Biaxial stretch garment

• US 6,969,378 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanzer, Richard Warren, Vukos, John Philip, Uitenbroek, Duane Girard, Dawson, Nancy E., Zehner, Georgia Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stephens, Jacqueline F.
• Application Number:
  US09/698,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.01, 604/385.16, 604/385.22, 604/385.23, 604/378, 604/385.25, 604/385.3
• US Class Current: 604/385.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49009 with elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/515 characterised by the interconnection of the topsheet and the backsheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/531 having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49057 being stretchable in both longitudinal and transversal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51322 being elastomeric or stretchable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51429 being elastomeric or stretchable sheet

Abstract

A biaxial stretch, form-fitting, pant-like, absorbent garment has a stretchable outer cover, a stretchable body side liner, and a stretchable absorbent assembly. The outer cover and the body side liner are desirably biaxially stretchable. The absorbent assembly can either be biaxially stretchable or segmented with longitudinal stretch. The absorbent garment is easy to apply, has a self-adjusting feature, and delivers enhanced fit and comfort during use without restricting a wearer'"'"'s movement.

Claims

1. A disposable absorbent garment, comprising:

a chassis having a biaxially stretchable body side liner,

a stretchable absorbent assembly including a continuous layer of absorbent material positioned adjacent at least one stretchable carrier layer, and

a biaxially stretchable outer cover;

the chassis defining a pair of leg openings and a waist opening;

the absorbent assembly having a segmented layer bonded to the continuous layer with at least one tail at a first longitudinal end of the absorbent assembly and at least one tail at a second longitudinal end of the absorbent assembly;

wherein the absorbent assembly is positioned between the body side liner and the outer cover and at least one of the tails at the first and second longitudinal ends of the absorbent assembly is bonded to at least one of the body side liner and the outer cover.

2. The absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the stretchable absorbent assembly is longitudinally stretchable.

3. The absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the stretchable outer cover comprises a biaxially elastic stretchable material.

4. The absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the absorbent assembly comprises a corrugated material.

5. The absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the absorbent assembly comprises a creped material.

6. A disposable absorbent garment, comprising:

a chassis having a biaxially stretchable body side liner,

a longitudinally stretchable absorbent assembly, and

a biaxially stretchable outer cover;

the chassis defining a pair of leg openings and a waist opening;

the absorbent assembly having at least one stretchable carrier layer, a continuous layer adjacent the at least one carrier layer, and a segmented layer bonded to the continuous layer with at least one tail at a first longitudinal end of the absorbent assembly and at least one tail at a second longitudinal end of the absorbent assembly;

wherein the absorbent assembly is positioned between the body side liner and the outer cover and the tails at the first and second longitudinal ends of the absorbent assembly are bonded to at least one of the body side liner and the outer cover.

7. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the stretchable outer cover comprises a biaxially elastic stretchable material.

8. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the at least one tail along at least one longitudinal end is an extension of the at least one carrier layer.

9. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the at least one carrier layer comprises a material having longitudinal stretch.

10. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the at least one carrier layer comprises a material having longitudinal stretch and retractability.

11. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the at least one carrier layer comprises a neck stretched spunbond material.

12. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the at least one carrier layer comprises a vertical extrusion stranded through air bonded carded web.

13. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the at least one carrier layer comprises a creped spunbond.

14. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the continuous layer comprises a material having longitudinal stretch.

15. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the continuous layer comprises a material having longitudinal stretch and retractability.

16. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the continuous layer comprises a superabsorbent material.

17. The absorbent garment of claim 6, wherein the segmented layer comprises a superabsorbent material.

18. A biaxially stretchable disposable absorbent garment, comprising:

a chassis having a biaxially stretchable body side liner, a stretchable absorbent assembly including a continuous layer of absorbent material positioned adjacent at least one stretchable carrier layer, and a stretchable outer cover, the chassis defining a pair of leg openings and a waist opening; and

wherein the absorbent assembly comprises a top carrier layer, a bottom carrier layer, a continuous layer between the top and bottom carrier layers, and a segmented layer bonded to the continuous layer; and

wherein the continuous layer comprises a superabsorbent material.