Method of making absorbent articles having an adjustable belt

A method of making a disposable absorbent article which defines an absorbent, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region which extends between and connects said waist regions, a pair of opposed side edges and a pair of opposed waist edges, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) supplying an outer cover for said absorbent article which defines a bodyfacing surface and a garment facing surface;
• b) providing an adjustable belt which defines a pair of opposed end portions and which includes a pair of fasteners on said opposed end portions;
• c) providing two belt loops inward from and adjacent to each of said fasteners on said adjustable belt;
• and
• d) attaching longitudinal ends of said belt loops to said bodyfacing surface of said outer cover in one of said waist regions of said absorbent article wherein said adjustable belt is slidably contained between said belt loops and said outer cover and wherein said fasteners on said adjustable belt are configured to releasably engage said garment facing surface of said outer cover in said opposite waist region of said absorbent article.

A method of making a prefastened disposable absorbent article which defines a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region which extends between and connects said waist regions, a pair of opposed side edges and a pair of opposed waist edges, said method comprising:

• a) providing a continuously moving web of outer cover material;
• b) intermittently cutting a continuous web of adjustable belt assemblies into discrete adjustable belts each of which defines a belt segment, a pair of laterally spaced apart secondary fasteners attached to opposite end portions of said belt segment, and a pair of laterally spaced apart belt loops which further define a pair of primary fasteners on a bodyfacing surface thereof;
• c) intermittently attaching said adjustable belts to said web of outer cover material at spaced apart locations by attaching longitudinal ends of said belt loops to said outer cover material wherein said adjustable belt is slidably contained between said longitudinal ends of said belt loops and said outer cover material;
• d) intermittently connecting multiple absorbent chassis to said outer cover material to provide a continuously moving web of interconnected absorbent articles each of which includes one adjustable belt attached to one of said waist regions and one absorbent chassis;
• e) selectively cutting said continuous web of interconnected absorbent articles into discrete absorbent articles;
• f) folding each of said discrete absorbent articles about a fold line extending in a lateral direction through said crotch region of said absorbent article thereby positioning said waist regions of said absorbent article in a facing relationship;
• and
• g) releasably engaging said primary fasteners on said belt loops with an opposite waist region of said absorbent article to provide said prefastened absorbent article wherein said secondary fasteners on said adjustable belt are configured to releasably engage said opposite waist region to conform said waist regions to a wearer's body after said prefastened absorbent article is pulled on over a wearer's hips.