DE29522079U1 - Disposable diaper with elastic waistband - Google Patents

Description

The registration of the customs register .;. documents to be used as a basis * ·*"_;

DIEHL · GLAESER HILTL & PARTNER

CIVIL LAW COMPANY

Patent attorneys ■ Augustenstrasse 46 ■ D - 80333 Munich Dr. Hermann O. Th. Diehl ■ Graduate physicist Joachim W. Glaeser · Graduate engineer' Dr. Elmar HiItI ■ Graduate chemist Dr. Thomas Leidescher ■ Graduate biologist In cooperation with Diehl & Partner AG CH - 7513 Silvaplana ■ Switzerland

Patent Attorneys · European Patent Attorneys Munich ■ Hamburg'

11 May 1999

K6650-DE-U

TUE/SUN

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc
4 01 North Lake Street
Neenah, Wisconsin 54956
USA

Disposable diaper with elastic waistband

Law firm ■ Office: Munich M:\6650DEEE.DOC

Telephone · Telephone (089) 17 86 36-0

Fax · Facsimile (089) 1 78 40 (089) 1 78 40

EMAIL address: info@diehl.ccn.de Address
Augustenstrasse 46
D - 80333 Munich

Postal address · Mailing address P.O. Box 34 01 15 D - 80098 Munich

Disposable diaper with elastic waistband

The present invention relates to disposable absorbent garments.
5

In recent years, disposable absorbent garments for use with children in the toilet training stage have come onto the market and have proved very popular with mothers and caregivers. A specific example is a training pant with a body side liner, an outer shell, an absorbent medium positioned between the liner and the outer shell, and side seams that join together areas of the side edges of the pant to form waist and leg openings.

One type of training pants has elastic side portions which fit the child's hips and separate front and back elastic waist strips which are located adjacent to the waist opening. The waist strips are generally spaced from the elastic side portions. Such a training pants is disclosed, for example, in EP-A-0526868.

Although these separate front and back elastic waist strips may provide some degree of sealing at the front and back of the pants, they are not entirely effective in achieving the desired seal and fit at the waist that will result in satisfactory containment of waste.

The present invention intends to overcome these problems.

This object is achieved by the disposable garment according to the independent claims 1 and 6.

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Further advantages, features, aspects and details of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings. The claims are to be understood as a first non-limiting approach to defining the invention in general.

The absorbent disposable garment according to the present invention comprises a continuous waistband elasticized in selected areas which is connected around an opening of the garment to improve fit and comfort.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a disposable garment comprising a pant body defining a waist opening and a pair of leg openings; a partially elasticated, continuous waist band having four oppositely disposed elasticated side segments and at least one inelasticated segment; and a continuous elasticated waist band connected to the partially elasticated, continuous waist band.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a disposable garment comprising a pant body having a continuous waistband defining a continuous waist opening, the continuous waistband having at least one inelastic segment and at least one elastic segment; and a continuous elastic waistband having at least one recoverable region capable of being temporarily inactivated and at least one elastic region having an elasticity substantially

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an elasticity of the elastic segment. The continuous waistband is connected to the continuous waistband, with the elastic region connected to the elastic segment and the recoverable region connected to the inelastic segment. The recoverable region, when activated, contracts the inelastic segment.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a disposable absorbent garment comprising a topsheet and a backsheet having the waistband comprising at least one elastic segment and one non-elastic segment, and an absorbent structure disposed on the backsheet. An elastic waistband is connected to the waistband and has an elasticity substantially equal to the elasticity of the elastic segment.

The above and other features of the present invention and the manner in which they may be carried out will become more apparent and the invention as such will be better understood from the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of one type of elasticized, absorbent disposable garment embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially exploded view of Fig. 1 showing a continuous waistband elasticized in selected areas separated from the garment;
35

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Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the garment of Fig. 1 in a partially disassembled, spread-out flat condition;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the garment of Fig. 1 in a partially disassembled, spread out flat condition;
10

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the garment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through a waist portion of the garment of Fig. 1;
15

Fig. 7A-7D modifications of the view of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 8 shows a modification of the garment of Fig. 5.

The following terms, as used in this document, have the following meaning:

"Elastic composite material" or "elastic composite web" means a multilayer material having at least one elastic layer joined to at least one gatherable layer at at least two locations, the gatherable layer being gathered between the locations where it is joined to the elastic layer. An elastic composite material can be stretched to the extent that the inelastic material gathered between the locations allows the elastic material to expand. This type of elastic composite material is disclosed, for example, by Vander Wielen et al. in US-A-4720415, issued January 19, 1988.

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"Continuous" means that the structure described is the structure of a closed ring. The continuous structure may be a unitary, i.e. one-piece structure, or it may be composed of individual elements which are suitably connected to one another to form a closed ring.

"Disposable" or "disposable..." means that the garment described is designed to be used until it is soiled either by urine or feces or otherwise and then discarded rather than being washed and reused.

"Elastic", "elasticity", "elasticized" or similar terms refer to a material or composite material that tends to recover its original dimension and shape after the force causing the deformation is removed (expressed as a percentage).

"Extension" means the ratio of the extension of a

Material to the length of the material before its expansion

(expressed in percent), which is expressed as follows:

extended; length - original length

original length &khgr; 100.

"Expansion" means the change in length of a material due to stretching (expressed in units of length).

"Connecting", "connection", "connected" or variations of these terms, as used to describe the relationship between two or more elements, means that the elements are in any suitable

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manner, such as by heat sealing, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, by means of adhesives, by sewing or similar. Furthermore, the elements can be directly connected to one another or have one or more elements inserted between them, all of which are joined together.

"Effectively elastically connected" describes the connection of an elastic element to an inelastic element in such a way that the two connected elements exhibit elasticity.

"Bodysuit" refers to a garment having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, similar to shorts, swimwear or the like. The garment described may or may not have manually tearable side seams.

"Recovery, involution" or variations of these terms refer to a contraction that an expanded material undergoes upon release or removal of a prestressing force or upon appropriate treatment of the material after it has been temporarily inactivated.

"Temporarily inactivate" means delaying the complete recovery of an expanded elastic layer (or substrate) or elastic composite material. The delay can be achieved by compressing the expanded elastic layer or elastic composite material in such a way that the elastic and gatherable layers are temporarily bonded together. Partial recovery of a temporarily inactivated elastic layer or elastic composite material can occur immediately after the force is removed, but complete recovery of a temporarily inactivated elastic layer or elastic composite material requires

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inactivated elastic layer or elastic composite material takes longer than the complete recovery of the same material which has not been temporarily inactivated. For example, complete recovery of an expanded elastic layer or expanded elastic composite material which has not been temporarily inactivated may be immediate, while complete recovery of a temporarily inactivated elastic layer or elastic composite material may require, for example, about 5 to about 60 seconds.

"Complete recovery" or variations of this term refers to a material that recovers to within about 20 percent of its relaxed dimensions prior to expansion.

Referring primarily to Fig. 1, a disposable absorbent garment 10 is shown in the form of a child's training pant. Although the garment 10 is shown and described as a training pant, it may also be other types of absorbent garments or articles, such as baby diapers, adult incontinence products, or the like.

The disposable absorbent garment 10 includes a pant body 12 having a front portion 14, a back portion 16, a crotch portion 18, elastic side portions 20, seams 22, a continuous waist opening 24, and a pair of continuous leg openings 26. Each elastic side portion 20 includes a front elastic side panel 68 (Fig. 5) and a back elastic side panel 70 which are joined together at a corresponding seam 22. The garment 10 further includes a continuous waist band 30 (Figs. 1 and 2), continuous

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·· ■ .:■

·

Leg bindings 38 and a continuous waistband 32. The continuous waistband 32 includes a front waistband element 64 (Fig. 5) and a rear waistband element 66. The continuous waistband 30 includes a front waistband section 42 (Figs. 4, 5) having a front edge 44 and a rear waistband section 46 having a rear edge 48. An absorbent structure 28 is suitably incorporated into the garment 10 at least in the crotch portion 18 thereof.

The pant body 12 includes a topsheet 34 (Fig. 4) and a backsheet 36 which desirably coincide, although this is not a requirement of the present invention. The backsheet 36 (Fig. 5) includes a pair of front outer edges 50, front inner edges 52, innermost edges 54, rear tapered edges 56, and rear outer edges 58.

The front waistband element 64 (Fig. 4, 5) is

conveniently with the front

Waist binding portion 42 is connected to rear waistband member 66, and rear waistband member 66 is conveniently connected to rear waistband binding portion 46. Front and rear waistband members 42, 46 desirably each have a length substantially equal to the respective lengths of front and rear waistband members 64, 66 , and widths substantially equal to the respective widths of front and rear waistband members 64, 66, the length being measured along a line extending generally parallel to transverse centerline 60 (Fig. 5) and the width being measured along a line extending generally parallel to longitudinal centerline 62. A desirable range of widths for waistband members 64, 66 is from about 1 cm to about 8 cm, more preferably a range of from about 2 cm to about 4 cm.

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cm. For example, if one or both waistband members 64, 66 have a different geometric shape, i.e., other than an elongated rectangular shape as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each waistband portion 42, 46 would desirably have substantially the same geometric shape as its respective associated waistband member 64, 66.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, if the garment 10 is folded along a transverse fold line extending generally parallel to the transverse centerline 60 and pairs of correspondingly aligned front and rear outer edges 50, 58 are joined together to form seams 22, the following construction is achieved:

(i) the front waist binding portion 42 and the back waist binding portion 46 form or define the continuous waist binding 30; (ii) the front waistband member 64 and the back waistband member 66 form or define the continuous waistband 32; (iii) a front inner edge 52, an innermost edge 54 and a back inclined edge 56 form or define a respective leg opening 26; (iv) and a front elastic side member 68 and a back elastic side member 70 form or define a respective elastic side portion 20.

The garment 10 also includes a pair of leg elastic members 72 (Fig. 5) which are suitably connected, for example, between the topsheet 34 and the backsheet 36 (Fig. 4).

The absorbent structure 28 (Figs. 4 and 5) includes a front edge 74, a rear edge 76, and side edges 78. As shown in Fig. 5, the front edge 74 and the rear edge 76 of the absorbent structure are inwardly of the front waistband member 64 and the rear

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waistband element 66. Similarly, the

Side edges 78 of the absorbent structure are arranged inwardly of the respective leg elastic elements 72. By "inwardly"

This means that, for example, the front edge 74 of the

absorbent structure of the transverse center line 6 0 is closer than the

front waistband element 64 and the side edges 78 of the

absorbent structure are closer to the longitudinal center line 62 than the leg elastic elements 72.

When the garment 10 is properly fitted on the wearer, the topsheet 34 faces the wearer's body and may or may not be the layer in direct contact with the skin. The topsheet 34 may be a liquid permeable, elastic or inelastic, substantially hydrophobic material such as a spunbonded web of synthetic polymer filaments. The topsheet 34 may also be a meltblown web or a bonded carded web of synthetic polymer filaments. Suitable synthetic polymers include, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester. The topsheet 34 has a pore size which allows liquids such as urine and other body exudates to readily pass therethrough. If desired, the topsheet 34 may be treated with surfactants to selectively adjust its degree of wettability and may optionally be embossed or perforated with discrete slits or holes extending therethrough. Suitable topsheet materials may have a basis weight of between about 10 g/m ² to about 260 g/m ² and a thickness of about 0.013 cm to about 0.064 cm. The thickness of the topsheet material may be determined by using an Ames Bulk Test (ASTM D-1777) conducted with a holding pressure of 1.38 kPa (0.2 psi).

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ii .:

The backing layer 36, which may or may not be the outermost layer of the garment 10, may be liquid permeable or liquid impermeable and may or may not be breathable, ie, vapor permeable. A suitable liquid permeable backing layer 36 is a bicomponent nonwoven web having a basis weight of about 15 g/m ² to about 50 g/m ² . The bicomponent nonwoven web may be a spunbond bicomponent web or a bonded carded bicomponent web. Suitable bicomponent fibers include a wettable polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fiber available from CHISSO Corporation, Osaka, Japan. In this particular bicomponent fiber, the polypropylene formed the core and the polyethylene formed the sheath of the fiber. Other fiber orientations are possible, such as a multi-wing, side-by-side or end-to-end arrangement. Another suitable liquid-permeable material is a liquid-permeable, spunbonded polypropylene nonwoven web having a basis weight of about 15 g/m ² to about 50 g/m ² .

A suitable liquid impermeable backing 36 is a 0.0015 cm polyethylene film from Edison Plastics Company, South Plainfield, New Jersey. The backing 36 may also be a two-layer laminate in which the innermost layer may be the liquid impermeable film described above or any other suitable liquid impermeable layer and the outermost layer may be the liquid permeable spunbonded polypropylene nonwoven web described above or any other suitable liquid permeable layer. The backing 36 desirably has a thickness in the range of about 0.0013 to about 0.0051 cm.

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The absorbent structure 28 may comprise any suitable absorbent natural or synthetic material or a combination of these together with a superabsorbent material. The absorbent material from which the absorbent structure 28 is made may also be covered by a tissue wrapper (not shown) to maintain the integrity of the absorbent material forming the absorbent structure 28. Suitable superabsorbent materials are available from various suppliers such as Dow Chemical Company, Hoechst-Celanese Corporation and Allied Colloids Inc. One suitable natural absorbent material is wood pulp fluff, which is available under the trade designation CR1654 from Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wisconsin. A particular absorbent structure 28 which may be usefully used in the garment 10 is described in patent document US-A-5509915, inventor Hanson et al., which is assigned to the assignee of this application.

The construction of the garment 10 can be carried out in any conventional manner known in the art. For example, the structural elements can be bonded together in any manner, such as by heat sealing or ultrasonic bonding, or by adhesively securing the elements together using a suitable adhesive. Suitable adhesives are available from Findley Adhesives Inc., Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and can be applied in any form, such as by spraying, slot-coat extrusion, pressing, or the like. The applied adhesive can be applied in any desired configuration, such as in the form of continuous or discontinuous beads, continuous or discontinuous swirls, meltblown patterns, spray patterns, or the like.

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Referring to Figures 1-6, the geometry of the front elastic side members 68 (Figure 5) may be the same as or different from the geometry of the rear elastic side members 70. Each front elastic side member 68 and each rear elastic side member 70 includes an elastic layer 80 (Figures 3, 6) sandwiched between the topsheet 34 and backsheet 36. The elastic layer 80 may be made of any suitable elastic material, one of such materials being a block copolymer of styrene-ethylbutadiene-styrene. Other types of materials from which the elastic layer 80 may be made include the KRATON® G series from The Shell Chemical Company, such as KRATON® G-1650, KRATON® G-1652, KRATON® GX-16 57 and KRATON® G-2 74 OX. The KRATON® D series can also be used, as well as elastomeric polyester materials, elastomeric polyurethane materials and elastomeric polyamide materials. The elastic layer 80 0 can be in the form of a film, a nonwoven web or in the form of, for example, spaced-apart, parallel bands or threads made of synthetic or natural rubber.

Each elastic layer 80 is operatively elastically bonded to a portion of either the topsheet 34 or the backsheet 36, preferably to portions of both the topsheet 34 and the backsheet 36, to provide elasticity to those portions. An example of this is described in EP-A-0547497, filed March 25, 1993, inventors of which are Van Gompel et al. Another example of providing elastic side portions 20 is described in US-A-4940464, issued July 10, 1990 to inventors Van Gompel et al.

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Still further examples of elastic materials and composites are described in US-A-4720415, issued January 19, 1988 to Vander Wielen et al., US-A-4657802, issued April 14, 1987 to Morman, and US-A-4652487, issued March 24, 1987 to Morman.

Each elastic side portion 20 in the disposable absorbent garment 10 (Fig. 1) may have an elasticity of about 50% to about 250%, desirably an elasticity of about 75% to about 200%, and more preferably an elasticity of about 100% to about 150%.

Referring primarily to Figures 2, 4-6, the continuous waist enclosure 30 (Figure 2) includes opposed elastic side segments 82, an inelastic front segment 84, and an inelastic back segment 86. Each elastic side segment 82 encompasses a portion of a corresponding elastic side portion 20. As shown in Figure 6, the inelastic front segment 84 and the inelastic back segment 86 encompass portions of the topsheet 34 and backsheet 36.

36. Due to the elastic side segments 82, the continuous waist band 30 (Fig. 2) is therefore partially elastic.

The continuous waistband 32 may be an elastomeric nonwoven fabric material, such as an elastomeric stretch bonded laminate web or an elastomeric meltblown web. By appropriate selection of materials, the continuous waistband 32 may be temporarily elastically inactivated, for example, by compression. Once the elastic material from which the waistband 32 is formed is temporarily inactivated with respect to its elasticity, it may be reactivated,

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for example by heat treatment to regain a state of elasticity.

In a specific embodiment, the waistband 32 comprises an elastomeric nonwoven web which is substantially vapor permeable. Examples of suitable elastomeric nonwoven webs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,424 filed May 5, 1987 to Wisneski et al.

Examples of composites comprising at least one layer of nonwoven textile fabric bonded to an elastic fiber layer are described in EP-A-0217032, published April 8, 1987, inventors of which are J. Tayler et al.

Nonwoven composites are generally stretch-bonded laminates.

In another embodiment, the waistband 3 2 comprises an elastomeric composite web comprising discrete strips or strands of elastomeric material attached to one or more nonwoven layers. Such an elastomeric composite web may, for example, comprise a meltblown elastomeric material arranged in a selected pattern of strips suitably sandwiched and bonded between two layers of nonwoven material. This material and others are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,861,652, issued August 29, 1989. Still other useful elastic composite materials are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,883,549, issued November 28, 1989.

One of the innovative features of the present invention is the selective provision of regions of the continuous waistband 32 (Fig. 1-2) with different elasticities, which are determined, for example, by the elasticity of the elastic side portions 20 and the desired elasticity which corresponds to the

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inelastic front segment 84 and/or the inelastic back segment 86.

Another novel feature of the present invention is to provide a continuous waistband 32 around a continuous waistband 30 such that it does not substantially restrict or reduce the elasticity of the elastic side portions 20 and is capable of imparting elasticity to the inelastic front segment 84 and the inelastic back segment 86.

An example of a selectively elasticized continuous waistband 30 will now be described. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the front and rear waistband sections 42, 46 define the continuous waistband 30 (Figure 1) and have front and rear waistband members 64, 66 suitably attached thereto, respectively. Since the connection of the front waistband member 64 to the front waistband section 42 can be made in the same manner as the connection of the rear waistband member 66 to the rear waistband section 46, only the former will be described. In this example, each elastic side segment 82 (Figure 2) has an elasticity of about 180%, i.e., each elastic side segment 82 can be stretched 2.8 times its original length. It is desirable that the inelastic front segment 84 be given an elasticity which is different from that of the elastic side segment 82.

The front waistband member 64 (Figs. 4, 5) includes side portions 88 and a recoverable front portion 90 therebetween. It is desirable that the front waistband member 64 be a one-piece structure.

However, the side areas 88 and the front area 90

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represent separate structures which are suitably connected together to form the front waistband element 64. Since the elastic side segments 82 (Fig. 2) have an elasticity of about 180%, the front waistband element 64 is selected and designed to also have an elasticity of about 180%. The length of each side region 88 of Fig. 4, measured along the centerline 60 (Fig. 5), is about 50 mm and the length of the recoverable front region 90 is about 90 mm.

The front waistband portion 42 of Fig. 4 has two elastic side segments 82 between which the inelastic front segment 84 is sandwiched. Each side segment 82 of Fig. 4 has a length of about 50 mm, and the front segment 84 has a length of about 150 mm. Before the front waistband element 64 is connected to the front waistband portion 42, the recoverable front region 90 is stretched by about 67%, resulting in an extension length of about 150 mm. After the recovery front region 90 has been expanded, it is temporarily inactivated with respect to its elasticity, for example by compression, thereby imparting to the front region 90 the property of complete recovery, i.e. it is able to regain an elastic state after it has been activated in a suitable manner, for example by means of heat treatment. After the front portion 90 has been expanded and temporarily inactivated with respect to its elasticity, the waistband member 64 is suitably discontinuously bonded to the front waistband portion 42 such that the front portion 90 is bonded to the front segment 84, for example, by ultrasonic, thermal, or adhesive bonding.

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Similarly, the rear waistband member 66 is joined to the rear waistband portion 46. The disposable absorbent garment 10 is then folded along a fold line extending generally parallel to the transverse centerline 60 and the front outer edges 50 (Fig. 5) are suitably joined to the rear outer edges 58 to form seams 22. The garment 10 is then treated, such as by heat, to activate the front region 90 and the rear region 92 which have been partially inactivated with respect to their elasticity. After complete recovery, the front portion 90 contracts the inelastic front segment 84 and the rear region 92 contracts the inelastic back segment 86. Depending on the selection of materials for the front and rear waistband sections 42, 46 and the front and rear waistband members 64, 66, the front segment 84 and the front region 90, when joined together, may have an elasticity of between about 30% to about 60%.

It will be understood that the elasticity around the waist opening 24 of the garment 10 (Fig. 1) will depend on various factors such as the types of materials from which the waistband 32 and waistband 30 are made, their elastic properties, and the like. The continuous waistband 32 must therefore be carefully constructed and designed as to materials and elasticity so that when properly joined to the continuous waistband 30, the desired elasticity is imparted to the front segment 84 and the back segment 86.

The continuous waistband 32 may be suitably connected to the continuous waistband 30 in a number of desired configurations. Fig. 7 shows a

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Configuration in which the continuous waistband 32 and the continuous waist binding 30 are joined together such that the upper edge 98 of the continuous waistband 32 is substantially coplanar with the peripheral edge 40 of the continuous waist binding 30.

Fig. 7A is similar to Fig. 7 except that the continuous waistband 32 is offset with respect to the continuous waistband 30 so that a portion of the waistband 32 extends beyond the continuous waistband 30. In this configuration, the upper edge 98 extends beyond the peripheral edge 40.

Referring to Fig. 7B, the continuous waistband 32 has a folded portion 102 that is folded over the peripheral edge 40 so that the upper edge 98 is on the side of the continuous waistband 30 opposite the lower edge 100.

The configuration of Fig. 7C is similar to that of Fig. 7B with the exception that the portion of the continuous waistband 32 comprising the lower edge 100 is folded upon itself to form a C-folded portion 104.

The configuration of Fig. 7D shows a continuous waistband 32 having two C-folded portions 104, with the C-folded portion 104 comprising the lower edge 100 suitably connected to the continuous waistband 30. In this configuration, the upper edge 98 extends beyond the peripheral edge 40.

Fig. 8 shows a modification of the absorbent disposable garment 10 shown in Fig. 1, in which elastic

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Leg cuffs 106 replace the elastic leg features 72 and are suitably connected to leg bindings 108. An elastic leg cuff 106 may be suitably connected to a leg binding 108 in a manner similar to the connection of the front waistband feature 64 to the front waist binding portion 42 (Fig. 5).

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Claims (13)

Protection claims 1. Disposable garment with a trouser body (12) defining a waist opening (24) and a pair of leg openings (26), a partially elastic, continuous waistband (30) having four oppositely arranged elastic side segments (82) and at least one inelastic segment (84,86), and a continuous elastic waistband (32) connected to the partially elastic continuous waistband (30). 2. Disposable garment according to claim 1, wherein the waistband (32) has an elasticity that substantially corresponds to the elasticity of the elastic side segments (82). 3. Garment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the waistband (32) has a pair of side regions (88), a front region (90) and a rear region (92), wherein the pair of side portions (88) are each connected to the pair of elastic side segments (82) of the waistband (30),
30 where an area is selected from the front area (90) and the rear region (92) is effectively elastically connected to the inelastic segment (84,86), wherein the one region (90,92) and the inelastic segment (84,86) have an elasticity which M:\6650DEEE.DOC from the elasticity of the elastic side segments (82). 4. A garment according to any preceding claim, comprising a pair of partially elastic, continuous leg edgings (38, 108), and a continuous elastic leg waistband (106) operatively elastically connected to each of the partially elastic continuous leg panels. 5. Disposable article according to one of the preceding claims, with: a pant body (12) having a continuous waistband (30) defining a continuous waist opening (24),
20 wherein the continuous waistband (30) comprises at least one inelastic segment (84,86) and at least one elastic segment (82), and a continuous elastic waistband (32) having at least one recoverable region that can be temporarily inactivated and at least one elastic region having an elasticity that substantially corresponds to an elasticity of the elastic segment (82), wherein the continuous elastic waistband (32) with continuous waist edging (30) is connected, whereby the elastic area is connected to the elastic segment (82) and the M:\6650DEEE.DOC ²³ .&iacgr; * • * recoverable area is connected to the inelastic segment (84,86), wherein the recoverable region contracts the inelastic segment (84,86) after its activation. 6. Disposable garment with a pant body (12) having a continuous waist band (30) defining a continuous waist opening (24), wherein the continuous waistband (30) comprises at least one inelastic segment (84,86) and at least one elastic segment (82), and a continuous elastic waistband (32) having at least one recoverable region that can be temporarily inactivated and at least one elastic region having an elasticity that substantially corresponds to an elasticity of the elastic segment (82), wherein the continuous elastic waistband (32) is connected to the continuous waistband (30), the elastic region is connected to the elastic segment (82) and the recoverable region is connected to the inelastic segment (84,86),
30 wherein the recoverable region contracts the inelastic segment (84,86) after its activation. 7. Garment according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the recoverable region and the inelastic segment (84, 86) have elasticity after activation, M:\6650DEEE.DOC which differs from the elasticity of the elastic segment (82). 8. Garment according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the recoverable area and the inelastic Segment (84,86) after activation have an elasticity which substantially corresponds to the elasticity of the elastic segment (82) of the waistband (30).
10 9. The garment of any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the recoverable region and the inelastic segment (84, 86) after activation have an elasticity that differs from the elasticity of the elastic segment (82) of the waistband (30). 10. The garment of any preceding claim, wherein the waistband (32) has a width of about 1 cm to about 8 cm. 11. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the waistband (32) is folded over an edge of the waist band (30). 12. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the waistband is folded over itself in a C-shape. 13. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the waistband (32) extends beyond an edge of the waistband (30). &Idigr;4. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the garment comprises an upper layer (34) , a waistband (30) having M:\6650DEEE.DOC Backing layer (36) and an absorbent structure (28) arranged on the backing layer (36). M:\6650DEEE.DOC