An apparatus for assisting a caregiver with aligning an absorbent article chassis and side panels with a supine wearer's hips, spine and leg opening. The apparatus includes a complementary mechanical fastener portion for engaging with an absorbent article complementary mechanical fastener portion. To align the apparatus and absorbent article assembly, a caregiver, utilizing a grasping element positions the assembly beneath a supine wearer with fewer incidents of ripping and tearing of absorbent article side panels and fasteners prior to application.

An absorbent article comprises a chassis having a belt portion extending therefrom. The belt portion comprises a side edge, a waist opening edge, a leg opening edge, first and second substrates engaged with each other, and elastic elements disposed intermediate the first substrate and the second substrate. The belt portion also comprises a first texture zone comprising a first portion of the substrates and the elastic strands and disposed adjacent to the side edge and the waist opening edge and a second texture zone comprising a second portion of the substrates and the elastic elements and disposed adjacent to the side edge and the leg opening edge. The first texture zone extends at least partially along a first lateral extent of the belt portion and the second texture zone extends at least partially along a second lateral extent of the belt portion.

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to an absorbent article comprising a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and a core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent article comprises a belt portion extending from the chassis. The belt portion comprises a first substrate, a second substrate joined to the first substrate, and a plurality of elongate elastic elements disposed at least partially intermediate the first substrate and the second substrate. The belt portion comprises a texture zone having a texture ratio of greater than about 5.

An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; and a chassis having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The article also includes a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of the first or second waist regions. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.

A method of forming a disposable product includes feeding an incoming web of ear material, engaging the web with a rotating anvil, cutting ears from the web via the rotating anvil and interaction thereof with a corresponding die, so as to form pairs of ears having complimentary and nested ear shapes, and coupling the ears to at least one of a wing and a web of chassis material. In feeding the incoming web of ear material, the speed of the web is selectively varied between at least a first speed and a second speed, with the web being fed to the rotating die and anvil at the first speed to result in the cut ear shapes having a first height and the web being fed to the rotating die and anvil at the second speed to result in the cut ear shapes having a second height.

The present invention provides a method of providing a disposable product with a contoured leg opening. In this method at least one chip is removed from at least one ear of a disposable product. The chip may be removed from an ear prior to attaching the ear to the chassis web. Alternatively, the chip may be removed from the ear after the ear is attached to the chassis web.

An absorbent article including a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate is provided. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the absorbent article chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of a first or second waist region. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.

A diaper support garment for a four-legged animal comprises an article of animal clothing shaped to substantially cover fore and midsection body areas of a four-legged animal without covering or interfering with the waste product discharge areas of the animal; a closable utility envelope for defining at least one storage compartment which is removably secured to the article of animal clothing for helping to prevent displacement and slippage of a disposable diaper from a hindquarter area of the four-legged animal when the disposable diaper is worn in combination with the primary protective garment; the closable utility pocket being provided with a closure flap to seal the at least one storage compartment to conceal and store for deployment when needed at least one tethered diaper coupler for securely gripping and helping to maintain the disposable diaper in an intended animal protective position for capturing and collecting animal waste products discharged from the four-legged animal.

A diaper support garment for a four-legged animal comprises an article of animal clothing shaped to substantially cover fore and midsection body areas of a four-legged animal without covering or interfering with the waste product discharge areas of the animal; a closable utility envelope for defining at least one storage compartment which is removably secured to the article of animal clothing for helping to prevent displacement and slippage of a disposable diaper from a hindquarter area of the four-legged animal when the disposable diaper is worn in combination with the primary protective garment; the closable utility pocket being provided with a closure flap to seal the at least one storage compartment to conceal and store for deployment when needed at least one tethered diaper coupler for securely gripping and helping to maintain the disposable diaper in an intended animal protective position for capturing and collecting animal waste products discharged from the four-legged animal.

A urinary incontinence device for animals comprising a main panel with a first wing, center section, second wing, and crotch section that are laterally allied to form a single rectangular shape. The wings, center section and crotch section are comprised of three layers of fabric cut from the same pattern, including an outer waterproof cover, an intermediate absorbent layer, and an inner wicking layer. The invention further comprises a removable absorption pod comprised of a waterproof outer holder and one or more absorbent cloths contained within the waterproof outer holder. A pair of suspender strips extends perpendicularly from a front edge of the first and second wings and are configured to attach to a harness. Each suspender strap terminates in a removable harness adapter, which is attached to the suspender strap via a quick-release connector.