Disposable garments with multiple strand elasticized openings

Claim 2

In a disposable garment (10) of the type having at least one opening (12, 13) intended to fit snugly about a wearer's body, which opening is defined by an exterior marginal portion (32) of material (22) and an interior marginal portionlof material (21) together with elastic means (30) joined thereto to provide an elasticized opening for the garment, the improvement wherein: (1) the elastic means consists of two or three elastic elements (30) positioned between the exterior marginal portion (32) and the interior marginal portion (31); (2) each elastic element (30) has a cross-sectional shape having an aspect ratio in the range of 0.25 to 1 with its shortest axis in the range of about 0.8 to 3.2 mm long and an area in the range of about 0.5 to 8 mm 2 ; (3) each elastic element is joined to both the exterior marginal portion (32) and the interior marginal portion (31) in a stretched condition to provide an elasticized opening when in a retracted condition; and (4) the elastic elements (30) are spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the direction of stretch of the elements, there being a zone (34) of the exterior marginal portion and interior marginal portion between adjacent spaced elastic elements.

Claim 3

A disposable garment according to claim 1, wherein: the exterior marginal portion (32) is part of an outer layer (22) of the disposable garment, and the interior marginal portion (31) is part of an inner layer (21) of a disposable garment.

Claim 4

A disposable garment according to claim 1, wherein: the exterior marginal portion (32) is part of one layer (50) of a disposable garment, and the interior marginal (31) portion is a part of the same layer (50) of the garment folded-over to contact each spaced elastic element(30).

Claim 5

A disposable garment according to claim 1, wherein: each elastic element (30) has a circular cross-sectional shape.

Claim 6

A disposable garment according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein: the exterior and interior marginal portions (32,31) of material are joined to one another within each zone (34) between spaced elastic elements (30).

Claim 7

A disposable panty (10) comprising, in combination: an outer covert a bodyside liner (21) and an absorbent batt (23) therebetween arranged to provide a panty including a front portion (24) and a rear portionlinterconnected by a central crotch portion (26) and side seams (11) joining together contacting marginal sections of the front portion and rear portion to define a waist opening (12) and a pair of leg openings; an exterior marginal portion (32) of the outer cover (22) along each leg opening (13) and an interior marginal portion (31) of the bodyside liner (21) along each leg opening (13), each leg opening further including: (a) two or three spaced elastic elements; each having a cross-sectional shape having an aspect ratio in the range of 0.25 to 1 with its shortest axis in the range of about 0.25 to 3.2.mm long and an area in the range of about 0.5 to 8 mm 2 , (b) each elastic element (30) being joined to both the exterior marginal portion (32) of the outer cover (22) and the interior marginal portionlof the bodyside liner (21) along its respective leg opening (13) and (c) a zone (34) of the exterior marginal portion (32) of the outer covert and the interior marginal portion (31) of the ( bodyside liner (21) between adjacent spaced elastic elements (30) along each leg opening (13), each elastic element (30) being joined at its respective leg opening (13) in a stretched condition to provide an elasticized leg openingtwhen retracted.

Claim 8

A disposable panty (10) comprising, in combination: an outer covert a bodyside liner (21) and an absorbent batt (23) therebetween arranged to provide a panty including a front portion (24) and a rear portionlinterconnected by a central crotch portion (26) and side seams (11) joining together contacting marginal sections of the front portion and rear portion to define a waist opening (12) and a pair of leg openings; an exterior marginal portion (32) of the outer cover (22) along each leg opening (13) and an interior marginal portion (31) of the bodyside liner (21) along each leg opening (13), each leg opening further including: (a) two or three spaced elastic elements; each having a cross-sectional shape having an aspect ratio in the range of 0.25 to 1 with its shortest axis in the range of about 0.25 to 3.2.mm long and an area in the range of about 0.5 to 8 mm 2 , (b) each elastic element (30) being joined to both the exterior marginal portion (32) of the outer cover (22) and the interior marginal portionlof the bodyside liner (21) along its respective leg opening (13) and (c) a zone (34) of the exterior marginal portion (32) of the outer covert and the interior marginal portion (31) of the ( bodyside liner (21) between adjacent spaced elastic elements (30) along each leg opening (13), each elastic element (30) being joined at its respective leg opening (13) in a stretched condition to provide an elasticized leg openingtwhen retracted.

Claim 9

A disposable panty according to claim 6, further including: an exterior marginal portion (32) of the outer cover (22) and an interior marginal portion (31) of the bodyside linerlalong the waist opening (12), and an elastic ribbonljoined therebetween, the elastic ribbon having a pair of opposed flat sur- faces, one (12) joined to the exterior marginal portion of the outer cover (22) and the other (71) joined to the interior marginal portion of the bodyside liner (21).

Claim 10

A disposable panty according to claim 7 wherein the flat surfaces (71, 72) of the elastic ribbon (70) are in the range of about 9.5 to 19 mm wide and the elastic ribbon (70) is in the range of about 0.25 to 0.5 mm thick.