Abstract: Non-perforated tear lines for removal and evacuation of contents of disposable undergarments such as training pants. Non-perforated tear lines include a series of bond sites which are shaped, sized, spaced and arranged to provide a zone of weakness to permit severance of nonelasticized portions as well as elastic disposed in the waistband, the body of the pant, and the elastic leg bands for complete removal. Bond sites are formed by displacing a portion of material such that a thickened outer edge defines a weakened area of reduced thickness. Thus, elastic in the waistband may be disposed continuously 360 degrees around the wearer's waist, and elastic in the leg bands may be disposed continuously 360 degrees around the wearer's legs. In addition, improved pants having elasticized ear flaps in the body of the pants can be conveniently removed from the wearer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tensioned garter. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment mandrels having a perimeter of the desired garter shape are mounted to a rotating drum. Tensioned elastic ribbons are progressively clamped, sealed, and cut around the mandrels to form individual tensioned garters which cling to the side walls of the mandrels. Once the garters are formed the mandrels may be rotated on their radial axes for alignment with downstream operations. Sealing through elastic members is avoided by interrupting the bonding of elastic members to an elasticized laminate at locations where ribbons are to be clamped. High compression of elastics where they are not sealed to the laminate causes elastic members to burst and contract. Elastic contraction leaves an area in which ribbons may then be bonded together without sealing through elastic members.

Abstract: A method for combining a tensioned garter with a substrate while holding the garter in a predetermined shape. A mandrel has a perimeter of the desired garter shape. An elastic garter is stretched and placed onto the mandrel such that an upper portion of the garter extends above a top surface of the mandrel while a lower portion of the garter clings to a side wall of the mandrel. The upper portion of the garter has sufficient elastic tension to cause it to fold over onto the top surface of the mandrel to form a garter flange. A substrate is then engaged with the garter flange and a sealing means seals the flange to the substrate, using the top surface of the mandrel as an anvil.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tensioned garter and bonding it to a substrate while holding the garter in a predetermined shape. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment mandrels having a perimeter of the desired garter shape are mounted to a rotating drum. Tensioned elastic ribbons are progressively wrapped, sealed, and cut around the mandrels to form individual tensioned garters which cling to the side walls of the mandrels. In another embodiment each mandrel has a top surface. The upper portion of a garter has sufficient elastic tension to cause it to fold over the mandrel top surface to form a garter flange thereon. A substrate is then engaged with the garter flange and an external sealing means seals the flange to the substrate, using the mandrel top surface as an anvil. In still another embodiment the mandrel top surface has a raised outer rim.