Abstract: A pull-activated applicator includes a barrel, a pledget, a finger grip, and a deployment element. The pledget includes a withdrawal string and is located within the barrel. The barrel, the pledget, and the deployment element are configured such that application of a force to the deployment element in a first direction deploys the pledget and withdrawal string from the barrel in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A pull-activated applicator includes a barrel, a pledget, a finger grip, and a deployment element. The pledget includes a withdrawal string and is located within the barrel. The barrel, the pledget, and the deployment element are configured such that application of a force to the deployment element in a first direction deploys the pledget and withdrawal string from the barrel in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A pull-activated applicator includes a barrel, a pledget, a finger grip, and a deployment element. The pledget includes a withdrawal string and is located within the barrel. The barrel, the pledget, and the deployment element are configured such that application of a force to the deployment element in a first direction deploys the pledget and withdrawal string from the barrel in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing personal care absorbent articles. Such personal care absorbent article includes a fastening area in the front portion for receiving fastener material thereon. First and second fault lines are formed on opposing sides of the fastening area leaving uncut web portions at the fault lines during selected manufacturing operations, thus to support machine direction stresses on the front portion web, and subsequently trimming away such uncut web portions of the fault lines. Fastener material is applied over the first and second fault lines, thus bridging the fault lines. The fastener material is releasably secured to the fastening area, non-releasably secured to the front portion outwardly of the respective fault lines, and unsecured to the front portion between the fastening area and the fault lines thus to support a re-fastening feature of such personal care absorbent articles.

Abstract: A pull-activated applicator includes a barrel, a pledget, a finger grip, and a deployment element. The pledget includes a withdrawal string and is located within the barrel. The barrel, the pledget, and the deployment element are configured such that application of a force to the deployment element in a first direction deploys the pledget and withdrawal string from the barrel in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A package containing vaginal-health products comprises a first vaginal-health product comprising a first applicator. The first applicator comprises a first barrel portion, a first plunger portion, and a first pledget at least partly contained in the first barrel portion, where the first barrel portion has a first barrel color. The package also contains a second vaginal-health product comprising a second applicator. The second applicator comprises a second barrel portion, a second plunger portion, and a second pledget at least partly contained in the second barrel portion, where the second barrel portion comprises a second barrel color. In addition, the first barrel color is different from the second barrel color, and the first pledget is the same as the second pledget.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing personal care absorbent articles. Such personal care absorbent article includes a fastening area in the front portion for receiving fastener material thereon. First and second fault lines are formed on opposing sides of the fastening area leaving uncut web portions at the fault lines during selected manufacturing operations, thus to support machine direction stresses on the front portion web, and subsequently trimming away such uncut web portions of the fault lines. Fastener material is applied over the first and second fault lines, thus bridging the fault lines. The fastener material is releasable secured to the fastening area, non-releasable secured to the front portion outwardly of the respective fault lines, and unsecured to the front portion between the fastening area and the fault lines thus to support a re-fastening feature of such personal care absorbent articles.

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: The invention comprises methods and apparatus of changing from manufacture of pant-type refastenable articles of a first size to manufacture of articles of a second different size in a process for manufacturing pant-type refastenable personal care articles. A respective such personal care article has a front portion, rear portion, and crotch portion. The personal care article also has a fastener-receptive area at the front portion for receiving fasteners thereon, first and second fasteners on opposing sides of the fastener-receptive area, and first and second lines of weakness on opposing sides of the fastener-receptive area and between the fastener-receptive area and the respective first and second fasteners. The method comprises changing spacing between the fastener-receptive area and at least one of the first and second fasteners while maintaining the first and second lines of weakness between the fastener-receptive area and the respective first and second fasteners.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment has a front region, a back region, and a central region, each region having a length along a longitudinal axis of one third of the length of the absorbent garment. An absorbent pad positioned within the regions has a length of absorbent pad in the back region divided by a length of absorbent pad in the front region and central region less than 0.10, and the length in the front region is greater than the length in the back region.

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: An absorbent article includes a garment having opposite waist regions separated by a crotch region. At least one of the waist regions includes an expansion panel adapted to elongate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the garment. The absorbent article also includes a pair of elastomeric strap members that are adapted to attach to the waist regions.

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: An absorbent article is disclosed having a refastenable mechanism. The absorbent article has a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The back portion has a first end, a second end and first and second side edges. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section is extendable in at least one direction and has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. The second section has a length L3 measured perpendicularly from the second end of the back portion to the line drawn parallel to the first end whereby a ratio L2/L3 is established which ranges from between about 0.1 to about 2. First and second fasteners are positioned and secured adjacent to one of the first and second side edges of the back portion and are secured thereto.

Abstract: A personal care article comprising a front portion, first and second lateral sections having inner edges releasably fastened to the front portion and first and second outer portions attached to the front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion between the front portion and the back portion, Outer edges of the first and second lateral sections are secured to third and fourth side edges of the back portion to form a pant-like article having a waist opening, and first and second leg openings. Strength of the attachment of the outer portions of the lateral sections to the front portion is less than strength of securement of the outer edges of the lateral sections to the back portion, whereby the attachments of the outer portions of the lateral sections to the front portion can be separated from the front portion without separating securement of the first and second lateral sections from the side edges of the back portion.

Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed having a refastenable mechanism. The absorbent article has a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a first end, a second end, a first side edge and a second side edge. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the front portion and each of the first and second lateral sections has an outer edge. The back portion has first and second side edges and first and second ends. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. The second section has a length L3 measured perpendicularly from the second end of the back portion to the line drawn parallel to the first end whereby a ratio L2/L3 is established which ranges from between about 0.1 to about 2.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion joins the front portion to the back portion. The back portion has a first end and a second end. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section is extendable in a transverse direction and has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. The second section has a length L3 measured perpendicularly from the second end of the back portion to the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second section has a first side edge, a second side edge, a first area A1 and a second area A2. The first area A1 represents an area bounded by the first and second side edges, the second end, and the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second area A2 represents an area bounded by first and second lines, the second end, and the line drawn parallel to the first end.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion joins the front portion to the back portion. The back portion has a first end and a second end. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section is extendable in a transverse direction and has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. The second section has a length L3 measured perpendicularly from the second end of the back portion to the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second section has a first side edge, a second side edge, a first area A1 and a second area A2. The first area A, represents an area bounded by the first and second side edges, the second end, and the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second area A2 represents an area bounded by first and second lines, the second end, and the line drawn parallel to the first end.

Abstract: A refastenable disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a central section including first and second side edges. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the central section and each lateral section has an outward edge. The front portion also has a first end and a second end. The back portion has first and second side edges and first and second ends. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. Multiple elastic strands extend transversely across the first section from the first side edge to the second side edge.

Abstract: A refastenable absorbent article is disclosed having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a first end, a second end, and a central section including first and second side edges. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the central section and each lateral section has an outer edge. The front portion also has a first end and a second end. The back portion has a first end, a second end and first and second side edges. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L2 measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. The second section also has a length L3 measured perpendicularly from the second end to the line drawn parallel to the first end. The second section has a first side edge and a second side edge and a first area A1 and a second area A2.