Absorbent Articles with Refastenable Side Seams

US 20100121293A1
Filed: 01/22/2010
Published: 05/13/2010
Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1-29. -29. (canceled)

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Abstract

A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refastenable pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels.

Citations

46 Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A training pant for use in training a child to use the toilet, comprising:
- an absorbent chassis defining a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, an overall length dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis, front and back waist edges parallel to the transverse axis, opposite side edges extending between the front and back waist edges, a front waist region contiguous with the front waist edge, a back waist region contiguous with the back waist edge, and a crotch region which extends between and interconnects the front and back waist regions, the absorbent chassis comprising;
  
  a composite structure having opposite linear side edges parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite linear end edges parallel to the transverse axis, the composite structure comprising;
  
  (a) a liquid permeable bodyside liner;
  
  (b) a liquid impermeable outer cover bonded to the bodyside liner, the outer cover comprising a liquid impermeable inner layer and a nonwoven outer layer;
  
  (c) an outer cover graphic disposed on the outer cover;
  
  (d) an absorbent assembly comprising hydrophilic fibers disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover; and
  
  (e) leg elastic members longitudinally aligned along the side edges of the composite structure;
  
  first and second front side panels bonded to the composite structure in the front waist region, each front side panel having a distal edge, an interior portion between the distal edge and the composite structure, a waist end edge parallel to the transverse axis and disposed toward a longitudinal end of the training pant, and a leg end edge extending from the respective side edge of the composite structure to the distal edge and disposed toward the longitudinal center of the training pant, the front side panels having an average length dimension that is about 20 percent or greater of the overall length dimension of the absorbent chassis;
  
  first and second back side panels bonded to the composite structure in the back waist region and longitudinally spaced from the first and second front side panels, each back side panel having a distal edge, an interior portion between the distal edge and the composite structure, a waist end edge parallel to the transverse axis and disposed toward a longitudinal end of the training pant, and a leg end edge extending from the respective side edge of the composite structure to the distal edge and disposed toward the longitudinal center of the training pant, the back side panels having an average length dimension that is about 20 percent or greater of the overall length dimension of the absorbent chassis; and
  
  an elastomeric material disposed between nonwoven facing layers in at least the interior portions to render the side panels elastomeric in a direction generally parallel to the transverse axis; and
  
  a fastening system for releasably securing the absorbent chassis in a pant-like configuration having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, the fastening system comprising first and second fastening components adapted to releasably engage first and second mating fastening components, the first and second fastening components being disposed on the respective first and second back side panels adjacent the distal edges, the first and second mating fastening components being disposed on the respective first and second front side panels adjacent the distal edges, the fastening components and the mating fastening components each comprising mechanical fasteners, and engagement of the fastening components and mating fastening components defines refastenable seams that cover about 80 to 100 percent of a distance between the waist opening and the leg openings.
- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
- - 31. The training pant of claim 30 wherein the composite structure is a rectangular composite structure.
  - 32. The training pant of claim 30, wherein the absorbent chassis defines an inner surface and an opposite outer surface, and the first and second fastening components comprise loop type fasteners disposed on the outer surface and the first and second mating fastening components comprise hook or mushroom type fasteners disposed on the inner surface.
  - 33. The training pant of claim 32 wherein the first and second fastening components are sized larger than the first and second mating fastening components.
  - 34. The training pant of claim 33 wherein the loop type fasteners comprise integral portions of the back side panels.
  - 35. The training pant of claim 32 wherein each mating fastening component is spaced inward from the distal edge, the waist end edge, and the leg end edge of the respective front side panel.
  - 36. The training pant of claim 30 wherein the fastening components comprise integral portions of the back side panels, and wherein the mating fastening components are connected to the front side panels.
  - 37. The training pant of claim 36 wherein the mating fastening components have a length-to-width ratio of about 5 or greater.
  - 38. The training pant of claim 37 wherein each front side panel leg end edge is parallel to the transverse axis, and wherein each back side panel leg end edge is angled relative to the transverse axis.
  - 39. The training pant of claim 30 wherein each front side panel waist end edge forms part of the front waist edge, and wherein each back side panel waist end edge forms part of the back waist edge.
  - 40. The training pant of claim 30 further comprising a pair of containment flaps located along the entire length of the absorbent chassis along the opposite side edges of the absorbent chassis, each containment flap including at least one flap elastic member and each containment flap defining an at least partially unattached edge.
  - 41. The training pant of claim 30 further comprising an elastomeric front waist elastic member and an elastomeric back waist elastic member.
  - 42. The training pant of claim 30 wherein the outer cover graphic includes simulated elastic leg band components and simulated elastic waistband components, and wherein the outer cover graphic further includes registered wetness indicators.
  - 43. The training pant of claim 30 further comprising a surge layer adapted to receive and temporarily store liquid along a mutually facing surface with the absorbent assembly.
  - 44. The training pant of claim 30 wherein the leg elastic members have front terminal points located adjacent longitudinally innermost parts of the front side panels and back terminal points located adjacent longitudinally innermost parts of the back side panels.
  - 45. The training pant of claim 30 wherein the training pant is prefastened to provide a pant-like product for the user.

46. A training pant for use in training a child to use the toilet, comprising:
- an absorbent chassis defining an inner surface, an opposite outer surface, a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, an overall length dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis, front and back waist edges parallel to the transverse axis, opposite side edges extending between the front and back waist edges, a front waist region contiguous with the front waist edge, a back waist region contiguous with the back waist edge, and a crotch region which extends between and interconnects the front and back waist regions, the absorbent chassis comprising;
  
  a rectangular composite structure having opposite linear side edges parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite linear end edges parallel to the transverse axis, the composite structure comprising;
  
  (a) a liquid permeable bodyside liner;
  
  (b) a liquid impermeable outer cover bonded to the bodyside liner, the outer cover comprising a liquid impermeable inner layer and a nonwoven outer layer;
  
  (c) an outer cover graphic disposed on the outer cover, wherein the outer cover graphic includes simulated elastic leg band components and simulated elastic waistband components, and wherein the outer cover graphic further includes registered wetness indicators;
  
  (d) an absorbent assembly comprising hydrophilic fibers and superabsorbent material disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover;
  
  (e) a surge layer adapted to receive and temporarily store liquid along a mutually facing surface with the absorbent assembly;
  
  (f) an elastomeric front waist elastic member and an elastomeric back waist elastic member; and
  
  (g) leg elastic members longitudinally aligned along the side edges of the composite structure;
  
  a pair of containment flaps located along the entire length of the absorbent chassis along the opposite side edges of the absorbent chassis, each containment flap including at least one flap elastic member and each containment flap defining an at least partially unattached edge;
  
  first and second front side panels bonded to the composite structure in the front waist region, each front side panel having a distal edge, an interior portion between the distal edge and the composite structure, a waist end edge parallel to the transverse axis and disposed toward a longitudinal end of the training pant, and a leg end edge extending from the respective side edge of the rectangular composite structure to the distal edge and disposed toward the longitudinal center of the training pant, each front side panel leg end edge being parallel to the transverse axis, each front side panel having an average length dimension that is about 20 percent or greater of the overall length dimension of the absorbent chassis;
  
  first and second back side panels bonded to the composite structure in the back waist region and longitudinally spaced from the first and second front side panels, each back side panel having a distal edge, an interior portion between the distal edge and the composite structure, a waist end edge parallel to the transverse axis and disposed toward a longitudinal end of the training pant, and a leg end edge extending from the respective side edge of the rectangular composite structure to the distal edge and disposed toward the longitudinal center of the training pant, each back side panel having an average length dimension that is about 20 percent or greater of the overall length dimension of the absorbent chassis; and
  
  an elastomeric material disposed between nonwoven facing layers in at least the interior portions to render the side panels elastomeric in a direction generally parallel to the transverse axis; and
  
  a fastening system for releasably securing the absorbent chassis in a pant-like configuration having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, the fastening system comprising;
  
  first and second loop type fastening components disposed on and comprising integral portions of the first and second back side panels, the first and second loop type fastening components disposed on the outer surface of the absorbent chassis; and
  
  first and second hook or mushroom type mating fastening components disposed on and connected to the first and second front side panels adjacent the distal edges, the mating fastening components disposed on the inner surface of the absorbent chassis, each mating fastening component having a length-to-width ratio of about 5 or greater,wherein the first and second fastening components are sized larger than the first and second mating fastening components, and wherein the fastening components are releasably engaged with the mating fastening components to define refastenable seams that cover about 80 to 100 percent of a distance between the waist opening and the leg openings,wherein the training pant is prefastened to provide a pant-like product for the user.

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Current Assignee
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
Original Assignee
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
Inventors
Weber, Shirlee Ann, Olson, Christopher Peter, Fletcher, Amy Lynn, Ratliff, Kathleen Irene, Dimitrijevs, Lisa Ann, West, Susan Lee

Granted Patent

US 8,747,379 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

604/361
CPC Class Codes

A61F 13/496   in the form of pants or briefs

A61F 13/565   pants type diaper

A61F 2013/49022   being elastomeric sheet

Absorbent Articles with Refastenable Side Seams

First Claim

2 Assignments

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Accused Products

Abstract

Citations

46 Claims

Specification

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Absorbent Articles with Refastenable Side Seams

First Claim

2 Assignments

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0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

Citations

46 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links