Abstract: A laminated structure having a marginal area with gathered and ungathered portions which provide an improved fit about a portion of the human body, said laminated structure comprising an elastic member disposed between first and second substrates of flexible gatherable material, said elastic member comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic elements with the elements transversely connected over a portion of their length to define apertures and an end portion of the member comprising only longitudinally extending elements and the first and second substrates of said laminated structure being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Abstract: A delaminatable two-ply diaper facing material is provided in which an outer ply, or layer, is made of irregularly arranged, intersecting, overlapping, mechanically interengaged, loosely assembled natural wood pulp fibers and an inner ply, or layer, contains similarly disposed natural wood pulp fibers and thermoplastic synthetic wood pulp fibers having a melting point lower than that of other fibers in the layer, the latter being in contact with and heat fused with other fibers to provide structural integrity to the inner layer, with fibers in both layers being bonded to each other by a water soluble adhesive binder.The material is prepared by bringing together the aforementioned layers, applying heat in the absence of pressure to fuse the thermoplastic synthetic wood pulp fibers in the inner layer to each other and to other fibers, introducing a water soluble adhesive binder into the two layers and then drying and curing the binder.

Abstract: Nonwoven, air-laid fabrics formed predominantly of textile length, synthetic, resilient fibers of staple length, the fabric being resin-bonded and having a density less than about 0.06 gm/cc at 0.16 lb/sq. in. load and a weight less than 3 oz/sq. yd. The fabric is resin-bonded using a bonding solution providing less than 180% solution pickup and more than 15% dry solids add-on. The fabric is used as a facing or covering for disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinent pads, tampons and the like.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a facing sheet defining a diaper inside surface for direction toward the wearer and a backing sheet defining a diaper outside surface is provided with adhesive tape tabs comprising first and second anchoring portions and an attachment portion. The anchoring portions are attached to the inside surface and the outside surface of the diaper at a marginal portion thereof. One of the anchoring portions is made from elastic web material, and the other anchoring portion is made from inelastic web material. The attachment portion is temporarily attached to the inelastic anchoring portion and adhesively secured to the elastic anchoring portion. In use, the temporary attachment is detached leaving only the adhesive securement of the attachment portion to the elastic anchoring portion to provide an elastic tape tab fastener.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a gathering means adjacent at least one edge of the absorbent panel is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the gathering means is defined by an elastic member having a width dimension of at least 3/8" and a width-to-thickness ratio of at least 100, which provides improved body conformity without undue application of pressure upon the skin of the wearer. The inventive concept in its broadest sense relates to the distribution of the force of gathering means over larger areas to minimize skin irritation. In certain embodiments of the present invention, our improved diaper may have a pleasing ruffled effect at the diaper edge.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, is disclosed which includes a moisture permeable facing layer, a backing layer, and an absorbent layer disposed between said facing and backing layers and including at least one pocket containing a uniform admixture of discrete superabsorbent particles and discrete introfying particles.

Abstract: Method for partitioning and/or shaping a fibrous batt by gripping the batt along adjacent lines with resilient means gripping one surface and non-resilient means gripping the opposite surface and displacing said lines with respect to each other to separate the batt without compacting the parted edges of the batt.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having an absorbent batt with an intermediate portion of reduced width and elastic means adjacent to each side of the batt and generally parallel therewith. The intermediate portion of the batt preferably is offset toward one end of the diaper, and may include relatively short rectilinear batt side segments. Further batt side segments extend outwardly at an angle from the ends of the rectilinear batt side segments, and still further rectilinear batt end segments extend outwardly from the ends of the inclined batt side segments.

Abstract: Apparatus for partitioning and/or shaping a fibrous batt by gripping the batt along adjacent lines with resilient means gripping one surface and non-resilient means gripping the opposite surface and displacing said lines with respect to each other to separate the batt without compacting the parted edges of the batt.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a resealable tape tab fastener in which a first securing tape ribbon has a free end and a fixed end which is attached to the diaper. A second securing tape ribbon has a free working end, and a fixed end which is adhesively but releasably attached to the free end of the first securing tape ribbon. One face of the second securing tape ribbon is provided with an adhesive coating. The free end of the first securing tape ribbon is adapted to secure the diaper about an infant by adhesive attachment via the adhesive-coated face of the second securing tape ribbon. The free end of the first securing tape ribbon is separable from the fixed end of the second securing tape ribbon to permit the opening of an applied diaper for inspection, and to make the adhesive coating on the free end of the first securing tape ribbon available for use in refastening the diaper about the infant.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having improved fit about the legs and/or waist of the wearer and having reinforced corners for enhanced securement of the diaper about the wearer is disclosed. Improved fit and reinforcement are obtained by an elongated, inherently elastic ribbon member positioned along at least one margin of the diaper. The ribbon member is secured to the diaper so as to provide an elastic region at a central portion of the margin and a unitary, relatively inelastic reinforced region in a corner portion of the diaper.

Abstract: An improved disposable diaper containing a shaped absorbent pad. The pad has an indentation disposed along each long side nearer one end of the pad than the other. The front half of each indentation is arcuate and the back half of each indentation is triangular in shape. The sides of the pad immediately adjacent the indentations in the central portion of the pad are parallel to the center longitudinal line.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent structure comprising a moisture-impermeable backing, an absorbent batt superimposed thereon and a moisture-permeable cover covering at least the side opposite the backing sheet of the absorbent batt. The absorbent batt contains two reservoirs each formed by compression of the fibers in the reservoir zone. The first reservoir is open toward the cover and the second reservoir is located below the first reservoir and contains particles of superabsorbent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent structure for body fluids comprising a moisture-impermeable backing, an absorbent batt superimposed thereon and a moisture-permeable cover covering at least the side of the batt opposite the backing sheet. The absorbent batt contains a reservoir capable of receiving at least 75% of the discharge of body fluid in one second. The reservoir is located in the void zone, is formed by compression of the fibers and contains superabsorbent deposited therein.

Abstract: A laminated structure having a marginal area with gathered and ungathered portions which provide an improved fit about a portion of the human body, said laminated structure comprising an elastic member disposed between first and second substrates of flexible gatherable material, said elastic member comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic elements with the elements transversely connected over a portion of their length to define apertures and an end portion of the member comprising only longitudinally extending elements and the first and second substrates of said laminated structure being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Abstract: A catamenial device such as a tampon, a sanitary napkin or the like, is disclosed which includes an absorbent layer having at least one pocket containing a uniform admixture of discrete superabsorbent particles and discrete introfying particles.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having constringent means in the longitudinal side margins is disclosed. The constringent means foreshortens the side margins and acts on an absorbent batt contained within the diaper to bulge the side margins of the batt.

Abstract: A disposable undergarment particularly suitable for the toilet training of infants is provided. The undergarment is fabricated from a compressively shrunk non-woven fabric in a single layer or laminated to provide multiple layers. The undergarment is made from a single blank of substantially rectangular shape of which one longer side margin is adapted to become the waist encircling portion of the undergarment, and the other side margin is adapted to become the leg openings. Joining all layers of the fabric together in the crotch area provides leg apertures when the undergarment is formed from the blank.

Abstract: A laminated structure having a gathered marginal area which provides an improved fit about a portion of the human body, said laminated structure comprising an elastic member disposed between first and second substrates of flexible gatherable material, said elastic member comprising a plurality of interconnected longitudinally extending elastic elements defining apertures therebetween, the longitudinally extending elements having different cross-sectional areas to provide varying degrees of tension across the width of the marginal area and the first and second substrates of said laminated structure being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Abstract: The invention provides an absorbent structure, such as a disposable diaper or a training panty, including a first outer layer in the form of a moisture-impervious backing sheet, a second outer layer in the form of a liquid barrier positioned in superposed relationship with respect to the backing sheet and an absorbent batt sandwiched between the first and second outer layers. The liquid barrier has a single opening situated so as to contact the perineal region of the wearer.