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 method for increasing the bond strength of ultrasonic bonds in elastomeric materials comprising elongating the elastomeric materials prior to ultrasonically bonding the materials.

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 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 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 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: A disposable absorbent garment includes a front body panel having a first bodyside surface, a first garment side surface, a pair of opposite first side edges, a first waist edge and a first crotch edge defining a first lobe having a first profile in plan view that extends outwardly relative to the first waist edge. The first lobe has a first maximum rise along a first direction at substantially a centerline of the front body panel. The opposite first side edges are spaced along a second direction, with the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A rear body panel has a second bodyside surface, a second garment side surface, a pair of opposite second side edges, a second waist edge and a second crotch edge defining a second lobe having a second profile in plan view that extends outwardly relative to the second waist edge. The second lobe has a second maximum rise along the first direction at substantially a centerline of the rear body panel.

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 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: The present invention provides a garment article which includes a body of gatherable material, and a heat sensitive, thermally-elasticizable ribbon material which is secured to the gatherable material with a hot melt adhesive. The hot melt adhesive is disposed on a surface of the thermally-elasticizable ribbon to provide a heat recoverable, elastomeric tape. The tape is adhesively secured to the garment by the hot melt adhesive, and is activated by an application of heat to shrink and shir the gatherable material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article which includes a body of material, and a heat sensitive material which is secured to the body of material with a hot melt adhesive. The hot melt adhesive is disposed on a surface of the thermally-elasticizable material to provide a heat recoverable, elastomeric tape. The tape can be adhesively secured to a selected body with the hot melt adhesive, and can then be activated by an application of heat to shrink and render the tape elastic.

Abstract: A heating apparatus at the end of a diaper production line composed of a series of radiant energy sources. These radiant energy sources are controlled so as to emit differing concentrations of radiant energy. The sources are controlled so as to emit radiant energy more absorbent by diaper polymer backing sheets in the first section of the heater and more absorbent by heat-shrinkable diaper elastics in the downstream portion of the heater. Further, the temperature of the heaters is preferably controlled to the desired infrared range by blowing hot air past the heaters and onto the diapers so as to provide conductive transfer and at the same time control the infrared radiant energy that is provided by the heaters.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying a hot melt adhesive to a web of heat sensitive material in which the adhesive is heated and extruded in a continuous flat bead having a substantially rectangular cross-section onto a rotating chill roll, cooled, contacted by a web of heat sensitive material and thereafter pressed together so that the adhesive conforms to the web material and bonds thereto, and the bonded adhesive and web stripped from the chill roll.

Abstract: An apparatus including a revolving roll for applying to a sheet of a first material continuously moving in a first direction at least one discrete length of a second material with the length of the discrete length at an angle to the first direction. The discrete length is cut from a continuous ribbon on the revolving roll, rotated by the revolving roll to a desired orientation and transferred from the revolving roll to the sheet. The apparatus includes the revolving roll, at least one rotatable platen on, and revolvable with the revolvable roll, a feeding apparatus for feeding the continuous ribbon to circumferential engagement with the revolving roll, a cutting roll and an applicator roll revolving in synchronizm with the revolving roll. The cutting roll has at least one cutting blade which cuts the ribbon at a cutting surface or anvil on the rotatable platen.