METHOD OF APPLYING FASTENER ELEMENTS FOR DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT GARMENT

• US 20160228302A1
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Attends Healthcare Products, Inc (PT Sinar Mas Group)
• Original Assignee: Attends Healthcare Products, Inc (PT Sinar Mas Group)
• Inventors: HOFF, Mark, GASTON, William W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15723 Partitioning batts; Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15756 Applying tabs, strips, tapes, loops; Knotting the ends of pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49061 the diaper having one or two waist members forming the diaper waist region and an independent absorbent structure attached to the one or two waist members forming the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5644 having more than one pair of fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/622 Fabric strip fastener elements, e.g. hook and loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5683 Disposition or arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0076 characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/04 Punching, slitting or perforating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1866 conforming the layers or laminate to a convex or concave profile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1075 of plural laminae from single stock and assembling to each other or to additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1077 Applying plural cut laminae to single face of additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1089 of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina

Abstract

Methods of making disposable absorbent articles and disposable absorbent articles that comprise: a first, second, and third fastener elements to a web such that: the first fastener element is spaced from the second fastener element by a first distance along a length of the web; the second fastener element is spaced from the third fastener element by a second distance along the length of the web; and the second fastener element is disposed between the first and third fastener elements.

Claims

1. A method of making a disposable absorbent article, the method comprising:

joining a first, second, and third fastener elements to a web such that;

the first fastener element is spaced from the second fastener element by a first distance along a length of the web;

the second fastener element is spaced from the third fastener element by a second distance along the length of the web; and

the second fastener element is disposed between the first and third fastener elements;

cutting through both of the first fastener element and the web at a first point along the length of the web to define a first end of a first fastener panel;

cutting through both of the third fastener element and the web at a second point along the length of the web to define a second end of the first fastener panel; and

joining the first fastener panel to a chassis of an absorbent article.

2. The method of claim 1, where joining comprises joining the first fastener panel to an extension portion of a backsheet.

3. The method of claim 1, where the first, second, and third fastener elements are aligned along a first edge of the web, and the first fastener panel is joined to the chassis along a second edge that opposes the first edge.

4. The method of claim 1, where the respective lengths of each first, second, and third fastener element is substantially equal.

5. The method of claim 1, where the article includes a centerline and each respective cut through the web and the first and third fastener members is in a direction perpendicular to the centerline.

6. The method of claim 1, where during the respective cutting steps, each of the first and third fastener elements is cut substantially in half.

7. The method of claim 1, where the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein cutting through both the third fastener element and the web also defines a first end of a second fastener panel, the method further comprising:

joining fourth and fifth fastener elements to the web such that;

the fourth fastener element is spaced from the third fastener element by a third distance along the length of the web;

the fifth fastener element is spaced from the fourth fastener element by a fourth distance along the length of the web; and

the fourth fastener element is disposed between the third and fifth fastener elements;

cutting through both the fifth fastener element and the web at a third point along the length of the web to define a second end of the second fastener panel;

joining the second fastener panel to the chassis on an opposite side of the chassis than the first fastener panel.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling an absorbent portion to the backsheet.

10. The method of claim 1, where the first, second, and third fastener elements are joined with the web by advancing the web in a direction parallel to a centerline of the article.

11. The method of claim 10, where the first, second, and third fastener elements each has a centerline that is parallel to the centerline of the article.

12. The method of claim 1, where the first, second, and third fastener elements are cut from a strip of fastener elements before being joined with the web.

13. The method of claim 8, where the first distance, second distance, third distance, and fourth distance are substantially equal.

14. A disposable absorbent article, comprising:

an absorbent article chassis having opposing front and rear waist portions, and a central absorbent portion ending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear waist portions,

a first fastener panel having a first edge coupled to a first side of the rear waist portion, and a second edge configured to overlap a first side of the front waist portion to define a first leg opening on a first side of the central absorbent portion;

a second fastener panel having a first edge coupled to a second side of the rear waist portion, and a second edge configured to overlap a second side of the front waist portion to define a second leg opening on a second side of the central absorbent portion; and

where the first and second fastener panels each comprises;

a first fastener element joined to the fastener panel at the first end;

a second fastener element joined to the fastener panel at the second end;

a third fastener element joined to the fastener panel such that the third fastener element is spaced apart from each of the first and second fastener elements along a length of the fastener panel.

15. The article of claim 14, where a length of the second fastener element is substantially equal to the sum of the lengths of a first and third fastener elements.

16. The article of claim 15, further comprising:

a first extension portion extending between and joined to each of the first side of the rear waist portion and to the first side of the first fastener panel; and

a second extension portion extending between and joined to each of the second side of the rear waist portion and the first side of the second fastener panel.

17. The article of claim 15, further comprising an absorbent portion on a user-facing surface of the backsheet.

18. The article of claim 15, where each of the first, second, and third fastener element are disposed on a user-facing surface of the first extension portion.

19. The article of claim 15, where one or more of the first, second, and third fastener elements include a hook patch.

20. The article of claim 15, where the first, second, and third fastener elements each has a centerline that is perpendicular to the centerline of the article.

21. The article of claim 15, where the third fastener element is spaced apart from the first fastener element by a first distance, and the third fastener element is spaced apart from the second fastener element by a second distance that is substantially equal to the first distance.