Disposable absorbent article with extensible side panels

• US 5,899,895 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Roe, Donald C., Bergman, Carl L., Robles, Miguel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US08/723,179
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1-402, 2/400-408, 602/68-73
• US Class Current: 604/385.29
• 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 13/49019 the elastic means being placed longitudinally, transversely or diagonally over the article
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4902 characterised by the elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49041 having a specific location other than covered by groups A61F13/49011 - A61F13/49019

Abstract

Absorbent articles such as disposable training pants, pull-up diapers, incontinence briefs, diaper holders, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, having extensible side panel features that improve the dynamic fit of the diaper around the legs and waist of the wearer. Such absorbent articles include a containment assembly having a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and extensible side panels, each including a waist panel and a thigh panel disposed along each longitudinal edge of the containment assembly in the first waist region. The waist panel and the thigh panel are operatively associated so that the waist panel has a primary direction of extensibility in one direction and the thigh panel has a primary direction of extensibility in a different direction. This forms a multi-directional extensible side panel wherein the waist panel provides tension around the wearer'"'"'s waist to maintain fit about the waist and to hold the diaper on the wearer, and the thigh panel expands and contracts to maintain a dynamic fit around the leg of the wearer. Thus, the waist and thigh panels reduce the negative effects of the dynamic forces on the absorbent article, such as sagging and gapping that can cause leakage, while increasing freedom of motion and wearer comfort.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region, a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, the absorbent article further comprising:

a) a containment assembly having a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, an end edge disposed in said first waist region, an end edge disposed in said second waist region, and an absorbent core, said first and second longitudinal edges extending from one end edge through said crotch region to the other end edge; and

b) a single piece of extensible material having;

i) a first portion located in and joined to said crotch region juxtaposed said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said first portion extending away from said lateral centerline into said first waist region;

ii) a first fold disposed in said first waist region;

iii) a first thigh panel extending outwardly from said first fold in said first waist region at an angle to said longitudinal centerline and said lateral centerline, said first thigh panel terminating at a first thigh panel distal edge;

iv) a second fold juxtaposed said first thigh panel distal edge;

v) a first waist panel extending from said second fold toward said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said first waist panel terminating at a first waist panel proximal edge;

vi) a second portion located in said first waist region juxtaposed said end edge of said containment assembly, said second portion extending from said first waist panel proximal edge to said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said second portion terminating at a second waist panel proximal edge;

vii) a second waist panel extending outwardly from said second waist panel proximal edge and terminating at a second waist panel distal edge;

viii) a third fold juxtaposed said second waist panel distal edge;

ix) a second thigh panel extending at an angle to said longitudinal centerline and said lateral centerline from said third fold toward said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly located in said first waist region;

x) a fourth fold disposed in said first waist region; and

xi) a third portion extending from said fourth fold toward said lateral centerline into said crotch region, said third portion being joined to said containment assembly and located juxtaposed said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 additionally comprising a first proximal stiffening member joined to at least a portion of said first waist panel adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 additionally comprising a first distal stiffening member joined to at least a portion of said first thigh panel distal edge.

4. An absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region, a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, the absorbing article further comprising:

a) a containment assembly having a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, an end edge disposed in said first waist region, an end edge disposed in said second waist region, and an absorbent core, said first and second longitudinal edges extending from one end edge through said crotch region to the other end edge; and

b) a single piece of extensible material having;

i) a first thigh panel joined to said containment assembly adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly and extending outwardly from said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly located in said first waist region at an angle to said longitudinal centerline and said lateral centerline, said first thigh panel terminating at a first thigh panel distal edge;

ii) a first fold juxtaposed said first thigh panel distal edge;

iii) a first waist panel extending from said first fold toward said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said first waist panel terminating at first waist panel proximal edge;

iv) a waist portion located in said first waist region juxtaposed said end edge of said containment assembly, said waist portion extending from said first waist panel proximal edge to said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said waist portion terminating at a second waist panel proximal edge;

v) a second waist panel extending outwardly from said second waist panel proximal edge and terminating at a second waist panel distal edge;

vi) a second fold juxtaposed said second waist panel distal edge; and

vii) a second thigh panel extending at an angle to said longitudinal centerline and said lateral centerline from said second fold toward said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly located in said first waist region, said second thigh panel being joined to said containment assembly adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of said first waist panel overlaps at least a portion of said first thigh panel.

6. The absorbent article of claim 4 additionally comprising a first proximal stiffening member joined to at least a portion of said first waist panel adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly.

7. The absorbent article of claim 6 additionally comprising a first distal stiffening member joined to at least a portion of said first thigh panel distal edge.