Abstract: An absorbent article (10) has a front waistband portion (12), a back waistband portion (14) and an intermediate portion (16) which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article includes a backsheet layer (30), an absorbent retention portion (48) superposed on the backsheet layer (30), and a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28) superposed on the retention portion (48) and connected to sandwich the retention portion between the topsheet and backsheet layers. At least one elasticized side panel (58) is connected to a lateral end region (40) of the back waistband portion (14) of the article. The side panel (58) is constructed with a flap fastener (74) for interconnecting with the article to thereby form an assembled bridge flap (180), which extends about a wearer's body and provides a bodyside surface for contacting the wearer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making an elasticized article includes a delivering mechanism for supplying a substrate web having a longitudinal direction and a lateral cross-direction. A first connecting mechanism attaches an inboard elastic member to said substrate web, and a second connecting mechanism attaches an outboard elastic member to the substrate web, with the outboard elastic member located laterally outboard of the inboard elastic member. A dividing mechanism separates away a portion of the substrate web and a portion of the outboard elastic member to thereby provide a set of elastics which are arranged in a staggered overlapping relation.

Abstract: An absorbent article has a lateral width, a longitudinal length, longitudinally extending side margins, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion, and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article comprises a backsheet layer and an absorbent retention portion superposed on the backsheet layer. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is superposed on the retention portion to sandwich the retention portion between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. An elasticizing means form elasticized gathers at leg opening portions of the article. The elasticizing means include a front set of laterally opposed, longitudinally extending leg elastic members located in the article side margins in at least the intermediate portion of the article. The front elastic members are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the article length and have a selected offset toward the front waistband portion of the article.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing a selected fluid to a movable substrate includes a nozzle connected to a movable support, and a supplying mechanism for providing the fluid to the nozzle at a pressure which provides for a selected fluid flow rate from the nozzle. The supplying mechanism includes a torque conduit section which has a longitudinal torque axis thereof and is configured to absorb torsional energy produced by moving the support. An actuating servo rotates the support to move the cutter nozzle along a selected cutting path, and the actuating servo has a servo axis of rotation which is arranged substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the torque tube conduit section.

Abstract: A distinctive article can include an elastomerically stretchable side panel having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension. A member of hook material is operably connected to a first, laterally outboard edge portion of the side panel, and each member of hook material includes a hook base layer which has an appointed fastening region and an appointed grip region. The fastening region has a plurality of hook elements which are integrally formed with the base layer and extend away from a base plane of the hook base layer. The hook elements are configured to operably engage a selected, cooperating loop material. The grip region has a relatively lower density of the hook elements per unit area, as compared to the fastening region. The fastening region is interposed between the side panel and the grip region. The grip region provides a laterally terminal edge of the article.

Abstract: A distinctive fastening tab includes a fastener substrate having a construction-bond portion, a user-bond portion, a user-bond end section, a construction-bond end section, a pair of opposed side edge sections, a fastening surface and a user surface. A securing means connects to the fastening surface of the fastener substrate at least along the user-bond portion thereof, and a gripping member connects to the user surface at the user-bond portion of the fastener substrate. The gripping member has a distal end portion which is substantially free, and a base portion which is operably connected to the user surface of the fastener substrate. The gripping member is configured to intersect the fastener substrate at a location which is spaced from the construction-bond portion and is positioned between the construction-bond portion and the user-bond end section of the fastener substrate.

Abstract: A distinctive method and apparatus provide a technique for forming a fastener system. Generally stated, the apparatus includes a supply mechanism for providing along a machine-direction a first web of material having a medial portion thereof. A first assembly mechanism attaches a second web of material to the medial region of the first web along the machine direction to provide a web laminate, and a first parting mechanism separates the web laminate into at least a first laminate section and a second laminate section. Each laminate section includes a portion of the first web and a portion of the second web, and each laminate section has an edge region thereof. A directing mechanism spaces apart the first and second laminate sections, and a delivery mechanism locates a securement web of fastening material between the first and second laminate sections. The securement web has a first side region and a second side region thereof.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a first, liquid-permeable carrier layer and at least a second carrier layer. A carrier attaching mechanism secures together the carrier layers to provide substantially attached zones and a multiplicity of substantially unattached zones thereof. The substantially unattached zones provide a plurality of pocket regions, and high-absorbency material is located within the pocket regions to provide an absorbent laminate having a laminate length and a laminate width. A selected plurality of the pocket regions can, for example, be configured with an elongate shape having a major axis length and a relatively shorter minor axis width. The selected plurality of elongate pocket regions is included within a dispersed pocket array having a non-contiguous, labyrinth configuration of pockets.

Abstract: A distinctive absorbent article has a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article comprises a backsheet layer, and an absorbent retention portion superposed on the backsheet layer. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is superposed on the retention portion and connected to sandwich the retention portion between the topsheet and backsheet layers. A laterally extending bridge flap is configured to extend over a body-facing surface of at least one waistband portion of the article. The bridge flap has an elasticized, laterally extending, substantially fixed edge region attached to the at least one waistband portion of the article; an elasticized, laterally extending movable edge region positioned longitudinally inboard of the substantially fixed edge region; and longitudinally extending, substantially fixed side edge regions at laterally opposed side ends thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a distinctive article which includes at least one absorbent, fibrous web layer which is substantially non-hydroentangled. The fibrous web layer can have a basis weight of at least about 60 gsm, and a density of not more than about 0.25 gm/cc. The fibrous web layer can further have a peak geometric mean tensile strength of at least about 250 grams-force per centimeter of width, and can have a fiber content in which at least about 90 wt % of the fibers are composed of fibers having a fiber length of not more than about 0.4 inch (about 1 cm). In particular configurations, the article includes a backsheet layer, and a liquid permeable topsheet layer which is disposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer. An absorbent structure is interposed between the backsheet layer and the topsheet layer, and the absorbent structure has an overall absorbent capacity of at least about 300 grams of saline.

Abstract: Generally stated, the present invention provides a distinctive absorbent article which includes a backsheet layer and an absorbent retention portion which is superposed on the backsheet layer. The retention portion has a length and a width, and has laterally opposed side edges thereof and longitudinally opposed end edges thereof. A surge management portion is located adjacent a bodyside surface of the retention portion. The surge management portion is constructed to temporarily hold received liquid and release the liquid to the retention portion. The surge management portion has a width, opposed side edges thereof and opposed end edges thereof, and has a length thereof which is less than the length of the retention portion. The end edges of the surge management portion are located longitudinally inboard from the end edges of the retention portion.

Abstract: An article has a fastening system connected thereto, and the fastening system includes a panel member which is composed of a panel material. The panel member has first and second, opposed major facing surfaces, an appointed inboard region, and an appointed outboard region which includes a terminal outboard edge thereof. A reinforcement strip is composed of a reinforcement material, and is laminated to the first surface of the side panel at the outboard region of the side panel. The reinforcement strip has a terminal outboard edge thereof which is coterminous with the outboard edge of the panel member. A fastener tab is laminated to the second surface of the side panel, and has a user-bond region thereof which extends from the panel member. The fastener tab includes first and second, opposed major surfaces, and includes a securing means located on at least one of the major surfaces of the fastener tab.

Abstract: An absorbent article has a lateral width, a longitudinal length, longitudinally extending side margins, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion, and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article comprises a backsheet layer and an absorbent retention portion superposed on the backsheet layer. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is superposed on the retention portion to sandwich the retention portion between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. An elasticizing means form elasticized gathers at leg opening portions of the article. The elasticizing means include a front set of laterally opposed, longitudinally extending leg elastic members located in the article side margins in at least the intermediate portion of the article. The front elastic members are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the article length and have a selected offset toward the front waistband portion of the article.

Abstract: A distinctive technique for forming an elasticized article includes the steps of providing first and second webs of elasticized side panel material. The side panel material is constructed to be elastically stretchable at least along an appointed lateral cross direction. At least one first fastener is attached to the first web of side panel material, and at least one second fastener is attached to the second web of side panel material. A web of bridge material is provided with first and second side edge regions thereof. The first web of side panel material is attached to the first side edge region of the web of bridge material, and the second web of side panel material is attached to the second side edge region of the web of bridge material. The second web of side panel material is arranged to provide a cross-directional alignment between at least one corresponding, laterally opposed pair of the first and second fasteners.

Abstract: A distinctive absorbent article has laterally opposed side margins, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion, and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article comprises a backsheet layer, and an absorbent retention portion superposed on the backsheet layer. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is superposed on the retention portion to sandwich the retention portion between the topsheet and backsheet layers. A leg elastic connects to each of the side margins of the article to provide elasticized, gathered leg openings. A liquid permeable surge management portion is located adjacent a major facing surface of the topsheet layer. The surge management portion has laterally opposed side edge regions thereof, longitudinally opposed end sections thereof, and an intermediate section which interconnects the end sections. An contracting mechanism is incorporated into the surge management portion, and is constructed to operate separately from the leg elastics.

Abstract: A distinctive absorbent article includes a backsheet layer, and an absorbent structure superposed on the backsheet layer. The absorbent structure includes particles of high absorbency material, and a liquid permeable topsheet layer is superposed on the absorbent structure to sandwich the absorbent structure between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. A fibrous face sheet layer is incorporated in the article for restraining a movement of the high absorbency material from selected regions of the absorbent structure. The face sheet layer has a Frazier Porosity value of at least about 150 cubic feet per minute per square foot of surface area (cfm/ft.sup.2), and has not more than about 100 pores (per 31.37 cm.sup.2 of surface area) with a pore size greater than about 300 micrometers.

Abstract: A distinctive article has first and second waistband sections, and an intermediate section which interconnects the waistband sections. The article comprises a backsheet layer, a liquid permeable topsheet layer superposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer, and an absorbent body interposed between the backsheet and topsheet layers. At least one adhesive tape member connects to the first waistband section. The tape member has a factory-bond section for connecting the tape member to the first waistband section, and a user-bond section for securing the article on a wearer. The user-bond section connects to a finger tab which includes a non-securing grasping section thereof. In particular embodiments, the grasping section can comprise a layer of absorbent material.

Abstract: Generally stated, the present invention provides a distinctive absorbent article comprising a backsheet layer, and a topsheet layer which is disposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer. An absorbent body is interposed between the backsheet layer and topsheet layer. The absorbent body includes a retention portion which comprises a matrix of substantially hydrophilic fibers having a distribution of high-absorbency particulate material therein. The hydrophilic fibers and high-absorbency particles can be provided in a fiber-to-particle weight ratio within the range of about 70:30 to about 30:70. A surge management layer, comprising bicomponent fibers having a denier of not more than about 3 d, is located adjacent at least one major, facing surface of the topsheet layer, and can cooperate with the article components to provide for a liquid Penetration Rate index of not less than about 2.67 ml/sec.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for forming a composite web having selected discrete pocket regions which are distributed on a carrier layer and contain high-absorbency material. The invention includes a pattern chamber having opposed side walls, an entrance end wall and an exit end wall. A particulate supplying mechanism provides particles of high-absorbency material into the pattern chamber, and a web supplying mechanism provides a gas permeable carrier layer. A foraminous forming mechanism moves the carrier layer through the pattern chamber, and the forming mechanism includes a pattern of openings which are formed therethrough and are arranged to provide for a selected pattern of the discrete pocket regions. A vacuum supplying mechanism provides a selected level of relatively low gas pressure at an underside region of the forming mechanism to produce a selected gas-flow through the carrier layer and the foraminous forming mechanism to form the pocket regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a layer structure, such as an airlaid fibrous web, include a supplying mechanism for providing a stream of particulate material, such as fibers. Also included is a substantially endless, foraminous forming belt which has an appointed outward surface and a minimum thickness of at least about 3/16 inch. A selected contour is formed into the outward surface of the belt at selected locations, and the contour is distributed along a lengthwise machine-direction of the forming belt. The forming belt is configured to flex along a thickness direction thereof, and to recoverably bend and substantially straighten when traveling along a selected belt path circuit. A conveying mechanism moves the forming belt past the supplying mechanism along a forming path section of the belt circuit which is substantially straight, and moves the forming belt along a return path section of the belt circuit which includes curved portions therein.