Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Walter Andrew Mattingly

Robert Lee Popp

Thomas Earl Williamson

Joseph Daniel Coenen

Jack Lee Couillard

Michael Donald Sperl

Valerie Victoria Finch

Heather Schenck Mortell

Kenneth Bradley Close

Charles Allen Smith

Scott Richard Lange

David Jon Baer

Lisa LaRae Bushman

David James VanEperen

Stephen Harding Primm

Sherry Ann VanDyke

Valerie V Finch

Sherry A Vandyke

Absorbent articles are disclosed having extended waistbands. More particularly, the absorbent articles include a back waistband and/or a front waistband that encircle a portion of the circumference of the waist opening. The absorbent article includes a front portion attached to a back portion by a pair of stretchable side areas. Each of the side areas are made from at least two panels that are connected together along a vertical attachment area. In accordance with the present disclosure, a waistband is incorporated into the article that extends over the entire front portion or the entire back portion and terminates at opposite ends on opposing side areas. Each end of the waistband, however, terminates prior to the vertical attachment areas leaving a gap in between. The presence of the gap has been found to provide various benefits and advantages including improved stretch properties for donning the article.

Absorbent article having a functional and partially encircling waistband

A process for providing a package of prefastened articles includes manufacturing an article having a chassis with an absorbent assembly located between an outer cover and a body side liner. The chassis also includes a first waist region and a second waist region; a refastenable seam joining a first distal portion of the first waist region to a first distal portion of the second waist region; a first refastenable bond connecting the first distal portion of the first waist region and the first distal portion of the second waist region. The first distal portion of the first waist region is folded and bonded to itself with a releasable bond having a first releasable bond peel strength. The first refastenable bond peel strength is greater than the first releasable bond peel strength. The process also includes rupturing the releasable bond and packaging the article.

Combination of refastenable and releasable bonds

A refastenable, pant-like garment, including a chassis including a first waist region and a second waist region, together defining a waist opening and first and second leg openings. The garment also includes a first refastenable seam joining a first distal portion of the first waist region to a first distal portion of the second waist region. The first refastenable seam includes a first refastenable bond connecting the first distal portion of the first waist region and the first distal portion of the second waist region having a first refastenable bond peel strength.

A method for bonding a strip, such as a leg elastic or the like, to an opening on a web of material. The method includes providing a web that includes at least one opening and defines at least a first bonding surface adjacent each opening. For each opening the method includes: deforming the web to modify the shape of the opening, providing a strip defining a second bonding surface, bonding together at least portions of the first and second bonding surfaces of the modified opening and relaxing the web.

Method for bonding surfaces on a web

The present invention provides a process for heat treatment of non-woven composite elastic material including a non-woven elastic layer; a non-woven gatherable layer. The process includes stretching the material, heating the material and cooling the material. The material has a softer more cloth-like feel.

Method for controlling retraction of composite materials

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Walter Andrew Mattingly