A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on a first object in an opening provided on a second object. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. During the step of inserting the insert portion in the opening and/or during anchorage a clamping force is applied to opposing surfaces of the second object to prevent the second object from cracking or bulging.

In order to prevent degradation of appearance, prevent a decrease in flexibility, and improve non-elasticity in a non-stretchable region in an elastic film stretchable structure, the invention is characterized by having an elastic film stretchable structure (20X) formed by stacking an elastic film (30) between a first sheet layer (20A) and a second sheet layer (20B), wherein a region having the elastic film stretchable structure (20X) includes a non-stretchable region (70) and a stretchable region (80) provided at least at one side of the non-stretchable region (70) in a stretching and contracting direction, the stretchable region (80) being stretchable in the stretching and contracting direction, the first sheet layer (20A) and the second sheet layer (20B) are joined via through holes (31) penetrating the elastic film (30) at the large number of sheet bond portions (40) arranged at intervals, and the non-stretchable region (70) does not have a section in which the elastic film (30) linearly continues along the stretching and contracting direction, due to presence of the through holes (31), even though the elastic film (30) continues in the stretching and contracting direction.

A disposable wearable article includes an elastic film stretchable structure in which an elastic film is laminated between a first sheet layer and a second sheet layer. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are bonded to each other through holes passing through the elastic film with many bonded portions arranged at intervals. A region having the elastic film stretchable structure includes a stretchable region that elastically stretches and contracts together with the elastic film. The stretchable region includes a plurality of elastic films disposed so as to have an overlapping portion. The number of laminated layers of the elastic film in a region located in an intermediate portion of the stretchable region in an orthogonal direction (XD) orthogonal to a stretchable direction (ED) is different from that in each of second regions adjacent to both sides of the first region.

In order to prevent degradation of appearance, prevent a decrease in flexibility, and improve non-elasticity in a non-stretchable region in an elastic film stretchable structure, the invention is characterized by having an elastic film stretchable structure (20X) formed by stacking an elastic film (30) between a first sheet layer (20A) and a second sheet layer (20B), wherein a region having the elastic film stretchable structure (20X) includes a non-stretchable region (70) and a stretchable region (80) provided at least at one side of the non-stretchable region (70) in a stretching and contracting direction, the stretchable region (80) being stretchable in the stretching and contracting direction, the first sheet layer (20A) and the second sheet layer (20B) are joined via through holes (31) penetrating the elastic film (30) at the large number of sheet bond portions (40) arranged at intervals, and the non-stretchable region (70) does not have a section in which the elastic film (30) linearly continues along the stretching and contracting direction, due to presence of the through holes (31), even though the elastic film (30) continues in the stretching and contracting direction.

An elastic member has an elastic sheet stretchable structure in which an elastic sheet is interposed between a first sheet layer made of a nonwoven fabric and a second sheet layer made of a nonwoven fabric. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are welded through joint holes penetrating the elastic sheet at a plurality of sheet joined portions arranged at intervals, in which a region having the elastic sheet stretchable structure includes sheet joined portions having different shapes. In the sheet joined portions in the region having the elastic sheet stretchable structure, a reference bonding diameter is 0.2 mm or more, a maximum value of the reference bonding diameter is 1 to 3 times a minimum value thereof, and a circumference length is 1 to 15 times a length of a circumference of a circle whose diameter is the reference bonding diameter .

A chemical barrier fabric and a method of manufacturing the fabric is provided. The chemical barrier fabric includes at least first and second chemical barrier layers which have an interfacial region therebetween and which are intermittently point bonded providing a point-bonded area which is in the minority and an un-bonded area which is in the majority in the interfacial region. The chemical barrier layers typically comprise single layer polymer films and/or co-extruded layers. A non-woven layer may also be point-bonded to either the first or the second chemical barrier layer to give support to the fabric.

Apparatus (10) is for use in a cap applicator unit (12). The apparatus (10) comprises a spigot (14) comprising an elongate body (16) and a head (18) connected to one end of the elongate body (16), and an anvil (20) provided with a hole (22) therein, the elongate body (16) of the spigot (14) mounted in the hole (22) of the anvil (20). The size of the hole (22) of the anvil (20) is sufficiently greater than the size of the elongate body (16) of the spigot (14) to permit angular movement of the spigot (14) relative to the anvil (20). The apparatus (10) further comprises at least one tensioning device (24) and (36) arranged to provide a force tensioning the spigot (14) against the anvil (20).

A method of bonding a connector to a first object includes providing the first object and the connector, the connector extending between a proximal end and a distal end and has a connector body that forms a distally facing punching edge. At least one of the connector and of the first object includes a thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method further includes driving the connector into the first object and coupling mechanical vibration into the connector until the connector extends through a portion of the first object from a proximal side to a distal side thereof and material of the first object is punched out by the connector body, and until at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows relative to the first object and the connector body while the connector body remains solid. Thereafter, the thermoplastic material is allowed to re-solidify.

An absorbent article includes a stretchable sheet that is a laminate of a non-stretchable first sheet layer, a non-stretchable second sheet layer, and an elastic film disposed between the first and second sheet layers, and the elastic film is stretchable at least in the front-back direction. The first sheet layer is bonded to the second sheet layer at a large number of joints directly or through the elastic film and the joints are arrayed at intervals. The stretchable sheet is contracted by a contraction force of the elastic film and can be stretched by an external force applied in the front-back direction. The leg portion is also contracted by a contraction force of the elastic film and can be stretched by an external force applied in the width direction. The leg portions and adjoined regions have different joint area rates and thereby have different stretching stresses.

Apparatus and methods are provided to allow for creation an elastic laminate. Non-stretched elastic can be laid at peaks over a nonwoven layer contained in valleys and atop peaks. Stretched elastic can be laid over tented nonwoven to create nonwoven tunnels when a second nonwoven is laid atop the first nonwoven and elastic, and the tunnels resist un-stretching of stretched elastic strands by frictional or obstruction forces. A laminated material comprising a first and second layer of material bonded at spaced apart bond sites is disclosed, with a plurality of elastic strands disposed in a non-linear manner between said first and second layer of material, so that said strands meander in a cross-machine direction and traverse a machine direction line, restraining movement of the strands by frictional forces between the strands and the non-woven layers.