Abstract: An undergarment includes a body panel and an crotch member. The crotch member includes first and second terminal edges and laterally opposed side edges. The crotch member has a longitudinally extending length defined between the first and second terminal edges. The crotch member is connected to the body panel at an attachment location, which is longitudinally spaced along the length of the crotch member from the first terminal edge thereof. The crotch member includes an unattached end portion that extends between the attachment location and the first terminal edge and that is unattached to the body panel. Methods of using and manufacturing the undergarment are also provided.

Abstract: A disposable garment for wearing about the lower torso employs pleats or folds in the waist region of the garment allowing the hip region to expand. The pleats are secured in a bond zone at the waist. An absorbent assembly is attached at the waist region and is free to expand at the hip region of the garment.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a disposable garment having shaped leg elastic members and may include pleats or folds in the waist region of the garment. The shaped leg elastic members are shaped by a cutting step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer. The elastic inner layer may include a front piece, a back piece and a crotch piece.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer. The elastic inner layer may include a fastener on an inner surface in a back waist region of the garment and the outer layer may include a fastener on an outer surface in a front waist region of the garment.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disposable undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction, forming a cross-machine direction slit in the web, and connecting a crotch member to the web. The crotch member extends in the cross-machine direction and covers the slit. A disposable undergarment having a slit, and a method for the use thereof, is also provided.

Abstract: A refastenable absorbent garment comprises a body panel comprising a non-woven material, and preferably a non-woven spunbond material having a pattern of discrete bonded areas. The body panel has a non-elasticized area. A hook-type fastener member comprises a high-density array of hooks with a hook density of at least about 60 hooks per square centimeter. At least a portion of the array of hooks is engaged with the non-woven material at the non-elasticized area of the body panel. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, between about 5% and 25% of the non-woven spunbond material comprises the bonded area. In another preferred embodiment, the non-woven spunbond material has a basis weight of between about 0.3 osy and about 2.0 osy. A method for making the absorbent garment, and for securing the absorbent garment to a user, also are provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction 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 maximum rise and a minimum rise respectively. The maximum rise of each of the rear and front body panel webs is greater than the minimum rise of a corresponding one of the rear and front body panel webs. The method further includes shifting at least one of the rear and front body panel webs in the longitudinal machine direction and thereby aligning the maximum rises of the rear and front body panel webs. The method further includes aligning a s crotch member with the maximum rises of the rear and front body panel webs and connecting the crotch member to the front and rear body panels. The crotch member includes at least one stretchable component including an elastic material. A disposable undergarment is also provided.

Abstract: A refastenable absorbent garment comprises a front body panel comprising a pair of side portions defining opposite side edges and a landing portion extending between said side portions, wherein the landing portion and each of the side portions are separated by a line of weakness. A rear body panel comprises opposite side edges that are joined to the opposite side edges of the front body panel to form a side seam. A hook-type fastener member comprises a carrier member secured to the side portions of the front body panel in front of the side seam and a plurality of hooks extending from the carrier member, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of hooks are engaged with the landing portion. A method for making the absorbent garment, and for securing the absorbent garment to a user, also are provided. In another aspect, an absorbent garment comprises a body panel having a length and a fastening member comprising at least two engagement portions releasably engaging the body panel.

Abstract: A refastenable absorbent garment includes a first body panel having a body side and a garment side and a second body panel having a body side and a garment side. A fastener member is attached to the body side of the first body panel and is releasably attached to the body side of the second body panel. A method for assembling a refastenable absorbent garment includes applying a garment side of a first portion of the fastener member to a body side of a first body panel, and releasably applying the body side of the second body panel to a garment side of a second portion of the fastener member. A method of manufacturing and using the absorbent garment is also provided.

Abstract: A method of assembling an expandable absorbent garment includes providing an absorbent composite having a length, opposite ends and opposite side regions. The absorbent composite includes a backsheet, a topsheet and a retention portion disposed between the backsheet and topsheet. The backsheet includes at least one fold formed along at least one of the opposite side regions, wherein the absorbent composite is laterally expandable at least at the opposite ends thereof. The at least one fold of the backsheet is unfoldable along at least the opposite ends of the absorbent composite.

Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a body panel comprising a liquid permeable, non-woven material. The non-woven material is elastically gathered and is elongatable between a non-elongated condition and an elongated condition in response to an application of a tensile force. Preferably, the body panel is elongatable at least 75% between the non-elongated condition and the elongated condition upon the application of the tensile force. A fastener includes an adhesive that releasably engages the elastically gathered non-woven material. The fastener is releasably disengageable from the body panel in response to an application of a disengaging shear force. Preferably, the disengaging shear force is greater than the tensile force. Methods for manufacturing and using the absorbent garment are also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disposable undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction 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 maximum rise and a minimum rise respectively. The maximum rise of each of the rear and front body panel webs is greater than the minimum rise of a corresponding one of the rear and front body panel webs. The method further includes shifting at least one of the rear and front body panel webs in the longitudinal machine direction and thereby aligning the maximum rises of the rear and front body panel webs. The method further includes separating the rear and front body panels in a lateral cross direction, such that the maximum rises of each of the rear and front body panel webs are spaced apart in the lateral cross direction and form a gap therebetween in a non-overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A refastenable absorbent garment includes a first body panel having first and second opposite side edges, a second body panel having first and second opposite side edges and a crotch portion extending between the first and second body panels. At least a first fastener member and a second fastener member are fixedly secured to and extend outboard from the first and second opposite side edges of the first body panel respectively. Each of the first and second fastener members includes a refastenable portion. First and second extension members are fixedly secured to and extend outboard from the first and second opposite side edges of the second body panel respectively. The refastenable portion of the first fastener member releasably engages the first extension member and the refastenable portion of the second fastener member releasably engages the second extension member.

Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge and a rear body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge. A crotch member extends between and is coupled to the front and rear body panels. The crotch member includes a retention element having a trapezoidal shape. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing an absorbent garment includes moving first and second webs of body panel material in a first machine direction, moving a web of absorbent material in a second machine direction, and cutting the web of absorbent material and thereby forming a plurality of trapezoidally shaped retention elements, with each of the plurality of retention elements having non-parallel side edges. The method further includes successively coupling the plurality of retention elements to the first and second webs with the side edges extending in a cross-direction.

Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge and a rear body panel having a terminal waist edge and a terminal crotch edge. The terminal crotch edge of the rear body panel is longitudinally spaced from and forms a gap with the terminal crotch edge of the front body panel. An absorbent composite includes a first and second longitudinally spaced terminal edge and opposite laterally spaced side edges. The absorbent composite bridges the gap between the front and rear body panels with the first and second terminal edges overlying and connected to the front and rear body panels respectively. In one embodiment, the terminal edges of the absorbent composite are the only portion of the absorbent composite connected to the front and rear body panels.

Abstract: A disposable undergarment includes a body panel and an absorbent insert having a back sheet connected to a top sheet and a retention portion disposed between the back sheet and the top sheet. At least one of the back sheet and the top sheet is stretchable and includes an elastic material. At least one of the back sheet and the top sheet is connected to the body panel. A method of using a disposable undergarment includes stretching at least one of the back sheet and the top sheet. A method of instructing a user on the use of the disposable undergarment is also provided.

Abstract: A disposable undergarment includes a body chassis member elongatable in at least a first direction between at least a first condition and second condition. The body chassis member has a greater elongation when in the second condition than when in the first condition. The disposable undergarment further includes a crotch member detachably connected to the body chassis member at at least one attachment location. At least a portion of the at least one attachment location is detached as the body chassis member is elongated between the first and second conditions. In one preferred embodiment, the crotch member includes an absorbent component. Methods of using the undergarment and of instructing a user about the use of the garment are also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disposable undergarment includes elongating a body panel material in a first direction to an elongated condition, attaching a crotch member to the body panel material while the body panel material is in the elongated condition, and retracting the body panel material in the first direction from the elongated condition to a relaxed condition. A disposable undergarment, and a method for using the garment, are also provided.

Abstract: An undergarment includes a body panel and an crotch member. The crotch member includes first and second terminal edges and laterally opposed side edges. The crotch member has a longitudinally extending length defined between the first and second terminal edges. The crotch member is connected to the body panel at an attachment location, which is longitudinally spaced along the length of the crotch member from the first terminal edge thereof. The crotch member includes an unattached end portion that extends between the attachment location and the first terminal edge and that is unattached to the body panel. Methods of using and manufacturing the undergarment are also provided.