Abstract: Personal care articles are provided having odor control patches thereon. The patches include a cavity that house one or more fragrant materials or odor absorbing materials. A portion of the patch is detachable in order to expose and release the odor control materials contained therein. The patches can be removably-attached to the personal care article thereby allowing the patch to be affixed to the personal care articles at the time of manufacture or by the consumer just prior to use. The personal care articles are provided with an air-permeable pocket to house the patch and cover odor absorbing materials when the cavity is exposed.

Abstract: A method for providing a system of absorbent articles including offering a chassis primarily performing a base function, wherein the chassis is an absorbent article; and offering first and second enhancement products, wherein the chassis and the first and second enhancement products are adapted such that the first and second enhancement products may be coupled to the chassis. Further, a method for educating a consumer with regard to various conditions requiring an absorbent article including providing first and second packages, each including a description of a condition and an enhancement product adapted to address the conditions; allowing the consumer to learn about the conditions and what may be used to address the conditions; and providing a third package including a chassis and description of a base condition, such that the chassis may be combined with the first and/or second enhancement products.

Abstract: Prefastened absorbent articles (20) may include a singular fastening mechanism that includes an oversized fastener (60), to provide stability between the front waist region and the back waist region and to maintain the prefastened configuration. The prefastened absorbent articles can include a multiple property fastener (60) that has at least one engagement zone (65) and at least one non-abrasive zone (67).

Abstract: The present invention relates to shape deformable materials, which are capable of (1) being deformed, (2) storing an amount of shape deformation, and (3) recovering at least a portion of the shape deformation when exposed to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) energy. The shape deformable materials can advantageously be in the form of films, fibers, filaments, strands, nonwovens, and pre-molded elements. The shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to form products, which are both disposable and reusable. More specifically, the shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to produce products such as disposable diapers, training pants, incontinence products, and feminine care products.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body located between the bodyside liner and the outer cover. The absorbent body comprises at least one colorant. The colorant, when wetted with a liquid, becomes visible so as to identify the presence of the liquid. The colorant may also detect substances in the liquid. The colorant can detect small volumes of liquid and volumes of liquids deposited outside the target area.

Abstract: A form-fitting, pant-like, absorbent garment that does not result in bagging and wrinkling of the bodyside liner. The garment has a stretchable outer cover and a non-stretchable bodyside liner with a free-floating absorbent assembly located between the stretchable outer cover and the non-stretchable bodyside liner. A pair of highly stretchable side panels and/or at least one highly stretchable waist member are attached to the non-stretchable bodyside liner. The total transverse stretchability of the side panels is roughly equal to the transverse stretchability of the outer cover, thereby enabling the outer cover to stretch freely without inhibiting the non-stretchable bodyside liner. Alternatively, or additionally, the total longitudinal stretchability of the waist members is roughly equal to the longitudinal stretchability of the outer cover, thereby also enabling the outer cover to stretch freely without inhibiting the non-stretchable bodyside liner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of placing elasticized areas in a nonwoven web construction such as may be suitable for the waistbands or leg openings of disposable absorbent pant garments, cuffs on sleeves of medical garments, or the like. A web, or webs, of extendible nonwoven material which make up the substrate for the elasticized area are printed with an elastic adhesive in its fluid or semi-fluid and untensioned state to provide a tensioning force against distension of the web during wearing of the garment for conformable, well fitting, elasticized cuff areas and may further be used to reinforce biaxially extendible web components such as the backsheet web.

Abstract: A method for providing a system of absorbent articles including offering a chassis primarily performing a base function, wherein the chassis is an absorbent article; and offering first and second enhancement products, wherein the chassis and the first and second enhancement products are adapted such that the first and second enhancement products may be coupled to the chassis. Further, a method for educating a consumer with regard to various conditions requiring an absorbent article including providing first and second packages, each including a description of a condition and an enhancement product adapted to address the conditions; allowing the consumer to learn about the conditions and what may be used to address the conditions; and providing a third package including a chassis and description of a base condition, such that the chassis may be combined with the first and/or second enhancement products.

Abstract: Personal care articles are provided having odor control patches thereon. The patches include a cavity that house one or more fragrant materials or odor absorbing materials. A portion of the patch is detachable in order to expose and release the odor control materials contained therein. The patches can be removably-attached to the personal care article thereby allowing the patch to be affixed to the personal care articles at the time of manufacture or by the consumer just prior to use. The personal care articles are provided with an air-permeable pocket to house the patch and cover odor absorbing materials when the cavity is exposed.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a garment facing surface which includes a first zone of vapor permeability which defines a water vapor transmission rate of from about 100 to about 2500 g/sq.m/24 hr and a second zone of vapor permeability which defines a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 3000 g/sq.m/24 hr. The article may include a substantially liquid impermeable, vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid-permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet, an absorbent body located between the backsheet and topsheet, and a vapor permeable barrier layer located between the absorbent body and the backsheet. The barrier layer is smaller in size than the backsheet. In such a configuration, the first zone of vapor permeability comprises the portion of the backsheet which overlays the barrier layer and the second zone of vapor permeability comprises the portion of the backsheet which extends beyond the barrier layer.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a monitoring method and system for signaling a predetermined status in an article (20) having a monitored portion (22). The monitoring system includes an interrogator (30) which is located in an operative proximity to the article, and is configured to provide input energy with a predetermined input frequency. A status signaling device (24) is located at the monitored portion (22) of the article. The status signaling device includes a sensor (26) which can indicate a change of state that occurs when the monitored portion (22) of the article (20) changes from a first condition to a different, second condition. A passive transponder (28) is in an operative communication with the sensor (26). In a particular aspect of the invention, the transponder can be an electronic transponder.

Abstract: An electronic mapping method includes identifying a process to be completed, identifying tasks to be performed for completion of the process, and identifying required input items and output items of the process. The method further includes, in an electronic map, positioning task symbols in a standard task area of pages of the electronic map, each task symbol corresponding to a task to be performed and each task symbol being positioned below a previous task symbol on the same page to clarify process flow, associating remotely stored data with at least some of the task symbols, and in the electronic map, positioning input symbols to one side of the standard task area and positioning output symbols to another side of the standard task area to clarify process flow in the electronic map.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a distinctive article (20) having a monitored portion (22), and a status signaling device (24) for communicating a change in status of the monitored portion. The status signaling device includes a sensor (26) which can indicate a change of state that occurs when said monitored portion (22) of the article (20) changes from a first condition to a different, second condition. A passive electronic transponder (28) can be cooperatively connected with the sensor (26). The transponder (28) can be configured to receive electromagnetic input energy which has been provided to the transponder at a predetermined input frequency, and can be configured to respond with operative indicator data when the monitored portion (22) is in the second condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of placing elasticized areas in a nonwoven web construction such as may be suitable for the waistbands or leg openings of disposable absorbent pant garments, cuffs on sleeves of medical garments, or the like. A web, or webs, of extendible nonwoven material which make up the substrate for the elasticized area are printed with an elastic adhesive in its fluid or semi-fluid and untensioned state to provide a tensioning force against distension of the web during wearing of the garment for conformable, well fitting, elasticized cuff areas and may further be used to reinforce biaxially extendible web components such as the backsheet web.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided with a central region which is selectively stretchable in the longitudinal direction, and two end regions adjacent to the central region which are selectively stretchable in the lateral direction. When employed as a garment, such as a disposable diaper or pant-like absorbent garment, the central region provides selective longitudinal (front-to-back) stretching in the crotch area of the wearer, and the two end regions provide selective lateral (side-to-side) stretching in the front and back waist areas of the wearer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to shape deformable materials, which are capable of (1) being deformed, (2) storing an amount of shape deformation, and (3) recovering at least a portion of the shape deformation when exposed to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) energy. The shape deformable materials can advantageously be in the form of films, fibers, filaments, strands, nonwovens, and pre-molded elements. The shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to form products, which are both disposable and reusable. More specifically, the shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to produce products such as disposable diapers, training pants, incontinence products, and feminine care products.

Abstract: A stretchable nonwoven web, or laminate of a stretchable nonwoven web and an elastic sheet, is treated with a plurality of bond lines in one or more regions thereof to provide controlled stretching properties. In one embodiment, the nonwoven web or laminate has at least one first region having a plurality of bond lines in a direction parallel to the machine direction and at least one second region having a plurality of bond lines in a direction parallel to the cross-machine direction to provide controlled stretching in different directions in different regions of the web. The bond lines can be substantially continuous in length, or segmented. When segmented bond lines are employed, the length of the bond line segments and spacing between them can be varied to import variable stretch properties to the nonwoven web or laminate.

Abstract: The invention relates to prefastened absorbent articles (20) including one or more of several improvement features. The articles can be made to be prefastened by having a singular fastening mechanism that includes an oversized fastener (60). The articles of the invention can include a multiple property fastener (60) that has at least one engagement zone (65) and at least one non-abrasive zone (67).

Abstract: The present invention relates to shape deformable materials, which are capable of (1) being deformed, (2) storing an amount of shape deformation, and (3) recovering at least a portion of the shape deformation when exposed to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) energy. The shape deformable materials can advantageously be in the form of films, fibers, filaments, strands, nonwovens, and pre-molded elements. The shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to form products, which are both disposable and reusable. More specifically, the shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to produce products such as disposable diapers, training pants, incontinence products, and feminine care products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to shape deformable materials, which are capable of (1) being deformed, (2) storing an amount of shape deformation, and (3) recovering at least a portion of the shape deformation when exposed to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) energy. The shape deformable materials can advantageously be in the form of films, fibers, filaments, strands, nonwovens, and pre-molded elements. The shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to form products, which are both disposable and reusable. More specifically, the shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to produce products such as disposable diapers, training pants, incontinence products, and feminine care products.