U.S. patent application number 16/390066 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-08 for refastenable articles comprising folded fastening tab members.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Jacob Alan BARNHORST, Gary Dean LaVON.
Application Number | 20190240087 16/390066 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50440886 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-08 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190240087 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LaVON; Gary Dean ; et
al. |
August 8, 2019 |
REFASTENABLE ARTICLES COMPRISING FOLDED FASTENING TAB MEMBERS
Abstract
Absorbent articles of the disclosure may comprise first and
second belt webs, a folded fastening tab member comprising first
and second fastening elements, first and second landing zones, and
laterally opposing permanent side seams directly or refastenably
joining the first and second belt webs. The fastening tab member
may be joined to the first and second fastening elements. And, the
absorbent article may be packaged in refastenably closed form.
Inventors: |
LaVON; Gary Dean; (Liberty
Township, OH) ; BARNHORST; Jacob Alan; (Deerfield
Township, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Procter & Gamble Company |
Cincinnati |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50440886 |
Appl. No.: |
16/390066 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14205642 |
Mar 12, 2014 |
10299970 |
|
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16390066 |
|
|
|
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61787416 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/5655 20130101;
A61F 13/565 20130101; A61F 13/622 20130101; A61F 13/64
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61F 13/62 20060101
A61F013/62; A61F 13/56 20060101 A61F013/56; A61F 13/64 20060101
A61F013/64 |
Claims
1. An absorbent article comprising: a first belt having laterally
opposed side edges, wherein the first belt comprises a first
continuous nonwoven layer extending between the laterally opposed
side edges of the first belt; wherein the first belt comprises a
first plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a waist opening of
the absorbent article, and wherein the first plurality of elastic
elements are disposed substantially parallel with a transverse axis
of the absorbent article; wherein the first belt comprises a second
plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a portion of leg openings
of the absorbent article; a second belt having laterally opposed
side edges, wherein the second belt comprises a second continuous
nonwoven layer extending between the laterally opposed side edges
of the second belt; wherein the second belt comprises a third
plurality of elastic elements adjacent to the waist opening of the
absorbent article, and wherein the third plurality of elastic
elements are disposed substantially parallel with the transverse
axis of the absorbent article; wherein the second belt comprises a
fourth plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a portion of leg
openings of the absorbent article; a first folded fastening tab
member comprising no greater than a single fold line, wherein the
first folded fastening tab member comprises a first plurality of
hook elements; a second folded fastening tab member comprising no
greater than a single fold line, wherein the second folded
fastening tab member comprises a second plurality of hook elements;
a third fastening tab member and a fourth fastening tab member;
laterally opposing permanent side seams of the second belt joining
the laterally opposed side edges of the second belt with the third
and fourth fastening tab members; laterally opposing refastenable
side seams formed by engagement of the first and second plurality
of hooks joined to the third and fourth fastening tab members;
wherein the article is packaged in refastenably closed form; and
wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth pluralities of
elastics overlap at least a portion of one of the first and second
folded fastening tab members.
2. The article of claim 1, wherein the first and second pluralities
of hooks engage into loops secured to the third and fourth
fastening tab members.
3. The article of claim 1, wherein the first and second pluralities
of hooks engage into a nonwoven surface of the third and fourth
fastening tab members.
4. The article of claim 3, wherein the nonwoven surface is a wearer
facing surface that the first and second pluralities of hooks
engage into.
5. The article of claim 1, wherein the first and second belts are
joined to a center chassis.
6. The article of claim 5, wherein the center chassis comprises a
core.
7. The article of claim 6, wherein the second and fourth
pluralities of elastics terminate prior to the core.
8. The article of claim 1, wherein the first and second pluralities
of hooks are discrete members joined to the first and second folded
fastening tab members.
9. The article of claim 8, wherein the first and second pluralities
of hooks are joined to a garment-facing surface of the first and
second folded fastening tab members.
10. The article of claim 1, wherein third and fourth fastening tab
members are thermally bonded to the second belt.
11. The article of claim 10, wherein the third and fourth fastening
tab members are not folded.
12. The article of claim 10, wherein portions of the third and
fourth fastening tab members are disposed between portions of the
first and second fastening tab members, respectively.
13. The article of claim 10, wherein loops are joined to a
wearer-facing surface of the third and fourth fastening tab
members.
14. An absorbent article comprising: a first belt having laterally
opposed side edges, wherein the first belt comprises a first
continuous nonwoven layer extending between the laterally opposed
side edges of the first belt; wherein the first belt comprises a
first plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a waist opening of
the absorbent article, and wherein the first plurality of elastic
elements are disposed substantially parallel with a transverse axis
of the absorbent article; wherein the first belt comprises a second
plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a portion of leg openings
of the absorbent article; a second belt having laterally opposed
side edges, wherein the second belt comprises a second continuous
nonwoven layer extending between the laterally opposed side edges
of the second belt; wherein the second belt comprises a third
plurality of elastic elements adjacent to the waist opening of the
absorbent article, and wherein the third plurality of elastic
elements are disposed substantially parallel with the transverse
axis of the absorbent article; wherein the second belt comprises a
fourth plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a portion of leg
openings of the absorbent article; a first folded fastening tab
member comprising no greater than a single fold line, wherein the
first folded fastening tab member comprises a first plurality of
hook elements; a second folded fastening tab member comprising no
greater than a single fold line, wherein the second folded
fastening tab member comprises a second plurality of hook elements;
laterally opposing permanent side seams of the first belt joining
the laterally opposed side edges of the first belt with the first
and second-fastening tab members; a third fastening tab member and
a fourth fastening tab member; laterally opposing refastenable side
seams formed by engagement of the first and second plurality of
hooks joined to the third and fourth fastening tab members; wherein
the article is packaged in refastenably closed form; and wherein
each of the first, second, third, and fourth pluralities of
elastics overlap at least a portion of one of the first and second
folded fastening tab members.
15. An absorbent article comprising: a first belt having laterally
opposed side edges, wherein the first belt comprises a first
continuous nonwoven layer extending between the laterally opposed
side edges of the first belt; wherein the first belt comprises a
first plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a waist opening of
the absorbent article, and wherein the first plurality of elastic
elements are disposed substantially parallel with a transverse axis
of the absorbent article; wherein the first belt comprises a second
plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a portion of leg openings
of the absorbent article; a second belt having laterally opposed
side edges, wherein the second belt comprises a second continuous
nonwoven layer extending between the laterally opposed side edges
of the second belt; wherein the second belt comprises a third
plurality of elastic elements adjacent to the waist opening of the
absorbent article, and wherein the third plurality of elastic
elements are disposed substantially parallel with the transverse
axis of the absorbent article; wherein the second belt comprises a
fourth plurality of elastic elements adjacent to a portion of leg
openings of the absorbent article; a first folded fastening tab
member comprising no greater than a single fold line, wherein the
first folded fastening tab member comprises a first plurality of
hook elements; a second folded fastening tab member comprising no
greater than a single fold line, wherein the second folded
fastening tab member comprises a second plurality of hook elements;
a third fastening tab member and a fourth fastening tab member;
laterally opposing refastenable side seams formed by engagement of
the first and second plurality of hooks joined to the third and
fourth fastening tab members; wherein the article is packaged in
refastenably closed form; and wherein each of the first, second,
third, and fourth pluralities of elastics overlap at least a
portion of one of the first and second folded fastening tab
members.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/205,642, filed on Mar. 12, 2014, which claims the benefit, under
35 USC .sctn. 119(e), of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.
61/787,416, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, the entire disclosure of which
is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Disposable absorbent articles in pant form may comprise an
elasticized belt that encircles the wearer's waist and may form the
waist edge about the entire pant. A central chassis may be joined
to the elasticized belt, usually on the inside thereof, with its
ends disposed at locations in the front and rear waist regions
somewhat below the waist edges of the elasticized belt. This
configuration is sometimes known as a "belt" or "balloon"
configuration (hereinafter, "belt" configuration). An example of
this type of configuration is currently manufactured and sold in
Asia by The Procter & Gamble Company under the trademark
PAMPERS, and also by Unicharm Corporation under the trademark MAMY
POKO.
[0003] For purposes of ease of use it may be desired that the pant
have a refastenable feature for enabling ease of opening and
reclosing of the belt-like structure. This may be accomplished by
incorporating for example mechanical fastening elements into the
structure of the absorbent article as part of the belt-like
structure, the central chassis, other elements of the article
and/or combinations thereof. The refastenable feature may help
maintain and/or establish the leg openings and the waist opening.
Although some currently manufactured belt configuration pants
include refastenable features they may be considered to be too
complex to produce--especially at high production speeds, and too
complex to use. And, some may be considered to have a rough or
unfinished appearance.
[0004] The present disclosure reveals improvements to the
structural design and process for making of disposable absorbent
pants having a belt configuration comprising fastening components
for forming a refastenable feature compatible with high speed
manufacturing.
[0005] Particularly, the present disclosure reveals advantages of
folding the fastening tabs. For instance, a folded fastening tab
(e.g., 210) enables a narrower footprint of the absorbent article
via an increased pathlength of the fastening tab's carrier layer
and hooks because the extended carrier layer acts as a folded belt.
The narrow footprint makes for a neater looking product. Also, this
helps drive smaller packaging and portability and convenience.
Further, this reduces the need to fold or tuck the belt.
[0006] Another advantage of folding the fastening tab is that it
can be made of a different more expensive, higher stretch material
than the rest of the belt. This enables the belt to be lower
stretch or nonelastic. The fastening tab can be a much higher basis
weight material than the belt, which is cost effective and which
improves fastening performance by providing a cushion for the
fastening elements, which may be made of a stiffer material. The
more expensive material (that the fastening tab could be made of)
could be a film versus a nonwoven to enable alternative forms of
fastening like adhesives, cohesive, and the like. Another material
that may be used for fabricating the fastening tab may include a
film-strand laminate.
[0007] Further, folding the fastening tab enables disposition of
the fastening elements more on the front or back on belts without
folding either of the belts. For example, the fastening tabs may be
back-biased on larger sizes for older wearers to avoid having the
child remove or open the fastener. Alternatively, the fastening
tabs may be front-biased for younger kids who lay on their backs to
get changed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is simplified perspective view of a disposable
absorbent pant;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view of a precursor structure of
a disposable absorbent pant, shown with inner or wearer-facing
surfaces upward;
[0010] FIG. 3 is simplified perspective view of a disposable
absorbent pant; and
[0011] FIGS. 4-6 are simplified, schematic cross-section views of
portions of a multilayer web comprising fastening components.
DEFINITIONS
[0012] "Fastening component" refers to the fastening elements that
define an area of refastenable attachment. The fastening components
enable refastening of the absorbent article to reconfigure the
waist and leg openings into a closed configuration until the
fastening components are separated. A fastening component may
comprise one or more refastenable fastening elements, e.g., hooks,
loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, buttons,
snaps, refastenable cohesives, selective refastenable adhesives,
etc. A fastening component may be opened and subsequently
re-closed, reliably, without destroying the fastening component. A
fastening component comprises those elements of a fastening system
that form the area of attachment via direct surface-to-surface
contact forming a refastenable closure. For the purpose of clarity,
surface-to-surface contact encompasses contact between a surface of
a hook material and a surface of a loop material, for example. For
instance, a tab member joined to a backsheet would not be a
fastening member as discussed. The fastening component may be the
hooks or the loops that are joined to the tab and connect with the
other fastening components or a portion of an absorbent
article.
[0013] "Elastic" or "elastomeric" refers to the property of an
extensible material (or a composite of multiple materials) that can
extend, without substantial rupture or breakage, to a strain of
100%, with a set less than or equal to 10% of the elongation. An
elastic material is considered elastically extensible.
[0014] "Lateral"--with respect to a pant and its wearer, refers to
the direction generally perpendicular with the wearer's standing
height, or the horizontal direction when the wearer is standing.
"Lateral" is also the direction generally perpendicular to a line
extending from the midpoint of the front waist edge to the midpoint
of the rear waist edge.
[0015] "Longitudinal"--with respect to a pant and its wearer,
refers to the direction generally parallel with the wearer's
standing height, or the vertical direction when the wearer is
standing. "Longitudinal" is also the direction generally parallel
to a line extending from the midpoint of the front waist edge to
the midpoint of the rear waist edge.
[0016] "Pant" (also referred to as "disposable training pant,"
"training pant," "incontinence pant," and "pull-on pant-type
diaper") refers to disposable absorbent articles having a
continuous perimeter waist opening and continuous perimeter leg
openings designed for infant, child, or adult wearers (hereafter
"wearer"). A pant may be configured with a continuous or closed
waist opening and at least one continuous or closed leg opening
prior to the pant being applied to the wearer. A pant may be
preformed by any suitable technique including, but not limited to,
joining together portions of the absorbent article using any
refastenable and/or permanent closure member(s) (e.g., seams, heat
bonds, pressure welds, adhesives, cohesive bonds, mechanical
fasteners, etc.). A pant may be preformed anywhere along its
circumference in the waist region (e.g., side fastened, front waist
fastened, rear waist fastened). Example pants and pant
configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 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 U.S. Pat. Publ. No. 2003/0233082.
[0017] "Side edge seam" refers to a given side edge wherein a
portion of the side edge, or region adjacent the side edge, in the
front waist region is joined to a portion of the same side edge, or
region adjacent the side edge, in the rear waist region to define
closed, encircled leg openings and a closed waist opening.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a general simplified perspective depiction of a
disposable absorbent pant 10 having a belt configuration. Pant 10
may include a central chassis 20 and an elasticized belt 30.
Elasticized belt 30 may be elastically extensible in the lateral
direction, providing elastic stretchability for ease of donning,
and a snug and comfortable fit following donning. Central chassis
20 may include a wearer-facing, liquid permeable topsheet (not
specifically shown in FIG. 1), an outer- or garment-facing
backsheet (not specifically shown in FIG. 1) and an absorbent core
(not specifically shown in FIG. 1) sandwiched or enveloped between
the topsheet and backsheet. A pair of laterally opposing,
longitudinally extending barrier cuffs 25 also may be included with
the central chassis in a crotch region thereof, disposed adjacent
to the topsheet. Generally the central chassis and barrier cuffs
may have any construction and components, including leg cuff
structures, suitable for disposable diapers, training pants, and
adult incontinence pants, such as, but not limited to, those
described in U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/480,663 and
application(s) claiming priority thereto. Elasticized belt 30 may
have a front portion 31 and a rear portion 32. Front and rear
portions 31, 32 may be joined together at respective left and right
side edge seams 331, 33r. Elasticized belt 30 may form front and
rear waist edges 11, 12 defining waist opening 15, and at least
portions of left and right leg opening edges 13l, 13r of the pant
10. The disposable absorbent pant 10, and more particularly, the
elasticized belt 30 may comprise fastening components 2001 and 200r
for creating a refastenable feature.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view of the precursor structure
of the pant 10 shown in FIG. 1, shown prior to joining of front and
rear portions 31, 32 along their respective side edges 34l, 35l and
34r, 35r. Front region 31a, including front portion 31, and rear
region 32a, including rear portion 32, may each include anywhere
from 25 percent to 40 percent of the overall longitudinal length of
the precursor structure; correspondingly, a crotch region 45 may
include anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent of the overall
longitudinal length of the precursor structure, with at least a
portion thereof lying at lateral axis 110. To form pant 10, the
precursor structure may be folded along lateral axis 110 to bring
front and rear regions 31a, 32a, and front and rear portions 31, 32
together such that their side edges 34l, 35l and 34r, 35r,
respectively, may be joined at side edge seams 331, 33r (as shown
in FIG. 1). The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises fastening
elements 201-204 that may be refastenably joined together.
Particularly, fastening elements 201 and 203 may be hook elements
that join with fastening elements 202 and 204, respectively.
Fastening elements 201 and 203 are shown on an exterior surface of
the elasticized belt 30, but they may also be placed on an interior
surface of the elasticized belt 30. Fastening elements 202 and 204
may be a discrete member of loop elements or may be an area of loop
elements that is part of a nonwoven sheet lining the interior (as
shown) or exterior of the elasticized belt. In another embodiment,
fastening elements 201 and 203 may be loop elements and fastening
elements 202 and 204 may be hook elements. Additional embodiments
of fastening elements are described and illustrated in FIGS.
4-6.
[0020] It is understood that when the fastening elements 201-204
mate interior surface to interior surface of the elasticized belt
30, a flange seam is formed. But, when the fastening elements
201-204 mate interior surface to exterior surface of the
elasticized belt 30, an overlap seam is formed, as illustrated in
FIG. 1. The fastening elements 201-204 may be fastened during the
manufacturing process and/or fastened in the package prior to use
by the wearer or caregiver (i.e., the pant may be sold in "closed
form"). Alternatively, the pant may be sold in "open form," where
the fastening elements 201-204 are not joined in the package.
[0021] Still referring to FIG. 2, one or both of front and rear
portions 31, 32 may include at least a first elastic member 36, 37
disposed nearer the waist edges 11, 12 and at least a second
elastic member 38, 39, disposed nearer the leg opening edges 13l,
13r. As suggested in FIG. 2, one or a plurality of waist elastic
members 36, 37 may be disposed in a substantially straight lateral
orientation, and one or a plurality of leg elastic members 38, 39
may be disposed along curvilinear paths to provide hoopwise elastic
stretch about the leg openings 13l, 13r (as shown in FIG. 1). For
purposes of manufacturing a pant having a neat appearance as will
be described below, it may be desired that leg elastic members 38,
39 terminate proximate the respective longitudinal edges 21 of
chassis 20.
[0022] Elastic members 36, 37, 38 and 39 may be in the form of film
or sections or strips thereof, strips, ribbons, bands, scrims or
strands of circular or any other cross-section, formed in any
configuration of any elastomeric material such as described in, for
example, co-pending U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/478,386 and
13/331,695, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,879. A suitable example is
LYCRA HYFIT strands, a product of Invista, Wichita, Kans.
[0023] The elasticized belts and rear region of the pant may be in
a number of configurations as described and illustrated in FIGS.
3A-C and 4A-k of U.S. Ser. No. 61/666,065, filed on Jun. 29, 2012,
titled DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT REFASTENABLE PANTS AND METHODS FOR
MANUFACTURING THE SAME. Further, the absorbent articles of this
disclosure may be manufactured in accordance with the descriptions
and illustrations of U.S. Ser. No. 61/666,065 (see, for example,
FIGS. 5-10C of the '065 application).
[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the fastening
elements 201-204 may, when joined to form the leg and waist
openings 14 and 15, respectively, be disposed or formed within the
front region 31a of the pant 10 to improve access to the fastening
components 200. When the fastening elements are joined and the leg
and waist openings are formed, the front region 31a may be
considered the area of the pant 10 forward of each of the hip axis
206 (the axis that represents the middle of the wearer's hip when
worn). It is noted that loop type fastening elements 201 and 203
may merely be disposed on or form a portion of the front region
31a, to which the first hook-type fastening elements 202 and 204
may be fastened with. Improving access to the fastening components
200 by orienting them such that they are in the front region 31a
when joined may make opening and refastening of the pant 10
significantly easier for a caregiver and allow front waist region
to front region 31a fastening, making the pant 10 changing or pant
10 checking process easier for the caregiver when the wearer is
standing in front of the caregiver (e.g., face-to-face) or when the
wearer is laying on his or her back. In addition, fastening of the
fastening components 200 in the front region 31a of a pant 10 or
diaper is also familiar to the caregiver since this is similar to
tape-style diapers.
[0025] The ability to open and refasten the pants offers
convenience to the caregiver. For instance, it might be more
convenient to apply the pants as a traditional tape-style diaper
when away from home or when it is inconvenient to remove the
clothing and/or shoes of the wearer. Because it is difficult to
predict when the wearer will need to be changed and, therefore,
when a particular mode of application will be needed, it would be
beneficial to provide a pant that is adaptable to being applied
either as a traditional tape-style diaper or as a disposable
training pant. In addition, a product that may be applied like a
traditional tape-style diaper or a disposable training pant also
permits inspection of the interior of the product without having to
slide the product down the legs of the wearer. The pants of the
present disclosure provide dual functionality with regard to
application and removal while enabling the easy wrapping up and
disposal of the used pants.
[0026] In various embodiments, each of the fastening components 200
may be joined directly or indirectly to the pant 10 by any suitable
methods, such as adhesive bonding, sonic bonding, pressure bonding,
thermal bonding or combinations thereof, for example. Some suitable
examples of fastening systems and/or the fastening components 200
are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,848,594, 4,662,875, 4,846,815,
4,894,060, 4,946,527, 5,151,092, 5,221,274, 6,251,097, 6,669,618,
6,432,098, 7,101,359, and 7,407,468.
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates the formation of two articles folded over
a lateral axis (e.g., 110 in FIG. 2) to form a pants, e.g., pant
10-1 and pant 10-2, wherein only a portion of each is shown. In
this embodiment, which is only one embodiment of the present
disclosure, each of the pants 10-1 and 10-2 comprise front belts
30a that extend from a first side edge 34r and 34l, respectively,
to a laterally opposing second side edges (not shown) and form
portions of laterally opposing permanent side edge seams 208. Also
for each of the pants 10-1 and 10-2, the rear belts 30b extend from
adjacent first side edges 35r and 35l, respectively, to an area
adjacent the opposing second side edges (not shown) and do not form
a portion of the laterally opposing permanent side edge seams 208.
The pants 10-1 and 10-2 further comprise fastening tab members 210
disposed between the front and rear belts 30a and 30b. The
fastening tab members 210 of this embodiment are permanently joined
to a wearer facing surface of the front belt and comprise first and
second fastening elements 202 and 204 disposed between the
fastening tab member 210 and the rear belts 30b and are capable of
being refastenably engaged with a wearer facing surface of the rear
elasticized belts 30b. In this embodiment, the fastening tab member
210 is double folded (laterally inward, then laterally outward)
such that the fastening tab members 210 comprises first folds 302a
and 302b, and second folds 304a and 304b. The web making up the
fastening tab members 210 may be folded prior to being joined to
the elasticized belts 30 (for this embodiment, as well as the
embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 also, and generally).
[0028] Temporary bonds 300a-c may used to control the web and/or to
keep the fastening tab members 210 tight against the rear belts
30b. Temporary bonds 300a-c may each vary in bond strength (e.g.,
300a may be weaker than 300b, which may be weaker than 300c) or
they may all be the same strength. Temporary bonds 300a-c may be
formed by the adhesives disclosed in Ser. No. 12/794,130, titled
METHOD FOR MAINTAINING A FASTENER IN A FOLDED CONFIGURATION, filed
on Jun. 4, 2010. Temporary bonds may also be used on the webs
making up the fastening tab members 210 of the embodiments of FIGS.
5 and 6, and generally. The fastening components 200 may comprise
second fastening elements 201 and 203 formed in or disposed on the
rear belts 30b. In this configuration, the web making up the
fastening tab member 210 is disposed between the fastening elements
202 and 204 and the front belt 30a.
[0029] In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure (not
shown), an identical embodiment to FIG. 4, except that fastening
tab member 210 may be attached to the rear belt 30b and the
fastening elements 202 and 204 may be capable of refastenably
engaging with the front elasticized belt 30a.
[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates the formation of two articles folded over
a lateral axis (e.g., 110 in FIG. 2) to form a pants, pant 10-1 and
pant 10-2, wherein only a portion of each is shown. In this
embodiment, which is only one embodiment of the present disclosure,
each of the pants 10-1 and 10-2 comprise rear belts 30b that extend
from a first side edge 35r and 35l, respectively, to a laterally
opposing second side edges (not shown) and form portions of
laterally opposing permanent side edge seams 208b. Also, for each
of the pants 10-1 and 10-2, the front belts 30a extend from
adjacent a first side edges 34r and 34l, respectively, to an area
adjacent the opposing second side edges (not shown) and form a
portion of the laterally opposing permanent side edge seams 208a.
The articles further comprise fastening tab members 210a
permanently joined to a wearer facing surface of the rear belts
30b. In this embodiment, the fastening tab member 210a is single
folded such that the fastening tab member 210 comprises first folds
302a and 302b. The articles also comprise first fastening elements
202 and 204 disposed on fastening tab member 210b (permanently
joined to a wearer facing surface of the front belts 30a) and are
capable of being refastenably engaged with the fastening tab
members 210a. The fastening components 200 may comprise second
fastening elements 201 and 203 formed in or disposed on the
fastening tab members 210a. In this configuration, the web making
up the fastening tab members 210a is disposed between the fastening
elements 202 and 204 and the rear belt 30b.
[0031] In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure (not
shown), an identical embodiment to FIG. 5, except that fastening
tab member 210a may be attached to front belt 30a and fastening tab
member 210b may be attached to rear belt 30b.
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates the formation of two articles folded over
a lateral axis (e.g., 110 in FIG. 2) to form a pants, pant 10-1 and
pant 10-2, wherein only a portion of each is shown. In this
embodiment, which is only one embodiment of the present disclosure,
each of the pants 10-1 and 10-2 comprise rear belts 30b that extend
from a first side edge 35r and 35l, respectively, to a laterally
opposing second side edges (not shown) and form portions of
laterally opposing permanent side edge seams 208b. Also, for each
of the pants 10-1 and 10-2, the front belts 30a extend from
adjacent a first side edges 34r and 34l, respectively, to an area
adjacent the opposing second side edges (not shown) and form a
portion of the laterally opposing permanent side edge seams 208a.
The articles further comprise fastening tab members 210a
permanently joined to a wearer facing surface of the rear belts
30b. In this embodiment, the fastening tab member 210a is single
folded such that the fastening tab member 210 comprises first folds
302a and 302b. The articles also comprise first fastening elements
202 and 204 disposed on fastening tab member 210a and are capable
of being refastenably engaged with the fastening tab member 210b
(permanently joined to a wearer facing surface of the front belts
30a). The fastening components 200 may comprise second fastening
elements 201 and 203 formed in or disposed on the fastening tab
members 210b. In this configuration, the web making up the
fastening tab members 210a is disposed between the fastening
elements 201 and 203 and the front belt 30a.
[0033] In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure (not
shown), an identical embodiment to FIG. 6, except that fastening
tab member 210a may be attached to front belt 30a and fastening tab
member 210b may be attached to rear belt 30b. For example in FIG. 6
the folded portion of the web attached to the rear belt is disposed
between the tab member 203 and the front belt and being joined to
the wearer facing surface of the tab member. In FIG. 5 the folded
portion of the web attached to the rear belt is disposed between
the tab member and the rear belt and attached to the garment facing
surface of the tab member
[0034] Each of the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 4-6 requires a
folded fastening tab member. Folding the fastening tab member one
or more times allows for extra fastening tab material to be used
for the purpose of making up a greater part of the waist
circumference. So, front and back belt material having less
elasticity may be used in combination with a folded fastening tab
member having higher stretch capacity. Thus, the front and back
belts may be a different material than the fastening tab member.
For example, the belts may be stranded elastic/nonwoven laminates,
while the fastening tab members may be film/nonwoven laminates or
film/strand laminates.
[0035] For each of the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 4-6, as
well as the disclosed alternate embodiments of these Figs., it
should be understood that the belts 30a and 30b may be formed in
accordance with U.S. Ser. No. 61/646,999, filed on May 15, 2012.
Further, the methods of manufacture and the resulting texture as
disclosed by U.S. Ser. Nos. 61/647,061, 61/647,071, 61/647,078,
each filed on May 15, 2012, may be used. And, the stress, strain,
and spacing of the belt elastics may be done as disclosed in U.S.
Ser. No. 61/598,012, filed Feb. 13, 2012.
[0036] Also, it should be understood that these articles may
comprise the cuffs disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 13/457,521, filed
Apr. 27, 2012, and may have graphics in accordance with U.S. Ser.
Nos. 61/646,953 and 61/646,979, each filed on May 15, 2012. And, it
may be desirable to use the hot air seaming processes, as well as
the article forming processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,195
and U.S. Ser. Nos. 12/795,021, 13/401,907, and 13/402,056 for
seaming and forming the refastenable pants disclosed in each of the
embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 4-6, as well as the disclosed
alternate embodiments of these Figs. as these embodiments are
particularly good for producing in excess of 1000 articles per
minute due to their simplicity. The majority of the article
elements including elastic elements are formed continuously in the
machine direction. In addition, such a process enables introduction
and bonding of refastenable elements to these continuous machine
direction sub structures at high speed while maintaining accuracy
of placement and ensuring integrity which is key to the products
functionality and appearance.
[0037] All patents and patent applications (including any patents
which issue thereon) referred to herein are hereby incorporated by
reference to the extent that it is consistent herewith.
[0038] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm." All
documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are,
in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of
any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is
prior art with respect to the present disclosure. To the extent
that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts
with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document
incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to
that term in this document shall govern.
[0039] While particular embodiments of the present disclosure have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is, therefore, intended that the scope of the
invention is limited only by the appended claims and equivalents
thereof.
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