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US 2003/0153894 A1Published application
Absorbent articles having improved stretchability
OwnerBernadette Gibbs, Betsy Johnsoninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure describes an absorbent article, preferably a diaper, having improved stretchability. Specifically, a portion of the waist region of the absorbent article that contains a connection mechanism is stretched by applying a predetermined force to the waist region and connection mechanism. The waist region stretches more than about 125% of its original width when an 800 gram force is applied, and the connection mechanism stretches by more than about 200% of its original width, when an 800 gram force is applied. The absorbent article has improved flexibility and is capable of fitting a variety of wearer sizes.
Claims62
1) An absorbent article having a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension comprising
- a topsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- a backsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- an absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;
- a back waist edge adjacent the longitudinal back end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- a front waist edge adjacent the longitudinal front end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- side edges disposed between the back waist edge and the front waist edge;
- a back waist region defined by the back waist edge and the side edges;
- a front waist region defined by the front waist edge and the side edges;
- a crotch region disposed between the back waist region and the front waist region;
- and
- a connection mechanism disposed adjacent at least the front waist region or the back waist region,
- whereby the waist region that includes the connection mechanism stretches by more than 125% of its original width, when an 800 gram force is applied to an about 4-inch wide laterally cut portion of the waist region.
9 more elements
37) An absorbent article having a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension comprising
- a topsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- a backsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- an absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;
- a back waist edge adjacent the longitudinal back end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- a front waist edge adjacent the longitudinal front end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- side edges disposed between the back waist edge and the front waist edge;
- a back waist region defined by the back waist edge and the side edges;
- a front waist region defined by the front waist edge and the side edges;
- a crotch region disposed between the back waist region and the front waist region;
- and
- at least two connection mechanisms disposed adjacent at least the front waist region or the back waist region,
- whereby at least one of the connection mechanisms stretches by more than about 200% of its original length, when an 800 gram force is applied to an about 4-inch wide laterally cut portion of the waist region that contains the connection mechanisms.
9 more elements
51) A method of determining the stretchability of the waist region of an absorbent article having a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension, the absorbent article comprising
- a topsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- a backsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- an absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;
- a back waist edge adjacent the longitudinal back end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- a front waist edge adjacent the longitudinal front end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- side edges disposed between the back waist edge and the front waist edge;
- a back waist region defined by the back waist edge and the side edges;
- a front waist region defined by the front waist edge and the side edges;
- a crotch region disposed between the back waist region and the front waist region;
- and
- a connection mechanism disposed adjacent at least the front waist region or the back waist region
- whereby the method comprises:
- laterally cutting about a 4-inch longitudinal section of the waist region that includes the connection mechanism;
- flattening the longitudinal section of the waist region on a surface without substantially stretching the longitudinal section;
- measuring the dimensions of the longitudinal section of the waist region including the dimensions of the connection mechanism;
- attaching a first end of the connection mechanism or longitudinal section to a first surface;
- and
- attaching the opposite end of the longitudinal section or a second end of the connection mechanism disposed on the opposite side of the longitudinal section from the first end to a second surface;
- applying a predetermined force to the longitudinal section of the waist region including the connection mechanism to thereby stretch the longitudinal section and connection mechanism;
- measuring the dimensions of the stretched longitudinal section and connection mechanism;
- and calculating the stretchability of the longitudinal section, and the stretchability of the connection mechanism.
18 more elements
57) An absorbent article having a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension comprising
- a topsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- a backsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- an absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;
- a back waist edge adjacent the longitudinal back end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- a front waist edge adjacent the longitudinal front end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- side edges disposed between the back waist edge and the front waist edge;
- a back waist region defined by the back waist edge and the side edges;
- a front waist region defined by the front waist edge and the side edges;
- a crotch region disposed between the back waist region and the front waist region;
- and
- a connection mechanism disposed adjacent at least the front waist region or the back waist region,
- whereby the waist region that includes the connection mechanism has a maximum stretchability of the circumference thereof for newborn babies of more than 185%, when a force selected from the group consisting of an 800 gram, 1,000 gram, and 1,200 gram is applied to an about 4-inch wide laterally cut portion of the waist region, the maximum stretchability being determined by the following equation:
- 7 Max Stretch = ∑ n = 1 n ( Max Cirst / MnCirun ) × 100 n
- wherein:
- MxCirstr is the stretched maximum circumference;
- MnCirun is the unstretched minimum circumference;
- and
- n is the number of stages of diapers in which the maximum stretchability is measured.
15 more elements
60) An absorbent article having a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension comprising
- a topsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- a backsheet having a longitudinal front and back end;
- an absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;
- a back waist edge adjacent the longitudinal back end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- a front waist edge adjacent the longitudinal front end of the topsheet and backsheet;
- side edges disposed between the back waist edge and the front waist edge;
- a back waist region defined by the back waist edge and the side edges;
- a front waist region defined by the front waist edge and the side edges;
- a crotch region disposed between the back waist region and the front waist region;
- and
- a connection mechanism disposed adjacent at least the front waist region or the back waist region,
- whereby the waist region that includes the connection mechanism has a Stretchability Index of greater than about 540, wherein the Stretchability Index is measured in accordance with the following equation:
- SI=MaxStretch(800)+MaxStretch(1,000)+MaxStretch(1,200)
- wherein:
- MaxStretch(800) is MaxStretch for an 800 gram force;
- MaxStretch(1,000) is MaxStretch for a 1,000 gram force;
- and
- MaxStretch(1,200) is MaxStretch for a 1,200 gram force,
- whereby each of the MaxStretch values are those for newborn babies, and whereby MaxStretch is determined in accordance with the following equation:
- 8 Max Stretch = ∑ n = 1 n ( Max Cirst / MnCirun ) × 100 n
- wherein:
- MxCirstr is the stretched maximum circumference;
- MnCirun is the unstretched minimum circumference;
- and
- n is the number of stages of diapers in which the maximum stretchability is measured.
22 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.