Absorbent article and a method for its manufacture

• US 6,648,871 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
• Original Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
• Inventors: Kusibojoska, Liljana, Hermansson, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bogart, Michael G
• Application Number:
  US09/954,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 604/386, 604/387, 604/389, 604/390, 604/392, 604/385.03, 604/385.04
• US Class Current: 604/392
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15723 Partitioning batts; Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15731 Treating webs, e.g. for giving them a fibrelike appearance, e.g. by embossing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49001 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/565 pants type diaper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/64 Straps, belts, ties or endless bands A61F13/5605, A61F13/5622, A61F13/66 take precedence

Abstract

Absorbent article provided with a pair of belt members intended to be fastened together around the waist of the wearer and where the front portion is provided with fastening elements intended to be fastened to the belt members, such that the article will assume a pantlike shape, where the belt members form a part of the waist portions of the pant. The belt members are before use double-folded and cut in an arcuate shape whose tangent to the arcuate curve formed by respective longitudinal edges of the belt members in the area of the fold makes a substantially right angle to the fold. The folded belt members are applied to the rear portion of the article, and when the article is to be used they are unfolded, and form an arcuate shape where the portions on either sides of the fold are the mirror image of each other.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a liquid permeable top sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet and an absorbent body enclosed therebetween;

said article having a front portion, a rear portion and a crotch portion therebetween;

a pair of belt members attached to one of the rear portion and the front portion of the article;

said belt members intended to be fastened together around the waist of the wearer;

one of said front portion and said rear portion being provided with fastening means intended to be fastened to the belt members, such that the article will assume a pant shape, where the belt members form a part of the waist portions of the pant;

wherein before use, the belt members are double-folded and cut in an arcuate shape in which a tangent to the arcuate curve formed by respective longitudinal edges of the belt members in the area of the fold makes a substantially right angle to the fold;

the belt members in their double folded position are applied to the rear portion of the article; and

when the article is to be used, said belt members are intended to be unfolded into two portions on either sides of the fold, at which the belt members in their unfolded position form an arcuate shape where the portions on either sides of the fold are mirror images of each other.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the belt members are kept in place in their double folded position against the rear portion of the article by an easily breakable seal.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein each of the longitudinal edges of the belt members present in the double folded position, a single smooth arcuate curve.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein each of the longitudinal edges of the belt members present in the unfolded position, a single smooth arcuate curve.

5. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable top sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet and an absorbent body enclosed therebetween;

said article having a front portion, a rear portion and a crotch portion therebetween;

a pair of belt members attached to the rear portion of the article;

said belt members intended to be fastened together around the waist of a wearer;

said front portion being provided with fastening means intended to be fastened to the belt members, in such a way that the article will assume a pant shape, where the belt members form a part of the waist portions of the pant;

the method comprising;

double folding the belt members before applying said belt members to the article;

cutting the double folded belt members in an arcuate shape in which a tangent to the arcuate curve formed by respective longitudinal side edges of the belt portions in the area of the fold makes a substantial right angle to the fold; and

applying the belt members in their double folded position to the rear portion of the article.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the belt members are attached to the rear portion of the article in their double folded position with an easily breakable seal.