Method for providing an elasticated web

A method for manufacturing an elasticated web (140) having discontinuous elastic threads (510, 511), said method comprising the steps of;

• a. providing a first web (200), said first web (200) having a primary extension in the machine direction (MD), first (201) and second (202) faces and a first edge (203) and a second edge (204), said first and second edges (203, 204) extending in the machine direction (MD);
• b. providing a second web (300), said second web (300) also having a primary extension in the machine direction (MD), first (301) and second (302) faces and a first edge (303) and a second edge (304), said first and second edges (303, 304) extending in the machine direction (MD);
• c. providing a third web (700) said third web (700) having a primary extension in the machine direction (MD), first (701) and second (702) faces and a first edge (703) and a second edge (704), said first and second edges (703, 704) extending in the machine direction (MD);
• d. arranging said third web (700) to lie adjacent and substantially parallel with said first web (200), in a spaced arrangement with the first faces (201, 701) of said webs (200, 700) facing the same direction, such that the first edges (203, 703) of respective first (200) and third (700) webs are adjacent;
• e. applying a first adhesive (250) to at least a portion of the first face (201) of said first web (200) or to at least a portion of the first face (301) of the second web (300);
• f. applying a second adhesive (260) to at least a portion of the first face (701) of said third web (700) or to at least a portion of the first face (301) of the second web (300);
• g. applying at least one first elastic thread (500) on at least the portion of said first face (201) of said first web (200) or on at least the portion of said first face (301) of said second web (300) which comprises said first adhesive (250);
• wherein said at least one first thread (500) is applied in a first pattern (P1), said first pattern (P1) oscillating in the cross-direction (CD) and extending in the machine direction (MD),
• h. applying at least one second elastic thread (502) on at least the portion of said first face (701) of said third web (700) or to at least the portion of said first face (301) of said second web (300) which comprises said second adhesive (260);
• wherein said at least one second elastic thread (502) is applied in a second pattern (P2), said second pattern (P2) oscillating in the cross-direction (CD) and extending in the machine direction (MD),
• i. applying a portion of the first face (301) of said second web (300) on the first face (201) of said first web (200), and fixing said first (200) and second webs (300) together such that said at least one first elastic thread (500) is partly sandwiched between the first faces (201, 301) of respective first and second webs (200, 300);
• such that the first pattern (P1) extends over the first edge (203) of the first web (200) to form first loops (501) in said first elastic thread (500) which project in the cross-direction (CD) from said first edge (203) of said first web (200);
• j. applying a portion of the first face (301) of said second web (300) on the first face (701) of said third web (700), and fixing said third (700) and second webs (300) together such that said at least one second elastic thread (502) is partly sandwiched between the first faces (301, 701) of respective second and third webs (300, 700);
• such that the second pattern (P2) extends over the first edge (703) of the third web (700) to form second loops (503) in said second elastic thread (502) which project in the cross-direction (CD) from said first edge (703) of said third web (700);
• and such that said first and second patterns (P1, P2) are synchronised such that the point in the machine direction (MD) at which the first elastic threads (500) are located furthest from the first edge (203) of the first web (200) corresponds substantially to the point in the machine direction (MD) at which the second elastic threads (502) are located furthest from the first edge (703) of the third web (700);
• k. securing the first loops (501) of said first elastic threads (500) in a first loop retaining means (410) located adjacent the first edge (203) of said first web (200);
• l. securing the second loops (503) of said second elastic threads (502) in a second loop retaining means (411) located adjacent the first edge (703) of said third web (700);
• m. cutting all the first elastic threads (500) substantially at the point at which each first elastic thread (500) crosses the first edge (203) of said first web (200) such that the loops (501) become detached from the first web (200);
• n. cutting all the second elastic threads (502) substantially at the point at which each second elastic thread (502) crosses the first edge (703) of said third web (700) such that the loops (503) become detached from the third web (700);
• wherein step d. can take place at any point in the process before step i.
• so as to provide an elasticated web (140) having discontinuous elastic threads (510, 511).

An elasticated web (100) having discontinuous elastic threads, said elasticated web comprising:

• a. a first web (200), said first web (200) having a primary extension in the machine direction (MD), first (201) and second (202) faces and a first edge (203) and a second edge (204), said first and second edges (203, 204) extending in the machine direction (MD);
• b. a second web (300), said second web (300) also having a primary extension in the machine direction (MD), first (301) and second (302) faces and a first edge (303) and a second edge (304), said first and second edges (303, 304) extending in the machine direction (MD);
• c. a first adhesive (250) arranged on at least a portion of the first face (201) of said first web (200);
• d. at least one discontinuous elastic thread (510) arranged on at least the portion of said first face (201) of said first web (200) which comprises said first adhesive (250);
• e. wherein the first face (301) of said second web (300) overlies the first face (201) of said first web (200);
• said first (200) and second webs (300) being fixed together such that said at least one discontinuous elastic thread (510) is sandwiched between the first faces (201, 301) of said respective first and second webs (200, 300);
• characterised in that
• said at least one discontinuous thread (510) is present in a pattern (R), said pattern (R) forming loops (520) which extend from the first edge (203) of the first web (200) and back to said first edge (203) of the first web (200);
• so that the discontinuous elastic threads (510) terminate at each point at which they meet the first edge (203) of said first web (200).

An elasticated web (140) having discontinuous elastic threads (510, 511), said elasticated web (140) comprising:

• a. a first web (200), said first web (200) having a primary extension in the machine direction (MD), first (201) and second (202) faces and a first edge (203) and a second edge (204), said first and second edges (203, 204) extending in the machine direction (MD);
• b. a second web (300), said second web (300) having a primary extension in the machine direction (MD), first (301) and second (302) faces and a first edge (303) and a second edge (304), said first and second edges (303, 304) extending in the machine direction (MD);
• c. a third web (700), said third web (700) having a primary extension in the machine direction (MD), first (701) and second (702) faces and a first edge (703) and a second edge (704), said first and second edges (703, 704) extending in the machine direction (MD);
• d. a first adhesive (250) arranged on at least a portion of the first face (201) of said first web (200);
• or on at least a portion of the first face (301) of the second web (300);
• e. at least one discontinuous elastic thread (510) arranged on at least the portion of said first face (201) of said first web (200) or on at least the portion of the first face (301) of said second web (300) which comprises said first adhesive (250);
• f. a second adhesive (260) arranged on at least a portion of the first face (701) of said third web (700);
• or on at least a portion of the first face (301) of the second web (300);
• g. at least one discontinuous elastic thread (511) arranged on at least the portion of said first face (701) of said third web (700) or on at least the portion of the first face (301) of said second web (300) which comprises said second adhesive (260);
• h. said third web (700) lying adjacent and substantially parallel with said first web (200), in a spaced arrangement with the first faces (201, 701) of said webs (200, 700) facing the same direction, such that the first edges (203, 703) of respective first (200) and third (700) webs are adjacent;
• i. wherein the first face (301) of said second web (300) overlies the first face (201) of said first web (200);
• said first (200) and second webs (300) being fixed together such that said at least one discontinuous elastic thread (510) is sandwiched between the first faces (201, 301) of said respective first and second webs (200, 300);
• j. and wherein the first face (301) of said second web (300) also overlies the first face (701) of said third web (700);
• said third (700) and second webs (300) being fixed together such that said at least one discontinuous elastic thread (511) is sandwiched between the first faces (701, 301) of said respective third and second webs (700, 300);
• characterised in that
• said at least one discontinuous elastic thread (510) is present in a first pattern (R1), said first pattern (R1) forming loops (520) which extend from the first edge (203) of the first web (200) and back to said first edge (203) of the first web (200);
• so that the discontinuous elastic threads (510) terminate at each point at which they meet the first edge (203) of said first web (200)
• and that said at least one discontinuous thread (511) is present in a second pattern (R2), said second pattern (R2) forming loops (521) which extend from the first edge (703) of the third web (700) and back to said third edge (703) of the third web (700);
• so that the discontinuous elastic threads (511) terminate at each point at which they meet the first edge (703) of said third web (700).

A pant-type article (20), comprising:

• a front panel (150),
• a rear panel (160);
• a crotch panel (181), said crotch panel (181) extending between said front panel (150) and said rear panel (160) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the pant-type article (20) and being joined to said front and rear panels (150, 160);
• wherein said crotch panel (181) comprises a crotch layer (180), and/or an absorbent packet (130);
• said front and rear panels (150, 160) being joined at side seams (131) at the transverse edges thereof
• at least said front panel (150) comprising a first front layer (151), a second front layer (152) and at least two first leg elastics (153) located between said first (151) and second (152) front layers;
• wherein said at least two first leg elastics (153) are located on either side of a longitudinal centre line (L1) of the pant-type article (20);
• wherein said first front layer (151) is defined by first (154) and second edges (155) which extend substantially in the transverse direction (T) of the pant-type article (20);
• said first (154) edge being that which is located closest to the crotch panel (181) of the pant-type article (20),
• said rear panel (160) also comprising a first rear layer (161), a second rear layer (162) and at least two second leg elastics (163) located between said first (161) and second (162) rear layers;
• wherein said at least two second leg elastics (163) are located on either side of longitudinal centre line (L1) of the pant-type article (20);
• and said first rear layer (161) being defined by first (164) and second edges (165) which extend substantially in the transverse direction (T) of the pant-type article (20);
• said first (164) edge being that which is located closest to the crotch panel (181) of the pant-type article (20),
• characterized in that
• the first leg elastics (153) in said front panel (150) terminate at the point at which they meet the first edge (154) of said first front layer (151);
• and that the second leg elastics (163) in said rear panel (160) terminate at the point at which they meet the first edge (164) of said first rear layer (161).

An absorbent article (10), comprising:

• a front panel (150),
• a rear panel (160);
• a crotch panel (181), said crotch panel (181) extending between said front panel (150) and said rear panel (160) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the absorbent article (10) and being joined to said front and rear panels (150, 160);
• wherein said crotch panel (181) comprises an absorbent packet (130), and optionally, a crotch layer (180);
• at least one of said front and rear panels (150, 160) comprising fastening means (132);
• at least said front panel (150) comprising a first front layer (151), a second front layer (152) and at least two first leg elastics (153) located between said first (151) and second (152) front layers;
• wherein said at least two first leg elastics (153) are located on either side of a longitudinal centre line (L1) of the absorbent article (10);
• wherein said first front layer (151) is defined by first (154) and second edges (155) which extend substantially in the transverse direction (T) of the absorbent article (10);
• said first (154) edge being that which is located closest to the crotch panel (181) of the absorbent article (10),
• said rear panel (160) also comprising a first rear layer (161), a second rear layer (162) and at least two second leg elastics (163) located between said first (161) and second (162) rear layers;
• wherein said at least two second leg elastics (163) are located on either side of longitudinal centre line (L1) of the absorbent article (10);
• and said first rear layer (161) being defined by first (164) and second edges (165) which extend substantially in the transverse direction (T) of the absorbent article (10);
• said first (164) edge being that which is located closest to the crotch panel (181) of the absorbent article (10),
• characterized in that
• the first leg elastics (153) in said front panel (150) terminate at the point at which they meet the first edge (154) of said first front layer (151)
• and that the second leg elastics (163) in said rear panel (160) terminate at the point at which they meet the first edge (164) of said first rear layer (161).