Abstract: A coverstock for disposable sanitary absorbent products is described. It comprises a non-woven web having a body-contacting surface and a material-contacting surface. The web is partially impregnated in selected areas with a fluid-repellent material such as a hot-melt adhesive. The penetration of the repellent material extends from the material-contacting surface, a distance toward the body-contacting surface at least 5% and not more than 95% of the thickness of the web so that the body-contacting surface is free of fluid-repellent material, and so that the material-contacting surface can be secured to the material by application of heat and without any additional adhesive material. A disposable absorbent pad made with the coverstock material, and the process for making the coverstock material and the pad are also disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous elastic ribbon is fed to a diaper assembly station in a stretched condition while, at the same time, an adhesive is continuously applied to the elastic ribbon. Simultaneously, absorbent batts, as well as webs of moisture-impervious batt sheet material and moisture-impervious top-sheet material are fed to the diaper assembly station. Further, and simultaneously, while the webs are traveling to the assembly station, the quantity of the adhesive applied to the elastic ribbon is changed so that there is substantially less adhesive in pre-determined isolated portions of the stretched elastic ribbon. At the assembly station, a stretched elastic ribbon is adhered to the moisture-impervious backsheet web along portions of the elastic ribbon which intervene the selected areas of the web while lesser quantities of the adhesive are located.