Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an absorbent composite for an absorbent article, and more particularly to an absorbent composite comprising fibrous material and superabsorbent material having a Column Absorbency Under Load (CAUL) above 10 g/g. Such an absorbent composite provides a superabsorbent material having superior AUL and permeability, thereby providing improved absorption and rewetting properties. An absorbent article that contains such a composite provides improved ability to absorb and retain fluids, thus preventing excessive rewetting and leakage and making the article more comfortable to wear.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an absorbent core for an absorbent article, and more particularly to an absorbent core having zoned absorbency due to specific placement of adhesives or specific lack of adhesive. Such absorbent cores provide the flexibility of creating precise zoning of particular properties throughout the core, and they provide improved comfort and fit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent garment subassembly for attaching to an absorbent garment, the absorbent garment having a front portion, a back portion and two side portions. The subassembly has a first carrier layer and an elastic member operatively associated with the first carrier layer. The elastic member has a center portion and two end portions. The center portion has a greater area than either of the end portions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming tow-based absorbent structures having a single casing sheet are disclosed. The apparatus has a tow supply mechanism for providing tow material, a particulate matter supply mechanism for providing particulate matter, and a casing sheet supply mechanism for providing casing sheet material. The apparatus also has a vacuum draw roll having a foraminous center surface that has a width defined by a first edge and a second edge and is rotatable about a first axis. The vacuum draw roll is positioned to receive the tow material, the particulate matter and the casing sheet material to form a open core composite supply. The apparatus also has one or more angled surfaces positioned to create one or more obtuse angles in the open core composite supply, and one or more folders to further fold the one or more obtuse angles in the open core composite supply to form a folded core composite supply.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for depositing particulate matter onto a supply of absorbent core fibrous substrate material are disclosed. The apparatus has a feed tray that has an inlet for receiving a supply of particulate matter. At least part of a lower pan of the feed tray is a slideable shuttle pan that has an outlet edge located near a supply of absorbent core fibrous substrate material that is moving in a machine direction. The supply of particulate matter passes over the outlet edge to exit the feed tray. A mechanism operates the shuttle pan through a range of motion having a forward stroke and a backward stroke. During the forward stroke, the outlet edge follows the supply of absorbent core fibrous substrate material.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for preparing an absorbent core for use in absorbent garments is disclosed. The apparatus includes a funnel having a first end and a second end, the second end being narrower in diameter than the first end, and a nozzle having a straight section, a curved section, and a tip. The straight section of the nozzle is operatively associated with the second end of the funnel. The apparatus further includes a diverter plate operatively associated with the curved section of the nozzle. The invention provides a more uniform distribution of super absorbent particles within the fluff pulp used to make the absorbent core, thus improving performance of the absorbent core. An absorbent garment made using an absorbent core made with the apparatus of the invention also is disclosed. The absorbent garment provides better leakage protection than absorbent garments incorporating conventional absorbent cores.

Abstract: A fastener tab for use on an absorbent garment is provided. The fastener tab has a tab body with a proximal edge for locating proximate the garment, a distal edge opposite the proximal edge, a top edge adjacent the proximal edge, and a bottom edge opposite the top edge, and a fastening area for removeably fastening the tab body to the garment. The fastening area has a first edge. A first tangent line is tangent to a first portion of the first edge of the fastening area, a second tangent line is tangent to a second portion of the first edge of the fastening area, the second tangent line intersects the first tangent line, and one of the first and second tangent lines is non-parallel to a primary pull direction of the fastener tab.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming tow-based absorbent structures having a single casing sheet are disclosed. The apparatus has a tow supply mechanism for providing tow material, a particulate matter supply mechanism for providing particulate matter, and a casing sheet supply mechanism for providing casing sheet material. The apparatus also has a vacuum draw roll having a foraminous center surface that has a width defined by a first edge and a second edge and is rotatable about a first axis. The vacuum draw roll is positioned to receive the tow material, the particulate matter and the casing sheet material to form a open core composite supply. The apparatus also has one or more angled surfaces positioned to create one or more obtuse angles in the open core composite supply, and one or more folders to further fold the one or more obtuse angles in the open core composite supply to form a folded core composite supply.

Abstract: Absorbent articles with friction-inducing substances at one or more predetermined application zones, as well as methods for using the absorbent articles and methods for preparing the absorbent articles, are disclosed. The absorbent articles have unexpectedly superior fit, distribution, comfort, leak protection, skin protection, absorbency and/or cost-efficiency.

Abstract: The Invention relates to absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence products, training pants, sanitary napkins, and the like, providing superior strikethrough and rewet characteristics, and methods of preparing the absorbent articles. The absorbent articles comprise at least a topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, and fluid handling layer, and the article has a third insult Strikethrough of less than about 45 seconds, and a third insult Rewet of less than about 35 grams.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preparing an absorbent article is disclosed. The apparatus has at least two forming surfaces which differ in terms of air permeability to allow the selective placement of fibrous material. The forming surface comprises a perforated forming screen. The forming screen has multiple zones with different amounts of open area through which air may pass. Particles carried in the air which flows through the open area are deposited on different zones of the forming screen resulting in different basis weights corresponding to the different air permeabilities. The apparatus and method thus provide an article having optimal zoned absorbency in a cost-effective manner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dry forming absorbent cores are disclosed. The apparatus has a rotatable drum having a substantially cylindrical surface. A vacuum surface having one or more holes is located substantially circumferentially around at least a portion of the substantially cylindrical surface. A vacuum chamber is located within the rotatable drum. The vacuum chamber has one or more vacuum passages forming a vacuum zone subadjacent at least a portion of the vacuum surface. A first casing sheet is supplied to overlie the vacuum surface at a first location, and a fibrous material is supplied to overlie the first casing sheet at a second location. A supply of particulate matter is deposited onto the fibrous material at a third location, and a second casing sheet is supplied to overlie the first casing sheet, fibrous material and particulate matter at a fourth location, thereby forming an absorbent core composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for attaching mechanical fasteners to absorbent articles using slow-crystallizing hot melt adhesives under conditions sufficient to result in a mechanical fastener/absorbent article bond static shear strength of at least about 50 min/kg. Preferred mechanical fasteners include hook-type fastener tabs. The present invention provides an efficient, reliable method for attaching mechanical fasteners to absorbent articles which is superior to previous techniques. The present invention also relates to absorbent articles produced by the described method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling absorbent garments are disclosed. The invention uses an applicator having one or more heads that are adapted to hold parts. The applicator is rotated by a motor, which is controlled by a control device. The control device is operated such that the applicator heads pick up parts at one location at a first speed, and deposit the parts at a second location at a second speed.

Abstract: An absorbent article having front and rear regions corresponding to the front and rear of a wearer, respectively, and a crotch region between the front and rear regions. The article generally has a backsheet, a topsheet overlaying the backsheet, and a foam layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. An absorbent core also is located between the topsheet and the backsheet. The foam layer preferably extends from the front region, through the crotch, and into the back region. The foam layer is attached to the article, while in a laterally extended position, in at least one of the front and rear regions thereby elasticizing at least one region.

Abstract: An absorbent article including one or more graphics disposed thereon and a method and system for making the same are provided according to the present invention. A picture is taken of the graphic. Based on the picture, a centroid position of the graphic is determined. The centroid position is compared with a target position. Based on the variation of the centroid position with the target position, the processing is adjusted so as to apply the graphic as desired.

Abstract: Absorbent articles having unexpectedly superior absorbency are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles have a roll-good type absorbent core in a novel attachment configuration that provides unexpectedly high absorbency, as well as cost efficiency.

Abstract: A fastener tab for securing absorbent garments having a first elastic region that extends laterally outward from a waist region of the garment, a second elastic region that extends laterally outward from the first elastic region, and a grip that is attached to an outboard portion of the second elastic region. The first elastic region has a greater stretch resistance than the second elastic region. The fastener tab may have a substantially inelastic region interposed between the first elastic region and the second elastic region.