EP0023804A1 — A gatherable laminated structure including an ape…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 70 words

A laminated structure adapted to be gathered for improved fit about a portion of the human body comprising: first and second layers positioned adjacent to one another, said layers being formed of flexible gatherable material, an elastic member disposed between said layers, said elastic member including a plurality of interconnected elastic elements defining apertures therebetween, said second and first layers being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 70 words

A laminated structure adapted to be gathered for improved fit about a portion of the human body comprising: first and second layers positioned adjacent to one another, said layers being formed of flexible gatherable material, an elastic member disposed between said layers, said elastic member including a plurality of interconnected elastic elements defining apertures therebetween, said second and first layers being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

A laminated structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said r elastic member is reticulated.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

A laminated structure as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first and second layers comprise a single piece of folded material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 118 words

A disposable diaper comprising: a moisture-permeable facing layer; an absorbent panel at one side of said facing layer, said absorbent panel being smaller than said facing layer so that marginal portions of the facing layer extend outwardly beyond the edges of said absorbent panel; a moisture-impervious backing layer at the side of said absorbent panel opposite said facing layer, said backing layer being larger than said absorbent panel so that marginal portions of the backing layer extend outwardly beyond the edges of said absorbent panel; means bonding said facing and backing layers to one another; and gathering means disposed in at least one marginal portion, said gathering means including a plurality of interconnected gathering elements defining apertures therebetween.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 118 words

A disposable diaper comprising: a moisture-permeable facing layer; an absorbent panel at one side of said facing layer, said absorbent panel being smaller than said facing layer so that marginal portions of the facing layer extend outwardly beyond the edges of said absorbent panel; a moisture-impervious backing layer at the side of said absorbent panel opposite said facing layer, said backing layer being larger than said absorbent panel so that marginal portions of the backing layer extend outwardly beyond the edges of said absorbent panel; means bonding said facing and backing layers to one another; and gathering means disposed in at least one marginal portion, said gathering means including a plurality of interconnected gathering elements defining apertures therebetween.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

A disposable diaper as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said gathering means is disposed between said facing layer and said backing layer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

A disposable diaper as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein said facing and backing layers are secured to each other through at least some of said apertures. claimed anyone of to 6

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

A disposable diaper as/in/Claim; 4/wherein the means bonding the facing and backing layers together does not extend outboard of the gathering means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 172 words

A disposable diaper comprising: a moisture-permeable facing layer; an absorbent panel at one side of said facing layer, said absorbent panel being smaller than said facing layer so that side marginal portions of the facing layer extend outwardly beyond the side edges of said absorbent panel; a moisture-impervious backing layer at the side of said absorbent panel opposite said facing layer, said backing layer being larger than said absorbent panel so that side marginal portions of the backing layer extend outwardly beyond the side edges of said absorbent panel; means bonding said facing and backing layers to one another; and gathering means disposed in said side marginal portions, each of said gathering means including longitudinally extending, effectively elastic members in each of said side marginal portions, each elastic member comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic elements interconnected at longitudinally spaced locations to thereby form an elastic network, whereby said gathering means provide improved conformity about the legs of the wearer without undue application of pressure upon the skin of the wearer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 172 words

A disposable diaper comprising: a moisture-permeable facing layer; an absorbent panel at one side of said facing layer, said absorbent panel being smaller than said facing layer so that side marginal portions of the facing layer extend outwardly beyond the side edges of said absorbent panel; a moisture-impervious backing layer at the side of said absorbent panel opposite said facing layer, said backing layer being larger than said absorbent panel so that side marginal portions of the backing layer extend outwardly beyond the side edges of said absorbent panel; means bonding said facing and backing layers to one another; and gathering means disposed in said side marginal portions, each of said gathering means including longitudinally extending, effectively elastic members in each of said side marginal portions, each elastic member comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic elements interconnected at longitudinally spaced locations to thereby form an elastic network, whereby said gathering means provide improved conformity about the legs of the wearer without undue application of pressure upon the skin of the wearer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

A disposable diaper as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said gathering means is disposed between said facing layer and said backing layer.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A disposable diaper as claimed in Claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said facing layer and said backing layer are secured to each other between the longitudinally extending elastic elements of said gathering means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

A disposable diaper as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10 wherein the means bonding the facing and backing layers together does not extend outboard of the gathering means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 143 words

A unitary, multi-layer, disposable undergarment, suitable for use in training infants or by incontinent children or adults, which is constructed from a non-woven fabric and comprises a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion. connecting said front and rear portions; both side margins of said front portion being joined to respective side margins of said rear portion so as to define a waist portion and leg apertures, said undergarment having a moisture-pervious inner layer adapted to contact the wearer's skin, an outer layer and an intermediate liquid absorbent panel disposed therebetween, and an elastic member disposed between the ends of the inner layer and the outer layer at the rear portion, said elastic member comprising a plurality of interconnected elastic elements defining apertures therebetween, said inner layer and said outer layer being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 143 words

A unitary, multi-layer, disposable undergarment, suitable for use in training infants or by incontinent children or adults, which is constructed from a non-woven fabric and comprises a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion. connecting said front and rear portions; both side margins of said front portion being joined to respective side margins of said rear portion so as to define a waist portion and leg apertures, said undergarment having a moisture-pervious inner layer adapted to contact the wearer's skin, an outer layer and an intermediate liquid absorbent panel disposed therebetween, and an elastic member disposed between the ends of the inner layer and the outer layer at the rear portion, said elastic member comprising a plurality of interconnected elastic elements defining apertures therebetween, said inner layer and said outer layer being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 41 words

A disposable undergarment as claimed in Claim12 having an elastic member disposed between the ends of said inner layer and said outer layer at the front portion, said elastic member comprising a plurality of interconnected elastic elements defining apertures therebetween. claimed

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 58 words

A disposable undergarment as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said undergarment is also provided with elastic members disposed in the side margins of said crotch portion, each of said elastic members comprising a plurality of interconnected elastic elements defining apertures therebetween, said inner layer and said outer layer being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 82 words

15 . A method for making an elastic structure comprising: (a) feeding first and second members to an assembly station; (b) feeding an apertured elastic member in a stretched condition between said first and second members to said assembly station; (c) applying adhesive to at least one of said members as it is being fed to said assembly station; and (d) applying pressure to said structure sufficient to adhere said first and second members together through the apertures of said elastic member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 82 words

15 . A method for making an elastic structure comprising: (a) feeding first and second members to an assembly station; (b) feeding an apertured elastic member in a stretched condition between said first and second members to said assembly station; (c) applying adhesive to at least one of said members as it is being fed to said assembly station; and (d) applying pressure to said structure sufficient to adhere said first and second members together through the apertures of said elastic member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of Claim 15 wherein the first and second members comprise separate plies of a single piece of folded material.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of Claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the elastic member is a reticulated material.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 130 words

A method of attaching an elastic member between first and second relatively inelastic webs to impart elasticity to selected portions of the resultant laminate comprising: (a) applying adhesive intermittently to the first inelastic web; (b) feeding an apertured elastic member in a stretched condition to the surface of said web carrying said adhesive so that the elastic member overlies the adhesive and at least a portion of the adhesive is exposed through the apertures in the elastic member; (c) placing the second inelastic web on top of said elastic member in contact with the adhesive exposed through the apertures in the elastic member; and (d) applying pressure to the laminate to secure the first web to the second web through at least some of the apertures in the elastic member.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 130 words

A method of attaching an elastic member between first and second relatively inelastic webs to impart elasticity to selected portions of the resultant laminate comprising: (a) applying adhesive intermittently to the first inelastic web; (b) feeding an apertured elastic member in a stretched condition to the surface of said web carrying said adhesive so that the elastic member overlies the adhesive and at least a portion of the adhesive is exposed through the apertures in the elastic member; (c) placing the second inelastic web on top of said elastic member in contact with the adhesive exposed through the apertures in the elastic member; and (d) applying pressure to the laminate to secure the first web to the second web through at least some of the apertures in the elastic member.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of Claim 18 wherein the adhesive is applied in a pattern of interrupted longitudinally extending lines.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of Claim 18 or claim 19 wherein no adhesive is applied to the first web outside the longitudinal edge of the elastic member.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 19 words

The method of any one of Claims 18 to 20 wherein the apertures in the elastic member are rectangles.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 24 words

The method of any one of Claims 18 to 21 wherein the pressure is applied to the laminate by a pair of compression rollers.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 44 words

The method of any one of Claims 18 to 22 wherein one of the rollers has a resilient surface which will conform to the configuration of the elastic member and press the first and second webs together in the apertures of the elastic member.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 166 words

A method of intermittently attaching a pair of elastic members intermediate the opposing waistband portions of absorbent pads contained in a continuously moving web of interconnected disposable diapers to form a pair of discrete elastic leg bands in each of said diapers cut from said web, said method comprising the steps of: (a) feeding first and second web substrates to an assembly station; (b) feeding a pair of stretched apertured elastic members to said assembly station; (c) applying adhesive to at least one of said webs as it is being fed to said assembly station, at least a portion of said adhesive being registered such that it will lie within the area occupied by said stretched elastic members; (d) feeding absorbent pad elements having opposing waistband portions to one of said first and second webs; and (e) adhering said first web and said second web together at said assembly station through the aperture of said elastic members and cutting said webs transversely into discrete disposable diapers.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 166 words

A method of intermittently attaching a pair of elastic members intermediate the opposing waistband portions of absorbent pads contained in a continuously moving web of interconnected disposable diapers to form a pair of discrete elastic leg bands in each of said diapers cut from said web, said method comprising the steps of: (a) feeding first and second web substrates to an assembly station; (b) feeding a pair of stretched apertured elastic members to said assembly station; (c) applying adhesive to at least one of said webs as it is being fed to said assembly station, at least a portion of said adhesive being registered such that it will lie within the area occupied by said stretched elastic members; (d) feeding absorbent pad elements having opposing waistband portions to one of said first and second webs; and (e) adhering said first web and said second web together at said assembly station through the aperture of said elastic members and cutting said webs transversely into discrete disposable diapers.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of Claim 24 wherein the elastic member is a reticulated material.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of Claim 24 or Claim 25 wherein the apertures in the elastic member are rectangles.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 34 words

The method of any one of Claims 24 to 26 wherein the adhesive is applied to at least one of said webs in a uniform intermittent pattern extending across the width of said web.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 23 words

The method of any one of Claims 24 to 27 wherein no adhesive lies outside the outermost longitudinal edges of the elastic members.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 23 words

The method of any one of Claims 24 to 28 wherein the web to which the adhesive is applied is a plastic film.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 32 words

The method of any one of Claims 24 to 29 wherein the outermost longitudinal edge of the elastic member substantially coincides with the outermost longitudinal edge of the first and second webs.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 38 words

The method of any one of Claims 24 to 30 wherein the first web is adhered to the second web through the apertures of the elastic members by passing the laminate through a pair of pressure applying rolls.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of Claim 31 wherein one of the pressure applying rolls has a resilient surface which will conform to the configuration of the elastic member and press the first and second webs together in the apertures of the elastic member.

A gatherable laminated structure including an apertured elastic member and method of making the same

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