SANITARY ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SANITARY ARTICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a sanitary article, with an absorption body (10) and with leg openings, wherein elongate elasticating means (12) curved in an arc shape are fixed on both sides outside the absorption body (10) in the product transverse direction (16), resulting in elastication of the leg openings (18), wherein a planar material portion (6) facing towards the body comprises a nonwoven (8), characterized in that the nonwoven (8), in the area of the elasticating means (12) on both sides, and for fixing the latter, has, on its side (22) facing away from the body, a first adhesive coating (24) applied in a strip shape over the whole surface and extending in the product longitudinal direction (14), and in that the nonwoven (8), in the area of the elasticating means (12) on both sides, and for fixing the latter, has, on its side (22) facing away from the body on both sides in the product transverse direction (16) outside the first adhesive coating (24), a second adhesive coating (26) applied in a strip shape over the whole surface and extending in the product longitudinal direction (14), and in that the second adhesive coating (26) is shorter, to the front in the product longitudinal direction (14) and to the rear in the product longitudinal direction (14), than the first adhesive coating (24), i.e. ends before the latter, and in that the elongate elasticating means (12) are fixed by the first and second adhesive coatings (24, 26) between the nonwoven (8) and the planar material portion (4).

Claims

1. A sanitary article, having a product longitudinal direction (14) and a product transverse direction (16), having an absorption body (10) and having bilateral marginal regions (20) which delimit leg openings or leg cutouts (18), wherein, on both sides outside of the absorption body (10) in the product transverse direction (16), and along at least a part of the bilateral marginal regions (20), elongated elasticating means (12) are provided and fixed between fiat material portions (4, 6) of the sanitary article, so that an elastication along at least a part of the leg openings or leg cutouts (18) results, wherein the elasticating means (12) run in an arcuately curved path along at least a part of the leg openings or leg cutouts (18), and wherein a body-facing flat material portion (6) comprises a nonwoven fabric (8), characterized in that the nonwoven fabric (8), in the region of the bilateral elasticating means (12) and for the fixing thereof, has on its body-remote side (22) a strip-shaped first adhesive coating (24), which is applied over the whole surface and is extended in the product longitudinal direction (14), and in that the nonwoven fabric, (8), in the region of the bilateral elasticating means (12) and for the fixing thereof, has on its body-remote side (22), on both sides outside of the first adhesive coating (24) in the product transverse direction (16), a strip-shaped second adhesive coating (26), which is applied over the whole surface and is extended in the product longitudinal direction (14) and which in the product transverse direction (16) partially overlaps with the first adhesive coating (24) or directly adjoins the first adhesive coating, (24) or is outwardly distanced from the first adhesive coating (24) in the product transverse direction (16), and in that the second adhesive coating (26), to the fore in the product longitudinal direction (14) and to the rear in the product longitudinal direction (14), is respectively shorter than the first adhesive coating (24), and as a consequence of lateral contouring of the bilateral marginal regions (20) for the formation of the leg openings or leg cutouts (18) can also be interrupted or contoured, and in that the elongated elasticating means (12) are fixed by the first and the second adhesive coating (24, 26) between the nonwoven fabric (8) and, in relation to the nonwoven fabric (8), body-remote flat material portion (4).

2. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the it arcuately curved path of the bilateral elasticating means (12) runs at least through the first adhesive coating (24) and is fixed.

3. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a linear path of the elasticating means, which adjoins the arcuate path of the elasticating means (12), runs only through the second adhesive coating and is fixed.

4. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first adhesive coating (24) has in the product transverse direction (16) a width of at least 20 mm.

5. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and/or the second adhesive coating (24, 26) has a weight per unit area of at least 1 g/m.sup.2.

6. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second adhesive coating (26) has in the product transverse direction (16) a width of at least 5 mm and of no more than 30 mm.

7. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second adhesive coating (26), to the fore in the product longitudinal direction (14) and to the rear in the product longitudinal direction (14), is respectively shorter by a distance (D) which amounts to at least 15% and no more than 35% of the total length (L.sub.1) of the first adhesive coating (24) in the product longitudinal direction (14).

8. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the nonwoven fabric (8) has on its body-remote side (22), and on both sides outside of the second adhesive coating (26) and outside of the bilateral elasticating means (12) in the product transverse direction (16), a strip-shaped third adhesive coating (36) applied over the whole surface and extended in the product longitudinal direction (14).

9. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that, in the product transverse direction (16) between the first and the third adhesive coating (24, 36) and at the rear and front in the product longitudinal direction (14), a channel-shaped adhesive-free portion (28) is farmed between the nonwoven fabric (8) and the flat material portion (4) arranged, for this purpose, facing away from the body.

10. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the third adhesive coating (36), at least in some sections, is configured marginally flush with longitudinal margins (34) of the nonwoven fabric (8).

11. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second adhesive coating (26), through the lateral contouring of the bilateral marginal regions (20) to form leg openings or leg cutouts (18), is in some sections configured marginally flush with longitudinal margins (34) of the nonwoven fabric (8).

12. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second adhesive coating (24, 26) differ from each other by way of different adhesive materials and/or different weight per unit area.

13. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the nonwoven fabric (8), on its body-remote side (22) and in the product transverse direction (16), has as a fourth adhesive coating (46) adhesive tracks (48) applied between the bilateral first adhesive coating (24) over the whole surface and extended in the product longitudinal direction (14) and preferably in parallel.

14. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the width of the adhesive tracks (48) of the fourth adhesive coating (46) is 1-5 mm, and/or in that the distance apart of the adhesive tracks of the fourth adhesive coating is 2-20 mm.

15. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the nonwoven fabric (8) comprises a spunbonded material, a laminate of spunbonded layers (S) and meltblown layers (M) or a staple fiber nonwoven material, or combinations thereof, and has in particular a weight per unit area of at least 6 g/m.sup.2.

16. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the body-remote flat material portion (4) comprises a thermoplastic foil or film layer, an in particular microporous foil, or a nonwoven fabric-foil laminate.

17. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, for the fixing of the elasticating means (12), only the first and the second adhesive coating (24, 26) is used.

18. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and/or a third and/or a fourth adhesive coating (24, 36, 46) extend in the product longitudinal direction (14) up to longitudinal ends of the sanitary article.

19. The sanitary article as claimed, in claim 1, characterized by a layered structure (2) comprising the absorption body (10) and forming the bilateral marginal regions (20), in which the elongated elasticating means (12) are provided along at least a part of the leg openings or leg cutouts (18).

20. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 19, having a front abdominal portion (60) and a rear spinal portion (62), which are formed by separate components that arc spared apart in the product longitudinal direction (14), yet, for the formation of an abdominal and spinal band passing in the transverse direction or hip circumferential direction, are factory-connected to each other at bilateral side seam regions (76) with a hip opening that is closed in the hip circumferential direction, and having a crotch portion (64), which comprises the absorption body (10) and extends in the product longitudinal direction (14) between the abdominal portion (60) and the spinal portion (62) and bridges these and is non-detachably joined to the abdominal portion (60) and to the spinal portion (62) in a respective overlap region, wherein the abdominal portion (60), the spinal portion (62) and the crotch portion (64) jointly delimit the leg openings (18), wherein in the abdominal portion (60) and in the spinal portion (62) are provided further elasticating means (66), which run in the product transverse direction (16) and areally elasticate the abdominal portion (60) and the spinal portion (62), and wherein the crotch portion (64) forms the layered structure (2) comprising the absorption body (10).

21. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that the first and/or a third and/or the a fourth adhesive coating (24, 36, 46) extend in the product longitudinal direction (14) up to longitudinal ends of the layered structure (2) comprising the absorption body (10).

22. A method for producing a sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated elasticating means (12), along at least a part of the marginal regions (20) delimiting the bilateral leg openings or leg cutouts (18), are fixed between flat material portions (4, 6) of the sanitary article, comprising the following features: feeding of an endless nonwoven fabric (8), forming the body facing flat material portion (6), in a machine direction (13) which corresponds to the later product longitudinal direction (14), continuous all-over application of the first adhesive coating (24), in the machine direction (13), to the body-remote side (22) of the nonwoven fabric (8) in the bilateral marginal regions (20), clocked all-over application of the second adhesive coating (26), in the machine direction (13), to the body-remote side of the nonwoven fabric (8) in the bilateral marginal regions (20) outside of the first adhesive coating (24) in the product transverse direction (16), such that the second adhesive coating (26), in the product transverse direction (16), partially overlaps with the first adhesive coating (24) or directly adjoins the first adhesive coating (24), or is distanced from the first adhesive coating (24) in the product transverse direction (16), wherein the second adhesive coating (26) is applied in a clocked manner such that, to the front and rear in the product longitudinal direction (14), it is shorter than the first adhesive coating (24), feeding of an endless flat material web, forming the body-remote flat material portion (4), in the machine direction (13), feeding of the bilateral elasticating means (2) in the machine direction (13) between the nonwoven fabric (8) and the body-remote fiat material web, at least in some sections, in the region the first and the second adhesive coating (24, 26), bringing together of the endless nonwoven fabric (8) and the body-remote fiat material web, with the interposition of the elasticating means (12), and fixing of the elasticating means (12) by the first and second adhesive coating (24, 26), deelastication of the elasticating means (12), in a region (28) which has remained free of adhesive in the course of the clocking of the second adhesive coating (26), in the product longitudinal direction (14).

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, further characterized by all-over application of a third adhesive coating (36), in the machine direction (13), to the body-remote side (22) of the nonwoven fabric (8) in the bilateral marginal regions (20) outside of the second adhesive coating (26) and outside of the bilateral elasticating means (12) in the product transverse direction (16).

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, further characterized by all-over application of a fourth adhesive coating (46) in the machine direction (13) to the body-remote side (22) of the nonwoven fabric (8) onto a region in the product transverse direction (16) between the bilateral first adhesive coating (24) in the form of adjacently extended adhesive tracks (48).

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the third adhesive coating (36) and/or the fourth adhesive coating (46) are applied continuously in the machine direction (13).

26. The method as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that, for the fixing of the elasticating means (12), only the first and the second adhesive coating (24, 26) are used and the body-remote flat material web remains uncoated in this region.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that, for the application of the first and the second adhesive coating (24, 26), in particular also for the application of the third and/or fourth adhesive coating (36, 46), an adhesive coating apparatus (42, 44), which in closest contact to the nonwoven fabric delivers adhesive material from, in particular, slit-shaped adhesive discharge openings, is used.

28. The method as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that, after the nonwoven fabric (8) and the body-remote flat material web have been brought together, contour cuts, conducted in the machine direction (13), are made on both sides in order to form the leg openings or the leg cutouts (18).

29. The method as claimed claim 22, characterized in that an endless web of layered structures (2), respectively comprising an absorption body (10), is herewith produced, which endless web comprises the body-remote flat material web and the body-facing nonwoven fabric (8) and an endless succession of absorption bodies (10), fed one after another in the machine direction (13), which are conveyed and arranged between the body-remote flat material web and the body-facing nonwoven fabric (8), and in that, transversely to the machine direction (13), a separation cut for the formation of the layered structures (2) is performed, in that the separated layered structures (2) are rotated through 90 and are brought into bridging arrangement with an abdominal portion web (60) and a spinal portion web (62) and are non-detachably fixed in the overlap region with the abdominal portion web (60) and the spinal portion web (64).

30. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and/or the second adhesive coating (24, 26) has a weight per unit area of no more than 20 g/m.sup.2.

31. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that additionally the first adhesive coating (24), through the lateral contouring of the bilateral marginal regions (20) to form leg openings or leg cutouts (18), are in some sections configured marginally flush with longitudinal margins (34) of the nonwoven fabric (8).

32. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the nonwoven fabric (8) has in particular a weight per unit area of no more than 30 g/m.sup.2.

33. The sanitary article as claimed in claim 1 is a diaper, a pants-type diaper or an incontinence pad.

34. The method as claimed in claim 24, further characterized by all-over application of a fourth adhesive coating (46) in the machine direction (13) to the body-remote side (22) of the nonwoven fabric (8) onto a region in the product transverse direction (16) between the bilateral first adhesive coating (24) in the form of adjacently extended adhesive tracks (48) having a width of 1-5 mm and at a distance apart of the adhesive tracks of 2-20 mm.

35. The method as claimed in claim 22, further characterized by all-over application of a fourth adhesive coating (46) in the machine direction (13) to the body-remote side (22) of the nonwoven fabric (8) onto a region in the product transverse direction (16) between the bilateral first adhesive coating (24) in the form of adjacently extended adhesive tracks (48).

Description

[0054] In the drawing:

[0055] FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematic view or illustration the production method according to the invention;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a top view of layered structure according to the invention (schematically for representation of the strip-shaped adhesive coating);

[0057] FIGS. 4a-c show a top view of a further embodiment of a layered structure according to the invention with two sectional views (schematically for representation of the strip-shaped adhesive coating);

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a top view of sanitary article according to the invention, having a crotch portion in accordance with the layered structure according to FIG. 3;

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the sanitary article according to FIG. 5;

[0060] FIG. 7 shows a top view of a further sanitary article according to the invention, having a crotch portion in accordance with the layered structure according to FIG. 4.

[0061] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the method according to the invention for producing layered structures 2, comprising an absorption body, in endless succession, which layered structures are represented in separated form in FIGS. 3 and 4. For instance, these layered structures 2 can also be constituted by sanitary articles which are inherently ready for use, for instance in the form of incontinence pads or incontinence liners orfollowing fitting of lateral closure tabs or lateral portions with closure tabsby openable and/or closable diapers. The layered structures produced as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprise at least the following components: a body-remote flat material portion 4, in particular in the form of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic foil material, a body-facing flat material portion 6 in the form of a nonwoven fabric 8, an absorption body 10 conveyed between the flat material portion 4 and the nonwoven fabric 8, and elasticating means 12, extended on both sides of the absorption body, which, like the absorption body 10, are accommodated in a sandwich-like manner between the flat material portion 4 and the nonwoven fabric 8 and are fixed by an adhesive coating (yet to be described). Reference symbol 13 denotes a machine direction or feed direction, which is aligned with, a product longitudinal direction 14 and is orthogonal to a product transverse direction 16. Although the elasticating means 12, during the production process, extend in the machine direction 13, they are not continuously linear, but extend in an arcuately curved path along at least a part of the leg openings or leg cutouts 18.

[0062] For the fixing of the elasticating means 12 in marginal regions 20 between the flat material portion 4 and the, with respect thereto, body-facing nonwoven fabric 8, areally applied adhesive is used. For this, a strip-shaped first adhesive coating 24, which is extended in the product longitudinal direction 14, is applied to a body-remote side 22 of the nonwoven fabric 8 is applied over the whole surface. The first adhesive coating 24, which is applied on both sides of the absorption body 10 in the region of the intended arrangement of the elasticating means 12, is applied in the machine direction 13 preferably endlessly, i.e. in continuous passage, to the nonwoven fabric 8.

[0063] Outside of the first adhesive coating 24 in the product transverse direction 16, a second adhesive coating 26 is applied, though not in continuous passage in the machine direction 13, but in a clocked, i.e. interrupted, manner. This second adhesive coating 26 is applied in a clocked manner to the nonwoven fabric 8 such that, both to the front and rear in the product longitudinal direction 14, it ends before the first adhesive coating 24, i.e. is shorter than the latter in the product longitudinal direction 14. It can best be seen from FIG. 3 that the second adhesive coating 26, at the front and rear respectively in the product longitudinal direction 14, is shorter by a distance D than the first adhesive coating 24. The total length thereof is denoted by L1. The total length of the second adhesive coating 26 is marked in FIG. 3 with L2. Advantageously, the distance D at front and rear respectively amounts to between 15% and 30% of the total length L1 of the first adhesive coating 24. In this way, in the layered structure 2, an adhesive-free region 28 of length D is formed between the body-remote flat material portion 4 and the nonwoven fabric 8 in the product longitudinal direction 14. If, as represented in FIG. 2, the elasticating means 12 are guided through these adhesive-free regions 28 in the machine direction 13 or the product longitudinal direction 14, then they are there not fixed with the chassis-forming shell materials, i.e. the flat material portion 4 and the nonwoven fabric 8. This proves advantageous, since the elasticating means 12 in this adhesive-free region 28 can be deelasticated relatively easily by process engineering means, by being cut at just one place or being otherwise stripped of their elasticating effect. Since the elasticating means 12 have been conveyed in the pretensioned state between the shell materials and have been fixed in a laminate-like manner in the glue bed of the first and the second adhesive coating 24, 26, they can contract, when cut, into the configuration represented in FIGS. 2 to 4. A cutting station for cutting through the elasticating means 12, and preferably at the same time separating the layered structures 2, is denoted in FIG. 2 by the reference symbol 30. A cutting station for contouring the leg openings or leg cutouts 18 bears the reference symbol 32. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that, by means of the cutting station 32, a contour cut is conducted through the first and the second adhesive coating 24, 26, so that, in the case represented by way of example, the first and the second adhesive coating 24, 26 are configured marginally flush with longitudinal margins 34 of the nonwoven fabric 8 in the region of the contour cut.

[0064] In the preferred embodiment of the invention which is represented by way of example, a strip-shaped third adhesive coating 36, which is likewise applied over the whole surface and is extended in the product longitudinal direction 14, is provided onto the body remote side 22 of the nonwoven fabric 8 on both sides outside of the second adhesive coating 26 and outside of the bilateral elasticating means 12 in the product transverse direction 16. The third adhesive coating 36 preferably runs marginally flush with the straight longitudinal margins 34 of the nonwoven fabric prior to the making of the contour cuts for the formation of the leg openings or leg cutouts 18. The flat material portion 4 and the nonwoven fabric 8 are hereby connected to each other continuously, i.e. without interruption, in the product longitudinal direction 14. The third adhesive coating 36 fulfills, however, a further function. It delimits the aforementioned adhesive-free region 28. Thus the respective adhesive-free region 28 is delimited from the inside in the product transverse direction 16 by the respective first adhesive coating 24, and from the outside in the product transverse direction 16 by the third adhesive coating 36. In this way is formed an elongated channel-shaped portion, in which the elasticating means 12 are guided unfixed, and initially in continuous passage, in the machine direction 13. They can therefore be raised and cut in a manner which is known per se, or be cut in the course of a separation cut without the liquid-impermeable flat material portion 4 being hereby affected.

[0065] By reference symbol 38 is denoted a nip roll pair the region of the first to third adhesive coating 24, 26, 36 or in the region of the elasticating means 12. By reference symbol 40 are indicated deflection pins, by means of which the elasticating means 12 can be guided back and forth for the formation of the arcuately curved path in the product transverse direction 16. By reference symbol 42 is denoted in FIG. 2 an adhesive coating apparatus for the first adhesive coating 24 and, in the case represented by way of example, also for the third adhesive coating 36. For the second adhesive coating 26, a further adhesive coating apparatus 44 is represented. The adhesive coating apparatuses are here constituted by contact gluing apparatuses, which have a slit-shaped adhesive discharge opening extended in the product transverse direction 16. The adhesive coating apparatuses 42 and 44 can be configured as described in the introduction.

[0066] FIG. 4a shows a layered structure 2 corresponding to FIG. 3, wherein a fourth adhesive coating 46, to be precise in the form of a plurality of adhesive tracks 48 extended, in the case represented by way of example, in parallel and in the product longitudinal direction 14, is additionally provided between the, left and the right first adhesive coating 24 in the product transverse direction 16. These adhesive tracks 48 are once again applied in the shape of a strip and over the whole surface, but they advantageously and preferably have a smaller width than the first adhesive coating 24. They serve to fix the nonwoven fabric 8 with an underlying layer, i.e. in particular with the absorption body 10 and with the body-remote flat material portion 4 outside of the absorption body 10 FIGS. 4b and 4c show strongly schematic, non-true-to-scale sectional views, with sectional plane b-b and c-c, respectively, in FIG. 4a, which are intended to illustrate the respective adhesive coating.

[0067] Finally, FIG. 5 shows a top view of a further sanitary article according to the invention in pants shape in the flatly spread state, i.e. prior to the connection of lateral longitudinal marginal regions. The pants-shaped sanitary article represented in FIGS. 5 and 6 is made up of three components, namely a front abdominal portion 60, a rear spinal portion 62 and a crotch portion 64 bridging these two in the product longitudinal direction 14 In the case represented by way of example, the crotch portion 64 is constituted by the layered structure 2 described in the preceding figures. The crotch portion 64, i.e. the layered structure 2, is fixed in the respective overlap region with the abdominal portion 60 and the spinal portion 62 by means of adhesive. The manner, arrangement and configuration of the adhesive fixing is described in DE 102007 055524 A1, and the relevant content of this DE 102007055524 A1 is incorporated by reference into the present Application. This manner, arrangement and configuration of the adhesive fixing is preferred, but not essential. Further preferably, the arrangement and configuration of the adhesive fixing can be realized as described in DE 102012208393 A1, and the relevant content of this DE 102012208393 A1 is incorporated by reference into the present Application.

[0068] It can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 that in the abdominal portion 60 and in the spinal portion 62 are respectively provided elasticating means 66, running in the product transverse direction 16 or in the hip circumferential direction and in parallel, which elasticate the abdominal portion 60 or the spinal portion 62 areally in the product transverse direction 16. In a region 68, 70, facing the leg openings 18, of the abdominal portion 60 and spinal portion 62 respectively are provided elasticating means 72, 74, which, starting from lateral longitudinal seam regions 76, widen in a fan-like manner in the direction of a longitudinal center axis 78. The configuration and arrangement of the elasticating means 66 running in the hip circumferential direction and of the arcuately fanning elasticating means 72, 74 are described in DE 102007055524 A1, so that the relevant content of DE 102007055524 A1 is incorporated by reference into the present Application. This also applies to the stress distribution in the elasticating means 72 and 74 and to the, in the direction of the arrows 80 (FIG. 6), decreasing surface restoring forces in those regions 68, 70 of the abdominal portion 60 and spinal portion 62, respectively, which are facing the leg openings 18.

[0069] Finally, FIG. 7 shows a pants-shaped sanitary article in accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the crotch portion 64 is configured in accordance with the layered structure according to FIGS. 4a to c, i.e. additionally has a fourth adhesive coating 46 having adhesive tracks 48 extended in the product longitudinal direction 14. Further differences from the sanitary article according to FIG. 6 are non-existent.

[0070] In the case of the pants-shaped sanitary article according to FIGS. 5 to 7, it can be seen that the respective second adhesive coating 26, in the product longitudinal direction 14, ends approximately at the start of the overlap of crotch portion 64 and abdominal portion 60 or of crotch portion 64 and spinal portion 62. This means that the elasticating means 12 assigned to the leg openings 18 produce, approximately up to this region, an elastication of the marginal regions 20 delimiting the leg openings 18. It further proves advantageous that the elasticating means 12, though they are fed endlessly in the machine direction 13 and are laminated, do not elasticate the adhesive-free region 28 of the layered structure 2, as a consequence of the cutting operation, in the sanitary article according to FIGS. 5 to 7, this adhesive-free region 28 is arranged in overlap with the abdominal portion 60 or spinal portion 62. In this way, the elasticating means 12, though they are fed endlessly prior to the cutting operation, have no effect which causes disturbance and interferes with the elasticating means 66, 72 and 74 of the abdominal portion 66 and spinal portion 64.