Abstract: An absorbent article includes front and back side panels, wherein each side panel has an attachment edge and a free edge, the front and back side panels being one of permanently attached and releasably fastenable to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article also includes a finger tab system including a finger tab having first and second ends and a distal point, the first end of the finger tab being attached to the free edge of one of the front and back side panels, and a tab line where the finger tab intersects the free edge of the one of the front and back side panels, wherein the finger tab system includes an aperture disposed between the distal point of the finger tab and the tab line.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for personal wear about a wearer's waist. The article includes a pair of front side panels attached to the front waist region and a pair of back side panels attached to the back waist region, and is configurable from a wear configuration to a disposal configuration in which the article is generally compacted for disposal. The article also includes a disposal tab having an attachment region with an attachment width and a tab region with a gripping width, the attachment region attached to one of the front or back side panels, the tab region being attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article, wherein the attachment width is substantially equal to the gripping width.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a leg and flap elastics composite for use in an absorbent article includes joining a leg elastic member to a web moving in a machine direction. A flap elastic member is joined to the web and spaced from the leg elastic member. The web is fed to a chopper assembly wherein portions of the leg and flap elastic members are rendered less elastic at spaced-apart intervals to define deadened portions of the leg and flap elastic members.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes front and back side panels, wherein each side panel has an attachment edge and a free edge, the front and back side panels being one of permanently attached and releasably fastenable to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article also includes a finger tab system including a finger tab having first and second ends and a distal point, the first end of the finger tab being attached to the free edge of one of the front and back side panels, and a tab line where the finger tab intersects the free edge of the one of the front and back side panels, wherein the finger tab system includes an aperture disposed between the distal point of the finger tab and the tab line.

Abstract: An absorbent includes inner and outer surfaces, an absorbent body disposed therebetween, and front waist, back waist, and crotch regions. The article also includes pairs of front and back side panels, each side panel having an attachment edge and a free edge, the front and back side panels being releasably attachable to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article also includes a finger tab having a distal end, a tab line where the finger tab intersects the free edge, and a proximal end attached to the free edge, wherein the distal end has a distal end longitudinal midpoint, wherein the tab line has a tab line longitudinal midpoint, and wherein the distal end longitudinal midpoint is longitudinally offset from the tab line longitudinal midpoint.

Abstract: An absorbent article for personal wear includes inner and outer surfaces, an absorbent body disposed therebetween, and front waist, back waist, and crotch regions. The article also includes front and back side panels that are releasably attachable at a seam using an article fastening component and an article fastener landing zone to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article also includes a finger tab attached to one of the front and back side panels, wherein the tab includes a tab fastening component, wherein a front or back side panel includes a tab landing zone, wherein the tab fastening component is fastened to the tab landing zone to form a tab connection when the article is in a wear configuration, and wherein the tab connection has lower peel and shear strengths per unit area than the peel and shear strengths per unit area of the seam.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis defining a waist opening, the chassis including first and second opposing side areas, the first side area including a first panel attached to a second panel along a first longitudinal attachment area and wherein the second side area also includes a first panel attached to a second panel along a second longitudinal attachment area. The absorbent article also includes at least one longitudinal opening tab attached to the first panel of the first side area, the longitudinal opening tab being configured to be grasped by a user for being pulled in a direction that is substantially parallel to a length of the first longitudinal attachment area for separating the first panel from the second panel of the first side area, wherein the longitudinal opening tab extends longitudinally beyond the waist opening of the chassis.

Abstract: Absorbent articles are disclosed that have been printed with active graphics alone or in combination with permanent graphics to create a wetness indicator. Different active graphic compositions and/or permanent graphic compositions are combined so as to make the wetness indicator very prominent on the article. In addition, when the absorbent article is wetted, the active graphics undergo a change that is easily noticed by the wearer or the caregiver for the wearer. In one embodiment, for instance, active graphics are positioned within a distinctive frame. The frame focuses a person's attention onto the active graphics. The active graphics fill most of the surface area of the frame such that when the absorbent article is wetted, a clearly noticeable change occurs.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for personal wear about a wearer's waist. The article includes a pair of front side panels attached to the front waist region and a pair of back side panels attached to the back waist region, and is configurable from a wear configuration to a disposal configuration in which the article is generally compacted for disposal. The article also includes a disposal tab having an attachment region with an attachment width and a tab region with a gripping width, the attachment region attached to one of the front or back side panels, the tab region being attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article, wherein the attachment width is substantially equal to the gripping width.

Abstract: A stretchable absorbent article has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions, a length, and a width. The absorbent article has a liquid impermeable outer cover stretchable in at least one direction and a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least one direction. At least one of the liner and the outer cover has a width substantially equal to the width of the absorbent article along the length thereof. An absorbent structure is disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extends from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article. The outer cover is elastic and is configured to improve the fit of the absorbent article.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article comprises a first crotch elastic member adjacent a first crotch edge and a second crotch elastic member adjacent a second crotch edge, each crotch elastic member extending generally in a longitudinal direction, each crotch elastic member having a front terminal point and a rear terminal point. In one embodiment, at least one of the terminal points of the first crotch elastic member is positioned transversely inward from a remaining portion of the first crotch elastic member, and at least one of the terminal points of the second crotch elastic member is positioned transversely inward from a remaining portion of the second crotch elastic member. In another embodiment, front end portions of the first and second crotch elastic members or rear end portions of the first and second crotch elastic members converge transversely inward toward each other.

Abstract: Absorbent articles are disclosed having extended waistbands. More particularly, the absorbent articles include a back waistband and/or a front waistband that encircle a portion of the circumference of the waist opening. The absorbent article includes a front portion attached to a back portion by a pair of stretchable side areas. Each of the side areas are made from at least two panels that are connected together along a vertical attachment area. In accordance with the present disclosure, a waistband is incorporated into the article that extends over the entire front portion or the entire back portion and terminates at opposite ends on opposing side areas. Each end of the waistband, however, terminates prior to the vertical attachment areas leaving a gap in between. The presence of the gap has been found to provide various benefits and advantages including improved stretch properties for donning the article.

Abstract: In a substrate having a graphic and a method for applying the graphic thereto, a non-phosphorescent material is applied to the substrate to define a non-phosphorescent region of the graphic and a phosphorescent material is applied to the substrate to define a phosphorescent region of the graphic. At least a portion of the non-phosphorescent region and at least a portion of the phosphorescent region are in overlapping relationship with each other so as to define an overlapping region of the graphic. When the overlapping region is exposed to light sufficient to cause phosphorescence of the phosphorescent region the at least a portion of the phosphorescent region phosphoresces to render the overlapping region visible in the absence of light. In another embodiment, the graphic has a non-photoluminescent region in overlapping relationship with a photoluminescent region.

Abstract: An absorbent pant garment having high leg cuts. The garment includes an absorbent chassis defining a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent chassis includes a front region, a crotch region, a back region, two side panels connecting the front region and the back region. The side panels may include refastenable side seams between front and back panels, a permanently bonded side seam, or no side seams at all. In embodiments having refastenably attached side panels, the front side panels may have an S shape along a bottom edge to minimize the possibility of a pointed piece of the back side panels sticking out. The high-cut side regions may be defined by a ratio of side panel width at a narrowest longitudinal dimension of the side panel divided by a width of the side panel along a side seam of less than about 0.7. Alternatively, the high-cut side regions may be defined by a ratio of leg opening circumference divided by waist opening circumference of at least about 0.7.

Abstract: There is provided a resilient, three dimensional material having fibrous texture and appearance and capable of fluid handling. It consists of a top surface and a bottom surface wherein fiber-like elements typically extend from one surface to the other forming flat to undulating surfaces characterized by a multiplicity of interconnected fluid passageways. Deformed, discontinuous film-like or encapsulated regions connect fiber-like elements and stabilize the material. The material of this invention is unique based on the three principle characteristics which are communicated in this application: 1) ff(?)<0.87, 2) SA/VV<186 cm2/cm3, and 3) caliper<0.150 inches. This material is useful for a number of purposes, such as for use as a liner for personal care products like diapers, absorbent underpants, swim wear, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products and the like.

Abstract: An absorbent pant garment having high leg cuts. The garment includes an absorbent chassis defining a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent chassis includes a front region, a crotch region, a back region, two side panels connecting the front region and the back region. The side panels may include refastenable side seams between front and back panels, a permanently bonded side seam, or no side seams at all. In embodiments having refastenably attached side panels, the front side panels may have an S shape along a bottom edge to minimize the possibility of a pointed piece of the back side panels sticking out. The high-cut side regions may be defined by a ratio of side panel width at a narrowest longitudinal dimension of the side panel divided by a width of the side panel along a side seam of less than about 0.7. Alternatively, the high-cut side regions may be defined by a ratio of leg opening circumference divided by waist opening circumference of at least about 0.7.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as the shown diaper (10), has a front waistband portion (14), a back waistband portion (12) and an intermediate portion (16) interconnecting said front and back waistband portions. The article includes a backsheet member (30), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28), and an absorbent body (32) sandwiched between the topsheet layer (28) and backsheet member (30). The backsheet member includes an air permeable, polymer sheet layer (96), and a first, outward nonwoven fibrous web (94) attached to or otherwise operatively joined with a major facing surface (78) of the polymer sheet layer (96) at a plurality of individual, spaced apart thermal bonds (98).