Abstract: A three-piece tape landing zone is provided which allows repeated fastening and unfastening of the tape tabs for inspection of the diaper. The three-piece TLZ is located at the front waist portion of the diaper. A center TLZ piece is positioned between and overlaps or underlaps the edges of the two outer TLZ pieces. The center TLZ piece has release characteristics different from that of the outer two pieces such that the tape tabs do not adhere securely to the center TLZ piece. This arrangement ensures correct alignment of the tape tabs on the outer TLZ surfaces.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment has barrier elements on its inner liner to form barriers to flow of urine across the liner surface. In one embodiment, the barrier elements are loops formed by rows of slits through the liner material, such that the slits form rows of strips. Central portions of the strips are forced out of the plane of the liner to form wide based loops or humps on the inner surface of the garment when the garment is in place about the body of a wearer. These elevated loops form rows of raised obstructions that act as urine flow interference barriers. In other embodiments, the loops are preformed on the surface of the liner layer, or are formed from interdigitating strips. The loops are preferably provided in a target area of the garment where urine impinges the liner surface. Garments intended to be worn by males may have the loops distributed primarily throughout a front crotch region, to interfere with the substantially tangential movement of urine across the liner layer.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment having a backing layer, an inner layer, and an absorbent pad therebetween. The inner layer comprises an integral sheet having an opening extending therethrough through which exudates may move into a pocket formed between the backing and inner layers. A pair of elongate elastic members are secured to the inner layer in opposed, substantially mirror image curvilinear paths which overlap to encircle the opening. A method for producing such a garment also is described.

Abstract: A composite elastic material comprises a non-woven fabric secured to an elastic member. The non-woven fabric is elastically stretchable by about 100% or more. The sheet-like elastic member has an elastic recovery of about 60% or more and a break-down elasticity of about 200% or more. The elastic member and the non-woven fabric are secured together at a plurality of points in the stretchable direction of the non-woven fabric. The composite elastic material has multiple-stage elongation characteristics including a first stress lowering point caused by changes in the structure of the non-woven fabric, and a second stress lowering point occurring at an elongation larger than that of the first stress lowering point, caused by the fracturing of the sheet-like elastic member. The elastic material clearly shows a break-down point when stretched, and increases the flexibility of designing various products.

Abstract: In an absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent structure positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent structure includes an upper layer, a lower layer, and an elongate, absorbent core, which is formed from cellulosic fibers and from distributed particles of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and which has an elongate, central portion with an absorbency under load (AUL) not less than about 12 grams/gram. The absorbent core has a front end, a back end, and two ears projecting from the elongate, central portion, near the front end with the superabsorbent polymer (SAP) at an upper surface in essentially no concentration and at each of the ears in a concentration that is about one half of the concentration along the elongate, central portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent core structure comprising storage cells and acquisition cells that is useful, for example, for disposable absorbent garments. Within the storage cells of the absorbent core structure is disposed a quantity of superabsorbent material. The acquisition cells are devoid of superabsorbent material or other materials that would impede the movement of liquid therethrough and are preferably open. The acquisition cells can thus function as channels that allow liquids to be freely distributed within the absorbent core structure by mass flow and/or capillary action, thus helping to prevent gel blocking.

Abstract: An absorbent article incorporating a main body which has a waist hole and a pair of leg holes, and comprises a topsheet positioned in a facing relation to a wearer's body, a backsheet positioned opposite thereto, and an absorbent core interposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The topsheet is a composite which comprises two layers of sheet material and two elastic members sandwiched between the two sheets of material. The topsheet further has communicating means disposed in a crotch region of the absorbent article for receiving body exudates. The communicating means is surrounded by the elastic members which form leg gathers, and serves as a passage to communicate body exudates to a space defined between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent article of the present invention can provide excellent flexibility, a snug fit and comfort to a wearer during use, while effectively preventing leakage from the leg gathers.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing a product, such as a disposable absorbent garment, from flexible material having elasticized portions tending to contract the product as it moves along a path. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart engaging members which grip opposed edge and end margins of the product and a conveyor on which the engaging members are mounted to carry the engaging member and products stretched therebetween along a production path. At various stations along the production path apparatus is provided for retarding forward movement of one of the sets of engaging members to fold a leading edge portion thereof back into a position overlying a trailing end portion thereof, joining, or sealing, apparatus for sealing side edge margins together, and severing mechanism for severing the article from the engaging members.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a garment with a raised barrier formed of ribbon material. The apparatus includes a conveyor for carrying garment material in a direction along a flow path. A ribbon storage provides elongate ribbon for application to the garment material to form the barrier. A ribbon feeder having a first feeder head moves across the flow path to apply the ribbon to the material on the conveyor in a curved contour. An adhesive applicator applies adhesive along one edge of the ribbon such that the resulting free edge of the ribbon may form a raised barrier on the finished garment.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a main body having a waist hole and a pair of leg holes, an elastic waist portion disposed along the, waist hole and a leg gather disposed along each of the leg holes. The main body comprises a front section and a rear section joined to each other in a crotch region and side regions of the main body. The front section has at least one constituent element whose property is different from that of the corresponding element of the rear section. The absorbent article is fully responsive to a variety of article configurations or constructions which require the front and rear sections to function differently or individually. A method for manufacturing such an absorbent article is also disclosed.

Abstract: A machine for applying elastic to material is provided that includes a conveyor for carrying material. The conveyor moves the material in one direction along a flow path. An elastic band storage with a plurality of elongate elastic bands is provided for application to the material. An elastic feeder has a feeder head that feeds the plurality of elastic bands directly onto the material while the feeder head moves laterally across the flow path. The lateral movement of the feeder head across the moving conveyor applies the elastic bands to the material in a curved contour. The feeder head is operable to feed the elastic bands onto the material while maintaining a selected spacing between individual elastic bands throughout the curved contour.

Abstract: Composite non-woven fabrics are disclosed. The fabrics comprise at least a first ply that is an antibacterial fibrous web, and a second ply comprising a web of non-woven non-antibacterial fibers serving as a "base structure" providing strength and dimensional stability to the fabric. Each ply adheres strongly to adjacent plies of the fabric by inter-entanglement of the fibers in the respective layers with each other, which defines an intensity gradient of antibacterial property across the thickness dimension of the fabric. The fabrics can be made sufficiently soft and mild for skin contact, and have many uses such as in clothing, medical fabrics, sheets, and the like. The fabrics have the same or a lesser amount of antibacterial fibers than prior-art non-woven antibacterial fabrics without adversely affecting strength, dimensional stability, or antibacterial efficacy.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent core structure comprising storage cells and acquisition cells in a honeycomb-like configuration. Absorbent core structures according to the invention are useful, for example, for absorbent cores for disposable absorbent garments. Within the storage cells of the absorbent core structure is deposited a quantity of a superabsorbent material. The acquisition cells are devoid of superabsorbent material or other materials that would impede liquid movement therethrough and are preferably open. The acquisition cells can thus function as channels that allow liquids to be freely distributed within the absorbent core structure by mass flow and/or capillary action, thus helping to prevent gel blocking.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing a product, such as a disposable absorbent garment, from flexible material having elasticized portions tending to contract the product as it moves along a path. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart engaging members which grip opposed edge and end margins of the product and a conveyor on which the engaging members are mounted to carry the engaging member and products stretched therebetween along a production path. At various stations along the production path apparatus is provided for retarding forward movement of one of the sets of engaging members to fold a leading edge portion thereof back into a position overlying a trailing end portion thereof, joining, or sealing, apparatus for sealing side edge margins together, and severing mechanism for severing the article from the engaging members.

Abstract: An absorbent article is described which has a moisture-impervious backing layer, a liner sheet comprising an integral sheet, and an absorbent-core layer positioned between the liner sheet and the backing layer. Raised elasticized barrier means form a pocket to receive exudates. The barrier means may include elastic bands that are attached only to the liner sheet in the crotch portion of the article, such as by an adhesive. The liner sheet is bonded to the backing sheet adjacent leg-opening portions of the article, but is not bonded to the backing sheet at regions of the liner sheet adjacent first and second edges of the elastic bands, such as from at least about 5 mm to about 20 mm adjacent the first and second edges of the elastic bands. Preferably, the liner sheet is free of adhesive for a region of about 8 mm to about 12 mm adjacent the first and second edges of the elastic bands. The absorbent article may be substantially hourglass shaped, or substantially rectangular shaped.

Abstract: An apparatus in which material to have elastic applied thereto is carried by a first conveyor in one direction along a flow path. An elastic conveyor extending transversely of the material flow path is operable to continuously draw elastic from storage, tension it and carry it to a feeder head that reciprocates transversely of the flow path. A transverse elastic applicator receives elastic substantially continuously from the feeder head in a square-wave pattern and moves it toward the flow path. The elastic applicator has spaced guide members mounted adjacent opposite sides of the flow path to hold tensioned elastic therebetween extending transversely of the flow path as the elastic applicator moves the elastic to the flow path and applies the elastic to the material on the first conveyor. Cutters positioned inboard of the guide members sever the elastic after it has been applied to the material.

Abstract: A machine for applying elastic to material is provided that includes a conveyor for carrying material. The conveyor moves the material in one direction along a flow path. An elastic band storage with a plurality of elongate elastic bands is provided for application to the material. An elastic feeder has a feeder head that feeds the plurality of elastic bands directly onto the material while the feeder head moves laterally across the flow path. The lateral movement of the feeder head across the moving conveyor applies the elastic bands to the material in a curved contour. The feeder head is operable to feed the elastic bands onto the material while maintaining a selected spacing between individual elastic bands throughout the curved contour.

Abstract: A system for fabrication of absorbent articles includes a linear array of frame modules each having an open interior. Panels are mounted to one face of the modules. Article fabrication mechanisms are mounted to project from the panels. Operating means are disposed within the modules and are operatively engaged through the panels with the fabrication mechanisms. An operating and control system is provided for a machine in which disposable absorbent articles are fabricated. Continuously operating mechanisms are driven by electric motors for continuously operating on moving webs and other components of the article. A main drive shaft is rotated for transferring power through direction phasing mechanical power transfer devices to mechanisms which intermittently effect unity operations with respect to an associated moving web.

Abstract: An absorbent product having a backsheet, a liner sheet overlying the backsheet, and at least a pair of elongate absorbent pads mounted between the backsheet and liner sheet. The pads are disposed in an initial position with marginal side edge portions thereof disposed in a first overlap relationship and they are mounted in the product for shifting laterally relative to each other to vary the extent of overlap between the pads.

Abstract: A stretchable absorbent article, such as a diaper, a sanitary product or other absorbent member, comprises a liquid permeable layer, and a liquid impermeable elastic layer stretchably secured to the liquid permeable layer at discrete regions so as to form regions of nonsecurement between the discrete regions of securement. The liquid permeable layer forms corrugations at respective regions of nonsecurement for respectively defining channels between the liquid permeable layer and the liquid impermeable elastic layer. Absorbent material is disposed in selected ones of the channels.