A transversely extensible elastic laminar web material comprising a first and a second web material each of which defines a first and a second distal region adjacent to corresponding longitudinal side edges and a central region between the aforesaid distal regions, at least one web of elastomeric material applied to these central regions of the first and second web materials and a plurality of connection formations applied to at least one distal region of said first and second web materials and projecting from a respective longitudinal edge. In the transversely extensible elastic laminar web material, the elastomeric web material and the connection formations are interposed between said first and second web materials and are joined thereto by mechanical welds.

Elastic laminate with hooks comprising an upper layer (2) of nonwoven fabric extending in width in a direction CD and in length in a direction MD, a web (5) with hooks (10) comprising a strip, in particular made of thermoplastic material, from which hooks protrude, and which is attached onto the upper face of the upper layer of nonwoven fabric, the hooks being intended to engage with loops according to a hook-and-loop fastening system, an elastic film (3; 4) extending in the direction CD over a width less than or equal to the width of the upper layer (2) of nonwoven fabric, the upper face of the elastic film (3; 4) being attached to the lower side of the upper layer of nonwoven fabric, the web with hooks extending between respective side end points, left-hand and right-hand respectively, and characterised in that one (Pg6; Pd6) of the two side end points (Pg6, Pd6), left-hand and right-hand respectively, of the web (5) with hooks is located vertically in line with a point of the elastic film.

This manufacturing method of a molded surface fastener involves a primary molding step for forming a primary molded body and a secondary molding step for compressing a provisional element of the primary molded body while heating the same. A molding apparatus is provided with a mold member comprising multiple penetration holes and multiple concave portions, whereof each penetration hole communicates to at least one concave portion; in the primary molding step, the molding apparatus is used to form a primary molded body comprising a provisional element having a primary stem portion and a pawl portion is formed from the protruded portion by compressing the provisional element. By this means, it is possible to stably manufacture a molded surface fastener that has an engaging element comprising a pawl portion that projects from the outer peripheral edge of an engaging head portion.

An absorbent article has a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions. The article also includes a primary fastening system and secondary fastening system. The primary fastening system has a primary fastening component disposed in the second waist region and a primary receiving component disposed in the first waist region and operatively engageable with the primary fastening component. The secondary fastening system includes a secondary fastening component disposed in the first waist region and a secondary receiving component disposed in the second waist region and operatively engageable with the secondary fastening component. The secondary fastening component has a periphery having a maximum longitudinal dimension, L, a maximum lateral dimension, W, an inboard-most extent and an outboard-most extent; and the maximum longitudinal dimension, L, is disposed laterally outboard of the inboard-most extent.

The composite elastic material (22) includes an elastic layer (4) and a structured film layer (15) having first and second opposing surfaces, with the second surface bonded to the elastic layer (4). The first surface of the structured film layer (15) has upstanding male fastening elements. The structured film layer (15) is gathered such that the upstanding male fastening elements point in multiple directions. The composite elastic material (22) can also be called a stretch-bonded laminate, which include an elastic layer (4) stretch-bonded to a second surface of a structured film layer (15). A first surface of the structured film layer (15), opposite the second surface, has upstanding male fastening elements. A process for making the composite elastic material (22) is also described. An absorbent article including the composite elastic material (22) is also described.

A material engagement element sheet formed from a sheet material (10) incorporates a pattern of material engagement element slots (14), each slot containing an array of material engagement elements (20) which have a tapered distal section (30), a flange section (34) and a proximal section (32) which is attached to an edge of the slots in the sheet material. The material engagement element sheet material may be a single layer of shape memory material, or the sheet material may be a composite of different layers some of which may include pre-strained shape memory materials with distinguishable activation parameters. The material engagement element slot configuration allows for the simultaneous processing of the material engagement elements. The material engagement elements may be processed such that they are in a state that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material engagement element sheet. The configuration of the flexible base material and the pattern of the material engagement element slots may be used in order to manufacture various material engagement element devices including a material engagement element pad device (166), a cylindrical material engagement element device (104, 105), and a spherical material engagement element device (152).

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 flexible sensing panel includes a flexible substrate having first and second major surfaces, first and second separated side edges, and first and second ends, the flexible substrate being at least partly disposed between a flexible protective layer and a flexible fastening layer, and at least one sensing element being disposed on the flexible substrate. The protective layer is secured to the first major surface of the flexible substrate and is folded over the first and second side edges onto the second major surface of the flexible substrate and secured thereto to position at least part of the first and second side edges within the so formed folds, and wherein the fastening layer is at least partly disposed on the second major surface of the flexible substrate and secured thereto.

In this molded surface fastener, an engaging element includes a columnar stem portion, and micro pawl portions protruding outward from an upper end outer peripheral edge of the stem portion in a plan view of the engaging elements. A pawl width dimension of the micro pawl portions is smaller than a line segment connecting two points on the upper end outer peripheral edge of the stem portion. The micro pawl portions protrude toward a base portion. This molded surface fastener has a high peel strength and a shear strength with respect to a female surface fastener.

A sensor system for detecting a property of or within an absorbent article may comprise an absorbent article and a sensor. The absorbent article may comprise a garment-facing layer and an absorbent assembly. The sensor may be disposed in and/or on the absorbent article. The sensor may be separable from the absorbent article. The sensor may be configured to sense a change in condition within the absorbent article.