AU661921B2 - Disposable incontinence garment or training pant - Google Patents
Disposable incontinence garment or training pant Download PDFInfo
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- AU661921B2 AU661921B2 AU47341/93A AU4734193A AU661921B2 AU 661921 B2 AU661921 B2 AU 661921B2 AU 47341/93 A AU47341/93 A AU 47341/93A AU 4734193 A AU4734193 A AU 4734193A AU 661921 B2 AU661921 B2 AU 661921B2
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Description
1 i i i i i* -1- A DISPOSABLE INCONTINENCE GARMENT OR TRAINING PANT Background of the Invention This invention pertains to an absorbent garment, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for making an absorbent garment for use as a child's training pant, adult incontinence garment, baby diaper and the like.
Currently, disposable absorbent garments find widespread use for infant care and adult incontinence care, and have generally replaced the use of reusable cloth absorbent garments, such as cloth diapers. The typical disposable absorbent garment is a threelayered composite structure comprising a liquid-permeable bodyside liner, a liquidimpermeable outer cover and an absorbent batt disposed between the bodyside liner and, the outer cover. Materials now in general use for the three principal elements of a disposable absorbent garment include various types of nonwoven fabrics for the bodyside liner, a thin thermoplastic film for the outer cover and cellulosic fluff for the absorbent batt.
As one type of a disposable absorbent garment, diapers presently on the market are flat open-sided garments that are intended to be fit about an infant while lying down.
A diaper is meant for use when the child is young and dependent upon a parent for fitting the diaper on the child.
The popularity of disposable diapers has led us to believe there is a demand for a disposable training pant that can be used when a child grows out of a diaper. Diapers are S, typically used with infants up to about 15 months old. When a child reaches an age in the range of about 15 to 30 months, a parent generally desires to start toilet training so the j child can become independent of the parent. The training pant is intended for use when the child has reached an age at which he or she is ready to graduate to an underpant type of garment as a replacement for disposable diapers previously used. Thus, a suitable training pant must be a garment having closed sides so that a child can raise and lower the i garment as necessary without requiring the aid of a parent. At the same time, a training pant must provide features of liquid and solid absorbency and prevent leakage of the waste fluids.
30 Cloth training pants, although widely used, have disadvantages. Current cloth training pants have very little absorbency and often must be used with exterior rubber or plastic pants. When a child wets a cloth training pant, most often all of the child's clothes must be changed. Further, if a child has a bowel movement, it is difficult to remove a cloth pant without making a mess, and the pant must be soaked and bleached. All of these factors can make the toilet training process frustrating for both child and parent.
Moreover, it is believed that the psychology of the toilet training stage is such that the child should perceive he or she is graduating to a garment that is different than a S disposable diaper. It is evident that there is a need for a child's disposable training pant Pn tt J that meets the above requirements regarding fit, leakage, and psychology of toilet training.
1N:\LIBLL)00002:HRW 2 As another type of disposable absorbent article, some of the currently-used incontinence products for adults and older children have been found unsatisfactoiy due to their bulkiness and ineffectiveness. Many of these garments are formed by folding flat sheets into a diaper-like structure that is bulky, particularly in the crotch portion. This type of garment further has a tendency to become dislodged during activity. Clearly, for the active person, these diaper-type garments are not desirable since they are bulky and interfere with the movements of the individual and the wearing of ordinary clothes.
Furthermore, the large amounts of material utilised requires these adult diaper-type garments to be relatively expensive.
Summary of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.
[1 There is disclosed herein a disposable absorbent garment, comprising: a pant body comprising an outer layer of nonwoven material, a waist opening, and leg openings, elastic side members joined to said pant body to provide elasticity at the hips of the wearer, a leg elastic joined near a portion of each said leg opening for gathering said portion, and an absorbent medium joined to said pant body for absorbing waste material.
There is further disclosed herein a disposable absorbent garment, comprising: a pant body comprising a waist opening, leg openings, an outer layer of nonwoven material, and an inner layer of nonwoven material, side members joined between said outer layer of nonwoven material and said inner layer of nonwoven material to provide elasticity at the hips of the wearer, a pair of leg elastics joined between said outer layer of nonwoven material and said inner layer of nonwoven material, each said leg elastic being joined near a portion of a respective said leg opening for gathering said portion, i it. ,an absorbent medium joined between said oter layer of nonwoven material and said inner layer of nonwoven material, and a liquid impervious layer joined between said absorbent medium and said outer layer of nonwoven material.
There is further disclosed herein a disposable abs,.;bent garment, comprising: Sa pant body comprising a waist opening, leg openings, an outer layer of nonwoven material, and an inner layer of nonwoven material, elastic side members joined between said outer layer of nonwoven material and said inner layer of nonwoven material to provide elasticity at the hips of the wearer, a leg elastic joined near a portion of one of said leg openings for gathering said portion, 0 an absorbent medium joined to said pant body, and [N:\LIBLL000OOO2:LMM 3 a liquid impervious layer joined between said absorbent medium and said outer layer of nonwoven material.
There is still further disclosed herein a disposable absorbent garment, comprising: a pant body comprising a waist opening, leg openings, an outer layer of nonwoven material, and an inner layer of nonwoven material, elastic side members joined to said pant body to provide elasticity at the hips of the wearer, a leg elastic joined near a portion of one of said leg openings for gathering said portion, an absorbent medium joined to said pant body, and a liquid impervious layer joined between said absorbent medium and said outer layer of nonwoven material.
Brief Description of the Drawings The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a garment or pant as it would appear on a wearer indicated in dashed lines; Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment on a wearer indicated in dashed lines; :Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the embodiment in Figure 1; 1 Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the embodiment in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a flat condition with leg cut-outs before the seams are joined; Figure 5A is a sectional view of Figure 5 iaken along line Figure 5B is a modification of the view in Figure t Figure 5C is a modification of the view in Figure Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 and has the inelastic intermediate panel and waist elastics removed; S.Figure 7 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 2 in a flat condition before the seams are joined; Figure 8 is a side plan view of the embodiment of Figure 7 in a partially folded form; Figure 9 is a fragmentary, side cross-sectional view of a stretch-bonded laminate in the stretched condition; Figure 10 is a fragmentary, side cross-sectional view of the stretch-bonded laminate of Figure 9 in a relaxed condition; [N:\LIBLLOOO0000 2:LMM 3A Figure 11 is a sectional view of Figure 5 taken along line 11-11 and vi wed in the direction of the arrows; Figure 12 illustrates a modification of the view of Figure 11; Figure 13 illustrates a modification of the view of Figure 11; Figure 14 is a sectional view of Figure 5 taken along line 14-14 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; Figure 15 illustrates a modification of the view of Figure 14; Figure 16 illustrates a modification of the view of Figure 14;
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i e is eeL, IN:\LILL100002:LMM -4- Figure 17 is a graph of percent elongation of a side panel versus fic range of the waist in inches; Figure 18 is a graph of the side panel width in inches versus the fit range of the waist in inches; Figure 19 is a graph of percent elongation versus the load in grams for a one inch wide strip of side elastic; Figure 20 is a schematic of one apparatus for producing one embodiment of a garment or pant; and Figure 21 illustrates yet another embodiment of a garment or pant.
Detailed Description Referring to Figures 1 and 3, there is illustrated one embodiment designated absorbent garment 2. Garment 2 generally comprises waste containment section 4 and two side panels 6,8 defining a waist opening 10 and a pair of leg openings 12,14. The side panels may be manually tearable from the waste containment section 4. The total surface area of both side panels 6,8 comprises about 20% to about 80% of the total surface area of garment 2, preferably about 25% to about 50%, and more preferably about 350 to about 45%. Figure 1 illustrates absorbent garment 2 fitted on a wearer's torso portion 16 in dashed lines. Side panel 6 includes elastic side member 18 and elastic side member 20 connecting intermediate member 22 which is made of an inelastic material. Similarly, side panel 8 includes elastic side member 24 and elastic side member 26 connecting intermediate member 28 which is made of an inelastic material. As illustrated in Figure 1, both intermediate members 22, 28 are made of two halves joined It by respective seams 30, 32. Similarly, seam 34 joins elastic side member 18 to intermediate member 22, seam 36 joins elastic side member 20 to intermediate member 25 22, seam 38 joins elastic side member 24 to intermediate member 28 and seam 40 joins elastic side member 26 to intermediate member 28. One or more of these seams can be S.manually tearable.
Hereafter, the terms "stretch" and "extension" include the meaning of a change in length of a material or structural element (expressed in units of length); the term j 30 "elongation" includes the ratio of the extension of a material or structural element to the length of the material or structural element prior to the extension (expressed in percent); and "elasticity" and "elastic" include that property of a material by virtue of which it tends to recover its original size and shape after the removal of the force causing the deformation (expressed in percent).
Garment 2 also includes front waist elastic member 42 and rear waist elastic member 44 for providing additional elasticity along waist opening 10. Leg elastics 46 are 4< provided with waste containment section 4 between side panels 6, 8.
Referring now to Figure 5, absorbent garment 2 is illustrated in a twodimensional or planar configuration it assumes during the manufacturing process. Elastic side member 18 is joined to waste containment section 4 and to a portion of intermediate i IN:\LIBLL100002:HRW member 22 at seam 34, and together form inner edge 48, side edge 50 and end edge 52.
Similarly, elastic side member 20 and its portion of intermediate member 22, which are 'joined at seam 36, form inner edge 54, side edge 56 and end edge 58. Although intermediate member 22 is illustrated in two halves in Figure 5, it may be one integral member without a seam in the middle.
Elastic side member 24 and its portion of intermediate member 28, which are joined at seam 38, form inner edge 60, side edge 62 and end edge 64. Elastic side member 26 and its portion of intermediate member 28, which are joined at seam 40, form inner edge 66, side edge 68 and end edge 70. Again, intermediate member 28 can be of a form or geometry permitting it to be attached as one complete part to either elastic side member 24 or 26, as opposed to being attached in two portions as illustrated in Figure Generally, the length of a side edge 50, 56, 62 or 68 is a function of the total garment length, eg., a desired length of a side edge 50, 56, 62 or 68 is about 5% to about 50% of total garment length. A preferred length is about 15% to about 40 total garment length and a more preferred length is about 30% to about 40% total garment length. Total garment length is measured generally between end edge 52 and end edge 64, or between end edge 58 and end edge 70. Total garment length will generally be between about 12 inches to about 30 inches. Total garment width, as measured between edge 50 and edge 56 or between edge 62 and edge 68, is generally between about 6 inches to about I 20 inches.
As described, leg cutout 72 is formed by inner edges 48, 60 and intermediate portion 76 of waste containment section 4 along leg elastic 46. Similarly, leg cutout 74 is formed by inner edges 54, 66 and intermediate portion 78 of waste containment section 4 f i: along the other leg elastic 46. Although illustrated in Figure 5 as being symmetrical S" 25 about both its longitudinal and transverse axes, absorbent garment 2 may be varied in design or configuration by, for example, changing the dimension of intermediate portions 76, 78 or moving intermediate portions 76, 78 toward the front waist elastic member 42 S, or toward the waist elastic member 44. Any such redesign or reconfiguration will naturally be accompanied by a change in design or configuration of elastic side members r' c, 30 18, 20, 24, 26 and intermediate members 22, 28. The design or configuration of i absorbent garment 2 can also be varied by changing the curvatures of inner edges 48, 54, 60 and 66, such as by changing their radius of curvature.
Elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 can be made of a single layer of a woven or nonwoven elastic material, such as block copolymers of polystyrene, polyisoprene or polybutadiene, copolymers of ethylene, natural rubbers, urethanes, Kratons, and coextrusions/blends of the afore-mentioned. Other examples of suitable elastomeric RA materials include copolymers of ethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-ethyl acetate, 41 ethylene-acrylic acid, and ethylene-methyl acrylate and various percent blends of the IL copolymers of ethylene with polypropylene. Coextruded composites of ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-ethyl acetate, ethylene-acrylic acid, ethylene-methyl acrylate, and IN:\LIBLLO0002:HRW r -6polypropylene at various percents or ril thicknesses can also be used as the elastic material. Also, elastomeric staple integrated composites where staple fibres such as polypropylene, polyester, cotton or any other suitable staple fibre are integrated into an elstomeric meltblown web. Side members 18, 20, 24, 26 can also be a film of elastomeric material.
The above elastomeric materials may be formed by any suitable processes, such as film extrusion, spunbond process, meltblown process or the like.
Elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 can also be a stretch-bonded laminate that may have elasticity in all directions, and may be breathable, ie., is pervious to vapours, but impervious to liquids. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a stretch-bonded laminate 80 in the stretched and relaxed conditions, respectively. Stretch-bonded laminate 80 generally comprises an outer layer 82, an inner bodyside layer 84 and an elastic layer 86 disposed between layers 82, 84. Although layers 82, 84 are described as outer and inner, respectively, they can be made of the same materials and thus be interchangeable.
Layers 82, 84 can be made of any woven or nonwoven material, and are preferably made of a nonwoven fibrous material. Examples of nonwoven fibrous material include variously bonded polyolefin fibres such as thermally-bonded polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester; spunbonded polypropylene, spunbonded polyethylene or blends thereof; meltblown polypropylene, meltblown polyethylene or blends thereof; bonded carded webs of, synthetic or natural fibres or blends thereof; extruded films of thermoplastic materials; and the like. Naturally, copolymers of polyolefin or other material fibres may also be utilised.
Elastic layer 86 is preferably a meltblown or film or block or graft copolymers such as butadiene, isoprene, styrene, ethylene-methyl acrylate, ethylene-vinyl acetate, 25 ethylene-ethyl acrylite or blends thereof. One preferred elastomeric is a block copolymer of styrene-ethylbutadiene-styrene. Other types of materials of which elastic layer 86 can be made are a meltblown or film of block or graft copolymers such as butadiene, isoprene, styrene, ethylene-methyl acrylate, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-ethyl acrylite I or blends thereof. One preferred elastomeric is a block copolymer of styreneethylbutadiene-styrene. Other types of materials of which elastic layer 86 can be made S .are the Kraton G series from The Shell Chemical Company such as Kraton G-1650, S Kraton G-1652, Kraton GX-1657 and preferably Kraton G-2740X. Also, the Kraton D S:series can be used, as well as polyester elastomeric materials, polyurethane elastomeric materials and polyamide elastomeric materials. It should be pointed out that the elastomeric materials of which el" -tic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 are made can also be used for layer 86, and the just-described elastomeric materials of which layer 86 can be made may also be used to make elastic side membrrs 18, 20, 24, 26.
Typically, a stretch-bonded laminate i. ade by stretching the elastic layer to a selected length; placing a non-stretched layer or layers on the stretched elastic layer; SN:\LIBLL]00002:HRW -7bonding the layers together and allowing the layers to relax so that the elastic layer gathers the other layer or layers.
Referring now to Figure 11, which is a cross-section through Figure 5, the attachment of waste containment section 4 with elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 will be described. Waste containment section 4 generally comprises a liquid pervious bodyside liner 88, a liquid impervious outer cover 90 and an absorbent medium 92 bet'-een liner 88 and cover 90. Outer cover 90 can be a woven or nonwoven material, films, or a film-coated nonwoven material comprising case or blown films of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or blends thereof. Outer cover 90 may also be a composite of a bonded carded or spunbonded or meltblown material, for example, a spunbonded-meltblown composite of thermoplastic material or a spunbonded-meltblownspunbonded thermoplastic material, wherein the spunbonded layer can provide a cloth-like texture and the meltblown layer can provide liquid impermeability. Materials of which outer cover 90 can be made include nonwovens having a high basis weight, such as about .0.4 ounces per square yard, about 10 grams per square meter or basis weights greater than the aforementioned.
Outer cover 90 can also be extruded films of polyolefin polymers or copolymers, or other thermoplastic materials. Generally outer cover 90 will have a length from about 12 inches to about 30 inches, and a width from about 3 inches to about 20 inches.
Bodyside liner 88 can be a woven material, or a nonwoven material such as any flexible porous sheet of polyolefin fibres, such as polypropylene or polyethylene or S.o: 'polyester fibres; a web of spunbonded polypropylene or polyethylene or polyester fibres; a web of rayon fibres; a bonded carded web of synthetic or natural fibres or blends thereof. Liner 88 can also be an apertured plastic film. Liner 88 generally will have a length from about 12 inches to about 30 inches, and a width from about 3 inches to about inches.
Absorbent medium 92 can be made of wood pulp fluff or a mixture of wood pulp fluff and a superabsorbent material, or a wood pulp fluff integrated with a thermoplastic absorbent material treated with a surfactant. Thermal binders, such as Pulpex 2 can be used in blends or layering with the fluff and superabsorbent. Medium 92 can also be a batt of meltblown synthetic fibres, a bonded carded web of synthetic or natural fibres or .blends thereof, a composite of meltblown fibres and the like. The synthetic fibres can be, but are not limited to, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester and copolymers of these or other polyolefins. Medium 92 generally will have a length from about 3 inches to about 30 inches, and a width from about 3 inches to about 20 inches.
As illustrated in Figure 11, outer cover 90 and bodyside liner 88 sandwich absorbent medium 92, which is preferably adhered only to outer cover 90 by any suitable adhesive or other means. Alternatively, absorbent medium 92 could be joined to bodyside liner 88 or both bodyside liner 88 and outer cover 90. The longitudinal edge 4o portions 94 of bodyside liner 88 and the longitudinal edge portions 96 of outer cover *a IN:\LIBLL]00002:HRW ~i~ 1 i -8also sandwich respective edge portions of elastic side members 24, 26 to join them to waste containment section 4. Elastic side members 24, 26 can be joined or adhered between respective edge portions 94, 96 by heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, adhesive sealing or by other conventional means, such as stitching and the like.
As illustrated in Figure 11, elastic side members 24, 26 have respective ,ner sides 98, 100 that are illustrated as being just slightly spaced apart from respective absorbent sides 102, 104. One of the unique features is the positional relationship between inner sides 98, 100 and absorbent sides 102, 104. Depending on the degree of elasticity and the amount of gathering desired, inner sides 98, 100 can be positioned at different distances from respective absorbent sides 102, 104. For example, inner sides 98, 100 can be in direct abutment against absorbent sides 102, 104 to pro,, ie maximum gathering, or inner sides 98, 100 can b spaced apart from respective absorb nt sides 102, 104 as desired. A desired range of distances between inner sides 98, 100 and respective absorbent sides 102, 104 is about 0 inches to about 2 inches. A preferred range of .distance between inner sides 98, 100 and absorbent sides 102, 104 is about 0 to about 1 inch, and a more preferred distance is about 0 to about inch.
When inner sides 98, 100 are in abutment against absorbent sides 102, 104, the effect is to provide additional seal against leakage, and to allow for a more uniform transition from side panel to absorbent.
As inner sides 98, 100 are spaced an increasing distance from absorbent sides 102, 104, the resulting effect is to allow additional flexibility to the leg gasketing at each leg opening.
Referring to Figure 12, there is illustrated a modification to the structure of j Figure 11. The longitudinal edge portions 94 of bodyside liner 88 terminate substantially 25 at absorbent sides 102, 104. Longitudinal edge portions 96 of outer cover 90 overlap absorbent sides 102, 104 and edge portions 94 to form liquid-impervious baffles 106.
I Elastic side members 24, 26 are then joined on top of edge portions 96, which form baffles 106, such that edge portions 96 of outer cover 90 are joined between respective I. :side members 24, 26 and bodyside liner 88. As illustrated in Figure 12, inner sides 98, I 1. 30 100 are substantially coincident with the remote ends of edge portions 94. If desired for better fluid control, baffles 106, which again are the overlapping ei.ge portions 96 of outer cover 90, can extend further inwardly over bodyside liner 88 and beyond inner sides 98, 100, thereby creating larger baffles 106. By so extending baffles 106 toward the central portion of absorbent medium 92, there is a reduction in the amount of fluid flowback that may occur in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, thereby further reducing the chance of any fluid leakage about the leg openings 12, 14.
Referring to Figure 13, another modification of Figure 11 is illustrated. In this particular modification, edge portions 96 of outer cover 90 overlap only absorbent .i medium 92, Elastic side members 24, 26 are then attached to the top of edge portions 96, a^c- 40 again which form baffles 106, and bodyside liner 88 is then attached to elastic side |N:\LIBLLIOOOO2:HRW p- PI C~ -I7- -9members 24, 26. As illustrated in Figure 13, inner sides 98, 100 are substantially coincident with the ends of edge portions 96. However, edge portions 96, forming baffles 106, can extend further inwardly toward the centre of absorbent medium 92, thereby providing greater protection against fluid flowback in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.
The percentage of overlap or coverage of absorbent medium 92 with baffles 106 can be 0 to about 99%, preferably about 10% to about 50%, and more preferably about to about As baffles 106 are disposed further inwardly toward the centre of absorbent medium 92, inner sides 98, 100 can likewise be extended further inwardly before being.
joined to edge portions 96. The percent overlap or coverage of panel inner sides 98, 100 with absorbent medium 92 can be 0 to about 50%, preferably about 3% to about and more preferably about 6% to about 12%.
With reference to Figures 12, 13, elastic side members 24, 26 alternatively can be attached to the bottom surface of outer cover Preferably, waist elastics 42, 44 are made of an activatable elastic material appliec in an unstretched condition. Thereafter, waist elastics 42, 44 are activated, such as by heat, light, moisture or the like, so as to retract and become elastic. Types of these activatable elastic materials can be purchased from the Minnesota Mining and C| 20 Manufacturing Company.
As described above, waste containment section 4 of absorbent garment 2 is maintained in a snug-fitting, comfortable fashion against the wearer by elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26. The effect of elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26, and leg I 'elastics 46 extending about the inner portion of the wearer's legs, is to provide not only vertical (an upward direction as viewed in Fig. 1) forces that maintain the waste containment section 4 against the wearer's crotch area, but also inwardly directed horizontal (a left-to-right direction as viewed in Fig. 1) force vectors against the hips and mid-section that hold or hug waste containment section 4 against the sides of the wearer, both before and after a void.
Referring to Figure 5, waist elastics 42, 44 are illustrated with absorbent garment 2 in a two-dimensional or planar form before the construction of seams 30, 32. Ends S108, 110 of absorbent medium 92 terminate short of outer cover ends 112, 114 and bodyside liner ends 116, 118. Absorbent ends 108, 110 are spaced a distance from outer cover ends 112, 114 in the range of about /2 inch to about 2 inches. Generally, bodyside liner ends 116, 118 are substantially coincident with outer cover ends 112, 114, and the total garment length is measured between these ends. Jt may be that bodyside liner ends 116, 118 extend beyond outer cover ends 112, 114 and as^ folded over ends 112, 114 to form a skirt or fringe about waist opening 10. In this case, the total garment length is R/ measured between ends 112, 114. Similarly, outer cover ends 112, 114 could extend IN:\LIBLLJOOOD2:HRW 1jj1 beyond bodyside liner ends 116, 118 and be folded thereover, and the total garment length is measured between ends 116, 118.
Each waist elastic 42, 44 can be a single ribbon of elastic material that is suitably adhered solely to bodyside liner 88, or to outer cover 90, or to both liner 88 and cover 90. A single ribbon of waist elastic 42 or 44 in the relaxed, attached condition has a length of about 2 inches to about 12 inches and a relaxed, attached width of about 1/8 inch to about 2 inches. Generally, waist elastic 42, 44 will be adhered in a stretched condition, and in the stretched condition, each waist elastic 42, 44 will have a stretched length of about 2 1,4 inches to about 15 inches and a stretched width of about 1/8 inch to about 1 7/8 inches. These parameters should provide a relaxed, attached length of about.
to about 100% of the width of waste containment section 4.
Instead of each waist elastic 42, 44 being a single ribbon of elastic material, each may be comprised of a multiple strand of ribbons having a generally retangular crosssection or ropes having a generally circular cross-section. For example, if each waist elastic 42, 44 comprises multiple strands of ribbons, each of the ribbons in the strand will have a length similar to that for a single ribbon and a width from about 1/8 inch to about 3/4 inch. If each waist elastic 42, 44 comprises multiple strands of rope elastics, each rope preferably has a length similar as above and a width or diameter from about 0.04 inch to about 0.25 inch.
Waist elastics 42, 44 may be made of any suitable elastic material, such as those of which elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 or elastic layer 86 can be made. Suitable adhesives for adhering waist elastics 42, 44 to absorbent garment 2 include hot melt adhesives, spray adhesives, self-adhering elastomeric materials and the like. f Referring now to Figures 14-16, the various seam configurations for waist elastics 42, 44 will be described. Since both waist elastics 42, 44 can be attached in a j similar manner, only a description with reference to waist elastic 42 will be made with the I oI.. understanding that it also applies to waist elastic 44. In Figure 14, waist elastic 42 is sandwiched between bodyside liner 88 and outer cover 90. Similarly, elastic side members 18, 20 are sandwiched between bodyside liner 88 and outer cover 90, with inner sides 120, 122 abutting against respective waist elastic sides 124, 126. The attachment of waist elastic 42 and elastic side members 18, 20 to bodyside liner 88 and outer cover can be made by heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, adhosive sealing or any other suitable means. In Figure 14, inner sides 120, 122 abut against respective waist elastic sides 124, 126 in order to provide a continuous elastic effect about the periphery of waist opening 10. However, inner sides 120, 122 can be spaced from respective waist elastic sides 124, 126 in the range of about 0 inches to about 2 inches. A preferred range is from about 0 inches to about 1 inch, and a more preferred range is from about 0 to about 1/2 inch.
Also, side panel inner sides 120, 122 could overlap partially or completely waist elastics 44 in that area between ends 116, 108 and ends 118, 110.
f J *i io^T INA:\LIBLL0OO002:HRW -11- Referring now to Figure 15, the sides of waist elastic 42 and bodyside liner 88 are substantially coincident, and the longitudinal edge portions 96 of outer cover 90 are folded to overlap longitudinal edge portions 94 of bodyside liner 88, thereby forming baffles 106. Elastic side members 18, 20 are then adhered to the exposed tops of baffles 106, such that inner sides 120, 122 are substantially coincident with the ends of baffles 106. Baffles 106 can be extended further inwardly toward the centre portion of bodyside liner 88 and absorbent medium 92. The percent of overlap or coverage of baffles 106 with absorbent medium 92 can be in the range of about 0% to about 90%. Preferably, the coverage is about 5% to about 50% and more preferably from about 8% to about 13%.
Referring now to Figure 16, longitudinal edge portions 96 of outer cover overlap waist elastic 42 to form baffles 106, and elastic side members 18, 20 are then adhered to baffles 106. Bodyside liner 88 is disposed over waist elastic 42 and inner sides 120, 122 of elastic side members 18, 20. Baffles 106 can extend over elastic 42 as described above with reference to Figure Referring now to Figure 5, leg elastics 46 may be made of the same or other described materials of which waist elastics 42, 44 can be made. Leg elastics 46 may be similarly adhered by one of those methods described for adhering waist elastics 42, 44.
Each leg elastic 46 is preferably a single ribbon of elastic material having a relaxed, attached length of about 1 inch to about 18 inches and a relaxed, attached width of about 1/8 inch to about 3 inches, and an elongation of about 25% to about 350%. A preferred I |length is about 2 inches to about 9 inches and an elongation of about 30% to about 260%.
A more preferred length is about 3 inches to about 4 inches and an elongation of about i 125% to about 200%. A preferred relaxed width is about 1/4 inch to about 1-1/2inches, :I 25 and a more preferred width is about 1/2 inch to about 1 inch.
As a percentage of total garment length, the relaxed, attached elastic 46 has a length of about 10% to about 100% of total garment length. A preferred length is about to about 50%, and a more preferred length is about 15 to about 25 As with waist elastics 42, 44 leg elastics 46 do not necessarily need to be a single ribbon of elastic material, but can be multiple strands of ropes or ribbons of elastic material. If elastics 46 are rope-like, preferred diameters are between about 0.04 inches to about 0.25 inches.
Referring to Figure 5A, leg elastics 46 are positioned between longitudinal edge portions 94 of bodyside liner 88 and longitudinal edge portions 96 of outer cover 90. Leg elastics 46 can abut against or be spaced apart from respective absorbent sides 102, 104.
Figure 5B illustrates a modification of the placement of leg elastics 46. In this modification, outer cover 90 is wrapped around absorbent edges 102, 104 so as to overlap and form baffles 106. Leg elastics 46 are then positioned on top of baffles 106, which are a% also longitudinal edge portions 96, and bodyside liner 88 is then disposed over leg elastics 10 46.
f~Ba'- ~~rU; [N:\LIBLL]000I2:HRW -12- Similarly, Figure 5C illustrates leg elastics 46 being positioned on top of longitudinal edge portions 94 of bodyside liner 88, and with outer cover 90 then overlapping leg elastics 46 to form baffles 106.
Also, in both modifications illustrated in Figures 5B and 5C, leg elastics 46 may be positioned below absorbent medium 92, as illustrated in dashed lines in Figure 5C. In this case, leg elastics 46 would be positioned between outer cover 90 and absorbent medium 92. In Figure 5A, leg elastics 46 can also be positioned either above or below absorbent medium 92.
Referring now to Figure 6, there is illustrated a modification of the embodiment in Figure 1 wherein waist elastics 42, 44 and inelastic intermediate members 22, 28 are absent. Also, absorbent medium 92 extends to and is substantially coincident with outer cover ends 112, 114 and bodyside liner ends 116, 118. In all other respects, the modification in Figure 6 is identical to Figure 5. The absorbent garment 2 formed from the modification in Figure 6 would be the same as that illustrated in Figure 1, but without the waist elastics 42, 44 and the intermediate members 22, 28. This modification can be used for smaller torsos because of the removal of intermediate members 22, 28 or, if additional elasticity is desired, then intermediate members 22, 28 are replaced by extending elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26.
I Another embodiment is illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 7 and 8 wherein leg elastics 46 have been replaced by elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26, and intermediate members j 22, 28 and waist elastics 42, 44 are absent. Each side panel 6, 8 is illustrated in Figure 7 i' :as comprising three areas indicated as X, Y, and Z. Those areas X, Y of side panels 6, 8 are attached to waste containment section 4 in a relaxed condition, while area Z of side panels 6, 8 are prestretched before being joined to waste containment section 4. The area Z is disposed intermediate the longitudinal ends of waste containment section 4, and upon being relaxed, the garment tends to assume the body-conforming shape illustrated in Figure 8.
S' .The present invention also contemplates use of leg elastics 46 in conjunction with side panels 6, 8 in the embodiment of Figures 2, 4, 7, and 8. Leg elastics 46 can abut, S 30 overlap, or be spaced apart from respective panels 6, 8.
As explained above, garment 2 is designed to fit a large range of sizes merely by changing the dimensions of side panels 6, 8, or by changing the type of elastic material of which elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 are made. Generally, the ranges of sizes can be varied by selectinr a material having a desired modulus of elasticity and/or by increasing the length and width dimensions of a given elastic material of which side members 18, 20, 24, 26 are made. Elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 will generally have a width of about /2 inch to about 5 inches, and will be made of a material having an elasticity from about 10% to about 500%. Preferably, elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 will have a width from about 2 inches to about 3-/2 inches, and the material of which they are made will have an elasticity between about 50% to about 300%. In a morei IN:\LIBLL00002:HRW f -13preferred embodiment, elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 will have a width of about 1- /4 inches to about 2 inches and an elasticity from about 75 to about 200%.
Referring to Figures 17-19, the relationships between elastic side members 18, 24, 26 and the range of sizes of absorbent garment 2 are graphically illustrated. In Figure 17, a pair of elastic side members 18, 20 or 24, 26 has a width of about 4 inches, and the percent elongation is plotted against the fit range in inches at the waist. As illustrated, there is a generally linear relationship between the percent elongation of the elastic m.naterial of which elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 are made and the size range of the waist measured in inches.
Figure 18 illustrates the relationship between the width of a pair of elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 and a fit range in inches at the waist for an elastic material having a percent elongation of 125%. As illustrated, there is a generally linear relationship between an increase in the width in inches of a pair of elastic side members versus the fit range in inches at the waist.
Figure 19 is a graph plotting percent elongation versus the load in grams on a 1inch wide strip of elastic material. The load in grams measures the tension at elongation of the particular material, and this feature is maximised by theoretically having a slope of 0 for each plot. In Figure 19, the plotted curves represent two elastic materials, wherein curve A represents the cross-direction stretch and curve A' represents the machinedirection stretch of one material; and curve B represents the cross-direction stretch and curve B' represents the mnachine-direction stretch of the other material. The crossdirection stretch, preferably in the stretch-bonded laminate embodiment, is the force vector applied horizontally inwardly or toward the hips and the mid-section when worn.
This stretch-strain relationship is important to the use and performance of the garment.
The elastic side member material must stretch to adjust to various sizes. The tension cannmlot be so high that the garment is difficult to use or be too tight during use. Nor, can it be so low in tension as not to maintain the product in position during use. Preferably, ctc c the materials of which elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 are made will have a tension range, ie., load (grams) per 1 inch wide strips, from about 50 grams to about 1,000 grams. In a more preferred embodiment the materials would have a tension range of about 200 to about 500 grams per 1 inch wide strip. Secondly, curves A' and B' both illustrate relatively very gradual slopes between 0 and about 125% elongation. The slope Sis important to maintain a constant fit tension at the various sizes. With a theoretical slope of 0, the tension of the product would be the same at the relaxed size as it would be at the fully-stretched size.
Referring now to Figure 21, there is yet another modification of absorbent garment 2 that includes waist elastics 134. Where appropriate, elements common between Fig. 1 and Fig. 21 will have the same reference numeral. A unique feature of this modification of absorbent garment 2 is the geometry of elastic side members 216, 1,%.40 218. Specifically, it can be seen that the front portions 132 of leg openings 12, 14 are cut [N:\LI8LL10000 2:H9W
L
-14higher than the back portions 133 of leg openings 12, 14. The purpose for this particular geometry of leg openings 12, 14 is to improve further the fit of the garment. The added material in the back provides coverage of the buttocks, while in the front the cut is higher in following the curvature of the leg, thereby permitting freer leg movement.
The upper portions of elastic side members 216, 218 are identified as remote end segments 136, 138, and they are cut so that they slope inwardly and upwardly from the intermediate portions of side members 216, 218 toward waist opening 10. The purpose for this is to improve further the fit of the garment, especially when the user is disproportionate at the hips and waist. The design or configuration also assists in pulling the garment up in place. The length of each sloping end segment 136, 138 is from about 3 to about 40% of total garment length, preferably about 5% to about 25% of total garment length, and more preferably about 10% to about 15 of total garment length.
The angular slope, as measured with the vertical in Figure 21, of end segments 136, 138 is from about 5° to about 55°, preferably from about 10° to about 40°, and .more preferably from about 15° to about Referring now to Figure 20, a description will be made of one process for making one embodiment of garment 2. Supply roll 140 provides a continuous supply of outer cover 90 to supply drum 142, which attaches, if desired, waist elastics 42, thereon. After application of waist elastics 42, 44, outer cover 90 continues to conveyor assembly 144 which positions absorbent medium 92 between waist elastics 42, 44.
Thereafter, supply roll 146 delivers a continuous supply of bodyside liner 88 on top of waist elastics 42, 44, absorbent medium 92 and-the continuous supply of outer cover Folding bars 148 then fold outer cover 90, which has a width greater than the width of been formed, supply rolls 150, 152 provide a continuous supply of elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26, and bonding station 154 then bonds, such as by ultrasonic, thermal, or I adhesive bonding, elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26, bodyside liner 88 and outer cover 90. Similarly, supply rolls 156, 158 provide a continuous supply of intermediate t members 22, 28, and bonding station 160 then bonds, such as by ultrasonic, thermal, or i i 30 adhesive bonding, elastic side members 18, 20, 24, 26 and intermediate members 22, 28.
Leg cutout station 162, which can be pressurised fluid-jets or a rotary die cutter, then cuts side members 18, 20, 24, 26 to form leg openings 12, 14. As the composite continues through the process, cutting station 164 severs the composite, which is then tucked or folded in half by tucker bar 166, which contacts an intermediate portion of a severed composite and moves it between the individual conveyors of conveyor assembly 168.
Located in conjunction with conveyor assembly 168 is seam bonding station 170 which bonds, such as by ultrasonic, thermal, or adhesive bonding, elastic side panels 6, 8 to form seams 30, 32 of absorbent garment 2. Conveyor assembly 168 then delivers absorbent garment 2 to transfer conveyor assembly 172, which delivers absorbent /o 11 5 garments 2 to the next handling station.
N:\LIBLL]00002:HRW 06 11.*2'i The process illustrated in Figure 20 can be easily adapted to make other embodiments such as that illustrated in Figure 2, and other constructions such as those illustrated in Figures 11-13.
While this invention has been described as having preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses of adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and fall with the limits of the appended claims.
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Cl t t 1N:\LIBL10000OO2:HRW
Claims (11)
1. A disposable absorbent garment, comprising: a pant body comprising an outer layer of nonwoven material, a waist opening, and leg openings, elastic side members joined to said pant body to provide elasticity at the hips of the wearer, a leg elastic joined near a portion of each said leg opening for gathering said portion, and an absorbent medium joined to said pant body for absorbing waste material.
2. The garment of claim 1 further comprising an inner layer of nonwoven material, said inner layer and said outer layer having said absorbent medium positioned therebetween.
3. The garment of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a waist elastic joined near at least a portion of said waist opening. impervious layer disposed between said outer layer and said absorbent medium. The garment of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each said leg elastic is a ribbon of elastic material.
6. The garment of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each said leg elastic is a plurality of strands or ropes of elastic material.
7. A disposable absorbent garment, comprising: S,,a pant body comprising a waist opening, leg openings, an outer layer of nonwoven material, and an inner layer of nonwoven material, elastic side members joined between said outer layer of nonwoven material and 25 said inner layer of nonwoven material to provide elasticity at the hips of the wearer, a pair of leg elastics joined between said outer layer of nonwoven material and •i ,r said inner layer of nonwoven material, each said leg elastic being joined near a portion of a respective said leg opening for gathering said portion, an absorbent medium joined between said outer layer of nonwoven material and 30 said inner layer of nonwoven material, and a liquid impervious layer joined between said absorbent medium and said outer -I layer of nonwoven material. I
8. The garment of claim 7 further comprising a waist elastic near at least a portion of said waist opening. 35 9. The garment of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein each said leg elastic is a plurality of strands or ropes of elastic material. A disposable absorbent garment, comprising: a pant body comprising a waist opening, leg openings, an outer layer of nonwoven material, and an inner layer of nonwoven material, />yf N:\UBLLIOOO02:LMM 17 elastic side members joined between said outer layer of nonwoven material and said inner layer of nonwoven material to provide elasticity at the hips of the wearer, a leg elastic joined near a portion of one of said leg openings for gathering said portion, an absorbent medium joined to said pant body, and a liquid impervious layer joined between said absorbent medium and said outer layer of nonwoven material.
11. The garment of claim 10 further comprising a waist elastic joined near at least a portion of said waist opening.
12. The garment of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein each said leg elastic is a plurality of strands or ropes of elastic material.
13. A disposable absorbent garment, comprising: a pant body comprising a waist opening, leg openings, an outer layer of nonwoven material, and an inner layer of nonwoven material, ;15 elastic side members joined to said pant body to provide elasticity at the hips of C C the wearer, a leg elastic joined near a portion of one of said leg openings for gathering said portion, an absorbent medium joined to said pant body, and 20 a liquid impervious layer joined between said absorbent medium and said outer layer of nonwoven material.
14. The garment of claim 13 further comprising a waist elastic joined near at least a portion of said waist opening. The garment of claim 13 or claim 14 wherein each said leg elastic is a plurality of strands or ropes of elastic material.
16. A disposable absorbent garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this Sixth Day of June 1995 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Patent Attorneys for the Appicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON I IN:\LIBLLoo00002:HRW Disposable Incontinence Garment or Training Pant Abstract A disposable pant-like garment is disclosed. The garment comprises a waist opening and a pair of leg openings (12, 14). The garment also has an absorbent assembly having longitudinal edges. Two stretchable side panels 8) are joined, by one or more seams, to one of the longitudinal edges of the absorbent assembly. At ieast one longitudinal seam partitions each of the side panels by extending in the direction from the waist opening (10) to one of the leg openings (12, 14). Figure 1 i:i i3 ii !I-i i-i IN:LIBMM100024:LMM
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13367287A | 1987-12-16 | 1987-12-16 | |
US133672 | 1987-12-16 | ||
US133685 | 1987-12-16 |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU67654/90A Division AU640715B2 (en) | 1987-12-16 | 1990-11-30 | Apparatus for making a disposable incontinence garment or training pant |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AU4734193A AU4734193A (en) | 1993-11-25 |
AU661921B2 true AU661921B2 (en) | 1995-08-10 |
Family
ID=22459767
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU67654/90A Expired AU640715B2 (en) | 1987-12-16 | 1990-11-30 | Apparatus for making a disposable incontinence garment or training pant |
AU47341/93A Expired AU661921B2 (en) | 1987-12-16 | 1993-09-14 | Disposable incontinence garment or training pant |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU67654/90A Expired AU640715B2 (en) | 1987-12-16 | 1990-11-30 | Apparatus for making a disposable incontinence garment or training pant |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (2) | AU640715B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR8806696A (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA889175B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5246433A (en) * | 1991-11-21 | 1993-09-21 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Elasticized disposable training pant and method of making the same |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US386003A (en) * | 1888-07-10 | Window | ||
US4036233A (en) * | 1976-07-02 | 1977-07-19 | Union Carbide Corporation | Flexible waist diaper |
US4381781A (en) * | 1981-01-05 | 1983-05-03 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Flexible waist diaper |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4081301A (en) * | 1975-10-30 | 1978-03-28 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Method and apparatus for continuously attaching discrete, stretched elastic strands to predetermined isolated portions of disposable abosrbent products |
US4573991A (en) * | 1979-07-25 | 1986-03-04 | Personal Products Company | Gatherable laminated structure including an apertured elastic member |
US4655760A (en) * | 1985-07-30 | 1987-04-07 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Elasticized garment and method of making the same |
-
1988
- 1988-12-07 ZA ZA889175A patent/ZA889175B/en unknown
- 1988-12-16 BR BR8806696A patent/BR8806696A/en unknown
-
1990
- 1990-11-30 AU AU67654/90A patent/AU640715B2/en not_active Expired
-
1993
- 1993-09-14 AU AU47341/93A patent/AU661921B2/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US386003A (en) * | 1888-07-10 | Window | ||
US4036233A (en) * | 1976-07-02 | 1977-07-19 | Union Carbide Corporation | Flexible waist diaper |
US4381781A (en) * | 1981-01-05 | 1983-05-03 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Flexible waist diaper |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BR8806696A (en) | 1989-08-29 |
ZA889175B (en) | 1989-12-27 |
AU6765490A (en) | 1991-02-28 |
AU4734193A (en) | 1993-11-25 |
AU640715B2 (en) | 1993-09-02 |
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