Abstract: Stretchable leg cuffs are put around the legs of a wearer with little gap therebetween, whereby liquid leakage around the legs can be substantially prevented. Elastic bodies are extended on side flaps formed of a backsheet along lengths of the side flaps. Stretchable leg cuffs for encircling the legs of a wearer extend outwardly from the side edges of the side flaps along the lengths of the side flaps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of making a multi-layered absorbent composite web. The web comprises at least a primary material and a secondary material. The primary material comprises apertures wherein fibers from the secondary material are inserted for fluid capture and transport. The secondary material may form a layer on the primary material once the apertures of the primary material are filled. That is, the secondary material may form a layer of material placed adjacent to the bottom surface of the primary material.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, that is for attaching to and wearing in an undergarment is provided. The sanitary napkin of the present invention has a fastener that aids the sanitary napkin in assuming a body-conforming configuration during wear. The fastener comprises at least two zones of fastener material located only in the end regions of the sanitary napkin. In one embodiment, the zones of fastener material are arranged in an overall configuration that resembles a modified letter "X" without any fastener material in the portion of the configuration that would form the center of the letter X, and the ends of the "X" located in the corner regions of the sanitary napkin.

Abstract: The female protection system of the present invention includes a menstrual short having an outer protective layer and an inner gusset layer. A catamenial pad assembly is connectable to the menstrual short and includes front and rear ends. The catamenial pad assembly includes an absorbent member for absorbing menses and a cinch for biasing the absorbent member into the gluteal groove and against the perineum of the female when worn. A first fastener is provided on the front end of the catamenial pad assembly for attaching the catamenial pad assembly to a first mating surface that is provided at a front attachment location on at least one of the inner gusset layer and the outer protective layer. A second fastener is provided on the rear end of the catamenial pad assembly for attaching the catamenial pad assembly to a second mating surface that is provided at a rear attachment location on at least one of the inner gusset layer and the outer protective layer.

Abstract: In a sanitary napkin, the retention layer of the absorbent core is covered by first tissue sheet of a density between 0.01 g/cm.sup.3 and 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 and by a second tissue sheet of a density between 0.08 and 0.3 g/cm.sup.3, the difference in density between the tissue sheets being between 0.01 g/cm.sup.3 and 0.2 g/cm.sup.3. The density gradient on top of the retention layer results in a relatively high efficiency of the retention layer and in efficient draining of the topmost tissue sheet, so that chances of rewet are reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article which includes a first absorbent article and a second absorbent article releasably secured to one another. The second absorbent article is folded along its longitudinal edges to provide side flaps which are releasably secured to the garment facing surface of the first absorbent article.

Abstract: The method relates to functional absorbent materials that are profiled through cutting and heating to form flow channels, and in one embodiment to form bellows which rise above the flow channels. Additionally, the flow channels which are partially cut into an absorbent material may also function as hinge means for that material as regards bending and conformity of fit. In one embodiment, functional absorbent material is provided with discrete heating and cutting, e.g., by a laser, by which channels and bellows are simultaneously formed. In another embodiment using a discrete heating and cutting means, e.g., a laser, is used to provide channels partially through the surface of a functional absorbent material.

Abstract: Absorbent composites containing particles of absorbent gelling material and chemically stiffened, cellulosic fibers, the fibers being wrapped around and adhered to the particles, which are in individual form. The chemically stiffened, cellulosic fibers are preferably cellulosic fibers in substantially individual form having a crosslinking agent reacted with the fibers in intrafiber crosslink bond form. The absorbent composites are particularly suitable for use in the absorbent core of disposable absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins and diapers.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article such as a diaper. The diaper has a topsheet, backsheet, and an intermediate core. Affixed to the outwardly oriented surface of the topsheet is an expulsive spacer. The spacer receives and collects fecal material from the wearer. The spacer may be removable from the diaper, or may be articulable relative to the diaper. By expelling the spacer from the diaper, fecal material can be easily flushed into the toilet, rather than discarded into a waste receptacle where it presents a sanitation hazard.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent composite web comprising a primary material having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of apertures extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. Furthermore, a secondary material is positioned adjacent to the primary material bottom surface. The secondary material extends into the plurality of apertures in the primary material.

Abstract: A fastening tape for a sanitary article, for fastening the article on the body of a person is attached to the article at one of its end portions (18) and provided with any fastener (22) on one surface of the other end portion (20). A stretchable elastic portion (30) consists of a sandwich structure of a tape section (32) of a stretchable elastic material secured to one surface of the fastening tape (10) at least at both ends (32a, 32b) thereof, to bridge a section of the fastening tape (10).

Abstract: A method for forming an undergarment comprises the steps of transporting a two-dimensional web in a substantially flattened position on a transport device, cutting the web along a transverse edge to form a two-dimensional pre-form, gripping the pre-form adjacent each waist section with a gripping device in four gripping areas, jointly rotating at least the gripping means which hold the gripping areas in the region of the first transverse edge of the pre-form around a first axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to the transverse edges of the pre-form, rotating each gripping device around a respective axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the longitudinal sides of the pre-form to place the sealing areas located along the same longitudinal side in a contacting relationship, joining the superimposed sealing areas in a sealing unit, and releasing the undergarment from the gripping device. The apparatus comprises an umbrella-type mechanism.

Abstract: A method for forming an undergarment having side seams from a two-dimensional preform comprises the steps of cutting a continuous web along transverse cut lines to form individual preforms; cutting each preform along a leg contour extending along each longitudinal side of the preform in the region of a central section, wherein each leg contour does not touch the respective longitudinal side, thus forming two gripping flaps; gripping the preform at the gripping flaps; pulling the gripping flaps outwardly away from the longitudinal sides such that the preform is doubled over along a transverse centerline and such that sealing areas in the region of back waist sections are placed in a superimposed relationship with sealing areas in the region of front waist sections; mutually connecting the sealing areas.

Abstract: In a process of making an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin or a disposable diaper, hydrophilic fibers and crimped or coiled synthetic fibers are supplied in a single fiberboard to a defiberising means such as a hammermill. The process results in a homogenous and resilient blended absorbent core that can be produced using a single defiberising unit. The crimped or coiled fibers pass through the defiberising means without their two or three-dimensional structure being adversely affected at a relatively low defiberisation energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent article and preferably a diaper or incontinent device having perfume-filled release agents, preferably being perfume-filled microcapsules, disposed on the diaper fastening system. The encapsulated agents and/or odor masking agents are released subsequent to the removal of the article from about the wearer, i.e., as the fastening system is disconnected, the microcapsules burst, thereby releasing the agents to the air containing the malodor constituents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent article and preferably a diaper or incontinent device having perfume zones disposed on the backsheet outer surface or on a backing member attached to the backsheet outer surface. The perfume zones generally comprise a binder having release agents of one or more types dispersed therethrough. Additionally, the perfume zones contain pull-strips attached to the binder which, when detached from the binder, will cause perfume to be released from the release agents either by shearing of the agents or diffusion as a result of uncovering the binder. The perfume provides the functions of either masking and/or absorbing malodors and are released via fragrance burst, and/or diffusion over time. Furthermore, perfume is released either at attachment of the article about a wearer, at removal of the article from about a wearer and/or during sustained wear of the article about a wearer.

Abstract: A method for producing a pant-style garment from a substrate having a plurality of tensioned garters. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment a substrate is joined to one or more mandrels having tensioned garters fitted thereon. Substrate material is removed from within the loop of the garter, thereby forming apertures in the substrate. The substrate is folded along its longitudinal centerline such that its longitudinal edges meet. The substrate is subsequently joined along lines of joinder, and the substrate is cut into individual pant-style garments. In preferable embodiments, a process for providing elastics to the longitudinal edges of the substrate, thereby producing elasticized waistbands is included.

Abstract: A method for producing a pant-style garment from a substrate having a plurality of tensioned garters. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment a substrate is joined to one or more mandrels having tensioned garters fired thereon. Substrate material is removed from within the loop of the garter, thereby forming apertures in the substrate. The substrate is folded along its longitudinal centerline such that its longitudinal edges meet. The substrate is subsequently joined along lines of joinder, and the substrate is cut into individual pant-style garments. In preferable embodiments, a process for providing elastics to the longitudinal edges of the substrate, thereby producing elasticized waistbands is included.