Elasticized waistband for use in an absorbent garment and method of making same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025381073-A1
Application number	US-202519302848-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2025
Priority date	Jan 27, 2020
Publication date	Dec 18, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Absorbent garments are made by applying a refastenable material to a continuous panel web, folding the panel web, cutting the folded panel web into discrete folded panels, and aligning the folded panels with perforations in a continuous elasticized waist web. Discrete folded patches are coupled to the elastic web via the refastenable material and the perforation cuts are broken to form a continuous waistband. Absorbent cores are coupled between the continuous waistband and a second continuous waistband, which are cut to form the absorbent garments. The manufacturing apparatus includes a perforation cutter that forms perforation cuts in a continuous waist web comprising elastic elements positioned between facing web layers, a panel applicator that cuts a folded panel web into discrete panels and attaches the discrete panels to the waist web about the perforation cut. A breakage system separates the waist web at the perforation cuts and unfolds the discrete panels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for manufacturing an elasticized waistband for a refastenable absorbent garment comprising:
a perforation cutter configured to form a series of perforation cuts in a continuous waist web comprising one or more elastic elements positioned between facing web layers; a panel applicator configured to cut a folded panel web comprising refastenable, fastener material into discrete panels and attach the discrete panels to the continuous waist web about the perforation cut; and a breakage system configured to separate the continuous waist web at the perforation cuts and unfold the discrete panels.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a folding assembly configured to fold the panel web along fold axes aligned with a machine direction.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tape applicator configured to apply a releasable fastener component to the panel web.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the breakage system comprises rollers spaced apart in a machine direction.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the continuous waist web has at least one elastic strand attached thereto.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the continuous waist web comprises a stretch film.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a temporary bonding unit configured to create temporary tack bonds between the discrete panels and the continuous waist web.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a bonding apparatus configured to bond together facing layers of the continuous waist web on opposing sides of the perforation cut.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bonding apparatus and the perforation cutter are located on a common roller assembly.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a break assembly configured to break tensioned elastic threads contained within the continuous waist web.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second panel applicator configured to cut a second folded panel web comprising refastenable, fastener material into discrete panels and attach the discrete panels to the continuous waist web about other perforation cuts.

12 . A refastenable absorbent garment comprising:
a first portion having opposing ends, the first portion comprising a central panel releasably attached to a pair of elasticized side panels by releasable fasteners, wherein the pair of elasticized side panels comprise one or more elastic elements positioned between facing web layers; a second portion having opposing ends coupled to the opposing ends of the first portion; and an absorbent core having a first end coupled to the central panel of the first portion and a second end coupled to the second portion.

13 . The refastenable absorbent garment of claim 12 wherein the releasable fasteners comprise a hook material having a hook side facing the pair of elasticized side panels and a non-hook side adhesively coupled to the central panel.

14 . The refastenable absorbent garment of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of temporary bonds coupling the central panel to the pair of elasticized side panels.

15 . The refastenable absorbent garment of claim 12 wherein the pair of elasticized side panels comprise a plurality of elastic threads positioned between facing web layers.

16 . The refastenable absorbent garment of claim 12 wherein each of the pair of elasticized side panels comprises:
a first end coupled to one of the opposing ends of the second portion;
a second end coupled to the central panel; and
a pattern of bonds coupling together the facing web layers in a region proximate the second end.

Assignees

• Joa Curt G Inc

Inventors

• Andrews Robert E
• Schwartz Christopher A

Classifications

• A61F13/496

  in the form of pants or briefs · CPC title

• A61F13/49015

  the elastic means being elastic panels · CPC title

• A61F13/49012

  the elastic means being elastic panels · CPC title

• A61F13/15804

  Plant, e.g. involving several steps · CPC title

• A61F13/15764

  Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives · CPC title