 21, 23 form an elastic backsheet portion 22 and an elastic waistband portion 24, respectively. The elastic waistband portion 24 comprises a front waist panel 12 region which comprises one or more elastic elements 23 which are disposed closer to the longitudinal top edge 19 of the article 10 than the absorbent main body 26. In embodiments where the article 10 comprises a plurality of individual elastic elements 23 (e.g., strands or ribbons, etc.), the elastic belt portion 24 comprises an area of the front waist panel 12 spanning from the elastic element 23 longitudinally furthest from the longitudinal top edge 19 to the elastic element 23 longitudinally closest to the longitudinal top edge 19, wherein all of the elastic elements 23 are disposed closer to the longitudinal top edge 19 than the absorbent body 26. In embodiments in which the elastic elements 23 comprise unitary elastic structures that are separate from or part of the elastic elements 21, the elastic waistband portion 24 can be an area of the front waist panel 12 that contains the unitary elastic elements 23 that is disposed closer to the longitudinal top edge 19 than the absorbent body 26.

The elastic chassis portion 22 comprises an area of the sheet 12 that includes one or more elastic elements 21. As shown in the figures, the elastic element 21 is an elastic element for which a portion of the absorption body 26 is arranged closer to the longitudinal top edge 19 than each of the one or more elastic elements 21. In embodiments where the elastic elements 21 comprise a plurality of individual elastic elements, at least a portion of the absorbent body 26 is disposed closer to the longitudinal top edge 19 of the article 10 than each elastic element 21. In embodiments in which the elastic elements 21 comprise unitary elastic elements, whether separate from or as part of the elastic elements 23, the elastic backsheet portion 22 may be the area of the front waist panel 12 containing the unitary elastic elements 21 that is disposed farther from the longitudinal top edge 19 of the article 10 than at least a portion of the absorbent body 26.

The insert 16 including the absorbent body 26 may overlap at least a portion of the front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14. More specifically, the absorbent body 26 may overlap one or more elastic elements 21, as shown in the figures. In some of these embodiments, as will be described in more detail with reference to fig. 6, at least one of the one or more elastic elements 21 overlapping the absorbent body 26 may be cut to improve the function of the absorbent body 26 and improve the fit of the article 10.

As noted above, the article 10 may be a side-closing absorbent article. Thus, the lateral edges of the article 10 may be closed, for example by means of the side seam bonds 17. The side seam bonds 17 are bonds that join the front waist panel 12 to the back waist panel 14 on each lateral side edge of the article 10. These bonds are typically formed by some mechanical means, such as by the application of ultrasonic, pressure or thermal energy or a combination thereof. Therefore, the side seams 17 are generally permanent attachment means between the front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14. However, this is not required in all embodiments of the present disclosure. In other embodiments, the side seams may be made refastenable, or in further embodiments, the side seams 17 may be configured to be easily torn apart to provide another method of removing the article 10.

The article 10 may also include a weakened region 15. The weakened area 15 is shown in the figures as being located on the front waist panel 12. However, in other embodiments, the weakened area 15 may be located on the back waist panel 14. In further embodiments, contemplated articles according to the present disclosure may comprise weakened areas, such as the weakened area 15, on the front waist panel 12 and the back waist panel 14. Therefore, it should be understood that the depiction in the drawings of the weakened area 15 only on the front waist panel 12 is merely for simplicity and ease of description and is not intended to be limiting in any way. More details of the weakened region 15 will be described with reference to fig. 4, but one of the primary functions of the weakened region 15 is to provide a location on the article 10 that is easily torn by the wearer or caregiver to remove the article 10 from the wearer.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the disposable side-closed absorbent article 10 of fig. 1 with the front panel 12 in a partially open position. As mentioned, the article 10 may comprise a weakened zone 15 which may allow easy tearing of the front waist panel 12. The wearer or caregiver can tear the front waist panel 12 along the weakened area 15 to separate the front waist panel 12 into two separate front waist panel portions. Figure 2 depicts that the weakened zone 15 has been partially torn near the front waist panel bottom edge 11 and that the two partial front waist panel portions have been moved towards the front waist panel top edge 13, as indicated by arrows 3a, 3 b.

The weakened area 15 is tearable to completely separate the front waist panel 12 into two separate front waist panel portions as shown in figure 3, which is a plan view of the article 10 in a fully opened configuration in which the front waist panel 12 is torn into two separate front waist panel portions 12a, 12 b. Fig. 3 depicts other features of the article 10. For example, the body-facing surface 25 of the article 10 can be seen, as well as the containment flaps 28 and leg elastic members 29.

The article 10 may include containment flaps 28 to help retain body exudates within the article 10. In general, the containment flaps 28 can have various configurations and shapes, and can be constructed by various methods. For example, the containment flaps 28 may be similar to those described in U.S. patent No. 5,895,382 to Robert l.popp et al, U.S. patent No. 9,168,181 to Robert l.popp et al, and U.S. patent No. 9,259,362 to Robert l.popp et al, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The containment flaps 28 can be constructed of a fibrous material that can be similar to the material forming the bodyside liner 27, including but not limited to spunbond-meltblown-spunbond ("SMS") materials. Other conventional materials may also be used, including but not limited to polymeric films. Additionally, material laminates including multilayer films and/or nonwovens may be used to form containment flap materials.

The containment flaps 28 may include one or more flap elastic members (not shown), such as one member, two members, three members, or any other suitable number of elastic members. The flap elastic members can be located adjacent the distal edge of the flap, but they can also be located in any other portion of the containment flap, including adjacent the proximal portion of the flap and the intermediate portion of the flap.

The leg elastic members 29 may be secured to the outer cover 18, such as by being adhesively bonded to the outer cover with the laminate with the longitudinal side edges of the insert 16 generally laterally inward. The leg elastic members 29 may form elasticized leg cuffs to further assist in containment of body exudates. In one embodiment, the leg elastic members 29 may be disposed between an inner layer and an outer layer (not shown) of the outer cover 18, or between other layers of the absorbent insert 16, such as between the outer cover 18 and the bodyside liner 27. A wide variety of elastic materials may be used for the leg elastic members 29. Suitable elastic materials may comprise sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber or thermoplastic elastic materials. The elastic material may be stretched and secured to a substrate, secured to a gathered substrate, or secured to a substrate and then elasticized or shrunk, for example by the application of heat, such that elastic retractive forces are imparted to the substrate. Further, it is contemplated that in some embodiments, the leg elastic member 29 may be formed with the containment flaps 28 and then attached to the backsheet insert. Of course, the leg elastic members 29 may be omitted from the absorbent article 16 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Figure 4 is a close-up of the front waist panel 12 of the article 10 of figure 1 wherein the elastic members 21, 23 and the absorbent body 26 are hidden to better highlight the weakened area 15. As described with reference to fig. 1, the article 10 may include a weakened region 15. In some embodiments, the weakened area 15 may comprise a perforation line, while in other embodiments, the weakened area 15 may comprise a mechanically weakened portion of the front waist panel 12. In general, the weakened area 15 may be formed in the front waist panel 12 by any suitable means. For example, where the weakened area 15 includes a perforation line, the front waist panel 12 may be cut or slit to form the perforation line. In other embodiments, one or more of the layers of the front waist panel 12 may be compressed under pressure, thereby weakening the compressed portions relative to the surrounding uncompressed portions. In such embodiments, the front waist panel 12 may undergo deformation by being fed through a nip, particularly a nip comprising an anvil roll and a pattern roll, wherein the pattern roll comprises one or more protrusions to compress the front waist panel 12. In further embodiments, the weakened area 15 may comprise a melted or ablated region of the front waist panel 12. In some embodiments, the weakened area may extend through only one layer of material of the front waist panel 12, while in other embodiments, the weakened area 15 may extend through all layers of the front waist panel 12.

Alternatively, the weakened area 15 may be formed during the manufacture of the one or more precursor webs of material used to form the front waist panel 12 instead of forming the weakened area 15 in the front waist panel 12. For example, during the manufacture of such a precursor web, the precursor web may be formed with weakened zones, whether inherently formed by the structure of the material itself or by one of the deformation devices described above. The front waist panel 12 may then be formed using the precursor web and the weakened areas may be registered during the manufacturing process to align each weakened area 15 with respect to the absorbent insert 16 of a single absorbent article 10.

The weakened area 15 may extend in the longitudinal direction 2 through a portion of the front waist panel length 36 generally between the top end and the bottom end and may have a weakened area length 37. The weakened zone top may be the end of the weakened zone 15 that is disposed closest to the front waist panel top edge 13. The weakened area bottom end may be the end of the weakened area 15 that is disposed closest to the front waist panel bottom edge 11. In some embodiments, the weakened zone length 37 may be between about 50% and about 100% of the front waist panel length 36. In other embodiments, the weakened zone length 37 may be between about 75% and about 100% of the front waist panel length 36. The weakened area 15 may begin at the front waist panel bottom edge 11 and extend longitudinally toward the front waist panel top edge 13. In other embodiments, the weakened zone 15 may begin at the front waist panel top edge 13 and extend longitudinally toward the front waist panel bottom edge 11.

In at least some embodiments, the weakened area 15 may extend at least partially into the elasticized waistband portion 24, and in further embodiments, the weakened area 15 may extend completely through the elasticized waistband portion 24. These embodiments may make it easier for the user or caregiver to tear the front waist panel 12 completely to remove the article 10 more easily, but this is not required in all embodiments.

Although shown as generally straight lines extending longitudinally through the front waist panel 12, the weakened area 15 may have any suitable orientation and/or shape or pattern. For example, the weakened area 15 may form an angle between 30 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the front waist panel bottom edge 11. The weakened area 15 may have a single curve or multiple curves, or may have a stepped or zig-zag pattern. The weakened area 15 may comprise a plurality of individual shapes or patterns that are joined together to form a continuous weakened area.

In general, it may be desirable for the weakened region 15 to have a particular tear strength so that the weakened region 15 is easily torn by the wearer or caregiver. To ensure that the weakened region 15 is susceptible to tearing, in some embodiments, the weakened region 15 may have an average peak shear strength of less than or equal to about 60N according to the average peak shear strength test method described herein. In further embodiments, the weakened region 15 may have an average peak shear strength of less than or equal to about 40N according to the average peak shear strength test method described herein.

In at least some embodiments, the weakened region 15 may have an average peak shear strength of greater than or equal to about 10N, 15N, or 20N according to the average peak shear strength test method described herein. These minimum average peak shear strength values may be necessary in order to manufacture the article 10 in a continuous manufacturing process according to the methods described herein. The minimum average shear strength value may allow the front waist panel 12 to maintain integrity throughout the manufacturing process and not tear inadvertently before being torn by the wearer or caregiver.

In further embodiments, the weakened region 15 may have a variable average peak shear strength. For example, the weakened area 15 generally comprises: a top portion disposed closest to the front waist panel top edge 13; a bottom portion disposed closest to the front waist panel bottom edge 11; and an intermediate portion disposed between the top and bottom portions of the weakened areas.

The weakened zone top portion may include a length of weakened zone 15 beginning at an end of the weakened zone 15 disposed closest to the front waist panel top edge 13 and extending toward the front waist panel bottom edge 11. The length of the top portion of the weakened section may be between about 5% and about 25%, or between about 5% and about 20%, or between about 5% and about 15% of the length 37 of the weakened section. Likewise, the weakened zone bottom portion includes a length of weakened zone 15 beginning at the end of the weakened zone 15 disposed closest to the front waist panel bottom edge 11 and extending toward the front waist panel top edge 13. The length of the bottom portion of the weakened section may be between about 5% and about 25%, or between about 5% and about 20%, or between about 5% and about 15% of the value of the weakened section length 37.

In use, it is most likely that the weakened region 15 will be opened by first tearing the top or bottom portion of the weakened region. Thus, it may be beneficial for the weakened region top portion, the bottom portion, or both the weakened region top and bottom portions to have a higher average peak shear strength than the weakened region middle portion. In such embodiments, the weakened region 15 is less likely to be accidentally torn because the higher average peak shear strength of the top and/or bottom portions of the weakened region helps prevent accidental tearing. However, the weakened region 15 may still tear completely relatively easily for a user because the intermediate portion has a relatively low average peak shear strength.

In some embodiments, the average peak shear strength of the top portion of the weakened region may be from about 10% to about 200% higher, alternatively from about 25% to about 150% higher, alternatively from about 25% to about 100% higher, alternatively from about 25% to about 75% higher than the average peak shear strength of the middle portion. In further embodiments, the average peak shear strength of the bottom portion of the weakened region may be from about 10% to about 200% higher, alternatively from about 25% to about 150% higher, alternatively from about 25% to about 100% higher, alternatively from about 25% to about 75% higher than the average peak shear strength of the middle portion.

In further embodiments, both the weakened area top portion and the weakened area bottom portion may have an average peak shear strength greater than the average peak shear strength of the middle portion. In such embodiments, the weakened region top portion and the weakened region bottom portion can have an average peak shear strength according to any range listed above relative to the average peak shear strength of the middle portion. It should also be understood that the average peak shear strength of the top portion of the weakened area and the bottom portion of the weakened area need not be the same. The average peak shear strength of different portions of the weakened area 15 may be determined according to the average peak shear strength test method detailed below and using only the applied top, middle or bottom portions of the weakened area 15.

Average peak shear strength test method:

the test uses an MTS Criterion 42 machine (hereinafter "machine") available from MTS, located at 14000Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, Minn. The machine was equipped with a 10,000 gram load cell and an Advantage pneumatic tension clamp model MTS 100/200 having a 25x76mm clamp with interlocking faces. Then, the test comprises the following steps:

1. preparation of apparatus and materials

1.1 confirm that the appropriate load cell is in the tensile tester.

Note 1: for load cell conditioning (preheating), please refer to the manufacturer's specifications.

1.2 install the appropriate clamps and clamp faces.

1.3 ensure that the air pressure to operate the clamp is set at 90 pounds per square inch (psi).

1.4 open the computer and then operate according to the software menu selection.

1.5 following the description relating to calibrating the load cell for the tensile tester used.

And 1.6, adjusting the length of the gauge length.

1.7 confirm that the tensile tester parameters meet the following specifications (see Table 1):

table 11.8 confirms that the lower roll traveled 100mm (4 inches) in 2.4. + -. 0.5 seconds. Adjustments are made as necessary. Please refer to the "speed adjustment" section of the equipment manual.

1.9 confirmation of roller resting at hook fastener after first cycle; the limit switch of the roll-down is adjusted if necessary.

1.10 ensure that the reel and tensile tester frames are lint free and highly absorbent.

Note 3: at least one lap (fluff free/high absorbency) should be cleaned at each change.

2.0 preparation of test specimens

2.1 removing the front panel 12 from the absorbent article. This is accomplished by cutting front panel 12 along the longitudinal edge of front panel 12 and freely spraying the panel to deactivate the adhesive attaching front panel 12 to insert 16.

3.0 Process step

3.1 zero the load on the stretching frame.

3.2 place the sample in the holder using the following steps:

3.2.1 place a first side edge of front panel 12 in the upper clamp. The clip should overlap front panel 12 by at least 5 mm. The clamp is closed.

Note 4: do not clamp the sample at an angle; it may affect the test results.

3.2.3 place the second side edge of front sheet 12 in the lower clamp. The clip should overlap front panel 12 by at least 5 mm. The lower clamp is closed.

3.3 start the crosshead.

3.4 after the test is complete and the crosshead is returned, the sample is removed from the fixture.

4.0 results

Note 5: the date of testing and the date of manufacturing the test product (if possible) should be included in the data.

4.1 for each test sample, the maximum load is reported in grams. For each sample set, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values are reported.

4.2 record the average peak shear strength in grams force. Gram force units are converted to newtons and the average peak shear strength is recorded in newtons.

In general, the weakened area 15 may include individual weakened portions 40 interspersed between non-weakened portions 41. In this manner, the weakened area 15 may have a weakened area percentage. The weakened area percentage may be the sum of the lengths of each weakened portion 40, such as the sum of each weakened portion length 38 divided by the total weakened area length 37. In some embodiments, the weakened area percentage may be between about 45% and about 90%, or between about 65% and about 75%. In other words, the total length of each weakened portion 40, including the weakened region 15, may be from about 45% to about 90%, or in other embodiments from about 65% to about 75%, of the weakened region length 37. A percentage of weakened areas within the stated range may provide weakened areas 15 that are sufficiently easy to tear by the user or caregiver as they will not tear accidentally when the article is used.

In at least some embodiments, the weakened area percentage may vary along different portions of the weakened area 15. For example, the weakened area 15 may have a lower percentage of weakened area along the top and/or bottom portions of the weakened area than along the middle portion of the weakened area. In various embodiments, the percentage of weakened area at the top portion of the weakened area may be between about 20% and about 70%, or between about 25% and about 60%, or between about 30% and about 50%, while the percentage of weakened area at the middle portion of the weakened area is between about 50% and about 95%, or between about 60% and about 90%, or between about 60% and about 80%. In other embodiments, the percentage of weakened area at the bottom portion of the weakened area may be between about 20% and about 70%, or between about 25% and about 60%, or between about 30% and about 50%, while the percentage of weakened area at the middle portion of the weakened area is between about 50% and about 95%, or between about 60% and about 90%, or between about 60% and about 80%. In further embodiments, the percentage of weakened area of the top portion of the weakened area and the bottom portion of the weakened area may be between about 20% and about 70%, or between about 25% and about 60%, or between about 30% and about 50%, while the percentage of weakened area of the middle portion of the weakened area is between about 50% and about 95%, or between about 60% and about 90%, or between about 60% and about 80%. In such embodiments, the percentage of weakened area of the top and bottom portions of the weakened area need not be the same. Having different percentages of weakened areas may allow the weakened areas 15 to have variable tear strengths.

In other embodiments, weakened portion lengths 38 need not all be similar. Conversely, the weakened portion lengths 38 of different weakened portions 40 may be different. For example, the weakened section length 38 of the weakened section 40 in the bottom portion of the weakened section may be shorter than the weakened section length 38 of the weakened section 40 in the middle portion of the weakened section. As another example, the weakened portion 40 in the top portion of the weakened area may be shorter than the weakened portion length 38 of the weakened portion 40 in the middle portion of the weakened area. Further, the weakened section lengths 38 of the weakened sections 40 in the top and bottom portions of the weakened sections may be shorter than the weakened section lengths 38 of the weakened sections 40 in the middle portions of the weakened sections, or may be different from each other.

Figure 5 is a close-up of the front waist panel 12 of the article 10 with the elastic elements 21, 23 and the absorbent body 26 hidden to highlight the attachment region 45. The attachment region 45 couples the front waist panel 12 to the absorbent insert 16. It should be understood that the attachment region configuration described with reference to fig. 5 is an optional feature, which may be combined with the weakened region 15 in any of the forms described with reference to fig. 1-4 in some embodiments. That is, some contemplated embodiments of the present disclosure include only the weakened region 15 or only the one or more attachment regions depicted in fig. 5, while other contemplated embodiments include both the weakened region 15 and the one or more attachment regions of fig. 5. Thus, in addition to other benefits described below with reference to alternative embodiments of the attachment region 45, when present, may serve to enhance the function of the article 10 to allow a user or caregiver to easily open the front waist panel 12 of the article 10.

In general, attachment region 45 may have an attachment region top edge 60, an attachment region bottom edge 61, and attachment region longitudinal side edges 62 and 63. In some embodiments, the attachment region 45 may span at least a majority of the overlap between the insert 16 and the front waist panel 12. For example, the attachment region 45 may have an attachment region length 46 while the insert 16 has an insert overlap length 48, which is the length of the absorbent insert 16 that overlaps the front waist panel 12. In some embodiments, lengths 46 and 48 may be equal, while in other embodiments, length 48 may be slightly greater than length 46. Additionally, the attachment region 45 may have an attachment region width 57. Likewise, the width 57 may be the same as the absorbent insert width (not shown), or the absorbent insert width may be slightly greater than the width 57.

In some optional embodiments, a first adhesive may be disposed through the attachment region 45 to couple the insert 16 to the front waist panel 12. In some of these embodiments, the first adhesive may comprise a low strength adhesive, such as a garment adhesive, sometimes referred to in the art as a garment attachment adhesive or a garment positioning adhesive. Such garment adhesives may have a desired peel strength that is low enough to allow the user or caregiver to easily peel the front waist panel 12 away from the absorbent insert 16 when tearing the weakened area 15. Such desired peel strength may be less than about 8N, 6N, 4N, or 2N, or any other suitable value within the range of about 0.5N and about 8N, as measured according to the angled peel test method described herein.

In other embodiments, the first adhesive may be a higher strength adhesive, such as a construction adhesive or an elastic adhesive, sometimes referred to in the art as an elastic attachment adhesive. Such higher strength adhesives may have relatively higher peel performance characteristics than garment adhesives. For example, the peel strength of the construction and/or elastic adhesive may be greater than about 8N, 10N, or 12N, or any suitable value greater than about 8N, according to the angled peel test method. Additionally, the construction and/or elastic adhesive may have a higher shear strength than the garment adhesive. The higher shear strength that can be achieved by the construction and/or elastic adhesive may be beneficial to maintain the integrity of the attachment between the insert 16 and the front waist panel 12 in use.

In further embodiments, the attachment region 45 may include two separate adhesives that take advantage of the different advantages of garment adhesives and construction/elastic adhesives. For example, as shown in fig. 5, in some embodiments, the attachment region 45 may include a low strength attachment region 45' and one or more high strength attachment regions 47, the one or more high strength attachment regions 47 each having a high strength attachment region width 53 and a high strength attachment region length 54. In these examples, attachment region 45 may comprise the total area of front waist panel 12 bounded by both attachment regions 45', 47. In such embodiments, the low strength attachment region 45' may include a first adhesive, and the first adhesive may be a garment adhesive having a peel strength according to those preferred peel strengths described above with respect to the garment adhesive.

One or more high strength attachment regions 47 may include a second adhesive, which may be a construction or elastic adhesive having a higher peel strength than the first adhesive. For example, the second adhesive may have a peel strength in accordance with those preferred peel strengths described above with respect to the construction/elastic adhesive. In addition, the second adhesive may also have a higher shear strength than the shear strength of the first adhesive. For example, the drop time of the second adhesive may be at least about 4 hours according to the static shear test method described herein. In other embodiments, the drop time of the second adhesive may be at least about 6 hours, at least about 8 hours, or at least about 10 hours, or any suitable drop time exceeding at least about 4 hours, according to the static shear test method. In another aspect, the first adhesive may have a drip time of less than about 4 hours, less than about 2 hours, or less than about 1 hour, or any suitable drip time of less than about 4 hours, according to the static shear test method.

Angled peel test method:

the test uses an MTS Criterion 42 machine (hereinafter "machine") available from MTS, located at 14000Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, Minn. The machine was equipped with a 10,000 gram load cell and an Advantage pneumatic tension clamp model MTS 100/200 having a 25x76mm clamp with interlocking faces. Then, the test comprises the following steps:

1.0 preparation of the Equipment and materials

1.1 confirm that the appropriate load cell is in the tensile tester. For load cell adjustment or preheating, please refer to the manufacturer's specifications.

1.2 ensure that the air pressure to operate the clamp is not set to exceed the maximum load specification of the manufacturer.

1.3 open the computer and operate according to the software menu selection. The description of calibrating the load cell for the tensile tester used was followed.

1.4 ensure that the appropriate clamps are installed in the tensile tester such that the clamp face in the top and bottom clamps is 305x 76mm (12x 3 inches). It is ensured that there is no build-up of clamp and clamp faces and that there is no indentation or other damage to the clamp faces.

1.5 the gauge length is adjusted to 50 mm.

1.6 confirm that the tensile tester parameters meet the following specifications. (see Table 2)

Crosshead speed	500±10mm/min
		Gauge length	50±1mm
Force sensor	100N force sensor
		Calculation of peeling onset	10mm
Calculation of end of strip	120mm
		End point of test	130mm

TABLE 2

2.0 preparation of test specimens

2.1 open the side panels at the side seam bonds and lay the article flat. The front right and back left of the product are marked as worn.

2.2 cut the product in half, about 51mm (2 inches), under the sheet elastic band on the front and back of the product. Do not cut the waist elastic.

3.0 Process step

3.1 place the absorbent pad in the bottom clamp parallel to the waist elastic.

3.2 place the elastic sheet at the leg region of the upper clamp so that the adhesive attachment initiation is aligned with the center of the clamp.

3.3 ensure a load between 10 and 15 gram-force.

3.4 starting crosshead

3.5 after the test is complete and the crosshead is returned, the sample is removed from the fixture.

4.0 results

4.1 report the average load to the nearest 0.01 gram-force.

4.2 convert the reported gram-force to newtons and record newton values.

The static shear test method comprises the following steps:

the static shear test method uses a commercially available oven with set point controls, a 2 inch hook, and a 1000 gram weight. The static shear test method also uses an oven rack to which the sample can be attached while it is disposed within the oven.

1.0 preparation of the Equipment and materials

1.1 the oven temperature was confirmed to be 37.8. + -. 2 ℃ (100. + -. 3.6 ℃ F.).

2.0 preparation of test specimens

2.1 removing the absorbent article from the package.

2.2 cut a sample from an absorbent article comprising a front waist panel and an insert wherein the insert is bonded to the front waist panel by a low strength attachment zone or one of the high strength attachment zones (depending on the adhesive tested). The sample should be about 51mm x51mm with at least 10mm of the end portion on each side including only the front waist panel or insert.

3.0 Process step

3.1 attaching one of the edges of the specimen, including only the front waist panel or insert, to the oven rack using a large steel clip.

3.2 attach the weight strip to the other edge of the sample comprising only the front waist panel or insert, for example by folding the edge over the weight strip and stapling it on itself.

3.3 place the test rack in an oven. Ensure that all samples are still attached correctly.

3.4 attach a 1000 gram weight to each weight bar. The weight should hang freely so that

The minimum distance between the bottom of the weight bar and the bottom of the test rack was 38mm (1.5 inches);

the weight should be sufficiently higher than the test base,

so that the weight drops without stretching the material.

After 3.6 hours, the specimen is checked for failure. Record which on the data sheet

The sample failed.

3.7 this test was run for a total of 8 hours.

3.8 define failure when the weight is dropped.

3.9 after the test is completed, the weight and the test jig are taken off from the oven.

4.0 results

4.1 report sample pass or fail at each inspection.

4.1.1 pass-while the weight is still hanging.

4.1.2 failure-occurs when the weight is dropped. Indicating the time at which the failure occurred.

In various embodiments, one or more high strength attachment zones 47 may be positioned at various locations relative to the front waist panel 12. For example, in some embodiments, one or more high strength attachment regions 47 may be disposed proximate the longitudinal side edges 62 and/or 63 of the attachment region 45. In further embodiments, one or more high strength attachment regions 47 may additionally or alternatively be disposed proximate to the attachment region bottom edge 61.

In some embodiments, one or more high strength attachment regions 47 may be disposed within the attachment area 45 such that the one or more high strength attachment regions 47 at least partially overlap the low strength attachment region 45'. In further embodiments, one or more high strength attachment regions 47 may completely overlap with the low strength attachment region 45'. In other embodiments, one or more high strength attachment regions 47 may be disposed entirely outside of the low strength attachment region 45 'such that there is no overlap between regions 47 and 45'. Alternatively, one or more high strength attachment regions 47 may be disposed proximate to the low strength attachment region 45 ' such that the one or more high strength attachment regions 47 and the low strength attachment region 45 ' may share a portion of one or more boundaries of the regions 45 ', 47.

In some embodiments, the high strength attachment region width 53 may be at least about 5mm, or at least about 7.5mm, or at least about 10mm, or at least about 12.5mm, or at least about 15mm, or at least about 20mm, and may be less than about 100mm, or less than about 80mm, or less than about 60mm, or less than about 40 mm. In other embodiments, the high strength attachment region width 53 may be between about 5% and about 50%, or between about 15% and about 50%, or between about 25% and about 50% of the attachment region width 57. In other embodiments, the high strength attachment region 47 can have a high strength attachment region width 53 such that the region 47 extends all the way between the attachment region longitudinal side edges 62, 63 and the recess side edges 50, 51 (described in more detail below). In such embodiments, the high strength attachment region 47 may not overlap the low strength attachment region 45'.

The high strength attachment zone length 54 may be at least about 2.5mm, or at least about 5mm, or at least about 7.5mm, or at least about 10mm, and may be less than about 200mm, or less than about 175mm, or less than about 150mm, or less than about 125mm, or less than about 100mm, or less than about 75mm, or less than about 50mm, or less than about 40mm, or less than about 30mm, or less than about 20 mm. In further embodiments, the high strength attachment zone length 54 may extend from the attachment area bottom edge 61 all the way to the attachment area top edge 60. In these embodiments, the high strength attachment region 47 may not overlap the low strength attachment region 45'.

One or more high strength attachment regions 47 may additionally have a relatively smaller area than the area of the low strength attachment region regions 45'. Each of the one or more high strength attachment regions 47 can include an area that is between about 0.5% and about 10% of the area of the low strength attachment region 45'. The relatively smaller area of the one or more high strength attachment zones 47 may allow a relatively larger portion of the front waist panel 12 to be peeled away from the absorbent insert 16 with relative ease, leaving only a relatively smaller portion of the front waist panel 12, such as the one or more high strength attachment zones 47, which may be more difficult to peel away from the insert 16. However, one or more high strength attachment zones 47 having a higher relative shear strength than the low strength attachment zones 45' may still allow attachment between the front waist panel 12 and the insert 16 to maintain its integrity when the product is in use.

In some additional or alternative embodiments, the article 10 may further include a second high strength attachment region 65. Such a second high strength attachment region 65 may be similar to the high strength attachment region 47 except that the second high strength attachment region 65 may be positioned at a different location than the high strength attachment region 47. For example, the second high strength attachment area 65 may have similar properties to those described with respect to the high strength attachment region 47. In particular, the second high strength attachment region 65 may have a peel strength and/or a shear strength within those ranges described with respect to the high strength attachment region 47. These characteristics may be achieved by using the same adhesive for each of the regions 47, 63, but this need not be the case in all embodiments. Regions 47, 63 may comprise different adhesives, or one of regions 47, 63 may comprise an adhesive and the other of regions 47, 63 may comprise one or more mechanical bonds.

In further embodiments, the second high strength attachment region 65 may be located proximate the attachment area top edge 60 and also proximate the attachment area longitudinal side edges 62 and 63. Each of the second high strength attachment regions 65 may have a second high strength region width 66 and a second high strength region length 67. In some embodiments, width 66 and length 67 may reflect width and length 53 and 54. In other embodiments, width 66 and length 67 may be greater or less than width 53 and/or length 54. Although shown in fig. 5 as being limited to the upper side area of attachment region 45, in at least some embodiments, second high strength attachment region 65 may have a width 66 of between about 5% and about 50%, or between about 15% and about 50%, or between about 25% and about 50% of attachment region width 57. In embodiments where the width 66 is about 50% of the attachment region width 57, there may be only one second high strength attachment region 65 that extends completely between the attachment region longitudinal side edges 62 and 63. Further, as with the high-strength attachment region 47, in some embodiments, the second high-strength attachment region 65 may at least partially overlap the low-strength attachment region 45 ', while in other embodiments, not overlap the low-strength attachment region 45'.

In some embodiments, the first and second adhesives (e.g., the first and second adhesives that form the low and high strength attachment regions 45', 47 (and possibly region 65), respectively) may be applied by the same adhesive head. In such embodiments, the first adhesive and the second adhesive need to have similar operating or application temperatures. In this case, the term "similar" means operating or application temperatures within 5 degrees celsius of each other. Of course, in embodiments where separate adhesive heads are used to apply the first and second adhesives, the operation or application temperatures of the first and second adhesives need not be similar.

Although not required, in any of the above embodiments, the first adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive. In such embodiments, the first adhesive may have refastenable properties wherein the front waist panel 12 is capable of being reapplied to the absorbent insert 16 after separation and remains reattached to the insert 16. Such embodiments may allow for a compact disposal configuration of the article 10 in which the absorbent insert 16 is folded or rolled after separating the front waist panel 12 from the insert 16, and then the front waist panel portions 12a, 12b are reattached to the insert 16 to maintain the insert 16 in the folded or rolled state.

In further embodiments, instead of one or more high strength attachment regions 47 comprising a second adhesive, one or more high strength attachment regions 47 may comprise one or more mechanical bonds. For example, the one or more high strength attachment regions 47 may include a plurality of bonds that impart the shear strength characteristics described above to the one or more high strength attachment regions 47. The one or more high strength attachment zones 47 may also have a peel strength that is low enough to allow the user or caregiver to break the bonds and thereby open the front waist panel 12. However, in other embodiments, the bonds may be strong enough to cause the material of the front waist panel 12 to tear around the bonds, rather than breaking the bonds, in order to separate the front waist panel 12 from the insert 16. The bond may be formed using ultrasonic energy, pressure energy, or thermal energy, or a combination thereof.

In some other embodiments, the attachment region 45 may also include a recess 49. Where the attachment area 45 includes a low strength attachment region 45 'and one or more high strength attachment regions 47, the depression 49 may be formed as a depression in the low strength attachment region 45'. As shown in fig. 5, recess 49 can include a first recess side edge 50, a second recess side edge 51, and a recess edge 52. The recess 49 may also have a recess width 55 and a recess length 56. The recess width 55 can be defined as the maximum distance between the first recess side edge 50 and the second recess side edge 51. Recess length 56 may be defined as the maximum distance between recess edge 52 and front panel bottom edge 11.

Generally, the recess 49 defines an area where there is no attachment between the front waist panel 12 and the absorbent insert 16. Although shown as rectangular, the recess 49 may have any suitable shape. For example, first and second recess side edges 50, 51 can be angled such that recess 49 has a triangular or trapezoidal shape. Alternatively, the first and second recess side edges 50, 51 may be curved such that the recess has a semi-circular or semi-elliptical shape.

The recess 49 may be sized to receive one or more fingers of a user or caregiver to provide a location where tearing of the weakened region 15 is easily initiated. Thus, in some embodiments, the depression width 55 may be about 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, or 25mm, or any value in the range of about 10mm to about 25 mm. In other embodiments, the depression width 55 may be, for example, about 30mm, 35mm, 40mm, 45mm, 50mm, 55mm, 60mm, or any suitable value in the range of about 30mm to about 60mm to allow room for multiple fingers.

In some embodiments, the recess 49 may be relatively centered within the front waist panel 12. In such embodiments, a portion of the first recess side edge 50 closest to the attachment region longitudinal side edge 63 can be positioned a distance from the longitudinal side edge 63 that is between about 15% and about 40% of the attachment region width 57. A portion of the second recess side edge 51 closest to the attachment region longitudinal side edge 62 may additionally or alternatively be positioned a distance from the longitudinal side edge 62 that is between about 15% and about 40% of the attachment region width 57.

In some further embodiments, the attachment region 45 may include another feature in combination with any of the features described above for the attachment region 45 (e.g., the high strength attachment region 47, the second high strength attachment region 65, and the recess 49), the attachment region 45 may include an adhesive-free region disposed about the weakened region 15 that is free of adhesive (the first adhesive and/or the second adhesive). For example, the embodiment of fig. 5 depicts adhesive free regions 58. Further, where the article 10 includes a weakened area 15, the weakened area 15 may extend through the adhesive free area 58. The lack of adhesive within the adhesive-free region 58, and therefore the lack of attachment between the front waist panel 12 and the absorbent insert 16, may enhance the ability of the wearer or caregiver to tear the front waist panel 12 along the weakened region 15. For example, where the attachment region 45 includes the adhesive free region 58, the breaking of the weakened region 15 may occur in a smoother, controlled manner than in embodiments where the attachment region 45 does not include the adhesive free region 58. The adhesive free region 58 can have an adhesive free region width 59, which can generally range from about 4mm to about 26mm, or from about 8mm to about 22mm, or from about 12mm to about 18 mm. These ranges of adhesive free region widths 59 may generally allow the weakened region 15 to be positioned within the adhesive free region 58 during manufacture of the article 10 without being so large as to impair the function or performance of the article 10. The weakened region 15 may generally extend through the middle region of the adhesive free region 58, but the weakened region 15 need not be precisely located in the center of the adhesive free region 58.

Figure 6 depicts a plan view of the front waist panel 12 of the article 10 wherein the outer layer of the front waist panel 12 is removed and the one or more elastic elements 21 of the elasticized backsheet portion 22 are hidden to highlight the features of the one or more elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23 c. More specifically, fig. 6 depicts a close-up of the elasticized waistband portion 24 of the article 10. Also, although shown as elastomeric strands, one or more elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c may be ribbons, or even a single unitary elastic member.

In some additional or alternative embodiments, it may be beneficial for the elasticized waistband portion 24 to include at least one non-elasticized region (e.g., region 70). Non-elasticized regions 70 may be disposed laterally between the elasticized regions. For example, as can be seen in fig. 6, the non-elasticized region 70 extends generally in the transverse direction 4 between the elastic members 23 a', 23a ", which may form an elasticized region within the sheet 13.

More generally, the non-elasticized region 70 and the other non-elasticized regions may be formed wherein a first one of the elastic elements 23 (e.g., the elastic element 23 a' of fig. 6) is laterally spaced apart from a second one of the elastic elements 23 (e.g., the elastic element 23a "of fig. 6). The transverse spaces between the elastic elements 23 a', 23a "(e.g., the non-elasticized region transverse length 71) and any longitudinal spaces between longitudinally adjacent elastic elements 23 (e.g., the elastic elements 23b in fig. 6) include non-elasticized regions 70, e.g., regions where no elastic elements are present. It may be desirable to have elastic elements in the waistband portion 24 that extend continuously throughout the waistband portion to help the article 10 maintain a good fit to the wearer. Thus, to minimize the impact on the fit of the article 10, the non-elasticized region transverse length 71 may be relatively small, such as between about 2mm and about 20mm, or between about 2mm and about 10 mm.

During manufacture of the article 10, the elements 23 a', 23a "may form spaces therebetween. In other embodiments, one of the one or more elastic elements 23 (e.g., element 23a in fig. 6) may be cut to form two separate elastic elements 23 a', 23a ". In these embodiments, the non-elasticized regions 70 may be formed when the elastic elements 23 a', 23a "are retracted away from each other.

In the example of fig. 6, the non-elasticized region 70 is shown as extending through only a portion of the elasticized waistband portion 24. For example, only one of the elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c of the elasticized waistband portion 24 is formed by two portions 23 a', 23a "with a space therebetween. However, in other optional embodiments, the additional elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c may be formed in separate parts spaced apart from each other, or cut to form two separate parts with a space formed between them by retraction of the two separate parts. In some particular embodiments, all of the elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c of the elasticized waistband portion 24 may be formed in separate sections that are spaced apart from one another, or cut to form two separate sections with spaces formed therebetween by retraction of the separate sections. In such embodiments, the non-elasticized region 70 may longitudinally span between each of the elastic element portions 23a, 23b, 23c, and possibly through the entire elasticized waistband portion 24.

In addition, it can be seen that the weakened region 15 may extend through the non-elasticized region 70. In such embodiments, the front waist panel 12 can be opened more easily by the user or caregiver than in embodiments without the non-elasticized region 70. For example, the user or caregiver would not need to tear one or more of the elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c, wherein the weakened area 15 extends through the elasticized waistband portion 24.

In the case of non-elasticized regions 70 formed by cutting one or more elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c of the elasticized waistband portion 24, an important parameter is the location at which the cut occurs relative to the weakened region 15. In the embodiment of fig. 6, the non-elasticized region 70 extends only across a portion of the elasticized waistband portion 24, and the dashed box 75 represents where the elastic element 23 may be severed and positioned a cutting distance 73 from the weakened region 15. The cutting distance 73 may be between about 1mm and about 10mm, or between about 1mm and about 5 mm. Severing the elastic element 23a is generally undesirable because it severs the integrity of the elasticized waistband portion 24 of the article 10, which can compromise the desired fit of the article 10. Thus, to minimize the impact on the fit of the article 10, the cut distance 73 should be relatively close to the weakened area 15 so as to minimize the extent of the non-elasticized region 70 in the transverse direction 4 within the elasticized waistband portion 24.

In some embodiments, the elastic elements 23 may be severed by using a knife roll/anvil roll pair. For example, the dashed box 75 may represent a projection of a knife roll of a knife/anvil roll pair. In some embodiments, the projections of the knife roll may cut the elastic elements 23a without cutting any of the layers of the front waist panel 12. However, in other embodiments, the elastic element 23a may be severed by other methods known in the art. Additionally, it should also be understood that while the non-elasticized region 70 is shown spanning between only one of the elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c in the embodiment of fig. 6, in other embodiments, the non-elasticized region 70 may span an additional elastic element of the elasticized waistband portion 24. In these embodiments, one or more of the other elastic elements 23b, 23c of the elasticized waistband portion 24 may be severed in a similar manner.

As noted above, one or more elastic elements 21, 23 of the article 10 may be held in place by coating the elastic elements 21, 23 with an elastic adhesive prior to or during incorporation of the elastic elements 21, 23 into the article 10. When one or more of the elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c of the elasticized waistband portion 24 is cut, the elastic adhesive applied to the elastic elements 23a, 23b, 23c to be cut may be pulsed and eliminated. More specifically, the elastic adhesive pulse may be eliminated in the region around the weakened region 15. In the example of fig. 6, the elastic element 23a may have areas that are not coated with any elastic adhesive prior to severing. During the formation of the non-elasticized region 70, the uncoated region is registered to overlap the weakened region 15. The transverse extent of the uncoated region may be approximately equal to the transverse length 71 of the non-elasticized region, which may be in the range between about 2mm and about 20 mm. When the elastic element 23a is cut, the portions 23 a' and 23a "retract away from each other to approximately the edge of the uncoated area of the elastic element 23a, which corresponds to the edge of the non-elasticized area 70.

However, in other embodiments, the elastic adhesive may not be pulsed and eliminated. In such embodiments, one or more of the elastic elements 23 may still be severed, but the two portions of the severed elastic element 23 may have little to no retraction away from each other. These embodiments still provide the advantage of easier opening of the front waist panel 12, since the user or caregiver still will not need to tear open the one or more elastic elements 23.

Figure 7 depicts a plan view of the front waist panel 12 of the article 10 wherein the outer layer of the front waist panel 12 has been removed to highlight the features of the one or more elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21 d. More specifically, fig. 7 depicts a close-up of the elasticized backsheet portion 22 of the article 10. Also, although shown as elastomeric strands, one or more elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d may be ribbons, or even a single unitary elastic member.

In some additional or alternative embodiments, it may be beneficial for the elasticized backsheet portion 22 to include a non-elasticized region that generally spans the absorbent body 26 of the article 10. Providing non-elasticized regions on the absorbent body 26 may contribute to the performance of the absorbent body 26 and/or may enhance the appearance of graphics located on the absorbent body. Providing non-elasticized regions on the absorbent body 26 will also help make it easier for the user or caregiver to open the front waist panel 12. For example, opening the front waist panel 12 may not require tearing of one or more elastic elements of the front waist panel 12.

In general, any non-elasticized region located within the elasticized backsheet portion 22 may be formed similar to the non-elasticized region 70 described above with respect to the elasticized waistband portion 24. For example, where the elastic chassis section 22 includes such a non-elasticized region, the non-elasticized region may be formed by severing one or more of the elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d to form two elastic element portions that retract away from each other to form the non-elasticized region. In these embodiments, the dashed box 76 may represent a location where one or more of the elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d may be severed. It can be seen that the block 76 is located a cutting distance 74 from the edge of the weakened region 15. Cutting distance 74 may have a similar value as cutting distance 73. Although in some embodiments, cutting distance 74 may be greater than cutting distance 73.

Additionally, as with the elastic elements 23 of the elasticized waistband portion 24, in some embodiments, the elastic adhesive may be applied to the elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d in an impulse manner. For example, elastic adhesive may be applied to the elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d in an intermittent manner, and during manufacture, the areas of the elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d that do not contain elastic adhesive may be registered to be generally aligned with the absorbent body 26. When the elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d are cut, the elastic element portions may retract away from each other and leave an area covering at least a portion of the absorbent body 26 free of any elastic elements. Within the backsheet zone 22, it is less important to control the cutting distance 74 closely around the weakened zone 15, since a relatively large desired non-elasticized zone covers a large part of the absorbent body. Thus, the cutting distance 74 may be between about 1mm and about half of the width of the absorbent body 26. Although, in other embodiments, the elastic adhesive may not be pulsed during application to the elastic elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 21 d. In such embodiments, the cutting distance 74 may be between about 1mm and about 10mm, or between about 1mm and about 5 mm.

Fig. 8A and 8B provide an alternative embodiment of the article 10, and more particularly, the front waist panel 12 of the article 10. In the embodiment of figure 8A, which is a cross-section of the article 10 shown in figure 6 taken along line 9-9, the front waist panel 12 extends longitudinally over the insert 16 and the longitudinal top edge 19 of the article 10 coincides with the front waist panel top edge 13. The adhesive 85 attaching the front waist panel 12 to the insert 16 can be seen. Thus, the adhesive 85 may comprise one of the first adhesives previously described with respect to the attachment region 45 shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 8B shows an alternative embodiment of a cross-section of the article 10 of fig. 6, viewed along line 9-9. In the embodiment of fig. 8B, the front waist panel 12 may comprise a folded portion 80 and a folded front waist panel portion 90. In such embodiments, the outer front waist sheet layer 82 may be folded over the inner front waist sheet layer 84 such that a portion of the outer front waist sheet layer 82 is disposed adjacent to the inner front waist sheet surface 92. In some embodiments, the outer front waist panel layer 82 may cover at least a portion of the insert 16, as shown in figure 8B. It should be understood, however, that this need not be the case in all embodiments. The outer front waist panel layer 82 may be secured to the inner front waist panel surface 92, and in some embodiments may be secured to the insert 16, with an adhesive 85. In at least some embodiments, the adhesive 85 can be the same as the first adhesive previously described with respect to fig. 4.

In embodiments such as fig. 8B, the longitudinal top edge 19 of the article 10 may not coincide with the front panel top waist edge 13. Instead, the front panel top waist edge 13 may be disposed longitudinally below the longitudinal top edge 19 of the article 10, as shown in figure 8B. In embodiments where the article 10 includes a fold 80, the weakened area 15 may extend through the fold 80 into at least a portion of the folded front waist panel portion 90, as can be seen in figure 9, which is a perspective view of the article 10 shown in the reverse view of figure 1. In these embodiments, the weakened area top edge may be provided in the folded front waist panel portion 90. In at least some embodiments, the weakened area 15 may extend completely through the folded front waist panel portion 90 to the front waist panel top edge 13. Such embodiments may allow the user or caregiver to more easily open the front waist panel 12.

All documents cited in the detailed description are, in relevant part, incorporated by reference herein; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure may be embodied in many forms other than the specific embodiments described and contemplated herein. In particular, various features described in connection with various embodiments and the accompanying drawings should not be construed as applicable only to such embodiments and/or the accompanying drawings. Rather, each feature described may be combined with any other feature in the various embodiments contemplated, with or without any other feature described in combination with such feature. Accordingly, departures in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as described in the appended claims.