Abstract: A flexible package having a recyclable closure is disclosed along with a method of configuring the package for recycling. The flexible package includes a front surface, a back surface, an open first end, a closed second end, and a pair of sides joining the open first end to the closed second end to form an enclosure. A closing seal is formed to close the open first end after the enclosure has been filled with a product. The flexible package also has a recyclable closure spaced apart from the closing seal. The recyclable closure has a first end and a second end. The first end is secured to one of the front or back surfaces, whereby once the product has been removed from the enclosure, the flexible package is configured into a 3-dimensional shape. The recyclable closure is then used to retain the flexible package in the 3-dimensional shape.

Abstract: A flexible package having a recyclable closure is disclosed along with a method of configuring the package for recycling. The flexible package includes a front surface, a back surface, an open first end, a closed second end, and a pair of sides joining the open first end to the closed second end to form an enclosure. A closing seal is formed to close the open first end after the enclosure has been filled with a product. The flexible package also has a recyclable closure spaced apart from the closing seal. The recyclable closure has a first end and a second end. The first end is secured to one of the front or back surfaces, whereby once the product has been removed from the enclosure, the flexible package is configured into a 3-dimensional shape. The recyclable closure is then used to retain the flexible package in the 3-dimensional shape.

Abstract: A folded absorbent article is provided. The folded absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly having a liquid permeable inner layer, an outer layer, and an absorbent body between the inner and outer layers. The folded absorbent article further includes a pair of ears extending outward from absorbent assembly in the back waist region, with each ear including a loop fastening component, and a pair of spaced-apart hook fastening components on the outer layer in the front waist region. A pair of longitudinally extending foldlines are also provided in the front waist region. An outboard-most longitudinal edge of each of the hook fastening components is spaced apart from a respective side of the absorbent assembly, and an inboard-most longitudinal edge is spaced apart from a respective longitudinally extending foldline at least a distance equal to a predetermined process range.

Abstract: A folded absorbent article is provided. The folded absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly having a liquid permeable inner layer, an outer layer, and an absorbent body between the inner and outer layers. The folded absorbent article further includes a pair of ears extending outward from absorbent assembly in the back waist region, with each ear including a loop fastening component, and a pair of spaced-apart hook fastening components on the outer layer in the front waist region. A pair of longitudinally extending foldlines are also provided in the front waist region. An outboard-most longitudinal edge of each of the hook fastening components is spaced apart from a respective side of the absorbent assembly, and an inboard-most longitudinal edge is spaced apart from a respective longitudinally extending foldline at least a distance equal to a predetermined process range.

Abstract: Absorbent articles having form fitting properties are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles include at least one waist elastic member that extends a substantial distance in the longitudinal direction. The waist elastic member, for instance, may be positioned in a front region of the article, in a back region of the article or in both the front and back regions. The waist elastic member includes a breathable elastic film. In order for the film to be breathable, the film includes apertures. The apertures appear on the film according to a particular pattern and having a particular diameter so that the film retains desired stretch properties.

Abstract: An absorbent garment includes an extensible backsheet having opposite side regions, a liquid permeable topsheet having opposite side portions, and a retention portion having opposite side edges and an inner surface defining an area. The retention portion is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet with the inner surface facing the topsheet and with the opposite side portions of the backsheet and the topsheet extending beyond the side edges of the retention portion. The opposite side portions of the topsheet are attached to the opposite side portions of the backsheet on opposite sides of the retention portion. Less than 30% of the area of the inner surface of the retention portion is attached to the topsheet. A method for absorbing bodily exudates with an absorbent garment is also provided.

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 bridges the gap between the front and rear body panels with 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. In another embodiment, the absorbent composite is further connected to the front and rear body panels at first and second attachment locations proximate a longitudinally extending centerline of the absorbent composite and longitudinally spaced from the first and second terminal edges. Methods of using the absorbent garments are also provided.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has a stretchable multilayer chassis having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The chassis is stretchable at least laterally. An absorbent body has an inner surface, an outer surface facing the inner surface of the chassis, and terminal edges. The absorbent body is affixed along at least a portion of its outer surface to the inner surface of the chassis whereby the inner surface of the absorbent body lies against a wearer of the article during use. The inner surface of the absorbent body is uncovered at the terminal edges thereof to permit contact of the absorbent body with the wearer of the article at the terminal edges of the absorbent body. The absorbent body is sized relative to the chassis such that a portion of the chassis is uncovered by the absorbent body to permit contact of the inner surface of the chassis with the wearer of the article. The chassis is stretchable about the wearer independent of the absorbent body.

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: Disclosed is an absorbent article useful for the following purposes without limitation: as a bed pad, a baby changing pad, a bib, a table cloth, or a painter's drop cloth. The absorbent article includes a vapor-permeable liquid-impermeable bottomsheet having an interior surface and an exterior surface, an absorbent structure positioned adjacent the interior surface, and a non-adhesive skid-resistant coating applied to the exterior surface such that the bottomsheet remains vapor-permeable after application of the coating. The non-adhesive skid resistant coating improves the ability of the absorbent article to remain in position without leaving residue on surfaces while leaving the absorbent article breathable.

Abstract: A package enclosing a single disposable absorbent article. The single disposable absorbent article is in a compact configuration and situated within the package.

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: An absorbent garment includes an extensible backsheet having opposite side regions, a liquid permeable topsheet having opposite side portions, and a retention portion having opposite side edges and an inner surface defining an area. The retention portion is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet with the inner surface facing the topsheet and with the opposite side portions of the backsheet and the topsheet extending beyond the side edges of the retention portion. The opposite side portions of the topsheet are attached to the opposite side portions of the backsheet on opposite sides of the retention portion. Less than 30% of the area of the inner surface of the retention portion is attached to the topsheet. A method for absorbing bodily exudates with an absorbent garment is also provided.

Abstract: An absorbent garment comprising a longitudinally extending and laterally expandable absorbent composite having opposite ends and opposite side regions. The absorbent composite comprises a backsheet, a topsheet and a retention portion disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. In one preferred embodiment, the backsheet and retention portion each comprise at least one fold formed along at least one of the opposite side regions, with the folds being interfolded. A pair of front body panels are attached to the opposite side regions of the absorbent composite adjacent one of the opposite ends of said absorbent composite and a pair of rear body panels are attached to the opposite side regions adjacent the other of the opposite ends of the absorbent composite. In a preferred embodiment, the front and rear body panels are joined to form a pair of side body panels. A method for using the absorbent garment also is provided, together with a method for assembling the absorbent garment.

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 an extensible backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, a retention portion, and an outer surface. The retention portion is between the topsheet and the backsheet with the outer surface facing the backsheet and with the opposite side portions of the backsheet and the topsheet extending beyond the side edges of the retention portion. The opposite side portions of the topsheet are attached to the opposite side portions of the backsheet on opposite sides of the retention portion. Less than 30% of the area of the outer surface of the retention portion is attached to the backsheet. In one embodiment, the retention portion is freefloating between the backsheet and topsheet. In one embodiment, the topsheet is extensible. In another embodiment, less than 30% of an inner surface of the retention portion is attached to the topsheet. In another embodiment, the retention portion includes at least one fold.

Abstract: An absorbent article has an anterior region, a posterior region and a central region interconnecting the anterior and posterior regions and extending longitudinally therebetween. An elastic component extends generally continuously along a path from the anterior region of the article through the central region to the posterior region thereof. The elastic component has an elastic tension which is substantially non-uniform along the path defined by the elastic component. In one method for making such an absorbent article, an elastic component is initially secured to the article along the path and defines a width thereof. At least a portion of the elastic component is then removed from the article to narrow the width of the path defined by the elastic component along at least a segment of the path to thereby provide an elastic tension gradient along the length of the path.

Abstract: A shoe or foot covering with slip-resistant properties is disclosed. In particular, the foot covering includes slip-resistant portions made from a polymeric material that are preferably applied to the bottom surface of the foot covering. The polymeric material contains a metallocene catalyzed branch copolymer which has rubber-like properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable absorbent article comprising a stretchable multilayer chassis that defines an inner surface and an outer surface, an absorbent body having an inner surface and an outer surface wherein the stretchable multilayer chassis is stretchable in at least the cross-machine direction, and the absorbent body is affixed to the inner surface of the multilayer stretchable chassis such that in use, the inner surface of the absorbent body lies against the wearer and the stretchable multilayer chassis stretches about the wearer independently in at least the cross-machine direction.