Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a closure tape tab 10 with a proximal and a distal end portions 20, 30 connected by an inner portion 40 from which mechanical fastening elements 48 protrude. The present disclosure further relates to such a closure tape 100, optionally wound into a roll 110, and to a method of making such a closure tape 100 and such closure tape tabs 10. The present disclosure moreover relates to an absorbent article 115 such as a disposable diaper 115 having such closure tape tabs 10.
Claims
1. A closure tape tab for fastening of an absorbent article on the body of a person, comprising: a proximal end portion and a distal end portion being connected by an inner tab portion, wherein the inner tab portion is formed from a backing comprising mechanical fastening elements protruding from one of the first or the second major surface thereof.
2. The closure tape tab according to claim 1, wherein the proximal and the distal end portions form discrete portions.
3. The closure tape tab according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second major surface of the inner tab portion is not entirely covered by the proximal and the distal end portions such that the proximal and the distal end portions are spaced from each other.
4. The closure tape tab according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical fastening elements are male fastening elements comprising a stem protruding from one of the first or second major surface of the inner tab portion.
5. The closure tape tab according to claim 4, wherein the stems comprise an enlarged section which is positioned at the end of the stem opposite of the surface of the backing.
6. The closure tape tab according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical fastening elements protrude from the second major surface of the inner tab portion.
7. The closure tape tab according to claim 1, wherein said proximal and distal end portions are connected to the first major surface of the inner tab portion.
8. The closure tape tab according to claim 1, wherein the second major surfaces of the proximal and distal end portions each comprise an adhesive layer.
9. The closure tape tab according to claim 8, wherein the second major surfaces of the proximal and distal end portions are connected to the first major surface of the inner tab portion through the adhesive layers.
10. The closure tape tab according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal extension of the distal end portion is smaller than the longitudinal extension of the proximal end portion.
11. The closure tape tab according to claim 1, wherein the closure tape tab comprises two proximal portions connected by an elastic portion.
12. A closure tape comprising a plurality of closure tape tabs according to claim 1 in an endless form from which individual closure tape tabs can be cut, optionally wound up into a roll.
13. A method of making a closure tape from which closure tape tabs according to claim 1 can be cut, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a first tape portion forming a proximal end portion; b. providing a second tape portion forming a distal end portion; c. connecting said first and second tape portions by means of an inner tab portion having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface, wherein said proximal and distal end portions are connected to one of the major surfaces thereof, wherein the proximal and the distal end portions form discrete portions, preferably such that opposing ends of said proximal and distal end portions are spaced from each other; wherein the inner tab portion is formed from a backing comprising mechanical fastening elements, protruding from one of the first or the second major surface thereof, and d. optionally winding up the tape into a roll.
14. The method of making closure tape tabs from a closure tape, the method comprising the step of providing a closure tape according to claim 12, optionally the step of unwinding the tape from the roll, the method additionally comprising the step of applying cuts in cross direction to form individual tape tabs.
15. An absorbent article such as a disposable diaper comprising at least one closure tape tab (10) according to claim 1.
Description
[0042] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following Figures exemplifying particular embodiments of the invention:
[0043] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a closure tape tab according to the present disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a closure tape tab according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a closure tape tab according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a closure tape tab according to yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a closure tape tab according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a closure tape tab according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0049] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a roll of closure tape and a roll according to the present disclosure as well as of a side view of a closure tape tab according to the present disclosure cut from the tape.
[0050] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper comprising a closure tape tab according to the present disclosure attached to each of the longitudinal edges of the article.
[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of closure tape tab 10 according to the present disclosure in a side view. The closure tape tab 10 comprises a proximal end 12 and a proximal end portion 20 extending therefrom. The proximal end portion 20 further comprises a backing 22 and a first and second major surface 24, 26. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an adhesive layer 60 is arranged on the second major side 26. The closure tape tab 10 further comprises—opposite to the proximal end 12—a distal end 14 and a distal end portion 30 extending therefrom towards the proximal end. The distal end portion 30 further comprises a backing 32 and a first and second major surface 34, 36. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an adhesive layer 62 is arranged on the second major side 36.
[0052] The proximal and the distal end portions 20, 30 are connected by an inner tab portion 40 formed from a backing 42, comprising a first and second major surface 44, 46. In the embodiment shown, the inner tab portion 40 is connected to the proximal and distal end portion 20, 30 by adhesive layers 60, 62, whereby the attachment portions 52, 54 of the inner tab portion 40 contact with its first major side 44 the adhesive layers 60, 62 in an attachment region 28, 38 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30. The proximal end portion 20 constitutes the attachment portion or manufacturer's end of the closure tape tab 10 with which the closure tape tab is attached to an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper. The proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 do not cover the first major surface 44 of the inner tab portion 40 entirely such that the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 are spaced from each other. In other words, the areal extension of the attachment regions 52, 54 is smaller than that of the entire major surface 44 of the inner tab portion 40 and thus, a gap 50 is provided between the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30. The inner tab portion 40 further comprises mechanical fastening elements 46 protruding from the second major surface 46 of the inner tab portion 40.
[0053] In the embodiment shown, the mechanical fastening elements 48 are male fastening elements 48 having a stem and an enlarged section positioned at the end of the stem opposite to the second major surface 46. Consequently, the adhesives 60, 62 and the mechanical fastening elements 48 are on the opposite major surfaces 44, 46 of the inner tab portion 40. Thereby, the inner tab portion 40 constitutes the fastening portion of the closure tape tab 10. The closure tape tab 10 further comprises a finger lift 64, which is arranged on the adhesive layer 62 of the distal end portion 30 at the region opposite to the attachment region 54 of the inner tab portion 40. The finger lift 64 covers the adhesive layer 62 and facilitates easier gripping of the closure tape tab 10 by a user of the absorbent article 115 (not shown in FIG. 1, see FIG. 8) to which the closure tape tab 10 may be attached. The distal end portion 30 constitutes the user's end portion of the closure tape tab 10 at which a user of the absorbent article, to which the closure tape tab 10 may be attached, can grip the closure tape tab 10 for fastening or unfastening the article.
[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the closure tape tab 10 according to the present disclosure. The closure tape tab 10 is similar to the closure tape tab 10 as shown in FIG. 1 except that the extension of the adhesive layer 60, 62 is different. The adhesive layers 60, 62 are only provided on the second major sides 26, 36 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 in the attachment regions 28, 38 thereof. Thus, most of the second major surfaces 26, 36 is free of an adhesive in this embodiment. There is no finger lift necessary in such a configuration because the distal end 14 can easily be gripped by a user of the absorbent article 115 (not shown in FIG. 1, see FIG. 8) to which the closure tape tab 10 may be attached as there is no adhesive in this region.
[0055] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the closure tape tab 10 according to the present disclosure. The closure tape tab 10 is similar to the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 except that the adhesive layers 60, 62 are provided on the first major surfaces 24, 34 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 of the closure tape tab 10 contacting the second major surface 46 of the inner tab portion 40 in the attachment regions 52, 54 thereof. Similar to FIG. 2, the adhesive layers 60, 62 are only provided in the attachment regions 28, 38 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 of the closure tape tab 10, but different to FIG. 2 on the first major surfaces 24, 34. Similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner tab portion 40 is formed from a backing 42 comprising mechanical fastening elements 48 protruding from the second major surface 46 of the inner tab portion 40. Consequently, the adhesives 60, 62 and the mechanical fastening elements 48 are on the same major surface, i. e. the second major surface 46, of the inner tab portion 40. In the embodiment shown, the mechanical fastening elements 48 are male fastening elements 48 having a stem and an enlarged section positioned at the end of the stem opposite to the major surface 46. Most of the first major surfaces 24, 34 is free of an adhesive in this embodiment and no finger lift is necessary in this embodiment. The second major surfaces 26, 36 are entirely free of adhesive in this embodiment.
[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the closure tape tab 10 according to the present disclosure. Here, the proximal end portion 20 was replaced by a first and second proximal end portion 20a, 20b connected by an elastic portion 70. The first and second proximal end portion comprises a first and second backing 22a, 22b which replaces the backing 22 of the proximal end portion 20 in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The first and second proximal end portions 20a, 20b comprise a first and second major surface 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, wherein the adhesive layers 60a, 60b are provided on the second major surfaces 26a, 26b of the first and second proximal end portion 20a, 20b. Similar to the connection between second proximal and the distal end portions 20b, 30 of the closure tape tab 10, the connection between the elastic portion 70 and the first and second proximal end portions 20a, 20b is achieved by the adhesive layers 60a, 60b on the second major side 26a, 26b of the first and second proximal end portions 20a, 20b in the attachment regions 78a, 78b being in contact with the attachment regions 82, 84 of the first major surface 74 of the elastic portion 70. Although adhesive layers 60a, 60b extend onto the entire second major surfaces 26a, 26b of the first and second proximal portions 20a, 20b, it is also conceivable that the adhesive layers 60a, 60b only extends in the attachment regions 78a, 78b of the second major surface 26a, 26b of the first and second proximal end portions 20a, 20b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the first and second proximal end portions 20a, 20b do not cover the first major surface 74 of the elastic portion 70 such that the first and second proximal end portions 20a, 20b are spaced from each other. In other words, the areal extension of the attachment regions 78a, 78b is smaller than that of the entire major surface 74 of the elastic portion 70 and thus, a gap 80 is provided between the first and second proximal end portions 20a, 20b. It is also conceivable that the first and second proximal portions are such arranged that no gap is provided (not shown). The closure tape tab 10 may further comprise a finger lift 64, which is omitted in FIG. 4.
[0057] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the closure tape tab 10 according to the present disclosure. The closure tape tab 10 is similar to the closure tape tab 10 as shown in FIG. 1 except that the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 are connected by the inner tab portion 40 in a different way. As shown, the attachment regions 28, 38 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 cover the first major surface 44 of the inner tab portion 40 entirely such that the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 are not spaced from each other. Thus, no gap is provided between the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Instead, the embodiment of FIG. 5 shows that the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 are close to each other or even touch each other as indicated by 50′. Consequently, the attachment portions 28, 38 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 and the respective attachment regions 52, 54 on the inner tab portion 40 are larger in area compared to FIG. 1.
[0058] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the closure tape tab 10 according to the present disclosure. The closure tape tab 10 is similar to the closure tape tab 10 as shown in FIG. 2 except that the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 are connected by the inner tab portion 40 in a different way. As shown, the attachment regions 28, 38 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 cover the first major surface 44 of the inner tab portion 40 entirely such that the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 are not spaced from each other. Thus, no gap is provided between the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 as shown in FIG. 2. Instead, the embodiment of FIG. 5 shows that the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 are close to each other or even touch each other as indicated by 50′. Consequently, the attachment portions 28, 38 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 and the respective attachment regions 52, 54 on the inner tab portion 40 are larger in area compared to FIG. 1. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 has some similarity to that shown in FIG. 5, except that the extension of the adhesive layers 60, 62 is similar to the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the adhesive layers 60, 62 are only provided on the second major sides 26, 36 of the proximal and distal end portions 20, 30 in the attachment regions 28, 38 thereof. Thus, most of the second major surfaces 26, 36 is free of an adhesive in this embodiment. There is no finger lift necessary in such a configuration because the distal end 14 can easily be gripped by a user of the absorbent article 115 (not shown in FIG. 1, see FIG. 8) to which the closure tape tab 10 may be attached as there is no adhesive in this region.
[0059] FIG. 7 illustrates a roll 110 of closure tape 100 having a proximal end 112 and a distal end 114. The roll 110 and the closure tape 100, respectively, comprise a proximal end portion web 120 and a distal end portion web 130 being connected by an inner tab portion web 140. The proximal end portion web 120 extends from the proximal end 112 towards the distal end 114 and the distal end portion web 130 extends from the distal end 114 towards the proximal end 112. The inner tab portion web 140 is arranged between the proximal end portion web 120 and the distal end portion web 130 and connects the proximal and distal end portion webs 120, 130 by means of adhesive layers 160, 162. Adhesive layers 160, 162 are arranged on the second major sides of the proximal and distal portion webs 120, 130 and are in contact with the first major surface 144 of the inner tab portion web 140. FIG. 7 further shows several layers of closure tape 100 wound up into the roll 110 and a length of closure tape 100 unwound from the roll 110. The inner tab portion web 140 is formed from a backing 142 and further comprises mechanical fastening elements 46 protruding from the second major surface 146 of the inner tab portion web 140. In the embodiment shown, the mechanical fastening elements 48 are male fastening elements 48 having a stem and an enlarged section positioned at the end of the stem opposite to the major surface 146. Consequently, the adhesives 160, 162 contacting the first major surface 144 of the inner tab portion web 140 and the mechanical fastening elements 48 protruding from the second major surface 146 are on the different major surfaces 144, 146 of the inner tab portion web 140. The closure tape 100 may further comprise a web of finger lifts, which is omitted in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 further shows in a perspective view a closure tape tab 10 cut from the closure tape 100 in cross direction (CD), i. e. transverse to the main extension direction or machine direction (MD) of the closure tape 100. The closure tape tab 10 is identical to the one as shown in FIG. 1, except that the finger lift 64, which is shown in FIG. 1, was omitted in FIG. 7.
[0060] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an absorbent article 115 such as a disposable diaper 115. The diaper 115 comprises an inner surface forming a topsheet 190, an outer surface forming a backsheet 192 and an absorbent core in between (not shown here). Typically, the outer surface or backsheet 192 of the diaper is impervious to liquids and is preferably made of a flexible thin plastic film or a fibrous material such as a non-woven which is rendered liquid impervious by suitable treatment. The outer surface or backsheet 192 preferably has a cloth-like feel. A suitable backsheet 192 may be, for example, a spunbond polypropylene non-woven of approximately 14-35 g/m.sup.2 basis weight. The inner surface or topsheet 190, respectively, is liquid pervious and preferably made of from a wide range of materials such as porous foams, reticulated foams, aperture films, natural fibers (e. g. wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e. g. polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene fibers) or from combinations of natural and synthetic fibers. Preferably, the topsheet 190 is made from a hydrophobic material to isolate the wearer's skin from liquids retained in the absorbent core. A suitable topsheet may, for example, be a spun-bond or carded polypropylene non-woven of approximately 15-25 g/m.sup.2 basis weight. The topsheet 190 and the backsheet 192 may be joined to each other directly or indirectly by various means comprising, for example, pressure-sensitive adhesives, hot-melt adhesives or other adhesives, ultrasonic bonding and/or heat and/or pressure.
[0061] The diaper 115 further comprises a rear and front transverse edge 170, 180, from which the rear and front waist regions 172, 182 extend. The diaper 115 further comprises longitudinal side edges 150, 152 extending from the rear transverse edge 170 to the front transverse edge 180. A closure tape tab 10 according to the present disclosure is arranged at each longitudinal side 150, 152 at the rear waist region 172. The closure tape tabs 10 comprise a proximal end portion 20 and a distal end portion 30 being connected by an inner tab portion 40 which is formed from a backing 42 (not indicated here) comprising mechanical fastening elements 48 protruding the second major surface 46 of the inner tab portion 40. The closure tape tabs 10 are attached to the outer surface 192 of the diaper 115 in the rear waist region 172 at the longitudinal side edges 150, 152 of the diaper 115 with their proximal end portions 20 as indicated by a dotted line. The distal end 12 and the distal end portion 30 extend outward from the longitudinal edges 150, 152 of the disposable diaper 115. In use, the inner tab portion 40 of the closure tape tab 10 will be brought into contact with the backsheet 192 in the front wait region 182 such that the male fastening elements 48 of the inner tab portion 40 engage with the fibrous material or fabric (not shown) of the backsheet 192.
