AU2005235367A1 - Absorbent incontinence article - Google Patents

Abstract

Absorbent incontinence article comprises a main piece (20) with a gusset (26) between a front part (22) and rear part (24), an absorbent pad (28) on the main piece, and side pieces (34) attached to the front and/or rear parts for joining the two parts together when the article is worn. The side pieces are folded on themselves along longitudinal fold lines and detachably fixed together to form handles that can be pulled to unfold the side pieces.

Description

VERIFICATION OF TRANSLATION I, Dr. Paul Vincent of Gartenstrasse 16a, Oberstdorf, Germany hereby declare that I am knowledgeable in the English and German languages and that to the best of my knowledge the attached document is a true and complete English translation of PCT/EP2005/004365 as filed on April 22, 2005 which was presented to me for translation. Dr. Paul Vincent October 12, 2006 Date Dr. Paul Vincent Qartenstr. 16A 87561 Oberstdorf Translation of PCT/EP2005/004365 as filed on April 22, 2005 1703 1572 ABSORBENT INCONTINENCE ARTICLE Description The present invention concerns an absorbent incontinence article, in particular, for incontinent adults, comprising a main part which consists of a front area, a rear area, and a crotch area being located therebetween in the longitudinal direction and disposed between the legs of a user, the main part comprising an absorbing element, and material sections which are joined to the rear area and/or the front area and which extend in a transverse direction or in a peripheral direction of the hip past lateral longitudinal edges of the main part and connect the front area to the rear area when the article has been applied, wherein these material sections are folded onto themselves at least about one folding line extending in the longitudinal direction. The above-mentioned material sections of such incontinence articles, which are joined, in particular, only to the rear area, may be formed from another material than the main part or a component of the main part, e.g. a liquid-impermeable backsheet or a liquid-permeable topsheet. The material sections forming the side parts, which are also often called "ears" of the incontinence article, may e.g. be breathable, in particular, permeable to air and water vapor, whereas the main part, which is often also called the chassis, may be liquid-impermeable, in particular, impermeable to moisture. In order to close the incontinence article, the material sections which form the side parts and which are preferably joined in a permanent fashion to the rear area are folded on the belly side of the user and detachably connected to the main part, preferably to the outer side of the front area of the main part facing away from the 2 body. Mechanically acting or adhesive closure elements provided at the side parts of the incontinence article are thereby frequently used, which then cooperate with correspondingly designed receiving areas in the front area of the main part. EP 1 269 949 A2 does not disclose an incontinence article whose side parts projecting at a rear area are fixed to the front area, but a so-called belt diaper, wherein the side parts projecting at the rear area are connected to form an opening for the hip, which is continuous in the peripheral direction. The side parts forming the hip belt, which laterally project at the rear area are folded onto themselves in a Z-shape and are only temporarily fixed to each other in this configuration, i.e. only during production of the article in the machine. It is the underlying purpose of the present invention to improve an absorbent incontinence article of the above-described type with relatively wide material sections joined to the main part, in order to facilitate handling of these material sections during production in a fast operating machine and to ensure user-friendly handling of the incontinence article by the user or nursing staff prior to use. This object is achieved In accordance with the invention by an absorbent incontinence article of the above-mentioned type, wherein partial sections of the material sections, which are folded onto themselves in a flat manner, are detachably fixed to each other in this folded configuration at joining points or joining areas, wherein each material section folded in this fashion, has a gripping area, formed in particular by its free end in the transverse direction, for unfolding the material section, wherein the detachable fixing can be released at all joining points or joining areas during unfolding by a single pulling on the respective gripping area of the material sections.

3 While the hip belt of belt diapers is relatively small, the absorbent incontinence articles of the above-mentioned type desirably have relatively wide lateral material sections. The present invention provides such an incontinence article, wherein the material sections which are folded onto themselves are detachably fixed to each other such that all joining locations or joining areas are released by a single pulling of the respective gripping area. This renders the incontinence article user friendly and is particularly advantageous, in particular, when applied to persons requiring an extensive amount of care. The incontinence article is e.g. often applied to patients in need of care who are lying on their sides. One of the material sections projecting laterally past the main part must be guided beneath the patient. The material sections which can be detachably fixed in accordance with the invention substantially facilitate this guidance beneath the patient. The above-mentioned fixation, which can be released with one pulling motion, of the partial sections which are folded onto themselves, of the material sections joined to the main part can e.g. be obtained through cold stamping or hot stamping (thermo welding), needling, in particular hot needling or ultrasound welding or laser welding or similar joining methods having the same effect. In the simplest case, a respective material section is folded onto itself about one folding line, such that two partial sections are disposed on top of or opposite to each other. The material section is advantageously folded onto itself about at least two folding lines, to produce a configuration with Z-shaped cross-section. In accordance with a further preferred embodiment, the material sections are folded onto themselves about three folding lines. In accordance with a further preferred 4 embodiment, the material sections are folded onto themselves about four folding lines. In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the inventive incontinence article, the respective gripping areas face outwardly in a transverse direction prior to unfolding of the material sections, i.e. face away from each other and from a longitudinal central axis of the diaper main part which is unfolded on a flat support, such that they can be easily gripped by the user, from the left with the left hand and from the right with the right hand. The detachable fixation of the partial sections of the material sections, folded onto themselves, to each other and optionally also to the main part is preferably designed by several substantially punctiform joining locations. A punctiform joining location of the above-mentioned type means that the joining location has a surface (projected onto the X-Y plane of the main part) of less than 5 mm 2 , in particular less than 2 mm 2 and moreover, in particular less than 1 mm 2 . The joining locations need not be strictly punctiform or circular. Shapes other than points or circles are also feasible and advantageous such as e.g. triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or oval shapes. The detachable fixation between the partial sections, folded onto themselves, of the material sections is designed through preferably punctiform joining locations generated through heat or ultrasound. In accordance with the invention, it has turned out that the number, distribution or surface portion of the joining locations or the adhesion of the detachably joined partial sections may be selected such that the detachable fixing can be released at all joining locations or joining areas during unfolding through a single pulling of the respective gripping area of the material sections. This may be advantageously supported by 5 reducing the number or surface fraction of the joining locations or the adhesion of the detachably joined partial sections, the larger the distance from the gripping area of the material section. The invention has shown that the larger the separation between an area of partial sections, folded onto themselves, of the material sections and the gripping area, the smaller should be the fixing strength between the partial sections in order to release all joining locations or areas through a single pulling of the respective gripping area of the material sections, i.e. through one single unfolding motion. It has consequently also turned out that the detachable fixation of the partial sections folded onto themselves may vary close to the gripping area to facilitate adjustment to the requirements. This ensures safe transport of the flat material sheets which have been folded prior to or in the fast operating diaper production machine, thereby preventing fluttering of the material sections which laterally project from the main part of the incontinence article, and displacement of partial sections, which are folded onto themselves, within the folded configuration. Subsequent folding of the entire product always produces a neat appearance. In a further advantageous embodiment of the Invention, the abutting partial sections are not joined within a radius of 1.5 cm from a point of the preferably remotest folding line, which has a maximum separation from the gripping area in the direction of the folded configuration plane. This remotest point will be a point on the folding line which is disposed at a free edge of the material sections. In the overall extension of the observed folding line which is disposed, in particular, at a maximum separation from the gripping area, the abutting partial sections disposed at a separation of 5 mm, in particular 8 mm, and preferentially 10 mm from this folding line, are advantageously not joined.

6 The planar extension of the partial sections which are folded onto themselves and which abut each other can advantageously be (theoretically) separated into two approximately identical halves by a straight line extending in the longitudinal direction, the number or surface portion of the joining locations or areas or the adhesion of the detachably joined partial sections being different in these two halves. The number or the surface portion of the joining locations or the adhesion of the detachably joined partial sections is preferentially larger in the half facing the gripping area in a transverse direction, i.e. the half bordering thereon, than in the half facing away from the gripping area in the transverse direction. As mentioned above, the material sections joined to the main part of the incontinence article are wider (transverse to the peripheral direction of the hip) than in conventional belt diapers. The width, i.e. the extension of a material section in the longitudinal direction of the hygiene article is at least 10 cm, in particular at least 14 cm, in particular at least 18 cm and preferentially at least 22 cm in the region where it is joined to the main part. A material section joined to the main part extends in the unfolded state in the transverse direction beyond the longitudinal edge of the main part, which corresponds to the peripheral direction around the hip during wear, by at least 10 cm, in particular at least 15 cm, and preferentially at least 18 cm. It advantageously extends by at most 35 cm, in particular at most 30 cm, and preferentially at most 27 cm. Another possibility which may be advantageous for individual incontinence articles is to join such material sections projecting from the main part in a transverse direction at the front and rear areas. In this case, all such material sections of the incontinence article are advantageously folded and detachably fixed in accordance with the invention.

7 The material sections have closure elements for closing the incontinence article when applied to a user, which may be mechanically bonding or adhesive, and which are preferably disposed on the material sections in a folded configuration which can be unfolded for use. The material sections advantageously have closure elements in the rear area which can cooperate in a detachable adhesive or adherent fashion with a receiving area on the main part of the diaper. The material sections provided on both sides in the front area and/or rear area of an incontinence article which is folded prior to use, are advantageously folded to the side of the main part facing the body. The folded material sections may thereby partially overlap, wherein their gripping areas can still be gripped simultaneously, i.e. they are visible and can be manually gripped. The material sections joined to the main part are preferably formed from a non-woven material. Spunbond materials (S) or spunbond meltblown materials (SM) or meltblown layers provided on both sides with spunbond materials (SMS) or also carded non-woven materials may, in particular, advantageously be used. Non-woven laminated materials, i.e. in particular, two-layer, three-layer or multi-layer combinations of the above-mentioned non-woven materials may also be used. The individual layers may be connected through conventional methods, e.g. thermal joining methods (welding, in particular laser welding, hotmelt, air through) or ultrasound welding methods. Cold pressing, needling, sewing or gluing of non-woven materials is also feasible. Connection to textile fabrics, knitted fabrics, i.e. materials having a textile bond in the broadest sense is also feasible. The material sections which are joined to the side of the main part are advantageously breathable at least in sections, wherein micro porosity is particularly advantageous which 8 permits air exchange and is permeable to moisture in the form of water vapor. The material sections advantageously have a mass per unit area of 10 to 150 g/m 2 , in particular 20 to 100 g/m 2 , and preferentially 25 to 50 g/m 2 . In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the material sections joined to the main part may also be designed to be less stiff than the main part or the chassis-forming materials of the main part, such as, in particular, the backsheet or a laminate of the main part which consists of backsheet and topsheet. This yields a skin-friendly side section of the hygiene article which preferably feels like a textile or non woven material and is pleasant for the user. In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment, which is inventive per se, the joining locations or joining areas exert a maximum counter force, averaged over the unfolding process, of at most 2.5 N, in particular at most 2.4 N, in particular at most 2.3 N, in particular at most 2.2 N, in particular at most 2.1 N, and moreover in particular at most 2.0 N during unfolding of the material sections through pulling the respective gripping area. By determining the tensile force produced at any time by pulling the respective gripping area during unfolding, thereby taking into consideration the force peaks which differ from directly bordering neighboring areas by at least 0.5 N, all force peaks determined in this fashion can be averaged over one unfolding process, i.e. a peak force which is averaged over the number of these force peaks can be calculated. Taking into consideration not only one unfolding process but six unfolding processes of six identically formed and folded material sections and averaging the averaged peak forces determined above over the six unfolding processes, yields at most 2.0 N, in particular at most 1.8 N, in 9 particular at most 2.3 N, in particular at most 1.7 N, in particular at most 1.6 N, and moreover in particular at most 1.5 N. In accordance with a further idea, which is inventive per se, the material sections are advantageously folded and previously fixed, such that the work required to unfold a material section with one pulling motion, averaged over six unfolding processes is at most 120 Nmm, in particular at most 115 Nmm, in particular at most 110 Nmm, in particular at most 105 Nmm, in particular at most 100 Nmm, in particular at most 95, and preferentially at most 90 Nmm. Protection is also claimed for the incontinence articles according to independent claims 23 through 25, wherein the detachable fixation is realized in such a fashion that it meets the requirements of rapidly operating production machines and also facilitates handling by the user or nursing staff in that the forces required for unfolding the material sections and the labor resulting therefrom are in the claimed regions. A test for determining the forces to be overcome for unfolding the material sections which are folded onto themselves and for testing unfolding of the material sections with one pulling motion is described below. The force produced at each moment over the opening path is determined and plotted using a tension test device according to EN ISO 527-1 (April 1996). Sample preparation: A material section folded onto itself and joined to the main part of a hygiene article is separated along a lateral longitudinal edge of the main part thereby destroying the joint using a blade or scissors. The material section 2 forming this side part is fixedly clamped with one longitudinal 10 side edge 4 to a lower clamp 6 of the tension test device over its entire length (in the longitudinal direction of the incontinence article) which was previously joined to the main part (Figs. la and 1b). The lower clamp 6 of the tension test device 8 must therefore have a corresponding length, preferably a length of 300mm. The movable clamp 14 of the tension test device 8 is clamped over a length of 60 mm at the opposite free longitudinal side edge 10 of the separated material section 2 forming the gripping area 12 at that location. When the material section has a longitudinal extension of less than 160 mm, the material section 2 is clamped at the free longitudinal side edge 10 over a length of 30mm by the movable clamp 14. Fig. 1b, which is not to scale, shows the material section 2 in the folded configuration, wherein the area 16 on the longitudinal side edge 10 which can be clamped in the clamp 6 and the gripping area 12 which can be clamped in the clamp 14 are hatched..The arrows indicate the pulling direction of the tension test device. Fig. la also shows the clamping length Lsp. The tension test is carried out by a controlled motion of the movable clamp 14. Test parameters: - test speed of the movable clamp: 300 mm/min - clamping length : 10 mm - measuring path: length of the transverse extension of the unfolded material section - initial force: 0.01 N. Evaluation: 11 The test result of the tension test is stated in N as tensile force produced in the material section and determined between the clamps, rounded to two decimal places. A force/path diagram is produced. Fig. 2 illustrates such a force/path diagram showing the results of six tension tests and a solid line for a curve M averaged therefrom, for an incontinence article as described below. The following table shows the peak forces Fmax and the average values of Fmax averaged for each unfolding process, and the average value X(n=6) from the six tension tests. A force peak Fmax defines a difference of 0.5 N from a neighboring force minimum. The table also shows the work in Nmm required for opening, which was calculated from the determined tensile forces and the path. No. Average value Fmax in N W in Nmm Fmax in N 1 1.78 3.24 95.69 2 1.41 2.41 91.63 3 1.61 2.25 89.91 4 1.16 1.39 62.66 5 1.12 1.62 60.84 6 1.69 2.86 95.40 X(n=6) 1.46 2.29 82.69 The results of Fig. 2 and the above table were determined during unfolding material sections provided in a rear area of an inventive hygiene article which is described below, wherein these material sections also have reinforcing closure elements.

12 Corresponding measurements were taken at material sections provided in a front area of the hygiene article having a shorter longitudinal extension and no reinforcing closure elements. The results are shown in Fig. 3 and in a corresponding fashion in the following table. No. Average value Fmax in N W in Nmm Fmax in N 1 1.05 1.48 64.67 2 1.20 1.77 73.73 3 1.52 2.54 105.45 4 1.73 2.49 93.93 5 1.32 1.88 59.04 6 1.10 1.30 66.19 X(n=6) 1.32 1.91 77.17 Further features, details and advantages of the invention can be extracted from the enclosed claims, the drawing and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. la shows a schematic view of clamping of a material section in a tension test device; Fig. lb shows a view, not taken to scale, of a material section in the folded configuration; Figs. 2, 3 show the force/path diagrams determined in a tension test; Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of an inventive hygiene article; Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the hygiene article of Fig. 4 (A-A); 13 Fig. 6 shows a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5 with folded material section; Fig. 7 shows an enlarged view of a folded material section; Fig. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of a folded material section. The inventive incontinence article is schematically shown in Figs. 1 through 7. It comprises a main part which is designated in total with reference numeral 20 and is frequently also called the chassis. The main part 20 comprises a front area 22, a rear area 24 and an intermediate crotch area 26, which is disposed between the legs of a user when the hygiene article is applied. The main part 20 comprises an absorbing element 28 having suitable dimensions to receive and permanently store body liquids. The absorbing element has a lower liquid-impermeable layer 30 which may also form the outer visible side of the incontinence article. A liquid-permeable topsheet 32 may be provided above the absorbing element 28 (see the sectional view of Fig. 5). A material section 34 which forms side flaps or side sections on both sides of the main part 20 is joined to a longitudinal side section 36 of the main part 20 in the rear area 24. A material section which is continuous in the transverse direction 38 and forms both side sections of the incontinence article may also be provided to form the side sections on both sides. Fig. 4 shows the right-hand material section 34 in the completely unfolded state. It extends in the transverse direction 38 past the respective longitudinal edge 40 of the main part 20 in the direction of the periphery of the hip. The material section has two closure elements 42 in 14 the form of closure tapes 44 which are folded onto themselves and can be unfolded for proper use, and which cooperate in a detachable, adhesive fashion with an outer side 46 of the front area 22 of the main part 20 to close the hygiene article. The respective material section 34 in the rear area 24 of the main part is folded onto itself along three folding lines 50, 52, 54 extending in the longitudinal direction 48 like an accordion (Fig. 4 top left and sectional view of Fig. 5). A free longitudinal edge section 56 of the respective material section 34 forms a gripping area 58 for manually gripping the folded material section 34 to unfold it. When supplied to the end user, the respective material sections 34 are folded toward the inside (based on the view of Fig. 5) into the position indicated in Fig. 6. It is clearly shown that the free longitudinal edge section 56 and thereby also the gripping area 58 of the material section 34 face outwardly away from a longitudinal center axis of the incontinence article, such that, when the hygiene article is unfolded on a support, the user can easily grip the gripping area 58 with his/her left hand from the left-hand side, and a correspondingly positioned gripping area of the other material section with the right hand from the right-hand side. The material sections folded inwardly onto the upper side of the main part may also partially overlap, wherein in this overlapped configuration, the respective gripping areas of the material sections may advantageously be gripped at the same time. The partial sections 60, folded onto themselves, of the material sections 34 are detachably fixed to each other in the folded configuration through punctiform joining locations 62, generated by ultrasound welding, having a diameter of 0.35 mm and an area of 0.0962 mm 2 (indicated in Fig. 4). It has turned out that this detachable fixation may be designed such that 15 the material section 34 can be completely unfolded by a single pulling of the respective gripping area 58, wherein all joining locations 62 are detached or separated. It is thereby advantageous not to provide any joining locations of the partial sections 60 at a separation of at least 5 mm, preferably at least 8 mm, and preferentially at least 10 mm from the folding lines 50, 54. This area without joining locations is designated with reference numeral 66 in Fig. 7. There is no joining location in a schematically indicated periphery 70 starting from a point 68 on the folding line 50, 54, which has the largest separation from the gripping area 58. These areas which are at a very large distance from the gripping area 58 and disposed close to a folding line are particularly critical with respect to complete unfolding, i.e. separation of all joining locations. It is therefore advantageous to provide only a few or preferably no joining locations in these critical areas, such that the folded material sections can be detached or unfolded with one pulling motion, i.e. without repeated gripping or repeated pulling at the gripping area 58. Fig. 8 shows the dimensions of the partial sections 60 of the material section 34. The extension Li in the transverse direction 38 from the longitudinal edge 40 of the main part 20 to the folding line 50 is 90 mm. The extension L2 between the folding lines 50 - 52 - 54 is 35 mm each, and the extension L3 to the free end is 65 mm. This overall extension in the transverse direction 38 of the unfolded material section is therefore 225 mm in the transverse direction. The longitudinal extension L4 is 260 mm. The front area 22 of the hygiene article also has material sections 34, which are folded onto themselves, with a longitudinal extension L4 of only 200 mm and a transverse extension of 225 mm (Fig. 4), which, however, do not have any closure elements to stiffen the material sections and contribute to releasing neighboring joining locations due to 16 their stiffness. Joining locations or joining areas may be provided in the direct vicinity of such reinforcing closure elements, which are easy to detach due to the stiffening. As mentioned above, the measuring results in table 1 and Fig. 2 were determined during unfolding the material sections 34 in the rear area 24 and the measuring results of table 2 and Fig. 3 were determined during unfolding the material sections 34 in the front area 22.

Claims (25)

1. Absorbent incontinence article comprising a main part (20) which consists of a front area (22), a rear area (24), and a longitudinally (48) intermediate crotch area (26) disposed between the legs of a user, the main part (20) comprising an absorbing element (28), and material sections (34, 2) which are joined to the rear area (24) and/or the front area (22) and extend in the transverse direction (38) past lateral longitudinal edges (40) of the main part (20) to connect the front area (22) and the rear area (24) when the article is applied, wherein these material sections (34, 2) are folded onto themselves at least about one folding line (50, 52, 54) which extends in the longitudinal direction (48), wherein flatly abutting partial sections (60) of the material sections (34, 2) are folded onto themselves and are detachably fixed to each other in this folded configuration at joining locations (62) or joining areas, wherein a respective material section (34, 2) folded in this fashion, has a gripping area (58, 12) for unfolding the material section (34, 2), wherein the detachable fixing can be separated at all joining locations (62) or joining areas during unfolding through a single pulling of the respective gripping area (58, 12) of the material sections (34, 2).

2. Incontinence article according to claim 1, characterized in that a folded material section (34, 2) is folded onto itself about at least two folding lines (50, 52, 54).

3. Incontinence article according to claim 1, characterized in that a folded material section (34, 2) is folded onto itself about three or four folding lines (50, 52, 54). 18

4. Incontinence article according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the respective gripping areas (58, 12) face toward the outside, i.e. away from each other in the transverse direction (38) prior to use, such that a user can easily grip them with the left hand from the left-hand side and with the right hand from the right-hand side.

5. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detachable fixation between the partial sections (60), folded onto themselves, of the material sections (34, 2) is formed by several substantially punctiform joining locations (62).

6. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detachable fixation between the partial sections (60), folded onto themselves, of the material sections (34, 2) is formed by joining locations (62) formed by heat or ultrasound.

7. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by an area of folded material sections (34, 2), in which the number or the surface portion of the joining locations (62) or the adhesion of the detachably joined partial sections of the material sections decreases the larger the separation from the gripping area in the longitudinal direction (48).

8. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by an area of folded material sections (34, 2), in which the number or the surface portion of the joining locations (62) or the adhesion of the detachably joined partial sections (60) of the material sections decreases the larger the separation from the gripping area (58, 12) in the transverse direction (38).

9. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the abutting partial sections (60) are not joined within a radius (70) of 1.5 cm from a point (68) of the remotest folding line (50, 54), located at the largest separation from the gripping area (58, 12).

10. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the abutting partial sections (60) are not joined at a separation of 5 mm, in particular 8 mm, and in particular 10 mm from the folding line (50, 54) which has the largest separation from the gripping area (58, 12).

11. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the planar extension of the partial sections (60), which are folded onto themselves and abut each other, can be divided by a straight line (52) extending in the longitudinal direction (48) into two substantially identical halves, the number or the surface portion of the joining locations (62) or the adhesive force of the detachably joined partial sections (60) being different in these two halves.

12. Incontinence article according to claim 11, characterized in that the number or the surface portion of the joining locations or the adhesive force of the detachably joined partial sections (60) is larger in the half facing the gripping area (58, 12) in the transverse direction (38) than in the half facing away from the gripping area in the transverse direction.

13. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a material section (34, 2) extends in the 20 longitudinal direction (48) in the area where it is joined to the main part (20) by at least 10 cm, in particular at least 14 cm, in particular at least 18 cm and preferentially at least 22 mm.

14. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a material section (34, 2) extends in a transverse direction (38) in the unfolded state past the longitudinal edge (40) of the main part (20) by at least 10 cm, in particular at least 15 cm, in particular at least 18 cm, and preferentially at least 22 cm.

15. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material sections (34, 2) have closure elements (42) which are preferably disposed on the material sections, preferably in a folded configuration which can be unfolded prior to use.

16. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material sections (34, 2) which are provided on both sides are folded onto the side of the main part (20) facing the body in the front area (22) and/or rear area (24) of an article which is folded prior to use.

17. Incontinence article according to claim 16, characterized in that the folded material sections (34, 2) partially overlap, wherein their gripping areas (58, 12) can still be simultaneously gripped.

18. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized In that the material sections (34, 2) joined to the main part (20) are formed by a non-woven material. 21

19. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material sections (34, 2) joined to the main part (20) are less rigid than the main part (20).

20. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joining locations (62) or joining areas exert a peak force, averaged over the unfolding process, by pulling the respective gripping area (58, 12) during unfolding the material sections (34, 2), of at most 2.5 N, in particular at most 2.4 N, in particular at most 2.3 N, in particular at most 2.2 N, in particular at most 2.1 N and preferentially at most 2.0 N.

21. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joining locations (62) or joining areas exert a peak force, averaged over six unfolding processes by pulling the respective gripping area (58, 12) during unfolding the material sections (34, 2), of at most 2.0 N, in particular at most 1.8 N, in particular at most 2.3 N, in particular at most 1.7 N, in particular at most 1.6 N, and preferentially at most 1.5 N.

22. Incontinence article according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the work required for unfolding a material section (34, 2) by pulling once, averaged over six unfolding processes is at most 120 Nmm, in particular at most 115 Nmm, in particular at most 110 Nmm, in particular at most 105 Nmm, in particular at most 100 Nmm, in particular at most 95 Nmm, and preferentially at most 90 Nmm.

23. Absorbent incontinence article comprising a main part (20) which consists of a front area (22), a rear area (24), and a longitudinally 22 (48) intermediate crotch area (26) disposed between the legs of a user, the main part (20) comprising an absorbing element (28), and material sections (34, 2) which are joined to the rear area (24) and/or the front area (22) and extend in the transverse direction (38) past lateral longitudinal edges (40) of the main part (20) and connect the front area (22) and the rear area (24) when the article is applied, wherein these material sections (34, 2) are folded onto themselves at least about one folding line (50, 52, 54) which extends in the longitudinal direction (48), wherein flatly abutting partial sections (60) of the material sections (34, 2) are folded onto themselves and are detachably fixed to each other in this folded configuration at joining locations (62) or joining areas, wherein a respective material section (34, 2) folded in this fashion, has a gripping area (58, 12) for unfolding the material section (34, 2), wherein, during unfolding the material sections (34, 2) by pulling the respective gripping area (58, 12), the joining locations (62) or joining areas exert a maximum counter force, averaged over the unfolding process, of at most 2.5 N, in particular at most 2.4 N, in particular at most 2.3 N, in particular at most 2.2 N, in particular at most 2.1 N and preferentially at most 2.0 N.

24. Absorbent incontinence article comprising a main part (20), which consists of a front area (22), a rear area (24), and a longitudinally (48) intermediate crotch area (26) disposed between the legs of a user, the main part (20) comprising an absorbing element (28), and material sections (34, 2) which are joined to the rear area (24) and/or the front area (22) and extend in the transverse direction (38) past lateral longitudinal edges (40) of the main part (20) and connect the front area (22) and the rear area (24) when the article is applied, wherein these material sections (34, 2) are folded onto themselves at least about one folding line (50, 52, 54) which 23 extends in the longitudinal direction (48), wherein flatly abutting partial sections (60) of the material sections (34, 2) are folded onto themselves and are detachably fixed to each other in this folded configuration at joining locations (62) or joining areas, wherein a respective material section (34, 2) folded in this fashion, has a gripping area (58, 12) for unfolding the material section (34, 2), wherein, during unfolding the material sections (34, 2) by pulling the respective gripping area (58, 12), the joining locations (62) or . joining areas exert a maximum force, averaged over six unfolding processes, of at most 2.0 N, in particular at most 1.8 N, in particular at most 2.3 N, in particular at most 1.7 N, in particular at most 1.6 N and preferentially at most 1.5 N.

25. Absorbent incontinence article comprising a main part (20), which consists of a front area (22), a rear area (24), and a longitudinally (48) intermediate crotch area (26) disposed between the legs of a user, the main part (20) comprising an absorbing element (28), and material sections (34, 2) which are joined to the rear area (24) and/or the front area (22) and extend in the transverse direction (38) past lateral longitudinal edges (40) of the main part (20) and connect the front area (22) and the rear area (24) when the article is applied, wherein these material sections (34, 2) are folded onto themselves at least about one folding line (50, 52, 54) which extends in the longitudinal direction (48), wherein flatly abutting partial sections (60) of the material sections (34, 2) are folded onto themselves and are detachably fixed to each other in this folded configuration at joining locations (62) or joining areas, wherein a respective material section (34, 2) folded in this fashion, has a gripping area (58, 12) for unfolding the material section (34, 2), wherein the work required for unfolding a material section (34, 2) by pulling once, averaged over six unfolding processes is at most 120 24 Nmm, in particular at most 115 Nmm, in particular at most 110 Nmm, in particular at most 105 Nmm, in particular at most 100 Nmm, in particular at most 95 Nmm, in particular at most 90 Nmm.