Elasticized absorbent articles containing weakened elasticized portions and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method comprises applying a first amount of adhesive to a first portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, applying a second amount of adhesive to a second portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, covering the elastic strand with either the first surface of the first web of material or a first surface of a second web of material to form an elasticized web. The elasticized web comprises a heavy bonding region and a light bonding region, wherein the heavy bonding region comprises a greater area density of adhesive than the light bond region. Finally, the method may further comprise partially weakening the waist panel elastic strand at least at one location within the second region.

A continuous stream of elements or parts of garments is formed by providing a continuous first substrate and optionally a continuous fusible substrate; positioning the continuous fusible substrate on the continuous first substrate to form a combination; fusing the combination to form a first fused combination; folding the first fused combination to form a folded fused combination; and then pressing the folded fused combination to form the continuous stream, wherein the continuous stream includes multiple individual elements or parts. The elements or parts may be collar stands or waistbands.

The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for embedding a continuous elastic cord (11) along an edge of a continuous plastic sheet (12). The apparatus comprises an adhesive applicator device operable to apply an adhesive (16) along the edge of the plastic sheet, a folder device (18, 20, 34) operable to provide a folded edge of the plastic sheet (12) so that the adhesive is within the folded edge, and a feed device (24) having a tension device (30) operable to feed the elastic cord (11) in tension into the folded edge so that the elastic cord (11) is in contact with the adhesive of the edge. A bonding device (38) is operable to activate the adhesive of the folded edge to bond the elastic cord (11) in tension to the adhesive within the folded edge and to bond the folded edge to the plastic sheet (12). The invention also relates to a plastic sheet having an elastic cord at an edge thereof, a method for manufacture of said plastic sheet, and products or covers made from said plastic sheet such as oversleeves, overshoes, hair nets or bin liners etc.

An element for a garment includes a fused combination formed by a fusible substrate fused on a first substrate at a first temperature, and then folded and then pressed at a second temperature, wherein said second temperature is lower than said first temperature.

A system for producing a continuous stream of elements of garments stream includes: a first fusing press to fuse the combination at a first temperature to form a first fused combination from a combination formed by a continuous fusible substrate on a continuous first substrate; at least one folder positioned to take the first fused combination from the first fusing press and to form a folded fused combination; and a second fusing press positioned to take the folded fused combination from the at least one folder and to form the continuous stream of elements of garments by pressing the folded fused combination at a second temperature. The second temperature is lower than the first temperature, and the continuous stream of elements of garments comprises multiple individual elements of multiple garments.

Elasticized absorbent articles containing weakened elasticized portions and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method comprises applying a first amount of adhesive to a first portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, applying a second amount of adhesive to a second portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, covering the elastic strand with either the first surface of the first web of material or a first surface of a second web of material to form an elasticized web. The elasticized web comprises a heavy bonding region and a light bonding region, wherein the heavy bonding region comprises a greater area density of adhesive than the light bond region. Finally, the method may further comprise partially weakening the waist panel elastic strand at least at one location within the second region.

A system for producing a continuous stream of elements of garments stream includes: a first fusing press to fuse the combination at a first temperature to form a first fused combination from a combination formed by a continuous fusible substrate on a continuous first substrate; at least one folder positioned to take the first fused combination from the first fusing press and to form a folded fused combination; and a second fusing press positioned to take the folded fused combination from the at least one folder and to form the continuous stream of elements of garments by pressing the folded fused combination at a second temperature. The second temperature is lower than the first temperature, and the continuous stream of elements of garments comprises multiple individual elements of multiple garments.