A disposable diaper having front and rear augmented waistband zones having a specified size and stiffness is disclosed. For relatively thinner, less bulky diapers of currently marketed designs, providing augmented waistband zones is believed to reduce mental and physical effort for the caregiver in application of the diaper. The augmented waistband zones provide a robust-feeling structure proximate the waist edges, which the caregiver may grasp at front and rear to adjust the diaper on the wearer. Caregiver perception of a need to reach deeper into the diaper structure to grasp it at a thicker area to tug at it is believed to be reduced.

The invention features a diaper apparatus that may be adaptable for use by users of different sizes, weights etc. where the apparatus may, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention include the use of flaps (ties) and/or chords for, among other things, fastening and adjustment.

An absorbent sanitary article includes a chassis having a front section and a rear section, a micro-hook front panel integrally formed on a portion of a backsheet in the front section of the chassis and two back side panels attached to the rear section of the chassis and having respective micro-loop areas configured for forming a hook-and-loop connection with the micro-hook front panel.

An absorbent article and compatible garments for use on infants, children, or incontinent individuals. The absorbent article comprises a front part (21), rear part (22), intermediate crotch part (24), and front and rear fastening devices (30A-30B, 28A-28D). The compatible garments comprise a waist belt with front and rear fastening devices (44A-44B, 46A-46D) and features such as sleeves for legs (62A-62B) or a skirt (72), such that when such a garment is placed on a wearer, the wearer's groin and buttocks are uncovered. The absorbent article is fastened to the waist belt of the garment to cover the wearer's groin and buttocks. Thus, the absorbent article can be quickly attached to, detached from, partially attached to, or partially detached from the garment without removing the garment from the wearer or restricting the wearer's position for diaper changes or access to a toilet. Since the absorbent article is compatible with a plurality of garments, such benefits remain regardless of climate, season, or stylistic choices.

The invention relates to a nonwoven laminated web (20) for making an elastic closure element (57) of a diaper (56) or an elastic shaping element (59) at the edge (58) of a diaper (56), having at least one laminate layer (21 and 22) of nonwoven textile (21 and 22) and a laminate layer (23) of an elastic film (23) adjacent thereto, the laminate layers (21 and 22, 23) being welded to one another at numerous spots (33) in a stretched state of the film (23). During welding, the film (23) is stretched in a central region (43) transverse to the longitudinal direction (L) of the nonwoven laminate (20) and is not stretched at the two longitudinal edge strips (50) in a width of 5-25% of the total width (G) of the film (23) in each case, so that, in the relaxed state of the film (23), the nonwoven laminate (20) forms folds (44) in the nonwoven layer (21 and 22) in the central region (43), which extend in the longitudinal direction (L) of the nonwoven laminate (20), and at the longitudinal edges (50, 51) has no folds in the nonwoven layer (21 and 22) but forms there two parallel, inelastic stiffening zones, the film (23) having a smooth, closed surface structure (49) at the longitudinal edge strips (50) and a wrinkled, furrowed surface structure (47) in the central region (43).

An absorbent article has a chassis having an outer cover at least in part defining the outer surface of the article, a pair of ears extending transversely outward from opposite sides of the chassis, and a fastening system comprising a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system. The secondary fastening system includes a secondary second fastening component located on each of the ears and a corresponding secondary first fastening component located on the outer surface of the article at a first waist portion. A ΔE value calculated using the Color Contrast Test between the secondary first fastening components uncovered by the ears and the outer cover being greater than 20.

Provided are a fastening member and a fastening piece for which an unpleasant texture and an incongruous appearance are significantly reduced, and that bring about an integrated feeling with the main body of a disposable article for wearing. A fastening segment includes a hook fastener and a base sheet. A hook height H1 of a hook is set to 45 μm to 150 μm, and a hook sheet thickness T2 is set to 45 μm to 75 μm. When in an L*a*b* color coordinate system, a color difference of L* is ΔL*, a color difference of a* is Δa*, and a color difference of b* is Δb*, a color difference ΔE between the hook fastener and the base sheet calculated using the ΔL*, the Δa* and the Δb*, is less than 5.5.

A disposable diaper having front and rear augmented waistband zones having a specified size and stiffness is disclosed. For relatively thinner, less bulky diapers of currently marketed designs, providing augmented waistband zones is believed to reduce mental and physical effort for the caregiver in application of the diaper. The augmented waistband zones provide a robust-feeling structure proximate the waist edges, which the caregiver may grasp at front and rear to adjust the diaper on the wearer. Caregiver perception of a need to reach deeper into the diaper structure to grasp it at a thicker area to tug at it is believed to be reduced.

An absorbent article includes: a sheet-type leakage-preventing body; absorbent body, at least one layer arranged on the leakage-preventing body top, which absorb fluids; pair of left and right floating leg gathers on the absorbent body top, extending in longitudinal direction from the main body front end of the absorbent article to the rear end, traversing a front body section, crotch part, and rear body section. Each floating leg gathers have a top and trailing parts adjoining the top part. Front and rear ends of the floating leg gathers are joined respectively to the vicinity of the front and rear end of the absorbent article main body. Trailing parts trail downwards from top parts towards the absorbent body. At least one part of the trailing parts of the left and right floating leg gathers is mutually connected in the lower end area forming a channel for bodily fluids inside trailing parts.

Configurable absorbent articles are provided. The absorbent articles may comprise a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent articles may comprise a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region extending intermediate the first waist region and the second waist region, and an outer cover material joined to the backsheet and forming a portion of a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article. The absorbent articles may comprise a pair of leg cuffs and a fully removable fastening member. The fastening member may comprise a first fastener on a first surface of the fastening member and positioned proximate to a first end and a second fastener on the first surface and positioned proximate to a second end. The absorbent articles may also comprise a wetness guard.