MX2008006769A - Disposable absorbent article having side panels with structurally, functionally and visually different regions - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article worn about the lower torso of a wearer includes at least one pair of side panels connecting a first waist region to a second waist region forming a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. Each side panel includes awaist region, a hip region and a leg region wherein the waist region, the hip region and the leg region differs structurally, functionally and visually to provide an improved initial fit and sustained fit while exhibiting a garment-like appearance.

Description

ABSORBENT DISPOSABLE ARTICLE THAT HAS SIDE PANELS WITH STRUCTURAL REGIONS. FUNCTIONAL AND VISUALLY DIFFERENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is died to absorbent sanitary articles, such as diapers, calf-type diapers, training pants and the like. In particular, the invention is died to hygienic absorbent articles having side panels that include structural, functional and visually different regions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Babies and other incontinent people use absorbent articles, such as diapers, to ive and contain urine and other body exudates. Disposable absorbent articles function both to contain the evacuated materials and to isolate said materials from the body and the wearer's garments and bedding. The manufacturers of diapers have tried to improve the appearance and function of the diapers by giving them a garment-like appearance and improving the fit by introducing elastic. However, commonly, the characteristics that influence the fit affect the appearance negatively. For example, disposable diapers with lateral elastic characteristics have used stretch and strength profiles to provide a good initial fit, as well as a good continuous fit. Disposable diapers having these lateral elastic characteristics are often multi-piece designs composed of a diaper frame with stretchable side panels attached to at least one of the side edges longitudinal, which extend from them. Frequently, these multi-piece designs are less like a garment and require decorative features as compensation. Furthermore, the joint extending parallel to the longitudinal side edges of the diaper causes the forces to be similar or equal along the panel being stretched, from top to bottom, when the diaper is placed on a wearer. These equal forces produce the reddening of the skin on the upper part of the leg, a poor continuous fit around the waist, or both. In addition, the edges of the side panels tend to fold or coil toward the center of the side panel, so they present a poor fit, which is less like a garment. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable absorbent article capable of providing an improved initial fit, a continuous fit and a reduction in the reddening of the wearer's skin, while at the same time having a greater garment appearance .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a disposable absorbent article for use around a user's lower torso. The disposable absorbent article includes at least a pair of side panels that connect a first waist region to a second waist region that forms a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. Each side panel includes a waist region, a hip region and a leg region, wherein the waist region, the hip region and the leg region differ structurally, functionally and visually to provide an improved initial fit and an adjustment continuous, while presenting a garment-like appearance. In one embodiment, a pair of side panels is disposed in the second waist region. Each side panel includes a waist region, a hip region and a leg region, wherein the waist, hip and leg regions are structurally, functionally and visually different. Each side panel also includes a fastener for releasably attaching the side panel to the first waist region. In another embodiment, a first pair of side panels is attached to the second waist region, and a second pair of side panels is attached to the first waist region. The first pair of side panels is attached to the second pair of side panels, and thus a brief is formed having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. Each pair of side panels includes a waist region, a hip region and a leg region, wherein the waist region, the hip region and the leg region are structurally, functionally and visually different.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Although this specification concludes with the claims that particularly state and clearly claim what is considered to form the present invention, it is anticipated that this invention can be more readily understood by reading the following detailed description and from the study of the accompanying figures. . Figure 1 is a plan view of a disposable diaper manufactured in accordance with the present invention having cross sections to show the underlying structure. The surface of the diaper facing the body faces the observer. Figure 2 is a plan view of the side panel attached to the disposable diaper of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an isometric view of the diaper of Figure 1 configured at a fitting orientation. Figure 4 is an isometric view of a brief type diaper manufactured in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 is an example of an effort and strain curve showing the "Effort available".

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings: "Absorbent article" refers to devices that absorb and contain liquids and, more specifically, refers to devices that are placed against or in proximity to the user's body for absorb and contain the different exudates discharged from the body. "Longitudinal" is a direction that is parallel to the maximum linear dimension of the article and includes the directions within ± 45 ° of the longitudinal direction. The "lateral" or "transverse" direction is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The "Z direction" is orthogonal to both longitudinal and transverse directions. The "x-y plane" refers to the plane congruent with both longitudinal and transverse directions. The term "placed", as used here, is used to imply that an element is formed (joined and placed) at a particular point or position as a unitary structure with other elements or as a separate element linked to another element. As used herein, the term "attached" encompasses configurations by means of which one element is directly secured to another element, fixing the element directly to another element, and configurations by means of which one element is indirectly secured to another. element fixing the element to intermediate members, which in turn are fixed to another element. A "unitary" absorbent article relates to absorbent articles that are formed with separate parts that come together to form a coupled entity so that they do not require separate handling portions such as a separate fastener and liner. The terms "permeable" and "impermeable" refer to the penetrability of the materials in the context of the proposed use of the disposable absorbent articles. Specifically, the term "permeable" refers to a layer or a layered structure having pores or openings that allow the passage of liquid water through its thickness in the absence of a pressing force. On the other hand, the term "waterproof" generally refers to articles or elements through which the thickness can not penetrate fluids in the direction Z of the article with a pressure of 0.97 kPa (0.14 pounds / inch2) or less. Preferably, fluids subjected to pressures of 3.45 kilopascals (0.5 pounds / inch2) or less do not penetrate the waterproof article or element. More preferably, fluids subjected to pressures of 6. 89 kilopascals (1.0 pounds / inch2) or less do not penetrate the item or item. The term "attached" refers to elements that are connected or joined by clamping, sticking, gluing, etc. by any suitable method for the elements that are fastened, secured or joined together and for their materials constituents. Many suitable methods are known for joining elements, including adhesive bonding, pressure bonding, thermal bonding, mechanical fastening, etc. These fastening methods can be used to link elements together over a certain area continuously or intermittently. The term "subject" includes elements formed integrally with another element. The terms "wrinkles" or "rugosities" are used to describe hills and valleys that occur on a substrate or in a laminated structure. Neither of the two terms, that is, "wrinkles" or "rugosities", requires that the mountains or valleys created be uniform in nature. As used herein, the term "diaper" refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons around the lower torso, so that it surrounds the wearer's waist and legs, and is specifically adapted. to receive and contain urinary and fecal excretions. As used herein, the term "diaper" also includes the term "calzones" defined below. As used herein, the term "disposable" describes absorbent articles that are not generally intended to be washed or otherwise restored or reused as absorbent articles (i.e., are intended to be disposed of after a single use). and, preferably, to be recycled, composted or otherwise disposed of in a manner compatible with the environment). As used herein, the term "elastically extensible" refers to the characteristics of the extensible materials that have the ability to recover approximately their original dimension once the force that produced their extension is no longer applied. In the present, any material or element described as "extensible" it can also be "elastically extensible" unless it is established in any other way. As used herein, the term "stretch" means to extend by force across or across. "Elasticized live" includes stretching the elastic and attaching the stretched elastic to a non-woven fabric. After joining the stretched elastic it is released causing it to contract, resulting in a "wavy" non-woven fabric. The undulated nonwoven fabric can be stretched as the corrugated portion is pulled to approximately the point where the non-woven fabric reaches at least one flat dimension. The elastic is preferably stretched at least 25% and, more preferably, at least 100% of its relaxed length when it joins the non-woven fabric. As used herein, the terms "brief", "brief-type diaper", "training brief", "closed diaper", "presumed diaper", "brief-type garment" and "training diaper" refer to garments Disposable that have a waist opening and leg openings designed for children and adults. A brief may be configured to have a closed waist and leg openings before being placed on the user, or it may be configured such that the waist is closed and the leg openings are formed after being placed on the user. A pant may be preformed by any suitable technique including, but not limited to, joining parts of the article using indexable or non-resettable joints (eg seam, weld, adhesive or cohesive bond, fastener, etc.). A brief may be preformed anywhere on the circumference of the article (eg, fastened on the sides, on the front of the waist or on the back of the waist). Examples of suitable pants are described in U.S. Pat. num. 5,246,433; 5,569,234; 6,120,487; 6,120,489; 4,940,464; 5,092,861; 5,897,545; 5,957,908; and in the patent publication of The USA. no. 2003/0233082 A1.

Description The articles for use manufactured in accordance with the present invention have a pair of side panels wherein each side panel includes regions that differ visually, structurally or functionally. The side panels can be applied in the same manner to articles to be used, such as disposable absorbent articles, including diapers, panty briefs, trainers, incontinence briefs, incontinence underwear, absorbent attachments, diaper liners and liners, garments for feminine hygiene and the like. One embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention is a unitary disposable absorbent article, for example, as the diaper 20, illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1 is a plan view of the extended diaper 20 of the present invention with portions of cross sections of the structure to show more clearly its construction. The portion of the diaper 20 facing the user is oriented towards the observer. The diaper 20 has a first waist region 36, a second waist region 38 opposite the first waist region 36 and a crotch region 37 located between the first waist region 36 and the second waist region 38. The periphery of the waist region 36 diaper 20 is defined by the outer edges of the diaper 20 in which the longitudinal edges 50 are, in general, parallel to the longitudinal centerline 100 of the diaper 20, and the edges of the end 52 run between the longitudinal edges 50 generally parallel to the central line 110 of the diaper 20. As illustrated in Figure 1, the diaper 20 comprises a liquid permeable upper sheet 24, a lower liquid impermeable sheet 26, an absorbent core 28 which is preferably placed between at least one portion of upper canvas 24 and lower canvas 26, side panels 30, extensible leg folds 32, a characteristic element for elastic waist 34 and a generally designated fastening system 40. Frame 22 of diaper 20 comprises the main body of diaper 20 e includes the upper canvas 24 and / or the lower canvas 26, as well as at least a portion of the absorbent core 28. Although the upper canvas 24, the lower canvas 26, the absorbent core 28, the side panels 30 and other aforementioned constituents can be assembled in a variety of known configurations, the Preferred diaper configurations are described, in general, in U.S. Pat. no. 3,860,003 entitled "Contractible Side Portions for Disposable Diaper", awarded to Kenneth B. Buell on January 14, 1975; the U.S. patent no. 5,151, 092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; the U.S. patent no. 5,221, 274 granted to Buell on June 22, 1993; the U.S. patent no. 5,554,145 entitled "Absorbent Article With Multiple Zone Structural Elastic-Like Film Web Extensible Waist Feature" (Absorbent article with extensible waist by multiple areas of weft of elastic structural type film), issued to Roe et al. on September 10, 1996; the U.S. patent no. 5,569,234 entitled "Disposable Pull-On Pant" (disposable diapers), awarded to Buell et al. on October 29, 1996; the U.S. patent no. 5,580,411 entitled "Zero Scrap Method for Manufacturing Side Panels for Absorbent Articles" (Zero Waste Method for Making Side Panels for Absorbent Articles), issued to Nease et al. on December 3, 1996; and U.S. Pat. no. 6,004,306 titled "Absorbent Article With Multi-Directional Extensible Side Panels" (Absorbing article with extensible multidirectional side panels), granted to Robles et al. on December 21, 1999. The side panels 30 can have a number of sizes and shapes different but, preferably, they have a trapezoidal shape. The side panels 30 may be elastic or extensible to provide a more comfortable fit and adjustment to the contour by an initial molded fit of the diaper 20 on the wearer and sustain this fit continuously throughout the time of use. The side panels 30 that are elasticated can provide a continuous fit after the time when the diaper 20 has been loaded with exudates, since the elasticized side panels 30 allow the sides of the diaper 20 to expand and contract. The side panels 30 can also provide a better placement of the diaper 20 since even when one of the elasticated side panels 30 is pulled a greater distance than the other panel, the diaper 20 is "self-adjusting" during use. The side panels 30 may comprise a separate element attached to the frame 22, or may be made as an extension of other diaper elements, such as the lower canvas 26 or the upper canvas 24, preferably, the upper canvas 24 and the lower canvas 26. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, each side panel 30 comprises a separate frame attached to the frame 22 in the second waist region 38 and extends laterally outwardly, beyond the longitudinal edges 50. The side panels 30 comprise a first terminal edge 90 located adjacent the terminal edge 52 of the diaper, a second terminal edge 92 located remote from the first terminal edge 90 towards the lateral center line 10, a first longitudinal edge 94 attached to the longitudinal edge 50, and a second longitudinal edge 96 located laterally outward of the longitudinal edge 50. The first longitudinal edge 94 may be contiguous with the longitudinal edge 50; preferably, the first longitudinal edge 94 is located laterally inward of the longitudinal edge 50. The side panels 30 may include non-elastic extension members 42 attached to the second longitudinal edges 96 and fasteners 40 attached to the non-elastic extension members 42. non-elastic extension members 42 can be made to distribute the forces of friction along the second longitudinal edges 96 of the side panels 30 during clamping. While the diaper 20 illustrated in Figure 1 has the side panels 30 disposed in the second waist region 38, the diaper 20 may be provided with side panels 30 disposed in the first waist region 36 or both in the first waist region 36 as in the second waist region 38. The side panels 30 can be constructed in any suitable configuration. Examples of diapers with elasticized side panels are described in U.S. Pat. no. 4,857,067, entitled "Disposable Diaper Having Shirred Ears" (Disposable diaper having shirred lugs), issued to Wood et al. on August 15, 1989; the U.S. patent no. 4,381, 781, issued to Sciaraffa et al. the 3 of major of 1983; the U.S. patent no. 4,938,753, issued to Van Gompel et al. on July 3, 1990; the aforementioned U.S. patent no. 5,151,092, granted to Buell on September 9, 1992; the U.S. patent no. 5,221, 274 granted to Buell on June 22, 1993; the U.S. patent no. 5,669,897 issued to La Von et al. on September 23, 1997, entitled "Absorbent Articles Providing Sustained Dynamic Fit "(Absorbent articles that provide a continuous and dynamic fit), and U.S. Patent No. 6,004,306 entitled" Absorbent Article With Multi-Directional Extensible Side Panels "(Absorbent Article with Multidirectional Extendable Side Panels) ), granted to Robles et al on December 21, 1999. The side panels 30 of the present invention include separate regions, wherein each region differs structurally, functionally or visually.For example, the side panel illustrated in Figure 2 includes three regions, a waist region 80, a hip region 82 and a leg region 84. The waist region 80 is located near the terminal edge 52 and may extend from the first longitudinal edge 94 to the second longitudinal edge 96. leg region 84 is located near the longitudinal edge 50 and may extend from the first longitudinal edge 94 to the second longitudinal edge 96. The hip region 82 is located between the waist region 80 and the leg region 84 and may extend from the first longitudinal edge 94. to the second longitudinal edge 96. The area of the side panel 30 occupied by each of the regions may vary; however, the hip region can cover 40% -90%, preferably 60% -80% of the surface area of the side panel, while the waist region can cover 5% -30%, preferably, 10% -20 % of the surface area of the side panel, and the leg region can cover 5% -30%, preferably, 10% -20% of the surface area of the side panel. Each of the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 may differ from the other two regions either structurally, functionally or visually. In one embodiment, each of the three regions differs from the other two regions structurally and visually. In another modality, each of the three regions may differ from the other two regions functionally and visually. In another modality, each of the three regions may differ from the other two regions structurally and functionally. In yet another modality, each of the three regions may differ from the other two regions structurally, functionally and visually. Moreover, in another modality, any two regions may be the same, but differ from the third structural region, functionally or visually. In yet another modality, any two regions may be structurally, functionally and visually equal, but differ from the third structural region, functionally and visually. The structural differences between the waist region 80, the hip region 82 and the leg region 84 may include differences in the types of materials used; activating patterns in elastomeric laminar without resistance; thickness of materials; union patterns; layers of materials and combinations of these. The Structural differences between the waist region 80, the hip region 82 and the leg region 84 of the side panel 30 can be made to accentuate the visual singularity between the regions, affect the functional attributes of the regions or both. The functional differences between the waist region 80, the hip region 82 and the leg region 84 of the side panel 30 can be realized to affect how the diaper 20 fits a wearer. Functional differences may include differences in stiffness, flexural modulus, elastic modulus, extensibility, force relaxation, deformation, recovery speed, torsion modulus, compression modulus, compression capacity, coefficient of friction, surface energy and combinations of these. The side panels 30 can be manufactured with a number of different materials. For example, the side panels may comprise conventional elastic or laminar elastified materials. The elastic laminates can comprise a laminated structure known as a live elastise, previously defined, wherein an elastic element is attached to a substrate while the elastic element is subjected to tension, such that after releasing the tension, the laminate forms wrinkles or It gathers and presents a puckered structure that properties similar to elastic. Alternatively, the elasticized laminate may comprise a mechanically activated elastified laminate, such as an elasticized laminate without strength. Laminated sheets without resistance comprise a laminated structure that includes a first substrate, a second substrate and an elastic element. The first substrate and the second substrate, which are generally non-elastic non-woven fabrics, are attached to the elastic element in a face-to-face orientation, such that the elastic element is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The laminated structure is activated mechanically, which allows it to stretch. Mechanical activation refers to a process in which the non-woven fibers of the non-elastic substrates are broken and / or they stretch within the non-woven fabric, so that the non-woven fabric stretches in a direction along its surfaces and can easily expand in that direction by partially straightening the fibers in the non-woven fabric. Elastomeric lamellae without strength are described in U.S. Pat. no. 5,143,679, issued to Weber et al., U.S. Pat. no. 5,156,793, issued to Buell et al., And the patent of the USA no. 5,167,897, granted to Weber. The elastic element used in the side panels 30 may include elastic threads or elastic films. Any suitable elastic film known in the industry can be used. Suitable elastic films may comprise polypropylene, polyethylene, polyolefins, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene or combinations thereof. The basis weight of the films can vary from about 10 g / m2 to about 100 g / m2. The elastic strands can be manufactured with a flexible elastic thermoplastic material. The elastic strands can be made of a liquid elastic that is extruded through a mold to achieve the desired diameter or shape of the elastic strand. There is no limitation with respect to the shape of the extruded elastic strands. For example, typical elastic strands have a circular transverse shape, but sometimes said elastic strands may have different shapes, such as a trilobal shape or a flat shape (ie, "tape" type). Suitable shapes of elastic strands include rectangles, circles, ellipses, rhombuses, triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, wedges or other sections of circles or ellipses, other polygons, or other irregular closed shapes. Moreover, the thickness or diameter of the elastic threads can be varied to accommodate a particular application. Normally, the thickness of the elastic strands can vary from about 0.02 mm to about 1 mm and the basis weight varies from about 20 g / m2 to approximately 300 g / m2. The elastic strands can be adhesively bonded to the substrate, extruded on the substrate, or printed on the substrate. Apparatus suitable for applying elastic strands in the longitudinal direction are described in U.S. Pat. no. 2004/0238105 A1 and in the U.S. patent application. no. / 836,944, entitled "Apparatus for Producing Elastomeric Nonwoven Laminates" (Apparatus for producing laminates of elastomeric non-woven fabrics), filed on April 30, 2004. Apparatus for applying elastic strands in transverse direction, at an angle from the longitudinal direction, or curvilinearly are described in U.S. Patent Publication. no. 2005-0178494 A, entitled "Method of Placing Material Transversely on a Moving Web ", presented on February 13, 2004. The devices for applying elastic strands in the longitudinal direction, at an angle from the longitudinal direction, or in a manner curvilinear, are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10 / 834,539, entitled "Extrusion Applicator Having Linear Motion Operability "(filed on April 29, 2004), and in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10 / 834,503 entitled" Extrusion Applicator Having Rotational Operability "(" Operability of Linear Motion "). Extrusion Applicator having rotary operation), filed on April 29, 2004. Apparatus and methods suitable for printing elastic elements in any orientation are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004-0181200A1, entitled "Variable Stretch Composites and Methods of Making the Composite", filed March 29, 2004, and in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004-0193133A1, titled "Variable Stretch Composites and Methods of Making the Composite" (Variable stretching compounds and methods to make the composite), filed on March 29, 2004. To print the elastic strands, individual elastic strands can be configured as lines or strands whose width is generally less than about 2 mm and, generally, less than about 1 mm. The linear elastic strands can be configured as bands whose widths are generally from about 2 mm to about 20 mm, and their aspect ratios, from about 2: 1 to about 100: 1. Generally, the thickness of an elastic strand can vary from about 0.02 mm to about 5 mm, and the basis weight is from about 20 g / m2 to about 300 g / m2. The first or second substrate forming the side panels may comprise nonwoven fabric materials, woven materials, combinations of woven or nonwoven materials, or laminated structures having woven or nonwoven materials. Nonwoven materials suitable for use in accordance with the present invention may comprise fibers made of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, nylon, cellulose, polyamide, or combinations of these materials. Fibers of a material or fibers of different materials or combinations of materials can be used in non-woven fabrics. Suitable processes for manufacturing nonwovens include spunbond, spunbond-meltbond-spunbond (SMS) bonding, spunbond-meltblown-meltbond-spin bond (SMMS, for its acronym in English), carding and the like. Other suitable non-woven fabric materials include high-stretch carded non-woven fabrics (HEC) and deep-activated polypropylene non-woven fabrics (DAPP). Any process known in the industry can be used to manufacture the non-woven fabrics. The basis weight of the first non-woven fabric or the second non-woven fabric can vary, for example, from about 10 gm2 to about 40 gm2.

The first substrate, the second substrate and the elastic element can be fastened by any fastening means known in the industry. Suitable means or methods of fastening include, but are not limited to, adhesives, cohesives, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, mechanical fastening, ultrasonic bonding or combinations of any of the known methods for fastening these materials. Structural differences between the waist region 80, the hip region 82 and the leg region 84 of the side panels 30 may include the use of different elastomeric elements in the waist region 80 or the leg region 84 versus the region of hip 82, which produces differences in functional properties and in visual appearance on the basis of the properties of individual materials. For example, an elastomeric laminar side panel without strength can include elastic elements attached under tension to the waist region 80 and the leg region 84 of the side panels 30, which produces a greater amount of roughness that is larger when they are relaxed than the elastic laminates without resistance in the hip region 82 and generate visual distinctions that make them look like garment-type seams while providing grip or application aids. Alternatively, the different activation patterns between the regions can produce visually different regions with maximum elongations and / or different stress-strain properties. Similarly, variations in the joint patterns between the layers of the regions can affect the stress-strain properties as well as the frequency and / or size of the roughness in the region. Next, other examples of side panels 30 fabricated with waist region 80, hip region 82 and leg region 84 are structurally distinct, which result in functional differences between regions, as well as methods for shaping them.

In one embodiment, structural differences can result in the elastic modulus of the hip region 82 being higher than the elastic modulus of the waist or leg regions 80, 84, which allows the hip region 82 to support a most of the anchor load. This can lead to a reduction of the marks and to a reduction in the tendency of any fastener attached to curling under tension conditions of the side panel. Alternatively, the elastic modulus may be higher in the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84, as opposed to the hip region 82 if greater packing or greater control of the perimeter edge is needed. In another modality, structural differences may imply extensibility in cases where the extensibility of the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84 may be greater than that of the hip region 82 to allow free movement of the waist and legs, without limitations, which reduces potential redness. Alternatively, the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84 may be less extensible than the hip region 82 to achieve better packing and protection against leakage of debris. The differences in the elastic modulus and stretching capacity between the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 can be affected by including structural differences in the regions that exert an impact on these properties. For example, a side panel of elastic laminate without resistance can be activated mechanically by engaging the side panel between the first and second activation rollers, each of which comprises a plurality of teeth. The teeth of the first activation roller engage with the teeth of the second activation roller. Structural differences between the waist, leg hip regions 80, 82, 84 can be achieved by mechanically activating the portions of the side panel to different percentages of tension. The percentage of tension experienced by the regions of the panel depends on the depth of engagement between the engaging teeth of the first activation roller and the teeth of the second activation roller. Activating portions of the side panel at lower coupling depths (eg, shorter teeth) produces different functional characteristics compared to the portions activated at higher coupling depths. Portions exposed to lower coupling depths experience lower percentages of tension, which makes them less extensible elastically. For example, a portion of a side panel that is stretched at 200% may be capable of elastically extending to approximately three times its original length. However, a portion that is stretched to 500% may be capable of elastically extending to approximately six times its original length. In an alternative embodiment, a side panel may comprise a plurality of elastic elements attached to a substrate. The functional differences can be achieved by modifying the spacing of the plurality of elastic elements. For example, the separation between each of the elastic elements in the waist region 80 and the leg region 84 can be about 2 mm, while the spacing between each of the plurality of elastic elements in the hip region 82 can be about 1 mm. Alternatively, the spacing between each of the elastic elements in the waist region 80, the leg region 84 and the waist region 82 may be different. For example, the spacing between the elastic elements in the waist region 80 can be 1 mm, while the spacing between the elastic elements in the hip region 82 is 2 mm and the spacing between the elastic elements in the region of leg is 3 mm. In the event that the plurality of elastic elements have the same physical and chemical properties in the waist, leg and hip regions 80, 84, 82, the elastic modulus in each of the regions may vary in relation to separation. In another embodiment, the structural differences resulting in functional differences, such as the elastic modulus and / or the stretching capacity, can be achieved by modifying the properties of a plurality of elastic elements. For example, a plurality of elastic elements in the waist region 80 may have physical or chemical properties other than the physical or chemical properties of a plurality of elastic elements in the leg region 84, and the waist and leg regions 80. , 84 may have physical or chemical properties other than the physical or chemical properties of a plurality of elastic elements in the hip region 82. For example, a plurality of elastic elements in the waist region 80 may have a more cross-sectional area small than a plurality of elastic elements in the hip region 82, but a cross-sectional area larger than a plurality of elastic elements in the leg region 84. For example, wherein the elastic elements comprise elastic strands, the area of cross section of the plurality of elastic elements in the waist region 80 may vary from about 0 .03 mm2 to approximately 0.1 mm2. In contrast, the cross-sectional area of the plurality of elastic elements in the hip region 82 can be greater than about 0.1 mm2 and less than or equal to about 0.4 mm2, and the cross-sectional area of the plurality of elastic elements in the region of leg 84 may be less than about 0.03 mm2, and thus provide the hip region 82 with a greater elastic modulus than that of the waist and leg regions 80, 84 and a waist region 82 with a greater elastic modulus. that of the leg region 84. In another modality, the structural differences that affect the elastic modulus and the different stretch capacity between the regions may include providing a region with additional elastic elements that exert an impact on the function of that region. For example, a side panel 30 may comprise an elastic element that is present in the waist region 80, the hip region 82 and the leg region 84. In order to exert an impact on the functionality of the hip region 82, an additional elastic element may be added to the hip region 82, such that its functional properties differ from those of the waist and leg regions 80, 84. Alternatively, an additional elastic element may be added to the waist regions or leg 80, 84 or both, and not to the hip region 82. At this point, it is convenient to mention that any of the methods described above for producing structural differences and the corresponding functional differences can be combined to provide the desired properties in a lateral panel 30. Another modality in which functional differences are achieved between the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 of the lat panel 30 by structural differences includes increasing the flexural modulus and corresponding rigidity of the waist region and / or leg region 80, 84 above the flexural modulus and the corresponding rigidity of the hip region 82, in order to achieving strength so that the first and second end edges 90, 92 in the waist or leg regions 80, 84 are folded or rolled up, while allowing the hip region 82 to flex and move freely accompanying the user , which reduces the possibility of redness of the user's skin. The bending stiffness can be increased by adding an additional layer to the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84, which adds roughness to the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84 by elastic contraction, where the roughness they are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edges 50 and to the terminal edges 52, or by increasing the thickness of the existing material.

In another modality, structural differences can produce functional differences, such as the relaxation of force (deformation, etc.). For example, it may be desirable to achieve that the relaxation of the force in the hip region 82 is less than the relaxation of the force in the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84 to allow the hip region 82 to effectively support. the tension of the anchor of the waist and resist the fall. This can be achieved by using a high quality elastomer, such as a hydrogenated elastomer in the waist and leg regions 80, 84. The hydrogenated elastomers have a lower relaxing force (less hysteresis) than the non-hydrogenated elastomers. In another embodiment, structural differences can have an impact on functional differences, such as the rate of recovery, which is a measure of how quickly the region returns to its original relaxed length after a tension force has been suppressed. For example, it may be desirable to achieve that the recovery speed in the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84 is lower (i.e., slower) than that of the hip region 82 to contribute to the adjustment of the article in the user delaying the fit just in the legs / waist until after the item is placed on the user. The delayed recovery response can be achieved by slow recovery elastomers. Slow recovery elastomers are described in U.S. patent application Ser. series no. 11/144508, filed on June 3, 2005, entitled "Absorbent Articles Comprising A Slow Recovery Elastomer" (Absorbent articles comprising a slow recovery elastomer), and in the U.S. patent application Ser. series no. 1 1/144497, filed on June 3, 2005, entitled "Absorbent Articles Comprising A Slow Recovery Stretch Lamínate" (absorbent articles comprising a slow recovery elastic laminate). In another modality, structural differences between regions may performed to affect the torsion modulus in the regions, resulting in a greater torsion modulus in the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84 than the torsion modulus of the hip region 82, such that The tendency of the waist and leg regions to twist is reduced. Maintaining flat regions distributes tension over a larger area rather than concentrating tension in a narrow area, which could cause redness. As with the aforementioned bending stiffness, the torsion modulus can be increased by adding an additional layer to the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84, which adds roughness by elastic contraction of the waist regions and / or of leg where the roughnesses are oriented practically perpendicular to the terminal edge 52 or to the longitudinal edge 50, or increasing the thickness of the existing material. In another modality, the structural differences between the regions can affect the compression module. For example, the compression module of the waist and / or leg regions 80, 84 may be less than the compression module of the hip region 82. Since the waist and leg regions are along the perimeter of the article, by minimizing the compression module in these regions can increase the comfort level along the perimeter of the article. The compression module can be reduced by increasing the thickness (thickness) of the material to a specific basis weight, which reduces the density of the interlayer bonding of the laminated or laminated structures, or by selecting a material that has a compression module inherently low. In another embodiment, the structural differences between the regions can affect the coefficient of friction, which results in a higher coefficient of friction in the waist and leg regions 80, 84 than in the hip region 82 such that the regions of waist and leg form packings without slipping or with a significantly reduced slip in the waist and leg regions 80, 84.

Alternatively, the coefficient of friction in the hip region 82 may be greater than in the waist and leg regions 80, 84 to facilitate anchoring and continuous adjustment of the article in the user. The coefficient of friction can be reduced by: a) the application of a slip agent, such as a lotion, a powder or a low surface energy material, such as Teflon, or b) the use of a soft material with few microprojections that they could "catch" in roughness of the skin. Examples of suitable lotions include those described in U.S. Pat. no. 5,607,760, entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article Having A Lotioned Topsheet Containing an Emollient and a Polyol Polyester Immobilizing Agent" (Disposable absorbent article having a top lotioned canvas, containing an emollient and a polyol polyester immobilizing agent), awarded to Roe on March 4, 1997; the U.S. patent no. 5,609,587, entitled "Diaper Having A Lotion Topsheet Comprising A Liquid Polyol Polyester Emollient And An Immobilizing Agent" (Diaper having an upper lotion with a liquid polyol emollient and an immobilizing agent), issued March 1 of 1997; the U.S. patent no. ,635,191, entitled "Diaper Having A Lotioned Topsheet Containing A Polysiloxane Emollient" (Diaper having a top cloth with lotion containing a polysiloxane emollient), issued to Roe et al. on June 3, 1997; the U.S. patent no. 5,643,588, entitled "Diaper Having A Lotioned Topsheet" (Diaper having a top canvas with lotion), issued to Roe et al. on July 1, 1997; the U.S. patent no. 5,968,025, entitled "Absorbent Article Having a Lotioned Topsheet" (Absorbent Article Having a Top Canvas with Lotion), issued to Roe et al. on October 19, 1999, and the US patent. no. 6,716,441, entitled "Compositions for the efficient release of active ingredients" (compositions for an effective release of active ingredients), granted to Osborne on April 6, 2004.

In another embodiment, structural differences can affect the functionality of the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 by exerting impact on the surface energy of one or more of these regions. Surface energy refers to the activity of the surface, such as the positive, negative or zero charge of the surface, which affects how other substances interact with the surface. For example, surface energy can affect how fluids are distributed on the surface or adhere to it. Differences in surface energy could be obtained by coating a portion of the lug with a Teflon-type material or with a silicone coating to provide a barrier to the urine, while the untreated portion could provide better adhesion for printing with ink. Examples of coatings that affect the surface energy include those described in the patent application serial no. 1 1 / 055,743, filed on February 2, 2005, entitled "Hydrophobic Surface Coated Absorbent Articles and Associated Methods" (Absorbent articles with hydrophobic coated surface and associated methods). The structural differences between the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 can also affect visual aspects of these regions. In addition to the structure, visual differences between regions can also be affected by colors, textures, patterns, thickness, opacity, reflectivity, brightness, roughness size, roughness separation, and rugosity frequencies. Visual differences between the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 may contribute to achieving a garment-like appearance and / or providing an auxiliary for diapering the wearer. A garment-like appearance can be achieved by making the regions look similar to a cloth. For example, the waist and leg regions 80, 84 of the side panel 30 can be made to look like seams, while the region of hip 82 is made to look like a cloth panel similar to a cloth. This visual singularity can be achieved by adding color, patterns and / or layers of elastic material that produces visible ridges or roughnesses by elastic contraction. In one modality, structural differences can be introduced to exert an impact on visual differences, as well as functional differences. For example, the elastic materials may be pretensioned and attached to the waist region 80, the hip region 82 and the leg region 84 at different tension levels, which produces different gathers or ridges to further distinguish the appearance of each one of the regions, at the same time to provide the desired elastic properties to each of the regions. In addition, the visual differences between the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 can be combined with the aforementioned structural and functional differences in order to a) provide an indication of where to grab the side panel to stretch it during placement, b) making the leg and waist regions easier to distinguish to assist placement, c) providing a visually attractive pattern (eg, ribbed stripes, etc.) for child users, d ) provide an indication of the front as opposed to the back of the article, e) provide intuitive instructions to the caregiver to facilitate placement or removal of the article, and / or) coordinate with other graphics on the body of the frame. The structural differences and the corresponding functional and visual differences between the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 of the side panels 30 may be affected by other diaper components. For example, as described below, waist elastics and leg elastics can be made to extend within the waist and leg regions of the side panel to improve the distribution of forces around the user, as well as to provide continuous seams that look more like the type of a garment.

The diaper 20 may comprise one or more waist elastics 34 to provide a better fit and containment. In general, it is intended that the waist elastic 34 expand and contract elastically to dynamically adjust to the wearer's waist. The waist elastic extends, preferably, at least longitudinally outwardly at least from one waist edge 62 of the absorbent core 28 and generally forms a portion of the end edge 52 of the diaper 20. Disposable diapers are constructed , frequently, as for having two waist elastics, one located in the first waist region 36, and one located in the second waist region 38. In addition, while the waist elastic or any of its constituent elements may comprise one or more separate elements fixed to the diaper 20, the waist elastic can be manufactured as an extension of other diaper elements 20, such as the lower canvas 26, the upper canvas 24, or both, the lower canvas 26 and the upper canvas 24. The waist elastic 34 in the second waist region 38 provides an extensible member that provides greater comfort and better adaptation to the body by adjusting from the start the diaper suitably to the wearer and maintaining this fit throughout the time of use, even long after the diaper is loaded with exudates, since the stretchable waist elastic, particularly in the back portion of the diaper, allows the diaper to be expand and, preferably, contract. In addition, the waist elastic 34 in the second waist region 38 develops and maintains use forces (tensions) that improve the tensions developed and maintained by the closure system to maintain the diaper on the wearer and improve the fit of the diaper 20 around of the user's waist. The waist elastic 34 in the second waist region 38 provides a more effective placement of the diaper 20 since even when the caregiver pulls one side of the waist elastic more than the other during placement (asymmetrically), The diaper will "self-adjust" during use. The waist elastic 34 may be attached to the outer surface facing the undergarment of the lower canvas; the surface facing the body of the upper canvas or both. In addition, the waist elastic may be attached between the upper canvas and the lower canvas, or wrapped around the terminal edges 52 of the diaper 20 and attached to the body facing surface of the upper canvas and to the surface facing the undergarment of the lower canvas. The waist elastic 34 can be manufactured in a variety of different configurations. For example, the waist elastic 34 may comprise a laminar structure consisting of a single layer of non-woven fabric with a bonded elastomeric material covering a total width dimension of the non-woven fabric or only a portion of the width. The elastomeric material may include an extruded elastomer on the non-woven fabric or a film that is glued to the non-woven fabric. Alternatively, the waist elastic 34 may comprise a laminar structure comprising two layers of non-woven fabric with elastomeric strands disposed therebetween covering the total width of the laminar or only a portion of the width. In addition, the waist elastic 34 can be manufactured in accordance with U.S. Pat. no. 4,515,595 issued May 7, 1985 to Kievit et al .; the U.S. patent no. 4,710,189 granted to Lash on December 1, 1987; the U.S. patent no. 5,151, 092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and U.S. Pat. no. 5,221, 274 granted to Buell on June 22, 1993.

Other suitable waist configurations may include waist caps, such as those described in U.S. Pat. no. 5,026,364, issued to Robertson on June 25, 1991, and US Pat. no. 4,816,025, issued to Foreman on March 28, 1989. The diaper 20 may also include extensible leg folds 32 which allow better containment of liquids and other body exudates. Each extensible leg fold 32 may comprise several different embodiments to reduce the leakage of body exudates in the leg regions. (The leg fold can be and, sometimes, is known as leg bands, leg flaps, barrier folds or elastic folds). The extendable leg cuffs 32 may be attached to the outer surface facing the undergarment of the lower cuff; the surface facing the body of the upper canvas or both. In addition, the extendable leg cuffs 32 may be attached between the upper canvas and the lower canvas, or wrapped around the longitudinal side edges 50 of the diaper 20 and attached to the surface facing the body of the upper canvas and to the surface facing the inner garment of the lower canvas. As with the waist elastic 34, the extendable leg cuffs 32 can be manufactured in a variety of different configurations. For example, the extendable leg cuffs 32 may comprise a laminar structure consisting of a single layer of nonwoven fabric with a bonded elastomeric material covering a total width dimension of the nonwoven fabric or only a portion of the width. The elastomeric material may include a laminate of extruded elastic strands comprising pre-stressed extruded elastic strands laminated to a non-woven fabric or a film which is subsequently glued to the undergarment surface of the underpants along the longitudinal edges 50 of the fabric. diaper 20 and allowed to relax to form a shirred or corrugated structure. Alternatively, the expandable leg cuffs 32 may comprise a laminar structure comprising two layers of non-woven fabric with pre-stressed extruded elastic strands laminated between two layers of non-woven fabric covering a total width dimension of the laminar or only a portion of the width. The laminar structure can then be glued to the oriented surface towards the undergarment of the bottom sheet along the longitudinal edges 50 of the diaper 20 while in the pre-tensioned condition, such that a corrugated structure is formed once the tension of the sheet is suppressed and allowed to relax. In addition, the extendable leg cuffs 32 may comprise pretensioned elastic strands or strands attached in a pretensioned condition between a portion of the lower canvas or the upper canvas folded thereon. In addition, the extendable leg cuffs 32 can be manufactured in accordance with one or more of the patents described below. U.S. Pat. no. 3,860,003 entitled "Contractable Side Portions for a Disposable Diaper" (Contracateles Laterals for Disposable Diaper), issued to Buell on January 14, 1975, describes a disposable diaper that provides a contractable leg opening that has a leg flap and one or more elastic members to provide an elasticated fold for leg (obturator fold). U.S. Pat. no. 4,909,803 entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article Having Elasticized Flaps", awarded to Aziz and Blaney March 20, 1990, describes a disposable diaper having "raised" elasticated fins (barrier folds) to improve containment in the leg regions. U.S. Pat. no. 4,695,278, entitled "Absorbent Article Having Dual Cuffs" (Absorbent Article Having Double Folds) granted to Lawson on September 22, 1987, discloses a disposable diaper having double folds, including a sealing fold and a barrier fold. U.S. Pat. no. 4,704,1 15 entitled "Disposable Waste Containment Garment", awarded to Buell on November 3, 1987, describes a disposable diaper or an incontinence garment having protective conduits for leaks in the lateral edges configured to contain the free liquids inside the garment. The U.S. patent no. 5,032,120, entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article Having Improved Leg Cuffs" (Disposable Absorbent Article Having Improved Leg Folds), issued to Freeland and Allen on July 16, 1991, discloses an absorbent article having leg folds that have a force of relatively low final contact at relatively high elongations achieved, for example, by a material with a low differential contact force. U.S. Pat. no. No. 5,087,255, entitled "Absorbent Article Having Inflected Barrier Cuffs" (Absorbent article having flexural barrier folds), issued to Sims on February 11, 1992, describes an absorbent article having flexural barrier folds with the distal edge positioned outwardly. from the proximal edge in one waist region and inward in the other to provide a better fit around the hips / buttocks. Figure 3 depicts a diaper 20 in a fastened configuration illustrating how visual differences between the waist, hip and leg regions 80, 82, 84 not only present a garment-like appearance, but also provide functional attributes that allow the caregiver to properly align the diaper on the wearer during the fit. As illustrated, the leg region 84 of the side panel 30 can be made to match the longitudinal edges 50, and the waist region 80 can be made to match the end edges 52 in the first and second waist regions 36, 38. Once the diaper 20 is placed on the wearer, the waist regions 80 of the side panels 30 align with the end edges 52 in the first and second waist regions 36, 38 and form a complete surrounding 360 ° waistband. the waist opening 74 of the diaper 20. At the same time, the leg regions 84 of the side panels 30 align with the longitudinal edges 50 of the diaper to form 360 ° leg bands that surround the leg openings 72. In addition of visual distinction, structural differences can introduced to further improve the visual characteristics and to provide functional attributes of the different regions. For example, the waist elastic 34 in the second waist region 38 can be made to extend into one or both of the side panels 30 and partially or completely cover the waist region 80 in one or both side panels 30. In the illustrated embodiment in Figure 3, the waist elastic 34 in the second waist region 38 is shown completely covering the waist region 80 in each of the side panels 30, such that the combination of the waist elastic 34 in the second region waistband 38 of the diaper and waist region 80 in each of the side panels 30 align with the waist elastic 34 in the first waist region 36 of the diaper and form a 360 ° elastic waist around the waist opening 74 when the diaper 20 is placed on the wearer. Similarly, the extendable leg cuffs 32 can be made to extend in the leg region 84 of one or both of the side panels 30 and partially or fully cover the leg region 84 in one or both side panels 30. As illustrated in Figure 3, the extendable leg cuffs 32 can be made to fully cover the leg region 84 on each of the side panels 30, such that the combination of the leg region 84 on each of the side panels 30 and the extendable leg cuffs 32 form complete 360 ° leg elastics around each of the leg openings 72. In this embodiment, the extendable leg cuffs 32 and the leg regions 84 in each of the panels Laterals may include the aforementioned visual characteristics to resemble seams of the garment type around the leg openings. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the hip region 82 in each of the side panels 30 may comprise an elastomeric laminate without resistance including an elastic film disposed between two layers of non-woven fabric. The elastomeric laminar without resistance can terminate in the waist and leg regions 80, 84 or extend at least partially in the waist and leg regions 80, 84. In the latter case, the waist and leg regions 80, 84 can be disposed on the garment-facing side of the elastomeric sheet without strength, the side facing the body of the elastomeric sheet without strength or both. Alternatively, the waist and leg regions 80, 84 may be wrapped around the first and second end edges 90, 92, respectively, of the side panels 30 and overlap the elastomeric sheet without strength. Figure 4 depicts a brief type diaper 220 illustrating how visual distinctions and structural differences between the waist, hip and leg regions 280, 282, 284 can be made to improve the fit, as well as the appearance of the garment type. wear. As illustrated in Figure 4, the waist regions 280 of the side panels 230 comprise a continuation of a waistband 210 proximate the end edges 252 in the first waist region 236. The waistband 210 may include an elastic waist 234 that is extends within the waist region 280 and partially or completely covers each side of the side panels 230. Although not shown, the waist regions 280 of the side panels 230 may also provide a continuation of a waistband and / or a elastic waist close to the end edges in the second waist regions and form, in combination with the elastic waist 234 in the first waist region 236, a 360 ° waistband that surrounds the waist opening 274. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. Figure 4, the leg regions 284 of the side panels 230 may comprise a continuation of the leg bands 212 proximate the longitudinal edges 250 in the region of the interior. 237 of the calf-type diaper 220 and form 360 ° leg bands 212 surrounding the leg openings 272. The bands of legs 212 may also include extendable leg cuffs 232 that partially or completely cover the leg regions 284 on each of the side panels 230. Other components of the frame 22 include the lower cuff 26, the upper cuff 24 and the core 28. The lower canvas 26 is, in general, the portion of the diaper 20 that is located adjacent the surface of the absorbent core 28, which is oriented towards the garment and prevents the exudates absorbed and contained therein from soiling the articles that may be in contact with it. with the diaper 20 as, for example, the bedding and the underwear. In preferred embodiments, the bottom sheet 26 is impervious to liquids (eg, urine) and consists of a thin plastic film, such as a thermoplastic film with a thickness of about 0.012 mm (0.5 mil) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mils) ,.

Suitable lower canvas films include those manufactured by Tredegar Corporation of Richmond, VA, and marketed under the CPC2 film brand. Other materials suitable for lower canvases may include the permeable materials that allow vapors to escape from the diaper 20 and at the same time also prevent exudates from passing through the lower canvas 26. Illustrative permeable materials may include materials such as woven wefts, wefts nonwoven; composite materials, such as nonwoven webs with film coating; microporous films, such as those manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Co. of Japan, under the designation ESPOIR NO, and by Tredegar Corporation of Richmond, VA, distributed under the trade name of EXAIRE, and monolithic films, such as those manufactured by Clopay Corporation, Cincinnati, OH, under the trade name HYTREL mixes P18-3097. Some permeable composite materials are described in greater detail in PCT application no. WO 95/16746 published June 22, 1995, in the name of E. I. DuPont; in U.S. Pat. no. 5,938,648, issued August 17, 1999 to La Von et al .; the U.S. patent no. 5,865,823, granted on February 2, 1999 in the name of Curro; and the patent of the USA no. 5,571, 096, issued to Dobrin et al. on November 5, 1996. The lower canvas 26 or any part thereof may be elastically extensible in one or more directions. In one embodiment, the lower canvas 26 may comprise a fabric elastic structural film (SELF). An elastic structural film web is an extensible material that exhibits an elastic-like behavior in the direction of elongation without using additional elastic materials and is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. no. 5,518,801 entitled "Web Materials Exhibiting Elastic-Like Behavior" (Raster materials exhibiting an elastic type behavior), granted to Chappell et al. on May 21, 1996. In alternative embodiments, the lower canvas 26 may comprise foams, threads or elastomeric films, or combinations of these or other suitable materials with non-woven fabrics or synthetic films. The lower canvas 26 can be attached to the upper canvas 24, the absorbent core 28 or any other element of the diaper 20 by any means of attachment known in the industry. For example, the joining means may include a continuous and uniform layer of adhesive, a layer of adhesive with a pattern or a set of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive. A preferred attachment means comprises a network of open-pattern adhesive filaments, as set forth in U.S. Pat. no. 4,573,986 entitled "Disposable Waste-Containment Garment" (Garment disposable to contain waste), granted to Minetola et al. on May 4, 1986. Other suitable joining means include several lines of adhesive filaments wound in a spiral pattern, as illustrated by the apparatus and methods set forth in U.S. Pat. no. 3,91 1, 173 granted to Sprague, Jr. on October 7, 1975; the U.S. patent no. 4,785,996, issued to Ziecker et al. on November 22, 1978; and U.S. Pat. no. 4,842,666, granted to Werenicz on June 27, 1989. It was observed that satisfactory adhesives are made by H.B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota and are distributed as HL-1620 and HL 1358-XZP. Alternatively, the joining means may include thermal bonds, pressure joints, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical joints or any of the suitable joining means or combinations thereof, as are known in the industry. The upper canvas 24, preferably, is located adjacent the body surface of the absorbent core 28 and may be attached to the latter or to the lower canvas 26 by any means of attachment known in the industry. Suitable attachment means are described above with respect to the means for attaching the lower canvas 26 to other elements of the diaper 20. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper canvas 24 and the lower canvas 26 are directly bonded together in some places and indirectly in others by directly attaching them to one or more other elements in the diaper 20. The upper canvas 24 is preferably adjustable, soft to the touch and does not irritate the wearer's skin. Additionally, at least a portion of the topsheet 24 is permeable to liquids, which allows liquids to easily penetrate through their thickness. A suitable top canvas can be manufactured from a wide range of materials, such as porous foams, cross-linked foams, perforated plastic films, woven or non-woven fabric materials of natural fibers (eg, wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (eg, polyester or polypropylene fibers), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. If the upper web 24 includes fibers, the fibers can be spun by bonding, carded, wet-laid, blow-melted, hydroentangling or processed in some other way known in the industry. A suitable top sheet 24 comprising a web of cut polypropylene fibers is that manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a Division of International Paper Company, of Walpole, MA under the designation P-8. The upper films formed with suitable film are described in U.S. patent no. 3,929,135, entitled "Absorptive Structures Having Tapered Capillaries" (Absorptive structures having tapered capillaries), issued to Thompson on December 30, 1975; the U.S. patent no. 4,324,246, entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article Having A Stain Resistant Topsheet" (Disposable absorbent article having a stain resistant upper canvas), issued to Mullane et al. on April 13, 1982; the U.S. patent no. 4,342,314, entitled "Resilient Plástic Web Exhibiting Fiber-Like Properties" (Plot of flexible plastic that has properties similar to a fiber), granted to Radel et al. on August 3, 1982; the U.S. patent no. 4,463,045, entitled "Macroscopically Expanded Three-Dimensional Plástic Web Exhibiting Non-Glossy Visible Surface and Cloth-Like Tactile Impression "(Three-dimensional plastic screen by macroscopic expansion having a visible matt surface and a tactile feel similar to a cloth), granted to Ahr et al on July 31, 1984, and U.S. Patent No. 5,006,394 , entitled "Multilayer Polymeric Film", awarded to Baird on April 9, 1991. Other suitable top canvases can be manufactured in accordance with the patents of the USA num. 4,609,518 and 4,629,643, granted to Curro et al. on September 2, 1986 and December 16, 1986, respectively. These formed films can be obtained from The Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, as "DRI-WEAVE", and of Tredegar Corporation, of Richmond, VA, as "CLIFF-T". Preferably, at least a portion of the upper sheet 24 is made of a hydrophobic material or that is treated to be hydrophobic in order to isolate the user's skin from the liquids contained in the absorbent core 28. If the upper sheet 24 is made With a hydrophobic material, preferably, at least a portion of the upper surface of the upper canvas 24 is treated to be hydrophilic, so that the liquids will be transferred through the upper canvas more quickly. He Upper canvas 24 can become hydrophilic when treated with a surfactant or by incorporating a surfactant into the upper canvas. Suitable methods for treating the upper sheet 24 with a surfactant include spraying the upper canvas material 24 with the surfactant and / or immersing the material in the surfactant. A more detailed description of this treatment and hydrophilicity is found in the patent of the USA no. 4,988,344, entitled "Absorbent Articles with Multiple Layer Absorbent Layers" (Absorbent articles with multilayer absorbent layers), issued to Reising et al. on January 29, 1991, and in U.S. Pat. no. 4,988,345, entitled "Absorbent Articles with Rapid Acquiring Absorbent Cores" (Absorbent Absorbent Cores Absorbent Cores), awarded to Reising on January 29, 1991.

A more detailed description of some of the appropriate methods for incorporating a surfactant into the upper canvas 24 in the US Regulatory Register of Inventions can be found. no. H1670, published on July 1, 1997 in the name of Aziz et al. Alternatively, the upper canvas 24 may include a film or screen with holes that is hydrophobic. This can be achieved by eliminating the step of hydrophilizing treatment from the production process and / or applying a hydrophobic treatment to the upper sheet 24, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene compound such as SCOTCHGUARD or a hydrophobic lotion composition, as described below. In such embodiments, it is preferred that the holes be large enough to allow the penetration of aqueous fluids such as urine, without significant resistance. The absorbent core 28 may comprise any generally compressible, compliant, non-irritating absorbent material for the wearer's skin and capable of absorbing and retaining liquids, such as urine and other body exudates. The absorbent core 28 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (eg, rectangular, hourglass, "T", asymmetric, etc.) and can comprise a wide variety of liquid-absorbent materials, such as those normally used in disposable diapers and other absorbent articles, such as pulped crushed wood, which is generally referred to as air felt. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials include curled cellulose wadding; meltblown polymers, including coforms; chemically rigid, modified or cross-linked cellulose fibers; fabrics, which include tissue paper and tissue laminates; absorbent foams; absorbent sponges; super absorbent polymers; absorbent gelling materials; or any other known absorbent material or combinations of materials. The configuration and structure of the absorbent core 28 may also be varied (eg, the absorbent cores or other absorbent structures may have zones that vary in gauge, hydrophilic gradients, super absorbent gradients, or lower average density capture zones. and of lower average basis weight, or may comprise one or more layers or structures). Exemplary absorbent structures for use as an absorbent core 28 are described in the US Pat.

USA no. 4,610,678, entitled "High-Density Absorbent Structures", granted to Weisman et al. on September 9, 1986; the U.S. patent no. 4,673,402 entitled "Absorbent Articles With Dual-Layered Cores" (Absorbent Articles with Two-Layer Cores), issued to Weisman et al. on June 16, 1987; the U.S. patent no. 4,834,735, entitled "High Density Absorbent Members Having Lower Density and Lower Basis Weight Acquisition Zones "(High Density Absorbing Members that have Low Density Zones and Acquisition Zones with Lower Base Weight), granted to Alemany et al. On May 30, 1989; US No. 4,888,231, entitled "Absorbent Core Having A Dusting Layer", which was awarded to Angstadt on 19 December 1989; the U.S. patent no. 5,137,537, entitled "Absorbent Structure Containing Individualized, Polycarboxylic Acid Crosslinked Wood Pulp Cellulose Fibers" (Absorbent structure containing wood pulp cellulose fibers and individualized crosslinked polycarboxylic acid), issued to Herron et al. on August 1, 1992; the U.S. patent no. 5,147,345, entitled "High Efficiency Absorbent Articles For Incontinence Management "(Highly Effective Absorbent Handling Articles for Incontinence Management), issued to Young et al., September 15, 1992; U.S. Patent No. 5,342,338 entitled" Disposable Absorbent Article For Low "Fecal Material Viscosity" (Disposable absorbent articles for low viscosity fecal material), issued to Roe on August 30, 1994; ,260,345, entitled "Absorbent Foam Materials For Aqueous Body Fluids and Absorbent Articles Containing Such Materials" (Absorbent foam materials for aqueous body fluids and absorbent articles containing these materials), issued to DesMarais et al. on November 9, 1993; the U.S. patent no. 5,387,207, entitled "Thin-Until-Wet Absorbent Foam Materials for Aqueous Body Fluids and Process For Making Same "(Thin absorbent foam materials until moistened for body fluids and the process for manufacturing them), issued to Dyer et al on February 7, 1995, and U.S. Patent No. 5,625,222 entitled "Absorbent Foam Materials For Aqueous Fluids Made From High Internal Phase Emulsions Having Very High Water-To-Oil Ratios" (Absorbent foam materials for aqueous fluids manufactured with high internal phase emulsions that have very high water to oil ratios), awarded to DesMarais et al on July 22, 1997. The diaper 20 may also include a fastening system 40. The fastening system 40 preferably maintains the first waist region 36 and the second waist region 38 in a configuration that allows to provide lateral stresses around the circumference of the diaper 20 to hold the diaper 20 on the wearer. The fastening system 40 preferably comprises a fastener which may be in the form of a tape tab, hook-and-loop fastening fastening components, interlacing fasteners, such as tabs and slots, buckles, buttons, snaps or fastening components. male / female, although any other known means of attachment is generally acceptable. Some illustrative surface fastening systems are described in U.S. Pat. no. 3,848,594 entitled "Tape Fastening System for Disposable Diaper" (Disposable diaper fastening tape system), issued to Buell on November 19, 1974; the U.S. patent no. B1 4,662,875, entitled "Absorbent Article", assigned to Hirotsu et al. on May 5, 1987; the U.S. patent no. 4,846,815, entitled "Disposable Diaper Having An Improved Fastening Device", issued to Scripps on July 11, 1989; the U.S. patent no. 4,894,060 entitled "Disposable Diaper With Improved Hook Fastener Portion" (Disposable diaper with an improved fastener portion with hook), issued to Nestegard on January 16, 1990; the U.S. patent no. 4,946,527, entitled "Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Fastener and Method of Making Same" (Fastener with pressure-sensitive adhesive and a method for manufacturing it), issued to Battrell on August 7, 1990; the U.S. patent no. 5,151, 092 previously cited herein, granted to Buell on September 9, 1992; and U.S. Pat. no. 5,221, 274, issued to Buell on June 22, 1993. An illustrative fastening system by interlacing is described in the co-pending US patent application. no. 6,432,098, entitled "Absorbent Article Fastening Device", issued to Kline et al. on August 13, 2002. The fastening system 40 may also provide a means for holding the article in a disposition configuration, such as described in U.S. Pat. no. 4,963,140, issued to Robertson et al. the 16th October 1990. The fastening system may also include primary and secondary fastening systems, such as those described in U.S. Pat. no. 4,699,622, entitled "Disposable Diaper Having An Improved Side Closure" (Disposable diaper having improved side closure), issued to Toussant et al. on October 13, 1987. Test methods Hysteresis test to check the elastic properties of the material General View This test measures: a) elastic resistance (load at 25% elongation), b) force relaxation, and c) percentage of deformation of a side panel region. Ideally, the dimension of the sample should be 2.54 cm wide by 5.08 cm long, the direction of the stretch should be the longest dimension. In addition, ideally, the length of the gauge should be 2.54 cm. Given the variety of geometries that regions can take, it may be necessary to use different widths and / or sample lengths and normalize the results for a basic ideal sample. Once the sample is prepared, it is stretched according to a predefined regime to provide data for an adequate determination.

Tension Meter Apparatus: A commercial strain gauge is suitable for measuring a constant rate of extension from Instron Engineering Corp., Canton, MA USA. or from SINTECH-MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN USA. (or a comparable meter). An interface is established between the instrument and a computer to control the speed of the test and other parameters and to collect, calculate and report the data.

Load Cell: Clamps and the appropriate load cell are selected for the test; the clamps must have a sufficient width to accommodate the sample, clamps of 2.54 cm are normally used; The load cell is selected so that the response to the expected voltage of the analyzed sample will be between 25% and 75% of the capacity of the load cells or the load range used. Normally, a load cell is used. 1 kN load; Sample cutter: The specific sample cutter is defined by the desired width of the sample. There are suitable cutters available at Thwing-Albert Instrument Co. of Philadelphia, PA. The JDC 1 -10 model is suitable for a 2.54 cm wide sample.

Preparation of the sample The waist, hip and leg regions are cut from the side panel along the boundary defined by the visible or structural difference. A sample of each region is cut 2.54 cm wide by 5.08 cm long from inside an individual region. If an individual region is smaller than these dimensions, the sample must comprise the entire region. The sample is oriented in the clamps to ensure that the sample is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the region. If the strength of an individual elastic zone is too small to be measured in the stress meter, several samples of identical regions, taken from various products and normalizing the data for a basic individual region can be collectively stretched between the jaws of the strain gauge.

Method Hysteresis is measured under standard laboratory conditions (25 ° C ± 2 ° C and relative humidity 50% ± 2.0%). The procedure for determining the hysteresis of an elastomeric member requires the following steps: 1. The apparatus is calibrated for tests according to the manufacturer's instructions; 2. The length of the measuring device is set to 2.54 cm or as appropriate for the sample to be tested; the preload clearance is set to 0.05 N. 3. The sample is placed on the flat surface of the jaws in such a way that the longitudinal center line of the sample is substantially parallel to the direction of the length of the gauge. 4. The crosshead speed is set at a constant speed of 25.4 cm / min. 5. The movement of the crosshead starts, the test device begins to simultaneously record the load and effort data. The hysteresis test specifically requires the following steps: a) the sample is stretched to a 25% deformation at a constant speed of 25.4 cm / min; the force of an elongation of 25% is recorded; b) the sample is allowed to remain in this deformation for 2 minutes; force is recorded at the beginning and end of the 2-minute period; c) the sample is returned to a deformation of 0% at a constant speed of 25.4 cm / min; d) the sample remains in this deformation for 1 minute; and e) the sample is elongated at a load of 0.1 N at a constant speed of 5.08 cm / min; the formation at 0.1 N is recorded (that is, a force sufficient to remove the clearance but sufficient to impart, at most, a stretch insubstantial to the sample).

Calculations and reports submitted 1. From the data collected in stage 5 (a), the load at 25% of the effort is reported as the elastic resistance of the material. 2. With the data collected in step 5 (b), the relaxation force is determined with the load at the beginning and at the end of the 2 minute retention time using the following formula: _ [(Initial charge) - (Charge in time, t)]% Relaxation of tensions in time x lOO Initial charge 3. From the data collected in step 5 (e), the set% is calculated using the following formula: ^ Effort registered in 5 (e) ^ Percentage of fixed deformation = x100 4. The results of three sample copies are reported for each region tested.

Available tension This is intended to determine the available effort in a sample The Available Tension is the point where there is an inflection in the force-elongation curve, beyond which point there is a rapid increase in the force needed to lengthen the sample. A force curve (F (N / cm)) - elongation (E (%)) illustrated in Figure 5 is shown.

As illustrated there, the available stress is determined from the force-elongation curve 720 as the intersection point 720b of linear extrapolations of the portion of stage 1 of curve 720a and the portion of stage 2 of curve 720c .

Method 1. Samples are prepared according to the hysteresis test described above. 2. Steps 1-4 of the Hysteresis Test are repeated. 3. The movement of the crosshead starts. The test instrument begins to simultaneously record the load versus strain data (percentage of elongation). 4. Continue the elongation of the sample until: a) the sample breaks; or b) the force limit of the load cell is reached. 5. Force / elongation data is plotted to create a curve similar to that shown in Figure 5. 6. The portions of stage 1 and stage 2 are extrapolated as shown to determine the available strain. 7. The average results of three sample copies are reported for each region tested.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the invention are incorporated, in the relevant part, as reference herein; the mention of any document should not be construed as an admission that it corresponds to a preceding industry with respect to the present invention. For any meaning or definition of a term in a document incorporated as a reference, the meaning or definition of the term assigned in this written document shall prevail. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those with knowledge in the industry that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It has been intended, therefore, to cover in the appended claims all changes and modifications that are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A disposable absorbent article for use around the lower torso of a wearer; the disposable absorbent article has opposite longitudinal side edges, opposite end edges, a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region sandwiched between the first waist region and the second waist region; characterized the disposable absorbent article because it comprises: side panels connecting a first waist region to a second waist region and forming, in combination with the opposite end edges and the opposite longitudinal side edges, a waist opening and a pair of openings for the legs; each side panel comprises three regions that include a waist region, a hip region and a leg region, each region differs structurally, functionally or visually.

2. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, further characterized in that the structural differences include types of materials, activation patterns, thicknesses, bonding patterns, layers of materials and combinations thereof. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, further characterized in that the functional differences include stiffness, flexural modulus, elastic modulus, extensibility, force relaxation, deformation, recovery speed, torsion modulus, compression modulus, compression capacity, coefficient of friction, surface energy and combinations of these. 4. A disposable absorbent article to be worn around the torso bottom of a user; the disposable absorbent article has a pair of opposite longitudinal side edges, opposite end edges, a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region sandwiched between the first waist region and the second waist region; the disposable absorbent article comprises: an upper canvas, a lower canvas an absorbent core disposed between the upper canvas and the lower canvas; and stretchable side panels separately attached to opposite longitudinal side edges; the stretchable side panels connect the first waist region to the second waist region and form, in combination with the opposite end edges and the opposite longitudinal side edges, a waist opening and a pair of leg openings; each side panel comprises three regions that include a waist region, a hip region and a leg region, characterized in that each region differs structurally, functionally or visually. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that the visual differences include colors, texture, patterns, thickness, opacity, reflectivity, brightness, roughness size, roughness separation, roughness frequency and combinations of these. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that structural differences include types of materials, activation patterns, thicknesses, bonding patterns, layers of materials and combinations thereof. 7. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that the functional differences include the rigidity, flexural modulus, elastic modulus, extensibility, force relaxation, deformation, recovery speed, torsion modulus, compression modulus, compression capacity, coefficient of friction, surface energy and combinations of these. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that each of the three regions differs structurally and visually. 9. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that each of the three regions differs functionally and visually. 10. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that each of the three regions differs structurally and functionally. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that each of the three regions differs structurally, functionally and visually. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that two of the three regions are structurally, functionally and visually the same, but differ from a third structural region, functionally and visually. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that the side panels comprise elastomeric sheets without strength. 14. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 13, further characterized in that the side panels include a inner surface and an outer surface and because the waist regions or the leg regions or both the waist regions and the leg regions include an elastic element attached to the outer surface, the inner surface or the inner surface and the outer surface. 15. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 14, further characterized in that the elastic element comprises a live elastic laminate attached to the waist regions or the leg regions, or the waist regions and the leg regions in the pretensioned state and it is left to relax to form wrinkles or wrinkles. 16. A disposable diaper to be worn around a user's lower torso; the disposable diaper includes an inner surface facing the body, an outer surface facing the undergarment, opposite end edges, opposite longitudinal side edges, a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region sandwiched between the first waist region and second waist region, the disposable diaper comprises: an upper canvas, a lower canvas an absorbent core disposed between the upper canvas and the lower canvas; a pair of side panels; each side panel comprises a first longitudinal edge; a second longitudinal edge opposite the first longitudinal edge; and three regions including a waist region, a hip region and a leg region, characterized in that the first longitudinal edge of each side panel is attached to one of the opposite longitudinal side edges in the second waist region and because the region of waist, the hip region and the leg region differ structurally, functionally or visually; a pair of elastically contractible obturator leg folds, disposed adjacent to the opposite longitudinal side edges in the crotch region, wherein each of the elastically contractible sealing leg folds extends within the leg region of the corresponding side panel; an elastically contractible elastic waist disposed in the second waist region adjacent to the terminal edge where the elastically contractible elastic waist extends within the waist region of each of the side panels; a non-elastic extension member attached to the second longitudinal edge of the side panels that covers at least a portion of the waist region, the hip region and the leg region; and a fastener attached to the non-elastic extension member, wherein the fastener removably attaches to the surface facing the undergarment and forms a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. 17. The disposable diaper according to claim 16, further characterized in that the visual differences include colors, texture, patterns, thickness, opacity, reflectance, brightness, roughness size, rugosity separation and roughness frequency. 18. The disposable diaper according to claim 16, further characterized in that the structural differences include types of materials, activation patterns, thicknesses, bonding patterns, layers of materials and combinations thereof. The disposable diaper according to claim 16, further characterized in that the functional differences include rigidity, flexural modulus, elastic modulus, extensibility, force relaxation, deformation, recovery speed, torsion modulus, compression modulus, capacity Of compression, coefficient of friction, surface energy and combinations of these. 20. The disposable diaper according to claim 16, further characterized in that the waist region and the leg region in each of the side panels are visually, structurally and functionally the same and because the leg region and the waist region differ. structural, functional and visually of the hip region.