Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing a fine granularity alerting mechanism for alerting customers of the status of an order are provided. With the apparatus and methods, a customer selects a supplier of a good or service and places an order with the supplier. Upon submitting the order to the supplier, a session between the supplier and the customer is initiated such that the customer may be provided with one or more alerts of the current status of the customer's order. The one or more alerts may be periodic or may be based on the occurrence of one or more certain events. The alerts may include an estimated time of travel from a customer's current location to a location at which the order is to be completed along with an estimated time of completion of the order.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including: a liquid permeable surface member; a backing sheet; and an absorbent layer interposed between the surface member and the backing sheet. The surface member includes an upper layer located at a liquid-receiving side surface and a lower layer located adjacent to the absorbent layer. The upper layer is formed of first continuous filaments. The lower layer is formed of second continuous filaments. The first and second continuous filaments individually extend over the entire length of the surface member. Hydrophilicity of the lower layer is higher than that of the upper layer.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin provided on its upper surface along transversely opposite side portions with a pair of barrier flaps, respectively. Each of the barrier straps are stretchable outward transversely of the napkin and so that a wearer's thighs and peripheral edges of an undergarment adjacent leg-openings are protected from being soiled with body liquids.

Abstract: A backsheet of a disposable diaper comprises a stretched plastic film containing grains of inorganic filler wherein the backsheet presents surfaces roughed by the presence of the grains and has a moisture permeability of 800-3000 g/m2·24 hr and a total light transmissivity of 60-85%.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet; and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability or may include materials which provide improved air exchange after being wetted. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the backsheet and a surge management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result, the article exhibits substantially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin when in use which renders the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms.

Abstract: A sanitary absorbent article is provided which has a generally rectangular main body and two positioning tabs laterally extending from the main body for use in securing the article to an undergarment of a user. The tabs, when folded, provide upstanding barriers that extend along the longitudinal edges of the main body to prevent leakage of menstrual fluid.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, at least one fit panel, a pair a primary fasteners and an integral waist size adjustment mechanism. The fit panel is located in one of the waist regions of the absorbent chassis and defines a waist edge, a pair of laterally opposed outboard edges which are located laterally beyond the side edges of the absorbent chassis, and an inward edge which is located longitudinally inward from the waist edge. The pair of primary fasteners are located on the laterally opposed outboard edges of the fit panel and are configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent chassis to provide the disposable absorbent article. The waist size adjustment mechanism may include a secondary fastener tab which is integral with the fit panel.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article aiming at improved skin aeration by combining the benefits of an absorbent core providing good rewet performance and of using backsheet materials, which where covering the core area, provide vapor permeability, and which have even higher vapor permeability in the chassis region(s) surrounding the core region.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a diaper, containing cuffs with a skin care composition disposed thereon. The skin care composition disposed on the cuffs is transferable to the wearer's skin by normal contact and/or wearer motion and/or body heat. The cuffs are at least partially assembled using an oil resistant adhesive that is both material friendly and process friendly.

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard, or a panty-liner, which article has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and also exhibits two side edges (9, 10), a front edge (11) and a rear edge (12), a front portion (6) and a rear portion (7), and a crotch portion (8) situated between the front portion (6) and the rear portion (7), which article furthermore exhibits a liquid-impervious surface (2) and a liquid-impervious surface (3). At least within the front portion (6) and the crotch portion (8), the article exhibits high bending stiffness against bending along transversely extending bending lines, whereby the front portion (6) and the crotch portion (8) of the article exhibit high shape permanence during use of the article.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article, e.g., a diaper, and a method of manufacturing plural such articles. Each diaper includes a front section, a rear section and an intermediate section. Each section is a generally planar member formed of a flexible material having a top edge, a bottom edge and an opposed pair of side edges. The bottom edge of the front section is somewhat concave, and the bottom edge of the rear section is somewhat convex. The intermediate section is formed of a fluid pervious cover-stock, a fluid impervious barrier layer, and an absorbent core interposed therebetween. The intermediate section is of generally rectangular shape having a pair of elasticized sides and an pair of end portion one of which is adhesively secured to the middle of the front section, while the other end portion is similarly secured to the middle of the rear section. The front and rear sections are arranged to be releasably secured to each other by fastening tapes to mount the diaper.

Abstract: The invention provides a sanitary absorbent article, such as a feminine protection device, having a fibrous, liquid permeable body-facing cover layer, and an absorbent system, which exhibits particular rewet characteristics when subjected to mechanical stress. The sanitary absorbent article has a thickness of less than or equal to 5 mm, a capacity of at least 18 grams, a rewet potential of less than or equal to 0.8 grams, and a flexural resistance of less than 700 g.

Abstract: A refastenable disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a central section including first and second side edges. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the central section and each lateral section has an outward edge. The front portion also has a first end and a second end. The back portion has first and second side edges and first and second ends. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. Multiple elastic strands extend transversely across the first section from the first side edge to the second side edge.

Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed having a refastenable mechanism. The absorbent article has a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a first end, a second end, a first side edge and a second side edge. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the front portion and each of the first and second lateral sections has an outer edge. The back portion has first and second side edges and first and second ends. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. The second section has a length L3 measured perpendicularly from the second end of the back portion to the line drawn parallel to the first end whereby a ratio L2/L3 is established which ranges from between about 0.1 to about 2.

Abstract: A refastenable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a first end, a second end, and a central section including first and second side edges. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the central section and each lateral section has an outer edge. The front portion also has a first end and a second end. The crotch portion has a first side edge and a second side edge and first and second crotch elastics are positioned adjacent to the first and second side edges. The back portion has a first end, a second end and first and second side edges. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto.

Abstract: A protective underwear having a crotch portion, a waist portion, a front belly portion and a rear back portion. The waist, belly and back portions include plural transversely oriented elastic threads. The underwear includes an absorbent core. Longitudinally oriented elastic threads are located on opposite sides of the core and intersect the transverse elastic threads to enclose the core. The underwear includes a pair of leg openings, each of which has a first arcuate section, a second arcuate section, and an intermediate section. The first arcuate section includes at least one arcuate elastic thread, as does the second arcuate section. Those threads are spaced by a gap. A portion of the longitudinally oriented elastic threads on either side of the core is located closely adjacent a respective gap between the arcuate elastic threads to elasticize the leg openings.

Abstract: Absorbent pad assemblies and articles are provided wherein absorbent pad materials are adjacently disposed relative to each other and have an edge surface angularly orientated relative to the longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: An absorbent article with a liquid barrier layer which lies nearest the user's body and which includes a first and a second pair of elastic members. The surface layer is used as the article's supporting unit in which other included parts, such as reverse layer and absorption body, are suspended. The surface layer also has an elongate opening which permits liquid communication from the user's genitals to the inside of the article.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an absorbent structure (3) in an absorbent article such as a diaper (100), an incontinence protector, a sanitary napkin or the like, which structure exhibits two end portions (8, 9) and a crotch portion (6) located therebetween, wherein the absorbent structure (3) comprises superabsorbent material having a thermo-reversible liquid absorption capacity. The superabsorbent material having a thermo-reversible liquid absorption capacity is located in one or several delimited regions in the absorbent structure (3).

Abstract: Absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence protectors, sanitary napkins, wound dressings and similar articles which are applied in contact with skin, and methods which make it possible to use an article for an extended period of time without the appearance of unwanted side-effects such as, for instance, growth of undesirable microorganisms. The absorbent body in the absorbent article comprises a pH-controlling substance in the form of a partially neutralized super-absorbent material in such a manner that the pH in the absorbent article after wetting is in the interval 3.5-4.9. Growth of undesirable strains of microorganisms is prevented and unwanted side-effects resulting from use of the article are reduced.