Absorbent article with dynamic elastic waist feature having a predisposed resilient flexural hinge
First Claim
1. A disposable absorbent article having a lateral centerline, and a lateral direction parallel to the lateral centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
- a containment assembly comprising an absorbent core having side edges and waist edges; and
an elastic waist feature at least extending longitudinally outwardly from one of said waist edges of said absorbent core, said elastic waist feature comprisingan elasticized waistband comprising(i) a shaping panel zone being elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction,(ii) a waistline panel zone resiliently flexurally joined with said shaping panel zone, said waistline panel zone being elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction, and(iii) a predisposed, resilient, waistband flexural hinge zone joining said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone for allowing relative flexural bending between said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone when forces are applied and for providing a restoring force to resiliently return said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone to essentially their preceding in-use configuration when the forces are removed.
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Abstract
Absorbent articles having a unique elastic waist feature improving the dynamic fit as well as containment characteristics. The elastic waist feature preferably comprises an interconnecting panel zone, a first flexural hinge zone joining the interconnecting panel zone with the containment assembly, an elasticized waistband, and a second flexural hinge zone joining the elasticized waistband with the interconnecting panel zone. The elasticized waistband comprises a shaping panel zone; a waistline panel zone; and a predisposed, resilient, waistband flexural hinge zone joining the shaping panel zone and the waistline panel zone. The waistband flexural hinge zone is predisposed to allow the panel zones to flexurally bend about a defined axis or zone and is resilient to provide a restoring force/moment that returns the panel zones to their preceeding in-use configuration, especially when the elasticized waistband has been pretensioned by a closure system. The closure system dynamically creates/maintains lateral tension through the elasticized waistband thereby allowing the elasticized waistband to more dynamically expand and contract with the motions of the wearer. The absorbent article additionally preferably comprises a pair of elasticized side panels disposed in the second waist region. The elasticized side panels preferably comprise a "zero strain" stretch laminate and an extension panel. The present invention also relates to alternative waist features comprising "an expansive tummy panel" elasticized waistband.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A disposable absorbent article having a lateral centerline, and a lateral direction parallel to the lateral centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
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a containment assembly comprising an absorbent core having side edges and waist edges; and an elastic waist feature at least extending longitudinally outwardly from one of said waist edges of said absorbent core, said elastic waist feature comprising an elasticized waistband comprising (i) a shaping panel zone being elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction, (ii) a waistline panel zone resiliently flexurally joined with said shaping panel zone, said waistline panel zone being elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction, and (iii) a predisposed, resilient, waistband flexural hinge zone joining said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone for allowing relative flexural bending between said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone when forces are applied and for providing a restoring force to resiliently return said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone to essentially their preceding in-use configuration when the forces are removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A disposable absorbent article having a lateral centerline, and a lateral direction parallel to the lateral centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
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a containment assembly comprising an absorbent core having side edges and waist edges; and an elastic waist feature at least extending longitudinally outwardly from one of said waist edges of said absorbent core, said elastic waist feature comprising (a) an elasticized waistband comprising (i) a shaping panel zone being elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction, (ii) a waistline panel zone resiliently flexurally joined with said shaping panel zone, said waistline panel zone being elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction, and (iii) a predisposed, resilient, waistband flexural hinge zone joining said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone for allowing relative flexural bending between said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone when forces are applied and for providing a binding flexure restoring force to resiliently return said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone to essentially their preceding in-use configuration when the forces are removed, said waistband flexural hinge zone bending flexure restoring force greater than about 20 gramsf ; and (b) a second flexural hinge zone joining said elasticized waistband to said containment assembly. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A disposable absorbent article having a lateral centerline, and a lateral direction parallel to the lateral centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
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a containment assembly comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core having side edges and waist edges; and an elastic waist feature at least extending longitudinally outwardly from one of said waist edges of said absorbent core, said elastic waist feature comprising (a) an interconnecting panel zone flexurally joined with said absorbent core; (b) a first flexural hinge zone joining said interconnecting panel zone with said absorbent core; (c) an elasticized waistband flexurally joined with said interconnecting panel zone, said elasticized waistband comprising (i) a shaping panel zone flexurally joined with said interconnecting panel zone, said shaping panel zone being elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction, (ii) a waistline panel zone resiliently flexurally joined with said shaping panel zone, said waistline panel zone being elastically extensible in at least the lateral direction, and (iii) a predisposed, resilient, waistband flexural hinge zone joining said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone for allowing relative flexural bending between said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone when forces are applied and for providing a binding flexure restoring force to resiliently return said shaping panel zone and said waistline panel zone to essentially their preceding in-use configuration when the forces are removed, said waistband flexural hinge zone bending flexure restoring force greater than about 20 gramsf ; and (d) a second flexural hinge zone joining said shaping panel zone with said interconnecting panel zone. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification