Absorbent articles with frangible pathways adapted for tear propagation between regions of laminates having different numbers of layers of substrates

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024000626-A1
Application number	US-202318214626-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2023
Priority date	Jun 30, 2022
Publication date	Jan 4, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including a first belt and a second belt. The first belt and/or the second belt may comprise a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises a first number of layers of substrates and the second region comprises a second number of layers of substrates, wherein the first number of layers substrates is greater than second number of layers of substrates. In addition, the first belt and/or the second belt may comprise one or more frangible pathways comprising first lines of weakness positioned in the first region, second lines of weakness positioned in the second region, and at least one transition line of weakness extending partially through the first region and the second region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An absorbent article comprising:
a first belt comprising an inner wearer facing surface and an outer garment facing surface, the first belt further comprising a laterally extending inner edge and a laterally extending outer edge, the outer edge positioned longitudinally outward of the inner edge, the first belt further comprising a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises a first number of layers of substrates and the second region comprises a second number of layers of substrates, wherein the first number of layers substrates is greater than second number of layers of substrates; a second belt, wherein laterally opposing end portions of the second belt are connected with laterally opposing end portions of the first belt at a first side seam and a second side seam to form a waist opening; a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, and wherein longitudinally opposing end regions of the chassis are connected with the first belt and the second belt; and a frangible pathway in the first belt comprising first lines of weakness positioned in the first region, second lines of weakness positioned in the second region, and at least one transition line of weakness extending partially through the first region and the second region.

2 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first lines of weakness extend for first lengths, the second lines of weakness extend for second lengths, and the at least one transition line of weakness extends for a third length, wherein the third length is greater than the first lengths and the second lengths.

3 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first lines of weakness are separated from each other by a first separation distance and the second lines of weakness are separated from each other by a second separation distance, wherein the first separation distance is less than the second separation distance.

4 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first lines of weakness comprise discrete cut lines that penetrate through some or all the layers of the first region; wherein the second lines of weakness comprise discrete cut lines that penetrate through some or all the layers of the second region; and wherein the at least one transition line of weakness comprises a discrete cut line that penetrates through some or all the layers of the first region and the second region.

5 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first belt comprises a first substrate and a second substrate;
wherein the first substrate comprises a laterally extending first edge, a laterally extending second edge, a first surface and an opposing second surface; wherein the second substrate comprises a laterally extending first edge, a laterally extending second edge, a first surface and an opposing second surface; wherein the second surface of the first substrate is in a facing relationship with the first surface of the second substrate; wherein the first substrate is folded along a fold line such that a first portion of the first substrate is in a facing relationship with a second portion of the first substrate; and wherein the first portion extends longitudinally between the fold line and the first edge of the first substrate, and wherein the second portion extends longitudinally between the fold line and the second edge of the first substrate.

6 . The absorbent article of claim 5 , wherein the first edge of the first substrate extends laterally through a zone of adhesive to define a first adhesion zone and a second adhesion zone, the first adhesion zone extending longitudinally from the first edge of the first substrate toward the fold line and the second adhesion zone extending longitudinally from the first edge of the first substrate away from the fold line.

7 . The absorbent article of claim 6 , wherein the at least one transition line of weakness extends across the zone of adhesive and severs the first edge of the first substrate.

8 . The absorbent article of claim 6 , wherein adhesive in the first adhesion zone bonds the first portion of the first substrate with the second portion of the first substrate, and wherein adhesive in the second adhesion zone bonds the first surface of the second substrate with the second surface of the first substrate in the second portion.

9 . The absorbent article of claim 5 , wherein the first edge of the first substrate defines a border between the first region of the first belt and the second region of the first belt.

10 . The absorbent article of claim 9 , wherein the first region of the first belt extends longitudinally from the first edge of the second substrate to the first edge of the first substrate.

11 . The absorbent article of claim 10 , wherein the fold line defines the outer edge of the first belt.

12 . The absorbent article of claim 11 , wherein the second region of the first belt extends longitudinally from the first edge of the first substrate to the inner edge of the first belt.

13 . The absorbent article of claim 5 , wherein the first surface of the first substrate in the second portion at least partially defines the outer garment facing surface of the first belt.

14 . The absorbent article of claim 5 , wherein the second surface of the second substrate at least partially defines the inner wearer facing surface of the first belt.

15 . The absorbent article of claim 5 , further comprising a grip region positioned between the first edge and the second edge of the first belt.

16 . The absorbent article of claim 15 , wherein upon application of a pulling force to the grip region in a direction toward the first side seam and/or outward away from the first belt, a tear line propagates along the frangible pathway across the second region, the first edge of the first substrate, and across the first region.

17 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the frangible pathway in the first belt extends between a proximal terminus on the inner edge of the first belt and a distal terminus on the outer edge of the first belt.

18 . The absorbent article of claim 17 , wherein the at least one transition line of weakness comprises a first transition line of weakness and a second transition line of weakness, wherein the first transition line of weakness is laterally spaced from the second transition line of weakness.

19 . The absorbent article of claim 18 , wherein the first lines of weakness define a first region tear zone extending from the distal terminus to the first transition line of weakness.

20 . The absorbent article of claim 19 , further comprising an accessibility opening in the first belt, and wherein the second lines of weakness define a second region tear zone extending from the accessibility opening to second transition line of weakness.

21 . The absorbent article of claim 21 , wherein a portion of the chassis overlaps the inner wearer facing surface of the first belt to define a chassis overlap region, and wherein the accessibility opening in the first belt is positioned in the chassis overlap region.

22 . The absorbent article of claim 21 , wherein the distal terminus is positioned laterally between the chassis overlap region and the first side seam.

23 . The absorbent article of claim 21 , further comprising a fastener component positioned between the inner wearer facing surface of the first belt and the backsheet.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Willhaus Keith Richard
• Raycheck Jeromy Thomas
• Rosiak Jeffry
• Naylor Jason Edward
• Long Michael Devin
• Taylor Nicholas Alexander

Classifications

• A61F13/15723

  Partitioning batts; Cutting · CPC title

• A61F13/15593

  having elastic ribbons fixed thereto; Devices for applying the ribbons · CPC title

• A61F2013/49025

  having multiple elastic strands · CPC title

• A61F2013/15934

  for making non-woven · CPC title

• A61F2013/15406

  Basis weight · CPC title