Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A personal care article for preventing exudates from contacting the body of a user comprises a substrate including an extensible bodyside liner layer, and an aperture support structure limiting extensibility of the bodyside liner layer along the length of the aperture support structure. One support band of an aperture support structure runs through the gluteal fold between the buttocks of a user. The aperture support structure positions an aperture in the bodyside liner layer in the gluteal fold of a user, in alignment with the anus, so that fecal material enters a containment receptacle upon leaving the anus. In another embodiment, the personal care article can include a comfort stretch layer comprising an elastomeric, hot melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive located between a bodyside liner layer and an outer layer.

Abstract: A personal care article for preventing exudates from contacting the body of a user comprises a substrate including an extensible bodyside liner layer, and an aperture support structure limiting extensibility of the bodyside liner layer along the length of the aperture support structure. One support band of an aperture support structure runs through the gluteal fold between the buttocks of a user. The aperture support structure positions an aperture in the bodyside liner layer in the gluteal fold of a user, in alignment with the anus, so that fecal material enters a containment receptacle upon leaving the anus. In another embodiment, the personal care article can include a comfort stretch layer comprising an elastomeric, hot melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive located between a bodyside liner layer and an outer layer.

Abstract: A personal care article for preventing exudates from contacting the body of a user comprises a substrate including an extensible bodyside liner layer, and an aperture support structure limiting extensibility of the bodyside liner layer along the length of the aperture support structure. One support band of an aperture support structure runs through the gluteal fold between the buttocks of a user. The aperture support structure positions an aperture in the bodyside liner layer in the gluteal fold of a user, in alignment with the anus, so that fecal material enters a containment receptacle upon leaving the anus. In another embodiment, the personal care article can include a comfort stretch layer comprising an elastomeric, hot melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive located between a bodyside liner layer and an outer layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for attaching and protecting a mechanical fastener on a disposable absorbent article and a disposable absorbent article produced by the same. The process comprises the following steps: (1) providing a disposable absorbent article which includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner; (2) providing a mechanical fastener which includes a first fastening element; (3) attaching the first fastening element of the mechanical fastener to the disposable absorbent article; (4) releasably engaging the first fastening element with the disposable absorbent article to protect the first fastening element; and (5) subsequently packaging the disposable absorbent article for commercial sale. The first fastening element and a portion of the disposable absorbent article may be releasably engaged by constrictively passing them between a pair of rotatable nip rolls.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a multi-functional fastening system which includes a pair of primary fasteners which are located on the opposed side edges in one of the waist regions of the absorbent article. The primary fasteners are configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article. The fastening system also includes at least one secondary fastener which is located in one of the waist regions of the absorbent article. The secondary fastener is configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article to conform the waist regions of the article to a wearer's body after the primary fasteners have been releasably engaged. The primary fasteners may be prefastened to allow the disposable absorbent article to be pulled on or off over the wearer's hips. The fastening system may further include a belt segment to which the secondary fasteners are attached.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a rear reservoir to receive and hold fecal and other body exudates. The rear reservoir preferably includes a spacer located at a rear portion preferably between a bodyside liner layer and an outer cover layer, assisting in formation of the rear reservoir. A rear waist flap, preferably comprised of the base structure of the absorbent article can be folded inwardly from the rear edge to form, in combination with the spacer and optionally other elements of the absorbent article, the rear reservoir. The rear waist flap can alternatively be formed by a separate element attached to the rear portion of the absorbent article. The separate element can comprise an elastic member, or a nonelastic member with rear waist elastics. The rear waist flap preferably is substantially stretched with respect to the rear portion to assist in shaping the rear reservoir. The spacer preferably comprises an internal filler, and has a rod-like shape.

Abstract: A personal care article for preventing exudates from contacting the body of a user comprises a substrate including an extensible bodyside liner layer, and an aperture support structure limiting extensibility of the bodyside liner layer along the length of the aperture support structure. One support band of an aperture support structure runs through the gluteal fold between the buttocks of a user. The aperture support structure positions an aperture in the bodyside liner layer in the gluteal fold of a user, in alignment with the anus, so that fecal material enters a containment receptacle upon leaving the anus. In another embodiment, the personal care article can include a comfort stretch layer comprising an elastomeric, hot melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive located between a bodyside liner layer and an outer layer.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes an absorbent core located between a bodyside liner and an outer cover. A leg cuff is mounted to a base structure of the absorbent article in the crotch portion thereof. The leg cuffs are partially stretched when attached to respective longitudinal side portions near the crotch portion of the absorbent article. An outboard edge of the leg cuffs is generally unattached to the base structure of the absorbent article and can be stretched beyond the length of that portion of the base structure along which the leg cuffs are mounted. The leg cuffs may be mounted at an angle of between 5 and 25 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. The leg cuffs extend outwardly toward the rear portion of the absorbent article and inwardly in the front portion when mounted at an angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for attaching and protecting a mechanical fastener on a disposable absorbent article and a disposable absorbent article produced by the same. The process comprises the following steps: (1) providing a disposable absorbent article which includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the bodyside liner; (2) providing a mechanical fastener which includes a first fastening element; (3) attaching the first fastening element of the mechanical fastener to the disposable absorbent article; (4) releasably engaging the first fastening element with the disposable absorbent article to protect the first fastening element; and (5) subsequently packaging the disposable absorbent article for commercial sale. The first fastening element and a portion of the disposable absorbent article may be releasably engaged by constrictively passing them between a pair of rotatable nip rolls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable absorbent article comprising an outer cover and an absorbent assembly joined to said outer cover. The absorbent assembly comprises a liquid impermeable member having a pair of laterally opposed side margins. An absorbent core is joined to said liquid impermeable member between said laterally opposed side margins of said liquid impermeable member. Both the outer cover and the absorbent assembly define a front portion, a rear portion, and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and rear portions. The lateral width of the absorbent assembly in said intermediate portion is defined by the laterally opposed side margins of said liquid impermeable member. The lateral width of said laterally opposed side margins of said liquid impermeable member in the intermediate portion of said absorbent assembly is greater than the lateral width of the intermediate portion of the outer cover.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes extensible zones. These extensible zones enable the absorbent article to expand and fit a broad size range of users. The extensible zones enable a broad range of adjustment in waist and leg opening dimensions by extension and retraction of the extensible zones. The bodyside liner layer and the outer cover layer preferably comprise spunbonded layers stretched in one direction and correspondingly narrowed in another direction. The extensible zones typically include an elastic layer between, and mounted to extend with, the outer cover layer and the bodyside liner layer. The elastic layer can comprise an elastic film or strands of material. An absorbent core is located between the bodyside liner layer and the outer cover layer.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, is disclosed which is designed to absorb menstrual fluid. The absorbent article includes a liquid-impermeable baffle, a first absorbent layer and a second absorbent layer. The second absorbent layer is positioned between the baffle and the first absorbent layer and has a higher transverse wicking rate than the first absorbent layer. The absorbent article can be visually inspected to determine if it is linear its maximum fluid capacity before leakage occurs.

Abstract: An article (20) has a front waistband section (38), a back waistband section (40), an intermediate section (42) interconnecting the front and back waistband sections, a longitudinal direction (86), a cross-direction (88) and a laterally extending line (100) which is longitudinally centered in the article (20). At least a first fit panel (36) is connected to an inside surface (66) of at least one of the waistband sections (38, 40), and the fit panel has a direction-dependent coefficient of friction value along a basis line (54) of the fit panel. A first coefficient of friction value is exhibited when sliding on the fit panel along the basis line in a first, inward basis direction (62) generally toward the lateral line and a different second coefficient of friction value is exhibited when sliding on the fit panel along the basis line in a second, outward basis direction (64) which is opposite the first basis direction (62).

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.