US 5,368,584 AGranted

Absorbent article with dynamic elastic leg feature comprising elasticized thigh panels

AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company

InventorsSandra H. Clear, Miguel A. Robles, Kimberly A. Dreier

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Abstract

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, that have an elastic leg feature that provides dynamic fit around the leg of the wearer. Such absorbent articles comprise a liquid previous topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and an elastic leg feature comprising an elasticized leg cuff and elasticized thigh panels. The elasticized leg cuff is positioned in at least the center leg zone of the elastic leg feature, and comprises one or more elastic members operatively associated in an elastically contractible condition so that the leg cuff is elastically contractible in generally the longitudinal direction. The elasticized thigh panels comprise a stretch laminate that is mechanically stretched so that the elasticized thigh panel is capable of expanding beyond the original planar state of the absorbent article in at least one direction at an angle from the longitudinal direction.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region between said first waist region and said second waist region, a longitudinal centerline, a longitudinal direction defined as the direction parallel to said longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, and a lateral direction defined as the direction parallel to the lateral centerline, longitudinal edges having a curvilinear leg edge, and end edges, the absorbent article comprising:

a liquid previous topsheet;
a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet;
an absorbent core having side edges disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet;
and
an elastic leg feature extending laterally outwardly from each of said side edges of said absorbent core in said crotch region, each said elastic leg feature having a center leg zone and a pair of corner leg zones, one at each end of said center leg zone, each said elastic leg feature comprising:
(i) an elasticized leg cuff positioned in at least said center leg zone, said elasticized leg cuff comprising one or more elastic leg members operatively joined with the absorbent article in an elastically contractible condition such that said elasticized leg cuff is elastically contractible in generally the longitudinal direction;
and
(ii) an elasticized thigh panel positioned in at least one of said corner leg zones, each said elasticized thigh panel comprising a stretch laminate comprising an elastic panel member and an elongatable component having an original planar state, said stretch laminate being mechanically stretched so that said elasticized thigh panel can expand beyond the original planar state of said elongatable component in at least one direction at an angle from the longitudinal and the lateral direction.

5 more elements

A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region between said first waist region and said second waist region, a longitudinal centerline, a longitudinal direction defined as the direction parallel to said longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a lateral direction defined as the direction parallel to said lateral centerline, longitudinal edges having a curvilinear leg edge, and end edges, the absorbent article comprising:

a liquid previous topsheet;
a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet;
an absorbent core having side edges and disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet;
and
an elastic leg feature extending laterally outwardly from each of said side edges of said absorbent core in said crotch region, each said leg feature having a center leg zone and a pair of corner leg zones, one at each end of said center leg zone, each said elastic leg feature comprising:
(i) an elasticized leg cuff positioned in at least said center leg zone, said elasticized leg cuff comprising one or more elastic leg members operatively joined with the absorbent article in an elastically contractible condition such that elasticized leg cuff is elastically contractible in generally the longitudinal direction;
and
(ii) an elasticized thigh panel positioned in each said corner leg zone, each said elasticized thigh panel comprising a stretch laminate comprising a portion of said topsheet having an original planar state, a portion of said backsheet having an original planar state, and an elastic panel member positioned therebetween, said stretch laminate being mechanically stretched so that said elasticized thigh panel can expand beyond the original planar state of said topsheet and said backsheet in at least one direction at an angle from the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

5 more elements

A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region between said first waist region and said second waist region, a longitudinal centerline, a longitudinal direction defined as the direction parallel to said longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a lateral direction defined as the direction parallel to said lateral centerline, longitudinal edges having a curvilinear leg edge, and end edges, the absorbent article comprising:

a liquid previous topsheet;
a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet;
an absorbent core having side edges and disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet;
elasticized side panels disposed in said second waist region, each of said elasticized side panels being elastically extensible in the lateral direction;
and
an elastic leg feature extending laterally outwardly from each of said side edges of said absorbent core in said crotch region, each said elastic leg feature having a center leg zone and a pair of corner leg zones, one at each end of said center leg zone, each said elastic leg feature comprising:
(i) an elasticized leg cuff positioned at least in said center leg zone, said elasticized leg cuff comprising one or more elastic leg members operatively joined with the absorbent article in an elastically contractible condition such that said elasticized leg cuff is elastically contractible in generally the longitudinal direction;
and
(ii) an elasticized thigh panel positioned in each of said corner leg zones, each said elasticized thigh panel comprising a stretch laminate comprising a portion of said topsheet having an original planar state, a portion of said backsheet having an original planar state, and an elastic panel member positioned therebetween, said stretch laminate being mechanically stretched so that said elasticized thigh panel can expand beyond the original planar state of said topsheet and said backsheet in at least one direction at an angle from the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.