US 2009/0157034 A1 · Absorbent Article Having A Functional and Partially Encircling Waistband

Abstract

Absorbent articles are disclosed having extended waistbands. More particularly, the absorbent articles include a back waistband and/or a front waistband that encircle a portion of the circumference of the waist opening. The absorbent article includes a front portion attached to a back portion by a pair of stretchable side areas. Each of the side areas are made from at least two panels that are connected together along a vertical attachment area. In accordance with the present disclosure, a waistband is incorporated into the article that extends over the entire front portion or the entire back portion and terminates at opposite ends on opposing side areas. Each end of the waistband, however, terminates prior to the vertical attachment areas leaving a gap in between. The presence of the gap has been found to provide various benefits and advantages including improved stretch properties for donning the article.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An absorbent article comprising:

a chassis defining two leg openings opposite a waist opening, the chassis containing an absorbent core and including a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion positioned in between the front portion and the back portion, the chassis further including first and second opposing elastic side areas, the first elastic side area including a first panel attached to a second panel along a first vertical attachment area and wherein the second side area also includes a first panel attached to a second panel along a second vertical attachment area;
and
at least one of a back elastic waistband or a front elastic waistband that partially encircles the waist opening of the chassis, the back or front waistband having a first end and a second end, the first end terminating on the first side area but leaving a gap between the first end and the first vertical attachment area, the second end terminating on the second side area but also leaving a gap between the second end and the second vertical attachment area.

An absorbent article comprising:

a chassis defining two leg openings opposite a waist opening, the chassis containing an absorbent core and including a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion positioned in between the front portion and the back portion, the chassis further including first and second opposing elastic side areas, the first elastic side area including a first panel attached to a second panel along a first vertical attachment area and wherein the second side area also includes a first panel attached to a second panel along a second vertical attachment area;
a back elastic waistband that partially encircles the waist opening of the chassis, the back waistband having a first end and a second end, the first end terminating on the first side area but leaving a gap between the first end and the first vertical attachment area, the second end terminating on the second side area but also leaving a gap between the second end and the second vertical attachment area;
and
a front elastic waistband that partially encircles the waist opening of the chassis, the front waistband having a first end and a second end, the first end of the front waistband terminating on the first side area but leaving a gap between the first end and the first vertical attachment area, the second end of the front waistband terminating on the second side area and also leaving a gap between the second end and the second vertical attachment area.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Absorbent Article Having A Functional and Partially Encircling Waistband

Life of this patent

Absorbent Article Having A Functional and Partially Encircling Waistband

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30