Elasticized web and a method and apparatus for its manufacture

An elasticized web, comprising:

• two gatherable substrates;
• and
• a multi-strand elastic yarn located between said two gatherable substrates, said multi-strand elastic yarn being affixed to said two gatherable substrates at a plurality of fixation locations,
• wherein at each fixation location a portion of at least one of said two gatherable substrates passes between strands of said multi-strand elastic yarn such that said two gatherable substrates are joined together at each fixation location.

A method of manufacturing an elasticized web, said elasticized web comprising a first gatherable substrate and a multi-strand elastic yarn affixed to said first gatherable substrate at a plurality of fixation locations, said method comprising the steps of:

• introducing said multi-strand elastic yarn to said first gatherable substrate such that said multi-strand elastic yarn becomes elongated under a tensioning force;
• subjecting said multi-strand elastic yarn and said first gatherable substrate at each fixation location to a source of energy sufficient to cause at least partial delamination of said multi-strand elastic yarn;
• and
• causing a portion of said first gatherable substrate to pass between strands of said multi-strand elastic yarn at each fixation location.

A method of manufacturing an elasticized web, said elasticized web comprising a first gatherable substrate, a second gatherable substrate and a multi-strand elastic yarn affixed to said first and second gatherable substrates at a number of first fixation locations, said method comprising the steps of:

• introducing said multi-strand elastic yarn to said first and second gatherable substrates such that the multi-strand elastic yarn becomes elongated under a tensioning force and passes between said gatherable substrates;
• subjecting said multi-strand elastic yarn and said gatherable substrates at each first fixation location to a source of energy sufficient to cause at least partial delamination of said multi-strand elastic yarn;
• and
• causing a portion of at least one of said first and second gatherable substrates to pass between strands of said multi-strand elastic yarn at each first fixation location.

An apparatus for manufacturing an elasticized web, said elasticized web comprising a first gatherable substrate and a multi-strand elastic yarn affixed to said first gatherable substrate at a plurality of fixation locations, said apparatus comprising:

• a fixation station;
• a first feeding device for feeding said first gatherable substrate to said fixation station;
• a second feeding device for feeding said multi-strand elastic yarn to said fixation station such that said elastic yarn is under tension at said fixation station;
• and
• a source of energy associated with said fixation station for concentrating energy towards said fixation locations to cause said multi-strand elastic yarn to at least partially delaminate and to cause a portion of said first gatherable substrate to pass between strands of said multi-strand elastic yarn at each fixation location.

An apparatus for manufacturing an elasticized web, said elasticized web comprising a first gatherable substrate, a second gatherable substrate and a multi-strand elastic yarn affixed to said gatherable substrates at a number of first fixation locations, said apparatus comprising:

• a fixation station;
• a first feeding device for feeding said first gatherable substrate to said fixation station;
• a second feeding device for feeding said multi-strand elastic yarn to said fixation station such that said elastic yarn is under tension at said fixation station;
• a third feeding device for feeding said second gatherable substrate to said fixation station, said first, second and third feeding devices being operable such that said multi-strand elastic yarn is caused to pass between said first and second gatherable substrates;
• and
• a source of energy associated with said fixation station for concentrating energy towards said fixation locations to cause said multi-strand elastic yarn to at least partially delaminate, and to cause a portion of said first gatherable substrate or said second gatherable substrate to pass between strands of said multi-strand elastic yarn at each fixation location.