A disposable, wearable article can be used for collecting a sample and performing urinalysis. The article incorporates a test port feature to simplify this function. The test port has a resealable cover that can be used to selectively expose an aperture through the backsheet of the disposable article. The test port is used to position test devices, such as urine test strips to urine collected in the disposable article.

The following disclosure presents a wearable reusable shell, configured to hold an absorbent article, for use particularly in economically disadvantaged communities and/or communities with a water shortage. The wearable reusable shell comprises a base having a pair of wings extending from a center portion, an inner layer positioned along the center portion of the base, and an outer layer positioned along the center portion of the base and on top of the inner layer. Extending over the outer layer is at least one band configured to hold an disposable absorbent article in place. The present disclosure also presents a hybrid sanitary napkin (and a kit therefor) and methods of making and using a wearable reusable shell.

The article includes at least a first layer having first and second major surfaces and a second layer adjacent the second major surface of the first layer. The first major surface of the first layer is at least a portion of a visible, outer surface of the article. At least a portion of the first layer is a see-through thermoplastic film that has a first color other than white. The second layer includes a microporous film having an opaque, microporous region and a nonporous region. When the opaque, microporous region and the nonporous region are seen through the first layer, they create an appearance on the outer surface of two different colors or two different shades of the same color. A method of making the article is also described.

A disposable wearable absorbent article comprises a chassis having an absorbent core and first and second side panels extending transversally outwards towards respective outer edges. Each of the first and second side panels comprises a mechanical fastening material affixed to an outer end portion of the panel whereby, in use, the first and second side panels can extend around a user's waist to couple the first and second side panels to the chassis. Each of the side panels is gathered in a longitudinal direction to form at least one pleat extending in the transverse direction, and comprises a binding material affixed to respective side panels to maintain each of the first and second side panels in a gathered configuration. A method for forming disposable wearable absorbent articles is also disclosed.

An absorbent article for wearing about the lower torso of a wearer includes a first waist region having a first waist edge, a second waist region having a second waist edge, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions. The article further includes a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, and a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. A waist gasketing element is disposed in one of the first or the second waist regions and joined to the chassis in a chassis attachment region. The waist gasketing element comprises an outboard lateral edge and an inboard lateral edge. The chassis attachment region comprises a first zone proximate to the outboard lateral edge and a second zone disposed longitudinally inboard of the first zone. Each of the first and the second zones comprise one or more chassis attachment bonds. The first zone comprises a first total basis weight and the second zone comprises a second total basis weight, wherein the second total basis weight is greater than the first total basis weight.

A disposable sanitary napkin includes a main body and a pair of bridged flaps. The main body includes an absorbent system, a topsheet, and a backsheet, and it has a pair of side edges extending along the length thereof. The bridged flaps include a first straight edge, a second, shape-cut edge defining a projecting portion, and a bridging segment of a release liner having at least one zone of adhesive configured for attachment to the projecting portion of each bridged flap. Each bridged flap is attached to the main body with the first, substantially straight edge of each shaped strip aligned with a corresponding side edge of the main body, the bridged flaps are disposed over the topsheet, and each side flap is releasable from the bridging segment of the release liner.

A device for applying pieces to absorbent articles includes a supporting shaft rotating an axis; anvils rotating about the axis; a cutting unit operating with an anvil contact surface defining a cutting station for cutting a web into pieces; pads, each having a retaining surface for a piece, are moved about the axis for conveying a piece from the cutting station to a releasing station for release onto a substrate. Each pad rotates for varying the orientation from the cutting station, where the larger side of the pad is parallel to feed of the web, to the releasing station, where the larger side of the pad is transversal to the feed of the receiving substrate, and vice versa. Each pad translates parallel to the pad axis, away from and towards the shaft axis. Each pad has an oscillating movement about its own axis.

The method includes providing a thermoplastic web having mechanical fastening elements and a nonlinear line of weakness that extends predominantly in a first direction and demarcates nonlinear edges of two sub-webs but does not sever the thermoplastic web. The method further includes severing the thermoplastic web at the nonlinear line of weakness into the two sub-webs and joining the two sub-webs to a carrier to form the laminate. The two sub-webs are separated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Severing the thermoplastic web and joining the two sub-webs to the carrier are carried out in-line without offsetting the two sub-webs in the first direction.

A folded absorbent article includes an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid-permeable topsheet and a liquid-impermeable backsheet. The absorbent article defines, in an unfolded and planar state, a longitudinal center line and a transverse center line. Each transverse side of the absorbent article is folded along a respective longitudinal fold line, such that each of first and second transversely opposed side edges are folded onto a topsheet surface of the absorbent article thereby forming a firstly folded absorbent article. The firstly folded absorbent article is thereafter folded along a first transverse fold line located in the region of the transverse center line thereby forming a secondly folded absorbent article. Finally, the secondly folded absorbent article is folded along a second transverse fold line located approximately in the middle between the transverse center line and a waist edge thereby forming a thirdly folded absorbent article.

An absorbent article having a main body having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core sandwiched between the topsheet and the backsheet is disclosed. The main body has longitudinal and transversal axes. The article has two wings extending asymmetrically outwardly from a crotch portion of the main body in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis. The wings are provided with means for fastening them to a garment when folded over the main body and towards the longitudinal axis. Each wing has an outer edge which defines at least one arc of a circle having a radius coinciding with a section of the outer edge. The section extends between a first point and a second point along the outer edge where the arc no longer coincides with the outer edge. The radius is between 40-500 mm. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the absorbent article.