Abstract: Methods and systems for mechanically forming one or more surface protrusions integrally from a garment material, the one or more surface protrusions extending outwardly from a garment surface of the garment material, include pre-heating at least one selected area of the garment material; placing the at least one selected area of the garment surface that is pre-heated against a first surface of a forming die, the first surface having a plurality of openings which have a configuration and orientation corresponding with the configuration and orientation of the one or more surface protrusions of the garment material. The garment surface may be softened by application of a source of energy, at least some of the softened garment surface positioned into at least one opening of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles having elastic laminates in front and/or back waist regions with high-stretch zones and low-stretch zones.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to adjusting and maintaining a position of a cutting surface used to create lines of weakness for rolled products. A perforating apparatus includes a housing rotatably supported by a frame, wherein the housing is adapted to rotate about a first axis. A support member including a first cutting surface is rotatably supported by the housing, wherein the support member is adapted to rotate about a second axis offset from the first axis. A roll including a second cutting surface is positioned adjacent the support member, wherein the roll is adapted to rotate about a third axis. The second cutting surface is adapted to contact the first cutting surface as the roll rotates about the third axis. The perforating apparatus is configured such that the functions of adjusting the position of the first cutting surface and holding the first cutting surface in a fixed position are separate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mechanically forming one or more surface protrusions integrally from a garment material, the one or more surface protrusions extending outwardly from a garment surface of the garment material, include placing at least one selected area of the garment surface against a first surface of a forming die having a plurality of openings which have a configuration and orientation corresponding with the configuration and orientation of the one or more surface protrusions of the garment material. The garment surface may be softened by application of a source of energy, wherein the source of energy comprises at least two sonotrodes mounted in a rotary drum. At least some of the softened garment surface is positioned into at least one opening of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mechanically forming one or more surface protrusions integrally from a garment material, the one or more surface protrusions extending outwardly from a garment surface of the garment material, include pre-heating at least one selected area of the garment material; placing the at least one selected area of the garment surface that is pre-heated against a first surface of a forming die, the first surface having a plurality of openings which have a configuration and orientation corresponding with the configuration and orientation of the one or more surface protrusions of the garment material. The garment surface may be softened by application of a source of energy, at least some of the softened garment surface positioned into at least one opening of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate is provided. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the absorbent article chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of a first or second waist region. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; and a chassis having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The article also includes a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of the first or second waist regions. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may include a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first and the second waist regions, and a chassis having a topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, and chassis periphery. The chassis periphery has a varying width, Wv.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles, wherein discrete zones of protrusions may be formed on a substrate. In some configurations, the protrusions may be formed as hooks. When forming the discrete zones of protrusions, localized speed variances may be imparted to the advancing substrate to ensure the adequate time to form the protrusions is provided. As such, protrusions may be formed on portions of the substrate that have been temporarily stopped or slowed to relatively slow speeds. The substrates with zones of protrusions may then be incorporated into products, such as assembled absorbent articles, so as to place the protrusions in desired positions on the absorbent articles. As such, the methods and apparatuses herein allow for the use of hook forming techniques on substrates in article manufacturing processes that provide flexibility in such configurations without sacrificing desired manufacturing speeds.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles, wherein discrete zones of protrusions may be formed on a substrate. In some configurations, the protrusions may be formed as hooks. When forming the discrete zones of protrusions, localized speed variances may be imparted to the advancing substrate to ensure the adequate time to form the protrusions is provided. As such, protrusions may be formed on portions of the substrate that have been temporarily stopped or slowed to relatively slow speeds. The substrates with zones of protrusions may then be incorporated into products, such as assembled absorbent articles, so as to place the protrusions in desired positions on the absorbent articles. As such, the methods and apparatuses herein allow for the use of hook forming techniques on substrates in article manufacturing processes that provide flexibility in such configurations without sacrificing desired manufacturing speeds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including elastic laminates, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for making absorbent articles having elastic laminates in front and/or back waist regions with frangible pathways.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including elastic laminates, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for making absorbent articles having elastic laminates in front and/or back waist regions with frangible pathways.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including a first belt and a second belt, the first belt and/or the second belt comprising one or more frangible pathways. The frangible pathway may comprise a first tear zone extending from an accessibility opening to a distal terminus, and a second tear zone extending from the accessibility opening to a proximal terminus. The diaper pant may also be configured such that a first tear line propagating along the first tear zone and a second tear line propagating along the second tear zone may reach the distal terminus and the proximal terminus, respectively, at the same time or about the same time.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including a first belt and a second belt. The first belt and/or the second belt may comprise a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises a first number of layers of substrates and the second region comprises a second number of layers of substrates, wherein the first number of layers substrates is greater than second number of layers of substrates. In addition, the first belt and/or the second belt may comprise one or more frangible pathways comprising first lines of weakness positioned in the first region, second lines of weakness positioned in the second region, and at least one transition line of weakness extending partially through the first region and the second region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprise a first belt and a second belt with frangible pathways. An accessibility opening may also be positioned in the first and/or second belt, and a fastener component may be connected with the belt adjacent the accessibility opening. Such frangible pathway configurations provide a feature that allows an elastic belt of a diaper pant to be relatively easily torn along the frangible pathway when removing the diaper pant from a wearer, and the fastener component may provide a feature that helps maintain a used diaper pant in a disposal configuration. An absorbent article may also comprise opening facilitation features, such as opening operational indicia and opening mechanical aids, and combinations thereof. Such opening facilitation features may help a user to successfully determine the location and/or function of the fastener component and frangible pathway and/or successfully complete pant opening operations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles having a first belt and a second belt with one or more frangible pathways. A frangible pathway may extend between a proximal terminus on an inner edge of a belt and a distal terminus on an outer edge of the belt. A grip region comprising an accessibility opening may be positioned between the inner and outer edges of the belt. The frangible pathway may comprise a first tear zone and a second tear zone extending from the accessibility opening to the distal terminus and to the proximal terminus. Such frangible pathway configurations provide a feature that allows a belt of a diaper pant to be relatively easily torn along the frangible pathway when removing the diaper pant from a wearer. The frangible pathway may be configured to allow a caregiver to initiate and/or completely tear the first belt with one hand.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including elastic laminates and to methods and apparatuses for making absorbent articles having elastic laminates in front and/or back waist regions with frangible pathways.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprising a first belt and a second belt, which may include a frangible pathway comprising lines of weakness. The belts may also comprise elastic strands positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate. The elastic strands may be severed at the lines of weakness, and the cut elastic strands may be continuously bonded between the first substrate and the second substrate. The arrangements of the frangible pathways relative to belt elastic positions herein may be configured to help ensure the belts may be relatively easily torn along the frangible pathways without the need to also tear uncut elastic strands.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprising first and second belts. Longitudinally opposing end regions of the absorbent chassis are connected with the first and second belts, and a portion of the chassis that overlaps an inner wearer facing surface of the first belt may define a chassis overlap region. In turn, the chassis overlap region comprises an adherence region, where adhesive is positioned between the chassis and the inner wearer facing surface of the first belt and permanently bonds the chassis with the first belt. The adherence region may comprise a first adherence zone adjacent an inner edge of the first belt, a second adherence zone adjacent a first end edge of the chassis, and a third adherence zone positioned longitudinally between the first adherence zone and the second adherence zone. The adherence region may define a separable region, which may be in the form of a pocket.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprising a first belt and a second belt, comprising one or more frangible pathways. A fastener component may be positioned on the inner wearer facing surface of the first belt and/or second belt, and an accessibility opening in the first belt and/or the second belt may be positioned adjacent the fastener component and the inner edge of the first belt and/or the second belt. Positioning fastener components on the inner wearing facing surface of the first belt and/or the second belt helps to conceal the fastener component from the wearer while wearing the diaper pant. Positioning the accessibility opening adjacent the fastener component may help a caregiver successfully determine the location of and access such hidden disposal fastener components. An absorbent article may also comprise opening facilitation features to help a user to successfully determine the location and/or function of the fastener component.