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 pant garment including a pair of front and back side panels on opposite transverse sides of the garment, with a refastenable seam formed between the front and back side panels including a fastening component on the front side panel and a mating fastening component on the back side panel, with elasticity in the front and/or back side panel. Each of the front and back side panels includes a waist and a leg end edge, with a portion of the waist end edge and a portion of the leg end edge substantially parallel to one another adjacent a distal edge for a distance greater than a transverse width of the fastening component or mating fastening component bonded thereto.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article system includes a disposable absorbent article having a liner, an article absorbent core, and an article reactive mechanism configured to produce a result upon exposure to an insult; and an article simulator having a substrate and a simulator reactive mechanism configured to produce the result upon exposure to a simulant, the article simulator having fewer components than the absorbent article. A method for facilitating training includes providing an article simulator having a substrate and a simulator reactive mechanism configured to produce a simulator result upon exposure to a simulant, wherein the simulator result simulates an article result obtained from an insult to a disposable absorbent article having an article reactive mechanism, and wherein the article simulator has fewer components than the absorbent article.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article system includes a disposable absorbent article having a liner, an article absorbent core, and an article reactive mechanism configured to produce a result upon exposure to an insult; and an article simulator having a substrate and a simulator reactive mechanism configured to produce the result upon exposure to a simulant, the article simulator having fewer components than the absorbent article. A method for facilitating training includes providing an article simulator having a substrate and a simulator reactive mechanism configured to produce a simulator result upon exposure to a simulant, wherein the simulator result simulates an article result obtained from an insult to a disposable absorbent article having an article reactive mechanism, and wherein the article simulator has fewer components than the absorbent article.

Abstract: An absorbent pant garment having a leg opening shape and fastener placement that, together, minimize the likelihood of fastener pop-opens during use. The garment includes a pair of front and back side panels on opposite transverse sides of the garment, with a refastenable seam formed between the front and back side panels including a fastening component on the front side panel and a mating fastening component on the back side panel, with elasticity in the front and/or back side panel. Each of the front and back side panels includes a waist end edge and a leg end edge, with a portion of the waist end edge and a portion of the leg end edge substantially parallel to one another adjacent a distal edge for a distance greater than a transverse width of the fastening component or mating fastening component bonded thereto.

Abstract: A personal care article (20) has a longitudinal-direction (22), a lateral cross-direction (24), a first end-section (72), a second end-section (72a), and an intermediate-section (76) interposed between the first end-section (72) and the second end-section (72a). At least a portion of the first end-section has been folded along or otherwise includes a first end-fold-region (64) which is substantially convex along a backsheet-side of the article. At least a portion of the second end-section has been folded along or otherwise includes a second end-fold-region (66) which is substantially convex along the backsheet-side of the article. In other aspects, the article can include a first, lengthwise-fold-region (58) in the first end-section, a second, lengthwise-fold-region (62) in the second end-section, and a third, lengthwise-fold-region (68) in the intermediate section.

Abstract: A packaging system for personal care products is provided including a package including an external surface and a package circumference, and a concealment element circumscribing the package at the package circumference and being positionable between a first position in which the packaging system exhibits product-identifying graphics and a second position in which the packaging system is substantially bereft of product-identifying graphics.

Abstract: Absorbent articles are disclosed that have been printed with active graphics alone or in combination with permanent graphics. The active graphics may be used, for instance, as a wetness indicator on an absorbent article. In accordance with the present disclosure, the active graphics include at least one disappearing graphic and at least one appearing graphic. The disappearing graphic and appearing graphic allow for complete scene changes on the article and also allow for the illusion of movement of objects in the scene.

Abstract: A personal care article (20) has a longitudinal-direction (22), a relatively shorter, lateral cross-direction (24), a first end-section (72), a second end-section (72a), and an intermediate-section (76) which is contiguous with and interposed between the first end-section (72) and the second end-section (72a). The article includes a liquid permeable topsheet layer (26), and a backsheet layer (28) which is operatively connected to the topsheet layer (26). At least a portion of the first end-section (72) has been folded along or otherwise includes a first end-fold-region (58) which is substantially convex along a topsheet-side of the article (20). Additionally, the first end-fold-region (58) is substantially concave along a backsheet-side of the article. At least a portion of the second end-section (72a) has been folded along or otherwise includes a second end-fold-region (62) which is substantially convex along the topsheet-side of the article (20).

Abstract: Absorbent articles are disclosed that have been printed with active graphics alone or in combination with permanent graphics to create a wetness indicator. Different active graphic compositions and/or permanent graphic compositions are combined so as to make the wetness indicator very prominent on the article. In addition, when the absorbent article is wetted, the active graphics undergo a change that is easily noticed by the wearer or the caregiver for the wearer. In one embodiment, for instance, active graphics are positioned within a distinctive frame. The frame focuses a person's attention onto the active graphics. The active graphics fill most of the surface area of the frame such that when the absorbent article is wetted, a clearly noticeable change occurs.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having multiple printed components, the method including providing a web of side panel having a longitudinal direction, separating a strip from the web of side panel material, wherein the strip has a long dimension, and printing the strip or the web of side panel material with a front leg band stripe, a back leg band stripe, and a waistband stripe prior to attaching the strip to the web of chassis material, wherein the strip has a front leg band stripe portion, a back leg band stripe portion, and a waistband stripe portion. The method also includes attaching the strip to a web of chassis material to form an article assembly web, the web of chassis material having a machine direction (MD), and cutting the article assembly web to produce an individual article.

Abstract: A personal care article (20) has a longitudinal-direction (22), a relatively shorter, lateral cross-direction (24), a first end-section (72), a second end-section (72a), and an intermediate-section (76) which is contiguous with and interposed between the first end-section (72) and the second end-section (72a). The article includes a liquid permeable topsheet layer (26), and a backsheet layer (28) which is operatively connected to the topsheet layer (26). The article has been folded about a first, supplemental-fold-region (64) and a second, supplemental-fold-region (66) to provide a preliminary-folded article (82). The preliminary-folded article has been operatively enclosed in a wrap member (98), and the preliminary-folded article and wrap member have been folded along a composite-fold-region (96a) to provide a composite-folded, wrapped-article (114).

Abstract: A method is presented for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having multiple components including selecting a first material appropriate for use as an outer cover; producing a chassis including the outer cover, the outer cover including an outer cover central region having an outer cover central region texture; and selecting a second material appropriate for use as an elastic panel, wherein the second material is different from the first material. The method also includes producing a first elastic panel having a first elastic panel central region; and attaching the first elastic panel to the chassis, wherein the selecting is performed such that the first elastic panel central region gives the appearance of being identical in texture to the outer cover central region texture.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having multiple printed components, the method including positioning a first side panel adjacent a chassis such that first side panel medial edge is adjacent the chassis lateral edge, wherein the outer cover portion and the first side panel portion of a printed band feature each have a distal edge and a proximal edge, and wherein manufacturing is controlled such that a misalignment offset of either the distal edge of the outer cover portion and the distal edge of the first side panel portion, or the proximal edge of the outer cover portion and the proximal edge of the first side panel portion, of up to 100 percent of a longitudinal height of the outer cover portion is allowable and does not result in culling the article

Abstract: A method is presented for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having multiple components including selecting a first material appropriate for use as an outer cover; producing a chassis including the outer cover, the outer cover including an outer cover central region having an outer cover central region appearance; selecting a second material appropriate for use as an elastic panel, wherein the second material is different from the first material; and producing a first elastic panel having a first elastic panel central region. The method also includes printing the first elastic panel central region with a first elastic panel printed graphic; and attaching the first elastic panel to the chassis, wherein the selecting and printing are performed such that the first elastic panel central region gives the appearance of being substantially similar to the outer cover central region appearance.

Abstract: A folded disposable absorbent garment has an absorbent chassis, a pair of front side panels extending from a front region of the absorbent chassis, and a pair of back side panels extending from a back region of the absorbent chassis. A first fastening component is disposed on each of the front side panels and a second fastening component is disposed on each of the back side panels. Each of the second fastening components is releasably attached to a respective one of the first fastening components to define a pair of refastenable seams. The front side panels and the back side panels are folded such that each of the refastenable seams overlies an outer surface of one of the front region and the back region of the absorbent chassis in a plane generally parallel to the front and back regions of the absorbent chassis.

Abstract: A packaging system for personal care products is provided including a package including an external surface and a package circumference, and a concealment element circumscribing the package at the package circumference and being positionable between a first position in which the packaging system exhibits product-identifying graphics and a second position in which the packaging system is substantially bereft of product-identifying graphics.

Abstract: Disposable absorbent articles product designs tailored to the differing needs and preferences of males and females are disclosed. In particular embodiments, an array of gender-specific, disposable, absorbent articles comprises a package of first disposable absorbent articles, the package bearing indicia indicating that the articles therein are adapted to be worn by females, and a package of second disposable absorbent articles, the package bearing indicia indicating that the articles therein are adapted to be worn by males. The first disposable absorbent articles differ from the corresponding second disposable absorbent articles in any of a variety of aspects to customize the products for each gender. In certain embodiments, the array includes one product adapted for use by one gender, and a unisex product adapted for use by either gender.

Abstract: A method and system of customizing bulk purchases of consumer personal care products are provided. In accordance with the present disclosure, multiple product forms and variants of the product forms may be contained within an integrated display within a retail outlet. The product forms may comprise any suitable personal care products, such as absorbent articles, feminine care products, toiletries, products for infants and children, adult incontinence products, tissue products, and the like. In accordance with the present disclosure, a consumer can select multiple packages based on personal preference that contain various different product forms and/or variants. The consumer is instructed to select a particular number of packages for purchase that total a single bulk price. In this manner, the consumer can take advantage of bulk pricing while still being able to select multiple related personal care products.