Abstract: A combination of an absorbent article and a waist belt for supporting the article has coacting hook and loop fabric tape elements thereon by which the absorbent article and the waist belt are releasably secured to each other. The hook fabric tape elements are provided on one of the waist belt and the absorbent article, and the loop fabric tape elements are provided on the other of the waist belt and the absorbent article.

Abstract: A pull-on disposable diaper that is provided, in a vicinity of transversely opposite side edges in a rear waist region, with fastening tape strips. The fastening tape strips are adapted to hold the diaper in its rolled up state for disposal after the diaper has been used. Each of the tape strips includes a first portion extending longitudinally of the diaper parallel to the associated one of transversely opposite side edges and a second portion branched from the first portion that extends longitudinally of the diaper. Longitudinally opposite end regions of the first portion are bonded to edges of waist- and leg-openings. The second portion includes an anchoring zone adapted to be separably anchored on the outer peripheral surface of the rolled up diaper.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent system for personal care products which may be transversely divided into about an equally sized center zone, two intermediate zones and two end zones where the ratio of the amount of liquid stored in the center zone to the amount of liquid stored in at least one of the end zones 30 minutes each of three insults of 80 ml according to a MIST Evaluation Test after less than 5:1. Such an absorbent system may be used in personal care products like diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and the like.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an absorbent article in the form of a pants diaper or a sanitary panty starts from a flat blank which includes an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body on the opposite sides thereof. The method includes the step of folding the blank about a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge. The front and rear side parts of the blank which oppose one another in the folded state of the blank are joined together by a releasable and refastenable fastener. A pants diaper can be manufactured in accordance with this method.

Abstract: A disposable diaper that includes an absorbent unit and a breathable sweat-absorbent sheet. An end flap is formed in a rear waist region of the absorbent unit and is arranged to be breathable. The sweat-absorbent sheet is bonded to the inner surface of the end flap. The diaper thus constructed is breathable and sweat absorbable in the waist region of the absorbent unit.

Abstract: A diaper with a pocket including an exterior layer of a liquid impervious plastic material. An interior layer is formed of a liquid absorbing material. Separable vertical edges extend downwardly from the upper edge of the layers with an adhesive strip for securing the diaper on the child. Also provided is an intermediate layer of a liquid impervious plastic material in a generally rectangular configuration exterior of the interior layer and coupled at the periphery to the interior face of the exterior layer at the back, the intermediate layer extending horizontally for the majority of the extent of the back and extending vertically for the majority of the extent of the back thereby forming a large pocket for the receipt of baby-changing related objects. A slit is formed in the exterior layer for allowing entrance to and egress from the pocket.

Abstract: An absorbent product useful for wearing in the crotch portion of an undergarment is disclosed. The absorbent product has an absorbent structure disposed between a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface, a positioning element operatively connected to the garment-facing surface, and a conforming element. The conforming element include an association of conformable segments which are moveable with respect to one another. The absorbent product is capable of acquiring and maintaining a form which conforms to a user's body surface contours.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a pair of side flaps along transversely opposite side edges of the article. Each of the side flaps is formed on its upper surface with a plurality of pleats that extend longitudinally of the side flap. Each of the pleats contains an elastically stretchable/contractile member that extends along its distal edge so as to operate longitudinally of the pleat.

Abstract: A short-type disposable diaper including a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorber interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, front and rear waist portions being connected together at opposite sides thereof, respectively, the improvement including a tape fastener adapted to fasten the diaper when the diaper is to be discarded, the tape fastener being disposed at a central outer surface section of the backsheet and extending in a longitudinal direction of the backsheet.

Abstract: In a method and device for applying a thread to a moving substrate, a thread is continuously dispensed to a pick-up point adjacent to the point of contact of two rotating wheels (2, 3) that are inclined towards each other. The peripheries of the wheels have fingers (7) which hook the thread and move it to one side or the other as the wheels rotate, and then deposit the thread extended between the fingers 180° from the pick-up point. Long spaces between the fingers (7) on one wheel or the other make it possible to lay the thread longitudinally (8b) or in a long diagonal line instead of merely in a lateral zigzag pattern. The method and device may be used to make an absorbent article, such as a diaper.

Abstract: A fastening system for a garment such as a disposable diaper includes a hook panel having a plurality of hook elements and a loop panel having a plurality of loop elements. The hook panel includes a base panel having a top surface on which the hook elements extend and a back surface. The back surface of the base panel has a secured region and a non-secured region with respect to the garment. The non-secured region is defined toward one end from which the hook panel can be progressively released from the loop panel toward the other opposite end. The fastening system thereby reduces the chance that the hook panel might be readily and unintentionally released from the loop panel during use of the garment.

Abstract: A pants-type sanitary napkin or incontinence guard for women including a front part, a back part and an intermediate crotch part. An elastically stretchable waist border includes first and second side parts and central parts disposed therebetween. The opposing side edges of the front part and the back part are joined together by the first and second side parts of the waist border. The elasticized waist border has a greater resistance to stretch in the first and second side parts than in the central parts thereof, when no load is acting on the sanitary napkin or guard.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes an outer cover and a bodyside liner. A fecal retaining structure having at least one aperture is mounted in the rear portion of the absorbent article. The retaining structure has at least one, preferably multiple, apertures sized to retain exudates from a typical bowel movement and to displace such exudates from the skin of the user. The fecal retaining structure preferably has a surface layer on the outer surface which contacts the body of the user. The surface layer has a slick surface that assists in moving fecal material into the apertures. An absorbent core may be mounted in the absorbent article, especially in the front portion of the absorbent article.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a multi-functional fastening system which includes a pair of primary fasteners which are located on the opposed side edges in one of the waist regions of the absorbent article. The primary fasteners are configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article. The fastening system also includes at least one secondary fastener which is located in one of the waist regions of the absorbent article. The secondary fastener is configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article to conform the waist regions of the article to a wearer's body after the primary fasteners have been releasably engaged. The primary fasteners may be prefastened to allow the disposable absorbent article to be pulled on or off over the wearer's hips. The fastening system may further include a belt segment to which the secondary fasteners are attached.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sanitary napkin having flaps folded over the topsheet. This arrangement helps to maintain the topsheet in a sanitary condition and is more convenient for the wearer than a configuration having the flaps folded over the backsheet. The flaps may be maintained in this folded arrangement by a unitary release strip which bridges the flaps and covers any adhesive used to attach the flaps to the undergarment. If desired, the release paper may further wrap the longitudinal side margins of the sanitary napkin to additionally cover adhesive disposed on the central portion of the backsheet. If desired, the flaps may be folded over the topsheet, overlap each other and be adhesively joined to the other flap.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a main body which includes a backsheet formed of a liquid impermeable sheet, a topsheet formed of a liquid permeable sheet, an absorbent core interposed between the backsheet and the topsheet, and leg gathers disposed along leg holes. Two sets of elastic members are, in a stretched state, bonded to a non-woven fabric along the leg holes. Each set of elastic members is not bonded to the non-woven fabric in a region which traverses a crotch region to extend from one of the leg holes to the other, and is cut in the non-bonded region so that the elastic members snap back toward crossing points where the two sets of the elastic members meet to form tails.

Abstract: Disposal securing arrangements provided on a backsheet of body fluids absorbent garment for disposal thereof has a first strip section bonded to the backsheet, a second strip section bonded to the backsheet, a third strip section having a proximal end portion connected to at least one of the first and second strip sections, and a free end portion. The third strip section includes a stretchable extent defined between these opposite end portions. The third strip section is separably held against the first strip section by a securing region provided thereon. The first and second section strip sections respectively have holding forces sufficient to remain held against the backsheet as the third strip section is peeled off from the first strip section and stretched. The holding force generated in the first strip section is equal to or higher than the holding force generated in the second strip section.

Abstract: An urethral catheter and urinary drainage bag adaptor which includes a substantially cylindrical segment telescoping over a smaller diameter but longer substantially cylindrical segment. Both ends of the longer segment are open and both ends of the shorter segment are closed. Each segment also has a wall and a lumen. The longer segment includes a first portion, a shorter second portion and a substantially spherical-shaped third portion located between the other two portions. A storage chamber for antiseptics is defined by a closed space between the two segments and communicates with the lumen of the longer segment through at least one fenestration located on a wall of the third portion. The longer segment is a conduit for body fluid. A rotary valve is located in the third portion for controlling drainage of body fluids and collecting antiseptics from the chamber.

Abstract: Absorbent articles having reduced outer cover dampness are provided and include a hydrophobic barrier layer positioned between an absorbent core and a breathable liquid impervious outer cover. The hydrophobic barrier layer, such as one or more layers of nonwoven webs, has a thickness of at least 0.03 cm and a hydrohead value of at least 18 millibars. The hydrophobic barrier layer does not significantly reduce the water-vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the absorbent article when the absorbent core is dry yet significantly reduces the overall WVTR of the absorbent article once the absorbent core is wet. Thus, an absorbent article is provided having a WVTR that exceeds about 1500 grams/square meter 24 hours when dry and yet is less than 15,000 grams/square meter 24 hours when wet.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive tape substrate is coated with an adhesive, and the adhesive is then printed with an ink or the like that acts as an adhesive-inhibiting masking or barrier along one or more continuous zones or lines. Tapes are formed in whole or in part by slitting along the continuous line or lines so defined. The technique is used to make transfer tapes, diaper fastener tabs, and other products.