Abstract: An article, including disposable articles and durable articles, includes one or more shaped thermoplastic members, which can be at least partially impregnated into one or more fibrous substrates forming a composite material of the article having regions of breathability, elasticity, and/or stiffening to provide desired functions of the article. The shaped thermoplastic members have a profiled thickness and/or basis weight providing variation in material properties. A percent variation of the profiled thickness of the thermoplastic member can vary from about 5% to about 95%. A process for manufacturing the composite material of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: Absorbent articles having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet are disclosed. The absorbent articles include a thermoplastic elastomer joined to or disposed in a stretch zone on at least one component or region of the absorbent article to impart an elastic resistance that provides sizing or shaping capabilities to the article. The absorbent article can be in the form of diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, wipes, bibs, incontinence briefs or inserts.

Abstract: An outer cover for a disposable absorbent article. The outer cover includes an elastic material joined to an extensible material to form a laminate. At least two different areas of the laminate are simultaneously activated in different directions by a single pair of intermeshing activation rolls. At least a portion of the two different areas of activation on the outer cover are spatially separated by a buffer zone.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a stretch composite is disclosed. The process comprises providing a polyolefin based substrate, providing a letterpress adhesive application system comprising a pattern roll and an applicator roll, and depositing a molten, non-adhesive, elastomeric composition onto the applicator roll. The process further comprises transferring only a portion of the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, from the applicator roll to the pattern roll, by contacting the pattern roll with the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, and transferring substantially all of the elastomeric composition from the pattern roll to the substrate, by contacting the substrate with the elastomeric composition that is on the pattern roll, without damaging the substrate.

Abstract: Absorbent articles having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet are disclosed. The absorbent articles include a plasto-elastic material joined to or disposed on at least one of component of the absorbent article to impart sizing or shaping capabilities to the article. The plasto-elastic material has substantially plastic properties when said absorbent article is subjected to an initial strain cycle, for example, when the article is placed on a wearer, and has substantially elastic properties when subjected to a second strain cycle such as when the article is subsequently adjusted to conform to the size of the wearer. The absorbent article can be in the form of diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, wipes, bibs, incontinence briefs or inserts.

Abstract: A wearable absorbent article having features for the containment and absorption of bodily exudates. The article may comprise an outer cover and an absorbent insert. The outer cover may be formed of durable or semi-durable materials and be launderable. The insert may be disposable. The insert may have containment and absorption features that prevent soiling of the outer cover by the wearer's exudates, so that the outer cover may be reused after an exudation event and change of inserts. The insert and/or the outer cover may have features to enhance containment, absorption, economy of materials and/or fit that make them asymmetric about their respective lateral axes, and may have features that direct a user to install the insert and/or the outer cover with correct front-rear orientation relative the wearer. Articles of commerce including packages of outer covers and/or inserts in varying combinations of numbers and features are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include disposable wearable absorbent articles with anchoring systems. In an embodiment, a disposable wearable absorbent article includes an absorbent core, an outer cover, and an anchoring system configured to anchor the absorbent core to a wearer, wherein the outer cover includes a first portion, in which substantially all of the anchoring system is integral with the outer cover, and a second portion, outside of the first portion.

Abstract: Absorbent articles having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet are disclosed. The absorbent articles include a plasto-elastic material joined to or disposed on at least one of component of the absorbent article to impart sizing or shaping capabilities to the article. The plasto-elastic material has substantially plastic properties when said absorbent article is subjected to an initial strain cycle, for example, when the article is placed on a wearer, and has substantially elastic properties when subjected to a second strain cycle such as when the article is subsequently adjusted to conform to the size of the wearer. The absorbent article can be in the form of diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, wipes, bibs, incontinence briefs or inserts.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously activating two or more portions of a web in different directions. The process involves feeding a web into an apparatus that includes a pair of intermeshing activation rolls having three dimensional surface features configured to simultaneously activate different portions a web in different directions. The three dimensional surface features are arranged in discrete regions on the rolls such that at least two of the regions provide different directions of activation. The rolls include one or more buffer regions positioned between the discrete regions on the roll that provide different directions of activation.

Abstract: Absorbent articles comprising a variable stretch composite obtained by a process comprising the steps of providing a first extensible fibrous substrate, printing a first elastomeric composition to a first elasticized region of the substrate, printing a second elastomeric composition to a second elasticized region of the substrate, and incrementally stretching at least a portion of the composite perform to form a variable stretch composite.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region, wherein the first waist region and second waist region are joined with each other such that a pair of side seams are formed and the absorbent article has two leg openings and a waist opening. At least one of the first waist region or the second waist region include a first graphic zone, a second graphic zone, and a third graphic zone, wherein the first graphic zone, the second graphic zone, and the third graphic zone are disposed at a side seam of the absorbent article.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a stretch composite is disclosed. The process comprises providing a polyolefin based substrate, providing a letterpress adhesive application system comprising a pattern roll and an applicator roll, and depositing a molten, non-adhesive, elastomeric composition onto the applicator roll. The process further comprises transferring only a portion of the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, from the applicator roll to the pattern roll, by contacting the pattern roll with the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, and transferring substantially all of the elastomeric composition from the pattern roll to the substrate, by contacting the substrate with the elastomeric composition that is on the pattern roll, without damaging the substrate.

Abstract: A stretch composite having one or more elastomeric members disposed on at least one region of an extensible fibrous substrate to provide stretch properties to a targeted region of the substrate. The composite has been incrementally stretched to at least partially break up the structure of the substrate in order to reduce its resistance to stretch. The stretch composites are useful for disposable and durable articles, such as disposable absorbent articles including diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, incontinence briefs, catamenial garments, baby bibs, and the like, and durable articles like garments including sportswear, outerwear and the like. Also disclosed are methods of forming such stretch composites.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of manufacturing a stretch composite, said method comprising: a) providing a first substrate in a machine direction, wherein said substrate has opposing first and second surfaces; b) providing a gravure printing roll having an exterior surface that comprises one or more cells wherein at least a portion of the surface is relatively cool; c) depositing a molten, non-adhesive, elastomeric composition onto the exterior surface of the gravure printing device which comprises a gravure printing roll, wherein said composition is characterized as having a peel force of less than about 3 N/cm; d) causing said composition to be pushed into said cells; and e) contacting said first surface of said substrate with said gravure printing roll and substantially completely transferring said elastomeric composition from said cells of said exterior surface on said gravure printing roll to said first surface; wherein said process is substantially free of tackifier.

Abstract: Process for making a variable stretch composite comprising the steps of providing a first extensible fibrous substrate, printing a first elastomeric composition to a first elasticized region of the substrate, printing a second elastomeric composition to a second elasticized region of the substrate, and incrementally stretching at least a portion of the composite perform to form a variable stretch composite.

Abstract: The invention provides a process to deliver an elastomeric composition to a substrate. The elastomeric composition is cooled. The cooling also results in substantially complete transfer of the elastomeric composition from the pattern roll to the substrate with a resulting reduction in elastomer degradation.

Abstract: A stretch composite having one or more elastomeric members disposed on at least one region of an extensible fibrous substrate to provide stretch properties to a targeted region of the substrate. The composite has been incrementally stretched to at least partially break up the structure of the substrate in order to reduce its resistance to stretch. The stretch composites are useful for disposable and durable articles, such as disposable absorbent articles including diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, incontinence briefs, catamenial garments, baby bibs, and the like, and durable articles like garments including sportswear, outerwear and the like. The present invention also relates to methods of forming such stretch composites.

Abstract: An outer cover for a disposable absorbent article. The outer cover includes an elastic material joined to an extensible material to form a laminate. At least two different areas of the laminate are simultaneously activated in different directions by a single pair of intermeshing activation rolls. At least a portion of the two different areas of activation on the outer cover are spatially separated by a buffer zone.

Abstract: A package associating disposable absorbent articles structured for reduced chafing is disclosed. The package may associate at least two sets of articles, the articles in the respective sets having respectively differing structures, so that a user has the differing articles available to apply to a wearer. The respective structures may be varied to effect differing contact locations and pressures about the waist and legs of the wearer. The time over which the wearer continuously wears articles of unvarying fit may thereby be reduced, reducing the likelihood or extent of continuous contact and pressure by articles at concentrated locations of the wearer's skin and body. Likelihood of irritation and chafing may thereby be reduced. An associated method for reducing skin irritation or chafing is disclosed. A method for manufacturing such a package by manufacturing differing structures on a single manufacturing line is disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include disposable wearable absorbent articles with anchoring systems. In an embodiment, a disposable wearable absorbent article includes an absorbent core and an anchoring system configured to anchor the absorbent core to a wearer, wherein the anchoring system includes a circumferential anchoring member.