Disposable absorbent article with elasticized side panels, and method of making the same

• US 20040236299A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dsg Technology Holding Limited
• Original Assignee: Dsg Technology Holding Limited
• Inventors: Tsang, Patrick, Smid, Anne, Wright, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,333,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/385.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15756 Applying tabs, strips, tapes, loops; Knotting the ends of pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49014 the elastic means is located at the side panels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49015 the elastic means being elastic panels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49406 the edge leakage prevention means being at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4942 the barrier not being integral with the top- or back-sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5633 open type diaper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5638 adjustable open type diapers adjustable otherwise than by the fasteners A61F13/493
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/565 pants type diaper

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article is provided in a generally flat, open condition. The disposable absorbent article has a central body that includes an absorbent core, a front longitudinal edge, and a rear longitudinal edge opposite the front longitudinal edge. The front and rear edges partially define front and rear waist portions, respectively, of the central body. The central body is further characterized by a longitudinal centerline extending across the front and rear edges. The disposable absorbent article also has a pair of elasticized side panels that extend longitudinally adjacent opposite lateral sides of the central body. Each side panel has a front longitudinal edge and a rear longitudinal edge opposite the front longitudinal edge, and a front or rear fastening element positioned adjacent the front or rear edge. The front edge of the side panel is positioned closer to the front waist portion than the rear edge. The fastening element is constructed for fastening the front and rear waist portions of the central body when the disposable absorbent article is worn by a user. Further, each side panel includes elastic elements that are positioned along the length of the side panel such that the side panel has generally greater elasticity in the vicinity of the rear edge than in the vicinity of the front edge.

Claims

1. A disposable absorbent article disposed in a generally flat, open condition, said disposable absorbent article comprising:

a central body including an absorbent core, a front longitudinal edge, and a rear longitudinal edge opposite said front longitudinal edge, wherein said front and rear edges of said central body define, at least partially, front and rear waist portions respectively and said central body is characterized by a longitudinal centerline extending across said front and rear edges; and

a pair of elasticized side panels extending longitudinally adjacent opposite lateral sides of said central body, each said side panel having a front longitudinal edge, a rear longitudinal edge opposite said front longitudinal edge, and a front or rear fastening portion formed by said side panel extending longitudinally past a corresponding said front or rear edge of said central body, said front or rear fastening portion being constructed for fastening said front and rear waist portions of said central body when the disposable absorbent article is worn by a user.

2. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein each said side panel is longer than said central body.

3. The disposable absorbent article of claim 2, wherein said length of said side panel is between about 1.05 to about 1.50 longer than said length of said central body.

4. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein, with respect to each said side panel, one of said front and rear edges is included with said fastening portion, and said other front or rear longitudinal edge of said side panel is positioned longitudinally intermediate said front and rear edges of said central body.

5. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein, with respect to each said side panel, one of said front and rear edges is included with said fastening portion and positioned longitudinally past said corresponding front or rear edge of said central body, and said other front or rear longitudinal edge of said side panel is positioned longitudinally in general alignment with said other front or rear edge of said central body.

6. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein each said side panel includes a second fastening portion opposite said first fastening portion, said first and second fastening portions being mutually engageable to fasten said waist portions of said central body.

7. The disposable absorbent article of claim 6, wherein one of said first and second fastening portions includes hook fastening elements and said other fastening portion includes loop fastening elements, such that said fastening portions are correspondingly constructed to form a hook and loop fastening system.

8. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said fastening portion includes a fastening element for fastening said fastening portion to another region of said central body or said side panels.

9. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein each said side panel includes elastic elements, said elastic elements being positioned to provide distinct regions of elastication along the length of said side panel.

10. The disposable absorbent article of claim 9, wherein said side panel includes at least one region of substantially zero elastication.

11. The disposable absorbent article of claim 10, wherein said region of substantially zero elasticity provides a second fastening portion of said side panel, said first and second fastening portions being mutually engageable to fasten said waist portions of said central body.

12. The disposable absorbent article of claim 9, wherein said elastic elements includes elastic strands.

13. A disposable absorbent article disposed in a generally flat, open condition, said disposable absorbent article comprising:

a central body including an absorbent core, a front longitudinal edge, and a rear longitudinal edge opposite said front longitudinal edge, wherein said front and rear edges of said central body partially define front and rear waist portions respectively, and said central body is further characterized by a longitudinal centerline extending across said front and rear edges; and

a pair of elasticized side panels extending longitudinally adjacent opposite lateral sides of said central body, each said side panel having a front longitudinal edge, a rear longitudinal edge opposite said front longitudinal edge, and at least one fastening portion for fastening said front and rear waist portions of said central body when the disposable absorbent article is worn by a user, wherein said front longitudinal edge of said side panel is positioned closer to said front waist portion of said central body than to said rear waist portion of said central body; and

wherein said side panels include elastic elements disposed along the length of said side panel to impart elasticity therealong, and wherein said imparted elasticity in the vicinity of said elastic elements varies along said length to define distinct regions of elastication.

14. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein said side panel further includes a region of substantially zero elastication.

15. The disposable absorbent article of claim 14, wherein each said side panel includes an area without said elastic elements, said area forming said region of zero elastication.

16. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein said distinct regions form a gradient of varying tension along the length of said side panel when said disposable absorbent article is worn by a user.

17. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein said elastic elements are positioned such that the elasticity of said side panel generally increases in the direction from said front edge of said side panel to said rear edge of said side panel.

18. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein said elastic elements are positioned such that a region of maximum elasticity of said side panel is provided in a vicinity of said rear edge of said side panel.

19. The disposable absorbent article of claim 18, wherein said region of maximum elasticity is adjacent said rear edge of said central body.

20. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein said elastic element is selected from the group of elastic elements consisting of:

solid elasticizing film;

liquid-applied elastomer;

elastomeric strand;

elastomeric ribbon;

rubber;

elastic foam; and

combinations thereof

21. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein said elastic elements are elastomeric strands.

22. The disposable absorbent article of claim 21, wherein each said side panel includes a greater number of elastomeric strands in the vicinity of said rear edge of said side panel than in the vicinity of said front edge of said side panel.

23. The disposable absorbent article of claim 21, wherein each said side panel includes thicker elastomeric strands in the vicinity of said rear edge of said side panel than in the vicinity of said front edge of said side panel.

24. The disposable absorbent article of claim 21, wherein each said side panel includes a greater concentration of elastomeric strands in the vicinity of said rear edge of said side panel than in the vicinity of said front edge of said side panel.

25. The disposable absorbent article of claim 21, wherein each said side panel include distinct regions provided with elastomeric strands and regions without elastic strands.

26. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein each said side panel includes a front or rear fastening portion formed by said side panel extending longitudinally past a corresponding said front or rear edge of said central body, said front or rear fastening portion being constructed for fastening said front and rear waist portions of said central body when the disposable absorbent article is worn by a user.

27. The disposable absorbent article of claim 26, wherein said fastening portion is a rear fastening portion that extends past said corresponding rear edge of said central body.

28. The disposable absorbent article of claim 27, wherein said elastic elements are positioned such that a region of maximum elasticity of said side panel is provided in a vicinity of said rear fastening portion.

29. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein said central body includes a topsheet and a backsheet, said side panels being formed by extensions of said topsheet and said backsheet.

30. A disposable absorbent article disposed in a generally flat, open condition, said disposable absorbent article comprising:

a central body including an absorbent core, a front longitudinal edge, and a rear longitudinal edge opposite said front longitudinal edge, wherein said front and rear edges of said central body partially define front and rear waist portions respectively and said central body is further characterized by a longitudinal centerline extending across said front and rear edges, and

a pair of elasticized side panels extending longitudinally adjacent opposite lateral sides of said central body, each said side panel having a front longitudinal edge and a rear longitudinal edge opposite said front longitudinal edge, a front or rear fastening element positioned adjacent said front or rear edge and constructed for fastening said front and rear waist portions of said central body when the disposable absorbent article is worn by a user, wherein said front edge of said side panel is positioned closer to said front waist portion of said central body than said rear edge of said side panel; and

wherein each said side panel includes elastic elements that are positioned along the length of said side panel such that said side panel has generally greater elasticity in the vicinity of said rear edge of said side panel than in the vicinity of said front edge of said side panel.

31. The disposable absorbent article of claim 30, wherein said elastic elements are positioned along the length of said side panel such that said elasticity of said side panel generally increases in the direction from said front edge of said side panel to said rear edge of said side panel.

32. The disposable absorbent article of claim 31, wherein each said side panel includes a front or rear fastening portion formed by said side panel extending longitudinally past said corresponding front or rear edge of said central body, said front or rear fastening portion including said rear fastening element and being constructed for fastening said front and rear waist portions of said central body when the disposable absorbent article is worn by a user.

33. The disposable absorbent article of claim 32, wherein said elastic elements are positioned such that a region of maximum elasticity is located in the vicinity of said rear edge of said side panel.

34. The disposable absorbent article of claim 33, wherein said front or rear fastening portion is a rear fastening portion and said region of maximum elasticity is provided in the vicinity of said rear fastening portion.

35. A disposable absorbent article disposed in a generally flat, open condition, said disposable absorbent article comprising:

a central body including an absorbent core, a front longitudinal edge, and a rear longitudinal edge opposite said front longitudinal edge, wherein said front and rear edges of said central body partially define front and rear waist portions respectively and said central body is further characterized by a longitudinal centerline extending across said front and rear edges; and

a pair of elasticized side panels extending longitudinally adjacent opposite lateral sides of said central body, each said side panel having

a front longitudinal edge, wherein said front edge of said side panel is positioned closer to said front waist portion of said central body than to said rear waist portion of said side panel,

a rear longitudinal edge opposite said front longitudinal edge,

a rear fastening portion for fastening said front and rear waist portions of said central body when the disposable absorbent article is worn by a user, said rear fastening portion being formed by a flap portion that includes said rear edge of said side panel and which extends longitudinally past said rear edge of said central body; and

a plurality of elastomeric strands positioned at distinct regions along the length of said side panel to impart varying elasticity thereto, wherein said varying elasticity of said side panel generally increases in the direction from said front edge of said side panel to said rear edge of said side panel and includes a distinct region of maximum elasticity in the vicinity of said rear fastening portion.

36. A method of manufacturing a disposable absorbent article, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a central body assembly that includes an absorbent core, a front longitudinal edge, and a rear longitudinal edge that is opposite the front longitudinal edge, whereby the front and rear edges of the central body partially define front and rear waist portions respectively; and

providing a pair of elasticized panels adjacent each side of the central body assembly, including

providing a top layer;

providing a bottom layer; and

positioning a plurality of elastic elements between the top and bottom layers and along the length of the side panel to impart elasticity along the length of the side panel in the vicinity of the elastic elements, including varying the imparted elasticity along the side panel length to define distinct regions of elastication about the elastic elements.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of providing a pair of elasticized side panels includes providing a region of substantially zero elastication in the side panel.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of providing a region of substantially zero elastication includes providing an area without elastic elements, thereby forming the region of substantially zero elastication.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of providing a pair of elasticized side panels includes positioning the elastic elements to form a gradient of varying tension along the length of the side panel when the side panel is worn by a user.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of varying the imparted elasticity includes generally increasing the imparted elasticity in the direction from the front edge of the side panel to the rear edge of the side panel.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of positioning the elastic elements includes positioning the elastic elements such that a region of maximum elasticity of the side panel is provided in the vicinity of the rear edge of the side panel.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the step of providing elasticized side panels includes selecting elastomeric strands as the elastic element.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of varying the imparted elasticity includes providing a greater number of elastomeric strands in the vicinity of the rear edge of the side panel than in the vicinity of the front edge of the side panel.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the step of varying the imparted elasticity includes providing thicker elastomeric strands in the vicinity of the rear edge of the side panel than in the vicinity of the front edge of the side panel.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of positioning the elastic elements includes providing a region of maximum elasticity of the side panel in the vicinity of the rear fastening portion.

46. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of attaching each elasticized side panels to a side edge of said central body assembly.

47. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of providing the elasticized side panels includes laterally extending a topsheet and a backsheet of the central body assembly to provide the top and bottom layers of the side panels, respectively.