U.S. patent application number 09/091547 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-16 for method of producing reclosable absorbent garments and absorbent garments obtained thereby.
Invention is credited to FERNFORS, INGEMAR.
Application Number | 20010014798 09/091547 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20400694 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010014798 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FERNFORS, INGEMAR |
August 16, 2001 |
METHOD OF PRODUCING RECLOSABLE ABSORBENT GARMENTS AND ABSORBENT
GARMENTS OBTAINED THEREBY
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of producing reclosable
absorbent garments, in particular absorbent pants, and to the
absorbent garments obtainable by said method. Starting from a
continuous web (1) of absorbent articles attached side-by-side and
with a line of weakening (6) arranged between adjacent articles, a
first strip (8) comprising releasably attachable material is
applied across the line (6) at one edge (25) of the web. A second
strip of flexible material is also applied across the line (6) at
the other edge (26) of the web. The web is then folded
longitudinally to form a series of closed, joined adjacent
articles. The adjacent articles are then partially separated at
said line (6) but without rupturing said strips (8, 13), so as to
provide a free zone (15) between said strips (8, 13) and the
adjacent separated edges of each article. The strips (8, 13) are
then joined together across the free zone (15) to form a plurality
of joined garments. The strips (8, 13) may then be severed so as to
form individual garments (27) of the reclosable type, or may remain
unsevered and be foreseen with a line of weakening for later
separation. Due to the particular method and product features of
the invention, an in-line process for making closed, reclosable
absorbent garments is achieved.
Inventors: |
FERNFORS, INGEMAR; (MOLNDAL,
SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURNS DOANE SWECKER & MATHIS L L P
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
20400694 |
Appl. No.: |
09/091547 |
Filed: |
June 22, 1998 |
PCT Filed: |
November 26, 1996 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE96/01537 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/390 ;
156/217; 156/66; 604/391 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/551 20130101;
Y10T 156/1084 20150115; Y10T 156/1079 20150115; Y10T 156/1036
20150115; A61F 13/62 20130101; A61F 2013/00842 20130101; A61F
13/15723 20130101; A61F 13/505 20130101; Y10T 156/1075 20150115;
A61F 13/5622 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/390 ;
604/391; 156/66; 156/217 |
International
Class: |
A61F 013/15; A44B
019/00; A41H 037/00; A61F 013/20; B29C 053/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 1995 |
SE |
9504613-2 |
Claims
1. Method of producing reclosable absorbent garments (17) for the
absorption of human exudate, from a web (1) comprising a plurality
of open absorbent articles attached side-by-side so as to form a
substantially continuous web of attached articles having opposed
longitudinal edges (25, 26), and wherein a line of intended
separation (6) is arranged between adjacent articles, said method
comprising the steps of: a) applying a first strip (8) of flexible
material across the line of intended separation (6) at one
longitudinal edge (25) of the web, said first strip (8) comprising
a zone of releasably attachable material (18) facing said web and
positioned on either side of said line (6), wherein said web, at
the location where said first strip (8) is to be attached,
comprises a material to which the releasably attachable material
(18) of said first strip (8) will attach, b) fixedly attaching a
second strip (13) of flexible material across the line of intended
separation (6) at the other longitudinal edge (26) of the web, c)
folding the web between the longitudinal edges (25, 26) so as to
obtain a web of articles folded front side (F) to rear side (R), d)
longitudinally separating said adjacent articles at said line of
intended separation (6) but without rupturing said strips (8, 13),
so as to provide a free zone (15) between said strips (8, 13) and
the adjacent separated edges of each article, (e) securely joining
said first and second strips (8, 13) together across said free zone
(15) so as to form closed garments.
2. Method according to claim 1 wherein, prior to step (a), a third
strip (5) of flexible material is applied to said web (1) across
the line of intended separation (6) at the same longitudinal edge
(25) to which said first strip (8) is to be attached, and wherein
said third strip (5) comprises material to which the releasably
attachable material (18) of said first strip (8) will attach.
3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first (8)
and second (13) strips are attached to said web (1) at attachment
locations on either side of the line of intended separation (6) so
as to leave a gap extending on either side of said line of intended
separation (6), and wherein the length of material of said strips
between said attachment locations is greater than the length of the
gap.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said absorbent garments are separated completely from one another
by severing the joined strips (8, 13) at a location (16)
intermediate of where said strips have been joined together, thus
producing a series of separated, closed absorbent garments.
5. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said third
strip (5) is provided with a perforation line which is positioned
in line with said line of intended separation.
6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
each of said garments has an elasticated waistband (2), the
elastication means for said waistband being applied by adhesion
prior to the application of any of said strips (5, 8, 13), and
wherein, in the region where said strips (8, 13) are to be
attached, said waistband (2) is not adhered to said web, to thus
provide a relatively flat outer surface at said region.
7. Absorbent garment (27) for the absorption of human exudate, said
absorbent garment comprising a waistband portion divided into front
(F) and rear (R) sections by means of two reclosable fastening
arrangements (21, 22), each of which fastening arrangements is
positioned at a respective end of said front and rear sections,
wherein each of said fastening arrangements (21, 22) comprises a
first part (8, 13, 17, 18, 19) which has first and second ends (23,
24), the first end (23) being fixedly secured to said front or rear
section and the second end (24) comprising a reclosable fastening
portion (18), wherein said waistband portion, at the location where
the reclosable fastening portion (18) of said first part (8) is to
be attached, comprises a material to which the releasably
attachable material (18) of said first strip (8) will attach, the
first end (23) of said first part and the second end (24) of said
first part each being provided on respective first and second
separate strips (13, 8), characterized in that one strip (8) of
said strips (8, 13) has two end portions at opposite extreme ends
of said strip, at least one of which ends constitutes a free outer
end of said one strip (8), and in that said free outer end is
fixedly secured so as to be flush with an outer free end of the
other strip (13) of said strips (8, 13) so as to provide a combined
strip (8, 13, 17) having a free outer edge (29) containing the two
flush ends.
8. Reclosable absorbent garment according to claim 7, characterized
in that said waistband portion comprises one or more elastic
elements (2) adhered thereto, and in that a zone of non-adhesion of
said elastic elements is provided on said waistband beneath said
reclosable fastening arrangements (21, 22), such that said
waistband is substantially flat in said zone compared to the rest
of said elasticated waistband.
9. Reclosable garment according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in
that said absorbent garment is a closed pair of absorbent
reclosable pants comprising an absorbent core.
10. Reclosable absorbent garment according to any one of claims 7
to 9, characterized in that said reclosable portion (18) on said
first strip (8) is one part of a male/female coupling, and in that
said waistband (2), or optional third strip (5) thereon, is
provided with the other part of said male/female coupling.
11. Series of closed absorbent garments in accordance with the
method of any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 or 6, each of said garments
being in accordance with any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized
in that said absorbent garments (27) are attached to one another by
means of the joined first and second strips (8, 13), said strips
(8, 13) being attached between adjacent garments (27), and in that
a line of weakening is provided at a location (16) intermediate of
where said strips (8, 13) have been joined together, so as to allow
separation of one or more of said garments from the remainder.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a method of producing reclosable
absorbent garments. The invention also relates to an absorbent
garment as defined in the first part of claim 7, and to a series of
closed absorbent garments.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Absorbent garments of the reclosable type are known. One
such garment is for example a nappy for use by a child or adult
incontinent users, said nappy having strips with tabs on one end of
said product that can be releasably adhered to a landing zone on
the other end of said product when fitted to a baby/child user. One
problem with this is however that for putting the garment on, some
dexterity is required to grip and position the tab. In older users,
such dexterity is often lacking and the garments may be
particularly awkward to assemble.
[0003] Another type of absorbent product that has been used much in
recent years, and which circumvents such problems, is an absorbent
garment known generally as a pair of training pants or incontinence
pants. The garment is much more convenient and quicker to put on
than a reclosable nappy, since it is very similar to a pair of
ordinary underpants in that it has a continuous waistband and two
leg openings. This form allows it to be pulled on like normal pants
without any pre-assembly. When the garment becomes soiled however,
its removal is problematic. Either the outer clothing has to be
removed entirely to take the pants off as normal, which can be
difficult in many situations, or the two sides of the pants have to
be torn vertically so that the torn garment can be removed between
the wearer's legs. The tearing of the side portions in itself can
however be difficult, especially again for very old wearers who may
lack the strength to tear the product.
[0004] A further problem which presents itself is that absorbent
pants cannot be adjusted and consequently they may be uncomfortable
if exactly the right size is not chosen. Even then, adjustability
is desirable to take account of variations in waist size occurring
during the day, e.g. after eating. Additionally, a large selection
of sizes is required if all body shapes are to be catered for.
[0005] Whilst the provision of reclosable fastening arrangements is
used to provide adjustability and easy removal in nappies, no
totally satisfactory solution has yet been found for applying such
a feature to absorbent pants whilst still allowing them to be
produced in-line, which is a requirement for economically viable
production.
[0006] WO-A-95/27462 discloses a method of producing a series of
disposable absorbent garments starting from a web of side-by-side
open absorbent articles having opposed longitudinal edges with a
line of intended separation between said articles. In this method,
a first strip of flexible material with a zone of releasably
attachable material is placed on the web with the releasably
attachable material facing away therefrom. In one embodiment,
folding of the garment between its longitudinal side edges is
performed. In said embodiment, a second strip of a co-acting
releasable material is placed on the opposite side of the web and
then the web is then folded between its longitudinal edges so that
the co-acting strip elements can be brought into releasable contact
with each other by means of projections on one of the strips being
forced through holes in the other strip. By cutting the web at the
lines of intended separation, separate closed garments are then
formed. Although said method has advantages, the method implies
that the absorbent article has the releasable surfaces of the
co-acting strips lying in contact inside the garment which can
provide a disadvantage when trying to open the garment.
[0007] Thus, the object of the invention is to provide a solution
to the aforesaid problems by a particular method of producing a
reclosable absorbent garment which can be manufactured by an
in-line continuous process. The invention also seeks to provide a
garment having a reclosable fastening arrangement which can be
manufactured in an in-line continuous process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The aforementioned object is solved by the method having the
features defined in claim 1. Similarly, the garment of the
invention is characterized by the features defined in claim 7.
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the
dependent claims.
[0010] In the claims, the term "releasably attachable" has been
used to describe a material which is comprised in the first strip.
It is to be understood that this term refers to a material which
can be attached and re-attached to another part. For example such a
material may be constituted by one part of a hook and loop material
(such as the material sold under the trade name "Velcro" for
example). Other materials which allow attachment, removal and
reattachment are also included within said term. Similarly, the
term "reclosable fastening" also refers to a fastening comprising a
releasably attachable material.
[0011] By means of the method and product of the invention, a
single garment or a series of joined single garments is made
available, which garment(s) are produced in the closed state (i.e.
ready for being pulled on to the wearer as a normal pair of
absorbent pants) in contrast to the open state in which normal
nappies of the reclosable type are produced.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said garments
are attached to one another after having been produced in an
in-line process. By providing a line of weakening, such as a
perforation or the like, between each of said garments, separation
of individual garments or separation of a number of garments from
the remainder is also possible. Such an embodiment allows the
products to be supplied as a rolled up series of articles.
Alternatively, with such an embodiment, said articles might be
placed back-to-back in a joined stacked fashion. Such rolled-up or
stacked joined articles have the additional advantage that said
articles remain together, even when the outer packaging is removed.
This joined relationship helps to prevent single absorbent articles
becoming separated from a group of articles which can lead to the
article becoming untidy or badly deformed (e.g. in a carrying bag
or the like) as otherwise often occurs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will now be described in more detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows the first stage of the method according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein a web of attached
absorbent garments is moved in the direction of arrow A through two
first zones "(a)" and "(b)",
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a further stage of the production method, in
which the web shown in FIG. 1 has been folded about a central
longitudinal axis so that the front and rear parts of said article
are moved into contact,
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a still further stage of said method of
production, in which the series of interconnected absorbent
articles are separated, welded and severed into a plurality of
separate absorbent garments in the further zones "(c)", "(d)" and
"(e)" respectively,
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view through FIG. 3, on to
line IV-IV in zone "(c)", however with the first strip raised away
from the third strip attachment elements merely for reasons of
clarity.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view through FIG. 3, on to
line V-V in zone "(d)",
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view, through one portion of
the closed separate garment shown in FIG. 3 after zone "(e)", on to
line VI-VI, and
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6,
wherein the reclosable fastening means has been opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a portion of a web 1 comprising a plurality of
open absorbent articles laid side-by-side in connected fashion on a
substantially flat conveying surface (not shown). The absorbent
articles are delimited from one another in the shown embodiment by
lines of weakening such as perforation lines 6. The web 1
thus-formed is therefore substantially continuous, apart from said
lines of weakening which run substantially perpendicular to the two
longitudinal edges 25, 26 of said web. In the present case, two
lines of weakening 6 are provided between adjacent articles, one on
either side of a cut-away portion 7 which is used to form the leg
openings of the garments to be formed.
[0022] The denotations "F" and "R" in the figure are used to
indicate the front and rear surfaces respectively of the final
garment to be obtained.
[0023] The lines of weakening 6 thus form lines of intended
separation (i.e. for later separation) between the articles. The
separation process will be explained below.
[0024] Each absorbent article comprises an elasticated, or
non-elasticated, waistband portion 2 at either longitudinal edge of
the web 1, said waistband portions being spanned by one or more
sheets 28, such as for instance an impervious back sheet and a
pervious top sheet or liner. An absorbent core 41 or an absorbent
layer, is maintained in some manner between the two waistband
portions, substantially symmetrically with respect to the
centreline 3 of each article. Such an arrangement and the type of
materials used will not be described in further detail since many
types of such arrangement and materials are known to the skilled
man.
[0025] Where an elasticated waistband is used, the line 6 (e.g. a
perforation line) can be arranged so as not to sever the elastic
threads of the waistband, which helps to give more structural
integrity to the web during transport thereof in said production
machine.
[0026] The web 1 is fed, preferably continuously in an in-line
process, in the direction of arrow A, towards a zone "(a)". In zone
"(a)", where in this embodiment a first preferred process step is
carried out, a strip 5 of flexible material is attached to the web
1, for example by adhesive or ultrasound welding at the front F or
rear R side, depending on which side (F or R) the stationary part
of the releasable attachment closure is to be positioned. The strip
5, in the embodiment depicted, is thus applied over the line of
intended separation 6 at the longitudinal edge 25, preferably with
half the strip on one side and half on the other side of said line
6. The strip 5 comprises one of the elements of a releasable
attachment means, such as for example the loop elements of a hook
and loop attachment means. The loop elements may of course be
formed integrally with said strip 5 or may be attached thereto.
[0027] The strip 5 will be applied to the outer surface of the
sheet 28/waistband 2 with the loop elements facing away from the
sheet 28 (i.e. out of the page in FIG. 1).
[0028] The application of strip 5 is however only required when the
reclosable element of strip 8 (to be described) cannot releasably
adhere by itself to the surface to which strip 5 has been applied.
Thus, if the waistband surface under strip 5 comprised e.g.
nonwoven material, a suitable hook attachment means could be used
(on strip 8) to releasably attach to this, such that strip 5 would
not be required.
[0029] In order that the strip 8 can be releasably attached to
strip 5 or the underlying surface in a reliable manner, said strip
or surface should be relatively flat. Thus, in the depicted example
using an elasticated waistband which comprises elastic elements
adhered to said waistband region, it may be appropriate not to
adhere the elastic elements to the waistband in the region where
strip 8 would be attached. In this way elastic contraction forces
are not applied in that region which will help to prevent the
region from crinkling. Crinkling should of course be avoided since
this would reduce the effective surface area of releasable
connection.
[0030] The strip 5 is preferably provided itself with a line of
weakening positioned directly above the line of intended separation
6. The line of weakening (e.g. perforation) can be made, or formed,
on the strip 5 either before its placement over line 6 or can be
produced together with line 6 (e.g. by perforating the web through
strip 5). As a still further alternative, the line of weakening may
be arranged in strip 5 after its application over a web 1 already
provided with a line of weakening 6 in the waistband portion 2.
[0031] In zone "(b)", a flexible first strip 8 comprising the other
element of the releasable attachment means is applied onto the
strip 5, substantially symmetrically thereto. For example, if strip
5 comprises loop elements then strip 8 would comprise hook
elements. Strip 8 is applied with the hook elements facing the loop
elements of strip 5 such that the strip 8 is held releasably in
position.
[0032] Strip 8 should preferably be of a soft, yet strong material,
such as nonwoven material, on which the releasably attachable
element has been fixedly attached.
[0033] Since the material of strip 8 will generally not be
elasticated, the method of the invention (as will be described
later) will in such a case require that a surplus 9 of material be
available, said surplus being positioned directly above the line 6.
As is shown in FIG. 1, this results in a gap being present beneath
the surplus 9 of material of the strip 8 between the innermost
attachment locations of the strip 8 to the strip 5. Said gap is
shorter in length than the length of surplus material 9 (as seen in
the longitudinal direction of said web 1). In the present case, the
strip 8 has been chosen to be approximately equal to the length of
strip 5. The surplus of material above line 6 is thus achieved by
leaving a margin 10 at the outer edges of strip 8 with respect to
strip 5.
[0034] A second strip 13 of flexible material, such as a soft and
strong nonwoven material, is fixedly attached by means of an
ultrasound weld 20 (see FIG. 4), or the like, at the opposite
longitudinal edge 26 of the web 1 and on the same face of the web
as strips 5 and 8. The strip 13 is applied in a similar manner to
strip 8, such that a surplus of material 14 is left above line 6.
As with strip 8, the gap between the attachment locations of strip
13 is shorter than the length of the surplus material 14 (as seen
in the longitudinal direction of said web).
[0035] In a next step after zone "(b)" as shown in FIG. 2, the web
1 is folded longitudinally approximately midway between the
longitudinal edges 25 and 26. The front and rear waistband portions
are thereby placed together such that a row of connected articles
is formed. At this stage, there is however no attachment between
the front and rear surfaces F, R along the waistband.
[0036] Moving from left to right, as seen with regard to FIG. 3,
the folded web moves through zones "(c)", "(d)" and "(e)".
[0037] In zone "(c)", adjacent articles are longitudinally
separated with respect to one another. The magnitude of said
longitudinal separation is such that the line of intended
separation 6 is severed on both front and rear surfaces, yet the
first and second strips 8 and 13 remain intact, since they are not
subject to any excessive tension due to the surplus of material
which was provided. The material strip 5 (where this is provided)
however, is severed across its line of separation.
[0038] When viewing the cross-section of zone "(c)" along line
IV-IV it will be clear that between the strips 8 and 13, and
between the inner edges of web 1 where the line 6 was placed, a
free zone 15 of non-attachment is provided. It should also be noted
that although FIG. 4 depicts the strip 8 as separated from the
optional third strip 5, this is merely for clarity and the strip 8
would normally be attached to strip 5.
[0039] Having longitudinally separated the articles in zone "(c)",
the folded web moves to zone "(d)" in which two welds 17, or other
means for providing a secure attachment, are made across the free
zone 15 so that the strips 8 and 13 are securely joined together.
In a further embodiment (not shown) the two welds can be combined
as a single weld.
[0040] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view through zone "(d)",
whereby the position and extent of the two welds is shown. Although
the releasable attachment portion 18 of strip 8 is not shown in
contact with the underlying web 1 or the other part of the
releasable attachment means, this will of course be the case. The
strips have been shown as separate, merely for reasons of clarity.
At this stage, the web will comprise a series of adjacent absorbent
garments, separated by the welds 17.
[0041] It should be noted that the relative dimensions of the parts
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 depict approximate relative size
relationships, suitable for carrying out the invention.
[0042] In zone "(d)", a line 16 is also depicted. The line 16
depicts a line of severing or, in another embodiment, a line of
intended severing. Taking the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the
line 16 is a cut which passes through the strips 8 and 13 between,
or through, the welds 17. Any elastic cords from the elasticated
waistband present at this location will also be severed by said
cut.
[0043] The web is then moved further to station "(e)", in which the
articles are separated from one another by longitudinal
displacement, such that the cut line 16 leaves opposing free edges
29 on adjacent articles 27. Each opposing free edge 29 will
comprise the free ends of each of the strips 8 and 13 which will be
flush with each other where the line 16 was made.
[0044] The produced separate article(s) 27 will thus have two
reclosable fastening arrangements 21, 22 thereon, one on either
side. Thus, it will be seen that by providing a reclosable
fastening arrangement in the way described, separate articles or a
series of closed separate articles can be simply packed into an
outer packaging wrapper. On reaching the end user, the article(s)
merely needs to be withdrawn from the packaging and put on like a
pair of ordinary underpants, without any need to try and assemble
the garment first. Once the garment is on the user, either side can
be adjusted separately if desired by using the reclosing
arrangement now provided.
[0045] In a further embodiment, the line of severance 16 can be
replaced by a line of weakening, such that the products are held
together as a strip, but with the possibility of the end user
detaching one or more of said garments by an easy tearing action.
With such an embodiment, the web of articles can be packed as a
roll or as a zig-zag stack.
[0046] FIG. 6 shows a view through one side of the absorbent
garment of FIG. 3, after separation at zone "(e)" and in the closed
state, however expanded out as if a user was wearing the garment,
so that the cut-out portion 7 represents a leg opening. FIG. 7
shows the same view as FIG. 6 but in the opened state, ready for
removal or adjustment.
[0047] As will be seen, the front F and rear R sections meet a
short distance away from each other although adjustment by opening
and reclosing will allow them to overlap. A first part of the
reclosable fastening arrangement 22 is attached to the rear section
R and comprises said second strip 13 securely attached to the outer
surface thereof by means of connection 20 (see FIG. 4). Attached to
said second strip 13 by means of weld 17 is said first strip 8.
Said first strip 8 comprises one half of the releasable attachment
means 18. Numeral 19 denotes a free forward edge portion which is
left so that the strip end can be gripped. Said first part is thus
a combined strip having first and second ends 23 and 24
respectively, one of said ends being permanently attached and the
other being releasably attachable to the front section at 5.
[0048] As will be seen however, at the middle of the combined
strip, the two strips 8 and 13 are securely attached together so
that their ends lie flush with one another at free edge 29, due to
the cutting procedure adopted. By this unique arrangement of the
strips so as to be flush with one another (and thus providing a
free outer edge) at the joining portion, as opposed to the
traditional overlapping connection which is used for reclosable
strips, a novel garment is arrived at which allows in-line
production of the same so as to produce a closed garment directly
from the production line, without further intervention by machine
or personnel.
[0049] The further particular features of the garments having
fastening arrangements in accordance with the present invention
will be apparent to the skilled man in particular from viewing
FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0050] It should be understood that the references to "front" and
"rear" sections (F and R) of the article are not limiting for the
position of the reclosable means. Thus, the references "F" and "R"
respectively in FIG. 6 could alternatively have been "R" and "F"
respectively, such that the strip 13 would instead be attached to
the front section F and not the rear section R as shown.
[0051] The function of releasing, re-attaching and adjusting of the
fastening arrangements 21 and 22 will be clear to the skilled man
and thus need not be described in further detail here.
[0052] The aforegoing description merely contains illustrative
examples of how the invention may be carried out. The invention may
however be varied in many ways without departing from the scope
thereof as defined by the appended claims. For example, although it
has been described that surplus material 9 is left over line 6 for
strips 8 and 13, in order that said strips will not break when the
separation of zone "(c)" is carried out, the strips could be
arranged to be elastic in said region instead and be laid
relatively flat over said line 6. However, such an embodiment is
not preferred.
[0053] A further variant of the invention may also be that strips 5
and 8, or the waistband 2 and the strip 8 (if no strip 5 is
present), are each provided with one half of a male/female
coupling. One half (e.g. the male part) of the coupling would be
fixed in position on the strip 8 and one half (e.g. the female
part) would be fixed in position on strip 5 (or waistband 2, if no
strip 5 is present). Such male and female connections could be
moulded or otherwise attached or even formed together with the
strip. This arrangement would allow the reclosure of the article to
a fixed position each time that the article is opened and reclosed.
As an example of how this would appear, in FIG. 7, the parts 18 and
5 could be a male part and a female part respectively.
[0054] Further embodiments and modifications of the invention
within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to the
skilled man.
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