Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable training pants, pull-up diapers, incontinence briefs, diaper holders, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, having extensible side panel features that improve the dynamic fit of the diaper around the legs and waist of the wearer. Such absorbent articles include a containment assembly including a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and extensible side panels, each including a waist panel and a thigh panel disposed along each longitudinal edge of the containment assembly in the first waist region. The waist panel and the thigh panel are operatively associated so that the waist panel has a primary direction of extensibility in one direction and the thigh panel has a primary direction of extensibility in a different direction.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article including a chassis having a body facing surface and a garment facing surface. The disposable absorbent article also includes a fold down waist feature disposed in the rear waist region which extends longitudinally outwardly from the rear waist edge of the core and includes at least one ear flap extending laterally outwardly from one of the longitudinal edges of the core. A fastening system for joining a portion of the front waist region and a portion of the rear waist region is provided. The fastening system preferably includes a first fastening element disposed on the inner surface of the side panel, a second fastening element disposed on the outer surface of the side panel and a third fastening element disposed on the garment facing surface of the chassis in the front waist region.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an absorbent article having adjustable absorbent assemblies. The absorbent article includes a chassis having a urine collection zone disposed in at least a portion of the front waist region and a feces collection zone disposed in at least a portion of the rear waist region. The chassis includes a first absorbent assembly, at least a portion of which is located in the urine collection zone. The chassis also includes a second absorbent assembly, at least a portion of which is located in the feces collection zone. The chassis further comprises an adjustment member adjustably joining said first absorbent assembly and said second absorbent assembly such that said first absorbent assembly and said second absorbent assembly are moveable relative to each other in at least a direction parallel to said longitudinal centerline.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a first waist region, a second waist region opposed to the first waist region, a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges. The disposable diaper further has a topsheet, a backsheet joined with the topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The diaper includes at least one position retaining element having an initial positioning force and an adjustment force. The position retaining element may be any element included in or joined to the diaper which is bendable and which retains the configuration, orientation, angle, and/or shape of its deformed state until a repositioning force is applied. The position retaining element may be operatively associated with any element(s) of the diaper including the topsheet, backsheet, core, leg cuffs, side panels, waist feature or fastening system.

Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable training pants, pull-up diapers, incontinence briefs, diaper holders, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, having extensible side panel features that improve the dynamic fit of the diaper around the legs and waist of the wearer. Such absorbent articles include a containment assembly having a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and extensible side panels, each including a waist panel and a thigh panel disposed along each longitudinal edge of the containment assembly in the first waist region. The waist panel and the thigh panel are operatively associated so that the waist panel has a primary direction of extensibility in one direction and the thigh panel has a primary direction of extensibility in a different direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an absorbent article having adjustable absorbent assemblies. The absorbent article includes a chassis having a urine collection zone disposed in at least a portion of the front waist region and a feces collection zone disposed in at least a portion of the rear waist region. The chassis includes a first absorbent assembly, at least a portion of which is located in the urine collection zone. The chassis also includes a second absorbent assembly, at least a portion of which is located in the feces collection zone. The chassis further comprises an adjustment member adjustably joining said first absorbent assembly and said second absorbent assembly such that said first absorbent assembly and said second absorbent assembly are moveable relative to each other in at least a direction parallel to said longitudinal centerline.

Abstract: The present invention provides a refastenable fastening device including female fastening component preferably comprising a base web and an engaging layer. The base web comprises a structural elastic-like film (SELF) web and is joined to the engaging layer which comprises a plurality of filaments or a nonwoven web. The SELF web exhibits an elastic-like behavior in the direction of elongation without the use of added elastic materials. The SELF web includes a strainable network having at least two distinct regions comprised of the same material composition. The first region is oriented substantially parallel to an axis of elongation such that it will undergo a molecular-level deformation in response to an applied axial elongation in a direction substantially parallel to the elongation axis before a substantial portion of the second region undergoes any substantial molecular-level deformation.

Abstract: A zero scrap method for manufacturing side panels for use with absorbent articles including the following steps. First, a web of material having predetermined portions is provided in a machine direction. The predetermined portions are then activated to provide stretch in the side panels. The web is then cut continuously severing the web into a first panel and a second panel, each of the panels having alternating, nested inwardly extending elements defined by the cut and terminating at a distal edge. The inwardly extending elements are offset with respect to each other in the machine direction. The first and second panels are separated and positioned such that the inwardly extending elements of the first panel and the inwardly extending elements of the second panel are aligned in the machine direction. The distal edge of at least a portion of the first panel is then joined with at least a portion of the distal edge of the second panel.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin is disclosed. The sanitary napkin has a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. The sanitary napkin has a first Z-direction caliper at a Z-direction compressive load of 2 grams and a second Z-direction caliper at Z-direction compressive load of less than 100 grams, wherein the second Z-direction caliper is at least 15 millimeters less than the first Z-direction caliper.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, having flaps and zones of differential extensibility for relieving the stresses that develop in the flaps when the flaps are folded down along the edges of crotch of the wearer's undergarments is provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, having flaps and zones of differential extensibility for relieving the stresses that develop in the flaps when the flaps are folded down along the edges of crotch of the wearer's undergarments.

Abstract: A unitary disposable absorbent article such as a catamenial pad or incontinent pad is provided with an elasticized side flap by operatively associating an elastic member on both the upper surface and the lower surface of the side flap. The elastic member is preferably joined to the inner surface of the side flap as well as the outer surface of the side flap by folding it about the distal edge of the side flap. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic member comprises an elastomeric laminate of an elastomeric layer and a coverstock layer, with the coverstock layer being on the outside of the product, so that the sanitary napkin is provided with soft longitudinal edges which contact the wearer during use. In addition, the elastomeric laminate provides relatively low tension that while raising the side flaps of the product to be a barrier against lateral leakage, also maintain the product in a shape which does not encourage fluid run-off or leakage at the ends of the pad as well as providing a bunching benefit.

Abstract: A unitary disposable absorbent article such as a catamenial pad or incontinent pad is provided with an elasticized side flap by operatively associating an elastic member on both the upper surface and the lower surface of the side flap. The elastic member is preferably joined to the inner surface of the side flap as well as the outer surface of the side flap by folding it about the distal edge of the side flap. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic member comprises an elastomeric laminate of an elastomeric layer and a coverstock layer, with the coverstock layer being on the outside of the product, so that the sanitary napkin is provided with soft longitudinal edges which contact the wearer during use. In addition, the elastomeric laminate provides relatively low tension that while raising the side flaps of the product to be a barrier against lateral leakage, also maintain the product in a shape which does not encourage fluid run-off or leakage at the ends of the pad as well as providing a bunching benefit.