Abstract: One example pant-like garment may comprise a front panel comprising a front garment-side layer, a front body-side layer, and one or more front chassis elastic members disposed between the front garment-side layer and the front body-side layer, and a rear panel comprising a rear garment-side layer, a rear body-side layer, one or more rear chassis elastic members disposed between the rear garment-side layer and the rear body-side layer, and one or more rear panel leg elastic members directly overlapping the one or more rear chassis elastic members in a vertical direction perpendicular to longitudinal and lateral directions. The garment may further comprise an absorbent assembly disposed between the front panel and the rear panel.

Abstract: Pant-like absorbent articles having improved chassis structures are disclosed. One pant-like garment comprises a front panel comprising a front garment-side layer, a front body side layer, and front elastic members therebetween, and a rear panel comprising a rear garment-side layer, a rear bodyside layer, and rear elastic members between the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer, a portion of the rear elastic members proximate a rear waist end edge are being uncovered by one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer. The garment may further comprise a rear secondary elastic member disposed overlapping the uncovered portion of the rear elastic members, and wherein one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer is folded over the rear panel secondary elastic member and overlaps the other one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction, forming a cutout in the web, cutting the web of body panel material along the longitudinal machine direction and thereby forming a rear body panel web and a front body panel web, and connecting a crotch member to each of the rear and front body panel webs. The crotch member covers said cutout when connected to the rear and front body panel webs. A disposable undergarment having a cutout, and a method for the use thereof, is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disposable absorbent article incorporating a reinforcement element adjacent a crotch edge of a body panel includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction, applying a plurality of reinforcement elements to an outer surface of the web and cutting the web of body panel material along the longitudinal machine direction to thereby form a rear body panel web and a front body panel web each having a terminal crotch edge and at least a portion of the reinforcement elements secured thereto. The method further includes connecting a crotch member to each of the rear and front body pane webs thereby bridging the gab between. A disposable absorbent article incorporating a reinforcement element is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating the refastenable absorbent garment includes a web perforator adapted to perforate a base web in a cross direction and a construction drum positioned downstream of the web perforator and adapted to receive the perforated base web. A landing material cutter is adapted to cut a landing material and fastener material in the cross direction. A landing member rotator is positioned adjacent the construction drum and downstream of the landing material cutter. The landing member rotator is adapted to separate successive pieces of the landing material with the fastener material attached thereto at the cross direction landing material cut, rotate the pieces of landing material with the fastener member attached thereto and apply the piece of landing material and fastener material to the base web on the construction drum.

Abstract: A method for weakening a portion of a web includes moving a web in a machine direction between at least a first location and a second location, wherein the second location is positioned downstream of the first location, forming a line of weakness in the web at the first location, wherein the web has a first tensile strength across the line of weakness, and weakening the line of weakness at a second location, wherein the web has a second tensile strength across the line of weakness after the line of weakness is weakened at the second location and wherein the first tensile strength is greater than the second tensile strength.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating the refastenable absorbent garment includes a web perforator adapted to perforate a base web in a cross direction and a construction drum positioned downstream of the web perforator and adapted to receive the perforated base web. A landing material cutter is adapted to cut a landing material and fastener material in the cross direction. A landing member rotator is positioned adjacent the construction drum and downstream of the landing material cutter. The landing member rotator is adapted to separate successive pieces of the landing material with the fastener material attached thereto at the cross direction landing material cut, rotate the pieces of landing material with the fastener member attached thereto and apply the piece of landing material and fastener material to the base web on the construction drum.

Abstract: A method for assembling a refastenable absorbent garment includes moving a landing material in a machine direction, wherein the landing material has opposite lateral side edges, moving a fastener material in a machine direction, wherein the fastener material comprises a refastenable portion and a base portion, and removeably attaching the refastenable portion of the fastener material to at least one of the side edges of the landing material. The method preferably further includes successively cutting the landing material with the fastener material removeably attached thereto along a cross direction and thereby forming a plurality of landing members with a fastener member removeably attached thereto and successively rotating each of the plurality of landing members with the fastener members removeably attached thereto. The method further includes successively attaching each of the landing members to the base web and attaching the base portion of the fastener member to the base web.

Abstract: A method for weakening a portion of a web includes moving a web in a machine direction between at least a first location and a second location, wherein the second location is positioned downstream of the first location, forming a line of weakness in the web at the first location, wherein the web has a first tensile strength across the line of weakness, and weakening the line of weakness at a second location, wherein the web has a second tensile strength across the line of weakness after the line of weakness is weakened at the second location and wherein the first tensile strength is greater than the second tensile strength. In another aspect, a method includes moving a web through a nip, wherein the nip is defined by first and second moveable members. The first moveable member comprises at least one insert member and the second moveable member comprises at least one recess shaped to receive the insert member.

Abstract: A method for assembling a refastenable absorbent garment includes moving a landing material in a machine direction, wherein the landing material has opposite lateral side edges, moving a fastener material in a machine direction, wherein the fastener material comprises a refastenable portion and a base portion, and removeably attaching the refastenable portion of the fastener material to at least one of the side edges of the landing material. The method preferably further includes successively cutting the landing material with the fastener material removeably attached thereto along a cross direction and thereby forming a plurality of landing members with a fastener member removeably attached thereto and successively rotating each of the plurality of landing members with the fastener member removeably attached thereto.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a refastenable absorbent garment comprises moving a base web in a first machine direction, moving at least two strips of fastener material in a second machine direction, cutting the at least two strips of fastener material to define at least a first and second stream of a plurality of fastener members, successively rotating each of the fastener members in each of the first and second streams, and applying each of the rotated fastener members in each of the first and second streams to the base web, wherein the fastener members in the first stream are sequentially located relative to the fastener members in the second stream on the base web in an alternating relationship along the first machine direction. An apparatus for fabricating a refastenable absorbent garment is also provided and includes a rotator and a construction drum rotating about an axis and positioned adjacent the rotator.