Abstract: An absorbent article having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. The article comprises an outer cover, a body-side liner, an absorbent assembly between the outer cover and the body-side liner, and leg and flap elastic composites including a containment flap portion and a gasket portion. Each of the composites are attached to the liner such that one of the composites is disposed adjacent one side edge of the liner and the other composite is disposed adjacent the other side edge of the liner, each of the composites extend longitudinally from the front waist region to the back waist region, and each of the composites have a deadened portion in the front waist region or the back waist region. The article further includes a waist elastic member extending longitudinally between the deadened portions.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. The article comprises an outer cover, a body-side liner, an absorbent assembly between the outer cover and the body-side liner, and leg and flap elastic composites including a containment flap portion and a gasket portion. Each of the composites are attached to the liner such that one of the composites is disposed adjacent one side edge of the liner and the other composite is disposed adjacent the other side edge of the liner, each of the composites extend longitudinally from the front waist region to the back waist region, and each of the composites have a deadened portion in the front waist region or the back waist region. The article further includes a waist elastic member extending longitudinally between the deadened portions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liner/composite web for use in an absorbent article includes joining a leg elastic member to a web moving in a machine direction and joining a flap elastic member to the web. The flap elastic member is spaced from the leg elastic member. The web is folded to form a leg and flap elastics composite including an outer side edge. The web is joined to a substrate to form the liner/composite web. The liner/composite web is joined to a web of material such that the outer side edge of the leg and flap elastics composite is coterminous with one of a pair of laterally opposing side edges of the web of material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liner/composite web for use in an absorbent article includes joining a leg elastic member to a web moving in a machine direction and joining a flap elastic member to the web. The flap elastic member is spaced from the leg elastic member. The web is folded to form a leg and flap elastics composite including an outer side edge. The web is joined to a substrate to form the liner/composite web. The liner/composite web is joined to a web of material such that the outer side edge of the leg and flap elastics composite is coterminous with one of a pair of laterally opposing side edges of the web of material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a leg and flap elastics composite for use in an absorbent article includes joining a leg elastic member to a web moving in a machine direction. A flap elastic member is joined to the web and spaced from the leg elastic member. The web is fed to a chopper assembly wherein portions of the leg and flap elastic members are rendered less elastic at spaced-apart intervals to define deadened portions of the leg and flap elastic members.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a leg and flap elastics composite for use in an absorbent article includes joining a leg elastic member to a web moving in a machine direction. A flap elastic member is joined to the web and spaced from the leg elastic member. The web is fed to a chopper assembly wherein portions of the leg and flap elastic members are rendered less elastic at spaced-apart intervals to define deadened portions of the leg and flap elastic members.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods and apparatus of changing from manufacture of pant-type refastenable articles of a first size to manufacture of articles of a second different size in a process for manufacturing pant-type refastenable personal care articles. A respective such personal care article has a front portion, rear portion, and crotch portion. The personal care article also has a fastener-receptive area at the front portion for receiving fasteners thereon, first and second fasteners on opposing sides of the fastener-receptive area, and first and second lines of weakness on opposing sides of the fastener-receptive area and between the fastener-receptive area and the respective first and second fasteners. The method comprises changing spacing between the fastener-receptive area and at least one of the first and second fasteners while maintaining the first and second lines of weakness between the fastener-receptive area and the respective first and second fasteners.

Abstract: A forming receptacle and method for receiving particulate material thereon, and thereby fabricating particulate congregates for use as absorbent cores in personal care absorbent articles is disclosed. The forming receptacle can comprise sheet material defining bottom and side walls of the receptacle. The bottom and side wall have first and second major surfaces and a thickness. The forming receptacle also comprises an array of apertures connecting first and second major surfaces, and further comprises a matrix of sheet material between apertures defining outer perimeters of respective apertures. Respective aperture walls taper from the first major surface toward the second major surface. Aperture walls of adjacent apertures intersect the second major surface without intersecting each other. The array of apertures can be arranged in a series of parallel rows wherein spacing between apertures is substantially constant from row to row.

Abstract: Methods of changing from manufacture of pant-type refastenable personal care articles of a first size to manufacture of such pant-type refastenable personal care articles of a second different size. A method of the invention comprises defining in the workpiece, at at least one side edge of the respective workpiece, a length of material defined in the machine direction, wherein activity, or inactivity, of such length of material, in combination with other elements of the workpiece, determines the size of the pant-type refastenable personal care article being so produced, whereby the length of material so defined can be activated and thereby incorporated into the personal care article to correspondingly produce a relatively larger size such personal care article, or inactivated and thereby excluded from the personal care article to correspondingly produce a relatively smaller size personal care article.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods and apparatus of changing from manufacture of pant-type refastenable articles of a first size to manufacture of articles of a second different size in a process for manufacturing pant-type refastenable personal care articles. A respective such personal care article has a front portion, rear portion, and crotch portion. The personal care article also has a fastener-receptive area at the front portion for receiving fasteners thereon, first and second fasteners on opposing sides of the fastener-receptive area, and first and second lines of weakness on opposing sides of the fastener-receptive area and between the fastener-receptive area and the respective first and second fasteners. The method comprises changing spacing between the fastener-receptive area and at least one of the first and second fasteners while maintaining the first and second lines of weakness between the fastener-receptive area and the respective first and second fasteners.

Abstract: Methods of changing from manufacture of pant-type refastenable personal care articles of a first size to manufacture of such pant-type refastenable personal care articles of a second different size. A method of the invention comprises defining in the workpiece, at at least one side edge of the respective workpiece, a length of material defined in the machine direction, wherein activity, or inactivity, of such length of material, in combination with other elements of the workpiece, determines the size of the pant-type refastenable personal care article being so produced, whereby the length of material so defined can be activated and thereby incorporated into the personal care article to correspondingly produce a relatively larger size such personal care article, or inactivated and thereby excluded from the personal care article to correspondingly produce a relatively smaller size personal care article.