Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.

Abstract: Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles have a percentage of stretch in the lateral direction at the widest portion in the front region of the article and/or in the back region in the range of from about 25% to about 150%. Additionally, at least about 70% of the above stretch resides in a first edge zone and in a second edge zone of the chassis. The first edge zone and the second edge zone are separated by a middle zone. The middle zone, which has the same length as each edge zone, is stretchable, but to a lesser extent than the edge zones. Through this construction, the absorbent article exhibits improved fit and appearance. Of particular advantage, the carefully controlled stretch properties prevent sagging or drooping of the crotch region, even after the crotch region has been wetted.

Abstract: A prefastened absorbent garment is manufactured with its longitudinal axis in the machine direction. A web of garment chassis material extending in the machine direction is overlaid with a side panel web. The side panel web is attached at opposite width borders of the chassis web and has one or more complementary fasteners opposing each other in the longitudinal axis direction of the garment chassis web. The garment can be folded to place the complementary fasteners in releasable engagement and individuated from the combined chassis and side panel webs.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a fastening system that can be repeatedly fastened, unfastened and refastened. The refastenable seams formed by the fastening system components provide a garment-like appearance.

Abstract: A garment-like absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis that defines a waist opening and first and second leg openings. A longitudinal length of the chassis is optimized in a linear relationship with the waist circumference of the chassis, the circumference measured at 500 grams tension. With respect to the linear relationship, the thickness of the garment is substantially constant along the same line defined by the length and the circumference, and decreases as the y-intercept increases.

Abstract: A pant-like absorbent article, such as a child's training pant, includes an outercover with at least three elastic regions, that is two in the side seam areas, and one in the central crotch areas. In an alternative, such articles include a fourth elastic region in the article waist band area. In this fashion, the article can demonstrate progressive stretch functionality to help accommodate various consumer body sizes and provide for more conforming fit and reduced leakage.

Abstract: A disposable garment includes a chassis defining one or more openings for the legs, arms, waist or the like on a wearer. An apparent elastic band is located in the vicinity of at least one of the openings. The apparent elastic band looks and functions like an elastic band, but is not an elastic band, and is less expensive to implement than an elastic band.

Abstract: Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the articles exhibit stretch not only in the lateral direction but also in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the articles have a biaxial stretch ratio, which refers to a ratio of stretch along the hip circumference of the article to the amount of stretch in the longitudinal direction, that is from about 1.0 to about 2.5, and particularly from about 1.1 to about 1.5. Absorbent articles made in accordance with the present invention are capable of accommodating a relatively large size range of wearers. The articles also exhibit improved fit and prevent sagging or drooping of the crotch region, even after the crotch region has been wetted.

Abstract: A pant-like absorbent article is provided including an absorbent chassis defining a waist opening and first and second leg openings, the absorbent chassis including an absorbent assembly. The absorbent chassis has a longitudinal length and the waist opening having an unstretched circumference, such that the longitudinal length is proportional to the unstretched circumference of the waist opening by a ratio less than 0.82. The absorbent article also includes a wetness indicator for alerting a wearer to a release of liquid body exudates, the wetness indicator including a physical sensation agent responsive to liquid body exudates received by the absorbent article to facilitate a physical sensation against the wearer's skin for alerting the wearer to the wearer's release of liquid body exudates.

Abstract: A garment-like absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis that defines a waist opening and first and second leg openings. A longitudinal length of the chassis is optimized in a linear relationship with the waist circumference of the chassis, the circumference measured at 500 grams tension. With respect to the linear relationship, the thickness of the garment is substantially constant along the same line defined by the length and the circumference, and decreases as the y-intercept increases.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a built-in size indicator is disclosed. The size indicator, for instance, comprises a stretchable panel that changes color when stretched. The panel may change color to indicate that the article is the correct size for the wearer or may change color to indicate that the article is too small. Still another embodiment, the stretchable panel may change from a first color indicating that the article is too large, to a second color that indicates the article is the correct size, and to a third color that indicates the article is too small. The stretchable panel may be made from any suitable color changing materials. For example, in one embodiment, the panel may include a gathered layer that is printed with a particular color only at the peaks of the gathered layer. As the gathered material is stretched, the material changes color due to the newly exposed regions. In other embodiments, the stretchable panel comprises a film that changes color when stretched.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.

Abstract: A process for making a prefastened and refastenable pant includes providing a plurality of discrete articles having side panels and waist regions including an activatable retractive material. The side panels can be folded parallel to a longitudinal centerline to overlap at least portions of first and second fastening components. The fastening components are then engaged to form a prefastened and refastenable pant. The retractive material can be activated subsequent to engagement of the fastening components, or subsequent to obtaining position control of the side panels, to provide the pant with a waistband-to-hip circumference ratio of about 95 percent or less. The prefastened and refastenable pant and apparatus for its manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a thin, flexible absorbent pad that can accommodate one or two insults with a low probability of leakage. The absorbent article can be less than about 5 millimeters thick, with the absorbent pad being less than about 3 millimeters thick. The absorbent article has a low absorbent capacity of, for example, less than three times an anticipated single insult volume, or less than twice an anticipated single insult volume. The absorbent article is particularly suitable for use as a toilet training aid.

Abstract: A monitor, for use with an absorbent article having a wetness sensor, includes a power management system. The monitor may include a hinge, a housing, and a power management system. The power management system may include an integrally activated and deactivated power circuit. The power circuit includes a first contact associated with the hinge and a second contact associated with the housing. The first contact is electrically connected with the second contact when the monitor is in a closed condition. The first contact is electrically disconnected with the second contact when the monitor is in an open condition. A monitor having a power management system may further include an attachment circuit and/or a continuity circuit.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes attachment panels extending transversely outward from the absorbent assembly in one waist region and mechanical fastening components in an opposite waist region. The attachment panels cover the side hips of the wearer and define inner attachment surfaces that are adapted to refastenably engage the fastening components to maintain the absorbent article in a pant configuration.

Abstract: A monitor, for use with an absorbent article having a wetness sensor, includes a microprocessor and a current source, the microprocessor forms part of a wetness monitoring circuit and part of a continuity monitoring circuit. A method of providing a system for monitoring an absorbent article with a wetness sensor includes programming a microprocessor to (1) provide notification when the monitor is not electrically connected with the wetness sensor, (2) provide notification when the monitor is electrically connected with the wetness sensor, and (3) provide notification when the absorbent article is wet.

Abstract: Absorbent articles incorporating a wetness sensor for indicating the presence of a body fluid are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles include at least two conductive elements that form an open circuit within the article. Each conductive element is connected to a conductive pad member that has sufficient surface area in order to facilitate connection to a signaling device. In accordance with the present disclosure, various attachment mechanisms are disclosed for attaching the pad members to a signaling device. In particular, although the absorbent articles are disposable, the signaling device is intended to be used with multiple absorbent articles. Therefore, a simple and efficient method of connecting the signaling device to the pad members provides various advantages. In one particular embodiment, for instance, the pad members comprise a conductive loop-type material that is attached to a corresponding conductive hook-type material on the signaling device.