Absorbent article with multi-directional extensible side panels

• US 6,004,306 A
• Filed: 08/20/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Dakin, Constance Lee, Roe, Donald Carroll, Bergman, Carl Louis, Robles, Miguel Alvaro, Dreier, Kimberly Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US08/915,471
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1-402, 2/400-408, 602/68-73
• US Class Current: 604/385.21
• 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 2013/49041 having a specific location other than covered by groups A61F13/49011 - A61F13/49019
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49046 at the crotch
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49049 on the hips

Abstract

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants, 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 including 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 to be fitted to a wearer having a first waist region, a second waist region, a waist encirclable edge, a first leg encirclable edge, a second leg encirclable edge, a lateral centerline, a lateral direction parallel to the lateral centerline, a longitudinal centerline and a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline, the absorbent article further comprising:

a) a containment assembly having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, a portion of said first longitudinal edge forming a portion of said first leg encirclable edge and a portion of said second longitudinal edge forming a portion of said second leg encirclable edge, a first end edge disposed in said first waist region and a second end edge disposed in said second waist region, said first end edge forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge and said second end edge forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge, said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge extending from said first end edge to said second end edge, said containment assembly further comprising an absorbent core;

b) an elastomeric first side panel disposed along said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly in said first waist region and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said elastomeric first side panel comprising a first waist panel and a first thigh panel, said first waist panel having a first waist panel proximal edge and a first waist panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said first waist panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said first longitudinal edge, said first waist panel proximal edge having a portion disposed adjacent said first end edge of said containment assembly, said first thigh panel having a first thigh panel proximal edge and a first thigh panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said first thigh panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a portion of said first thigh panel being overlapped with and joined to a portion of said first waist panel, said first waist panel being longitudinally outboard of said first thigh panel and forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge, said first thigh panel forming a portion of said first leg encirclable edge, said first waist panel having a first direction of extensibility and said first thigh panel having a second direction of extensibility when a force is applied to said elastomeric first side panel, said second direction of extensibility being nonparallel to said first direction of extensibility; and

c) an elastomeric second side panel disposed along said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly in said first waist region and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said elastomeric second side panel comprising a second waist panel and a second thigh panel, said second waist panel having a second waist panel proximal edge and a second waist panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said second waist panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said second waist panel proximal edge having a portion disposed adjacent said first end edge of said containment assembly, said second thigh panel having a second thigh panel proximal edge and a second thigh panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said second thigh panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a portion of said second thigh panel being overlapped with and joined to a portion of said second waist panel, said second waist panel being longitudinally outboard of said second thigh panel and forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge, said second thigh panel forming a portion of said second leg encirclable edge, said second waist panel having a third direction of extensibility and said second thigh panel having a fourth direction of extensibility when a force is applied to said elastomeric second side panel, said fourth direction of extensibility being nonparallel to said third direction of extensibility.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said waist panel and said thigh panel of each of said elastomeric first side panel and said elastomeric second side panel are a single component.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein each said single component elastomeric side panel is at least partially severed between said proximal edges and said distal edges.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein each said elastomeric side panel comprises a fold intermediate said waist panel and said thigh panel.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein said fold forms at least a portion of said distal edges of each said elastomeric side panel.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of each said elastomeric side panel is an extension of at least one component of said containment assembly.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 additionally comprising a first proximal stiffening member joined to a portion of said elastomeric first side panel adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly and a second proximal stiffening member joined to a portion of said elastomeric second side panel adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly.

8. An absorbent article to be fitted to a wearer having a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline, a lateral direction parallel to the lateral centerline, a first waist region, a second waist region longitudinally opposed to said first waist region, a waist encirclable edge, a first leg encirclable edge, and a second leg encirclable edge, the absorbent article further comprising:

a) a containment assembly having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, a portion of said first longitudinal edge forming a portion of said first leg encirclable edge and a portion of said second longitudinal edge forming a portion of said second leg encirclable edge, a first end edge disposed in said first waist region and a second end edge disposed in said second waist region, said first end edge forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge and said second end edge forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge, said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge extending from said first end edge to said second end edge, said containment assembly further comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;

b) a multiple component elastomeric first side panel disposed along said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly in said first waist region and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said elastomeric first side panel comprising;

i) a first waist panel comprising a first waist panel member having a first direction of extensibility when a force is applied to said multiple component elastomeric first side panel, a first waist panel proximal edge adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a first waist panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said first waist panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said first waist panel proximal edge having a portion disposed adjacent said first end edge of said containment assembly, said first waist panel forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge of the absorbent article; and

ii) a first thigh panel disposed longitudinally inboard of said first waist panel, said first thigh panel comprising a first thigh panel member having a second direction of extensibility when said force is applied to said multiple component elastomeric first side panel, said second direction of extensibility being nonparallel to said first direction of extensibility, a first thigh panel proximal edge adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a first thigh panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said first thigh panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a portion of said first thigh panel being overlapped with and joined to a portion of said first waist panel, said first thigh panel member being a distinct element from said first waist panel member and forming a portion of said first leg encirclable edge; and

c) a multiple component elastomeric second side panel disposed along said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly in said first waist region and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said elastomeric second side panel comprising;

i) a second waist panel comprising a second waist panel member having a third direction of extensibility when a force is applied to said multiple component elastomeric second side panel, a second waist panel proximal edge adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a second waist panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said second waist panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said second waist panel proximal edge having a portion disposed adjacent said first end edge of said containment assembly, said second waist panel forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge of the absorbent article; and

ii) a second thigh panel disposed longitudinally inboard of said second waist panel, said second thigh panel comprising a second thigh panel member having a fourth direction of extensibility when said force is applied to said multiple component elastomeric second side panel, said fourth direction of extensibility being nonparallel to said third direction of extensibility, a second thigh panel proximal edge adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a second thigh panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said second thigh panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly a portion of said second thigh panel being overlapped with and joined to a portion of said second waist panel, said second thigh panel member being a distinct element from said second waist panel member and forming a portion of said second leg encirclable edge.

9. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein said first direction of extensibility has a vector component oriented laterally outwardly that is greater than zero and a second vector component oriented towards said lateral centerline, said second direction of extensibility has a vector component oriented laterally outwardly that is greater than zero and a second vector component oriented away from said lateral centerline, said third direction of extensibility has a vector component oriented laterally outwardly that is greater than zero and a second vector component oriented towards said lateral centerline, and said fourth direction of extensibility has a vector component oriented laterally outwardly that is greater than zero and a second vector component oriented away from said lateral centerline.

10. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said first waist panel distal edge is joined to at least a portion of said first thigh panel distal edge and at least a portion of said second waist panel distal edge is joined to at least a portion of said second thigh panel distal edge.

11. The absorbent article of claim 8 additionally comprising a first proximal stiffening member joined to a portion of said elastomeric first side panel adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly and a second proximal stiffening member joined to a portion of said elastomeric second side panel adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly.

12. The absorbent article of claim 8 additionally comprising a pair fastening members joined to each said elastomeric side panel, one of said fastening members being disposed adjacent said waist panel distal edge and the other of said fastening members being disposed adjacent said thigh panel distal edge so as to allow the waist panel and the thigh panel to be fastened separately.

13. An absorbent article to be fitted to a wearer having a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline, a lateral direction parallel to the lateral centerline, a first waist region, a second waist region longitudinally opposed to said first waist region, a waist encirclable edge, a first leg encirclable edge, and a second leg encirclable edge, the absorbent article further comprising:

a) a containment assembly having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, a portion of said first longitudinal edge forming a portion of said first leg encirclable edge and a portion of said second longitudinal edge forming a portion of said second leg encirclable edge, a first end edge disposed in said first waist region and a second end edge disposed in said second waist region, said first end edge forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge and said second end edge forming a portion of said waist encirclable edge, said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge extending from said first end edge to said second end edge, said containment assembly further comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;

b) a multiple component elastomeric first side panel disposed along said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly in said first waist region and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said elastomeric first side panel comprising;

i) a first waist panel comprising a first waist panel member having a first direction of extensibility when a force is applied to said multiple component elastomeric first side panel, said first direction of extensibility having a vector component oriented laterally outwardly that is greater than zero and a second vector component oriented toward said lateral centerline, a first waist panel proximal edge adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a first waist panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said first waist panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly said first waist panel proximal edge having a portion disposed adjacent said first end edge of said containment assembly, a first waist panel first lateral edge running between said first waist panel proximal edge and said first waist panel distal edge, a first waist panel second lateral edge longitudinally opposed to said first waist panel first lateral edge, said first waist panel first lateral edge forming a part of said waist encirclable edge; and

ii) a first thigh panel disposed longitudinally inboard of said first waist panel, said first thigh panel comprising a first thigh panel member having a second direction of extensibility when said force is applied to said multiple component elastomeric first side panel, said second direction of extensibility being nonparallel to said first direction of extensibility, said second direction of extensibility having a vector component oriented laterally outwardly that is greater than zero and a second vector component oriented away from said lateral centerline, a first thigh panel proximal edge adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a portion of said first thigh panel being overlapped with and joined to a portion of said first waist panel, a first thigh panel distal edge laterally opposed to said first thigh panel proximal edge and being disposed laterally outboard of said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a first thigh panel first lateral edge running between said first thigh panel proximal edge and the first thigh panel distal edge, a first thigh panel second lateral edge longitudinally opposed to said first thigh panel first lateral edge, said first thigh panel member being a distinct element from said first waist panel member, said first thigh panel second lateral edge forming part of said first leg encirclable edge;

c) a multiple component elastomeric second side panel disposed along said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly in said first waist region and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said elastomeric second side panel comprising;

i) a second waist panel comprising a second waist panel member having a third direction of extensibility when a force is applied to said multiple component elastomeric second side panel, said third direction of extensibility having a vector component oriented laterally outwardly that is greater than zero and a second vector component oriented toward said lateral centerline, a second waist panel proximal edge adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a second waist panel distal edge spaced laterally outwardly from said second waist panel proximal edge so as to be disposed laterally outboard of said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, said second proximal edge having a portion disposed adjacent said first end edge of said containment assembly, a second waist panel first lateral edge running between said second waist panel proximal edge and said second waist panel distal edge, a second waist panel second lateral edge longitudinally opposed to said second waist panel first lateral edge, said second waist panel first lateral edge forming a part of said waist encirclable edge; and

ii) a second thigh panel disposed longitudinally inboard of said second waist panel, said second thigh panel comprising a second thigh panel member having a fourth direction of extensibility when said force is applied to said multiple component elastomeric second side panel, said fourth direction of extensibility being nonparallel to said third direction of extensibility, said fourth direction of extensibility having a vector component oriented laterally outwardly that is greater than zero and a second vector component oriented away from said lateral centerline, a second thigh panel proximal edge adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a portion of said second thigh panel being overlapped with and joined to a portion of said second waist panel, a second thigh panel distal edge laterally opposed to said second thigh panel proximal edge and being disposed laterally outboard of said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, a second thigh panel first lateral edge running between said second thigh panel proximal edge and said second thigh panel distal edge, a second thigh panel second lateral edge longitudinally opposed to said second thigh panel first lateral edge, said second thigh panel member being a distinct element from said second waist panel member, said second thigh panel second lateral edge forming part of said second leg encirclable edge; and

d) a first fastening member disposed adjacent said first waist panel distal edge and said first thigh panel distal edge and joined to both said first waist panel and said first thigh panel, and a second fastening member disposed adjacent said second waist panel distal edge and said second thigh panel distal edge and joined to both said second waist panel and said second thigh panel.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13 wherein said second vector component of said first direction of extensibility is greater than zero, said second vector component of said second direction of extensibility is greater than zero, said second vector component of said third direction of extensibility is greater than zero, and said second vector component of said fourth direction of extensibility is greater than zero.

15. The absorbent article of claim 14 additionally comprising a first proximal stiffening member joined to a portion of said multiple component elastomeric first side panel adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said containment assembly and a second proximal stiffening member joined to a portion of said multiple component elastomeric second side panel adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said containment assembly.

16. The absorbent article of claim 15 wherein said first fastening member has a primary centerline forming an angle with the lateral direction.