Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region, the front waist region having a front fastener and an outermost surface, the absorbent article further including a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The absorbent article also includes an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover; and a gripper handle disposed in the front waist region and extending from the outermost surface, wherein the outermost surface is one of the outer cover and the front fastener.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an absorbent article having a body facing liner, a backsheet coupled to the body facing liner, an absorbent body positioned between the body facing liner and the backsheet, and a fluid acquisition layer having a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, the fluid acquisition layer being positioned between the body facing liner and the backsheet includes providing a web of body facing liner material in face-to-face relation to a web of fluid acquisition layer material, bonding the body facing liner material to the fluid acquisition layer material using an embossing roller, wherein the embossing roller has an axis and a circumferential surface having a circumferential lane, the circumferential lane having azimuthally-alternating target zone and channel zone embossing patterns, and phasing the embossing roller relative to the web to produce female products and male products.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an absorbent article having a body facing liner, a backsheet coupled to the body facing liner, an absorbent body positioned between the body facing liner and the backsheet, and a fluid acquisition layer having a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, the fluid acquisition layer being positioned between the body facing liner and the backsheet includes providing a web of body facing liner material in face-to-face relation to a web of fluid acquisition layer material, bonding the body facing liner material to the fluid acquisition layer material using an embossing roller, wherein the embossing roller has an axis and a circumferential surface having a circumferential lane, the circumferential lane having azimuthally-alternating target zone and channel zone embossing patterns, and phasing the embossing roller relative to the web to produce female products and male products.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region, the front waist region having a front fastener and an outermost surface, the absorbent article further including a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The absorbent article also includes an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover; and a gripper handle disposed in the front waist region and extending from the outermost surface, wherein the outermost surface is one of the outer cover and the front fastener.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes front and back side panels, a closure component coupled to or integral with the front side panel, an anchor component coupled to or integral with one of the front and back side panels, a closure landing zone coupled to or integral with the back side panel, and an anchor landing zone coupled to or integral with the side panel opposite the anchor component. The closure component is fastened to the closure landing zone to form a closure connection and the anchor component is fastened to the anchor landing zone to form an anchor connection when the article is in a wear configuration, wherein the refastenable seam includes the closure and anchor connections, and wherein the anchor connection has higher peel and shear strengths per unit area than the peel and shear strengths per unit area of the closure connection.

Abstract: A self-forming seal absorbent article is provided and includes a biaxially extensible outer cover, a biaxially extensible bodyside liner forming a wearer adjacent surface, a biaxially extensible absorbent core assembly interposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of laterally-spaced apart and longitudinally-extending containment flap members disposed along the wearer adjacent surface of the bodyside liner.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a leg elastic member captured between a biaxially extensible outer cover and a biaxially extensible bodyside liner.

Abstract: A personal care article includes a resiliently stretchable outer cover and a first and second substantially non-stretchable grasping panels attached to the article. The outer cover is resiliently stretchable in at least the cross-direction to conform to the body of a wearer. The absorbent structure is secured to the outer cover by extendible attachment elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical fastening tab formed from a substrate adapted to be joined to a disposable absorbent product and a first mechanical fastener component. The fastening tab has a Gurley stiffness value of less than about 1000 milligrams in an area of the fastening tab which includes said first mechanical fastening component. Also disclosed are disposable products comprising such mechanical fastening tabs.

Abstract: A biaxial stretch, form-fitting, pant-like, absorbent garment has a stretchable outer cover, a stretchable body side liner, and a stretchable absorbent assembly. The outer cover and the body side liner are desirably biaxially stretchable. The absorbent assembly can either be biaxially stretchable or segmented with longitudinal stretch. The absorbent garment is easy to apply, has a self-adjusting feature, and delivers enhanced fit and comfort during use without restricting a wearer's movement.

Abstract: An absorbent article which minimizes or avoid component bonding within the interior area thereof is provided to improve or increase the independence of the components which constitute the article.

Abstract: A form-fitting, pant-like, absorbent garment that does not result in bagging and wrinkling of the bodyside liner. The garment has a stretchable outer cover and a non-stretchable bodyside liner with a free-floating absorbent assembly located between the stretchable outer cover and the non-stretchable bodyside liner. A pair of highly stretchable side panels and/or at least one highly stretchable waist member are attached to the non-stretchable bodyside liner. The total transverse stretchability of the side panels is roughly equal to the transverse stretchability of the outer cover, thereby enabling the outer cover to stretch freely without inhibiting the non-stretchable bodyside liner. Alternatively, or additionally, the total longitudinal stretchability of the waist members is roughly equal to the longitudinal stretchability of the outer cover, thereby also enabling the outer cover to stretch freely without inhibiting the non-stretchable bodyside liner.

Abstract: The invention relates to absorbent articles (170) that have a pair of opposed back ear portions (190) extending laterally outward from the side edges of a back waist region of the article and a pair of opposed front ear portions (180) extending laterally outward from the side edges of a front waist region of the article. The back ear portions (190) and the front ear portions (180) are formed from the same material web (100). The material web (100) can include one or more types of materials. The back ear portions and the front ear portions have shape profiles that permit the back ear portions and the front ear portions to be nested with each other in the cross direction (215) and the machine direction (205) of the material web.

Abstract: A form-fitting, pant-like, absorbent garment that delivers an optimal amount and direction of stretch to provide optimal fit and comfort. The absorbent garment has an outer cover with a back panel, a crotch panel and a front panel. The back panel and the front panel can each stretch in a transverse direction, and the crotch panel can stretch in a longitudinal direction. Seams joining the front and back panels to the crotch panel provide non-stretch zones that may be positioned to control fit forces. The garment provides enhanced fit and comfort during use, and ease of application with a self-adjusting feature.

Abstract: A dynamic-fitting absorbent article that includes a liquid impermeable outer cover (42), a liquid permeable bodyside liner (44) in superimposed relation to the outer cover (42) and a continuous elastic absorbent core (28) disposed between the outer cover (42) and the bodyside liner (44). The continuous elastic absorbent core (28) can extend from about 80 to about 400 percent upon application of a force of from about 60 to about 325 grams. The continuous elastic absorbent core (28) can have a tension reducing geometry in the crotch section of the article. Additionally, the continuous elastic absorbent core can have a dry tensile strength and a wet tensile strength that is at least 95% of the dry tensile strength.

Abstract: A self-forming seal absorbent article is provided and includes a biaxially extensible outer cover, a biaxially extensible bodyside liner forming a wearer adjacent surface, a biaxially extensible absorbent core assembly interposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of laterally-spaced apart and longitudinally-extending containment flap members disposed along the wearer adjacent surface of the bodyside liner.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A dynamic-fitting absorbent article that includes a liquid impermeable outer cover (42), a liquid permeable bodyside liner (44) in superimposed relation to the outer cover (42) and a continuous elastic absorbent core (28) disposed between the outer cover (42) and the bodyside liner (44). The continuous elastic absorbent core (28) can extend from about 80 to about 400 percent upon application of a force of from about 60 to about 325 grams. The continuous elastic absorbent core (28) can have a tension reducing geometry in the crotch section of the article. Additionally, the continuous elastic absorbent core can have a dry tensile strength and a wet tensile strength that is at least 95% of the dry tensile strength.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided with a central region which is selectively stretchable in the longitudinal direction, and two end regions adjacent to the central region which are selectively stretchable in the lateral direction. When employed as a garment, such as a disposable diaper or pant-like absorbent garment, the central region provides selective longitudinal (front-to-back) stretching in the crotch area of the wearer, and the two end regions provide selective lateral (side-to-side) stretching in the front and back waist areas of the wearer.

Abstract: A stretchable nonwoven web, or laminate of a stretchable nonwoven web and an elastic sheet, is treated with a plurality of bond lines in one or more regions thereof to provide controlled stretching properties. In one embodiment, the nonwoven web or laminate has at least one first region having a plurality of bond lines in a direction parallel to the machine direction and at least one second region having a plurality of bond lines in a direction parallel to the cross-machine direction to provide controlled stretching in different directions in different regions of the web. The bond lines can be substantially continuous in length, or segmented. When segmented bond lines are employed, the length of the bond line segments and spacing between them can be varied to import variable stretch properties to the nonwoven web or laminate.