Abstract: Apparatus and methods of manufacturing absorbent articles suitable for use as training pants or other hygiene products are provided. The absorbent article includes a chassis having a front section, a rear section, and a crotch section extending between the front section and the rear section. The front section is connected to the rear section to define a waist opening, leg openings, and a belly region positioned between the waist opening and the leg openings. The absorbent article also includes an absorbent core coupled to the crotch section of the chassis. An adjustable tensioner is coupled to the chassis and is positioned for snugging the chassis against a wearer of the absorbent article. The tensioner is configured to be adjusted by the wearer from a first tension to a second, selected tension.

Abstract: A closure tab is provided and includes a first substrate. A second substrate is adhesively attached to the first substrate. The second substrate has mechanical closure material formed thereon. A compression bond pattern is applied to the first substrate and the second substrate. The compression bond pattern includes at least one outwardly extending protrusion. The compression bond pattern may include, for example, circular bond points, stripes, or a decorative element. A method is also provided wherein the second substrate is compressed onto the first substrate by a patterned roller. The second substrate may be compressed onto the first substrate by a plurality of pins spaced in alternating offset rows.

Abstract: Absorbent articles suitable for use as training pants or other hygiene products are provided. The absorbent articles include a chassis having a contiguous front section, a rear section, and a crotch section extending between the front section and the rear section. Edges of the front section connect to edges of the rear section to define a waist opening. The chassis includes a substrate layer having pairs of film sections attached to the front section and the rear section. Each film section is spaced apart from one another and are stretchable in at least a direction along the waist opening. Products according to the invention may provide any of several benefits, including at least one of improved fit, comfort, manufacturability, and visual appearance.

Abstract: A particulate delivery apparatus for distributing particulate material onto a target area of a web moving in a first direction can generally have a hopper for receiving a supply of particulate material and a one or more tubular members having an inlet end communicating with the hopper and an outlet end for discharging the particulate material from the hopper onto the target area. The tubular member(s) can extend downwardly from the bottom of the hopper at an angle toward the web, such that the particulate material is discharged onto the web, and in the same direction the web is moving. A plurality of separate flow paths can be provided in the tubular member(s) such that the particulate material is discharged as a plurality of separate streams. The width of the outlet end(s) can approximate the width of, and be oriented along the same axis as, the width of the target area.

Abstract: A method of making a digitally optimized fastener assembly for a disposable absorbent article can have the following steps: creating a first FEA model having first structural design properties and/or first material design properties; analyzing the first FEA model to obtain first failure characteristics; modifying the first structural design properties and/or the first material design properties to create a second FEA model having second structural design properties and/or second material design properties; analyzing the second FEA model to obtain second failure characteristics thereof; comparing the first failure characteristics to the second failure characteristics to determine whether there is an improvement over the first failure characteristics; and wherein the third through fifth steps can be repeated until a FEA model is created which exhibits desirable failure characteristics. A digitally optimized fastener assembly generally be a fastener assembly made according to the aforesaid method.

Abstract: A method for projecting leakage performance for an absorbent article includes applying a liquid insult to a first sample article on a testing apparatus and recording leakage, applying a liquid Insult to a second sample article on the testing apparatus and recording leakage, and calculating a projected frequency of actual leakage for the absorbent article according to a linear regression formula. A method of designing an absorbent article includes determining a maximum acceptable frequency of overnight leakage for the article, calculating a target Static Retention Index, testing the absorbent article to determine an average mannequin leakage value, and modifying the absorbent article structure to adjust the average test mannequin leakage value until the average test mannequin leakage value is substantially equal to the target Static Retention Index. A training pant includes a core having a Static Retention Index of less than about 1.4 g.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article with an associated polymer film that is positioned to be activated by contact with bodily fluids, wherein the polymer film can release odor control and/or skin wellness agents upon contact with such bodily fluids. The polymer film can release the odor control and/or skin wellness agents immediately, gradually over a period of time after contact with such bodily fluids, or a combination of both. The polymer film can also be used for household cleaning applications, in which the polymer film can similarly contain and subsequently release household cleaning agents upon contact with water.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has an absorbent chassis, two independent side panels, a pair of front releasable fastening systems and a pair of back releasable fastening systems. Each side panel comprises a pair of opposite transverse edges. The front fastening system releasably attaches the front waist region to a transverse edge of the side panel. The back fastening system releasably attaches the back waist region to an opposite transverse edge of the side panel.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having an absorbent core and a fluid redistribution layer disposed on top of the absorbent core, wherein the fluid redistribution layer has a channel which redistributes fluid mainly along the absorbent core. The absorbent core can be disposed between a top sheet and a back sheet of the absorbent article, and the fluid redistribution layer can be disposed between the absorbent core and the top sheet, with the channel having one or more openings on the side next to the top sheet.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having a fluid transfer layer with target insult zone and/or wavy cut edges can have a liquid permeable top sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet, an absorbent core disposed at least partially therebetween, and a fluid transfer layer disposed between the absorbent core and the top sheet, wherein the target insult zone is provided in the fluid transfer layer and can be defined by a generally centrally located cut-out portion therethrough. At the target insult zone, the fluid passes through the cut-out portion into the absorbent core unimpeded by the fluid transfer layer. The fluid transfer layer and/or the cut-out portion defining the target insult zone can have at least one edge which can be cut in a specially designed pattern, for example, a wavy cut pattern, to provide improved aesthetics.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising an absorbent body having a substantially rectangular perimeter, a front portion configured to be positioned against a front of a wearer, and a back portion configured to be positioned against a back of a wearer is provided. At least one panel is attached to the back portion of the absorbent body and extends outwardly from the perimeter of the absorbent body. The panel may be formed from one or more non-woven, non-elastic materials. An elastic member is attached to and extends outwardly from the panel and a fastener is coupled to the elastic member for engaging the front portion of the absorbent body. The absorbent article may be manufactured in a pre-attached state, allowing the user to put on and wear the article directly from the package.

Abstract: A closure tab is provided and includes a first substrate. A second substrate is adhesively attached to the first substrate. The second substrate has mechanical closure material formed thereon. A compression bond pattern is applied to the first substrate and the second substrate. The compression bond pattern includes at least one outwardly extending protrusion. The compression bond pattern may include, for example, circular bond points, stripes, or a decorative element. A method is also provided wherein the second substrate is compressed onto the first substrate by a patterned roller. The second substrate may be compressed onto the first substrate by a plurality of pins spaced in alternating offset rows.

Abstract: A protective undergarment having an absorbent chassis and an abdominal support member extending across the region of the undergarment which covers that abdomen of the wearer in order to provide abdominal support. The support member can be a pair of elastomeric panels which provide a supportive surface adjacent the abdomen of the wearer. The length of the panels can be adjustable to vary the degree of support, and the supportive feature thereof can also be provided by the stretch and support characteristics of the elastomeric material.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a main body, a sleeve-like member extending adjacent the waist edge of the front or rear portions, and an adjustable elastomeric waist belt having a central portion and a pair of opposite free ends each defining ear-like projections. The central portion of the elastomeric member can be disposed in a sleeve-like member with each ear-like projection extending out from opposite sides. The central portion can be attached to the sleeve-like member and/or the main body near a longitudinal axis of the main body or adjacent the waist edge of the main body. The ear-like projections can be attachable to each other or the main body to form the desired waist size of the wearer of the absorbent article.

Abstract: An absorbent article fastener is provided that includes an absorbent article fastener that is configured for engagement with a landing zone of an absorbent article. The fastener includes an integral substrate having a stretch zone and a shaped deadened zone. A mechanical closure material is mounted with the deadened zone such that the substrate is configured for releasable engagement with the landing zone of the absorbent article. A surface area ratio of the mechanical closure material to the substrate is less than 65%. A method of manufacturing the absorbent article fastener is also provided.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided that includes a top sheet and a back sheet joined to form side seam regions. An absorbent core is disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet; and laterally oriented elastics are disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The elastics include a first elastic region disposed adjacent to the front end and a second elastic region disposed adjacent the first elastic region. The second elastic region includes one or more elastic elements that extend between the side seam regions. The elastic elements have internal cuts adjacent the side seams in a configuration that relieves elastic tension adjacent the side seams regions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an economical and disposable cleaning tool which may be prepared by a simplified manufacturing process involving a reduced number of steps. The cleaning tool comprises a cleaning pad and an implementing means, the cleaning pad having a pocket for receiving the implementing means. The cleaning pad may be provided with a top sheet and a fiber bundle. The top sheet is folded over and bonded to provide a cleaning portion and a back portion, and the fiber bundle is disposed on the cleaning portion. The cleaning portion and the back portion of the folded sheet are bonded together forming the pocket for a handle to be disposed therein. The handle may include a hinge to enable the handle to be repeatedly folded over for convenient storage or easily extended for use.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a core with superior fluid absorption and retention capabilities is disclosed herein. In the disclosed invention, a layer of low-density fibers is placed adjacent to the top, bottom or both surface of the high-density absorbent core. The materials used for making the low-density layers are preferably opened fibers such as polypropylene tow.