Abstract: Disposable garments such as disposable diapers are disclosed that possess improved elastic characteristics. At least one garment outer sheet is composed of a drawable fabric, such as melt blown polymeric fibers or melt spun filaments. An elastic element is affixed in the relaxed condition to a web of outer sheet fabric. The elastic web is then stetched, and simultaneously the web in the area of elastic element attachment is drawn to impart a molecular orientation to the web fibers. As a result, the web fibers are permanently elongated. Upon relaxation of the stretched elastic element, shirrs or gathers are formed in the web fibers that permit subsequent stretching of the elastic element when the garment is worn. One of the outside sheet webs need not be drawable or drawn if it is preformed with corrugations or pleats in the region of elastic element attachment. The present invention also includes apparatus for manufacturing the garment.

Abstract: A spun bonded web of substantially continuous synthetic filaments has one side that is at least two times smoother than the other side. The majority of the filament cross points within the web are fuse bonded during the web spinning process. The web is spun by blowing a line of spaced, molten synthetic filaments onto a smooth collecting surface which is in motion substantially transverse to the direction of flow of the filaments. The filaments are still soft when they contact the collecting surface and flatten against the collecting surface to form the smooth side of the web. On the other side of the web, the filaments are randomly entangled to form the rough side of the web. A disposable diaper or like article is formed by covering at least one side of an absorbent pad with the fabric of this invention, the rough side of the fabric facing the absorbent pad and serving to anchor the pad against bunching, splitting, or separating.