Abstract: An absorbent article includes attachment panels extending transversely outward from the absorbent assembly in one waist region and mechanical fastening components in an opposite waist region. The attachment panels cover the side hips of the wearer and define inner attachment surfaces that are adapted to refastenably engage the fastening components to maintain the absorbent article in a pant configuration.

Abstract: A prefastened absorbent garment is manufactured with its longitudinal axis in the machine direction. A web of garment chassis material extending in the machine direction is overlaid with a side panel web. The side panel web is attached at opposite width borders of the chassis web and has one or more complementary fasteners opposing each other in the longitudinal axis direction of the garment chassis web. The garment can be folded to place the complementary fasteners in releasable engagement and individuated from the combined chassis and side panel webs.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article such as a training pant includes wetness indicating graphics that provide an interactive training aid. The interactive graphics can include a permanent character graphic and one or more active object graphics, which “appear” or “disappear” from view in response to exposure to urine or the environment. The interactive graphics can also include a story line in which the permanent character graphic is illustrated performing an activity involving the active object graphic. The wetness indicating feature and the graphic story line allow the caregiver to interact with the child in an educational and motivational manner to enhance the toilet training process.

Abstract: A garment-like absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis that defines a waist opening and first and second leg openings. A longitudinal length of the chassis is optimized in a linear relationship with the waist circumference of the chassis, the circumference measured at 500 grams tension. With respect to the linear relationship, the thickness of the garment is substantially constant along the same line defined by the length and the circumference, and decreases as the y-intercept increases.

Abstract: A pant-like absorbent garment having a swellable absorbent core positioned between an outer cover and a body side liner at least partially bonded to the outer cover. The swellable absorbent core is swellable to a final thickness (tf) which is at least three times an initial thickness (ti) of the swellable absorbent core; tf≧3ti. The significant swelling renders the garment suitable for use as a toilet training aid.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article such as a training pant includes a liquid soluble wetness indicator and one or more, masking techniques for minimizing the likelihood of smudges appearing after activation. The techniques include masking graphics and peripherally disposed adhesive patterns.

Abstract: A method of concurrently providing a series of types of pant-like garments and corresponding information to consumers. The series includes two or more pant-like garments, each of the garments corresponding to a stage of toilet training. Each of the garments in the series may differ from one another in terms of absorbent capacity, size, and/or features. The information provided to the consumer helps the consumer discern which garment from the series is most appropriate for a child in a specific stage of the toilet training process.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a thin, flexible absorbent pad that can accommodate one or two insults with a low probability of leakage. The absorbent article can be less than about 5 millimeters thick, with the absorbent pad being less than about 3 millimeters thick. The absorbent article has a low absorbent capacity of, for example, less than three times an anticipated single insult volume, or less than twice an anticipated single insult volume. The absorbent article is particularly suitable for use as a toilet training aid.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent pant having fluid handling characteristics useful for encouraging toilet training. The pant has a limited absorbent capacity of between about 30 grams and about 400 grams, which contributes to a slow fluid intake, pooled fluid, and delayed fluid lock-up in the absorbent pad. The pant also has considerable fluid distribution, resulting in a large area of wetness. Each of these fluid handling characteristics provides awareness to a wearer of the filled status of the pant.

Abstract: A method of providing a series of types of pant-like garments and corresponding information to consumers. The series includes two or more pant-like garments, each of the garments corresponding to a stage of toilet training. Each of the garments in the series may differ from one another in terms of absorbent capacity, size, and/or features. The information provided to the consumer helps the consumer discern which garment from the series is most appropriate for a child in a specific stage of the toilet training process.

Abstract: A method of making an undergarment having refastenable side seams (12, 14). The method includes a step of preconditioning a substantially two-dimension web (57) to include at least four refastening surfaces (82-85). The refastenable side seams (12, 14) can be incorporated into undergarments formed from a continuous web (57) in which the pre-forms (21) (that will ultimately result in individual undergarments) are oriented in either the machine direction or the cross-direction. The web (57) can be preconditioned to include refastening surfaces (82-85) on both of what becomes the exterior surface (30) and the body-contacting surface (28) of the undergarments.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has an absorbent chassis and a fastening system. The fastening system includes a pair of first fastening components disposed in one waist region and at least one second fastening component disposed in an opposite waist region. The first fastening components include at least one hinge area that transversely bisects the first fastening components, allowing the fasteners to bend in conformity with the movements of the wearer's body.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a fastening system that can be repeatedly fastened, unfastened and refastened. The fastening components have interior corners near the leg openings and disposed toward the longitudinal and transverse center of the absorbent article that are recessed to avoid possible irritation of the wearer's skin.

Abstract: A prefastened disposable absorbent article includes child resistant refastenable seams. The absorbent article includes mechanical fastening components and mating mechanical fastening components such that the opposite waist regions can be overlapped and refastenably engaged to form refastenable mechanical seams. The overlapping waist region forms overlapping flaps outward from the refastenable mechanical seams. To inhibit child access to the refastenable seams, the overlapping flaps are adhesively bonded to the opposite waist region.

Abstract: A pant-like absorbent garment adapted to easy application and removal has refastenable side seams. The refastenable side seams extend from a waist opening to each of two leg openings between a front panel and a back panel. Each of the refastenable side seams includes a fastening component and a mating fastening component, each of which comprises either a hook material or a loop material. A portion of the mating fastening component can be die-cut in a sinusoidal or other nesting shape. The resulting refastenable seams can be lap seams, dual fastened lap seams, standing butt seams, or dual fastened standing butt seams.

Abstract: A method of producing refastenable side seams in an absorbent garment results in an absorbent garment that is adapted to easy application and removal. The refastenable side seams can be produced in either a cross direction, wherein the width of the product is the machine direction, or a machine direction wherein the length of the product is the machine direction. Each of the refastenable side seams includes a lap side seam, which puts the seams under shear strain, as opposed to peel forces. The resulting garment can be opened and closed on either a left side or a right side of the garment.

Abstract: A process for making a prefastened and refastenable pant includes providing a plurality of discrete articles having side panels and waist regions including an activatable retractive material. The side panels can be folded parallel to a longitudinal centerline to overlap at least portions of first and second fastening components. The fastening components are then engaged to form a prefastened and refastenable pant. The retractive material can be activated subsequent to engagement of the fastening components, or subsequent to obtaining position control of the side panels, to provide the pant with a waistband-to-hip circumference ratio of about 95 percent or less. The prefastened and refastenable pant and apparatus for its manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing refastenable side seams in an absorbent garment results in an absorbent garment that is adapted to easy application and removal. The refastenable side seams can be produced in either a cross direction or a machine direction. Each of the refastenable side seams is a dual side seam that includes a standing butt seam formed between a front lap seam and a back lap seam. The resulting garment can be opened and closed on either a front side of the garment or a back side of the garment.

Abstract: A prefastened absorbent garment is manufactured with its longitudinal axis in the machine direction. A web of garment chassis material extending in the machine direction is overlaid with a side panel web. The side panel web is attached at opposite width borders of the chassis web and has one or more complementary fasteners opposing each other in the longitudinal axis direction of the garment chassis web. The garment can be folded to place the complementary fasteners in releasable engagement and individuated from the combined chassis and side panel webs.

Abstract: A prefastened absorbent garment is manufactured with its longitudinal axis in the cross machine direction. A web of garment chassis material extending in the machine direction is overlaid within the garment chassis borders. The side panel webs are attached to the chassis web and have hook and loop fasteners thereon. The garment can be individuated from the combined chassis and side panel webs.