Abstract: An absorbent article which has a one-piece chassis and integral side portions. The one-piece chassis can be a bi-laminate material and can have a liquid permeable layer and a liquid impermeable layer bonded together. The side portions can be integrally formed from the one-piece chassis.

Abstract: A bonding and slitting device is adapted to form fin seams in absorbent articles having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the back waist region. The device includes a first bonding member and a second bonding member having a contact element configured to cooperate with the first bonding member to bond the front region of the chassis to the back region to define the fin seams. A slitter is configured to simultaneously act on material outboard of the bonds from both the front and back regions of the chassis.

Abstract: An absorbent article having improved leakage protection when the wearer of the absorbent article is lying on their side. The absorbent article has a surge layer in liquid communication with a portion of the garment facing region and a portion of a side edge of the absorbent core.

Abstract: An absorbent article which has a one-piece chassis and integral side portions. The one-piece chassis can be a bi-laminate material and can have a liquid permeable layer and a liquid impermeable layer bonded together. The side portions can be integrally formed from the one-piece chassis.

Abstract: Pant-like absorbent articles having handles on side panels of the article for ease of removal and donning of the absorbent garment and a method for forming is disclosed herein. The article includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a chassis extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions attached by at least one side panel. Formed within the side panel is at least one handle. The handle includes a slit formed through the side panel, the slit extending in both the longitudinal and lateral direction to provide a flap material. The flap material is folded towards the waist edge of the side panel to provide an aperture in the side panel.

Abstract: A boxer-style pant and a method of making a boxer-style pant having side seams, a contracted crotch region, and hanging legs. A web is provided. The web is cut along transversely opposed edges of the web to define leg openings. The leg openings may be formed by cutting slits along the transversely opposed edges of the web. The web is contracted in a selected area between the leg openings. Front and back regions are then joined together to form the side seams. An absorbent structure may be attached to the web.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding products includes a conveying member adapted to convey the product, an oscillating member disposed adjacent the conveying member, and a folding roll disposed adjacent the conveying member and the oscillating member. The oscillating member is adapted to grasp and lift a first portion of the product from the conveying member while the product is being conveyed by the conveying member. The oscillating member is moveable in a first direction away from the conveying member and in a second direction toward the conveying member. The folding roll is adapted to receive the first portion of the product from the oscillating member and to place the first portion of the product into engagement with a second portion of the product such that the product is in a folded configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of manufacturing a body adhering absorbent article oriented in the machine direction wherein the body adhering absorbent articles have reduced or eliminated curl. The articles are manufactured with reduced curl by selectively reducing or eliminating the shell elastic tension in regions where components of the body adhering absorbent article are to be attached to form the composite absorbent article web. In certain aspects the body adhering absorbent articles are manufactured by supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction, stretching the web of shell material in the longitudinal direction, deadening at least one region of the stretched web of shell material, attaching at least one absorbent article component to at least a portion of the longitudinal deadened zone to form a composite web material, and cutting the composite web material to form a body adhering absorbent article.

Abstract: An absorbent article having improved leakage protection when the wearer of the absorbent article is lying on their side. The absorbent article has a surge layer in liquid communication with a portion of the garment facing region and a portion of a side edge of the absorbent core.

Abstract: A bonding and slitting device is adapted to form fin seams in absorbent articles having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the back waist region. The device includes a first bonding member and a second bonding member having a contact element configured to cooperate with the first bonding member to bond the front region of the chassis to the back region to define the fin seams. A slitter is configured to simultaneously act on material outboard of the bonds from both the front and back regions of the chassis.

Abstract: An absorbent assembly includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent structure disposed between the liner and the backsheet. A pair of laterally opposed containment flaps is integrally formed from the bodyside liner.

Abstract: An absorbent article having improved leakage protection when the wearer of the absorbent article is lying on their side. The absorbent article has a surge layer in liquid communication with a portion of the garment facing region and a portion of a side edge of the absorbent core.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing absorbent articles includes folding each of the absorbent articles about a fold line generally bisecting the article such that front and back waist regions of the articles are positioned in facing relationship, and simultaneously bonding and one of trimming and weakening the front and back waist regions adjacent each opposing side edge of the article to form a pair of fin seams. A bonding and slitting device adapted to form fin seams in absorbent articles includes a first bonding member; and a second bonding member having a contact element configured to cooperate with the first bonding member to bond a front region of the article to the back region to define the fin seams, and a slitter configured to simultaneously act on material outboard of the bonds from both the front and back regions of the article.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a body-facing side and a garment-facing side generally comprises a chassis, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent structure, a front bodyside waist elastic member, a rear bodyside waist elastic member, a front garment-side waist elastic member, and a rear garment-side waist elastic member. The chassis has a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the back waist region. The front and rear bodyside waist elastic members are disposed on the body-facing side of the absorbent article, and the front and rear garment-side waist elastic members are disposed on the garment-facing side of the absorbent article. At least one of the garment-side waist elastic members and the bodyside waist elastic members are configured to fully extend around a waist opening of the absorbent article when the absorbent article is in the wear configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a product includes a receiving roll having a first direction of rotation. The receiving roll is adapted to selectively hold first and second portions of the product. A folding roll of the apparatus has a second direction of rotation that is opposite from the first direction of rotation. The folding roll is adapted to selectively hold the first portion of the product thereto. An oscillating member is adapted to transfer the first portion of the product from the receiving roll to the folding roll. The oscillating member is configured to move in both the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a product having a first portion and a second portion has a receiving roll with a drive assembly for rotating the receiving roll at variable surface speeds in a first direction of rotation. The receiving roll is adapted to selectively hold the first and second portions of the product thereto. A folding roll has a drive assembly for rotating the folding roll at variable surface speeds in a second, opposite direction of rotation. The folding roll is adapted to selectively hold the first portion of the product thereto. An oscillating member is adapted to transfer the first portion of the product from the receiving roll to the folding roll. The oscillating member has a drive assembly for moving the oscillating member at variable surface speeds in both the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing body adhering absorbent articles orientated in the cross-machine direction, body adhering absorbent article having reduced or eliminated curl. The articles are manufactured with reduced curl by selectively reducing or eliminating the shell elastic tension in regions where components of the body adhering absorbent article are to be attached to form the composite absorbent article web. In certain aspects the body adhering absorbent articles are manufactured by supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction, that is stretchable only in the transverse direction, attaching at least one component to form a composite web material, and cutting the composite web material to form a body adhering absorbent article.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing absorbent articles includes folding each of the absorbent articles about a fold line generally bisecting the article such that front and back waist regions of the articles are positioned in facing relationship, and simultaneously bonding and one of trimming and weakening the front and back waist regions adjacent each opposing side edge of the article to form a pair of fin seams. A bonding and slitting device adapted to form fin seams in absorbent articles includes a first bonding member; and a second bonding member having a contact element configured to cooperate with the first bonding member to bond a front region of the article to the back region to define the fin seams, and a slitter configured to simultaneously act on material outboard of the bonds from both the front and back regions of the article.