US 10,188,560 B2 · Absorbent article having finger tabs and methods of manufacturing same

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an absorbent article includes feeding a first web of material in a machine direction, feeding a second web of material in the machine direction, the second web being spaced from the first web by a gap, attaching an absorbent assembly to the first web and the second web such that the absorbent assembly spans the gap between the first and second webs, forming a partial cut line through the second web, folding the first web into face-to-face relationship with the second web after forming the partial cut line, and cutting the first and second webs after folding the first web into face-to-face relationship with the second web to separate the absorbent article from the first and second webs. The partial cut line defines at least one finger tab on the absorbent article.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, the method comprising:

feeding a first web of material in a machine direction;
feeding a second web of material in the machine direction, the second web being spaced from the first web by a gap;
attaching an absorbent assembly to the first web and the second web such that the absorbent assembly spans the gap between the first and second webs;
forming a partial cut line through the second web, wherein the second web includes opposing side edges extending in the machine direction, the partial cut line spaced from the side edges of the second web;
folding the first web into face-to-face relationship with the second web after forming the partial cut line;
and
cutting the first and second webs after folding the first web into face-to-face relationship with the second web to separate the absorbent article from the first and second webs, the partial cut line defining at least one finger tab on the absorbent article.

4 more elements

An absorbent article defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the absorbent article comprising:

a front panel defining a front waist edge and first and second front side edges spaced apart in the transverse direction;
a rear panel defining a rear waist edge spaced apart from the first waist edge in the longitudinal direction, and first and second rear side edges spaced apart in the transverse direction, the front panel being connected to the rear panel by a pair of side seams when the absorbent article is in a wear configuration to define a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, each side seam extending between one of the leg openings and the waist opening;
an absorbent assembly extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front panel and the rear panel;
and
a gripping feature comprising a pair of finger tabs and a pair of cutouts, the pair of finger tabs integrally formed with one of the front panel and the rear panel, the pair of finger tabs including a first finger tab extending transversely outward from the first side edge of the corresponding front panel or rear panel, and a second finger tab extending transversely outward from the second side edge of the corresponding front panel or rear panel, the pair of cutouts formed in one of the front panel and the rear panel, the pair of cutouts including a first cutout extending transversely inward from the first side edge of the corresponding front panel or rear panel, and a second cutout extending transversely inward from the second side edge of the corresponding front panel or rear panel, wherein the first and second finger tabs are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction.

2 more elements

An absorbent article defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the absorbent article comprising:

a chassis including a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion extending between and interconnecting the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion defining first and second front side edges spaced apart in the transverse direction, the rear portion defining first and second rear side edges spaced apart in the transverse direction, the front portion being connected to the rear portion by a pair of side seams when the absorbent article is in a wear configuration to define a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, each side seam extending between one of the leg openings and the waist opening;
an absorbent assembly attached to the chassis along at least the crotch portion;
and
a gripping feature comprising a pair of finger tabs and a pair of cutouts, the pair of finger tabs integrally formed with one of the front portion and the rear portion of the chassis, the pair of finger tabs including a first finger tab extending transversely outward from the first side edge of the corresponding front portion or rear portion, and a second finger tab extending transversely outward from the second side edge of the corresponding front portion or rear portion, the pair of cutouts formed in one of the front portion and the rear portion of the chassis, the pair of cutouts including a first cutout extending transversely inward from the first side edge of the corresponding front portion or rear portion, and a second cutout extending transversely inward from the second side edge of the corresponding front portion or rear portion, wherein the first and second finger tabs are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Absorbent article having finger tabs and methods of manufacturing same

Life of this patent

Absorbent article having finger tabs and methods of manufacturing same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20