SK17597A3 - Diaper with lateral elongation characteristics - Google Patents

Abstract

An absorbent article includes a fastening tab (44) connected to each side edge (110) in a first waistband section (40). Each fastening tab has a user bond section (52) that is adapted for securing the article during use. A pair of laterally separated, elasticized side sections (89) of the article is operatively connected to the first waistband section to provide the article with a spatially discontinuous lateral elasticity. The absorbent article defines a fastening panel (200) which is located in the first waistband section and extends longitudinally from one end edge inward 7.62 centimeters and laterally between the user bond sections of the fastening tabs. The fastening panel provides a first cycle extension force of less than about 1720 grams at a 27 percent lateral extension.

Description

The present invention relates to extensible absorbent garments such as diapers, baby protective articles, female protective articles, incontinence garments and the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent garment having a waistband with improved lateral elongation characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional, disposable absorbent articles typically comprise a liquid pervious body piece, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent material disposed between the body piece and the backsheet. Such disposable absorbent articles also included a attachment system for fastening the article about the user's body. Suitable attachment systems include adhesive fastening tapes, hook and loop fasteners, or the like.

In order to improve the attachment of the absorbent article around the user's body, conventional articles also had resilient materials incorporated. Examples of such materials are threads, strips or strips resiliently attached to the back sheet, either along the longitudinal sides or longitudinal ends of the article.

Disposable absorbent articles of the prior art, even those incorporating resilient materials, did not have adequate lateral extensibility in the waist portion of the article to facilitate use of the attachment system and adapt to user movements. The resilient materials that were embedded in the waistband were not positioned efficiently to interact with the fastening system. Thus, conventional products have been exposed to undesirable failures of the fastening system or redness of the user ' s skin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of these defects in the prior art, a new absorbent article has been discovered. The fastening system of the absorbent article may be easily expanded and attached to the securing area to provide improved fastening. The user's movements do not exert excessive forces on the user or on the fastening system, thus improving the level of failure of the fastening system and the user's skin redness.

One idea of the present invention relates to an absorbent article having longitudinal side edges and first and second end edges extending between the side edges. The article also has a rear waistband joined to the first end edge, a front waistband joined to the second end edge, and a middle piece joining the two waistband parts. The absorbent article comprises a backsheet with an absorbent body disposed on the backsheet. The fixture of the article is attached to the back sheet along each of the side edges in the back waist panel. Each fixture has a user-bonded piece that is adapted to secure the article around the user's body during use. A pair of laterally spaced, biased side sections of the article are operatively coupled to the backsheet in the first sheet portion. The side panels have a beneficial effect on the absorbent article having a space of discontinuous lateral elasticity. More specifically, the absorbent article comprises a fastening panel that is received in the rear waist panel and extends from the first end edge longitudinally inwardly at a distance of 76.2 mm and extends laterally between the user-bonded fastener parts. The fastening panel generates a first cycle extension force of less than 1,720 g at a side extension of 75.4 mm.

According to another idea of the invention, the fastening panel may exert a magnitude of force change that is less than 650 g /% elongation as determined at 27% lateral elongation during the first stretching cycle.

According to various ideas of the invention, a diaper is provided with a fastening panel that can accommodate the elongation required to attach the fasteners in significant changes in the circumference of the child's belt. The exact level of force at extra length and the amount of change in force at extra length are controlled to reduce discomfort and redness of the user's skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, wherein FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional plan view of a diaper according to the invention, FIG. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the side panel and diaper fastener assembly of the invention, wherein the length of the stretched portion is less than the length of the free end region of the associated side panel; 3 is a side cross-sectional side view of the side panel and fixture assembly of FIG. 2, FIG. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a diaper according to the invention having a wine control layer and a pair of catch flaps; Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of another embodiment of a diaper according to the invention having a non-rectangular side panel contour; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the side panel and diaper fastener assembly of the invention wherein the stretched member is made of a piece of material other than that used for the fastener and wherein the length of the stretched portion is substantially equal to the free end region of the associated side panel; 7 is a side cross-sectional side view of the side panel and fixture assembly of FIG. 6, FIG. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the side panel and diaper fastener assembly of the invention, wherein the stretched portion is formed from a piece of material that is separate and spaced from the material used for the fastener; 9 is a side sectional view of the side panel and fixture assembly of FIG. 8, FIG. Fig. 10 is an embodiment of a diaper according to the invention having a plurality of elements of the stretched portion; 11 is a side sectional view of the side panel and fixture assembly of FIG. 10, FIG. Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of a diaper according to the invention having a plurality of elements of the stretched part arranged at equal or unequal angles to one another; Fig. 13 is an embodiment of a diaper according to the invention having a plurality of elements of the stretched portion, wherein the elements can be formed and arranged with different lengths; 14 is a side cross-sectional side view of the side panel and fixture assembly of FIG. 13, FIG. 15 shows a fastening system having a primary tension member and an additional tension member; FIG. Fig. 16 illustrates another fastening system having a primary tension member and an additional tension member wherein the additional tension member is spaced from the side edge of the diaper belt; Fig. 17 shows a fastening system having a tension member attached to a side panel that is integrally formed with the diaper backsheet layer; Figure 18 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper of the invention; 19 shows a test sample cut from the diaper of FIG. 18, FIG. 20 shows the test sample of FIG. 19 in the jaws of the tensile testing machine, FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a first comparative diaper; FIG. 22 shows a test sample cut from the first comparative diaper shown in FIG. 21, FIG. 23 shows the test sample of FIG. 22 mounted in the jaws of the tensile testing machine; FIG. 24 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a second comparative diaper; FIG. 25 shows a test sample cut from the second comparative diaper shown in FIG. 24, FIG. 26 shows the test sample of FIG. 25 in the jaws of the tensile testing machine, FIG. 27 is a graph showing the tensile load characteristics of the test sample of FIG. 19, FIG. 28 is a graph showing the tensile load characteristics of the test sample of FIG. 22, FIG. 29 is a graph showing the tensile load characteristics of the test sample of FIG. 25, FIG. 30 is a side cross-section similar to FIG. 3 but showing an alternative side panel and fixture assembly; and FIG. 31 is a plan view of the side panel and fixture assembly of FIG. 30th

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention will be described in connection with an absorbent disposable article such as a disposable diaper. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention may also be used for other articles such as baby protective articles, female protective articles, incontinence garments and the like.

Disposable products should not be subjected to washing or cleaning for reuse, for example, disposable diapers are disposed of after being soaked by the user.

In FIG. 1 to 3, an article according to the invention is shown, such as a disposable diaper 20 in a fully disassembled state with all of the spring loaded pans stretched and removed. The diaper 20 has opposed longitudinal side edges 110 and first and second end edges 106 and 107. The end edges 106 and 107 extend laterally between the side edges 110. The diaper 20 also has a rear waist portion 40, a front waist portion 38 and a middle portion 42 that connects the first and second belt members. The rear waist piece 40 is associated with the first end edge 106 and extends therefrom into the interior. Similarly, the front waistband member 38 is associated with the second end edge 107 and extends therefrom into the interior. The term inwardly used herein refers to the relative position of the components relative to the longitudinal and lateral center of the article. When the article is placed on the wearer, then the central portion 42 generally represents that portion of the article that is placed between the feet of the wearer.

The diaper 20 comprises a backsheet 22, an absorbent body 26 disposed on the backsheet 22 of the fastener 44 attached to the side edges 110 in the backsheet 40 and a pair of laterally spaced, biased side sections 89 operatively coupled to the backsheet 22 in the firstsheet. At least the portions of the first and second belt portions 40 and 38 act together to form a circumferential belt region that includes portions of the belt portions that are disposed around the user belt and are connected to each other. More specifically, the diaper 20 comprises a first fastening panel 200 disposed in the first waistband section 40 and a second fastening panel 202 disposed in the second waistband section 38. The first and second fastening panels 200 and 202 are shown in FIGS. 1 as rectangles. In order to obtain a good fit when the diaper 20 is first attached and to facilitate the movements of the user during use, it has been found desirable that the first fastening panel 200 have particular lateral extension characteristics. In particular, the diaper components 20 are suitably selected and arranged such that the first fastening panel 200 has a spatially discontinuous lateral elasticity, which is indicated in terms of a series of tension forces, shrinkage forces, and rate of change of force. The lateral elasticity characteristics of the first fastening panel 200 are described in more detail below.

In various embodiments of the invention, the diaper 20 further comprises a liquid pervious topsheet 24 positioned against the backsheet 22 with the absorbent body 26 disposed between the backsheet 22 and the topsheet 24.

The diaper 20 defines a longitudinally extending length dimension 86 and a laterally extending width dimension 88, as shown in FIG. 1 and may have any desired shape, such as rectangular, I-shape, hourglass or T-shape. In the T-shape, the upper T-bar may comprise the front waistband portion 38 of the diaper 20 or alternatively may comprise the back waistband portion 40 of the diaper 20.

The backsheet 22 may generally form an outer cover member of the article and may consist of a liquid-permeable material, but preferably comprises a material that is substantially liquid-impermeable. For example, a typical backsheet 22 may be made of a thin plastic film or other flexible liquid-impermeable material. As used herein, the term flexible refers to materials that are compliant and that easily conform to the general shape and contours of the user's body. The backsheet 22 prevents the exudates contained in the absorbent body 26 from wetting articles such as sheets or underwear in contact with the diaper 20. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the backsheet 22 is a polyethylene film having a thickness of from 0.012 mm to 0.051 mm. In the embodiment shown, the backsheet 22 is a film having a thickness of 0.024 mm to 0.036 mm. For example, the backsheet film 22 may have a thickness of 0.030 mm. Alternative embodiments of the backsheet 22 may comprise a woven or nonwoven layer of fibers that has been totally or partially constructed or processed to provide selected regions adjacent to the absorbent body 26 having desirable liquid impermeability levels. The backsheet 22 typically forms the outer wrapper of the article. However, optionally, the article may comprise a separate outer packaging member that is joined to the backsheet 22.

Alternatively, the backsheet 22 may consist of a microporous breathable material that permits gases such as water vapor to escape from the absorbent body 26 while substantially preventing liquid exudates from flowing through the backsheet 22. For example, the breathable backsheet 22 may consist of a microporous polymer film. or a nonwoven fabric which has been coated or otherwise worked to obtain the desired level of liquid impermeability. A suitable microporous film may be, for example, PMP-1, available from Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc., Tokyo, Japan, or polyolefin film XXO-8044, supplied by 3M Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The backsheet 22 may also be crimped or otherwise provided with a matt finished surface to enhance appearance.

The size of the backsheet 22 is typically determined by the size of the absorbent body 26 and the particular diaper design chosen. The backsheet 22 may, for example, be generally T-shaped, generally I-shaped or modified hourglass and may extend beyond the end edges of the absorbent body 26 at least 1.27 cm. In particular embodiments of the invention, the backsheet 22 may extend over the edges of the absorbent body 26 by a distance of 1.3 to 2.5 cm.

The topsheet 24 forms a body surface that is compliant, softly felt, and does not irritate the user's skin. The topsheet 24 may be less hydrophilic than the absorbent body 26 and is porous enough to be permeable to liquids and allow liquid to readily penetrate through its thickness to reach the absorbent body 26. A suitable topsheet 24 may be made of a wide variety of woven textile materials such as are porous foams, reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester or polypropylene fibers), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. The topsheet 24 is typically used to facilitate the isolation of the wearer's skin from liquids maintained in the absorbent body 26.

Various woven or nonwoven fabrics may be used for the topsheet 24, the topsheet 24 may consist, for example, of meltblown or spunbonded polyester fiber fabrics. The topsheet 24 may also be a bonded carded web composed of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or combinations thereof.

The term nonwoven for the purposes of this description means a fabric of a material that is formed without the aid of a weaving or knitting process. The term fabric is used for all woven, knitted and nonwoven fibrous webs.

The fabrics for the topsheet 24 may consist of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material may optionally be treated with a surfactant or otherwise to obtain a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. In a particular embodiment of the invention, topsheet 24 is a nonwoven, spunbond polypropylene fabric composed of fibers of 2.8 to 3.2 denier formed into a web having a basis weight of about 20 gm ^-2 and a density of about 0.06 g.cm ^{- 3} . The fabric is surface treated with about 0.28% Triton X-102 surfactant.

In the illustrated embodiment of the diaper 20, the topsheet 24 and backsheet 22 may be generally flat and have a length and width generally greater than the respective dimensions of the absorbent body 26. The topsheet 24 is mated and supported with the backsheet 22 to define the periphery of the diaper 20.

The topsheet 24 and the backsheet 22 are joined or otherwise associated. As used herein, the term " includes " formations in which the topsheet 24 is joined to the backsheet 22 by directly attaching the topsheet 24 to the backsheet 22 and a shape where the topsheet 24 is indirectly attached to the backsheet 22 by attaching the topsheet 24 to the interleaved members. The topsheet 24 and the backsheet 22 may be directly attached to each other on the periphery of the diaper 20 by means of attachment means (not shown), such as adhesive bonding, acoustic bonding, thermal bonding, or other means known in the art. For example, a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned adhesive layer, a spray pattern of an adhesive, or a series of separate lines, swirls or dots of structural adhesive may be used to firmly connect the topsheet 24 and backsheet 22. It should be noted that the aforementioned fasteners may also be used to join and assemble other components of the article.

The absorbent body 26 may comprise an absorbent pad comprised of selected hydrophilic fibers and highly absorbent particles. The absorbent body 26 is positioned between the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 22 to form a diaper 20. The absorbent body 26 has a structure that is generally compressible, conformable, non-irritating to the user's skin, and capable of absorbing and retaining liquid body exudates. It will be appreciated that for the purposes of the present invention, the absorbent body 26 may comprise a single body of material or alternatively may comprise a plurality of discrete pieces of material which are joined together.

A number of types of wettable hydrophilic fibrous material can be used to form the components of the absorbent body 26. Examples of suitable fibers are naturally occurring organic fibers composed of an inner wettable material, such as cellulose fibers, synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as rayon, inorganic fibers composed of an inherently wettable material, such as glass fibers, synthetic fibers made from inherently wettable thermoplastic polymers, in particular polyester or polyamide fibers and synthetic fibers composed of a non-wettable thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene fibers, which have been hydrophilized by suitable means. The fibers may be hydrophilized, for example, by treatment with silica, treatment with a material having a suitable hydrophilic half and not readily removable from the fiber, or by coating non-wettable hydrophobic fibers with a hydrophilic polymer during or after fiber formation. For purposes of the present invention, it is contemplated that mixtures of different types of the above fibers may also be used.

The term hydrophilic as used herein refers to fibers or fiber surfaces that are wetted with aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wetting of the material can be described by terms of contact angles and surface tensions of liquids and materials used. Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring the wettability of particular fibrous materials may be provided by the SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System. When measured by this system by the procedure described in detail below, fibers having a contact angle less than 90 ° are indicated as wetting, while fibers having a contact angle greater than 90 ° are designated as non-wetting.

The absorbent body 26 may comprise a matrix of hydrophilic fibers, such as a cellulose fluff web, mixed with particles of absorbent material. In particular arrangements, the absorbent body 26 may comprise hydrogel-forming superabsorbent particles and meltblown synthetic polymer fibers or a mixture of superabsorbent particles of fibrous conformal material comprising a mixture of natural fibers and / or synthetic polymer fibers. The superabsorbent particles may be substantially homogeneously mixed with the hydrophilic fibers or may be mixed unevenly. For example, the concentrations of superabsorbent particles may be arranged in a non-step gradient over a substantial portion (thickness) of the absorbent structure with lower concentrations towards the body side of the absorbent body 26 and with relatively higher concentrations towards the outer side of the absorbent structure. Suitable z-gradient configurations are described in U.S. Patent 4,699,823, parts of which are relevant to the present invention. Alternatively, the concentrations of superabsorbent particles may be arranged in a non-step gradient over a substantial portion of the thickness (z-direction) of the absorbent structure, with higher concentrations towards the body side of the absorbent body 26 and with relatively lower concentrations towards the outer side of the absorbent structure. Superabsorbent particles may also be arranged in a generally discrete layer in a matrix of hydrophilic fibers. Additionally, two or more types of superabsorbent may be selectively located at different locations within or along the fiber matrix.

The highly absorbent material may comprise absorbent gelling materials such as superabsorbents. Gelatin absorbent materials can be natural, synthetic and modified natural polymers and materials. The additional gelling absorbent materials may be organic materials such as silica gels or organic compounds such as crosslinked polymers. The term cross-linked means any means for converting normally water-soluble materials into substantially water-insoluble but swellable materials. Such compositions may include, for example, physical linkage, crystalline domains, covalent bonds, ionic complexes and associations, hydrophilic associations such as hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic association, or Van der Waals forces.

Examples of synthetic absorbent gelling materials are alkali metal and ammonium salts of polyacrylic acid and methacrylic acid, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl ethers, maleic anhydride copolymers with vinyl ethers and alpha-olefins, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and mixtures and copolymers thereof. Other polymers suitable for use in the absorbent body 26 are natural and modified natural polymers, such as hydrolyzed acrylonitrile digested starch, acrylic acid digested starch, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and natural gums such as alginates, xanthan gum and acacia. Mixtures of natural and wholly or partially synthetic absorbent polymers may also be useful in the present invention. Other suitable absorbent gelling materials are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,902,236. A process for the preparation of synthetic absorbent gelling polymers is disclosed in United States Patent Nos. 4,076,663 and 4,286,082.

Synthetic absorbent gelling materials are typically xerogels that form hydrogels upon wetting. The term hydrogel has been generally used for both wettable and non-wettable forms of material.

As mentioned above, the highly absorbent material used in the absorbent body 26 is generally in the form of discrete particles. The particles may have any shape, such as spiral or semi-spiral, cubic, rod, polyhedron, etc. Shapes having the largest ratio of largest dimension to smallest dimension, such as needles, flakes and fibers, are also contemplated for use. Conglomerates of particles of absorbent gelling material may also be used in the absorbent body 26.

Preferably, particles having a mean size of from 20 microns to 1 mm are used. As used herein, the particle size means the weighted mean of the smallest dimension of the individual particles.

Hydrophilic fibers and highly absorbent particles can be shaped to produce a mean basis weight that is in the range of 400-900 gm ^-2 . In some embodiments, the mean basis weight is 500-800 gm ^-2 , preferably in the range of 550-750 gm ^-2 , to develop the desired property.

To increase the absorbed amount in the highly absorbent material, the absorbent body 26 may comprise an improved outer shell, such as a wrapper 28, disposed adjacent and around the absorbent body 26. The wrapper 28 is preferably a layer of absorbent material that covers most of the body side and outer side of the absorbent body 26. and preferably closes substantially all circumferential edges of the absorbent body 26 to form a substantially complete wrapper around it. Alternatively, the wrap sheet 28 may form an absorbent cover covering most of the surface of the body side and the outer side of the absorbent body 26, closing substantially only the side edges of the absorbent body 26. The linear and inwardly curved portions of the side edges of the wrapping sheet 28 would be closed around the absorbent body. 26. In such an arrangement, however, the end edges of the wrapper 28 need not be completely closed around the end edges of the absorbent body 26 at the waist regions of the article.

For example, the complete wrapper 28 or at least the body side layer of the wrapper 28 may comprise a meltblown polypropylene fiber web of about 5 microns in thickness and configured to provide a basis weight in the range of 8-20 gm ² .

Another example of an absorbent wrap sheet 28 may comprise a small pore cellulosic web comprising about 50/50 a mixture of hardwood fibers and softwood fibers. The web has a basis weight of 5.889 kg and a porosity of 90 cfm / sq.ft.

The absorbent wrap sheet 28 may comprise a composite wrap sheet 28 having a separate body side layer 30 and a separate outer side layer 32 extending beyond the peripheral edges of the absorbent body 26. Such a configuration of the wrap sheet 28 may, for example, facilitate formation of a substantially complete seal and closure around it. the peripheral edges of the absorbent body 26. In the backsheet 40 of the diaper 20 shown, the absorbent wrap sheet 28 may be configured to extend substantially beyond the periphery of the absorbent body 26 to increase opacity and rigidity of the rear side panels of the diaper 20. In the embodiment shown and the outer sides of the absorbent cover sheet 28 extend at least 12.5 mm over the peripheral edge of the absorbent body 26 and form an outwardly projecting flange-like connection region through which the periphery of the body side of the absorbent cover sheet 28 may be completely or partially connected to the periphery of a portion of the outer side of the absorbent wrap sheet 28.

The layers of the body side and the outer side of the wrapper 28 may be composed of substantially the same material or may be composed of different materials. For example, the outer layer layer of the wrap sheet 28 may be comprised of a relatively low basis weight material having a relatively high porosity, such as a wet-strength cellulose fabric consisting of a softwood pulp. The body side layer of the wrap sheet may comprise any of the above-described wrap sheet materials 28 having a relatively low porosity. The low porosity body layer may better prevent the migration of superabsorbent particles onto the user ' s skin, and the outer porosity layer of high porosity and lower basis weight may help to reduce cost.

The diaper 20 may also include an impact layer 84, see FIG. 4, for capturing, retarding, and diffusing the impact amounts of liquid that can be trapped in the absorbent body 26 of the article. For example, in the embodiment shown, the impact layer 84 may be disposed on the body surface of the topsheet layer 24 facing inwardly. Alternatively, the impact layer 84 may be disposed adjacent the surface of the outer side of the topsheet 24. Thus, the impact layer 84 should be sandwiched between the topsheet 24 and the absorbent body 26.

Other suitable impact layer arrangements 84 are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,192,606 and in United States Patent Application No. 757,760 and in United States Patent Application No. 206,986 and in United States Patent Application No. 206,069.

Resilient members 34 are disposed within the side edges 110 of the diaper 20 and are configured to pull and hold the diaper 20 against the wearer's legs. The resilient members 34 are attached to the diaper 20 under elastic contraction conditions so that, under normal stress conditions, the resilient members 34 effectively contract against the diaper 20. The resilient members 34 may be secured under the elastic contraction conditions in at least two ways, for example, the resilient members 34 may be tensioned. and secured while the diaper 20 is in a non-contracted state.

Alternatively, the diaper 20 may be shrunk, for example, by pleating, and the resilient members 34 attached and attached to the diaper 20 while in the untensioned state. Other means, such as heat-shrinkable resilient material, may also be used to load the garment.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the resilient members 34 extend substantially along the entire length of the central portion 42 of the diaper 20. Alternatively, the resilient members 34 may extend over the full length of the diaper 20 or any other length suitable to accommodate the elastically shrinkable lines required for the particular diaper design.

The resilient members 34 may have a plurality of shapes. For example, the width of the individual resilient members 34 may vary from 0.25 mm to 25 mm or more. The resilient members 34 may comprise a single strip of resilient material, or may comprise a plurality of parallel or non-parallel strips of resilient material, or may be made in a rectilinear or curvilinear configuration. If the belts are not parallel, two or more belts may be intersected or joined in the resilient member 34. The resilient members 34 may be affixed to the diaper 20 by any of a variety of methods known in the art. For example, the resilient members 34 may be bonded by ultrasound, heat, and pressure using a plurality of bonding patterns or adhered to the diaper 20 with spray patterns of hot molten adhesive.

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the resilient members 34 may include a support sheet (not shown) to which a grouped plurality of resilient members composed of a plurality of individual resilient bands 39 are attached. The resilient bands 39 may intersect or be interconnected or separated. The carrier sheet shown may be, for example, a 0.002 cm thick non-extruded polypropylene film. For example, the elastic bands shown may be of an elastomer having the LYCRA trademark, supplied by DuPont, having offices in Wilmington, Delaware. Each elastic band 39 is in the range of 450-1,700 decitex (dtx) and can be in the range of 940-1,050 dtx. In particular embodiments of the invention, three or four belts may be used for each resilient member 34.

The resilient members 34 may generally be directly or optionally curved. For example, the curved strips may be bent inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline of the diaper 20 with the most central point (or peak relative to the transverse direction of the article) of the plurality of curved elastic strips positioned about 18-37 mm inwardly from the outermost edge of the plurality of elastic strips 39. The special curvature of the elastic bands 39 should not be shaped or positioned symmetrically with respect to the lateral centerline of the diaper 20. The curved elastic bands 39 may have inwardly bent and outwardly bent reflective curvature, and the longitudinal center of the elastic bands 39 may optionally be offset by a selected distance of 0 up to 8 cm towards the front 38 or back waistband portion 40 of the diaper 20 to provide the desired shape and appearance. In particular embodiments of the invention, the innermost point (apex) of the plurality of curved elastic bands 39 may be offset from 0 to 12 cm toward the front 38 or back waistband portion 40 of the diaper 20 and the outwardly bent reflective portion may be disposed toward the front waistband portion 39 of the diaper 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the diaper 20 comprises an elastic waistband 36 disposed at the longitudinal edges of either the front waistband panel 38 and the rear waistband panel 40, or both. The elastic strip 36 is of a suitable elastomeric material, such as an elastomeric film and an elastomeric foam, composite elastic sheets, an elastomeric fabric, and the like. For example, suitable elastic waist structures are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,916,005.

The diaper 20 also includes two resilient retaining flaps 82, see FIG. The retention flaps 82 are typically located laterally inwardly of the resilient members 34 and are substantially symmetrically positioned on each side of the longitudinal centerline of the diaper 20. Examples of suitable retention flaps 82 designs are described in the patent specification. No. 4,704,116 and in U.S. Patent Application No. 208,816. The retaining flaps 82 may be composed of a wettable or non-wettable material as desired. The material of the retaining flaps 82 should be gas-permeable or gas-permeable.

In one alternative embodiment of the invention, the diaper 20 may comprise resilient waist flaps as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,753,646. Similar to the retaining flaps 82, the belt flaps may be made of a wettable or non-wettable material. The material of the flap valves may be gas permeable or gas and liquid permeable.

Absorbent article structures suitable for use in the present invention are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,192,606 and U.S. Patent Application No. 07 / 757,768.

In order to provide a releasable adhesive bonding system, the diaper 20 may include a fastening zone 46 that forms a target area for receiving the adhesive fastener 44 thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping band 46 is disposed on the side surface of the backsheet 22 and is disposed on the second, front waistband portion 38 of the diaper 20. The clamping band 46 is made of a suitable material such as polypropylene, polyester or the like. moreover, the clamping band 46 and the clamp 44 are designed for releasable adherence allowing removal of the clamp 44 from the clamping band 46 for repositioning and re-sticking without tearing or excessive deformation of the backsheet material 22. Thus, for example, a suitable structure of the clamping band 46 is described in the patent No. 5,024,672. A further construction of the tension band 46 is described in U.S. Patent 4,753,649.

In various embodiments of the invention, the strap fastener 44 may be disposed on either or both side end regions 116 and 118 of either or both of the waistband portions 38, 40. An exemplary embodiment of the invention has placement of the strap fasteners 44 at the end side edges of the rear waistband portion 40.

The strap fasteners 44 may be attached to the backsheet 22 directly or indirectly, as shown in FIG. 1 and 5.

As mentioned above, the diaper 20 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced resilient side sections 89 operatively coupled to the backsheet 22. The side sections 89 provide a first fastening panel 200 of the diaper 20 with lateral resilience and especially lateral resilience that is spatially disposed adjacent the strap fasteners 44 In the embodiment shown, each of the side sections 89 is formed from a separate side panel 90.

According to FIG. 1 and 5, each side panel 90 in the illustrated embodiment extends laterally from opposite side ends of at least one backsheet 22, such as a backsheet 40, to form end side sections of the article. The additional each side panel 90 may extend substantially from the laterally extending end edge 106 approximately to the location of the corresponding leg opening portion of the diaper 20. For example, the diaper 20 has a pair of opposed leg openings formed by the designated middle portions of the illustrated pair of longitudinally extending lateral edge regions 110.

In various configurations of the invention, the side panels 90 may be formed integrally with the selected portion of the diaper 20. For example, the side panels 90 may be formed integrally with the backsheet material layer 22 or may be formed entirely from the topsheet material 24, see FIG. 17. In alternative configurations, the side panels 90 may be separated by members that are attached to the backsheet 22, the topsheet 24, between the backsheet 22 and the topsheet 24, or a combination thereof. The side panels 90 should be two separate elements spatially separated by a lateral distance of at least 50% of the lateral width of the diaper 20 adjacent to the first end edge 106. in particular a lateral distance of at least 82% of the lateral width of the diaper 20 and especially lateral distance at least 87% of the lateral width of the diaper 20 action.

In particular embodiments of the invention, each side panel 90 may be formed from a separate piece of material that is then suitably assembled and attached to the selected front 38 and / or rear waist panel 40 of the diaper 20. For example, the side panels 90 are attached to the rear waist panel. the side panel 90 extends laterally to form a pair of opposing diaphragm belt flaps 20 and is joined by suitable fasteners, such as gluing, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, clamps, staples, sewing and the like. and combinations thereof.

The side panels 90 may be made of a substantially non-elastomeric material, such as polymer films, woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. In particular embodiments of the invention, the side panels 90 are made of a substantially elastomeric material such as a stress-bonded laminate, a tapered laminate, an elastomeric film, an elastomeric foam material, and the like. For example, a suitable meltblown elastomeric fibrous web for side panels 90 is described in U.S. Patent 4,663,220. Examples of composite fabrics comprising at least one nonwoven layer attached to a fibrous elastic layer are described in European Patent Application EP 0 110 010. Examples of constricted bonded laminate materials are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,226,992 and U.S. Patent Application No. 08 / 276,924.

As mentioned above, various suitable constructions can be used to attach the side panels 90 to the selected web portions of the article. When the side panels 90 are made, for example, of an elastomeric material, suitable structures for securing a pair of elastomeric extensible members to the lateral side portions of the article extending laterally outwardly between opposing side regions of the article outer coating components can be found in U.S. Patent 4,938,753. Alternatively, the side panels 90 may be joined laterally inwardly from the longitudinal side edges 110 (not shown).

According to another aspect of the invention, the side panels 90 may be made of a material having a Gurley stiffness value of less than 10,000 mg. Optionally, the side panel material 90 has a stiffness of less than 2000 mg, preferably less than 200 mg.

According to another aspect of the invention, the side panels 90 may be made of a material having a Gurley stiffness of less than 1 mg. Alternatively, the side panel material 90 has a stiffness value of not less than 4 mg, preferably not less than 8 mg.

In various embodiments of the invention, the Gurley stiffness setpoint can be selected according to the width or length and length of the side panel 90.

In particular embodiments of the invention where the side panels 90 are of elastomeric material, the elastomeric side panels 90 are made of a material that can be elongated at least 30% at peak load at a tensile force of 0.500 N.cm ¹ of the sample size measured perpendicularly load direction.

Alternatively, the material of the elastomeric side panel 90 may have an elongation of at least 100%, preferably up to 300%, to exhibit the desired properties.

The percent elongation at stop is determined by the formula Lf-Lj

-x 100

L1 in which Lf is the finite length and L1 is the initial length.

The sample is selected from the side panel and has a rectangular shape with sample width and sample length. The width of the sample extends along the side transverse dimension 88 of the side panel and the length of the sample extends along the longitudinal length dimension 86 of the side panel. The length of the sample generally corresponds to the length of the outer edge of the side panel and the width of the sample is sufficient to allow clamping in a stress testing machine with a jaw size of 19 mm.

In a particular embodiment, the side panels 90 comprise a point bond laminate of an elastomeric material comprising two opposing layers of point-stretch spunbonded polypropylene and a flexible film core. The film core may be formed from a resilient material from Shell Chemical Company of Houston, Texas with the proprietary name KRATON G2755. The film core in such an embodiment has a basis weight of 50 to 55 gm ^-2 and the total composition has a density of about 136 g.nr ² .

In conventional fastening systems, a clamping tension develops at the connection between the clamp 44 and the side portion of the rear waist panel 40 substantially across the length 58 of the clamp 44. As a result, relatively low stresses are applied to the rear panel regions longitudinally adjacent the side edges of the clamp 44. As a result, the longitudinally adjacent regions tend to wrinkle and move away from the user's body. The wrinkling and spacing may be invisible and may create gaps along the waist and along the leg opening region of the diaper 20 through which exudates may escape from the diaper 20. Attempts to solve this problem have utilized complex fastening systems that extend along substantially the entire free edge length of the tab portion of the article. . Other attempts to solve this problem have utilized a plurality of fastening straps or a large wide fastener 44. Large fasteners or tapered fasteners have transmitted high stresses to the belt portion of the fastening system. Such stresses may tend to undesirably disengage the belt member of the fastener system as the user moves. In addition, such shape arrangements do not sufficiently adapt to the movement of the user and may result in excessive irritation of the user's skin.

To help solve such problems, the diaper 20 may, but not necessarily, include a tension member 98 as a significant reinforcement. The tension member 98 may dissipate clamping forces across the length of each side panel 90. Additionally, the tension member 98 may provide sufficient stiffening of the associated waist panel. undesirably and excessively wrinkle, plunge, or fold the side end of the waistband panel or side panel 90 while using the article.

In various embodiments of the invention, the stretched member 98 is formed entirely of the same material with the side panel 90. For example, a portion of the free end of the side panel 90 may be folded one or more times along the longitudinally extending bending lines to form a functional stretched member 98. 98 formed by densifying or embossing selectively sized and shaped areas of the side panel 90 to a extent that guarantees functional stress and stiffness levels.

In other embodiments of the invention, the tension member 98 may comprise a reinforcing member provided with a selectively dimensioned and shaped region of material that is integrally formed with the support 48 of the fixture 44. Alternatively, the tension member 98 may comprise a separate reinforcing member 97 that is suitably shaped and secured to the region. the free end of the side panel 90. For example, the stretched member 98 may be provided with a suitably sized shaped piece of material attached to a suitable surface of the side panel 90, such as the inner surface of the body side of each side panel 90. The material may be a polymer film, a nonwoven, a woven etc., as well as combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the tension member 98 may comprise a stiffening member of the material used to form the release tape 74 and / or the fastener pad 48. The tension member 98 may be substantially non-extensible and / or substantially non-elastomeric in various configurations of the invention.

According to FIG. 2, the tensioned portion 98 may be operably coupled to each side panel 90 along the free end region 92 of the side panel 90 by any suitable attachment means such as an adhesive joint, a thermal joint, an ultrasonic joint, a clamp, a staple, and the like. or combinations thereof. The tension member 90 has a transverse width dimension 100 and a longitudinal dimension 102. In order to obtain the desired properties, it may be advantageous to position the tension member 98 in the middle of the length of the side panel 90.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the length 102 of the stretched panel 98 is at least 33% of the length 94 of the free end region 92 of the side panel 90. Alternatively, the length of the stretched panel 98 is at least 80% of the length 94 of the free end region of the side panel 90. 92 of the side panel 90 to provide the desired beneficial effects. A particular embodiment of the invention may comprise a tension member 98 having a length equal to 125% of the length 94 of the free end region 92 of the side panel 90 to provide the desired behavior. According to another aspect of the invention, the length of the stretched member 98 is not less than 1.25 cm. Alternatively, the length of the stretched member 98 is not less than 2.5 cm, and preferably is not less than 5 cm to provide improved performance. According to another aspect of the invention, the length of the stretched member 98 is not more than 15 cm. Alternatively, the length of the stretched member 98 is not more than 13 cm, and preferably is not more than 10 cm to provide the desired effect.

In various embodiments of the invention, the width 100 of the stretched member 98 is not less than 0.1 cm. Alternatively, the width of the stretched member 98 is not less than 0.5 cm and preferably is not less than 1.0 cm to ensure the desired action. According to another aspect of the invention, the width of the stretched member 98 is not more than 10 cm. Alternatively, the width of the stretched member 98 is not more than 5 cm and preferably is not more than 2.5 cm to achieve the desired effect.

According to a particular idea of the invention, a separate piece of material constituting a functionally member that overlaps the material of the side panel 90 is used to form the desired tension member 98. For example, in the configurations shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, substantially 100% of the width of the particular tension member 98 may be arranged to overlap the material of the side panel 90.

Although the preferred construction of the invention may have a tension member 98 attached directly to the fixture 44, various ideas of the invention may form shapes in which the tension member 98 is a separate component that is spaced and indirectly attached to the end portion of the fixture 44 by an interposed portion of material. For example, the embodiment of FIG. 8, the tension member 98 is disposed on the side panel 90 at an intermediate position between the fixture 44 and the absorbent body 26. In a particular idea of the invention, the distance 105 between the edge of the attached panel 96 of the side panel 90 and the relatively proximal edge of the associated tension panel 98 is 0.1 to 12.4 cm and is preferably equal to about 2.5 cm to provide the desired effect. According to another aspect of the invention, the gap 128 between the manufacturing bond of the fixture 44 and the relatively closest edge of the associated tension member 98 is in the range of 0.1 to 2.54 cm.

According to FIG. 10, the various configurations of the invention may include a tension member 98 that includes a plurality of discrete tension members 122. When these tension members 122 are generally parallel and of equal length, the plurality of elements may act as a single tension member 98. The elements may be designed and shaped so as to ensure selective control and voltage distribution by its associated side panel 90.

For example, the tension member 98 comprised of a plurality of elements may comprise spaced apart members spaced apart by a distance 127. Separation distances may advantageously form bending regions 124 between the individual members 122 of the tension member 98. In the embodiment shown, the bending regions may form longitudinally extending bending points with increased flexibility. and the possibility of swings around these places.

As shown in FIG. 10, functional flexural joints are formed between the individual parallel elements 122 of the tension member 98, thereby creating controlled areas along which the folded tension member 98 can be flexed and folded in a flexible manner. For example, in the embodiment shown, the distance 127 between the elements 122 of the tension member 98 may be in the range of 1 to 10 mm.

Another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 12, may comprise a side panel 90 having a tension member 98 comprised of a plurality of elements 122. wherein the individual elements 122 are disposed at a selected angle relative to each other. The various configurations of the invention may have an angle 126 between the elements of the stressed part in the range of 1-179 degrees. In particular embodiments of the invention, the angle 126 is in the range of 1 to 89 degrees, and preferably in the range of 1 to 44 degrees to provide the desired effect.

A further embodiment of the invention may comprise a tension member 89 composed of a plurality of elements 122. wherein the individual elements 122 have different lengths as shown in FIG. 13. The length of each element 122 may be selected as a proportion of the length of the free edge of the associated side panel 90. The length of the elements 122 of the tensioned member 98 may be 100% of the length of the free edge or also 5% of this length. For example, in the embodiment shown, the elements 122 are adjusted with increasing lengths as they move away from the fixture 44. Alternatively, the elements 122 may be aligned with decreasing lengths as they move away from the fixture 44, and optionally may be arranged in other patterns depending on the desired pattern of the bending area 124.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, the stretched portion 98 extends along the length of the side panel 90 and has the ends in the same position as the laterally extending edge 105 of the waist panel portion of the article. In the embodiment shown, the fixture 44 is approximately centered along the length of the tensioned portion 90. Alternatively, the position of the fixture 44 may be longitudinally offset by a selected distance from the longitudinal center of the tensioned portion 98. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the fixture 44 may be moved 120 away from the edge 106. which is not more than 6 cm. Alternatively, the distance is not more than 4 cm, preferably not more than 2 cm to provide improved performance. According to another idea of the invention, the edge of the fastener 44 may be positioned to coincide with the edge 106 of the waistband to provide better performance.

In some embodiments of the invention, the stressed portion 98 may have a certain stiffness that is greater than that of the side panel 90. In a particular embodiment, the stressed portion 98 may preferably be made of a material that provides the stressed portion 98 with Gurley stiffness of at least 20 mg. can provide stiffness up to 100 mg. Alternatively, the material of the stretched member 98 provides a stiffness of at least 200 mg, preferably at least 400 mg. If the stretched part 98 is too stiff, it may cause excessive irritation and redness of the user's skin. According to a further idea of the invention, therefore, the material of the stretched part 98 having a Gurley stiffness value of at most 500,000 mg is selected. Alternatively, this material may have a Gurley stiffness value of at most 10,000 mg, preferably at most 1,000 mg to achieve the desired effect.

In various embodiments of the invention, the desired Gurley stiffness value can be adjusted with respect to the length dimension or both dimensions, the length and width dimensions of the tensioned member 98.

According to another aspect of the invention, the assembled tension member 98 connected to the side panel 90 has a stiffness ratio of at least 5: 1. Alternatively, the stiffness ratio is at least 10: 1, preferably at least 30: 1. According to another aspect of the invention, the stretched portion 98 and its associated side panel 90 have a stiffness ratio of less than 500: 1 to provide the desired effect.

In various embodiments of the invention, the tensioned portion may have at least one elastic bending-controlled hinge region 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the tensioned portion comprises a plurality of laterally extending flexible hinge regions 112. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the hinge region 112 may form an angle of selected size with a line that is substantially parallel to the transverse width dimension 88. The resulting offset angle 114 may range from -40 ° to + 40 °. Alternatively, this offset angle 114 may be in the range of 0 to + 40 °, preferably in the range of 10 ° to 30 ° to provide the desired effect.

The hinge regions 112 may be configured with a relatively low stiffness compared to other regions of the tension member 98. After bending due to the user's load, the spring effect exerted by the hinge region 112 may cause a functional restoring force that substantially deflects the hinge region 112 upon abolition. load.

In the embodiment shown, the fastening means like clamp 44 is operatively coupled to each side panel 90. In the illustrated configuration, the coupling portion along which the clamp 44 intersects the edge of the end side of the side panel 90 forms a relatively narrow connection region 80. The connection may be performed by a suitable attachment means such as an adhesive joint, a thermal joint, an ultrasonic joint, a clamp, a staple, a suture and the like. Alternatively, the fixture pad 44 may be formed integrally from the material used to mold the tension member 98. In preferred configurations, the fixture 44 may be directly or indirectly attached to the tension member 98 associated with the respective side panel 90. For example, the fixture 44 may be indirectly attached to the associated a tensioned portion 98 by an interposed section of a side panel 90, such as shown in FIG. 8th

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the clamping means components cooperate to secure the front waist panel 38 and the back waist panel 40 of the article around the user's body. In the embodiment shown, the rear waist panel 40 overlaps the front waist panel 38 of the article, and the fastening means operatively connects defined regions of the front waist panel 38. The fastener 44 has a longitudinally extending length dimension and a laterally extending width dimension.

Additionally, the fixture 44 has a base portion 56, a user connection end section 50, and a center section 64 that connects the base section 56 and the end section 60. The base section 56 has a longitudinal length dimension 58. the end section 60 has a longitudinal length dimension 62 and the middle section 64 has longitudinal dimension 66.

According to a particular idea of the invention, the clamp 44 has a base length 58 that is not greater than 90% of the length 102 of the tensioned part 98 along the area of the panel joint 80. Alternatively, the base length of the clamp 44 is not more than 80% of the length of the tensioned part 98 and optionally greater than 50% of the length of the stretched member 98 to provide the desired effect. According to another aspect of the invention, the fixture 44 has a base length 58 that is not less than 1% of the length 102 of the stretched part 98. Alternatively, the base length is not less than 5% of the length of the stretched part 98 and optionally not less than 20% of the length of the stretched part 98. ensuring the desired effect. Thus, when the clamping means is used to fasten the article to the user's body, the end portions 104 of the stretched member 98 are no longer attached to the front waist panel 38 of the article by the operation of fastening the article to the user's body. Consequently, the unattached end portions 104 can slide, bend and otherwise move relative to the fastened parts of the article without unduly disturbing the fastening connection between the user-bonded fastener portion 44 and the delimited fastening band of the article. Additionally, it is desirable that the length 58 of the base portion of the fixture 44 be less than about 81% of the length 93 of the side panels 90.

In the illustrated embodiments, the length 58 of the base portion 56 of the fixture 44 is relatively greater than the length 66 of the center portion 64 of the fixture 44. Alternatively, however, the base length 58 may be equal to or less than the length 66 of the center portion 64. comprising a seam portion 69 of the fixture 44 that is disposed between the tensioned portion 98 and the user-bonded portion 52 of the fixture 44. When the fixture 44 is in a relaxed and substantially non-tensioned state, the seam portion 69 generally represents the narrowest region of the fixture 44 relative to those portions of the fixture 44 they are spaced from the end sections of the fixture 44.

The seam portion 69 may advantageously form a relatively more flexible pivot region which may facilitate a freer, less restricted movement between the tensioned portion 98 of the fastening system and the user-bonded portion 52 of the fastener 44. As a result, the tensioned portion 98 may help maintain the desired belt appearance and fit. The user and user-bonded part 52 can maintain a more reliable hedge with a lower incidence of unwanted accidents. The seam portion 69 can help to isolate the user-bonded portion 52 of the fastening system from the self-locking movements of the side panels 90 and the tensioned portions 98 of the fastening system. In the embodiment shown, the seam portion 69 consists essentially of a non-elastic and non-elastomeric material, but may alternatively be made of an elastomeric material that is functionally introduced into the structure of the fixture 44.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the length of the seam part 69 is greater than 0.5 cm, as determined when the clamp 44 is relaxed and stress-free. Alternatively, the length of the seam panel 69 is not less than 1 cm and preferably is not less than 1.5 cm to achieve the desired effect. According to other ideas of the invention, the length of the seam piece 69 is not more than 12.5 cm. Alternatively, the length of the seam panel 69 is not more than 7 cm, preferably not more than 3 cm, to provide the desired benefits. In the examples shown, the length of the seam panel 69 may be 2.5 cm.

According to further aspects of the invention, the ratio of the length 102 of the stretched panel 98 to the length of the seam panel 69 is greater than 1.5: 1, alternatively not less than 2: 1 to provide improved performance. According to other ideas of the invention, this ratio is not greater than 10: 1, alternatively not greater than 7: 1 to provide the desired properties. In the embodiments shown, the ratio is, for example, 2.5: 1.

In various embodiments of the invention, the fixture 44 may be configured to develop an adhesive fastening mechanism. More specifically, the user-bonded fastener portion 52 may include a primary adhesive layer 54 disposed across the designated attachment surface 68 of the fastener pad 48. The adhesive is shaped to provide the desired level of tack and bond when applied to a designated storage zone of the article. Additionally, the adhesive may be shaped to be capable of being released and re-attached one or more times to the storage zone. An example of a suitable refastenable tape system is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,147,347.

In various alternative embodiments of the invention, the fastening means may be formed by mechanical type fasteners, such as hooks, hooks, clamps, buttons and the like.

According to a particular idea of the invention, the fastening means is formed by a system of hooks and eyelets, heads and loops and the like. Such fastening systems generally comprise a hook component and a co-opener component which is retained and firmly connected to the hook component. Such systems are sold, for example, under the trademark VELCRO. Examples of hook and loop fastening systems are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,019,073. In a typical hook and loop fastening system, a portion of the hook material is operatively connected to the attachment surface 68 of the fixture pad 48 of the fixture 44, and a portion of the eyelet material is used to form a co-operating stowage zone 46. alternatively, a suitable hook and loop fastening system may have a loop material attached to the attachment surface 68 of the fastener pad 44. The hook material region has been used to form the fastening pad substrate 48.

The clamp 44 may preferably have a stiffness value that is different (for example, not greater) from that of the tensioned member 98. As a result, the fixture 44 may be selectively disposed with the user-bonded portion 52, which can be fastened, removed and re-fastened excessive deformation or tearing of the designated area of the product storage zone 46. Selective adjustment of the properties of the fixture can be accomplished while maintaining the properties of the tensioned portion 98. The tensioned portion 98 retains the ability to dissipate forces along the length 94 of the free end of the side panel 90 without adversely affecting the ability to release and reattach the fixture 44.

According to a particular idea of the invention, the fixture 44 is made of a material having a Gurley stiffness value not greater than 500 mg. Alternatively, the fasteners 44 have a stiffness value of not more than 150 mg, preferably not more than 100 mg. According to further aspects of the invention, the fixture 44 has a Gurley stiffness value of not less than 5 mg. Alternatively, the fixture 44 has a stiffness value of not less than 10 mg, preferably not less than 25 mg. In various configurations of the invention, the desired Gurley stiffness can be selected according to the width dimension or the width and length dimensions of the fixture 44.

For the purposes of the present invention, different stiffness values are determined relative to a bending moment generated by a force that is perpendicular to a plane defined by the length and width of the test component. A suitable technique for determining stiffness values is the Gurley Stiffness Test described in TAPPI Standard Test T 543, p. 84 (Paper Stiffness / Gurley Type Stiffness Tester /) · A suitable tester is the Gurley Digital Stiffness Tester: Model 4171 D manufactured by Teledyne Gurley (514 Fulton Street, Tray, NY 1218). The device allows to test a large number of types of material using different lengths and widths in combination with a weight of 5, 25, 50 or 200 g, placed in one of three positions on the indicators! device. For the purpose of this description, the determined Gurley stiffness values are intended to correspond to the values that would be developed by a sample of standard dimensions. The scale readings from the Gurley stiffness tester are conveniently converted to stiffness of the standard size sample and expressed in milligrams. The standard size sample has a width of 25.4 mm and a nominal length of 76.2 mm (actual length 89.3 mm). The actual sample length is the nominal length plus 6.35 mm overlap. Tables of scale reading processing coefficients developed by non-standard test specimens and converting the reading to stiffness of standard size samples are given in the Teledyne Gurley Gurley Stiffness Tester Manual. Other dimensions of the test samples may also be used if an appropriate conversion factor is used to determine the appropriate value corresponding to a sample of standard dimensions.

According to a particular idea of the invention, the user-bonded end portion 60 of the fixture 44 may have an end length 62 that is greater than the length 66 of the central portion 64 of the fixture 44, as shown in FIG. For example, in the embodiment shown, the end length may correspond to the largest length dimension of the user-bonded fastener portion 52. According to another aspect of the invention, the length 62 of the fastener portion 60 may also be greater than the length 50 of the fastener portion 56.

More specifically, the length 62 may be at least 10% greater than the median length 66. Alternatively, the end length 62 may be at least 23% greater than the median length 66, and preferably may be at least 40% greater than the median length 66. According to another the end length 62 may not be more than 500% greater than the median length 66. Alternatively, the end length 62 is no more than 100% greater than the median length 66, and preferably no more than 50% greater than the median length 66.

The end length 62 may be at least 2% greater than the base length 58. Alternatively, the end length 62 may be at least 20% greater than the base length 58 and preferably may be at least 40% greater than the base length 58. According to another the end length 62 may be at most 500% greater than the base length 58. Alternatively, the end length 62 may be at most 100% greater than the base length 58, preferably at most 60% greater than the base length 58 of the fixture 44 to provide the desired action.

For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the central portion 64 of the fixture 44 may be configured to form an expanding region of the fixture 44. The expanding region is a gradual transition between the base length 58 and the end length 62. To avoid the formation of excessive stress concentration, an area essentially free of sharp notches or sharp corners.

The relatively small base length 58 and / or middle length 66 of the fixture 44 may advantageously contribute to the improved performance of the invention. The relatively longer length at the end portion of the user-bonded portion 52 provides a larger user connection area that can improve the safety of the fastening system. At the same time, the relatively shorter length of the base and / or central portion of the fixture 44 can provide a relatively greater ease of bending and sliding or other movement compared to the user coupling portion of the fixture 44. As a result, securing the fixation can be maintained at high levels while being substantially smooth dynamically adjusting the holding at the junction points between the front waist panel 38 and the rear waist panel 40 of the article.

According to FIG. 2 and 3, the fastener 44 may include a washer 48 having a desired fastener, such as a primary adhesive layer 54, applied to a larger front surface than the surface 68. The washer 48 may be made, for example, of a textile material or a suitable polymer film such as polypropylene, polyethylene or other suitable polyolefin. The material of the support 48 may be opaque, translucent or transparent as desired and may include graphics. Preferably, the material may be tinted or treated and may also be selectively extruded. According to a particular idea of the invention, the pad 48 may be constructed of substantially non-extensible and / or substantially non-elastomeric material to provide the desired benefits.

The fastener 44 has a factory bonded portion 50 for attaching the pad 48 to a selected portion of the diaper 20 and a user bonded portion 52 for joining and securing the waistband portions 38, 40 of the diaper 20 around the user's body. According to a particular idea of the invention, the production-bound portion 50 of the fixture 44 is connected to the free end region 92 of the side panel 90 and is constructed and shaped to form the tensioned portion 98.

The user-bonded portion 52 may be operably coupled to a finger member 70 that includes a substantially unsecured clamping portion 72. The clamping portion 72 may, according to a particular idea of the invention, comprise a layer of absorbent material, such as a nonwoven fabric.

The factory-bonded part 50 of the fixture 44 is intended to be fastened to a desired part of its associated product during manufacture. The user-bonded part 52 of the fixture 44 is designed to secure the article to the user during use. An exemplary embodiment of the fixture 44, for example, has a primary adhesive layer 54 applied to its selected surface to form an adhesive fastening system. In the illustrated embodiment of the diaper 20, the factory-bound fastener portion 50 is attached to the side ends of the back waist panel 40 and the user-bonded panel 52 is attached to the corresponding side ends of the front waist panel 38 to secure the diaper 20 around the child's waist. The user-bonded portion 52 attaches to a finger member 70 that includes a substantially unattached clamping portion 72. For example, the clamping portion 72 may comprise a layer of exposed absorbent material and at least a portion of the exposed absorbent material may be functionally positioned and arranged to be opposed in the same direction as associated inner side of fixture 44.

With the adhesive fixture 44, the primary adhesive layer 54 may be disposed on the intended, inwardly facing surface of the support 48. A portion of the adhesive disposed on the manufacturing bonded portion 50 may be used to assemble the fixture 44 on the diaper 20 during its manufacture. A portion of the adhesive layer 54 disposed on the user-bonded panel 52 may be used to secure the diaper 20 on the user's body. Particular adhesive parameters of the adhesive layer 54 may be selected and adapted to have the desired adhesive properties, such as adhesive shear stress and adhesive peel strength.

Suitable materials for the construction of the fixture 44, such as sheet materials for the construction of the washer 48, and adhesive materials for the construction of the layer 54 are available from a number of manufacturers such as 3M, a company having Disposable Products Division with offices at 3M Center, St. Park, Minnesota and Avery International, a company having Specialty Tape's Division with offices in Paineswell, Ohio. Examples of suitable tape fasteners are FT-4901 from Avery International and KN3233 from 3M Company.

The illustrated embodiment of the tape fastening system includes a tape release member 74 for releasably holding the user-bonded portion 52 of the fixture 44 in a deposition position that protects the user-bonded portion 52 of the primary adhesive layer 54 from contamination or premature adherence to other portions of the diaper 20. a member 74 positioned in an overlapped position with the washer 48 and attached to the inner surface of the diaper 20. The illustrated embodiment of the tape release member 74 includes an anchoring surface 76 and an opposing release surface 78. The anchoring surface 76 has a suitable anchoring adhesive layer thereon and the release surface 78 has a layer of functional release coating selected therefrom, such as a coating consisting of crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane. Suitable release tapes are available from 3M Company and Avery International. For example, suitable release tape materials include FT-4430 material from Avery International. The loose tape material comprises a release surface against which the adhesive support layer of the fastener 44 can be deposited and protected from contamination. However, the adhesive is easily detached from the release surface 78 when desired.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the end portion of the release member 74 may optionally overlap and be adhesively bonded to the central portion of the washer 48 along the joint area that crosses the length of the washer 48. The resilient connection between the washer 48 and the release member 74 forms a Y-connection that can tension the assembly and attaching the fixture 44 to the diaper portion 20 that is clamped between the release member 74 and the fabric-bonded portion 50 of the washer 48. According to another aspect of the invention, the release member 74 may be formed and shaped to form the tensioned portion 98.

An alternative side panel and fixture assembly is shown in FIG. 30 and 31. The end region 92 of the side panel 90 is clamped between the washer 48 and the release tape 74. The finger member 70 may comprise more layers than the intermediate layer 71, which may be formed of the same material as the side panel 90. the primary peaks 73 in the curved contour of the fixture 44 were at locations where the release strip 74 is laminated to the side panel 90 so that the primary peaks are not actually observable by the user.

The user-bonded portion 52 of the pad 48 has a far end portion 108 that is intended to clamp the user into a suitable position and adhere the user-bonded portion 52 of the fixture 44 to the intended fastening zone of the article. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the user closes the end portion 108 to adhere the fixture 44 against the storage zone 46. The remote end portion 108 may be made non-adhesive and non-attachable so that the end portion 108 can be much more easily found and lifted by the user.

According to a particular idea of the invention, the fixture 44 may include a separate finger member 70 attached to the end piece 61 of the washer 48 along the attachment area. By way of example, the overlap joint illustrated may include an adhesive joint, a sound joint, a heat joint, and the like. The finger member 70 may extend directly over the adhesive layer 54 or may extend to the surface of the washer 48 that is positioned against the adhesive layer 54 as desired. Where the finger member 70 is attached against the adhesive layer 54, the pad 48 may be configured to overlap the entire area of the region of the finger member 70.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the finger member 70 may be formed by a special physical and chemical processing process and applied to the end piece 60 of the washer 48. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the finger member 70 may be a tape release material layer. In an alternative shape, the treatment may be performed to give the desired absorbency and / or tactile properties of the clamping region of the resulting finger member 70.

According to another aspect of the invention, the finger member 70 may be made of a material capable of absorbing a select amount of impurities such as dust, liquids, and creams that may be deposited on the user's fingers. According to one aspect of the invention, the material of the finger member 70, in particular the portion comprising the clamping member of the finger member 70, has a certain swallowing value of at least 8% by weight relative to a mineral oil having a Saybolt viscosity of about 80-90 at 38 ° C.

The finger member 70 may also be made of a material that provides a tactile complement or contrast as compared to the pad 48. According to a particular idea of the invention, the finger member 70 may be made of a material that provides a gripping surface having a friction coefficient not less than 0. , 12th A suitable technique for determining the coefficient of friction is using the KAWABATA Model KES-FB-4, Surface Characteristics Testing Apparatus manufactured by KATO TECH Co. Ltd. Kyoto, Japan and supplied by TEX-MAC, which has offices in Charlotte, North Carolina. The apparatus performs a method of measuring the friction coefficient values designated MIW.

The finger member 70 may also be shaped such that it has an clamping surface having a surface roughness of not less than 2.75 microns. A suitable surface roughness technique uses the KAWABATA Surface Characteristics Testing Apparatus above. The instrument performs a test method for measuring the surface roughness values labeled SMD.

According to another aspect of the invention, the finger member 70 may be shaped to have a visually different appearance from the pad 48. Thus, for example, the finger member 70 may be colored or may include printed graphics that visually distinguish the finger member 70 from other portions of the diaper 20. In a preferred embodiment, the peripheral contour of the finger member 70 is curved and substantially free of sharp corners that could excessively irritate the skin of the user.

The finger member 70 has a length dimension and a width dimension and can be configured to have a gripping area of at least 39 mm 2. Alternatively, the clamping surface is at least 128 mm ² and preferably at least 253 mm ² . In preferred embodiments, the gripping surface of the finger member 70 is in the range of 150-300 mm ² .

The gripping surface of the finger member 70 in combination with the selected dimensions of the finger member 70 can help to enlarge the surface of the finger member 70, which makes a real contact with the thumb and another finger of the user when gripping. As a result, the user can more easily hold the finger member 70 and can better prevent contact with the primary adhesive layer 54.

The ease of gripping the finger member 70 can be increased when the general shape of the finger member 70 approximately corresponds to that of the gripped thumb and finger. With a particular shape of the finger member 70, the clamping area formed by the finger member 70 is at least 20 mm ² , preferably at least 64 mm ^2, and more preferably 127 mm ² . In preferred embodiments, the clamping surface formed by the finger member 70 is in the range of 37-75 mm ² .

The material of the finger member 70 may be substantially equally extensible with the width of the end portion 60 of the pad 48 and may substantially have an end at the longitudinal end edge of the pad 48.

According to another idea of the invention, the fastening system may comprise a primary tension member 98 and at least one additional tension member 99, such as shown in FIG. 15 and 16. The additional tension member 99 may have ends coincident with the end regions 172 of the waist panel, see FIGS. 15, or may be located away from the end edge of the end portion 172 of the waistband by selecting a discrete distance, see FIG. 16th

In the illustrated configurations, the waistband portion, such as the rear waistband portion 40 of the article, has at least one lateral end region 172 to which the side panel 90 is attached. Typically, the article has another oppositely positioned waist end region having similar mirror-like configuration and construction. . The end region 172 may include an additional tension portion 99 that extends along the length dimension of the end region and also has a selected width dimension. The structure of the stressed portion 99 may include various structures and configurations described with respect to the primary stressed portion 98.

The illustrated configurations have a length of the additional stressed portion 99 substantially equal to the length of the associated belt end region 172. Alternatively, the length of the additional stressed portion 99 may be less than the length of the belt end region 172. However, the length of the additional stressed portion 99 is greater than the length of the side panel 90. In addition, it may be desirable to approximate the centering of the length of the additional tension panel 99 along the length of the waist end region 172. When the additional tension panel 99 is used, it is able to absorb the force exerted by the side panel 90 and distribute the force over a wider area of the base structure than the diaper 20. avoid undesirable concentration of tension that could tear or excessively distort local areas of diaper components 20.

During attachment of the diaper 20 to the baby, the fastener 44 typically grips and detaches from the tape material 734. When the user-bonded member 52 is fastened to the second fastening panel 202, see FIG. 1, the side sections 89 are elongated such that the first and second fastening panels 200 and 202 are fixedly mounted around the user. Desirably, the lateral extension of the first fastening panel 200 is adapted substantially to the lateral sections 89 rather than the elastic bands 36, such that the first fastening panel 200 is easily extensible when clamped by the fastener 44. The position and resilience of the lateral sections 89 allows improved fastening of the diaper 20, even if the baby is lying.

According to one aspect of the invention, the side elongation characteristics of the first waist panel 40 are selected such that the first fastening panel 200 is shown. 1 may have the extension necessary to attach the fasteners 44 as well as substantial changes in the circumference of the child's belt. When the fasteners 44 are attached to the fastening band 46, the first fastening panel 200 tends to be extended by about 2.54 cm so that the diaper 20 is tightly fitted around the baby. Further, when the child changes position, for example from a lying position to a sitting position, the circumference of the baby's medium size belt increases by about 5.08 cm. The first fastening panel 200 and the diaper 20 are adapted for such an elongation and for a particular elongation of about 7.62 cm for the medium size of the diaper 20 without exerting substantially pulling forces. The exact level of force at extra length and the amount of change of force at extra length are controlled to avoid discomfort and red spots on the skin.

Thus, it is believed that the proper attachment of the diaper 20 will be improved when the first fastening panel 200 develops sufficiently low resistance levels at particular preload lengths. The method of determining the degree of resistance at a particular elongation length is described below. However, it is believed that it is desirable for the first fastening panel 200 to provide an elongation force in the first cycle of less than 1,720 g, especially less than 1,173 g, and in particular a mean value of no greater than 1,095 g, at a lateral extension of 27%. Further, at a lateral extension of 26%, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a desired first cycle extension force of less than 1570 g, in particular less than 1116 g, and in particular a mean value of no greater than 1038 g. At a lateral extension of 24%, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a first cycle extension force of less than 1220 g, in particular less than 1,003 g, and in particular a mean value of no more than 929 g. With a 22% side elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should exert an elongation force of the first cycle of less than 870 g and in particular a mean value of no more than 815 g. With a lateral extension of 20%, the first fastening panel 200 is to exert an elongation force of the first cycle of less than 774 g and in particular a mean value of no more than 696 g.

Of additional importance for the attachment of the diaper 20 is the magnitude of the change in resistance force during the first extension cycle. Particularly at an elongation of 27%, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a magnitude of change (increase) of force during the first elongation cycle of less than 650 g of force per 1% elongation, especially less than 500 g /% elongation and especially no more than 350 g /% elongation. At 25% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a magnitude of change in force during the first preload cycle of less than 130 g /% elongation, especially less than 94 g /% elongation, and in particular no more than 58 g /% elongation. At 20% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 is to develop a magnitude of change in force during the first elongation cycle of less than 110 g /% elongation, in particular less than 84 g /% elongation, particularly no more than 58 g /% elongation.

During the first load cycle, it is desirable that the first fastening panel 200 exert a 26% lateral extension pull force of less than 1080 g, in particular less than 781 g, and in particular no more than 694 g. At 24% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 is to exert a pulling force of the first cycle of less than 630 g, in particular less than 559 g and in particular no more than 495 g. At 22% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a pulling force of the first cycle of less than 390 g, in particular not more than 356 g. At 20% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 is to exert a pulling force of the first cycle of less than 250 g, and in particular not more than 239 g.

In addition, during the first load cycle, it is desirable that the fastening panel 200 exert a force change rate (reduction) of less than 180 g /% elongation, in particular less than 139 g /% elongation and particularly no more than 97 g /% elongation at 25% elongation.

While the diaper 20 is in use, a large number of forces are applied to the first and second fastening panels 200 and 202 depending on the position and movements of the baby. Thus, the resilient properties of the first fastening panel 200 in repeated extensions are also an important component. According to one aspect of the invention, the first fastening panel 200 develops at a 27% lateral extension a second cycle tension force of less than 1550 g, in particular less than 1033 g, and in particular a mean value of no more than 933 g. Further, at a lateral extension of 26%, the first fastening panel 200 is to exert a second cycle extension force of less than 1340 g, in particular less than 929 g, and in particular a mean value not greater than 840 g. With a lateral extension of 24%, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a second cycle extension force of less than 970 g, in particular less than 753 g, and in particular a mean value of no more than 681 g. At 22% lateral extension, the first fastening panel 200 is to exert a second cycle tension force of less than 660 g, in particular less than 609 g, and in particular a mean value of no more than 542 g. And at 20% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 is to exert a second cycle elongation force of less than 480 g and in particular a mean value of no more than 411 g.

Another idea of the invention includes the magnitude of the change in resistance force during the extension of the second cycle. At 27% elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should have a magnitude of change in force during elongation of the second cycle of less than 530 g /% elongation, particularly less than 402 g /% elongation, and in particular no more than 274 g /% elongation. At 25% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should have a magnitude of change in force during the prewash of the second cycle of less than 190 g /% elongation, especially less than 139 g /% elongation, and in particular no more than 87 g /% elongation. And at 20% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a magnitude of change in force during elongation of the second cycle of less than 75 g /% elongation, in particular less than 67 g /% elongation, and in particular no more than 59 g /% elongation.

During the second load cycle, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a 26% lateral extension pull force of less than 1020 g, in particular less than 752 g, and in particular a mean value not greater than 679 g. At 24% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a second cycle retraction force of less than 590 g, in particular less than 535 g, and in particular a mean value of no more than 480 g. At 22% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a second cycle shrinkage force of less than 360 g and in particular a mean value of no greater than 341 g. And at 20% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel is to exert a pulling force of the second cycle of less than 230 g and in particular a mean value of not more than 224 g.

Also, during the second load cycle, the first fastening panel 200 should, at 25% lateral elongation, exert a force change amount of less than 170 g /% elongation, in particular less than 136 g /% elongation, and in particular no more than 101 g / elongation.

According to another idea of the invention, the first fastening panel 200 exerts, at 27% lateral extension, a third cycle extension force of less than 1550 g, in particular less than 1251 g, and in particular no more than 951 g. Further, at 26% of the lateral extension, the first fastening panel 200 is to exert a third cycle extension force of less than 1370 g, in particular less than 1114 g and in particular no more than 858 g. At 24% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel is to exert a third cycle tension force of less than 920 g, in particular less than 800 g, and in particular no more than 680 g. At 22% lateral extension, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a third cycle extension force of less than 630 g, in particular less than 586 g, and in particular no more than 542 g.

As regards the magnitude of change in resistive force during the extension of the third cycle, at 27% elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a magnitude of change in force of less than 210 g /% elongation, in particular less than 156 g /% elongation and particularly no more than 101 g /%. extension. At 25% lateral elongation, the first fastening panel 200 should exert a magnitude of change in force during the extension of the third cycle of less than 180 g /% elongation, especially less than 131 g /% elongation, and in particular no more than 81 g /% elongation.

The following examples are provided to enable a better understanding of the invention. Particular values, ratios, mixtures and parameters are intended to be exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Example 1

The diaper 300 shown in FIG. 18 to illustrate particular embodiments and advantages of the present invention. The diaper 300 includes a backsheet 22, a topsheet 24, and an absorbent body 26 disposed between the backsheet 22 and the topsheet 24. The body and outer skin layers 30 and 32 cover most surfaces of the absorbent body 26 and are welded together along the side edges. An impact layer 84 is disposed between the body layer 30 and the topsheet 24. The diaper 300 also includes resilient members 34, an elastic waist 36, and retention flaps 82.

The elastic side sections 89 are formed by laterally separated resilient panels 90. The panels 90 are operatively coupled to the backsheet 22 by direct attachment to the topsheet 24 that is attached to the backsheet 22. The clamp 44 includes a tensioned portion 98 that is attached to the end free regions 92 of the side panels 90. The fixture 44 includes a user-bonded portion 52 shown in FIG. 18 in the laterally extended and extended position.

For the purpose of analyzing the lateral elasticity of the rear waist panel 40, a test piece was cut, see FIG. 19, of diaper 300 using a paper cutter. The test specimen was selected from a belt piece that included fasteners 44. The test specimen had a length dimension parallel to the side width 88 of the diaper 300 and contained laterally extending portions of the fasteners 44. The test specimen had a maximum width dimension of 7.62 cm as shown by arrows 302 to Fig. 19. The width dimension of the test piece was measured parallel to the longitudinally extending length dimension 86 of the diaper 300 at its midline. Laterally outwardly from the centerline of the diaper 300, the width of the test specimen may be less than 7.62 cm due to the size of the fixtures, see FIG. The long edges of the test specimen were formed by the first end edge 106 of the diaper 300 and the flat edge, and which was cut parallel to the width dimension 88, see FIG. 1, the diaper 300. Referring to the attempt to test the elastic response of the first diaper fastening panel 200 in the preparation of the test sample, care was taken to ensure that the elastic components of the diaper 300 were not damaged.

The test specimen was left flat and again without attempting to stretch the elastic components of the diaper 300, the distance between the user-bonded parts 52 of the fasteners 44 was recorded. This distance is the length of the first fastening panel 200 and shown in FIG. For the diaper 300 shown, this distance was determined to be 27.94 cm.

The backsheet 22 was made of 0.03 mm thick polyethylene film containing T10O2 to increase opacity. The topsheet 24 was a nonwoven polypropylene fabric consisting of 2.8-3.2 denier fibers, processed into a web having a basis weight of 20 gm ² . The fabric was surface treated with 0.27% Triton X-102 surfactant.

The absorbent body 26 had a matrix of cellulosic fibers mixed with superabsorbent particles. The body side and the outside of the wrap layers 30 and 32 were TISSUE cellulose fleece. The resilient members 34 were composed of a carrier sheet to which four strips of elastomer 740 dexitex LYCRA were attached. The resilient members 34 were curved so that the resilient bands 36 were bent inwardly at the fork portion of the diaper 300. The impact layer 84 was sandwiched between the topsheet 24 and the absorbent body 26 and was composed of an air permeable composite fabric bonded by carding. The web consisted of a blend comprising 40% 6 denier polyester fibers and 60% 3 denier binary fibers and had a basis weight of 51 gm ² . The elastic band 36 had a longitudinal dimension of about 25 mm and a lateral dimension of about 102 mm, which were measured in the flat condition of the diaper 300. The elastic band 36 was positioned at each longitudinal end of the diaper 300 and consisted of a stretch bonded laminate fabric of 72 gm ^-2 . The fabric contained a meltblown fibrous core having a basis weight of about 45 gm ^-2 , wrapped between two nonwoven outer layers, each having a basis weight of about 13 g.nr ² . The diaper 300 comprised two impact flaps 82, each consisting of a nonwoven / meltblown / nonwoven laminate fabric having a total basis weight of about 29 gm- ² and each elasticized with two strips of 470 decitex LYCRA elastomer. The diaper components 300 corresponded to those used in the manufacture of HUGGIES UltraTrim in March 1994 by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wisconsin.

The diaper 300 further comprised a pair of laterally opposed biased side panels 90 that consisted of a tapered elastomeric fabric. The fabric had a core of an elastomeric film of KRATON G 2755 elastomer which was clamped between two tapered stretched nonwoven outer sheets. The core of the KRATON elastomer had a basis weight of 50 to 55 gm ^-2 and the fully composite laminate had a basis weight of 136 gm * ² . The side panels were rectangular with a longitudinal length dimension of about 64 mm and an effective laterally extending width of the stretchable material, which was about 19 mm. The adhesive fasteners 44 consisted of FT-4901 supplied by AVERY International and release strips 74 were of FT4430 also supplied by Avery International.

Example 2

For comparison purposes, the lateral elastic properties of the first comparative diaper 320 shown in FIG. 21. The first comparative diaper 320 was obtained in Japan and sold by The Procter & Gamble Company under the trade name Pampers for Girls. Diaper 320 was introduced in the United States in the first quarter of. 1994 and comprised an upper sheet 322 attached to the back sheet 324 with an absorbent structure 326 disposed between the top sheet 322 and the back sheet 324. The absorbent structure 326 contained fabric layers 328 against most of their surfaces. The resilient impact flaps 330 were attached to the top sheet 322 and the back sheet 324. The back sheet 324 was folded across the body surface of the diaper 320 along the side edge 332.

The comparison diaper 320 comprised pairs of resilient members 334 disposed longitudinally in the side edges of the diaper 320. The comparison diaper 320 also included side elastic bands 336 and an elastic member 334 attached to the backsheet 324. Comparison diaper 320 fasteners 340 included a fastening strap 342 and a release strip 344 .

Test sample, see fig. 22, was cut from the first comparative diaper 320 in the same manner as described above. The test sample was selected from a belt piece that included fasteners 340. The test sample had a maximum width dimension 302 of 7.62 cm. The length 350 of the fastening panel cut from the first comparative diaper 320, measured between the user-bonded fastener parts 340, was determined to be 27.94 cm.

Example 3

For further comparison, the lateral elastic properties of the second comparative diaper 36 were analyzed, see FIG. 24. A second comparative diaper 360 was obtained from The Netherlands (Netherlands) and sold by The Procter & Gamble Company. The diaper 360 had the trade name Pampers Stretch Ultra Thin. A second comparative diaper 360 was brought to the United States in the first quarter of. 1994 and comprised an upper sheet 362 attached to the back sheet 364 and with an absorbent structure 366 disposed between the top sheet 362 and the back sheet 364. The fabric layers 368 were again deposited against the largest portion of the absorbent surface. The resilient impact flaps 370 were attached to the top sheet 362 and the back sheet 364 was folded over the body surface along one side edge at 372.

The comparative diaper 360 also contained pairs of elastic bands 374 disposed longitudinally in the side edges of the diaper 360. The side elastic members 376 of the diaper 360 were disposed between the top sheet 362 and the back sheet 364 while the band elastic member 378 was mounted at the upper end of the top sheet 362. The diaper 360 comprised fasteners 380 with fastening strips 382 and release strips 384.

Again the test sample was cut, see fig. 25, of the second comparative diaper 360 in the same manner as described above. The test sample, selected from the waist panel, contained fixtures 388 and had a maximum width dimension 302 of 7.62 cm. The length 390 of the fastening panel cut from the second comparative diaper 360, measured similarly between the user-bonded fastener parts 380, was determined to be 27.94 cm. The lateral characteristics of the diaper extension 300 shown in FIG. 18 and the first and second comparative diapers 320 and 360 were evaluated by the following procedure.

Test method

The method generally determines the stress / elongation curve under cyclic conditions and the ultimate elongation (for permanent load) of thermoplastic textiles. The elongation-voltage curve develops over a repeated number of cycles. The final elongation is then given for a predetermined load, and the elongation is measured at this point. The test method is similar to ASTM D 4964-89, the Standard Test Method for Stress and Elongation of Elastic Fabrics, and may be in the form of a set of computer instructions and control of these functions in the standard test equipment control software. One suitable company experienced in these software is Sintech, Inc. of Research Triangle Park, NC.

equipment

Any type of tensile testing machine with a fixed elongation size capable of being controlled by the test software may be used. One suitable instrument is the Sintech Tensile Tester.

Test procedure

After calibration of the tensile testing machine according to the standard operating procedure, the sample length is adjusted to the length of the fastening panel (304 in Fig. 19, 350 in Fig. 22, 390 in Fig. 25), which in the above diaper examples was 27, 94 cm in each example. The control software shall be activated and the following set of test conditions shall be implemented: crosshead size = 500 mm / min, full load = 11 340 g, sample length = 279,4 mm in this case, sample width = 76,2 mm, elongation cycle = 27% (note: for diapers 300, 320 and 360. having the same sample length, this gives a total elongation of 75.4 mm, number of cycles = 2, end load (after the third elongation) = 2000 g, points elongations where force is pressed = 7, 8, 14, 20, 22, 24 and 26%.

The sample to be tested is clamped in the jaws 306 of the tensile testing machine as shown in FIG. 20, 23 and 26, so that the jaws 306 are aligned with the most internal exposed portions of the attachment surfaces 68 of the fixture pad 48. The sample weight in this case was about 5 g. The load on the pre-test samples was in the range of 10 to 20 g to ensure that there was neither too much overhang nor too much overload.

The test will begin. The jaws 306 are separated by a fixed elongation size of 500 mm / min at a specimen elongation of a predetermined 27% (sample length in this case changed from 279.4 mm to 354.8 mm) or by 75.4 mm of total elongation at which The crosshead stops and immediately returns at a size of 500 mm / min at 48 to the original sample length of 279.4 mm. This constitutes a single cycle consisting of an extension part and an extension part. At the end of the first cycle, the crosshead stops again, changes direction and immediately begins the second stretch and retract cycle. When the cycle is complete, the crosshead is stretched to a predetermined load of 2000 g. The test is now complete and the crosshead returns to the preset sample length of 279.4 mm. Thus, there are five separate parts of the stress / elongation curve determined by this test procedure: first elongation cycle from 0% to 27%, first elongation cycle from 27% to 0% elongation, second elongation cycle from 0% to 27% elongation, second load cycle from 0% to 27% elongation, and a third load elongation load of 2 000 g.

When the test is completed, the data may be printed either in tabular or graphical form as a load in grams depending on the percentage elongation.

A total of five samples of first diaper 300, first comparative diaper 320, and second comparative diaper 360 were tested. FIG. 27-29 are graphs that represent the tension characteristics of the diaper test specimens 300. See FIG. 27, the first comparative diaper 320 of FIG. 28 and the second comparative diaper 360, see FIG. 29. The graphs refer to the last of the five samples tested for each type of diaper. The following tables show the strength versus elongation and slope versus elongation values at various percent elongation levels for the diapers to be tested. The force data given for the first and second cycles show each individual test no. 1-5 and the mean of the five samples tested. Slope and extension data of the third cycle were recorded only for the last of the five test samples.

First sweep cycle

Extension% 14% 20% 22% 24% 26% 27% (Mm) (39.1 55.9 61.5 67.1 72.6 75.4) Power (g) Diaper: 300 no. 1 247 624 748 867 970 1029 no. 2 249 632 758 869 975 1029 no. 3 352 774 894 1003 1116 1173 no. 4 314 740 854 970 1085 1141 no. 5 295 712 822 934 1043 1105 Str. 292 696 815 929 1038 1095 Diaper: 320 no. 1 457 893 1118 1388 1677 1828 no. 2 461 896 1134 1404 1660 1810 no. 3 452 894 1127 1397 1678 1827 no. 4 424 816 1033 1292 1578 1730 no. 5 467 912 1147 1410 1676 1813 Str. 452 882 1112 1378 1654 1802 Diaper: 360 no. 1 283 746 1009 1394 1799 1983 no. 2 325 801 1082 1456 1823 1985 no. 3 284 793 1083 1476 1865 2040 no. 4 261 703 933 1275 1664 1854 no. 5 243 665 880 1229 1649 1846 Str. 279 742 997 1366 1760 1942

First retraction cycle

Elongation% (mm) 14% (39.1 20% 55.9 22% 61.5 , 24% 67.1 26% 72.6) Power (g) no. 1 62 diaper 237 357 300 500 703 no. 2 57 241 364 504 705 no. 3 48 166 267 383 532 no. 4 70 293 413 559 781 no. 5 67 258 380 529 751 Str. 61 239 356 495 694 no. 1 78 diaper 276 429 320 693 1149 no. 2 77 276 431 700 1158 no. 3 74 276 429 696 1156 no. 4 69 252 392 638 1083 no. 5 78 278 433 699 1149 Str. 75 271 423 685 1139 no. 1 77 diaper 368 501 360 716 1211 no. 2 96 392 521 747 1241 no. 3 73 391 523 755 1263 no. 4 77 353 479 671 1136 no. 5 73 337 468 661 1128 Str. 79 368 498 710 1196

Second stretch cycle

Extension% 14% 20% 22% 24% 26% 27% (Mm) (39.1 55.9 61.5 67.1 72.6 75.4) Power (g) diaper 300 no. 1 122 402 533 672 831 924 no. 2 119 410 543 680 836 926 no. 3 103 321 448 576 709 786 no. 4 144 476 609 753 929 1033 no. 5 135 446 580 726 895 995 Str. 124 411 542 681 840 933

Diaper 320

no. 1 207 530 748 1053 1432 1638 no. 2 207 538 760 1068 1447 1653 no. 3 200 536 758 1064 1447 1657 no. 4 187 483 685 975 1349 1555 no. 5 209 538 760 1066 1440 1641 Str. 202 525 742 1045 1423 1629 diaper 360 no. 1 150 536 740 1102 1583 1831 no. 2 183 577 790 1164 1627 1848 no. 3 153 573 795 1189 1667 1902 no. 4 146 509 693 1014 1477 1717 no. 5 139 485 667 981 1461 1715 Str. 154 536 737 1090 1563 1803

Second retraction cycle

Prefeenie% 14% 20% 22% 24% 26% (Mm) (39.1 55.9 61.5 67.1 72.6) Power (g) diaper 300 no. 1 57 218 337 474 672 no. 2 51 222 341 480 677 no. 3 47 168 276 405 577 no. 4 64 276 392 535 752 no. 5 61 238 358 504 718 Str. 56 224 341 480 679 diaper 320 no. 1 68 254 397 649 1089 no. 2 65 255 402 661 1108 no. 3 64 252 398 653 1100 no. 4 59 231 364 601 1029 no. 5 68 254 399 654 1092 Str. 65 249 392 643 1084

Diaper 360

no. 1 68 346 478 677 1158 no. 2 85 370 495 706 1196 no. 3 65 371 499 715 1216 no. 4 68 334 459 638 1095 no. 5 67 318 448 629 1084 Str. 70 348 476 673 1150

The third drag cycle

Extension% (inches) (Mm) 14% (1.5 (39.1 20% 2.2 55.9 22% 2.4 61.5 24% 2.6 67.1 26% 2.9 72.6 27% 3,0) 75.4) Power (g) Diaper 300 121 404 542 680 844 951 Diaper 320 187 491 693 980 1373 1554 Diaper 360 128 462 633 923 1391 1660

First sweep cycle

Extension% 15% 20% 25% 27% (Inches) (1.7 2.2 2.8 3,0) (Mm) (41.9 55.9 69.9 75.4) Slope g /% (g / mm) Diaper 300 67 (24.0) 58 (20.8) 58 (20.8) 350 (125.3) Diaper 320 66 (23.6) 122 (43.7) 135 (48.3) 657 (235.1) Diaper 360 51 (18.3) 112 (40.1) 208 (74.4) 713 (255.2)

First load cycle

Prefeenie% 15% 20% 25% (Inches) (1.7 2.2 2,8) (Mm) (41.9 55.9 69.9) Slope g /% (g / mm) Diaper 300 15 (5.4) 59 (21.1) 97 (34.7) Diaper 320 30 (10.7) 59 (21.1) 194 (69.4) Diaper 360 22 (7.9) 59 (21.1) 184 (65.9)

Second stretch cycle

Extension% 15% 20% 25% 27% (Mm) Slope g /% (g / mm) (41.9 55.9 69.9 75.4) Diaper 300 37 (13.2) 59 (21.1) 87 (31.1) 274 (98.1) Diaper 320 37 (13.2) 103 (36.9) 196 (70.2) 539 (192.9) Diaper 360 29 (10.4) 81 (29.0) 249 (89.1) 625 (223.7)

Second load cycle

Extension% 15% 20% 25% (Mm) Slope g /% (g / mm) (41.9 55.9 69.9) Diaper 300 22 (7.9) 52 (18.6) 101 (36.1) Diaper 320 22 (7.9) 59 (21.1) 188 (67.3) Diaper 360 22 (7.9) 67 (24.0) 176 (63.0)

The third drag cycle

Predfeenie% 15% 20% 25% 27% (Mm) Slope g /% (g / mm) (41.9 55.9 69.9 75.4) Diaper 300 34 (12.2) 74 (26.5) 81 (29.0) 101 (36.1) Diaper 320 47 (16.8) 80 (28.6) 188 (67.3) 215 (77.0) Diaper 360 34 (12.2) 87 (31.1) 249 (89.1) 257 (92.0)

In the first stretching cycle, the diaper 300 not only has a lower tension force in the range of 20 to 27% elongation, but also a much lower slope compared to the comparative diapers 320 and 360. This combination of features allows a significant improvement in ease of use of the diaper, more easily tensioned and attached to the locking area over a much larger range of prewash. In addition, a flatter tension / elongation curve (less slope) provides a wider range of attachment positions for the fastening system, for which the fastening tension is more advantageous in order to reduce skin blushing and possible skin irritation. The characteristics of the first tensioning cycle largely determine the location of the fastening system, which in turn ensures better fastening for each child. In the second and third tensioning cycles, the tensioning forces and inclinations are also less for the diaper 300 compared to the comparative diapers that have been tested, especially for an elongation range of 20 to 27%. This combination of features contributes to the child's comfort. This improvement in comfort becomes much clearer considering that the size of the baby's belt typically increases by more than 10% when the baby is sitting, compared to the size when the baby is lying.

The invention provides an improved range of tension and contraction forces applied to the child's belt during its normal behavior such as sitting and standing. This further improves the comfort of the child.

It will be apparent from the detailed description of the invention that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are within the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims (27)

tl ffl- ff PATENT CLAIMS A dynamic shaped diaper having longitudinal side edges and a first and a second end edge extending between the side edges, a first waistband joined to a first end edge, a second waistband joined to a second end edge, and a middle piece joining the two waistband portions; an absorbent body mounted on the back sheet, a fastener attached to the back sheet along each of the side edges in the first waist portion, each fastener having a user-bonded portion adapted to fasten the diaper around the wearer's body during use, a pair of laterally spaced diaper lateral sections, functionally attached to the back sheet in the back waist panel, the side panels favorably impart a spatially discontinuous lateral elasticity to the diaper, wherein the diaper comprises a fastening panel which is mounted in the back waist panel and extends longitudinally inwardly from the first end edge at a distance of 76.2 mm and extends laterally between the user-fastened clamp parts and produces a first cycle extension force of less than 1,720 g at a lateral extension of 75.4 mm. Dynamic molded diaper according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening panel exerts an elongation force of a first cycle of less than 1 173 g with a lateral extension of 27%. Dynamic molded diaper according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening panel exerts a first cycle extension force of less than 1173 g at a side extension of 75.4 mm. Dynamic molded diaper according to claim 3, characterized in that the fastening panel exerts a second cycle extension force of less than 1033 g at a 27% lateral elongation. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 4, wherein the fastening panel exerts a first cycle elongation force of less than 1173 g at a 27% lateral elongation and a first cycle elongation force of less than 1,003 g at a 24% lateral elongation. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 1, wherein the fastening panel exerts a second cycle elongation force of less than 1550 g at a 27% lateral elongation and a third cycle elongation force of less than 1550 g at a 27% lateral elongation. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 1, wherein the fastening panel exerts a median elongation force of the first cycle of less than 1095 g at a lateral extension of 27% and a median elongation force of the second cycle of less than 933 g at a lateral elongation of 27%. A dynamic shaped diaper according to claim 1, characterized in that it defines a side width dimension and the side panels are separated by a distance equal to at least 50% of the side width dimension. The dynamic molded diaper of claim 1, wherein the resilient side sections comprise separate side panels attached to the backsheet. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 1, wherein the side panels are of a material that exerts an elongation of at least 100% when subjected to a pulling force of 26.2 per 1 mm in length. A dynamic shaped diaper having longitudinal side edges and first and second end edges extending between the side edges, a first waistband joined to a first end edge, a second waistband joined to a second end edge, and a middle piece joining both waistband portions, a rear a sheet with an absorbent body mounted on the back sheet, a fastener attached to the back sheet along each of the side edges in the first waist portion, each fastener having a user-bonded portion adapted to fasten the diaper around the user's body during use, a pair of laterally spaced lateral side sections diapers operatively connected to the backsheet in the rear waist panel, the side panels favorably imparting spatially discontinuous lateral elasticity to the diaper, the diaper including a fastening panel that is mounted in the rear waist panel extending longitudinally inwardly from the first end edge 76.2 mm and extends laterally between user-fastened clamp parts and produces a force change rate during the first elongation cycle of less than 650 g per 1% elongation at 27% lateral elongation. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 11, wherein the fastening panel exerts a force change rate of less than 500 g per 1% elongation at a 27% side elongation during the first elongation cycle. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 12, wherein the fastening panel develops a force change rate of less than 402 g per 1% elongation at a 27% side elongation during the second elongation cycle. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 13, wherein the fastening panel exerts a force change rate of less than 94 g per 1% elongation at 25% side elongation during the first elongation cycle and a force change rate of less than 139 g per second during the second elongation cycle. 1% elongation at 25% lateral elongation. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 11, wherein the fastening panel exerts a force change rate of less than 350 g per 1% elongation at a 27% side elongation during the first elongation cycle and a force change rate less than 274 g per second during the second elongation cycle. 1% elongation at side elongation 27%. A dynamic shaped diaper according to claim 11, characterized in that it defines a side width dimension and the side panels are separated by a distance equal to at least 50% of the side width dimension. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 11, wherein the resilient side sections comprise separate side panels attached to the backsheet. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 11, wherein the side panels are of a material that exerts an elongation of at least 100% when subjected to a tensile force of 26.2 per 1 mm in length. A dynamic shaped diaper having longitudinal side edges and a first and a second end edge extending between the side edges, a first waistband portion joined to the first end edge, a second waistband portion joined to the second end edge, and a middle portion joining the two waistband portions , a backsheet with an absorbent body mounted on the backsheet, a fastener attached to the backsheet along each side edge in the first waistband portion, each fastener having a user-bonded portion adapted to fasten the diaper around the wearer body during use, a pair of laterally spaced elasticized sidewalls of the diaper sections operatively connected to the backsheet in the rear waist panel, the side panels favorably imparting a spatially discontinuous lateral elasticity to the diaper, the diaper including a fastening panel which is mounted in the rear waist panel and extends longitudinally inwardly from the first end edge 76.2 mm and extends laterally between the user-bonded clamping parts and produces a first cycle elongation force of less than 1,720 g at a 27% lateral elongation and a force change rate of less than 650 g to a 1% elongation at 27% lateral elongation during the first elongation cycle. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 19 wherein the fastening panel exerts a first cycle elongation force of less than 1173 g at a 27% lateral elongation and a first cycle elongation rate of less than 500 g to 1% elongation at a 27% lateral elongation. extension. 21. The molded diaper of claim 20, wherein the fastening panel exerts a second cycle elongation force of less than 1033 g at a 27% lateral elongation and a second cycle elongation rate of less than 402 g to 1% elongation at a 27% lateral elongation. extension. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 20, wherein the fastening panel exerts a first cycle elongation force of less than 1116 g at a 26% lateral elongation, a first cycle elongation force of less than 1,003 g at a 24% lateral elongation, and a force change rate a first elongation cycle of less than 94 g per 1% elongation at 25% lateral preload. A dynamic shaped diaper according to claim 19, characterized in that it defines a side width dimension and the side panels are separated by a distance equal to at least 82% of the side width dimension. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 19, wherein the fixture has a length dimension less than 83% of the length dimension of the elasticized side panels. 25. The molded diaper of claim 19, wherein the resilient side portions comprise separate side panels attached to the backsheet and extending sideways from the respective side edge, the side panels being comprised of a material having a Guriey stiffness value of less than 10,000 mg; further comprising a tension member attached to each side panel and having a length dimension greater than 5 cm and a width dimension greater than 1 cm, and the fasteners include factory bonded sections attached to the respective side panel and a seam section disposed between the fabric bonded part and the user bonded portion, the sections have a length greater than 0.5 cm and less than 3 cm. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 19, wherein the side sections are positioned along the length dimension of the diaper to be positioned between the clamps. The dynamic shaped diaper of claim 19, wherein the user-bonded portions comprise an adhesive layer. p? 1/14