The Procter Gamble Company

Mark D Midkiff

James C Horney

David M Sageser

Stanley G Juergens

Isao Noda

Hugh Joseph O'Donnell

Michael Gary Nease

Sarah Beth Gross

James Arthur Keighley

Donald L Gerber

A dispersible absorbent product comprises a mechanically weakened fibrous web. The dispersible absorbent product can absorb a sufficient amount of fluid without becoming overloaded and suffering from leakage, and is dispersible using a standard toilet. The mechanically weakened regions of the web enhance the dispersibility of the product. Additionally, the dispersible absorbent products may be pre-moistened with a composition. The pre-moistened products are stable in storage, easily dispersible down a toilet, and deliver cleaning, conditioning, and like benefits. Methods of making such dispersible absorbent products are also disclosed.

Dispersible absorbent products and methods of manufacture and use

Provided are highly dispersible absorbent products, comprising an absorbent structure and preferably a water soluble barrier layer, wherein the absorbent products have a high rate of dispersibility, can exhibit low residual by-product in urinals upon flushing, resist strikethrough of absorbed fluid onto the hand of the user, and can absorb a sufficient amount of fluid without becoming overloaded or leaking. In one embodiment, provided is a ring rolled cellulosic sheet having a water soluble polymeric film laminated thereto. Also provided is a method of making such dispersible absorbent products comprising mechanically weakening an absorbent structure. Also provided are packaged products comprising a package and a plurality of dispersible absorbent products or articles. Also provided is a method for absorbing residual urine that can be both discreet and convenient, comprising absorbing residual urine subsequent to urination with a dispersible absorbent product of the present invention and depositing product in a toilet or preferably a urinal.

A method for manufacturing side panels for use with disposable articles including the following steps: providing a web of material in a machine direction, the web having activation zones and designated final cut regions; activating the activation zones; making a series of intermediate cuts in the web, each of the intermediate cuts extending across at least a portion of one of the activation zones; making a folded web by folding the web along an axis that is generally parallel to said machine direction; and cutting the folded web in the designated final cut regions to provide individual extensible side panels.

Method for manufacturing side panels for disposable articles

A process for making a wearable, absorbent article is described wherein two longitudinally extending barrier leg cuffs are attached to a chassis and the barrier leg cuffs are joined to the article so that they are directed inwardly toward a longitudinally extending centerline in the first waist region of the article and directed outwardly away from the longitudinally extending centerline in the second waist region of the article. The method describes the cuffs as being first attached in the first waist region and then in the second waist region in one embodiment and, in another embodiment, being attached in the second waist region first and then in the first waist region of the article. A process is also described for making a wearable, absorbent article wherein the barrier leg cuffs are attached to the article outboard of the longitudinally extending centerline in both the first waist and second waist regions of the article and wherein the barrier leg cuffs are joined partially to the article in the crotch region.

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Fairfield, OH, United States of America

Mark D Midkiff