An absorbent article includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a fully removable fastening member configured to join a portion of the first waist region to the second waist region. The fastening member includes a first end region comprising a first end, a second end region comprising a second end, a first fastener on a first surface of the fastening member and in the first end region, and a second fastener on the first surface and in the second end region. The fastening member includes a grasp region either partially laterally outboard of the first fastener or laterally outboard of the first fastener in the first end region. The grasp region has a different physical property than a remainder of the fastening member.

The present disclosure relates to one or a combination of an absorbent article's chassis, inner leg cuffs, outer leg cuffs, ear panels, side panels, waistbands, and belts that may comprise one or more pluralities of tightly spaced (less than 4 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and less than 1 mm) and/or very fine (less than 300, less than 200, less than 100 dtex) and/or low strain (less than 300%, less than 200%, less than 100%) elastics to deliver low pressure less than 1 psi (according to the conditions defined by the Pressure-Under-Strand method below) under the elastics, while providing adequate modulus of (between about 2 gf/mm and 15 gf/mm) to make the article easy to apply and to comfortably maintain the article in place on the wearer, even with a loaded core (holding at least 50 mls of liquid), to provide for the advantages described above.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making elastomeric laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. Aspects of the methods for assembling elastomeric laminates may utilize elastic strands supplied from beams that may be joined with first and second substrates, and may be configured to carry out various types of operations, such as bonding and splicing operations.

The present disclosure relates to one or a combination of an absorbent article's chassis, inner leg cuffs, outer leg cuffs, ear panels, side panels, waistbands, and belts that may comprise one or more pluralities of tightly spaced (less than 4 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and less than 1 mm) and/or very fine (less than 300, less than 200, less than 100 dtex) and/or low strain (less than 300%, less than 200%, less than 100%) elastics to deliver low pressure less than 1 psi (according to the conditions defined by the Pressure-Under-Strand method below) under the elastics, while providing adequate modulus of (between about 2 gf/mm and 15 gf/mm) to make the article easy to apply and to comfortably maintain the article in place on the wearer, even with a loaded core (holding at least 50 mls of liquid), to provide for the advantages described above.

The present disclosure relates to methods for assembling elastomeric laminates, wherein elastic material may be stretched and joined with either or both first and second substrates. First spools are rotated to unwind first elastic strands from a first unwinder in a machine direction. The first elastic strands are positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate to form an elastomeric laminate. Before the first elastic strands are completely unwound from the rotating first spools, second spools are rotated to unwind second elastic strands from a second unwinder. Subsequently, the advancement of the first elastic strands from the first unwinder is discontinued. Thus, the elastomeric laminate assembly process may continue uninterrupted while switching from an initially utilized elastic material drawn from the first spools to a subsequently utilized elastic material drawn from the second spools.

The present disclosure relates to methods for assembling elastomeric laminates, wherein elastic material may be stretched and joined with either or both first and second substrates. First spools are rotated to unwind first elastic strands from a first unwinder in a machine direction. The first elastic strands are positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate to form an elastomeric laminate. Before the first elastic strands are completely unwound from the rotating first spools, second spools are rotated to unwind second elastic strands from a second unwinder. Subsequently, the advancement of the first elastic strands from the first unwinder is discontinued. Thus, the elastomeric laminate assembly process may continue uninterrupted while switching from an initially utilized elastic material drawn from the first spools to a subsequently utilized elastic material drawn from the second spools.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for making elastomeric laminates with deactivated regions that may be used as components of absorbent articles. The methods and apparatuses may be configured with a pattern roll and a pressing surface adjacent the pattern roll. The pattern roll may include a bonding surface and a protuberance. As the pattern roll rotates, first and second substrates are welded together between the bonding surface and the pressing surface to create bonds between the first and second substrates. As the pattern roll continues to rotate, the first and second substrates and one or more stretched elastic strands are compressed between the pressing surface and the protuberance to sever the one or more stretched elastic strands to create deactivated regions in the elastomeric laminate. The processes and apparatuses may be configured to help prevent ends of the severed elastic strands from retracting in an uncontrolled fashion.

Various fastening tape closure assemblies are described. The closure tapes are useful in the manufacture of disposable articles, and particularly disposable diapers. The closure tapes generally include a fastening component, an extension component, and a bonding component. The tape systems provide a new folding configuration and reduced adhesive along a face of the extension component. Also described are disposable articles utilizing the tape closure assemblies.

A disposable diaper 1 has an elasticized leg cuff 10 on each longitudinally extending, lateral side of the crotch portion C. The elasticized leg cuff 10 includes an elastic member fixing sheet 5, an elastic member 6, an inner sheet 31, and an outer sheet 32 in order from the skin facing side. The inner sheet 31 and the outer sheet 32 are bonded to each other via a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced bonds 7. The elastic member 6 is located between the elastic member fixing sheet 5 and the inner sheet 31 and arranged at a location that does not overlap the bonds 7.

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.