Method for making a flangeless seam for use in disposable articles

• US 5,607,537 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Larry K., Lange, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LORENGO, JERRY A
• Application Number:
  US08/541,997
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 2/236, 2/237, 156/159, 156/216, 156/217, 156/218, 156/227, 156/203, 156/251, 156/254, 156/289, 156/308.4, 156/157, 604/385.1, 604/385.2, 604/390
• US Class Current: 156/289
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15699 Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15739 Sealing, e.g. involving cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/496 in the form of pants or briefs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5655 adjustable pants type diapers adjustable otherwise than by the fasteners A61F13/493
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1051 by folding

Abstract

According to the present invention, a method of making flangeless seams especially useful in disposable articles, such as training pants, incontinence articles and the like is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a first member of the disposable article; (b) providing a second member of the disposable article; (c) providing a barrier member having a first portion and a second portion separated by a fold, the first portion of the barrier member being juxtaposed with at least a portion of the first member and the second portion of the barrier member being juxtaposed at least a portion of the second member forming a laminate; and (d) applying a joining means across at least a portion of the laminate, at least a part of the first portion of the barrier member being joined with at least a part of the first member and at least a part of the second portion of the barrier member being joined with at least a part of the second member, wherein the first portion of the barrier member and the second portion of the barrier member are not joined.

Claims

1. A method of making a flangeless seam by joining two members of a disposable article, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first member of the disposable article;

providing a second member of the disposable article;

providing a barrier member having a first portion and a second portion separated by a fold, the first portion of the barrier member being juxtaposed with at least a portion of the first member and the second portion of the barrier member being juxtaposed at least a portion of the second member forming a laminate; and

applying a joining means across at least a portion of the laminate, at least a part of the first portion of the barrier member being joined with at least a part of the first member and at least a part of the second portion of the barrier member being joined with at least a part of the second member, wherein the first portion of the barrier member and the second portion of the barrier member are not joined together by the joining means.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of pulling apart the first member and the second member to form a flangeless seam.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of folding the first member.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of folding the second member.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the barrier member is unitary with at least a portion of the first member.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the barrier member is unitary with at least a portion of the second member.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the joining means consists of any of the bonding means selected from the following group:

pressure sensitive adhesive, heat, pressure, heat and pressure, ultrasound and hot melt adhesive.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the barrier member consists of any of the barrier members selected from the following group:

a nonwoven;

a polymeric film;

a laminate of a nonwoven and a film;

talc;

silicone; and

cotton.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the barrier member comprises a paper having a release agent applied to at least a portion of the barrier member.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the barrier member comprises an extensible or an elastomeric member.

11. A method of making a flangeless seam by joining two members of a disposable article, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first member of the disposable article;

providing a second member of the disposable article;

providing a barrier member between at least a portion of the first member and at least a portion of the second member to form a laminate; and

applying a joining means across at least a portion of the laminate, at least a portion of the barrier member being joined with at least a part of the first member and the second member, wherein the barrier member comprises a separable material.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of pulling apart the separable barrier member to form a flangeless seam.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of folding the first member.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of folding the second member.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the barrier member is unitary with at least a portion of the first member.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the barrier member is unitary with at least a portion of the second member.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the joining means consists of any of the bonding means selected from the following group:

pressure sensitive adhesive, heat, pressure, heat and pressure, ultrasound and hot melt adhesive.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the barrier member consists of any of the barrier members selected from the following group:

a nonwoven;

a polymeric film;

a laminate of a nonwoven and a film;

talc;

silicone; and

cotton.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the barrier member comprises an extensible or an elastomeric member.