Abstract: A protective undergarment, such as a diaper, includes a sling that is suspended from an outer shell. The sling forms a pocket in which a reusable or disposable absorbent pad can be positioned. The sling has an S-pocket or overlapping pocket at the front end and a cuff at the rear end. The cuff forms a slimmer outer profile than the S-pocket or overlapping pocket and is used only in the rear where leakage is not as significant as at the front. The S-pocket or overlapping pocket and the cuff are both suspended from bumper strips that extend from the waistband. Rectangular hook and loop fasteners and extension members allow a diaper to fit wearers of different waist size.

Abstract: A cloth training diaper comprising an outer layer coupled to an inner layer, a front portion and a rear portion, a plurality of snaps arranged longitudinally along the right side of the front portion, the left side of the front portion, the right side of the rear portion, and the left side of the rear portion, the snaps extending through the outer and inner layers, and two side panels, each side panel comprised of a smocked material coupled to a non-smocked material, each side panel having a right side and a left side and a plurality of snaps arranged along the right and left sides of the smocked material. The snaps on the side panels engage with the snaps on the front and rear portions.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an absorbent article with a barrier sheet preventing body waste from coming in contact with a wearer's skin and thereby to alleviate skin trouble such as eczema the wearer might suffer from. The article includes an absorbent chassis, a barrier sheet and a leak-barrier cuffs. An absorbent panel is disposed on the inner surface of the chassis, the barrier sheet is disposed above the absorbent panel and the leak-barrier cuffs are disposed along a lateral side of the barrier sheet. The barrier sheet has lateral zones a middle zone connecting the lateral zones, and front and rear through-holes defined by the lateral zones and the middle zone. Barrier sheet elastic members are provided along the lateral zones. Folds are formed so as to cross the middle zone in a transverse direction.

Abstract: An incontinence article (2) in the form of briefs has a front stomach portion (4) and a rear back portion (6), which are connected to one another at lateral seam regions (14) on both sides. A crotch portion (8) has an absorption pad (7) and extends in a longitudinal direction (9). A topsheet material (84) or a topsheet (84) and a backsheet material (62) form a transverse overhang (66a,66b) extending outside longitudinal borders (46) of the absorption pad (7). The overhang (66a,66b) has a reinforcing means (200) in a region (204) bridging the respective longitudinal border (46) of the absorption pad (7). The reinforcing means (200) comprises or consists of a reinforcing coating (202 and is disposed on the inner face (85) of the topsheet material (84).

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has an absorbent core having a surface area and a stretchable multilayer chassis having a surface area. The multilayer chassis is stretchable in at least the cross-machine direction. The stretchable multilayer chassis has at least a stretchable bodyside liner and stretchable outer cover such that the absorbent core is affixed to at least one layer of the stretchable multilayer chassis. The percentage ratio of the surface area of the absorbent core to the surface area of the stretchable multilayer chassis is less than about 50%.

Abstract: A simple disposable pant-like garment includes an absorbent assembly attached to a chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets. The absorbent assembly is folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form laterally opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to an interior surface of the absorbent assembly adjacent to its end edges. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to each side flap adjacent to its proximal edge. When the article is worn, the elastic gathering members contract and raise the side flaps to form breathable side barriers. The chassis includes a water-impermeable sheet and may be extensible. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern such that portions of the chassis that lie outside the attachment pattern are not restrained by attachment to the absorbent assembly and therefore remain extensible.

Abstract: An absorbent garment having a garment-like outer shell and an absorbent assembly adapted for adjustable positioning therein is disclosed. In particular embodiments, the absorbent garment includes garment shell, at least one inner attachment member, and an absorbent assembly. The inner attachment member can be disposed at a waist region of the garment shell. The absorbent assembly can include a fastening component disposed at an end region, the first fastening component adapted for refastenable engagement to the inner attachment member. The inner attachment member can be configured such that a user may adjust a position of the refastenable engagement to the inner attachment member.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article that includes a frangible bonding agent for maintaining the absorbent article in a predetermined configuration. The frangible bonding agent may be disposed on a fastening system in order to maintain one or more portions of the fastening system in a particular position during manufacturing but still provide an easy-to-open fastener when used by a consumer.

Abstract: A female member for a hook-and-loop fastener is provided. Even when the hook-and-loop fastener part is deformed or an instantaneous impact peel force is applied to the fastener part, the female member does not peel off the male member. When the male member is peeled from the female member, no fluffing caused by shedding of a fibrous material occurs. The female member for a hook-and-loop fastener is constituted of a fibrous material and can engage with a mating male member. The female member is composed of: dense fiber portions arranged in rows and having a high density of the fibrous material; and sparse fiber portions arranged in rows alternately with these dense fiber portions and having a lower density of the fibrous material than the dense fiber portions. The dense fiber portions deform elastically, and this prevents undesirable peeling and diminishes fluffing.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has front and back panels, each having an elastic film layer and each having first and second zones. The first zone of each panel is extensible and retractable and the second zone of each panel is non-extensible and non-retractable. Each of the front and back panels has first and second side edges. An absorbent assembly is secured to the front and back panels. The absorbent assembly has a first end secured to the second zone of the front panel and a second end secured to the second zone of the back panel. A pair of seams join the front and back panels together at the first and second side edges to form a disposable absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.

Abstract: A pull-on wearable article includes a main portion including an outer cover, the main portion defining a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region extending between and connecting the front and rear waist regions. First and second extendable side panels extend between and connect the main portion front waist region and the main portion rear waist region to form the article in a closed waist configuration, at least a portion of each side panel being extendable between a relaxed state and an extended state. The article defines first and second side regions, each side region including one of the first and second side panels and a transverse region of the main portion bordering the respective side panel. An informational image is disposed in at least the first side region. The article may further include a texture feature formed in an outer surface of the article and positioned proximate to the informational image to form a composite image.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article intended to be worn around the waist of a wearer includes a chassis having a front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion there between, and optionally a waistband. A printed tag is arranged on the inner wearer facing side of the chassis in at least one of the front portion, back portion, and the waistband. The tag has at least one first area which is fixedly attached to the chassis and at least one second area which is unattached. The first fixedly attached area covers an area of at least 5% of the total area of the tag and the second unattached area has a length extending along a side edge of the tag of at least 5 mm and a width of at least 1 mm. The tag as described makes it easier to differentiate between the front and back of the article.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper, pant diaper, a sanitary pant or incontinence garment has at least one first elastic web material which is ultrasonically welded to at least one second web material along at least one weld seam. The second web material is different to the first elastic web material and the second web material has a degree of elasticity which is different to the elasticity of the first elastic web material. The ultrasonic weld seam between the first elastic web material and the second web material is reinforced to have a weld strength in a direction transverse to the weld seam which is at least 5N/25.4 mm.

Abstract: A tear away diaper fastening system including a segment of loop material having a plurality of outwardly projecting loop elements adapted to engage cooperating hooking elements in juxtaposed contacting relation. The loop material includes a composite sheet of stitch bonded construction including a polymer film substrate layer. A first plurality of yarn elements extends in stitched relation through the substrate layer to define a plurality of parallel stitch lines of flat stitches extending along the machine direction of the sheet material to form a ground layer substantially covering an upper surface of the substrate layer. A second plurality of yarn elements extends in stitched relation through the substrate layer in zigzag crossing relation between parallel needle lines to define a plurality of raised loops extending above the ground layer.

Abstract: A condom-containing underwear includes a body portion for receiving a wearer's waist and covering at least 30 percent of the wearer's abdominal area; and a condom portion connected to the body portion and for receiving a penis. The body portion may include a shell and a lining. The lining may be detachable from the shell. The condom portion may be collapsible such that it takes the form of a penis only upon a full insertion of the penis within the condom portion.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to easily removable clothing that is intended for individuals with limited mobility. The invention further relates to easily and safely removable clothing for individuals that may be recovering from surgery or suffer from a disability which limits their physical mobility. The invention also relates to pull-tab systems that may be combined with clothing or accessories in order to facilitate easier and simpler removal and wear.

Abstract: In a pants-type absorbent product, a first middle elastic member is located along a horizontal direction in a middle front part between a pair of leg openings in an outer covering sheet. The first middle elastic member contracts a first sheet and a second sheet, and middle gathers are formed. Thus, it is possible to improve fitting of a middle part to a wearer. In the middle front part, both ends of the first middle elastic member are apart from edges of the pair of leg openings, and a pair of non-contracted parts are provided between the both ends of the first middle elastic member and the edges of the pair of leg openings, to thereby improve flexibility of portions in the vicinities of the leg openings in the outer covering sheet.

Abstract: A method of making an elastic composite entails conveying a first sheet on a conveyor, and wrapping a section of elastic about the first sheet and the conveyor, thereby applying elastics cross directionally across the sheet. A second sheet is then applied onto the first sheet thereby creating a subcomposite including the two sheets and elastics sandwiched therebetween, wherein two elastics extend outward from one side of the subcomposite, about the conveyor, and return into an opposite side of the subcomposite. The subcomposite is cut through the first and second sheets and the elastics, thereby separating the subcomposite into a first carrier and a second carrier, each carrier including a material layer, whereby spaced apart elastics extend from the first carrier to the second carrier, the first and second carriers defining an exposed elastic region therebetween formed by the elastics.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include disposable wearable absorbent articles with extensible sides. In an embodiment of the present disclosure a disposable wearable absorbent article includes a front, a back, and an extensible side configured to connect the front and the back, wherein the extensible side has a substantially laterally extensible area, which includes a first area, bounded in part by at least a portion of a longitudinally outboard side edge. An overall lateral extensibility of the first area is substantially less than an overall lateral extensibility of the substantially laterally extensible area.

Abstract: A wearing article includes front and rear waist regions joined together. A joint strength of joint arrays along the front and rear waist regions is generally uniformed. A chassis is formed along front waist region's side edges and rear waist region's side edges with the joint arrays. A liquid-absorbent structure includes front and rear ends opposed to each other in a longitudinal direction and extending in a transverse direction. The front end is covered with a front waist sheet and the rear end is covered with a rear waist sheet. Along the respective joint arrays, the front and rear waist sheets are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article to be worn about the lower torso of a wearer that facilitates an easy, intuitive change is provided. The disposable absorbent article includes at least one serviceable indicium that facilitates an easy change by providing alignment of the article relative to an anatomical feature of the wearer or by externally highlighting one or more components of the article thereby indicating alignment and fit about the wearer's lower torso.

Abstract: A washable female undergarment is designed for comfort and for alleviating leakage. The undergarment comprises an outer layer of a stretchable fabric, an inner layer of an absorbent fabric, and a main absorbent layer positioned between the inner and outer layers in the crotch area. The three layers are permanently secured together to form a reusable reliant undergarment.

Abstract: A system comprising a thong-shaped holder for holding an absorbent article in close bodily contact in the pudendal region of the wearer. The holder comprises a front region, a crotch region having a specified Crotch Holding Force, and a rear region. The crotch region of the holder typically is elastically extensible in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. The holder provides an upward holding force against the absorbent article in the crotch region to hold the article in close bodily contact. A method for holding such an article in close bodily contact by wearing the holder is also disclosed.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article that includes a frangible bonding agent for maintaining the absorbent article in a predetermined configuration. The frangible bonding agent may be disposed on a fastening system in order to maintain one or more portions of the fastening system in a particular position during manufacturing but still provide an easy-to-open fastener when used by a consumer.

Abstract: A method for delivering a local anesthetic to a body part includes applying the local anesthetic to an inner portion of a disposable undergarment having a corrugated region in front of the disposable undergarment, wherein the local anesthetic fills at least one pocket of the corrugated region. The method includes covering the body part with the disposable undergarment such that the local anesthetic is subsequently released from the corrugated region and is absorbed percutaneously into the body part to allow numbing of the body part.

Abstract: Provided is a pants-type disposable diaper cover, which can mount an absorptive pad easily and which can hold the mounted absorptive pad snugly without any positional displacement. The pants-type disposable diaper cover has a structure, in which elastically extensible members are arranged between two nonwoven-fabric sheets, and in which a waist opening and a pair of right and left leg openings are formed. A pad-fixing sheet having its front end portion and back end portion fixed is arranged in a diaper cover region corresponding to the mounting portion of the absorptive pad. The diaper cover includes at least elastically extensible waist members arranged around the waist opening, and a plurality of curved elastically extensible members arranged to extend in a front and in a back from the body sides to the crotch side, to cross the arranged portions of the absorptive pad on the crotch side, and then to draw a plurality of loci extending from the crotch side to the body sides.

Abstract: A seam joining together at least two web materials in an overlapped manner by ultrasonic welding, heat bonding or the like, in a bonding pattern, which includes comprising a first bonding pattern and at least one second bonding pattern extending in a longitudinal direction along and adjacent at least one side edge of the overlapped portion. The bonded area of the second bonding pattern occupies more than 30% of the combined bonded area of the first and second bonding patterns. The bonding elements of the first bonding pattern have a mean area that is at least 2 times the mean area of the bonding elements of the second bonding pattern. The contact area of the bonding pattern, as seen in transverse direction of the seam, is between 10 and 30% of the width of the bonding pattern at any given point along the length of the bonding pattern.

Abstract: A pants-type wearing article adapted to inhibit a decrease in the effective area of the buttocks covering portion to cover the wearer's buttocks. A pants-type diaper having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a front-back direction, and including a front panel adapted to cover a front waist region of the wearer, a rear panel adapted to cover a rear waist region of the article wearer and a crotch panel connected to the front panel and the rear panel so as to cover a crotch region of the article wearer. The rear panel is formed with a rear waist covering portion having a dimension in the longitudinal direction substantially the same as a dimension of the front panel and a buttocks covering portion contiguously extending downward from the rear waist covering portion and adapted to cover at least partially the wearer's buttocks.

Abstract: A disposable menstrual panty and method thereof. The disposable menstrual panty comprises a front part, a back part, a crotch part positioned between the front part and the back part, a waist portion located at upper peripheral ends of the front part and the back part, a pair of leg openings to receive a person's legs, and an absorbent material attached to the disposable menstrual panty such that the absorbent material is longitudinally disposed on an interior surface of the crotch part and extends rearward in the back part. The disposable menstrual panty is made of a material that is stretchable laterally only in a direction perpendicular to a length of a person's body but not vertically in a direction parallel to the length of a person's body when the disposable menstrual panty is worn by the person.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a neat appearance. The diaper 101 includes: a liquid-permeable top sheet 111 which covers a use surface side; a leakage preventing sheet 112 which covers a non-use surface side; an absorbent body 113 interposed between the top sheet and the leakage preventing sheet; and an external sheet 120 disposed on an outer surface side of the leakage preventing sheet, wherein three-dimensional gathers BS are formed along leg surrounding portions, and leg cut-out portions of the external sheet which form leg openings are located in a portion of the minimum width of a crotch portion, at a position nearer to a central side than places outward by 5 mm from rising start points of the three-dimensional gathers BS.

Abstract: A process for making a pant-like disposable absorbent garment comprising: providing a front panel and back panels and an absorbent insert which extends between the front and back panels; printing a front waistband graphic on the front panel such that the front waistband graphic extends at least 90% of the front panel width; printing a back waistband graphic on the back panel such that the back waistband graphic extends at least 90% of the back panel width; and joining the first and second front side edges to the first and second back side edges, such that the garment assumes a pull-on configuration, and such that the front waistband graphic is in at least substantial alignment with the back waistband graphic. A garment made by the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A boxer-style pant and a method of making a boxer-style pant having side seams and hanging legs. Expandable material is used to provide a conforming fit and to expedite high-speed manufacture. The pant is made from a web and includes a garment shell having a front region, a back region, and a crotch region positioned between the front and back regions. The side seams connect the front region to the back region. The garment shell may be essentially composed of an expandable material that is selectively expanded in certain areas of the garment, and/or an expandable material may be attached to the garment shell in the crotch region and/or in the back region.

Abstract: A hygienic article for personal wear by a male includes an elongate fabric sleeve having a first end, a longitudinally opposite second end, and a central passage extending longitudinally between the first and second ends of the sleeve. The first end of the sleeve is open to the central passage to permit the wearer's penis to extend through the open first end into the central passage of the sleeve with the first end of the sleeve nearer to the base of the wearer's penis than the second end of the sleeve. The second end of the sleeve is also open to the central passage to permit the wearer to urinate through the open second end. A dispenser is adapted for holding a plurality of such hygienic articles and facilitating sequential dispensing of the hygienic articles, one at a time, from the dispenser.

Abstract: A hygienic article having side panels extending outward in a lateral direction from either of said front or back waist region. Each side panel comprises at least two material segments which are connected to each other by a lap seam wherein said material segments define a distal segment and a proximal segment in the lateral direction. On the distal edge of each side panel a fastening member is placed which is capable of securing said side panels to the front or back waist region such that the hygienic article assumes a pant like shape. The material segments which form the side panels are attached to each other by the lap seam in such a way that when the side panels are folded back towards the longitudinal centerline of the hygienic article, the materials are attached to each other in the lap seam such that the most distal material segment is placed closer towards the inner or outer surface of the hygienic article than the more proximal material segment attached to said most distal segment.

Abstract: A diaper for holding an absorbent article in close bodily contact in the crotch region of the wearer. The diaper includes a front region, a crotch region having a specified Crotch Holding Force, and a rear region. The crotch region of the diaper typically is elastically extensible in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. The diaper provides an upward holding force against the absorbent article in the crotch region to hold the article in close bodily contact. The invention includes a system including the diaper and an absorbent article for use therewith, and a method for holding such an article in close bodily contact by wearing the diaper.

Abstract: A pant-type absorbent article including a first body panel having a body facing side and a garment facing side and a second body panel having a body facing side and a garment facing side, the body facing sides of first and second body panels are held together in a face-to-face relationship along lateral edges to form side connections. The article further including a first fastening member hingedly attached to or near a lateral edge of the body facing side of the first body panel and having a portion which is unattached to said first body panel, said portion is refastenably attached to a complementary second fastening member provided on the body facing side of the second body panel. A recess forming a finger grip may be provided in the lateral edge of the first body panel.

Abstract: A diaper cover comprising a front part, a back part and an intermediate part located between the front part and the back part in a front-back direction, a right waist part and a left waist part extending from the back part in a width direction, and a right flap part and a left flap part extending from the front part in the width direction, wherein each of the right flap part and the left flap part is provided with a first attachment, the right flap part, the left flap part and the intermediate part are stretchable, and the first attachment is attachable to a position on a dorsal side of a wearer in a state where the right flap part and the left flap part are stretched.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes an absorbent section having first and second end portions and a central portion. A waist belt is attached to the absorbent section at its first end and has first and second belt portions extending on each side of the first end of the absorbent section for securing to each other around a wearer of the absorbent article. The second end of the absorbent section includes a fastening device for securing the second end of the absorbent section to the waist belt. The waist belt has a visual appearance different from the absorbent section, so as to simulate a belt. This provides the user with intuitive information on how the absorbent article should be applied.

Abstract: This invention relates to an item of underwear that is specifically worn in combination with sanitary pads, the kind that extend between the legs of the wearer over at least the pail of the crotch. Sanitary pads are for example, used by women during menstruation and are maintained in position by virtue of being adhered to the wearer's underwear by an adhesive strip and wings which are exposed by the removal of a protective sheet. The adhesive wings, which fold under the crotch of the underwear and are known to secure the pad into place, are normally visible. This invention provides an additional strip of fabric mimicking the crotch of the underwear and attached onto and over the original crotch area which “CONCEALS” the adhesive wings that fold under the crotch of the underwear, making it so that the adhesive wings are not visible from the outside of the underwear.

Abstract: An elastically stretchable laminate (1) includes a first non-elastic nonwoven web (2), a second non-elastic nonwoven web (4) and an elastic film (6) between the first and the second nonwoven webs (2,4). The laminate (1) has been rendered elastic in a first direction (MD) by incremental stretching and partial tearing of the first and second nonwoven webs (2,4). The laminate (1) includes a reinforcement layer (8) arranged between the first and second non-elastic nonwoven webs (2,4) and comprising unbroken reinforcement fibers or filaments (9) extending in a second direction (CD), generally perpendicular to the first direction (MD). Also described is a pant-type article including the elastically stretchable laminate.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a belt and an absorbent structure. The absorbent structure is fastened to the belt via an article fastening means having a form such that the article fastening means does not fold or bend upwards under the forces present when the diaper is assembled.

Abstract: A pant has a garment shell. The garment shell includes a front region, a back region, a contracted crotch region, side seams connecting the front region to the back region, two leg openings, and hanging legs. At least a portion of each of the front region, the back region, the contracted crotch region and the hanging legs include portions of a single flat web. The hanging legs include no elasticization around a full periphery of the leg openings and are adapted to hang loosely about a wearer's thigh.

Abstract: An absorbent article has a belt and an absorbent structure. The absorbent structure is fastened to the belt via an article fastener having a form such that the article fastening means does not fold or bend upwards under the forces present when the diaper is assembled.

Abstract: A disposable pant includes a garment shell including a stretchable material. In one embodiment, the pant includes a front panel, a back panel and two leg panels. In another embodiment, the pant includes a middle panel and two leg panels. In another embodiment, the panel includes a single panel. The panel can include an absorbent structure either attached to, or integral with, the garment shell.

Abstract: A pant-type absorbent article including a chassis structure including a front panel having a front end edge and first and second side edges, a back panel having a back end edge and first and second side edges and a crotch panel arranged between the front and back panels at least one of said front and back panels including an elastic nonwoven/film laminate, and a core being integrated with the chassis structure, the first and second side edges of the front panel being joined by side seams to the corresponding first and second side edges of the back panel. Each side seam is formed at least in part in a weldable connecting member, the connecting member including a first part being secured to a side edge on the front panel and a second part being secured to a corresponding side edge on the back panel, said first and second parts of said connecting member being joined by thermowelding to form said side seam.

Abstract: A garment-like absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis that defines a waist opening and first and second leg openings. A longitudinal length of the chassis is optimized in a linear relationship with the waist circumference of the chassis, the circumference measured at 500 grams tension. With respect to the linear relationship, the thickness of the garment is substantially constant along the same line defined by the length and the circumference, and decreases as the y-intercept increases.

Abstract: A diaper for holding an absorbent article in close bodily contact in the crotch region of the wearer. The diaper comprises a front region, a crotch region having a specified Crotch Holding Force, and a rear region. The crotch region of the diaper typically is elastically extensible in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. The diaper provides an upward holding force against the absorbent article in the crotch region to hold the article in close bodily contact. A system comprising the diaper and an absorbent article for use therewith, and a method for holding such an article in close bodily contact by wearing the diaper, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A disposable pull-on garment is provided having a front region, a back region and a crotch region. The garment includes a chassis having edge lines in the front and back regions. A pair of extensible front ear panels extends laterally outward from the chassis in the front region, and a pair of extensible back ear panels extends laterally outward from the chassis in the back region. Each of the panels is joined along its outermost edge line to its corresponding opposite front or back ear panel to form two overlapping seams, two leg openings and a waist opening. At least one of the overlapping seams has a substantially bonded portion and an unbonded portion such that the ratio in the length of the unbonded portion to the substantially bonded portion is between about 4:96 and about 20:80.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a 3D ventilation device for separating body skin from clothes including an elastic meshed fabric, an elastic framework and a fixing device, wherein the 3D elastic framework which supports and holds the elastic meshed fabric, is fixed by the fixing device to locate between the skin and the clothes, so as to form a ventilative chamber for achieving the separation. Here, the elastic framework can be bent to adapt to different body shapes or portions and adjusted to provide most comfortable wearing angle, so that a proper air flowing can be achieved between the skin or the body portion and the clothes, thereby keeping the skin dry.

Abstract: A pant-type absorbent article having a first body panel and a second body panel, the first and second body panels being interconnected by side panels. The respective side panel is formed by a bridge member having a first longitudinal edge portion attached to the first body panel and a second longitudinal edge portion attached to the second body panel, the bridge before use of the article being folded in an accordion-like fashion and can be extended and unfolded when the article is to be used so as to form the side panels of the article. In one embodiment at least one of the bridge members is refastenably attached to one body panel, wherein a first fastening member is arranged on the bridge member at or close to one longitudinal edge portion thereof and a complementary second fastening member is arranged on the respective body panel.