Disposable absorbent garments

Claim 2

A disposable absorbent garment comprising liquid-permeable top sheet (1), a liquid-impermeable back sheet (2), a liquid absorbent core (3) interposed between said sheets (1, 2), liquid-impermeable sideflaps (4) extending outwards from opposite side edges of said core, a first elastic member (5) within each of said sideflaps adjacent the outerside edge thereof, and a second elastic member (6) within each of said side flaps (4) at a location between said first elastic member (5) and said core (3): said sideflap (4) comprising (a) a first sheet (8) that is bonded to said top sheet (1) but not a part thereof, that has an inner portion that overlaps both a portion of said top sheet (1) and a portion of said absorbent core, that is porous but liquid impermeable, and that is located on the side of flap (4) that is destined to be in contact with the user's skin, and (b) a second sheet (9) that is a continuation of said liquid-impermeable back sheet (2) said first sheet (8) and second sheet (9) being joined together by elongated joining lines, a first elongated joining line (11) being located on one side of said second elastic member (6) and a second elongated joining line (12) being located on the other side of said elastic member (6), said first and second elongated joining lines (11,12) being spaced apart from each other by a distance of at least 20 mm, said second elastic member (6) being interposed between said first sheet (8) and second sheet (9) and being affixed only to said first sheet (8); whereby the portion of said first sheet (8) that is affixed to said second elastic member (6) rises with respect to the portion of the second sheet (9) that extends between said first and second elongated joining means (11, 12) and functions as a fulcrum when said second elastic member (6) contracts.

Claim 3

A garment according to claim 1 wherein said second elastic member (6) has a contraction stress of 70 to 700 g.

Claim 4

A garment according to claim 1 wherein said first sheet (8) is air-permeable and liquid-impermeable, and made of a material different from that of said topsheet (1).

Claim 5

A disposable absorbent garment comprising liquid-permeable top sheet (1), a liquid-impermeable back sheet (2), a liquid absorbent core (3) interposed between said sheets (1, 2), liquid-impermeable sideflaps (4) extending outwards from opposite side edges of said core, a first elastic member (5) within each of said sideflaps adjacent the outerside edge thereof, and a second elastic member (6) within each of said sideflaps (4) at a location between said first elastic member (5) and said core (3): said sideflap (4) comprising (a) a first sheet (8) that is bonded to said top sheet (1) but not a part thereof, that has an inner portion that overlaps both a portion of said top sheet (1) and a portion of said absorbent core, that is porous but liquid impermeable, and that is located on the side of flap (4) that is destined to be in contact with the user's skin, and (b) a second sheet (9) that is a continuation of said liquid-impermeable back sheet (2), said first sheet (8) and said underlying second sheet (9) being joined together by a plurality of elongated joining lines, that include at least one elongated joining line (10,11) located on the core side of said second elastic member (6) and at least one other elongated joining line (12) located on the side of said elastic member (6) away from said core, the elongated joining lines on opposite sides of said second elastic member being spaced apart from each other by a distance of at least 20 mm, said second elastic member (6) being interposed between said first sheet (8) and said underlying second sheet (9) and being affixed only to said first sheet (8); whereby the portion of said first sheet (8) that is affixed to said second elastic member (6) rises with respect to the portion of said underlying second sheet (9) that extends between said first and second elongated joining means (11, 12) and functions as a fulcrum when said second elastic member (6) contracts.

Claim 6

A disposable absorbent garment comprising liquid-permeable top sheet (1), a liquid-impermeable back sheet (2), a liquid absorbent core (3) interposed between said sheets (1, 2), liquid-impermeable sideflaps (4) extending outwards from opposite side edges of said core, a first elastic member (5) within each of said sideflaps adjacent the outerside edge thereof, and a second elastic member (6) within each of said sideflaps (4) at a location between said first elastic member (5) and said core (3): said sideflap (4) comprising (a) a first sheet (8) that is bonded to said top sheet (1) but not a part thereof, that has an inner portion that overlaps both a portion of said top sheet (1) and a portion of said absorbent core, that is porous but liquid impermeable, and that is located on the side of flap (4) that is destined to be in contact with the user's skin, and (b) a second sheet (9) that is a continuation of said liquid-impermeable back sheet (2), said first sheet (8) and said underlying second sheet (9) being joined together by a plurality of elongated joining lines, that include at least one elongated joining line (10,11) located on the core side of said second elastic member (6) and at least one other elongated joining line (12) located on the side of said elastic member (6) away from said core, the elongated joining lines on opposite sides of said second elastic member being spaced apart from each other by a distance of at least 20 mm, said second elastic member (6) being interposed between said first sheet (8) and said underlying second sheet (9) and being affixed only to said first sheet (8); whereby the portion of said first sheet (8) that is affixed to said second elastic member (6) rises with respect to the portion of said underlying second sheet (9) that extends between said first and second elongated joining means (11, 12) and functions as a fulcrum when said second elastic member (6) contracts.