Refastenable absorbent article and a method of applying thereof

• US 20030100879A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Kline, Mark James, Robles, Miguel Alvaro, Henrich, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,524,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/386
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15 Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body non-absorbent catamenial receptacles A61F5/44; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49015 the elastic means being elastic panels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/565 pants type diaper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/62 Mechanical fastening means, A61F13/5611, A61F13/5616, A61F13/581, A61F13/66 take precedence; Fabric strip fastener elements, e.g. hook and loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/622 Fabric strip fastener elements, e.g. hook and loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15886 by spot bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24025 Superposed movable attached layers or components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2481 including layer of mechanically interengaged strands, strand-portions or strand-like strips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/674 Nonwoven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/679 Natural or synthetic rubber sheet or film
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/69 Autogenously bonded nonwoven fabric

Abstract

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, the absorbent articles can be pulled on and/or off as a pant. This feature is provided by the ear panels which maintain sufficient tension to hold the diaper on the wearer throughout the period of use without harming the wearer'"'"'s skin, while providing enough stretch to allow the diaper to be pulled up or down over the wearer'"'"'s hips. The fastening system is refastenable for convenience yet strong enough to maintain the diaper in a fastened configuration without becoming detached if the diaper is pulled on or off the wearer.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a refastenable fastening system allowing the absorbent article to be fitted to a wearer in a conventional configuration or in a pull-on configuration, the absorbent article forming a pant-like article having a waist hoop and a pair of leg openings.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the refastenable fastening system is selected from the croup consisting of mechanical fasteners such as hop and loop type fasteners, pressure sensitive adhesives, cohesive materials, and any combination thereof.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the refastenable fastening system comprises and engaging component and a landing component.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the engaging component comprises a hook.

5. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the landing component comprises a loop.

6. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the landing component comprises a separate element affixed to the absorbent article.

7. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the landing component is unitary with another element of the absorbent article.

8. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the engaging component is joined to the absorbent article by a joining means selected from the group consisting of adhesives, cohesives, heat, pressure, ultrasound, and any combination thereof.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising at least one elastomeric ear and a relaxed waist hoop circumference, the relaxed waist hoop circumference being between about 280 mm and 750 mm.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising at least one elastomeric ear and a fully stretched waist hoop circumference, the fully stretched waist hoop circumference being between about 550 mm and 1450 mm.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising at least one elastomeric ear which is capable of extending between about 150% and about 300%.

12. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein a force to extend the at least one elastomeric ear is less than about 3,000 grams.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising at least one elastomeric ear including an elastomeric portion having a recovery force greater than about 250 grams when the at least one ear is extended between about 30% and about 70%.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a closure member major axis, which is nonparallel to a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article.

15. A method of applying a refastenable absorbent article onto a wearer, the article comprising a waist region, a front waist region, and a refastenable fastening system, the method comprising the steps of:

(d) fastening the front waist region and the waist region to construct a pant-like article having a waist hoop and a pair of leg openings;

(e) directing the wearer legs through the pair of leg openings; and

(f) pulling the waist hoop over the wearer'"'"'s hips such that the waist hoop encircles the waist of the wearer.