Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for use in the perineal area of the body. Compliant sealing gaskets are pre-formed to extend outward from the central portion of the article. The gaskets may be formed by looping a strip of material so as to form a compliant cuff which bears against the user's body in a comfortable manner. An elastic member placed in tension so as to impart an arcuate shape to the article may be placed inside a cavity formed by the cuff. The gaskets may be applied to an article having wings attached to the central portion so as to form pockets for retaining the elasticized portions of the panty crotch. The proximal ends of the gaskets are disposed outward of the pockets and the distance between the pockets is less than the width of the panty crotch so that the body facing said of the article is placed in tension.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for use in the perineal area of the body. Compliant sealing gaskets are pre-formed to extend outward from the central portion of the article. The gaskets may be formed by looping a strip of material so as to form a compliant cuff which bears against the user's body in a comfortable manner. An elastic member placed in tension so as to impart an arcuate shape to the article may be placed inside a cavity formed by the cuff. The gaskets may be applied to an article having wings attached to the central portion so as to form pockets for retaining the elasticized portions of the panty crotch. The proximal ends of the gaskets are disposed outward of the pockets and the distance between the pockets is less than the width of the panty crotch so that the body facing said of the article is placed in tension.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for use in the perineal area of the body. Compliant sealing gaskets are pre-formed to extend outward from the central portion of the article. The gaskets may be formed by looping a strip of material so as to form a compliant cuff which bears against the user's body in a comfortable manner. An elastic member placed in tension so as to impart an arcuate shape to the article may be placed inside a cavity formed by the cuff. The gaskets may be applied to an article having wings attached to the central portion so as to form pockets for retaining the elasticized portions of the panty crotch. The proximal ends of the gaskets are disposed outward of the pockets and the distance between the pockets is less than the width of the panty crotch so that the body facing said of the article is placed in tension.

Abstract: A novel method for manufacturing a layer of a laminated, disposable absorbent product, such as a fluid-permeable cover layer, an absorbent core layer or a fluid-impervious backing layer thereof, with a comparatively small amount of waste matter. The method comprises the steps of longitudinally cutting a continuous web of starting material according to a cyclic pattern constructed with line segments corresponding to the edge contour of the disposable absorbent product. The cutting operation divides the continuous web in two strips, each strip having a patterned longitudinal edge whose outline corresponds to the cyclic pattern. The strips are crossed and joined to one another in a parallel and in a phase relationship to form a compound web having longitudinal edges producing repeatedly the edge contour of the disposable absorbent product.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided having an apparatus attached to its garment facing side which allows the article to be attached to, and yet float on, an undergarment and which also serves to distribute the forces imposed on the article by the user's body over a large portion of the article and to transmit the forces to the undergarment, thereby increasing the geometric stability and shape maintenance of the article. The apparatus comprises a semi-rigid elastic frame formed from a thin plastic sheet and having two longitudinally extending members connected by at least one transversely extending member. Inwardly extending tabs for attaching the article to an undergarment are disposed at the mid-point of each longitudinally extending member. The longitudinally and transversely extending members may be pre-formed to give the article an arcuate shape.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for forming absorbent products and the improved absorbent products formed thereby are disclosed. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a rotary die is used to cut ellipsoidal and hyperbolic-shaped from a single sheet of material and these shapes are overlaid to form an absorbent structure. The shapes are chosen such that there is no waste of the material and yet the resulting absorbent structure is of a useful shape. Methods are also disclosed whereby two sets of rotary dies are used to simultaneously cut two sheets of material into an arcuate segment and the arcuate segments are overlaid atop each other to form useful absorbent structures. In either embodiment, powders such as superabsorbents may be added to one or more of the surfaces of the components used to construct the absorbent structures.

Abstract: A method for making an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, having tabs. A first series of patches of a hot melt type pressure sensitive adhesive are applied to one side of a double-sided release strip. The release strip is then placed against the central portion of the absorbent article so that the first adhesive patches bond to the central portion. A second series of patches of the adhesive are applied to the other side of the double-sided release strip and tabs are folded over the central portion so that the second adhesive patches bond to the tabs. Since the release strip has been coated with a release agent, such as silicone, on both of its sides, the first and second patches of adhesive bond to the central portion and the tabs, respectively, with greater tenacity than they did to the release strip. When the user removes the release strip prior to use, the first and second adhesive patches remain on the central portion and the tabs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing fibrous web pieces by die cutting the pieces from a continuous web. In the method, a fibrous web is provided having adjacent corrugations usually filled with a powder, and the powder-filled web is passed through a matched cutting die set intermittently which cuts and punches out the individual web pieces. Following the web cut out step, the web pieces are transferred downwardly onto a shuttle conveyor, and the pieces moved forward and simultaneously spread apart to permit subsequent convenient placement of the pieces. The cutting die apparatus includes matched punch and body die units which closely interfit with less than about 0.001 inch total clearance, so as to cut and punch out the fibrous web pieces from the continuous web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incorporating a powder into a continuous fibrous web containing multiple corrugations. In the method, a fibrous web provided with multiple parallel corrugations is continuously passed over a curved surface having an arc with a radius to web thickness ratio of 0.5-3 and the corrugations are opened at their upper side, while any bonded fibers connecting adjacent corrugations together are broken apart. A powder having 50-1000 micron particle size is deposited by gravity into the opened spaces between adjacent corrugations of the web. The deposited powder is then compacted into the fibrous corrugated web by rubbing with a pad moved in an oscillating motion generally perpendicular to the corrugations. The powder filled web is bent in the opposite direction around a roller to break the fibers between the corrugations on the opposite side of the web. The second roller can be made vertically movable so as to convert the web continuous forward motion to an intermittent forward motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incorporating a powder into a continuous fibrous web containing multiple corrugations. In the method, a fibrous web provided with multiple parallel corrugations is continuously passed over a curved surface having an arc with a radius to web thickness ratio of 0.5-3 and the corrugations are opened at their upper side. While any bonded fibers connecting adjacent corrugations together are broken apart. A powder having 50-1000 micron particle size is deposited by gravity into the opened spaces between adjacent corrugations of the web. The deposited powder is then compacted into the fibrous corrugated web by rubbing with a pad moved in an oscillating motion generally perpendicular to the corrugations. The powder filled web is bent in the opposite direction around a roller to break the fibers between the corrugations on the opposite side of the web. The second roller can be made vertically movable so as to convert the web continuous forward motion to an intermittent forward motion.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method for rendering discrete portions of a moving web with an elasticized character while preserving the inelastic character of the remaining portions of the substantially inelastic web. The method is especially suitable for use in the manufacture of disposable diaper components and the like.