Abstract: The invention relates to methods of fabricating an absorbent article. In one method of the invention, combination containment flaps and leg cuffs are formed on a common substrate. A plurality of elastomeric elements are included in the combination article to assist in forming containment flaps. Discrete leg cuff pieces are applied to the substrate at longitudinally spaced locations. In some embodiments, a cutting device slits the substrate substantially along a center line extending the length of the substrate, forming two continuous substrate portions. A glue gun applies adhesive to the substrate portion. The substrate portions are folded lengthwise, using the adhesive to form integral containment flaps and leg cuffs in a composite substrate. The composite substrate is secured to an absorbent article web sausage in forming absorbent articles. In another embodiment, the substrate is a first substrate which supports elastomeric elements used in forming leg cuffs and containment flaps.

Abstract: A disposable diaper including a panel structure composed of a base sheet and a core attached thereto and a sheet member extending above the panel structure. The panel structure has a pair of first side slaps extending in a longitudinal direction and a pair of end flaps extending in a transverse direction. The sheet member includes a pair of side walls biased to rise above the panel structure and a top wall biased to be spaced upward from the panel structure. The side walls have side edge portions bonded to the vicinity of transversely opposite side edges of the core and first end portions bonded to the end flaps. The top wall has an opening defined between the side walls, second end portions bonded to the end flaps and second side flaps extending outside the top edges of the respective side walls in parallel to the first side flaps. Transversely opposite side edge portion of these flaps overlapping each other in the front and rear waist regions are bonded to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sanitary absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin that has the ability to protect the undergarment of the wearer from being soiled by menstrual liquid. The sanitary napkin has a main body with panels that originate from its longitudinal side edges. A distal end of each panel that is continuous with the respective longitudinal side edge is folded underneath and affixed to the barrier later of the main body to form a looping member and a freely extending flap. As a result the effective affixation point of each flap is located inwardly of the respective side edge of the main body.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article including a liquid-pervious top sheet to be in contact with the skin of a wearer, a back sheet, and an absorbent core sandwiched between the top sheet and the back sheet. A layer of silicone compound is formed on the surface of one of a side sheet provided on each side of the absorbent core, and a side portion of the back sheet extending outwardly from each side of the absorbent core.

Abstract: Disclosed in an absorbent article including a main body and leakage preventing walls. The leakage preventing walls extend longitudinally and lie opposite one another transversely. Each wall is formed of a nonwoven fabric having corrugations, the crests and valleys of which alternate with each other in the longitudinal direction. The nonwoven fabric is provided with an elastic member extending in the longitudinal direction for exhibiting longitudinal shrinking force. The elastic member is adhered to the valleys of the corrugations of the nonwoven fabric with an adhesive. The adhesive is applied to the surface of the elastic member in a band or linear shape continuous in the axial direction of the elastic member and appears regularly or at random at an interval on an arbitrary line which is set on the surface of the elastic member to extend parallel to the axial direction.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, having flaps and at least one fold or pleat in the sanitary napkin is disclosed. A sanitary napkin having a longitudinally oriented barrier along each of the flaps is also disclosed. In several embodiments, the flaps are formed by an extension of the topsheet and backsheet of the sanitary napkin. In at least one embodiment, the flaps are joined to the garment-facing side of the sanitary napkin between the longitudinal side edge of the main body portion and the longitudinal side edge of the absorbent core of the sanitary napkin. In other embodiments, the flaps may have a portion that is folded inwardly under the garment-facing side of the sanitary napkin and joined to another portion of the same flap. In some embodiments, the flaps have a pleat therein which includes at least one generally longitudinally-oriented fold line, and the pleat is restrained from unfolding.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front part, a rear part and an intermediate crotch part and also an absorbent body enclosed between the outer liquid-impermeable casing sheet and an inner liquid-permeable casing sheet, and longitudinal flaps located on respective sides of the longitudinal symmetry axis of the article and that extend transversely in towards the axis, and further including longitudinal elastic elements which extend along those edges of the flaps that face toward the longitudinal symmetry axis. The absorbent body is divided into a central part and two side parts at least in the crotch part by folding indications which are located on respective sides of the longitudinal symmetry axis in front and rear sections and which diverge relative to one another up to the side edges of the absorbent body.

Abstract: An absorbent pad having elasticized side flaps is adapted to provide improved leakage performance and comfort. In one embodiment, the elastic member of each side flap is at least partly out of the plane of the absorbent assembly when the absorbent pad is in a generally flat position, and the absorbent pad has a Gurley stiffness of greater than 2000 milligrams. In another embodiment, the absorbent pad has an anti-roll back feature and an Effective Elastic Value of at least 30 millimeters.

Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided with a pair of side flaps lying transversely outside the associated side edge of an absorbent core, and the side flaps is formed by a first side sheet connected to the associated side edge portion of a topsheet lying in the vicinity of the associated side edge of the core and extending longitudinally of the diaper and a second side sheet connected to the associated side edge portion of the topsheet and the associated side edge portion of a backsheet both lying in the vicinity of the associated side edge of the core wherein both the first and second side sheets have a water pressure resistance of 100˜1500 mm and a breathing resistance of 0.03˜0.8 Kpa·s/m.

Abstract: A pants-type disposable diaper includes a pants-type outer cover and an absorbent pad attached on an inner surface of the outer cover, the outer cover having first elastic members which circumferentially extend in the vicinity of a waist-opening of the outer cover and second elastic members which circumferentially extend in the vicinity of the uppermost points of a pair of leg-opening of the outer cover, the pad having an elongate pad body provided with a pair of barrier cuffs, the barrier cuffs having third elastic member at distal edges of the barrier cuff and fourth elastic members between the distal edges and proximal edges of the barrier cuffs, the fourth elastic member intersecting the second elastic members in front and rear waist regions of the outer cover.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a pair of side flaps along transversely opposite side edges of the article. Each of the side flaps is formed on its upper surface with a plurality of pleats that extends longitudinally of the side flap. Each of the pleats includes an elastically stretchable/contractile member that extends along its distal edge so as to operate longitudinally of the pleat.

Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a main body; and leakage preventing side walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body and lying opposite one another in the widthwise direction of the main body. Each leakage preventing side wall has a raised portion which is joined at a root end onto a liquid-receiving side surface of the main body and raised therefrom to have a free end positioned apart from the liquid-receiving side surface. Each leakage preventing side wall is provided with a first elastically shrinking member for applying an elastic shrinking force along a shrinking action line approaching the free end from the root end as it extends from the two longitudinal end positions of the raised portion of the leakage preventing side wall toward the longitudinally midway position of the leakage preventing side wall.

Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a main body of a support sheet, a liquid absorbing layer and a liquid-permeable sheet; and leakage preventing side walls provided on two sides of the main body and extending in the longitudinal direction, to have root ends jointed to the surface of the liquid receiving side and to have free ends positioned apart from the surface of the liquid receiving side. Each leakage preventing side wall is formed of at least one side wall sheet to have an inner sheet portion facing the widthwise inner side of the absorbent article and an outer sheet portion facing the widthwise outer side of the absorbent article. The inner sheet portion are provided with holes leading to the inside of the inner and outer sheet portions.

Abstract: There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a main body; and leakage preventing side walls provided on two- sides of the main body to have root ends jointed to the surface of the liquid receiving side and to have free ends positioned apart therefrom. Each leakage preventing side wall includes: a nonwoven fabric of thermoplastic fibers; and an elastic member for exhibiting an elastic shrinking force in the longitudinal direction. The nonwoven fabric is provided with: at least two rigid regions having corrugations, ridges and valleys of which are individually extended in a direction from the root end to the free end and are repeated regularly in the longitudinal direction; and a rigid boundary portion in which the corrugations are discontinuous and which is extended in the longitudinal direction midway between the root end and the free end.

Abstract: Provided is a sanitary panty including a front part, a back part, a crotch part positioned between the front part and the back part, and a waist portion formed by upper end portions of the front part and the back part. A pair of leg openings are formed below joining portions between side edges of the front part and side edges of the back part. A suspending member is formed with a stretchable material and extended from the front part, the crotch part and the back part. The suspending member is gradually reduced a width from the waist portion to the crotch part in the back part. An extension cloth extends from both sides of the suspending member to the leg openings at least in the crotch part.

Abstract: A disposable diaper including a topsheet, a backsheet and a core disposed therebetween, adjacent transversely opposite side edges and longitudinally of the diaper, there being formed a pair of outer side barrier cuff and a pair of inner side barrier cuffs lying more inwardly of the outer side barrier cuffs. Each of the outer side barrier cuffs has its longitudinally opposite ends covered with a pair of end barrier flaps placed adjacent longitudinally opposite ends of the diaper so as to form a front pocket and a rear pocket, respectively. A longitudinal dimension of the inner side barrier cuff is shorter than that of the outer side barrier cuff.

Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided on its inner side with an opening extending across a crotch region into a rear waist region over a predetermined area of a core and being normally biased to protrude from the inner surface of the diaper. The opening comprises a pair of cushioning pad members spaced apart from each other and a pair of liquid-resistant side flaps spaced apart from each other transversely of the diaper and extending longitudinally of the diaper.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a diaper, containing cuffs with a skin care composition disposed thereon. The skin care composition disposed on the cuffs is transferable to the wearers skin by normal contact and/or wearer motion and/or body heat. The cuffs are at least partially assembled using an oil resistant adhesive that is both material friendly and process friendly.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent structure therebetween. The backsheet defines a liquid barrier zone on both sides of the absorbent structure, and a pair of liquid impermeable containment flaps overlie the liquid barrier zones. Leg elastic members are disposed along the side edges of the backsheet, and flap elastic members are disposed in the liquid impermeable containment flaps. A liquid barrier is in each liquid barrier zone, and extends between the front edge and back edge of the liquid impermeable backsheet. Each liquid barrier is desirably between a respective leg elastic member and flap elastic member.

Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a topsheet, a backsheet and a core disposed therebetween to define a front waist region, a rear waist region and a crotch region extending therebetween, a first elastic member extending longitudinally of the diaper across a middle zone of the core between the front and rear waist regions is disposed between the backsheet and the core and secured to the backsheet and second elastic members extending longitudinally of the diaper across the transversely opposite side zones of the core, respectively, between the front and rear waist regions are disposed between the backsheet and the core and bonded to the backsheet.

Abstract: A protective undergarment having an outer shell of fluid resistant material and a fluid containment sling of fluid resistant material connected to the inner surface of the shell and adapted to receive and retain a fluid absorbent pad. The ends of the shell are folded in to establish frontal and rear bumpers. One end of the sling is folded under the frontal bumper to form a pocket that is attached to and hidden beneath the frontal bumper, and remains open to receive one end of the fluid absorbent pad. The other end of the sling is attached to the rear bumper. This construction accommodates a pad of greater length for improved absorption without increasing the length of the shell. Methods of constructing protective undergarments with unique hidden pocket slings and fasteners are described.

Abstract: A diaper includes a topsheet, a backsheet and a core disposed therebetween to define a front and rear waist regions and a crotch region, and an elastic member extending to surround a predetermined zone of the core about the vicinity of a longitudinal center line is placed in a rear half of the diaper defined between the vicinity of a transverse center line and the end of the rear waist region and secured under tension to the upper surface of the core so that the zone of the core is depressed downward to form a depression as the elastic member contracts.

Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a main body and a supplemental member, the main body being formed on its inner surface in its transversely middle zone with a cavity adapted to receive excretion, for example, feces. The cavity is defined by a pair of side walls spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the transversely middle zone of the main body and extending longitudinally of the main body, and a top wall extending between distal edges of the respective side walls. The top wall is formed with openings adapted to guide feces and urine, respectively, and elastic members are secured to the supplemental member in the proximity of upper edges of the respective side walls so as to be operatively associated with a crotch region of the diaper.

Abstract: An absorbent article (10) which includes a backsheet layer (30) having a pair of laterally opposed and longitudinally extending side margins (20). Each side margin has an outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour 15 located at appointed leg opening regions (17) in an intermediate portion (16) of the side margin. Each concave side edge contour (15) has a selected longitudinal extent along a length dimension (26) of the article (10). A liquid permeable topsheet layer (28) is connected in a superposed facing relation to the backsheet layer (30), and an absorbent body (32) is sandwiched between the topsheet layer (28) and the backsheet layer (30). A separately provided gusset-flap composite member (19) is connected to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers along each of the leg opening regions (17). The gusset-flap member (19) provides a leg gusset section (142) and a containment flap section (144), and is distinctively configured to provide improved leakage resistance, fit and comfort.

Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a pair of gasketing cuffs, each of the paired gasketing cuffs is divided into a high stiffness zone and a low stiffness zone in a transverse direction of the diaper.

Abstract: A three-piece tape landing zone is provided which allows repeated fastening and unfastening of the tape tabs for inspection of the diaper. The three-piece TLZ is located at the front waist portion of the diaper. A center TLZ piece is positioned between and overlaps or underlaps the edges of the two outer TLZ pieces. The center TLZ piece has release characteristics different from that of the outer two pieces such that the tape tabs do not adhere securely to the center TLZ piece. This arrangement ensures correct alignment of the tape tabs on the outer TLZ surfaces.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided for use in the perineal area of the body. Compliant sealing gaskets are pre-formed to extend outward from the central portion of the article. The gaskets may be formed by looping a strip of material so as to form a compliant cuff which bears against the user's body in a comfortable manner. An elastic member placed in tension so as to impart an arcuate shape to the article may be placed inside a cavity formed by the cuff. The gaskets may be applied to an article having wings attached to the central portion so as to form pockets for retaining the elasticized portions of the panty crotch. The proximal ends of the gaskets are disposed outward of the pockets and the distance between the pockets is less than the width of the panty crotch so that the body facing said of the article is placed in tension.

Abstract: A absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin includes an absorbent means and deformation inducing means underlying the absorbent means, and is provided in a direction of its longitudinal center line with deformation guiding means serving for the absorbent means and the deformation inducing means, and thereby improves fitting to a wearer's skin.

Abstract: The disposable absorbent sanitary article includes an absorbent pad placed between a liquid impervious external backing sheet and a hydrophobic internal covering sheet provided with a central opening extending over the absorbent pad. A first set of elastic members is fixed to the backing sheet and to the covering sheet along external edges thereof at least in a crotch area thereof and a second set of elastic members is fixed to the covering sheet along longitudinal edges of the central opening. Two hydrophobic flaps are each realized by fixing a first longitudinal edge of a strip of hydrophobic material close to an external longitudinal edge of the absorbent pad, and a second longitudinal edge to a lower face of the covering sheet close to the elastic members of the second set.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a pair of cuffs longitudinally extending on the inner surface of the diaper along transversely opposite sides thereof across front and rear sections as well as a crotch section longitudinally interdisposed between these two sections, wherein each cuff has a substantially crescent-shaped elastic sheet bonded in its longitudinally stretched state to the inner surface along its longitudinally opposite ends and an outer arc defined between these ends.

Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The core has its transversely opposite side edges curved inwardly of the core. Portions of the topsheet and the backsheet extending outward beyond the side edges of the core are put flat and bonded together. Such extensions are folded inwardly of the diaper along straight folding lines extending longitudinally outside the respective curved side edges of the core so as to form a pair of leak-proofing cuffs. First and second elastically stretchable/contractile members are bonded under appropriate tension to the respective leak-proofing cuffs along its inner side edges and the straight folding lines.