Abstract: An absorbent article has a lateral width, a longitudinal length, longitudinally extending side margins, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion, and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article comprises a backsheet layer and an absorbent retention portion superposed on the backsheet layer. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is superposed on the retention portion to sandwich the retention portion between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. An elasticizing means form elasticized gathers at leg opening portions of the article. The elasticizing means include a front set of laterally opposed, longitudinally extending leg elastic members located in the article side margins in at least the intermediate portion of the article. The front elastic members are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the article length and have a selected offset toward the front waistband portion of the article.

Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of adhesive fastener assemblies includes the step of providing a substantially continuous web of substrate material along a selected, longitudinal machine-direction (132). The substrate web has a laterally extending cross direction (134) which is substantially perpendicular to the machine direction, and has laterally opposed, longitudinally extending side edge regions (142 and 144) thereof. A selected fastening means, such as a layer of primary adhesive (54), is positioned and applied onto a major facing surface (186) of the substrate web (140). A first longitudinally extending web of stiffening material (154) is attached to the major surface of the substrate web (140) at a location which is proximate a first side edge region (142) of the substrate web. A second longitudinally extending web of stiffening material (156) is attached to the major surface of the substrate web (140) at a location which is proximate the second side edge region (144) of the substrate web (140).

Abstract: A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge is provided, and comprises an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid-impervious outer cover, a liquid-pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween. The absorbent assembly also has generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges. A pair of stretchable side panels are joined to each one of the side edges to form with the absorbent assembly a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. A gathering means is joined along at least a portion of each leg opening for gathering that portion. The stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against a wearer to maintain the garment snugly against the wearer's body and the absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge.

Abstract: A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge comprises an absorbent assembly including a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween. A pair of stretchable side panels are joined to the absorbent assembly to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and an intermediate portion of each stretchable side panel is generally peripherally disposed about a respective leg opening. The stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against a wearer to maintain the garment snugly against the wearer's body and the absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge.

Abstract: A seam construction for an absorbent article comprises a layered composite portion of the absorbent article including a liquid pervious liner, a liquid impervious outer cover, and an absorbent medium therebetween. A pair of stretchable members are joined to the layered composite portion between respective side portions of the outer cover and the liner. The stretchable side members also extend outwardly beyond the opposite side portions of the outer cover and liner. The layered composite portion and each stretchable member form a seam construction that is resistant to liquid leakage and that provides a gentle transition between the layered composite portion and the stretchable members.

Abstract: A coated fabric comprises a base ply of a fiber material such as a non-woven fiber material, for example, a polypropylene non-woven material, having a thermoplastic film, for example, an ethylene methyl acrylate film, bonded thereto. The base ply has densified and undensified portions thereof, the densified portions defining densified areas on a coating surface of the base ply, and the thermoplastic film is heat-bonded to the coating surface at least at the densified portions thereof. A method of making the coated fabric comprises contacting the thermoplastic film in heat-softened condition with the coating surface of the base ply, and allowing the film to cool.

Abstract: A coated fabric comprises a base ply of a fiber material such as a non-woven fiber material, for example, a polypropylene non-woven material, having a thermoplastic film, for example, an ethylene methyl acrylate film, bonded thereto. The base ply has densified and undensified portions thereof, the densified portions defining densified areas on a coating surface of the base ply, and the thermoplastic film is heat-bonded to the coating surface at least at the densified portions thereof. A method of making the coated fabric comprises contacting the thermoplastic film in heat-softened condition with the coating surface of the base ply, and allowing the film to cool.

Abstract: The cloth-like, liquid impervious composite material is made by applying a nonwoven layer of loose, unadhered fibers to a liquid impervious film, and then point-bonding the nonwoven layer to the liquid impervious film to form discrete points of adhesion between the fibers and film. Because the fibers in the nonwoven layer are loose and unadhered when applied to the film, the resulting composite material has improved loft and softness. Also, when the composite material is elasticized by an elastic material, it gathers into a more pleasing appearance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protective garment which comprises a base sheet member having a neck opening aperture formed in a selected neckband section thereof. A neck elastic member is located in an overlying relation with a selected portion of the neckband section and is positioned at least partially adjacent to the neck opening aperture. An attaching mechanism secures the elastic member to the neckband section.

Abstract: A composite with an adjustable, conformable opening therein, comprising a base web of less extensible, lower elastic recovery material, joined to a second web, of more extensible, higher elastic recovery material, wherein the base web has a first opening therein, and the second web has a second opening therein generally concentric with the first opening and of smaller size than the first opening, so that the second opening is circumferentially peripherally bounded by an annular-shaped segment of the second web, and the annular-shaped segment of the second web in turn is circumferentially peripherally bounded by the base web. The composite is advantageously employed to form garments and similar articles wherein the opening serves as a conformable, adjustable body part opening, such as in gloves, shirts, socks, shoe covers, slippers, disposable diapers, training pants, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protective garment which comprises a base sheet member having a neck opening formed in a selected neckband section thereof. A layer of elastomeric material is bonded and laminated to at least a portion of the neckband section to provide an elastic strap which spans across the neck opening.

Abstract: A disposable underpant (10, 10') comprising a front panel (11) and rear panel (12) joined together along side seams (13) to provide a three-dimensional garment having a pair of elasticized leg openings (14) and an elasticized waist opening (15), and including a bodyside liner (16), outer cover (17) and absorbent batt (18) therebetween, in which the outer cover (17) has an inner layer (30) of plastic material and an outer layer (31) of nonwoven fibrous material.

Abstract: A disposable underpant (10, 10') comprising a front panel (11) and rear panel (12) joined together along side seams (13) to provide a three-dimensional garment having a pair of elasticized leg openings (14) and an elasticized waist opening (15), and including a bodyside liner (16), outer cover (17) and absorbent batt (18) therebetween, in which the outer cover (17) has an inner layer (30) of plastic material and an outer layer (31) of nonwoven fibrous material.

Abstract: Disposable garments (10) having an elasticized opening including an elastic element (25, 60, 70) joined to a marginal portion of an exterior panel (21, 40, 61, 71) of the garment about the opening along a plurality of spaced bond points (50), and also joined to a marginal portion of an interior panel (20, 62, 72) or folded-over portion of the exterior panel (40a) along the opening, with the outer edges of the elastic element and panel portions joined thereto being substantially coincident. The elastic element is joined to the panel portions in an elongated condition and thereafter allowed to retract to produce micro-buckling (51) of the exterior panel between the bond points.

Abstract: A garment, such as an incontinence control garment, having an opening to accommodate a part of the wearer's body, such as a leg opening, includes one or more gusset folds at the opening and having at least a portion of the faces of the gusset fold, e.g., the lateral edges thereof, manually disengagably bonded to one another, whereby the opening may be increased in size by manual disengagement of the bonded outer lateral edges. For example, a disposable panty-type garment having leg openings which are manually adjustable in size is provided, each featuring the disengagably bonded gusset fold structure described above. Also disclosed is a method for making garments such as panty-type garments, by the steps which may include cutting articles from a web of material, longitudinally folding the sheet to form a garment having closed leg openings, and folding the material at the opening to form gusset folds thereat which may be selectively opened to provide larger sized openings.