Abstract: The present invention provides a method of achieving selectively elasticized zones on nonwoven web substrates, such as may be suitable for the waistbands or leg cuffs of disposable absorbent pant garments, cuffs on sleeves of medical garments neck openings, or the elasticizing of any garment opening. A web, or webs, of nonwoven material which make up the substrate for the elasticized area are provided to be extendible in one or more directions of the material web at the time the elastic material is affixed to the substrate. The extendibility is provided through neck stretching of one or more of the webs. When the substrate is at a narrow, or necked dimension, the elastic material is affixed to the substrate thereby holding the substrate at its narrow dimension. If the elastic material is affixed in an untensioned state, a flat elastomeric cuff without gathering of the substrate may be had.

Abstract: A breathable, substantially liquid impermeable laminate is provided that is permanently conformable to the contours of a wearer's body when used in a personal care absorbent article or a medical article. The laminate includes a breathable (preferably microporous) film and a fibrous nonwoven web. Both the film and the web are extendible in a cross direction to a width at least 25% greater than an original, unstretched width upon application of a stretching force. The web and the film, and the overall laminate, exhibit little or no retractive force once they have been stretched. A diaper or other garment can be constructed in undersized fashion using the laminate, permitting material savings. When the garment is worn, the laminate stretches only where needed to provide a substantially perfect fit on the wearer. The minimal retractive force avoids the skin marks, rashes, etc. that can result from elastic garments.

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 disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable, extensible outer cover, a liquid permeable, extensible bodyside liner, and an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner. The extensible outer cover and extensible bodyside liner can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of leg elastics located on the laterally opposed side edges of the article in at least the intermediate section of the article. The outer cover can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein. The permanent deformation of the outer cover in use can result in the article having a substantially permanent leg elastic deformation value of at least about 3 percent when subjected to the Product Deformation Test set forth herein.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of fasteners located on the laterally opposed side edges in one of the waist sections of the absorbent article. The outer cover can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein. The outer cover can further define a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 800 g/m2/24 hr. The permanent deformation of the outer cover in use can result in a longitudinal breathability gradient ratio between the outer cover in the waist section and the crotch or intermediate section of the article of at least about 1.25 according to the Product Deformation Test set forth herein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composite material and a process for making the material. The composite material may be breathable and is formed from at least one layer of an elastic material and a necked laminate of sheet layers. The sheet layers include at least one non-elastic neckable material laminated to at least one non-elastic film defining a longitudinal and transverse dimension wherein the laminate is extensible and retractable in at least one dimension without significantly reducing the breathability and/or liquid barrier properties of the film layer. This laminate extensibility and retractability is the result of striated rugosities in, for instance, the longitudinal dimension of the film layer which enables the necked laminate to have an amount of extensibility and retractability in the transverse dimension.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid transfer material formed from a necked laminate and a process for making the laminate. The necked laminate is formed from sheet layers of at least one non-elastic neckable material laminated to at least the film non-elastic film defining a longitudinal and transverse dimension. At least the film layer of the laminate is apertured in an area where liquid transfer through the laminate is desired. The entire laminate may also be apertured. The non-apertured part of the laminate remains extensible and retractable in at least one dimension without significantly reducing the breathability and/or liquid barrier properties of the film layer. This laminate extensibility and retractability is the result of striated rugosities in, for instance, the longitudinal dimension of the film layer which enables the necked laminate to have an amount of extensibility and retractability in the transverse dimension.

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.

Abstract: A liquid reception device as a component, for example, of a personal care product such as a disposable diaper, an incontinent garment, or for other applications such as, for example, an industrial soaker pad or the like. The device includes liquid activated means to move a liquid insult from a target zone to a peripheral zone. The liquid activated transport means operated mechanically by suction created by compression or vacuum or by physical movement of a liquid container from the target zone to the peripheral zone. The disclosed device provides increased use of available liquid handling capacity.

Abstract: A biaxially extendible, breathable laminate having liquid barrier properties and low retractive force. The laminate includes a nonwoven web neck-stretched in a first direction to impart extendibility of the web in a second direction mutually perpendicular with the first direction, and a film that is extendible in the second direction. The film can be a breathable, microporous film, and can either be an inelastic film stretched to form rugosities in the second direction, or can be made of an extendible polymer that is extendible in the second direction. Using an appropriate elastomeric lamination and/or creping adhesive, the laminate is creped to produce extendibility in the first direction with some retractive force. The biaxial extendible laminate is particularly useful as an outer cover for diapers and other personal care products.

Abstract: A liquid reception device as a component, for example, of a personal care product such as a disposable diaper, an incontinent garment, or for other applications such as, for example, an industrial soaker pad or the like. The device includes liquid activated means to move a liquid insult from a target zone to a peripheral zone. The liquid activated transport means operated mechanically by suction created by compression or vacuum or by physical movement of a liquid container from the target zone to the peripheral zone. The disclosed device provides increased use of available liquid handling capacity.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of fasteners located on the laterally opposed side edges in one of the waist sections of the absorbent article. The outer cover can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein. The outer cover can further define a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 800 g/m2/24 hr. The permanent deformation of the outer cover in use can result in a lateral breathability gradient ratio between the outer cover in the waist section and the crotch or intermediate section of the article of at least about 1.25 according to the Product Deformation Test set forth herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material including a substrate with a first and a second layer, and a surfactant. The surfactant is applied to the first layer of the substrate. The surfactant acts to lower the surface tension of a fluid which contacts the first layer of the substrate such that the fluid is allowed or more readily enabled to pass through the first layer of the substrate, but such that the surfactant does not substantially adversely effect the absorption capacity or wicking height of the second layer of the substrate, as the second layer of the substrate substantially inactivates the surfactant upon contact or interaction therewith.

Abstract: A breathable, substantially liquid impermeable film and laminate are provided for use in a wide variety of personal care garments and protective garments. The film, and laminate containing the film, are extendible in a cross-direction to a stretched width which is at least 25% greater than an original, unstretched width. The film and laminate have a first water vapor transmission rate of at least about 500 grams/m2-24 hours coinciding with the unstretched width. The film and laminate have a much higher second water vapor transmission rate which is at least about 225% of the first water vapor transmission rate, and not less than about 4000 grams/m2-24 hours, coinciding with a stretched width that is only 25% greater than the stretched width.

Abstract: A distinctive absorbent garment article generally delimits a front waistband section, a rear waistband section and an intermediate section which interconnects the front and rear waistband sections. The article has a substantially fluid-impermeable backsheet layer, a liquid permeable topsheet layer, positioned in facing relation with the backsheet layer, and an absorbent body located between the backsheet layer and topsheet layer. The absorbent body includes a distinctive humidity transfer region which is advantageously configured to exhibit relatively low moisture retention. A vapor permeable panel is connected to the backsheet layer at one or more waistband sections of the article, and is arranged in an overlying registry with the humidity transfer region of the absorbent body.

Abstract: There is provided a personal care product having a drying agent incorporated into it. The drying agent can reduce or control the relative humidity in the air enclosed by a personal care product significantly. Such a drying agent may be a desiccant or humectant or a combination of both. The drying agent may function using chemical or physical means and may be in fibrous, particulate or other form. The reduction of the relative humidity within a personal care product will reduce skin hydration which is believed to reduce redness and irritation due to contact with fluids.

Abstract: Unitary films are provided having at least first and second film segments which extend adjacent one another and are permanently joined together. The first and second segments have different compositions whereby the unitary film includes distinct segments having varied physical properties such as, for example, varied levels of high water-vapor transmission rates and/or elasticity. The unitary films and laminates thereof are well suited for use as outer covers in personal care articles and various other barrier articles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid absorbent material that is particularly useful as a liner material for personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, bandages and the like. The material contains a plurality of peaks across its surface at spaced-apart intervals separated by channels. Disposed within the peaks is a liquid absorbing material capable of absorbing body exudates and liquids in general. Due to the materials and the nature of the construction of the present invention, when used as a liner material for personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, it tends to reduce the total surface area in contact with the infant's skin and it also provides a plurality of air channels within the diaper from the front waistband to the back waistband of the diaper thereby providing a path for increased air circulation.

Abstract: There is provided a personal care product having an osmolality changing agent incorporated into it which achieves the objects of this invention. The agent can reduce skin hydration significantly by increasing the osmolality of a solution outside of, but in contact with, the skin, in order to cause water to move across the skin cellular boundary to dilute the solution. Such a material is preferably compatible with modern fiber forming processes like spunbonding and meltblowing. The reduction of skin hydration may reduce redness and irritation due to contact with fluids.