Absorbent article with multiple zone structural elastic-like film web extensible waist feature

• US 5,749,866 A
• Filed: 09/27/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Roe, Donald Carroll, Daniels, Dean Jeffrey, Goulait, David Joseph Kenneth, Carlin, Edward Paul, Jasper, Carolyn Mae, Dreier, Kimberly Ann, Rodriguez, Sheila Snyder
• Primary Examiner(s): Polutta, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US08/720,103
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1, 604/385.2, 604/386, 604/387, 604/389, 604/390, 604/358, 604/373, 604/391-393, 604/394, 604/396, 604/402
• US Class Current: 604/385.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49009 with elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49012 the elastic means being elastic 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 13/4902 characterised by the elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49028 with different tensile stress
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24446 Wrinkled, creased, crinkled or creped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24636 Embodying mechanically interengaged strand[s], strand-portion[s] or strand-like strip[s] [e.g., weave, knit, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/602 Nonwoven fabric comprises an elastic strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/659 Including an additional nonwoven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/674 Nonwoven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet

Abstract

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants, feminine hygiene garments and the like, that have a unique waist feature that improves the dynamic fit as well as the containment characteristics of the absorbent article. Such absorbent articles comprise a chassis assembly preferably comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet; an extensible back waist feature; and a closure system for maintaining the absorbent article on the wearer. The extensible back waist feature provides an extensible feature that provides a more comfortable and contouring fit by initially conformably fitting the diaper to the wearer and by sustaining this fit. The extensible back waist feature has a hip panel, a central waistband panel, and a pair of side panels. The force/extension characteristics of each panel is designed to provide such improved fit and containment. While each panel of the extensible waist feature may be constructed from a number of extensible materials, the panels preferably comprise a structural elastic-like film web. The structural elastic-like film (SELF) web exhibits an elastic-like behavior in the direction of elongation without the use of added elastic materials. The configuration of the SELF web in each panel has specific characteristics to provide the desired force/extension characteristics of each panel.

Claims

1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:

a chassis assembly having a longitudinal centerline, a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a lateral direction parallel to this lateral centerline, lateral edges and leg edges, said chassis assembly comprising a topsheet, a backsheet joined with said topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core having side edges and waist edges; and

an extensible back waist feature joined with said chassis assembly adjacent one of said lateral edges, said back waist feature comprising a hip panel extending longitudinally outwardly from said chassis assembly, a central waistband panel joined with and extending longitudinally outwardly from said hip panel, and a pair of side panels joined with and extending laterally outwardly from said central waistband panel and at least a portion of said hip panel, said central waistband panel comprising a structural elastic-like film web, said web comprising a strainable network of at least two contiguous, distinct and dissimilar regions, said strainable network including at least a first region and a second region having one or more deformations which extend beyond the surface of said first region, said first region having a surface-pathlength less than the surface-pathlength of said second region as measured parallel to a predetermined axis while said web is in an untensioned condition such that said web exhibits at least two-stages of controlled resistive forces along said predetermined axis when subjected to an applied axial elongation in a direction parallel to said predetermined axis.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said side panels comprise said web.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein each said side panel is a separate member joined with said central waistband panel and at least a portion of said hip panel.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said web comprises a laminate of two or more layers.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said hip panel comprises said web.

6. The absorbent article of claim 5 wherein said web comprises a laminate of two or more layers.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said web exhibits a Poisson lateral contraction effect less than about 0.4 at 20% elongation as measured perpendicular to said predetermined axis.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7 wherein said web exhibits a Poisson lateral contraction effect less than about 0.4 at 60% elongation as measured perpendicular to said predetermined axis.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the surface pathlength of said web is at least about 15 percent greater than that of said first region as measured parallel to said predetermined axis while said web is in an untensioned condition.

10. A disposable absorbent article comprising:

a chassis assembly having a longitudinal centerline, a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a lateral direction parallel to this lateral centerline, lateral edges and leg edges, said chassis assembly comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core having side edges and waist edges; and

an extensible back waist feature joined to said chassis assembly adjacent one of said lateral edges, said back waist feature comprising a hip panel extending longitudinally outwardly from said chassis assembly, a central waistband panel joined with and extending longitudinally outwardly from said hip panel, and a pair of side panels joined with and extending laterally outwardly from said central waistband panel and at least a portion of said hip panel, said central waistband panel comprising a structural elastic-like film web, said web comprising a strainable network of at least two contiguous, distinct and dissimilar regions, said strainable network including at least a first region and a second region having one or more deformations which extend beyond the surface of said first region, said first region having a surface-pathlength less than that of said second region as measured parallel to a predetermined axis while said web is in an untensioned condition such that said web exhibits at least two-stages of controlled resistive forces along said predetermined axis when subjected to an applied axial elongation in a direction parallel to said predetermined axis, said web exhibiting a first resistive force to the applied elongation until the elongation of said web is great enough to cause a substantial portion of said second region to enter the plane of the applied axial elongation whereupon said web exhibits a second resistive force to further applied axial elongation, said web exhibiting a total resistive force higher than the resistive force of said first region.

11. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said web comprises a laminate of two or more layers.

12. The absorbent article of claim 11 wherein said web comprises an inner layer of a nonwoven material and an outer layer of a polymeric film.

13. The absorbent article of claim 12 wherein said web additionally comprises a support layer positioned between said outer layer and said inner layer.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13 wherein said support layer comprises a formed film.

15. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said web exhibits a Poisson lateral contraction effect less than about 0.4 at 20% elongation as measured perpendicular to said predetermined axis.

16. The absorbent article of claim 15 wherein the surface pathlength of said web is at least about 15 percent greater than that of said first region as measured parallel to said predetermined axis while said web is in an untensioned condition.

17. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein said first region and said second region are substantially linear and extend substantially continuously in a direction parallel to said predetermined axis.

18. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said hip panel comprises said web.

19. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said side panels comprise said web.