Method for making wearable articles

• US 4,834,740 A
• Filed: 10/26/1987
• Issued: 05/30/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Migaku, Kudo, Takeshi, Ochi, Mitsuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Jr., Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US07/112,114
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1, 604/385.2, 604/393
• US Class Current: 604/385.25
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15593 having elastic ribbons fixed thereto; Devices for applying the ribbons

Abstract

Here is disclosed a method for making wearable articles such as disposable diaper, disposable diaper cover or the like, more particularly, a method for forming side flaps provided with elastic members to provide fitness around wearer'"'"'s legs. According to this method, the side flaps are formed from first portions extending from opposite sides of a main body of the article and second portions, respectively, each of the second portions is provided along one side edge with said elastic member, the second portion is placed upon the first portion, and the first portion and the second portion are selectively sealed together in an area between their outer side edges and the elastic member so that the opposite sealing lines are spaced from each other wider at least in a rear area than in a central area.

Claims

1. A method for making a wearable absorbent article that includes:

(1) a liquid absorbent core disposed centrally between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet so that the overall article has a front area, a central area, and a rear area,

(2) side flaps disposed on opposite sides of the centerline (11) of said absorbent core and extending between said front, central, and rear areas, and

(3) an elongated elastic member associated with each of said side flaps which will establish elastic lines in each of said side flaps to thereby provide an elastic fitness around a wearer'"'"'s legs,

said method comprising the steps of

(a) forming each of said side flaps (4) from a combination of a first portion (4a) having an outer side and a second portion (4b) having both inner and outer sides,

(b) including an elongated elastic member (5) within each second portion (4b) generally adjacent the inner side thereof,

(c) disposing each second portion (4b) in an overlying relationship with each first portion (4a) so that the inner side of each second portion (4b) is positioned inwardly of the outer side of each first portion (4a), and

(d) joining each second portion (4b) to each first portion (4a) along a juncture line that extends the full length of the article and which includes at least two longitudinally extending and laterally separated sealing lines (8a and 8b),

(i) both of said sealing lines being located within the area that extends between

the elastic member (5), and

the outer sides of said first and second portions (4a, 4b),

(ii) both of said sealing lines being in a parallel relationship to the longitudinal centerline (11) of said absorbent core, and

(iii) each of said sealing lines being laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline (11) of said absorbent core (3) by different distances, the longitudinally extending sealing line (8b) that is closer to the rear area of the article being laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline (11) of said absorbent core (3) a greater distance than the other longitudinally extending sealing line (8a), and said other longitudinally extending sealing line (8a) extending less than the entire length of each side flap (4),

wherein the juncture line established by said sealing step (d) permits the inner side of said second portion (4b) to be folded away from said centerline (11), so that said inner side of said second portion (4b) will not be parallel to said centerline (11) along at least a portion of its length.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein each second portion (4b) is obtained by folding the outer portions of said side flaps (4) inwardly.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein each second portion (4b) is separately formed and then joined to a first portion (4a).

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the free end portions of said second portions (4b) formed as a result of said sealing step (d) each contain an elastic member (5) that extends from the front to the rear of said absorbent article along a path that is not parallel to the centerline (11).

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the free end portions of said second portion (4b) formed as a result of said sealing step (d) are wider at the rear area of the article than in the front area of the article.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein after step (d) the rear end of the second portion (4b) is folded outwards and fastened to itself.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein after step (d) the front end of the second portion (4b) is folded outwards and fastened to itself.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein after step (d) both the front and rear ends of said second portion (4b) are folded outwards and fastened to itself.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein after step (d) the front end of said second portion (4b) is folded inwards and fastened to itself and the rear end of said second portion (4b) is folded outwards and fastened to itself.

10. A method for making a wearable absorbent article that includes:

(1) a liquid absorbent core disposed centrally between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet so that the overall article has a front area, a central area, and a rear area,

(2) side flaps disposed on opposite sides of the centerline (11) of said absorbent core and extending between said front, central, and rear areas, and

(3) an elongated elastic member associated with each of said side flaps which will establish elastic lines in each of said side flaps to thereby provide an elastic fitness around a wearer'"'"'s legs,

said method comprising the steps of

(a) forming each of said side flaps (4) from a combination of a first portion (4a) having an outer side and a second portion (4b) having both inner and outer sides,

(b) including an elongated elastic member (5) within each second portion (4b) generally adjacent the inner side thereof,

(c) disposing each second portion (4b) in an overlying relationship with each first portion (4a) so that the inner side of said second portion (4b) is positioned inwardly of the outer side of each first portion (4a), and

(d) joining each second portion (4b) to each first portion (4a) along a flap fold line that extends the full length of the article and which includes at least two longitudinally extending and laterally separated juncture lines;

(i) both of said at least two juncture lines being located laterally and outwardly of said elastic member (5), and

(ii) both of said at least two juncture lines being disposed in a parallel relationship to the longitudinal centerline (11) of said absorbent core (3), and

(iii) each of said at least two juncture lines being laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline (11) of said absorbent core (3) by different distances, the longitudinally extending juncture line that is closer to the rear area of the absorbent article being laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline (11) of said absorbent core (3) a greater distance than the other longitudinally extending juncture line, and said other longitudinally extending juncture line extending less than the entire length of each side flap (4).

wherein said joining step (d) establishes an elongated flap fold line that includes said juncture lines and about which said inner side of said second portion (4b) has the freedom to be folded away from said centerline (11), said fold line not being parallel to said centerline (11) along at least a portion of its length.