Absorbent article and method and apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article having a weak path

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an absorbent article including an elastic laminate, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for forming an absorbent article having an elastic laminate in a front and / or rear waist region having a weak path.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles, and more particularly to methods and apparatuses for forming absorbent articles having front and / or rear waist regions that include one or more weak paths.

Background Art

[0002] Various types of articles, such as diapers and other absorbent articles, can be assembled by adding components to a continuous advancing material web along an assembly line and / or otherwise modifying the web. For example, in some processes, an advancing material web is combined with another advancing material web. In other examples, individual components created from an advancing material web are combined with the advancing material web and then these are combined with other advancing material webs. In some examples, individual components created from the advancing web(s) are combined with other individual components created from other advancing webs. The webs and components of materials used to manufacture diapers can include a backsheet, a topsheet, leg cuffs, waist bands, absorbent core components, front and / or rear ears, fastening components, and various types of elastic webs and components such as front and / or rear waist panels, leg elastics, barrier leg cuff elastics, extended side panels, and waist elastics. Once the desired components are assembled, the advancing web(s) and components are subjected to a final knife cut and the web(s) are separated into individual diapers or other absorbent articles.

[0003] Some absorbent articles have components that include an elastomeric laminate. Such an elastomeric laminate can include an elastic material bonded to one or more nonwoven fabrics. The elastic material can include an elastic film and / or elastic strands. In some laminates, a plurality of elastic strands are joined to the nonwoven fabric while the plurality of strands are in a stretched state, such that when the elastic strands relax, the nonwoven fabric forms pleats, thereby forming a wavy and wrinkled pattern. The resulting elastomeric laminate is stretchable to an extent that the elastic strands can be stretched by the waviness.

[0004] Also, an absorbent article in the form of a diaper pant can be constructed using an absorbent chassis connected to front and rear elastic belts, and the opposing end regions of the front and rear belts are connected to each other at the side seams. In some examples, the elasticity of the front and rear belts may be removed within the region where the absorbent chassis is connected to the belts. Therefore, in some conversion configurations adapted to assemble such diaper pants, stretched elastic strands are adhered between two continuous nonwoven webs to form an elastic laminate. Next, each region of the elastic strands can be intermittently deactivated along the length of the elastic laminate by cutting the elastic strands in the area to be connected to the chassis, which is sometimes referred to as belly elastic cut.

[0005] Some caregivers of older incontinent infants or toddlers may prefer closed pant-type disposable absorbent articles to enable application to and removal from the child while the child is in a standing position. One drawback of this product form is that removal and disposal of the fecal containment product can be unhygienic and inconvenient. For example, pulling the product down can potentially soil the user's legs with feces. In other instances, a caregiver may use force to tear open the joined side portions. Next, the force used can lead to a rapid release of energy from the diaper, causing the caregiver to lose control of the product and feces to spill out. In contrast, removal and disposal of conventional open or tape-type diaper forms with fasteners can be easily accomplished while the child is lying on their back. In this case, the fasteners are opened, the diaper is removed from under the child, rolled into a near-cylindrical shape, and then the fasteners are secured around the rolled soiled diaper and the leg openings are closed for sanitary disposal.

[0006] To avoid having to remove soiled diaper pants from the wearer's legs by slipping them off or tearing the joined side seams, some diaper pants can be configured to have tear lines in the front or rear belts. Such tear lines may include perforations that allow a caregiver to more easily separate the belt along the perforation line. Once the belt is separated, the diaper pants can be more easily removed from the wearer without having to slip the diaper pants off the wearer's legs, similar to a conventional open tape-type diaper form. Thus, in addition to the assembly operations described above, the elastic laminate that is converted into the front and / or rear belts may also be subjected to additional handling and conversion operations to create such perforation lines.

[0007] For example, in some operations, the elastic laminate may advance through a cutting station that perforates the advancing laminate to ultimately form a tear line in the assembled diaper pants. However, various issues may be associated with the formation of the tear line. For example, some elastic laminates may include some elastic strands, and thus, there may be issues associated with cutting the elastic strands at the location of the stitch line. There may be issues associated with ensuring that all elastic strands extending through the tear line are consistently cut. If an uncut elastic strand extends through the tear line of the diaper pants' belt, such an uncut elastic strand may need to be broken while removing the diaper pants from the wearer. Such uncut elastic strands can be very difficult to break or tear. Additionally, cutting the stitch line in the nonwoven web while also cutting the elastic strands in the elastic laminate may weaken the laminate, which may result in an unintended or premature opening of the belt during use of the diaper pants. Further, such weakening of the laminate may make the laminate relatively prone to tearing during the assembly operation and / or may otherwise result in difficulties in controlling and handling related to different elongation characteristics within the laminate. Additionally, utilizing a separate cutting station to form a tear line in the elastic laminate may present issues associated with ensuring the intended positioning of such a tear line relative to other cutting operations performed on the laminate, such as final knife cutting and / or serrated elastic cutting. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] As a result, it would be beneficial to create a pant-type article that provides a caregiver with the ability to remove and discard soiled products in a manner similar to conventional open diaper configurations. Additionally, it would be beneficial to provide a method and apparatus for consistently cutting elastic strands in such a weakened path in a way that forms a weakened path in the elastic laminate, maintains sufficient strength during use, and reduces the difficulty of web control and handling.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] In one form, the absorbent article is a chassis including a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the chassis further including a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region, a first belt connected to the first end region of the chassis, and a second belt connected to the second end region of the chassis, wherein an end portion of the second belt facing laterally is connected to an end portion of the first belt facing laterally to form a waist opening, the first belt including a proximal edge, a distal edge, elastic strands positioned between and connected to a first substrate and a second substrate, and a first weakened path in the first belt extending between the proximal edge and the distal edge, the first weakened path including a weakened line, and all elastic strands extending through the first weakened path being cut by the weakened line such that a first plurality of elastic strands are cut only once and a second plurality of elastic strands are cut two or more times.

[0010] In another form, a method for assembling an absorbent article includes providing a first elastic laminate, the first elastic laminate including elastic strands disposed between and connected to a first substrate and a second substrate, the elastic strands extending in the machine direction, the first elastic laminate further including a first edge separated from a second edge in the cross direction, the first elastic laminate including a first laminate width defined by a distance extending in the cross direction between the first edge and the second edge; advancing the first elastic laminate in the machine direction; and forming a first weak path extending in the cross direction between the first edge and the second edge in the first elastic laminate, the first weak path including a weak line, wherein all elastic strands extending through the first weak path are cut by the weak line such that a first plurality of elastic strands are cut only once and a second plurality of elastic strands are cut two or more times.

[0011] In yet another form, the cutting device includes a knife roll having means for forming a weak path in the elastic laminate and means for creating a low elongation zone in the elastic laminate.

[0012] In yet another form, the cutting device includes a knife roll having means for forming a weak path in the elastic laminate and means for cutting the elastic laminate into separate pieces.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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[0014] **Definitions** The following glossary of terms may be useful in understanding the present disclosure.

[0015] "Absorbent article" refers to an implement for absorbing and confining body exudates, and more particularly refers to an implement that is placed in contact with or in proximity to the body of the wearer and absorbs and confines various exudates discharged from the body. Examples of absorbent articles include diapers, training pants, pull-on pant-type diapers (i.e., diapers having a pre-formed waist opening and leg openings as shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,120,487), re-fastenable diapers or pant-type diapers, incontinence briefs and underwear, diaper holders and liners, panty liners, absorbent inserts, feminine hygiene garments such as menstrual pads, and the like.

[0016] "Facing the body" and "facing the clothing" each refer to the relative position of an element, or the surface of an element, or a group of elements. "Facing the body" indicates that an element or surface is closer to the wearer during use than some other element or surface. "Facing the clothing" indicates that an element or surface is further from the wearer during use than some other element or surface (i.e., the element or surface is in proximity to the wearer's clothing that can be worn over the disposable absorbent article).

[0017] The terms "elastic", "elastomer", or "elastomeric" refer to materials exhibiting elastic properties, including any material that, when a force is applied to its relaxed initial length, can stretch or extend to an elongated length exceeding 10% of its initial length and, when the applied force is released, substantially returns to its approximate initial length. Examples of elastomeric materials include elastomeric films, scrims, nonwovens, ribbons, strands, and other sheet-like structures.

[0018] As used herein, the term "connected" encompasses configurations where one element is directly affixed to another element by attaching the one element directly to the other, as well as configurations where one element is attached to an intermediate member and the intermediate member is attached to another element such that the one element is indirectly affixed to the other element.

[0019] As used herein, the term "distal" is used to describe a position placed away from the center of the body or the point of attachment, and the term "proximal" is used to describe a position placed closer to the center of the body or the point of attachment.

[0020] As used herein, the term "substrate" is used to describe a material that is primarily two-dimensional (i.e., within the XY plane) and has a relatively small thickness (i.e., 1 / 10 or less) compared to its length (X direction) and width (Y direction). Non-limiting examples of substrates include webs, layers (one or more) or fibrous materials, nonwovens, polymeric films or foils such as metal foils. These materials may be used alone or may include two or more layers laminated together. Thus, a web is a substrate.

[0021] As used herein, the term "nonwoven" refers to a material made from continuous (long) filaments (fibers) and / or discontinuous (short) filaments (fibers) by processes such as spunbonding, meltblowing, carding, etc. Nonwovens do not have a woven or knitted filament pattern.

[0022] As used herein, the term "machine direction" (MD) is used to refer to the direction of flow of the material passing through the process. In addition, the relative placement and movement of the material can be described as flowing in the machine direction from upstream to downstream of the process as it passes through the process.

[0023] As used herein, the term "cross direction" (CD) is used to refer to a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the machine direction.

[0024] "Pre-strain" refers to the strain imposed on an elastic or elastomeric material before it is combined with an elastomeric laminate or another element of an absorbent article. Pre-strain is determined by the following equation: pre-strain = ((extended length of the elastomer - relaxed length of the elastomer) / relaxed length of the elastomer) * multiplied by 100.

[0025] "Decitex", also known as Dtex, is a measurement used in the fiber industry for measuring yarns or filaments. 1 decitex = 1 gram per 10,000 meters. In other words, if a yarn or filament has a weight of 500 grams for 10,000 linear meters, then that yarn or filament has 500 decitex.

[0026] The term "tape diaper" (also referred to as "open diaper") refers to a disposable absorbent article having an initial front waist region and an initial rear waist region that are not fastened, pre-fastened, or connected to each other during packaging before being applied to the wearer. The tape diaper may be folded around the lateral center line in a state where the inner surface of one waist region is in contact with the inner surface of the opposite waist region without integrally fastening or connecting the waist regions. Examples of tape diapers with various suitable configurations are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,167,897; 5,360,420; 5,599,335; 5,643,588; 5,674,216; 5,702,551; 5,968,025; 6,107,537; 6,118,041; 6,153,209; 6,410,129; 6,426,444; 6,586,652; 6,627,787; 6,617,016; 6,825,393; and 6,861,571, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2013 / 0072887(A1); 2013 / 0211356(A1); and 2013 / 0306226(A1), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0027] As used herein, the term "pants" (also referred to as "training pants", "pre-closed diaper", "diaper pants", "pant-type diaper", and "pull-on diaper") refers to a disposable absorbent article designed for infant or adult wearers and having a continuous waist opening at the outer periphery and a continuous leg opening at the outer periphery. The pants may be configured to have a continuous or closed waist opening and at least one continuous closed leg opening before the article is applied to the wearer. The pants may be preformed or pre-fastened by various techniques including, but not limited to, using any re-closable and / or permanent closure member (e.g., seams, heat seals, pressure welds, adhesives, adhesive bonds, mechanical fasteners, etc.) to integrally connect a portion of the article. The pants may be preformed at any location along the outer periphery of the article in the waist region (e.g., the sides are fastened or joined, the front waist is fastened or joined, the back waist is fastened or joined). Examples of diaper pants of various configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,940,464, 5,092,861, 5,246,433, 5,569,234, 5,897,545, 5,957,908, 6,120,487, 6,120,489, 7,569,039, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003 / 0233082 (A1), 2005 / 0107764 (A1), 2012 / 0061016 (A1), 2012 / 0061015 (A1), 2013 / 0255861 (A1), 2013 / 0255862 (A1), 2013 / 0255863 (A1), 2013 / 0255864 (A1), and 2013 / 0255865 (A1), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0028] The "closed configuration" means that, upon packaging, the waist regions on opposite sides are joined either permanently or re-closably to form a continuous waist opening and leg openings.

[0029] "Open configuration" means that the waist regions on opposite sides of each other are not joined in the initial state so as to form a continuous waist opening and leg openings, but include closing means such as a fastening system for joining the waist regions before or during application of the article to the wearer of the article to form the waist opening and leg openings.

[0030] The present disclosure relates to an absorbent article including an elastic laminate, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for forming an absorbent article having an elastic laminate in a front and / or rear waist region having a weak path. In a method for producing an absorbent article, a first elastic laminate and a second elastic laminate may be assembled and converted into first and second elastic belts on the assembled absorbent article. The first and second elastic laminates may comprise elastic strands positioned between and connected to a first substrate and a second substrate, the elastic strands extending in the machine direction. The first and second elastic laminates further comprise a first edge separated from a second edge in the cross direction. The first and second elastic laminates are advanced in the machine direction, and a weak path extending in the cross direction between the first edge and the second edge may be formed in the first elastic laminate and / or the second elastic laminate. Such a weak path provides a feature that enables the elastic belt of the diaper pants to be relatively easily torn along the weak path when removing the diaper pants from the wearer, avoiding the need to remove the diaper pants by sliding them over the wearer's legs.

[0031] The frangible path includes a plurality of frangible lines positioned, oriented, and / or configured such that all of the resilient strands extending through the frangible path are severed, thereby serving to ensure that the resilient belt can be torn along the frangible path without the need for the resilient strands to also break in the process. In some configurations, all of the resilient strands extending through the frangible path are severed by the frangible lines such that a first plurality of resilient strands are severed only once and a second plurality of resilient strands are severed two or more times. In some configurations, some of the resilient strands may remain intact to reinforce a particular portion of the frangible path. In some configurations, the resilient laminate may be advanced in the machine direction through a cutting device adapted to form frangible lines that define the frangible path and sever the resilient strands extending through the frangible path. It should be understood that the cutting device may be configured to form frangible lines in various forms. For example, the cutting device may be configured to cut a first substrate and a second substrate such that the frangible line includes discrete cut lines. In another example, the cutting device may pressure bond the first substrate and the second substrate to each other without cutting the first and second substrates such that the frangible line includes discrete joints where the materials of the first substrate and the second substrate are fused to each other. Additionally, the cutting device may be configured to form two or more frangible paths in the resilient laminate and may be configured to perform additional cutting operations such as a final knife cut operation or a tummi elastic cut operation. In some configurations, the cutting device may be configured to form one or more frangible paths in the resilient laminate and may also be configured to perform die cut operations such as a leg hole forming operation. In some configurations, the cutting device may be configured as a stand-alone process for forming one or more frangible paths in the resilient laminate that is separate from other cutting operations such as a tummi cut, a final knife cut, and / or a die cut operation. In some configurations, each frangible line may be oriented to define an offset angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the machine direction. Next, the offset angle of the frangible line serves to prevent the frangible line from opening when forces are applied to the respective first and second substrates during the assembly operation and / or during the use of the assembled article.

[0032] Figures 1 to 2B show an example of an absorbent article 100 in the form of a diaper pant 100P that may include components constructed from an elastic laminate assembled according to the configurations disclosed herein. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the diaper pant 100P in a pre-fastened configuration. FIG. 2A shows a plan view of the diaper pant 100P with the diaper portion facing away from the wearer facing the observer, and FIG. 2B shows a plan view of the diaper pant 100P with the diaper portion facing the wearer facing the observer. The diaper pant 100P includes a chassis 102 and an annular elastic belt 104. As will be described in more detail below, a first elastic belt 106 and a second elastic belt 108 are integrally joined to form the annular elastic belt 104.

[0033] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 to 2B, the diaper pants 100P and the chassis 102 each include a first waist region 116, a second waist region 118, and a crotch region 119 disposed intermediate the first waist region and the second waist region. It can also be described that the chassis 102 includes a first end region 116a, a second end region 118a, and a crotch region 119 disposed intermediate the first end region 116a and the second end region 118a. The first waist region 116 may be configured as a front waist region, and the second waist region 118 may be configured as a rear waist region. The diaper 100P may also include a front waist edge 121 that extends horizontally in the front waist region 116, and a rear waist edge 122 that faces longitudinally and extends horizontally in the rear waist region 118. To provide a reference frame for this discussion, the diaper 100P and the chassis 102 of FIGS. 2A and 2B are shown as including a longitudinal axis 124 and a transverse axis 126. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis 124 may extend through the front waist edge 121 and the rear waist edge 122. The transverse axis 126 may extend through the first longitudinal or right edge 128 of the chassis 102 and through the second longitudinal or left edge 130. As described above, the longitudinal axis 124 extends vertically through the front waist edge 121 and the rear waist edge 122, and the transverse axis 126 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 124. To provide a further reference frame for this discussion, the diaper 100P of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 18B is shown, the first elastic belt 106 includes a longitudinal centerline 124a and a transverse centerline 126a, the second elastic belt 108 includes a longitudinal centerline 124b and a transverse centerline 126b, and the chassis 102 includes a longitudinal centerline 124c and a transverse centerline 126c. The longitudinal centerlines 124a, 124b, 124c are perpendicular to the transverse centerlines 126a, 126b, 126c.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2B, the diaper pants 100P may include an inner surface 132 facing the body and an outer surface 134 facing the clothing. The chassis 102 may include a backsheet 136 and a topsheet 138. The chassis 102 may also include an absorbent assembly 140 including an absorbent core 142 disposed between a part of the topsheet 138 and the backsheet 136. As will be described in more detail below, the diaper 100P may also include other features such as leg elastic members and / or leg cuffs to enhance the fit around the wearer's legs.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2A, the peripheral edge of the chassis 102 may be defined by a first longitudinally extending side edge 128, a second longitudinally extending side edge 130, a first laterally extending edge 144 disposed within the first waist region 116, and a second laterally extending edge 146 disposed within the second waist region 118. Both side edges 128 and 130 extend longitudinally between the first edge 144 and the second edge 146. As shown in FIG. 2A, the laterally extending edges 144 and 146 may be located longitudinally inward from the front side waist edge 121 that extends laterally in the front side waist region 116 and also from the rear side waist edge 122 that extends laterally in the rear side waist region 118. In some configurations, the laterally extending edges 144 and 146 may be adjacent to or located longitudinally outward from the front side waist edge 121 that extends laterally in the front side waist region 116 and the rear side waist edge 122 that extends laterally in the rear side waist region 118. When the diaper pants 100P are worn on the lower torso of the wearer, the front side waist edge 121 and the rear side waist edge 122 may surround a part of the wearer's waist. At the same time, the side edges 128 and 130 may surround at least a part of the wearer's legs. Also, the crotch region 119 may generally be disposed between the wearer's legs, and the absorbent core 142 extends from the front side waist region 116 through the crotch region 119 to the rear side waist region 118.

[0036] As described above, the diaper pants 100P may include a backsheet 136. The backsheet 136 may also define a surface 134 facing the clothing, outside of the chassis 102. The backsheet 136 may also include a woven or non-woven fabric material, a polymer film such as a thermoplastic film of polyethylene or polypropylene, and / or a multi-layer or composite material including a film and a non-woven fabric material. The backsheet may also include an elastomeric film. The exemplary backsheet 136 may be a polyethylene film having a thickness of about 0.012 mm (0.5 mil) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mil). Further, the backsheet 136 can prevent excrement from passing through the backsheet 136 while allowing steam to escape from the absorbent core (i.e., the backsheet is breathable).

[0037] Also, as described above, the diaper pants 100P may include a topsheet 138. The topsheet 138 may also define all or a part of the surface 132 facing the wearer inside the chassis 102. The topsheet 138 is liquid permeable, and liquids (e.g., menstrual blood, urine, and / or liquid feces) may penetrate through its thickness. The topsheet 138 may be manufactured from a wide range of materials such as woven and non-woven materials, perforated or hydroformed thermoplastic films, perforated non-wovens, porous foams, reticulated foams, reticulated thermoplastic films, and thermoplastic scrims. The woven or non-woven material may be made from natural fibers such as wood or cotton fibers, synthetic fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene fibers, or combinations thereof. When the topsheet 138 includes fibers, the fibers may be treated by a spunbond method, a carding method, a wet method, a meltblown method, a hydroentanglement method, or another method known in the art. The topsheet 138 may be selected from a bulky non-woven topsheet, a perforated film topsheet, and a perforated non-woven topsheet. Exemplary perforated films may include those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,628,097, 5,916,661, 6,545,197, and 6,107,539, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0038] As described above, the diaper pant 100P may also include an absorbent assembly 140 joined to the chassis 102. As shown in FIG. 2A, the absorbent assembly 140 may have a front edge 148 that extends laterally in the front waist region 116, and may also have a rear edge 150 that faces longitudinally and extends laterally in the rear waist region 118. The absorbent assembly may have a right side edge 152 that extends longitudinally, and may also have a left side edge 154 that is on the opposite side laterally and extends longitudinally. Both of the side edges 152 and 154 of the absorbent assembly may extend longitudinally between the front edge 148 and the rear edge 150. The absorbent assembly 140 may additionally include one or more absorbent cores 142 or absorbent core layers. The absorbent core 142 may be at least partially disposed between the topsheet 138 and the backsheet 136, and may be formed in various sizes and shapes that are compatible with the diaper. Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core of the present disclosure are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,610,678, 4,673,402, 4,888,231, and 4,834,735, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0039] Some absorbent core embodiments may include a fluid storage core containing a reduced amount of cellulosic airfelt material. For example, such a core may contain less than about 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, or even less than 1% cellulosic airfelt material. Such a core may primarily contain an absorbent gel material in an amount of at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or even about 100%, in which case the remainder of the core contains a microfiber adhesive (where applicable). Such cores, microfiber adhesives, and absorbent gel materials are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,599,335, 5,562,646, 5,669,894, and 6,790,798, and U.S. Patent Publications 2004 / 0158212(A1) and 2004 / 0097895(A1), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0040] As described above, the diaper 100P may also include an elastic leg cuff 156. The leg cuff 156 can be a leg band, a side flap, a barrier cuff, an elastic cuff or a gasketting cuff and it should be understood that it may be referred to as such in some cases. The elastic leg cuff 156 may be configured in various ways to help reduce leakage of body exudates in the leg region. Exemplary leg cuffs 156 may include those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,860,003, 4,909,803, 4,695,278, 4,795,454, 4,704,115, 4,909,803, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009 / 0312730(A1), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0041] As described above, the diaper pants are manufactured to have an annular elastic belt 104 and, before being applied to the wearer, the front waist region 116 and the rear waist region 118 may be connected to each other and provided to the consumer in a packaged configuration. Thus, the diaper pants may have a continuous outer peripheral waist opening 110 and a continuous outer peripheral leg opening 112 as shown in FIG. 1. This annular elastic belt can be formed by joining a first elastic belt to a second elastic belt using a permanent side seam or using a releasable and reclosable fastening system disposed at or adjacent to the sides of the belt that face laterally.

[0042] As described above, the annular elastic belt 104 may be defined by a first elastic belt 106 connected to a second elastic belt 108. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first elastic belt 106 extends between a first longitudinal side edge 111a and a second longitudinal side edge 111b, defining first and second opposing end regions 106a, 106b and a central region 106c. The second elastic belt 108 extends between a first longitudinal side edge 113a and a second longitudinal side edge 113b, defining first and second opposing end regions 108a, 108b and a central region 108c. The distance between the first longitudinal side edge 111a and the second longitudinal side edge 111b defines the pitch length PL of the first elastic belt 106, and the distance between the first longitudinal side edge 113a and the second longitudinal side edge 113b defines the pitch length PL of the second elastic belt 108. The central region 106c of the first elastic belt is connected to the first waist region 116 or the first end region 116a of the chassis 102, and the central region 108c of the second elastic belt 108 is connected to the second waist region 118 or the second end region 118a of the chassis 102. As shown in FIG. 1, the first end region 106a of the first elastic belt 106 is connected to the first end region 108a of the second elastic belt 108 at the first side seam 178, and the second end region 106b of the first elastic belt 106 is connected to the second end region 108b of the second elastic belt 108 at the second side seam 180, defining the annular elastic belt 104 and the waist opening 110 and the leg openings 112. It should be understood that the first belt 106 and the second belt 108 may be permanently or re-fastenable connected to each other at the first side seam 178 and the second side seam 180. The side seams 178, 180 may include a permanent connection such as thermal bonding, pressure bonding, or adhesive bonding, or may be a releasable connection such as a mechanical fastener or an adhesive fastener.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first elastic belt 106 also defines a laterally extending outer edge 107a and a laterally extending inner edge 107b, and the second elastic belt 108 defines a laterally extending outer edge 109a and a laterally extending inner edge 109b. In this way, as shown in FIG. 1, the outer edge 112a of one leg opening can be defined by the laterally extending inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106, the laterally extending inner edge 109b of the second elastic belt 108, and a portion of the first longitudinal or right edge 128 of the chassis 102. Further, the outer edge 112b of the other leg opening can be defined by the laterally extending inner edge 107b, the laterally extending inner edge 109b, and a portion of the second longitudinal or left edge 130 of the chassis 102. The laterally extending outer edges 107a, 109a can also define the front waist edge 121 and the laterally extending rear waist edge 122 of the diaper pants 100P.

[0044] It should be understood that the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 can define different sizes and shapes. In some configurations, the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 can define a curved profile. For example, the inner lateral edges 107b, 109b of the first and / or second elastic belts 106, 108 can include non-linear or curved portions at the first and second opposing end regions. Such a curved profile can help define a desired shape for the leg openings 112, such as relatively rounded leg openings. In addition to having a curved profile, the elastic belts 106, 108 can include elastic strands 168 that extend along a non-linear or curved path that can coincide with the curved profile of the inner lateral edges 107b, 109b.

[0045] FIG. 2C shows a configuration in which both the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 generally define a rectangular shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the laterally extending outer edge 107a of the first elastic belt 106 may include the lateral width of W1D, and the laterally extending inner edge 107b may include the lateral width of W1P, and W1D and W1P are equal or substantially equal. In addition, the laterally extending outer edge 109a of the second elastic belt 108 may include the lateral width of W2D, and the laterally extending inner edge 109b may include the lateral width of W2P, and W2D and W2P are equal or substantially equal.

[0046] In some configurations, at least one of the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 may include laterally extending edges having different lengths. For example, FIG. 2D shows a configuration in which the first elastic belt 106 defines a generally rectangular shape as described with reference to FIG. 2C, and the laterally extending outer edge 109a and the laterally extending inner edge 109b of the second elastic belt 108 have different lengths. As shown in FIG. 2D, the laterally extending outer edge 109a of the second elastic belt 108 may include the lateral width of W2D, and the laterally extending inner edge 109b may include the lateral width of W2P, and W2D is greater than W2P.

[0047] In some configurations, both the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 may include lateral edges having different lengths. For example, FIG. 2E shows a configuration in which the laterally extending outer edge 107a and the laterally extending inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106 have different lengths, and the laterally extending outer edge 109a and the laterally extending inner edge 109b of the second elastic belt 108 have different lengths. As shown in FIG. 2E, the laterally extending outer edge 107a of the first elastic belt 107 may include the lateral width of W1D, and the laterally extending inner edge 107b may include the lateral width of W1P, where W1D is greater than W1P. The laterally extending outer edge 109a of the second elastic belt 108 may include the lateral width of W2D, and the laterally extending inner edge 109b may include the lateral width of W2P, where W2D is greater than W2P.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 2C-2E, the first elastic belt 106 may define a longitudinal length LT1 that extends between the laterally extending outer edge 107a and the laterally extending inner edge 107b, and the second elastic belt 108 may define a longitudinal length LT2 that extends between the laterally extending outer edge 109a and the laterally extending inner edge 109b. In some configurations, LT1 may be equal to LT2. In some configurations, LT1 may be smaller or larger than LT2. Continuing to refer to FIGS. 2C-2E, in some configurations, W1D may be equal to W1P, or W1D may be different from W1P. In some configurations, W2D may be equal to W2P, or W2D may be different from W2P. In some configurations, W1D and / or W1P may be equal to or different from W2D and / or W2P.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 may each also include a first substrate 162 and a second substrate 164. The first substrate 162 may be oriented to define at least a portion of the surface of the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 facing the clothing, and the second substrate 164 may be oriented to define at least a portion of the surface of the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 facing the wearer. The first substrate 162 may extend over a maximum length L1 from the proximal edge 162b to the distal edge 162a, and the second substrate 164 may extend over a maximum length L2 from the proximal edge 164b to the distal edge 164a. It should be understood that the distal edge 162a and / or the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate 162 may be linear and / or curved, and and / or may be parallel or non-parallel to each other. Also, it should be understood that the distal edge 164a and / or the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate 164 may be linear and / or curved, and and / or may be parallel or non-parallel to each other. Thus, the maximum length L1 refers to the longest distance extending longitudinally between the distal edge 162a and the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate 162, and the maximum length L2 refers to the longest distance extending longitudinally between the distal edge 164a and the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate 164. In some configurations, L1 may be equal to, smaller than, or larger than L2. In some configurations, L1 may be less than or equal to LT1, and L2 may be less than or equal to LT2. In some configurations, the distal edge 162a of the first substrate 162 may define at least a portion of the front waist edge 121 and / or at least a portion of the rear waist edge 122, and and / or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate 164 may define at least a portion of the front waist edge 121 and / or at least a portion of the rear waist edge 122. Thus, in some configurations, the distal edge 162a of the first substrate 162 and / or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate 164 may define at least a portion of the waist opening 110.

[0050] It should also be understood that the first substrate 162 and / or the second substrate 164 may extend continuously from the first belt 106 to the second belt 108. For example, the first substrate 162 may be configured to define a continuous outer cover 162' that extends continuously from the first waist edge 121 to the second waist edge 122, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 2F, and 3C. It should also be understood that the diaper pants 100P having a continuous outer cover as shown in FIGS. 1A, 2F, and 3C may also be configured to include various aspects of the vulnerable paths and fastening components described herein.

[0051] It should be understood that the first substrate 162 and the second substrate 164 may define various lateral widths, which may be equal or unequal. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first substrate 162 may extend laterally between the first longitudinal edge 162e and the second longitudinal edge 162f to define a first lateral width W1, and the second substrate 164 may extend laterally between the first longitudinal edge 164e and the second longitudinal edge 164f to define a second lateral width W2.

[0052] In some configurations, the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate 162 and / or the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate 164 may extend laterally across the backsheet 134. As shown in FIGS. 2A to 3, the first substrate 162 includes a surface 162c facing the clothing and a surface 162d facing the opposite wearer, and the second substrate 164 includes a surface 164c facing the clothing and a surface 164d facing the opposite wearer.

[0053] In some configurations, the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 may include at least the folded portion of the first substrate 162 and / or the second substrate 164. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 may include a folded portion 162g of the first substrate 162 that extends longitudinally between the fold 162h and the lateral edge 162i of the first substrate 162. Thus, the folded portion 162g of the first substrate 162 may be connected to the surface 164d of the second substrate 164 facing the wearer. In some configurations, the folded portion 162g of the first substrate 162 may also be connected to and / or overlap the chassis 102. Thus, the folded portion 162g of the first substrate 162 may be connected to the surface 162d of the first substrate 162 facing the wearer. In some configurations, a portion of the folded portion 162g of the first substrate 162 may be left unconnected to the chassis 102 and / or the second substrate 164 to form a waist pocket having an opening oriented toward the lateral centerline 162c of the chassis 102. In another example, the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 may include a folded portion of the second substrate 164 that extends longitudinally between the fold and the lateral edge of the second substrate 164. Thus, the folded portion of the second substrate 164 may be connected to the surface 162c of the first substrate 162 facing the clothing. Thus, in some configurations, the fold of the first substrate 162 and / or the fold of the second substrate 164 may define at least a portion of the waist opening 110. It should be understood that various waist configurations may be utilized. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A1, the folded portion 162g may be sandwiched between the second substrate 164 and the backsheet 136. In another example shown in FIG. 3A2, the second substrate 164 may be sandwiched between the folded portion 162g and the backsheet 136. FIGS. 3A1 and 3A2 show the configuration of the first belt 106, but it should be understood that such a configuration may be applied to the second belt 108.

[0054] It should be understood that the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 may include the same material and / or may have the same structure. In some embodiments, the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt may include different materials and / or may have different structures. It should also be understood that components of the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108, such as the first substrate 162 and / or the second substrate 164, can be constructed from a variety of materials. For example, the first and / or second belt may include the first substrate 162, and / or a plastic film; a perforated plastic film; a natural material (e.g., wood fiber or cotton fiber), a synthetic fiber (e.g., a polyolefin, polyamide, polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene fiber), or a woven or non-woven web of a combination of natural and / or synthetic fibers; or a coated woven or non-woven web, etc., and may also include the second substrate 164. In some configurations, the first and / or second belt may include the first substrate 162, and / or the second substrate 164 including a non-woven web of synthetic fibers, and may also include an extensible non-woven fabric. In some configurations, the first and second elastic belts may include an inner hydrophobic non-elastic non-woven fabric material and an outer hydrophobic non-elastic non-woven fabric material. The belt may be configured in a variety of ways, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 111,790 and Chinese Patent Application No. 2021 / 077843, both of which are incorporated by reference.

[0055] The elastic material 167 can be positioned between the surface 162d facing the wearer of the first substrate 162 and the surface 164c facing the clothing of the second substrate 164. It should be understood that the elastic material 167 can include one or more elastic elements extending along the length of the elastic belt, such as strands, ribbons, elastic films, or panels. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, the elastic material 167 can include a plurality of elastic strands 168. In some configurations, the elastic material 167 can be bonded to one or more nonwoven layers and then the nonwoven layers are weakened to form a zero-strain elastic laminate including an elastic film that undergoes sufficient mechanical deformation or activation to allow the laminate to elastically stretch and recover. The elastic film can be used to form the zero-strain elastic laminate.

[0056] It should also be understood that the first substrate 162, the second substrate 164, and / or the elastic material 167 of the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 can be bonded together and / or to other components such as the chassis 102 by adhesives and / or mechanical connections. It should be understood that the adhesive and mechanical joining methods can be used alone or in combination with each other.

[0057] In some configurations, when combined to form the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108, an adhesive can be applied to at least one of the first substrate 162, the second substrate 164, and / or the elastic material 167. In some configurations, when combined to form the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108, a mechanical coupling device can apply a mechanical coupling to at least one of the first substrate 162, the second substrate 164, and / or the elastic material 167. Such mechanical joining can be applied with heat, pressure, and / or an ultrasonic device. In some configurations, the mechanical coupling device can apply a coupling that bonds the first substrate 162, the second substrate 164, and / or the elastic material 167 together, and / or can act to capture or immobilize separate lengths of the contracted elastic strands within the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108.

[0058] The first substrate 162, the second substrate 164, and / or the elastic material 167 are all incorporated herein by reference, U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 20180168878(A1), 20180168877(A1), 20180168880(A1), 20180170027(A1), 20180169964(A1), 20180168879(A1), 20180170026(A1), 20180168889(A1), 20180168874(A1), 20180168875(A1), 20180168890(A1), 20180168887(A1), 20180168892(A1), 20180168876(A1), 20180168891(A1), 20190070042(A1), and 20190070041(A1), and U.S. Patent Application Nos. 62 / 989,059 and 62 / 984,837, and various elastomeric laminates such as combinations thereof, can be joined to each other by various methods and apparatuses, and it should also be understood that these are all incorporated herein by reference.

[0059] It should be understood that the components of the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 can be assembled in various ways and in various combinations to create various desirable features that can vary along the lateral width and / or the longitudinal length of the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108. Such features can include, for example, Dtex value, joining pattern, hole arrangement, elastic positioning, average Dtex value, average pre-strain value, wrinkle frequency, wrinkle wavelength, height value, and / or contact area. It should be understood that different features can be imparted to various components such as the first substrate 162, the second substrate 164, and the elastic material 167, for example, before and / or during the assembly stage of the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108.

[0060] It should be understood that the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 may include belt elastic materials 167 configured in various ways relative to each other and relative to the first substrate 162 and the second substrate 164. As described above, the elastic material 167 may include a configuration of one or more elastic elements such as strands, ribbons, films, or panels positioned in various arrangements. In some configurations, the elastic material 167 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety from U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2018 / 0168889(A1), 2018 / 0168874(A1), 2018 / 0168875(A1), 2018 / 0168890(A1), 2018 / 0168887(A1), 2018 / 0168892(A1), 2018 / 0168876(A1), 2018 / 0168891(A1), 2019 / 0298586(A1), 2019 / 0070042(A1), 2018 / 0168878(A1), 2018 / 0168877(A1), 2018 / 0168880(A1), 2018 / 0170027(A1), 2018 / 0169964(A1), 2018 / 0168879(A1), 2018 / 0170026(A1), and 2019 / 0070041(A1), as well as U.S. Patent Application Nos. 62 / 989,059 and 62 / 984,837, which may include various elastomers, elastic features and arrangements, and processes for assembly, all of which are also incorporated herein by reference. It should also be understood that the elastic material 167 herein may be configured in the same or different colors at various different locations on the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108.

[0061] In some embodiments, the elastic material 167 can be configured as elastic strands 168 disposed longitudinally at regular intervals. In other embodiments, the elastic strands 168 may be disposed at different intervals longitudinally. In some configurations, the elastic material 167 in the extended state can be sandwiched and joined between the non-shrunk substrate layers. When the elastic material 167 is relaxed, the elastic material 167 returns to the non-extended state and causes the substrate layer to contract. The elastic material 167 can provide a desired change in the contraction force within the area of the annular elastic belt. It should be understood that the chassis 102 and the elastic belts 106, 108 can be configured in a manner different from that depicted in the accompanying figures. It should also be understood that the elastic material 167 can be joined to the substrate continuously or intermittently along the interface between the elastic material 167 and the substrate. In some configurations, the elastic strands 168 may be in the form of extruded elastic strands, which may also be joined to the first substrate 162 and / or the second substrate 164 in a pre-corrugated configuration, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,681,302, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0062] For example, as described above with respect to the embodiments with reference to FIGS. 2A to 3, the elastic material 167 contemplated herein can be in the form of elastic strands 168. In some configurations, the elastic strands 168 may be parallel to each other and / or to the transverse axis 126. It should be understood that the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 can be configured to include various amounts of elastic strands 168. In some configurations, the elastic strands 168 may be grouped in pairs. In some configurations, the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 can include from about 100 to about 1500 elastic strands 168. The elastic strands 168 herein may include various Dtex values, strand spacing values, and pre-strain values, and such elastic strands 168 can be utilized with other elastic strands to create the first and second elastic belts 106, 108 including elastic strands 168 in various combinations of Dtex values, strand spacing values, and pre-strain values. For example, in some configurations, the average Dtex of one or more elastic strands 168 may be greater than 500. In some configurations, the average Dtex of one or more elastic strands 168 may be from about 10 to about 1500, specifically listing all 1 Dtex increments within the above range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In some configurations, the plurality of elastic strands 168 may include an average strand spacing of 4 mm or less. In some configurations, the plurality of elastic strands 168 may include an average strand spacing from about 0.25 mm to about 4 mm, specifically listing all 0.01 mm increments within the above range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In some configurations, the plurality of elastic strands 168 may include an average strand spacing greater than 4 mm. In some configurations, the average pre-strain of each of the plurality of elastic strands may be from about 50% to about 400%, specifically listing all 1% increments within the above range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In some configurations, the elastic strand 168 includes an average strand spacing from about 0.25 mm to about 4 mm and an average Dtex from about 10 to about 500.In some configurations, the elastic strand 168 may have an average pre-strain of from about 75% to about 300%.

[0063] In some configurations, the first plurality of elastic strands may include a first average pre-strain of from about 75% to about 300%, and the second plurality of elastic strands may include a second average pre-strain greater than the first average pre-strain. In some configurations, the first plurality of elastic strands may include an average strand spacing of from about 0.25 mm to about 4 mm and an average dtex of from about 10 to about 500, and the second plurality of elastic strands may include an average strand spacing greater than about 4 mm and an average dtex greater than about 450.

[0064] In some configurations, as shown in FIG. 2A, the elastic strand 168 may be referred to herein as an outer waist elastic member 170 and an inner waist elastic member 172. The elastic strand 168 (e.g., the outer waist elastic member 170) may extend continuously laterally between the opposing first end region 106a and the second end region 106b of the first elastic belt 106 and between the opposing first end region 108a and the second end region 108b of the second elastic belt 108. Some elastic strands 168, such as the inner waist elastic member 172, may be configured with discontinuities, for example, within an area where the first and second elastic belts 106, 108 overlap a portion of the chassis 102, such as the absorbent assembly 140.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 2A, the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 may be configured with a low-elongation zone 701 and a high-elongation zone 703. The first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 may include a first high-elongation zone 703a and a second high-elongation zone 703b that are laterally separated by the low-elongation zone 701. Portions of the chassis 102 such as the backsheet 136 and the absorbent assembly 140 may be connected to the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 in the low-elongation zone 701 of the first waist region 116 and / or the second waist region 118. The high-elongation zone 703 is provided with elasticity by an elastic material 167 such as elastic strands 168, 172, and the low-elongation zone 701 may include a cutting line that separates the elastic material 167 such as elastic strands 168, 172. In some configurations, the elastic material 167 may be cut in a non-bonded region where the elastic material is not bonded to the first substrate 162 and the second substrate 164. Thus, the elastic material 167 retreats from the non-bonded region to form the low-elongation zone 701. In some configurations, the elastic material 167 may be cut into several separate pieces. Next, the low-elongation zone 701 defines a region of the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 that has a relatively lower elasticity than the high-elongation zone 703. The separate elastic material 167 that is cut and elastically contracted does not add a significant amount of elasticity to the low-elongation zone 701. Thus, when a force is applied, the high-elongation zone 703 extends longer than the low-elongation zone 701. As defined above, the terms “elastic,” “elastomer,” or “elastomeric” refer to a material exhibiting elastic properties, which includes any material that, when a force is applied to its relaxed initial length, can elongate or stretch to an elongated length exceeding 10% of the initial length and, when the applied force is released, substantially returns to approximately the initial length. In some configurations, the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 may be composed of the high-elongation zone 703 that is elastic, or may be composed of the low-elongation zone 701 that is not elastic or “non-elastic.”

[0066] As described above, the diaper pants 100P described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3C may include one or more vulnerable paths within the first belt 106 and / or the second belt 108. For example, FIGS. 4A to 5B show exemplary diaper pants 100P having a first belt 106 that includes a vulnerable path 700. The vulnerable path 700 may be configured to enable the first elastic belt 106 to be relatively easily torn along the vulnerable path 700, such as when removing the diaper pants 100P from the wearer. FIGS. 4B and 5B show diagrams of the diaper pants 100P from FIGS. 4A and 5A, respectively, showing the first belt 106 after being torn along the vulnerable path 700 through both the outer edge portion 107a extending in the lateral direction of the outer longitudinal direction of the first belt 106 and the inner edge portion 107b extending in the lateral direction. Accordingly, the first elastic belt 106 shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B is separated by the tear lines 705 on both sides. It should be understood that the first elastic belt 106 may be torn along the vulnerable path 700 in both FIGS. 4B and 5B. For example, FIG. 5C shows the diaper pants of FIG. 5A showing the front belt torn along two vulnerable paths 700. As shown in FIG. 5C, the central region 106c of the first elastic belt 106 may remain coupled to the chassis 102 even after separating the first and second end regions 106a, 106b on both sides from the central region 106c by tearing the elastic belt 106 along the vulnerable path 700.

[0067] As will be described in more detail below, the frangible path 700 includes a plurality of frangible lines 704 configured such that all of the elastic strands 168 within the first elastic belt 106 are severed at least once within the frangible path 700. Severing the elastic strands 168 within the frangible path 700 serves to relatively easily tear the first elastic belt 106 along the frangible path 700. For example, when the elastic strands 168 are severed, the first substrate 162 and the second substrate 164 of the first elastic belt 106 only need to be torn, and the uncut elastic strands 168 do not need to be torn. It should be understood that the diaper pants 100P can include various amounts of frangible paths 700 that can be positioned at various locations, define various shapes, and extend to various lengths. For example, the first elastic belt 106 may have a first belt length defined by the longitudinal distance between the proximal edge 107b and the distal edge 107a, and the frangible path 700 may extend over the entire length from the outermost edge of the frangible line 704 closest to the proximal edge 107b of the first belt 106 to the outermost edge of the frangible line 704 closest to the distal edge 107a of the first belt 106. In some configurations, the frangible path 700 may extend over a total length that exceeds, is equal to, or is less than the first belt length. In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 may extend over a length from a first end to a second end, and the sum of the lengths of all of the frangible lines 704 within the frangible path 700 may be greater than the total length of the frangible path.

[0068] In some configurations, the diaper pants 100P may be configured such that one or both of the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 include one or more weak paths 700. The weak paths 700 may be positioned at various locations on the first and second elastic belts 106, 108. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the weak paths 700 may be positioned laterally between the first and second side seams 178, 180 and the chassis 102. In another example, as shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the weak paths 700 may extend so as to overlap the chassis 102. In some configurations, the weak paths 700 may extend linearly and / or may be curved and / or may have curved portions. In some configurations, the weak paths 700 may extend longitudinally over the entire length or less than the entire length of the first belt 106 and / or the second belt 108.

[0069] In some configurations, the weak path 700 may be configured and / or positioned to provide access to and / or function with other features such as disposal features. For example, the diaper pant 100P shown in FIGS. 5A-5C includes a fastening component 707 positioned on a surface facing the wearing side of the first elastic belt 106. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may be positioned between the first elastic belt 106 and the chassis 102. The fastening component 707 may be configured to releasably connect to other portions of the diaper pant 100P. Thus, when the first elastic belt 106 is torn along the weak path 700, the diaper pant 100P may be removed from the wearer and wound or folded for disposal, and the fastening component 707 may be connected to another portion of the diaper pant 100P to help maintain the diaper pant 100P in a disposal configuration. For example, FIG. 5C shows the diaper pant 100P after the first elastic belt 106 has been torn along two weak paths. FIG. 5D is a view showing the diaper pant 100P of FIG. 5C with the chassis 102 wound longitudinally up on itself. Also, FIG. 5E shows the diaper pant 100P of FIG. 5D with the fastening component 707 connected to the backsheet 134 of the chassis 102 to maintain the diaper pant 100P in a disposal configuration. In some configurations, when tearing the elastic belt along the weak path 700, the tearing process may begin by tearing from the outer edge 107a or the inner edge 107b of the elastic belt 106. In some configurations, the first elastic belt 106 may also include slits positioned adjacent to or proximate to the fastening component 707 and the weak region 700 to help facilitate starting to tear the weak path 700 in a region of the longitudinal elastic belt 106 between the outer edge 107a and the inner edge 107b.

[0070] It should also be understood that the fastening component 707 may be configured in various ways, such as hooks, loops, and / or adhesives. For example, the fastening component 707 may include a hook element or an adhesive adapted to releasably connect to another surface of the diaper pants 100P. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may include a loop element adapted to releasably connect to a hook surface on the diaper pants 100P. The fastening component 707 may be a separate element connected to the elastic belt 106 in various ways, such as mechanical coupling, adhesive bonding, or both. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may be integrally formed from the material of the elastic belts 106, 108. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may be printed and / or may include materials of various different colors so that the fastening component 707 can be seen from the outside of the diaper pants 100P.

[0071] As described above, the fastening component 707 may include a hook material that can releasably engage a substrate, such as a non-woven fabric, on the outer surface of the diaper pants 100P. For example, the fastening component 707 may include a substrate including hooks, and the substrate is bonded to the elastic belts 106, 108, such as a second substrate 164 that may be in the form of a non-woven fabric. It should be understood that the substrate may be bonded to the elastic belts 106, 108 in various ways, such as mechanical bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, and / or adhesive bonding, or combinations thereof. In some configurations, the hooks may be integrally formed from a second substrate 164 that may be in the form of a non-woven fabric. The fastening component 707 may include a single material or a combination of two or more materials arranged in a configuration that at least partially overlaps. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may be able to include other fastener types known in the art.

[0072] It should be understood that the fastening component 707 can include any of a variety of shapes, including rectangular or other polygonal, circular, elliptical, external convex or concave portions, or combinations thereof, or one or more lines or geometric shapes forming an array. It should be understood that the fastening component 707 can include various sizes. For example, in some configurations, the fastening component 707 may have a lateral width of about 5 mm to about 100 mm, specifically, all at 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may have a longitudinal length of about 10 mm to about 100 mm, specifically, all at 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges formed therein or thereby. The fastening component 707 may be aligned parallel to the lateral centerlines 126a, 126b of the elastic belts 106, 108, or may be oriented at an angle of 0 to 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal centerlines 126a, 126 of the elastic belts 106, 108. The fastening component 707 may include an arrangement of two or more spaced fastening elements. The fastening component 707 may have a color visible through any layer of the elastic belts 106, 108 where the fastening component 707 is located. The elastic belts 106, 108 and / or the chassis 102 may include printing or other markings that emphasize the position, function, and / or usage method of the fastening component 707 to the caregiver. The coupling or coupling pattern for attaching the fastening component 707 to the elastic belts 106, 108 may be visually or tactilely different from the surrounding belt material to provide an advantage of signaling or mechanical gripping to the caregiver.

[0073] It should also be understood that the frangible path may include a frangible line 704 that is configured in various ways, positioned at various positions and orientations relative to each other, defined by various shapes, and extending over various lengths. For example, in some configurations, the frangible line 704 includes discrete cut lines that penetrate some or all of the layers of the elastic belt 106. In some configurations, the frangible line 704 includes discrete joints where the materials of the first substrate and the second substrate are fused to each other. In some configurations, the frangible line 704 may be straight or curved, or may have regular or irregular geometric shapes, and may include one or more of mechanically thinned regions of materials such as perforations, joints, apertures, or nonwovens, or combinations thereof. It should also be understood that the frangible line 704 can be formed with different lengths and spacings to achieve different separation forces.

[0074] It will be understood that various devices and methods according to the present disclosure can be utilized to assemble the various components of the pre-fastened pant diaper 100 described herein. For example, FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a converting apparatus 300 adapted to manufacture a pant diaper 100P having a frangible path 700. The method of operating the converting apparatus 300 can be described with reference to the various components of the pant diaper 100 described above and shown in FIGS. 1 through 5B. The following method is provided in the context of the diaper 100 shown in FIGS. 1 through 5B, but it will be understood that various embodiments of pant diapers, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,569,039, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005 / 0107764(A1), No. 2012 / 0061016(A1), and No. 2012 / 0061015(A1), can be manufactured according to the methods disclosed herein. All of these are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. When assembling the diaper 100 shown in FIGS. 1 through 5B, the machine direction MD of the elastic belts 106, 108 discussed below in FIG. 6 may be parallel to the transverse centerlines 126a, 126b of the elastic belts 106, 108.

[0075] As described in more detail below, the converting apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 6 may operate to provide and advance the elastic laminate 200, form a weak path within the elastic laminate 200, and cut elastic strands extending through the weak path. The elastic laminate may also be slit and separated into lanes along the machine direction MD, for example, into a first elastomeric laminate 200a and a second elastomeric laminate 200b. Additionally, a continuous length of chassis assembly 102a may be advanced and cut into separate chassis 102. The separate chassis 102 may be spaced apart from each other along the machine direction MD, and then the opposing waist regions of the spaced-apart chassis 102 are connected to the advancing first and second elastic belt laminates 200a, 200b. Next, the edge of the first belt laminate 200a may be folded over itself, and then the edge of the second belt laminate 200b may be folded inwardly and over itself. The chassis 102 may be folded so as to bring the first and second elastic belt laminates 200a, 200b into a face-to-face relationship, and the first and second elastic belt laminates 200a, 200b are joined to each other. Next, the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b are cut in the cross direction CD through the joining region to form individual pant diapers 100P as shown in FIGS. 1-5B.

[0076] As described above, the apparatus 300 may include various devices and utilize various methods to manufacture the elastomeric laminate 200 according to the present disclosure that can be used to construct diaper components such as the elastic belts 106, 108. For example, the apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 6 can include a converting device 301 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 adapted to manufacture the elastomeric laminate 200. As described in more detail below, the converting device 301 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 operates to advance a continuous length of elastic material 202, a continuous length of a first substrate 204, and a continuous length of a second substrate 206 along the machine direction MD. In some configurations, it should also be understood that the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206 herein may be defined by two separate substrates or may be defined by folded portions of a single substrate. The apparatus 300 elongates the elastic material 202 and bonds the elongated elastic material 202 to the first and second substrates 204, 206 to manufacture the elastomeric laminate 200. Although the elastic material 202 is illustrated and referred to herein as the strand 208, it should be understood that in some configurations, the elastic material 202 may include one or more continuous lengths of elastic strands, ribbons, and / or films.

[0077] The methods and apparatuses of this specification can be understood to be adapted to operate in various types of absorbent article assembly processes, such as those disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2013 / 0255861(A1), 2013 / 0255862(A1), 2013 / 0255863(A1), 2013 / 0255864(A1), and 2013 / 0255865(A1). All of these are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. For example, the elastomeric laminate 200 can be used as a continuous length of elastomeric belt material that can be converted into the first and second elastic belts 106, 108 described above in connection with FIGS. 1-5B. Thus, the elastic material 202 can correspond to the belt elastic material 168 that can then correspond between the outer layer 162 and the inner layer 164 that can in turn correspond to either the first and / or second substrates 204, 206. In other examples, the elastomeric laminate 200 can be used to construct the waistband and / or side panels of a tape-type diaper structure.

[0078] It should be understood that the elastic laminate 200 can be assembled and / or supplied in various ways. For example, FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of a converting apparatus 301 for producing an elastomeric laminate 200 that can include a first metering device 312 and a second metering device 314. The first metering device 312 may be configured as an elastic strand supply device, such as one or more unwinders 302 generally represented by a dashed rectangle, which may include one or more spools of elastic strands 208. During operation, the elastic strands 208 advance in the machine direction MD from the unwinder 302 to the second metering device 314. Further, the elastic strands 208 may be stretched along the machine direction MD while advancing between the unwinder 302 and the second metering device 314. The stretched elastic strands 208 are also joined to the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206 in the second metering device 314 to produce the elastomeric laminate 200. It should be understood that the elastic strands 208 may advance along and / or around one or more guide rollers. It should also be understood that the elastic strands 208 may be stretched along a continuous path while advancing in the machine direction MD, or may be stretched in various steps that provide multiple increases in stretch while advancing in the machine direction MD.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 7, the second metering device 314 may include a first roller 316 having an outer peripheral surface 318 and rotating about a first axis of rotation 320, and a second roller 322 having an outer peripheral surface 324 and rotating about a second axis of rotation 326. The first roller 316 and the second roller 322 rotate in opposite directions, the first roller 316 is adjacent to the second roller 322, and a nip 328 is defined between the first roller 316 and the second roller 322. The first roller 316 can rotate such that the outer peripheral surface 318 has a surface speed S1, and the second roller 322 can rotate such that the outer peripheral surface 324 has the same or substantially the same surface speed S1.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 7, the first substrate 204 includes a first surface 210 and an opposite second surface 212, and the first substrate 204 advances toward the first roller 316. Specifically, the first substrate 204 advances toward the first roller 316 at a speed S1, where the first substrate 204 partially wraps around the outer peripheral surface 318 of the first roller 316 and advances through the nip 328. Thus, the first surface 210 of the first substrate 204 contacts the outer peripheral surface 318 of the first roller 316 and advances in the same direction as the outer peripheral surface 318 of the first roller 316. In addition, the second substrate 206 includes a first surface 214 and an opposite second surface 216, and the second substrate 206 advances toward the second roller 322. Specifically, the second substrate 206 advances toward the second roller 322 at a speed S1, where the second substrate 206 partially wraps around the outer peripheral surface 324 of the second roller 322 and advances through the nip 328. Thus, the second surface 216 of the second substrate 206 contacts the outer peripheral surface 324 of the second roller 322 and advances in the same direction as the outer peripheral surface 324 of the second roller 322. It should be understood that the first and / or substrates 204, 206 can advance at different speeds S1. In some configurations, the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206 can advance at a speed S1 of from about 150 meters per minute to about 500 meters per minute, specifically, all values in increments of 1 meter per minute within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are recited.

[0081] In some configurations, the elastic strand 208 may also be extended in the machine direction MD and may be combined with the first substrate layer 204 and the second substrate layer 206 in the extended state. For example, continuing to refer to FIGS. 7 and 8, the unwinder 302 may unwind the elastic strand 208 advancing at a speed S2 in the machine direction MD into the nip 328 or supply it in another way. In some configurations, the speed S2 is less than the speed S1, so that the elastic strand 208 is extended in the machine direction MD. Then, the extended elastic strand 208 advances through the nip 328 between the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206, whereby the elastic strand 208 is bonded to the second surface 212 of the first substrate 204 and the first surface 214 of the second substrate 206 to produce a continuous length of the elastomeric laminate 200.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 8, the first substrate 204 defines a width in the cross direction CD between the first longitudinal edge 204a and the second longitudinal edge 204b on both sides. The second substrate 206 defines a width in the cross direction CD between the first longitudinal edge 206a and the second longitudinal edge 206b on both sides. As shown in FIG. 8, the width of the first substrate 204 may be greater than the width of the second substrate 206. Thus, the first extension 204c of the first substrate 204 may extend laterally outward in the cross direction from the first edge 206a of the second substrate 206 to the first edge 204a of the first substrate 204, and the second extension 204d of the first substrate 204 may extend laterally outward in the cross direction from the second edge 206b of the second substrate 206 to the second edge 204b of the first substrate 204. It will be understood that in some embodiments, the width of the second substrate 206 may be the same as or greater than the width of the first substrate 204.

[0083] As described above, the apparatus 301 can include an elastomeric strand supply device such as one or more pay - out machines 302 that supply a plurality of elastomeric strands 208. It should be understood that the pay - out machine 302 herein can be configured in various ways. For example, the pay - out machine 302 can be composed of individual spools having a mandrel and / or a surface - driven pay - out machine, an over - end pay - out machine, and / or a beam pay - out machine (also called a warp beam). Various types of pay - out machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,676,054; 7,878,447; 7,905,446; 9,156,648; 4,525,905; 5,060,881; and 5,775,380; U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 189,476 filed on Mar. 2, 2021; and U.S. Patent Publications 2004 / 0219854(A1); 2018 / 0168879(A1); and 2018 / 0170026(A1). All of these are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. Further examples of elastomers and related handling equipment are available from Karl Mayer Corporation. It should also be understood that the apparatus 301 can be configured to assemble the elastomeric strands 208 unwound from two or more pay - out machines 302 in combination with elastomeric strands supplied from the same type and / or different types of elastomeric pay - out mechanisms into the elastomeric laminate 200. The elastomeric strands 208 can include various types of spin finishes, also referred to herein as yarn finishes, configured as coatings on the elastomeric strands 208 that are intended to help prevent the elastomeric strands from adhering to themselves, to each other, and / or to downstream handling equipment. Thus, the apparatus can also be configured to remove or partially remove the spin finish from the elastomeric strands, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Publication 2018 / 0168877(A1), which is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.

[0084] As described above, the apparatus 301 can include one or more unwind mechanisms 302 that can supply various amounts of elastic strands. In some configurations, the unwind mechanism 302 herein can include from 1 to about 3000 spools disposed on the unwind mechanism, and thus can have from 1 to about 3000 elastic strands 208 advancing from the unwind mechanism. Specifically, all values in increments of one spool and one strand within the above ranges are described, as well as all ranges within or given by the above ranges. Further, the elastomeric laminate 200 herein can include from 1 to about 3000 elastic strands 208 spaced apart from each other in the cross - direction CD. Specifically, all values in increments of one elastic strand within the above ranges are described, as well as all ranges within or given by the above ranges.

[0085] It should also be understood that the apparatus and process can be configured such that the elastic strands 208 can be advanced directly from the unwind mechanism 302 to the assembly process without the need to contact additional mechanical components such as, for example, guide rollers. In some configurations, it should also be understood that the elastic strands 208 can be advanced from the unwind mechanism 302 and redirected and / or otherwise contacted and / or redirected by mechanical elements such as, for example, guide rollers, before being advanced to the assembly process.

[0086] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the elastic strands 208 can also advance through a strand guide 310 before being combined with the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206. The strand guide 310 can separate or space adjacent elastic strands 208 from each other by a desired distance in the transverse direction CD before being combined with the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the elastic strands can advance through a strand guide 310 disposed between the unwind mechanism 302 and the nip 328. The strand guide 310 can operate to change and / or determine and / or fix the separation distance in the transverse direction CD between adjacent elastic strands 208 advancing into the nip 328 and within the assembled elastomeric laminate 200. It should be understood that the elastic strands 208 can be separated from each other by various distances in the transverse direction CD and advance into the nip 328 and within the assembled elastomeric laminate 200. In some configurations, adjacent elastic strands 208 may be separated from each other by about 0.5 mm to about 4 mm in the transverse direction CD, specifically, all values in increments of 0.1 mm within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. It should be understood that the strand guide 310 can be configured in various ways. In some configurations, the strand guide 310 can be configured as a comb that can have a plurality of teeth or leads. Next, the advancing elastic strands 208 are separated and spaced from each other by the teeth or leads in the transverse direction CD. In some configurations, the strand guide 310 can include a plurality of rollers that separate and space the elastic strands from each other in the transverse direction CD.

[0087] It should be understood that different components can be used to construct the elastomeric laminate 200 by the methods and apparatuses of this specification. For example, the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206 can include a nonwoven material and / or a film. Further, the elastic strands 208 can be configured in various ways and can have various dtex values. In some configurations, the elastic strands 208 can be configured to have a dtex value in the range of about 10 dtex to about 1000 dtex, specifically, all values in 1 dtex increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0088] As described above, it should be understood that the elastomeric laminate 200 assembled in this specification can include various amounts of elastic strands 208 spaced apart from each other at various distances and can have various dtex values. For example, the elastomeric laminate 200 of this specification can have various elastic densities, where the elastic density can be defined as dtex per width of the elastomeric laminate. For example, some elastomeric laminates 200 can have an elastic density in the range of about 30 dtex / mm to about 150 dtex / mm, specifically, all values in 1 dtex / mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. In another example, the elastomeric laminate 200 of this specification can have various numbers of elastic strands arranged in the cross - direction CD per 1 meter of the cross - direction width of the elastomeric laminate. For example, some elastomeric laminates 200 can have from about 500 elastic strands per meter of elastomeric laminate width to about 2000 elastic strands per meter of elastomeric laminate width, specifically, all values in 1 elastic strand / 1 meter increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus 301 can include one or more adhesive applicator devices 334 that can apply an adhesive 218 to at least one of the elastic strands 208, the first substrate 204, and the second substrate 206 before they are combined to form the elastomeric laminate 200. For example, the first substrate 204 can advance through an adhesive applicator device 334a that applies the adhesive 218 to the second surface 212 of the first substrate 204 before the first substrate advances to the nip 328. It should be understood that the adhesive 218 can be applied to the first substrate 204 upstream of the first roller 316 and / or while the first substrate 204 is partially wrapped around the outer peripheral surface 318 of the first roller 316. In another example, the second substrate 206 can advance through an adhesive applicator device 334b that applies the adhesive 218 to the first surface 214 of the second substrate 206 before the second substrate advances to the nip 328. It should be understood that the adhesive 218 can be applied to the second substrate 206 upstream of the second roller 322 and / or while the second substrate 206 is partially wound around the outer peripheral surface 324 of the second roller 324. In another example, the adhesive applicator device 334c can be configured to apply the adhesive 218 to the elastic strand 208 before and / or during its combination with the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206.

[0090] It should be understood that the adhesive applicator device 334 herein can be configured in various ways, such as, for example, a spray nozzle and / or a slot coating device. In some configurations, the adhesive applicator device 334 can be configured according to the devices and / or methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,186,296, 9,265,672, 9,248,054, and 9,295,590, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014 / 0148773(A1), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0091] It should be understood that the elastic strand 208 may be bonded to the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206 continuously or intermittently along the interface between the material of the elastic strand 208 and the substrates 204, 206. Thus, the elastic laminate 200 may include intermittently spaced non-bonded regions between regions bonded along the machine direction MD, in which non-bonded regions the inner elastic strand 208 is not bonded to either the first substrate 204 or the second substrate 206. Accordingly, the elastic strand 208 may be severed in the non-bonded regions in a subsequent process step, and thus, for example, the low elongation zone 701 described above may be formed.

[0092] In some configurations, the adhesive 334 may be applied intermittently onto the first substrate 204, the second substrate 206, and / or the elastic strands 208 to create an intermittent bond along the length of the elastic strands 208 between the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206. It should be understood that the intermittent application of the adhesive 334 may be performed using a spray nozzle and / or a slot coating device that applies an intermittent pattern of the adhesive 334. In some configurations, the adhesive 334 may be applied intermittently along the length of the advancing elastic strands 208 to create an intermittent bond along the length of the elastic strands 208 between the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206. In some configurations, the slot coating device may be configured to continuously apply the adhesive 334 at a relatively low basis weight onto the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206, and the relatively low basis weight of the adhesive results in the creation of an intermittent bond between the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206 along the length of the elastic strands 208. In some configurations, the slot coating device may be configured to continuously apply the adhesive 334 at a relatively high basis weight onto the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206, and the relatively high basis weight of the adhesive results in the creation of a continuous bond between the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206 along the length of the elastic strands 208. In some configurations, the adhesive 334 may be applied continuously along the length of the advancing elastic strands 208 to create a continuous bond along the length of the elastic strands 208 between the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206.

[0093] In some configurations, apparatus 301 can include a mechanical coupling device that applies a mechanical coupling, such as a coupling that can be applied by heat, pressure, and / or ultrasonic devices, to elastomeric laminate 200. Examples of ultrasonic coupling devices, which can include linear or rotary type configurations, are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,113,225; 3,562,041; 3,733,238; 5,110,403; 6,036,796; 6,508,641; and 6,645,330. In some configurations, the ultrasonic coupling device can be configured as a linear vibration type sonotrode, such as those available from Herrmann Ultrasonic, Inc. Further examples of mechanical coupling devices and methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,854,984; 6,291,039; 6,248,195; 8,778,127; and 9,005,392, and U.S. Patent Publications 2014 / 0377513 (A1) and 2014 / 0377506 (A1), all of which are incorporated herein by reference. It is to be understood that the mechanical coupling device can apply a mechanical coupling to the elastomeric laminate at or downstream of nip 328. The mechanical coupling device can apply a coupling that joins together the first substrate 204, the second substrate 206, and / or the elastic strands 208, and / or can serve to confine or immobilize discrete lengths of the contracted elastic strands 208 within the elastomeric laminate 200. It is also to be understood that the apparatus herein can include one, several, or all of the adhesive applicator devices 334a, 334b, 334c and the mechanical coupling device referred to herein.

[0094] The elastic strands 208 may be combined with the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206 in various ways and apparatuses to produce various elastomeric laminates as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2018 / 0168878 (A1), 2018 / 0168877 (A1), 2018 / 0168880 (A1), 2018 / 0170027 (A1), 2018 / 0169964 (A1), 2018 / 0168879 (A1), 2018 / 0170026 (A1), 2018 / 0168889 (A1), 2018 / 0168874 (A1), 2018 / 0168875 (A1), 2018 / 0168890 (A1), 2018 / 0168887 (A1), 2018 / 0168892 (A1), 2018 / 0168876 (A1), 2018 / 0168891 (A1), 2019 / 0070042 (A1), and 2019 / 0070041 (A1), all of which are incorporated herein by reference, and combinations thereof.

[0095] It should be understood that the apparatus 301 of this specification may be configured in various ways so as to have the various features described herein for assembling the elastomeric laminate 200 having various elongation characteristics. For example, when the elastomeric laminate 200 is stretched, some of the elastic strands 208 may exert a contraction force in the machine direction MD that is different from the contraction force exerted by other elastic strands 208. Such different elongation characteristics can be achieved by stretching some of the elastic strands 208 more or less than other elastic strands 208 before bonding the elastic strands to the first and second substrates 204, 206. As described above, the spools of the elastic strands 208 can be unwound from one or more unwinders 302 at different speeds from each other, so that the elastic strands 208 can be stretched more or less than each other when combined with the first and second substrates. For example, as described above, each of the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206 can move forward at a speed S1. In some configurations, some of the elastic strands 208 may move forward at a speed S2 that is slower than the speed S1, which is also different from the forward speed of other elastic strands. Thus, some of the elastic strands 208 are stretched by different amounts in the machine direction MD when combined with the first and second substrates 204, 206.

[0096] As described herein, the elastic strand 208 can be pre-strained before being bonded to the first substrate layer or the second substrate layer 204, 206. In some configurations, the elastic strand 208 can be pre-strained by about 75% to about 300%, specifically, all values in 1% increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described. In some configurations, the elastic strand 208 can be pre-strained by about 80% to about 250%, specifically, all values in 1% increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described. Pre-strain refers to the strain imposed on an elastic or elastomeric material before being combined with another element of the elastomeric laminate or absorbent article. Pre-strain is determined by the following equation: Pre-strain = ((elongated length of the elastic - relaxed length of the elastic) / relaxed length of the elastic) × 100.

[0097] It should also be understood that the elastic strands 208 may have various different material structures and / or dtex values to produce an elastomeric laminate 200 having different elongation characteristics in different regions. In some configurations, spools of elastic strands 208 having different dtex values can be placed on one or more unwind machines 302 and advanced therefrom. In some configurations, the elastomeric laminate 200 can have regions where the elastic strands 208 are spaced relatively closely to each other in the cross direction CD and other regions where the elastic strands 208 are spaced relatively far apart from each other in the cross direction CD so as to provide different elongation characteristics in different regions. In some configurations, the elastic strands 208 may be supplied on the spools in a stretched state, such that no further stretching (or relatively little further stretching) may be required before being combined with the first substrate 204 and / or the second substrate 206. In some configurations, the different elongation characteristics in the elastomeric laminate 200 may be created by bonding another substrate and / or an elastomeric laminate and / or an elastic film to a particular region of the elastomeric laminate. In some configurations, the different elongation characteristics in the elastomeric laminate 200 may be created by having a portion of the elastomeric laminate fold over itself in a particular region of the elastomeric laminate.

[0098] In some configurations, the elastic strands 208 can be coupled to the first and second substrates 204, 206 such that the elastomeric laminate 200 has different elongation characteristics in different regions along the cross - direction CD, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006 / 0094319(A1), 2006 / 0032578(A1), 2018 / 0168878(A1), 2018 / 0168877(A1), 2018 / 0168880(A1), 2018 / 0170027(A1), 2018 / 0169964(A1), 2018 / 0168879(A1), 20180170026(A1), 2018 / 0168889(A1), 2018 / 0168874(A1), 2018 / 0168875(A1), 2018 / 0168890(A1), 2018 / 0168887(A1), 2018 / 0168892(A1), 2018 / 0168876(A1), 2018 / 0168891(A1), 2019 / 0070042(A1), and 2019 / 0070041(A1), which are incorporated herein by reference. In some configurations, the elastomeric laminate 200 can include different tension zones that can help reduce the complexity of some web handling operations, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002 / 0009940(A1), which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0099] Referring again to FIG. 6, the elastic laminate 200 may advance in the machine direction MD up to the cutting device 500 adapted to form a weak path 700 within the elastic laminate 200. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cutting device 500 may include a knife roll 502 disposed adjacent to an anvil roll 504 so as to define a nip 506 therebetween. The knife roll 502 may include an outer peripheral surface 508 and a blade 510, and the blade 510 extends radially outwardly to a blade edge 604 and is adapted to rotate about an axis 514 in a first direction Dir1. The anvil roll 504 may include an outer peripheral surface 516 adapted to rotate about an axis 518 in a second direction Dir2 opposite to the first direction Dir1. When the elastic laminate 200 advances through the nip 506 between the knife roll 502 and the anvil roll 504, the blade 510 operates to form a weak path 700 within the elastic laminate 200. As will be described in more detail below, the blade edge 604 acts on the elastic laminate 200 to form distinct weak lines 704 that define each weak path 700. When forming the weak lines 704, the blade edge 604 may also cut the elastic strands 208 that extend through the weak lines 704. As will be described in more detail below, the blade 510 is configured such that all of the elastic strands 208 that extend through the weak path 700 are cut by the weak lines 704, whereby some of the elastic strands are cut only once and some of the elastic strands are cut two or more times.

[0100] It should be understood that the cutting device 500 may be configured in a variety of ways having various different blade configurations adapted to form different configurations of the weak path 700. For example, FIG. 10A shows another configuration of the cutting device 500 adapted to form a weak path 700 within the elastic laminate 200.

[0101] In some configurations, the cutting device 500 may be further adapted to cut the elastic strands 208 to create a zone of reduced elasticity within the elastic laminate 200, which may also be referred to as stitch elastic cutting. For example, regions of the elastic strands 208 may be intermittently deactivated along the length of the elastic laminate 200 by cutting the elastic strands 208 to create low elongation zones 701 that are intermittently spaced apart along the machine direction between the high elongation zones 703, as described above with reference to FIG. 2A. Next, the chassis 102 may subsequently be connected to the first and / or second elastic laminates 200a, 200b so as to overlap the low elongation zones 701. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the knife roll 502 may include a blade 511 adapted to cut the elastic strands 208 to form the low elongation zones 701. For example, the blade 511 may cut the elastic strands 208 in an unbonded region where the length of the elastic strands 208 is not bonded to the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206. The stitch cutting region 709 where the blade 511 contacts the elastic laminate 200 is generally shown as a cross-hatched region in FIG. 10. Thus, the severed elastic strands 208 may retract from the unbonded region to form the low elongation zones 701. In some configurations, the blade 511 may cut the elastic strands 208 into several pieces along the machine direction MD to form the low elongation zones 701, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 281,113, filed Nov. 19, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference. The cutting device 500 may be configured in various aspects of cutting devices and blades, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,440,043, 10,759,153, and 10,807,263, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2020 / 0180182(A1), which are incorporated herein by reference.In contrast to, or in addition to, the blade, the cutting device 500 can be configured to perform the cutting operation in various ways, such as using a laser or ultrasonic waves, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2016 / 0354254(A1), 2016 / 0128874(A1), 2017 / 0266941(A1), 2017 / 0266057(A1), and 2017 / 0266056(A1), all of which are incorporated herein by reference. It should be understood that the apparatus 300 may be configured to include an additional cutting device separate from the cutting device 500 to perform the trimming cutting operation.

[0102] In some configurations, the apparatus 300, such as that shown in FIG. 6, can be configured to assemble an elastomeric laminate 200 that can be cut along the machine direction MD to define separate lanes of the elastomeric material of the individual elastomeric laminates 200. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6, 9, and 10, the continuous elastomeric laminate 200 may advance to a slitting device 350, where the elastomeric laminate 200 is slit along the machine direction MD and divided into lanes, such as a first continuous elastomeric laminate 200a and a second continuous elastomeric laminate 200b. It should be understood that the elastomeric laminate 200 may be slit using a shear slitting operation or a crush slitting operation. In a crush slitting operation, the first substrate 204 and the second substrate 206 may be joined together during the slitting operation.

[0103] Continuing to refer to FIG. 10, the slitting device 350 may be configured to cut the elastic laminate 200 in the machine direction MD through the low-elongation zone 701 to form a first low-elongation zone 701a and a second low-elongation zone 701b. It should be understood that the first elastic laminate 200a may correspond to the first elastic belt 106, and the second elastic laminate 200b may correspond to the second elastic belt 108 described above. As discussed in more detail below, when assembling the diaper pants 100P, the elastic laminate 200 may be converted into the first elastic belt laminate 200a and / or the second elastic belt laminate 200b. The first elastic belt laminate 200a and the second elastic belt laminate 200b may be separated from each other in the cross direction CD. Next, the end regions on both sides of the chassis 102 may be connected to the low-elongation zone 701a of the first elastic belt laminate 200a and / or the low-elongation zone 701b of the second elastic belt laminate 200b. During subsequent assembly operations, the chassis 102 may be folded so as to position the first elastic belt laminate 200a in a facing relationship with the second elastic belt laminate 200b. The overlapping belt laminates 200a, 200b may be joined to each other, and then, by cutting along the cross direction CD through the joining region of the first and second belt laminates 200a, 200b, the first and second belt laminates 200a, 200b are separated into the first and second belts 106, 108, respectively, so that separate diaper pants 100P may be formed. Accordingly, the joining region may be divided so as to define the first and second side seams 178, 180, respectively.

[0104] The first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b may advance from the slitting device 350 through a diverter 352 that separates the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b from each other in the transverse direction CD. It should be understood that the diverter 352 may be configured in various ways. For example, in some embodiments, the diverter 352 may include a turning bar oriented at 45 degrees or some other angle with respect to the machine direction MD. In some embodiments, the diverter can include a curved roller. In some embodiments, the diverter 352 may include a pivot or tracking table, such as the FIFE-500 Web Guiding System by Maxcess-FIFE Corporation, which can adjust the positions of the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b in the transverse direction CD. Other suitable pivot or tracking tables are available from Erhardt & Leimer, Inc. The diverter may also include devices and web edge control features that enable precise active control of the substrate position.

[0105] It should be understood that the apparatus 300 may be configured in various ways to perform more or fewer conversion operations and / or in various different orders of implementation. For example, the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b may be formed of separate continuous lengths of material similar to the above description and thus do not require a slitting process and / or a turning process. In some configurations, the elastic laminate 200 may first advance to the slitting device 350, and then the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b may advance to the cutting device 500.

[0106] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, the first elastic laminate 200a includes an outer longitudinal edge 200aa and an inner longitudinal edge 200ab that may define a substantially constant width W1 in the transverse direction CD. The second elastic laminate 200b includes an outer longitudinal edge 200ba and an inner longitudinal edge 200bb that may define a substantially constant width W2 in the transverse direction CD. In some configurations, W1 and W2 may or may not be equal. For example, in some configurations, W2 may be greater than W1. The first elastic laminate 200a is separated from the second elastic laminate 200b in the transverse direction CD, defining a gap between the inner longitudinal edge 200ab of the first elastic laminate 200a and the inner longitudinal edge 200bb of the second elastic laminate 200b. The first elastic laminate 200a may correspond to or be converted into the first elastic belt 106 of the assembled diaper pants 100P, and the second elastic laminate 200b may correspond to or be converted into the first elastic belt 108 of the assembled diaper pants 100P. It should be understood. Thus, the inner longitudinal edge 200ab of the first elastic laminate 200a may correspond to the inner edge 107b extending in the lateral direction of the first elastic belt 106, and the inner longitudinal edge 200bb of the second elastic laminate 200b may correspond to the inner edge 109b extending in the lateral direction of the second elastic belt 108. As will be described in more detail below, the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b advance from the diverter 352 and are combined with a separate chassis 102.

[0107] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 6B, a continuous length of chassis assembly 102a advances in the machine direction MD and defines a width in the transverse direction CD. The continuous length of chassis assembly 102a may include an absorbent assembly 140 sandwiched between a topsheet material 138 and a backsheet material 136, leg elastics, barrier leg cuffs, and the like.

[0108] As shown in FIGS. 6, 6B, and 6C1, the continuous length of the chassis assembly 102a may advance to the cutting device 354 or may be cut into separate chassis 102. Next, the separate chassis 102 is combined with the first elastic laminate 200a and the second elastic laminate 200b. In some configurations, the separate chassis 102 advances from the cutting device 354 to a conveying device 356 generally represented by the dashed brackets in FIG. 6. The conveying device 356 may operate to change the orientation and / or the advancing speed of the chassis 102 and to combine it with the first elastic laminate 200a and the second elastic laminate 200b that advance the chassis 102, which may also be referred to herein as a chassis-belt comingling operation. For example, various forms of the conveying device 356, such as the conveying devices disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,587,966 and U.S. Patent Publications Nos. 2013 / 0270065(A1), 2013 / 0270069(A1), 2013 / 0270066(A1), and 2013 / 0270067(A1), may be used in the methods herein. In some embodiments, the conveying device 356 may rotate at a variable angular velocity that can be changed or adjusted by a controller to change the relative arrangement of the chassis 102 and the advancing belt laminates 200a, 200b.

[0109] In the exemplary operations shown in FIGS. 6 and 6C1, after a separate absorbent chassis 102 is cut by the cutting device 354, the conveying device 356 advances the separate chassis 102 in the machine direction MD in the orientation shown in FIG. 6C1. The conveying device 356 also changes the orientation of the advancing chassis 102. When changing the orientation of the chassis, the conveying device 356 can rotate each chassis 102 so that the lateral axis 126 of the chassis 102 is parallel or substantially parallel to the machine direction MD, as shown in FIG. 6C2. The conveying device 356 can also change the speed at which the chassis 102 advances in the machine direction MD to different speeds. FIG. 6C2 shows the orientation of the chassis 102 on the conveying device 308 while advancing in the machine direction MD. More specifically, FIG. 6C2 shows a chassis 102 whose lateral axis 126 is substantially parallel to the machine direction MD. As shown in FIG. 6, the adhesive 358 may be intermittently applied to the first and second belt laminates 200a, 200b before being combined with the separate chassis 102 from the conveying device 356. It should be understood that the adhesive 358 may include one or more adhesives that can be applied by one or more adhesive applicators.

[0110] As will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6, 6D1, 6D2, 6E, and 6F, the separate chassis 102 is transferred from the conveying device 356 and joined to the advancing continuous lengths of the belt laminates 200a, 200b, which are then cut to form the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108 of the diaper 100.

[0111] As shown in FIGS. 6, 6D1, and 6D2, the chassis 102 is transferred from the transfer device 356 and combined with a first elastic laminate 200a and a second elastic laminate 200b that advance in a continuous length. The chassis 102 are spaced apart from each other along the machine direction MD. The first waist region 116 of the chassis 102 may be coupled to the second base material 208 of the first elastic laminate 200a, and the second waist region 118 of the chassis 102 may be coupled to the second base material 208 of the second elastic laminate 200b. As described above, the first elastic laminate 200a may correspond to or be converted into the first elastic belt 106 of the assembled diaper pants 100P, and the second elastic laminate 200b may correspond to or be converted into the first elastic belt 108 of the assembled diaper pants 100P. Accordingly, the first base materials 204 of the first elastic laminate 200a and the second elastic laminate 200b may respectively correspond to the first base material 162 on the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108. Also, the second base materials 206 of the first elastic laminate 200a and the second elastic laminate 200b may respectively correspond to the second base material 164 on the first elastic belt 106 and the second elastic belt 108.

[0112] As shown in FIG. 6, the combined chassis 102, the first belt laminate 200a, and the second belt laminate 200b advance toward the edge deformation device 360. In some configurations, the edge deformation device 360 may be configured as a folding device that operates to fold the first and / or second belt laminates 200a, 200b in the cross - direction CD along a fold extending along the machine direction MD. This may also be referred to herein as a waist edge folding operation. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6D1 and 6D2, the edge deformation device 360 folds the first substrate 204 on the first elastic laminate 200a longitudinally and positions the second surface 212 of the first extension 204c of the first substrate 204 in a facing relationship with the first surface 214 of the second substrate 206. The edge deformation device 360 also folds the first substrate 204 on the second elastic laminate 200b longitudinally and positions the second surface 212 of the second extension 204d of the first substrate 204 in a facing relationship with the first surface 214 of the second substrate 206.

[0113] Accordingly, the edge deformation device 360 forms a fold 204h extending in the machine direction MD in the first belt laminate 200a. The edge deformation device 360 also generates a fold 204h extending in the machine direction MD in the second belt laminate 200b. Next, as described above with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the fold 204h in the first elastic laminate 200a may correspond to the fold 162h that defines the outer longitudinal edge 107a of the first elastic belt 106 in the assembled diaper pants 100P, and the fold 204h in the second elastic laminate 200b may correspond to the fold 162h that defines the outer longitudinal edge 109a of the second elastic belt 108 in the assembled diaper pants 100P.

[0114] As shown in FIG. 6D2, the edge deformation device 360 forms a folded portion 204g within the first belt laminate 200a that extends between the first outer longitudinal edge 204a of the first substrate 204 and the fold line 200h. Further, the edge deformation device 360 forms a folded portion 204g within the second belt laminate 200b that extends between the second longitudinal edge 204b of the first substrate 204 and the fold line 200h. As shown in FIG. 6D2, the folded portions 204g of the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b are bent so as to overlap the first and / or second laterally extending edge portions 144, 146 of each chassis 102 and the top sheet 138. Next, as described above with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the folded portion 204g within the first elastic laminate 200a may correspond to the folded portion 162g of the first elastic belt 106 within the assembled diaper pants 100P, and the folded portion 204g within the second elastic laminate 200b may correspond to the folded portion 162g of the second elastic belt 108 within the assembled diaper pants 100P. It should be understood that the folded portion 204g, the end regions on both sides of the top sheet 138, and the first surface 214 of the second substrate 206 may be joined together by various methods such as adhesives and / or mechanical connections.

[0115] Referring again to FIGS. 6, 6D1, and 6D2, the continuous length absorbent article 100a is defined by a plurality of separate chassis 102 that are spaced from each other along the machine direction MD and are connected to each other by a second belt laminate 200b and a first belt laminate 200a. As shown in FIG. 6, the continuous length absorbent article 100a can advance from the edge deforming device 360 to the folding device 362. In the folding device 362, each chassis 102 is folded in the cross direction CD parallel to or along the transverse axis 126, and the first waist region 116, particularly the inner body-facing surface 132, is arranged in an orientation facing the inner body-facing surface 132 of the second waist region 118. The folding of the chassis also positions the second belt laminate 200b extending between each chassis 102 in a facing relationship with the first belt laminate 200a extending between each chassis 102. It should be understood that the folding device 364 may be configured in various ways, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2013 / 0203580 (A1) and 2017 / 0304124 (A1), which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0116] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6E, the folded separate chassis 102 connected to the first belt laminate 200a and the second belt laminate 200b can be advanced from the folding device 362 to the coupling device 364. The coupling device 364 operates to form coupling regions 250 that are intermittently spaced along the machine direction and couple the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b to each other, which may sometimes be referred to herein as a side sewing operation. It should be understood that the coupling device 364 can be configured in various ways to form the coupling regions, such as by various methods including heat, adhesives, pressure, and / or ultrasonic waves. In some embodiments, it should also be understood that the device 300 may be configured to releasably couple the first and second elastic laminates 200a, 200b together in addition to or in contrast to a permanent coupling. Thus, the coupling region 250 can be configured to be releasable, such as by using hooks and loops.

[0117] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 6F, the absorbent article 100a of continuous length is advanced from the joining device 364 to the cutting device 366, where the first belt laminate 200a and the second belt laminate 200b are cut along the transverse direction CD through the joining region 250 to produce separate absorbent articles 100 having first and second joining regions 250a, 250b, which may also be referred to herein as the final knife cutting operation. As shown in FIG. 6F, the first belt laminate 200a and the second belt laminate 200b are cut into separate pieces to form first and second elastic belts 106, 108 each having a pitch length PL extending along the machine direction MD. Thus, the joining region 250a may correspond to and form the first side seam 178 on the absorbent article 100, and the joining region 250b may correspond to and form the second side seam 180 on the subsequently advancing absorbent article. Additionally, the assembled absorbent article 100P may also include a weakening path 700 within the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A-5B.

[0118] As described above with reference to FIGS. 6, 9, and 10 and as will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11A-12B, the cutting device 500 may form the weakening path 700 in various ways and in various shapes, and may be disposed at various positions on the first elastic laminate 200a and / or the second elastic laminate 200b relative to other features and / or elements formed by other process operations such as, for example, a chassis-belt joining operation, a waist edge folding operation, a side sewing operation, and the final knife cutting operation.

[0119] FIG. 11A shows an example of first and second frangible paths 700a, 700b that can be formed on the first elastic substrate 200a by the cutting device 500 described above with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The frangible path 700 in FIG. 11A extends in the transverse direction CD from the inner longitudinal edge 200ab to the outer longitudinal edge 200aa of the first elastic laminate 200a. Each of the frangible paths 700 herein may include one or more regions 7000 (such as 7001, 7002,..., 700n) that include frangible lines 704 of different types, amounts, sizes, and / or orientations. For example, each of the frangible paths 700a, 700b may include a first region 7001 that extends in the transverse direction CD from an adjacent inner longitudinal edge 200ab of the first elastic laminate 200a to a second region 7002. As shown in FIG. 11A, the second region 7002 includes a length that is longer than that of the first region 7001 that extends in the machine direction MD. Thus, the frangible path may transition from the first region to a second region where the machine direction length increases in the machine direction MD. The second region 7002 may extend in the transverse direction CD from the first region 7001 and transition to a third region 7003 that is adjacent to the first longitudinal edge 206a of the second substrate 206. The third region 7003 may extend in the transverse direction CD from the second region 7002 until it is adjacent to the first outer longitudinal edge 204a of the first substrate 204. Thus, the third region 7003 may extend from where it is adjacent to the first longitudinal edge 206a of the second substrate 206, across the extension 204c of the first substrate 204, until it is adjacent to the first outer longitudinal edge 204a of the first substrate 204.

[0120] It should be understood that the first region 7001, the second region 7002, and the third region 7003 may define different shapes, different lengths along the machine direction MD, and / or different widths along the cross direction CD. Additionally, the first region 7001, the second region 7002, and the third region 7003 may be oriented in various different ways with respect to the machine direction MD and / or the cross direction CD. For example, as described above, the frangible path 700 includes a plurality of frangible lines 704. As shown in FIG. 11A, the frangible lines 704 in the third region 7003 are sized, shaped, oriented, arranged, and / or positioned, for example, to define a pattern that reflects the pattern of the frangible lines 704 in the second region 7002 about a reference line extending in the machine direction MD with respect to, for example, the first longitudinal edge 206a of the second substrate 206. Thus, when the first elastic laminate 200a undergoes the waist edge folding operation as described above with reference to FIGS. 6D1 and 6D2, and when the extension 204c is folded along the fold line 200h, the frangible lines 704 in the third region 7003 may overlap and / or align with the frangible lines 704 in the second region 7002 as shown in FIG. 11B.

[0121] As described above, the frangible path 700 may be disposed at various positions on the first elastic laminate 200a and / or the second elastic laminate 200b with respect to other features and / or elements formed in other process operations such as, for example, a chassis-belt coupling operation, a waist edge folding operation, a side stitching operation, and a final knife cutting operation. For example, FIG. 11C shows an example of a bonding region 250 formed during a side stitching operation using the bonding device 364 as described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 6E. As shown in FIG. 11C, the bonding region 250 may be disposed between the first frangible path 700a and the second frangible path 700b. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11D, the first frangible path 700a may be adjacent to the first side seam 178 of the assembled diaper pants 100P, and the second frangible path 700b may be adjacent to the second side seam 180 of another assembled diaper pants 100P following the final knife cutting operation as described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 6G.

[0122] As described above, the frangible path 700 can include frangible lines 704 that are sized, shaped, oriented, positioned, and / or located in various different ways and / or to define various different patterns. FIGS. 12A and 12B show, for example, detailed views of frangible lines 704 of a portion of the frangible path 700 in the first belt 106 and the second belt of the pant diaper 100P shown in FIGS. 11A - 11D. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the frangible lines 704 within the frangible path 700 cut and separate the elastic strands 208(168) at least once. The frangible lines 704 within the frangible path 700 may also cut the elastic strands to separate them into separate pieces 706. For clarity, the elastic strands 208(168) and the separate pieces 706 of the elastic strands 208(168) are not shown in FIG. 12A. The frangible lines 704 are shown thinner in FIG. 12B to emphasize the visibility of the elastic strands 208(168) and the separate pieces 706 of the elastic strands 208(168). In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 penetrate the elastic strands 208(168), the first substrate 204, and the second substrate 164. In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 may penetrate only the elastic strands 208(168) and one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164). In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 may penetrate the elastic strands 208(168) that couple the first substrate 204(162) to the second substrate 206(164). In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 may cut the elastic strands 208(168) such that the separated elastic strands 208(168) do not retreat from each other at the frangible line and are not separated from each other at the frangible line 704. In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 may damage the elastic strands 208(168) such that some portions of the damaged elastic strands 208(168) are present within and / or extend through the frangible line 704.

[0123] It should be understood that the description provided regarding the detailed vulnerability path 700 and vulnerability line 704 described with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B is also applicable to the vulnerability path 700 shown in other figures described herein. When applying the description of the vulnerability path 700 of the elastic laminate 200a in FIGS. 12A and 12B to the vulnerability path 700 and vulnerability line 704 in the figure showing the assembled diaper pants 100P, the orientation of the vulnerability path 700 and vulnerability line 704 with respect to the machine direction MD and the cross direction CD may be similarly taken with respect to the respective transverse axis 126 and longitudinal axis 124 of the first belt 106 of the assembled diaper pants 100P.

[0124] It should be understood that the vulnerability lines 704 can be arranged in various orientations and sizes. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the vulnerability line may be oriented to define an offset angle 708 with respect to the machine direction MD. The magnitude of the offset angle 708 is configured to minimize or prevent the separation of the side portions 704a, 704b on both sides of the vulnerability line 704 when the elastic laminate 200a (108) is subjected to forces opposing the machine direction or the cross direction, such as when the elastic belts 106, 108 are stretched laterally. In some configurations, the offset angle 708 can be greater than 10 degrees and less than 80 degrees, specifically describing all values in 1-degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range.

[0125] Continuing to refer to FIG. 12A, the frangible line 704 can be disposed in a column 710 that includes at least a first column 710a and a second column 710b adjacent to the first column 710a. The frangible lines 704 of the first column 710a and the second column 710b can extend over a length 712 from a first end 704c to a second end 704d. In some configurations, the length 712 of each frangible line 704 of the first column 710a and the second column 710b can be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. In some configurations, the frangible line 704 of the first column 710a and the frangible line 704 of the second column 710b are parallel to each other. The frangible lines 704 of the first column 710a and / or the second column 710b may be separated from each other by a cut line gap distance 714. In some configurations, the cut line gap distance 714 can be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. The first end 704c of the cut line 704 of the first column 710b and the first end 704c of the frangible line 704 of the second column 710b may be aligned along a first reference line 716 oriented to define an angle 720 of the column with respect to the lateral axis 126. In some configurations, the column angle 720 can be from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, specifically, all values in 1 degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described. As shown in FIG. 12A, the second end 704d of the frangible line 704 of the first column 710a and the second end 704d of the frangible line 704 of the second column 710b may be aligned along a second reference line 718. In some configurations, the second reference line 718 is parallel to the first reference line 716. Additionally, the second reference line 718 of the first column 710a can be separated from the first reference line 716 of the second column 710b by a column gap distance 722. When the second reference line 718 of the first column 710a is positioned downstream in the machine direction MD of the first reference line 716 of the second column 710b, the column gap distance 722 can be represented as a positive number.When the second reference line 718 of the first column 710a is positioned upstream in the machine direction MD of the first reference line 716 of the second column 710b, the column gap distance 722 can be represented as a negative number. In some configurations, the column gap distance 722 may be from about -10 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0126] As described above, the vulnerable line 704 in the vulnerable path 700 may cut some of the elastic strands 208(168) once, or cut some of the elastic strands 208(168) two or more times to separate some of the elastic strands 208(168) into separate pieces 706. As shown in FIG. 12B, the separate piece 706 of the elastic strand (208)168 extends over an elastic piece length 724 between a first end 725 and a second end 726. In some configurations, the first elastic piece length 724 of the separate piece 706 may be defined by the distance it extends, or may be defined by the distance that extends laterally between the vulnerable line 704 of the first column 710a and the vulnerable line 704 of the second column 710b. As described above, the elastic strand 168 may be continuously bonded to at least one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164), or may be intermittently bonded to at least one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164). Accordingly, the separate piece 706 of the elastic strand 208(168) may be continuously bonded to at least one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164), or may be intermittently bonded to at least one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164). It should also be understood that the elastic strand 208(168) and the separate piece 706 of the elastic strand 208(168) may be bonded with an adhesive applied to at least one of the first substrate 204(162), the second substrate 206(164), and the elastic strand 208(168).

[0127] As described above, the knife roll 502 can include blades 510 that extend radially outwardly to a blade edge 604 that is adapted to rotate about an axis 514. Thus, the blade edge 604 may be oriented to cut the elastic strands 208 on the first substrate 200a along corresponding frangible lines 704 and into a frangible path 700 within the elastic laminate 200a having discrete elastic pieces 706 as described above with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. FIG. 13 shows an exemplary orientation of a portion of the group of blade edges 604 on the knife roll 502. It is to be understood that the knife roll 502 may be configured to rotate at a variable angular velocity or at a constant angular velocity and may be driven by a servo motor.

[0128] It should be understood that the blade edge 604 can be arranged in various orientations and sizes. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the blade edge 604 may be oriented to define an offset angle 608 with respect to the rotation axis 514. In some configurations, the offset angle 608 may be greater than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees. Continuing to refer to FIG. 13, the blade edge 604 can be arranged in a column 610 that includes at least a first column 610a and a second column 610b adjacent to the first column 610a. The blade edges of the first column 610a and the second column 610b can extend over a length 612 from a first end 604c to a second end 604d. In some configurations, the length 612 of each blade edge 604 of the first column 610a and the second column 610b may be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within the above range or given by the above range are described. In some configurations, the blade edges 604 of the first column 610a and the second column 610b are parallel to each other. The blade edges 604 of the first column 610a and / or the second column 610b may be separated from each other by a blade edge gap distance 614. In some configurations, the blade edge gap distance 614 may be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within the above range or given by the above range are described. The first end 604c of the blade edge 604 of the first column 610b and the first end 604c of the blade edge 604 of the second column 610b may be aligned along a first reference line 616 oriented to define an angle 620 of the column with respect to the rotation axis 514. In some configurations, the column angle 620 can be from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, specifically, all values in 1 degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within the above range or formed by the above range are described. As shown in FIG. 13, the second end 604d of the blade edge 604 of the first column 610a and the second end 604d of the blade edge 604 of the second column 610b may be aligned along a second reference line 618. In some configurations, the second reference line 618 is parallel to the first reference line 616.In addition, the second reference line 618 of the first column 610a can be separated from the first reference line 616 of the second column 610b by a column gap distance 622. When the second reference line 618 of the first column 610a is positioned upstream in the machine direction MD of the first reference line 616 of the second column 610b, the column gap distance 622 can be represented as a positive number. When the second reference line 618 of the first column 610a is positioned downstream in the machine direction MD of the first reference line 616 of the second column 610b, the column gap distance 622 can be represented as a negative number. In some configurations, the column gap distance 622 can be from about -10 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0129] Figures 14A - 14D2 provide further examples of how the cutting device 500 described above with reference to FIGS. 6, 9, and 10A can form vulnerable paths 700 positioned at various locations on the first elastic laminate 200a and / or the second elastic laminate 200b in various ways and in various shapes with respect to other features and / or elements formed in other process operations such as, for example, a chassis - belt coupling operation and a waist edge folding operation.

[0130] Figure 14A shows a first elastic substrate 200a advancing in the machine direction upstream of the cutting device 500 described above with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10A. The first elastic substrate 200a includes fastening components 707 as described above with reference to FIGS. 5A - 5C that can be coupled to the second surface 216 of the second substrate 206. It should be understood that such fastening components 707 can be coupled to the first elastic laminate 200a in various ways and at various times with respect to other assembly operations. For example, FIG. 6 shows a coupling device 368 that can apply the fastening components 707 to the advancing elastic laminate 200. As shown in FIG. 6, the coupling device 368 can be positioned upstream of the cutting device 500. It should also be understood that the coupling device 368 can be positioned at other locations in the assembly process, for example, the coupling device 368 can be positioned downstream of the cutting device 500.

[0131] Referring now to FIG. 14B, examples of the first and second frangible paths 700a, 700b can be formed on the first elastic substrate 200a of FIG. 14A by the cutting device 500 described above with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 14B also shows examples of the notch cutting region 709 and the low elongation zone 701 that can be formed by the cutting device 500. The frangible path 700 of FIG. 14B extends in the transverse direction CD from the inner longitudinal edge 200ab to the outer longitudinal edge 200aa of the first elastic laminate 200a and may include various regions. As described above, the frangible path 700 herein may include one or more regions 7000 (such as 7001, 7002,..., 700n) including frangible lines 704 of different types, amounts, sizes, and / or orientations. For example, each of the frangible paths 700a, 700b may include a first region 7001 that extends in the transverse direction CD from an adjacent inner longitudinal edge 200ab of the first elastic laminate 200a to a second region 7002. As shown in FIG. 14B, the second region 7002 may include frangible lines 704 that extend in the machine direction MD and the transverse direction CD and partially surround the fastening component 707. The frangible path 700 of FIG. 14B may also include a third region 7003 that extends in the transverse direction CD from the second region 7002 to adjacent the first longitudinal edge 206a of the second substrate 206. In addition, the frangible path 700 may include a fourth region 7004 having a group of frangible lines 704. The fourth region 7004 may include a first small region 7004a and a second small region 7004b. The first small region 7004a can be located between the third region 7003 and the first longitudinal edge 206a of the second substrate 206, and the second small region 7004b can extend between the first longitudinal edges 206a of the second substrate 206, across the extension 204c of the first substrate 204, and adjacent to the first outer longitudinal edge 204a of the first substrate 204.

[0132] It should be understood that the first region 7001, the second region 7002, the third region 7003, and the fourth region 7004 may define different shapes, different lengths along the machine direction MD, and / or different widths along the cross direction CD. Additionally, the first region 7001, the second region 7002, the third region 7003, and the fourth region 7004 may be oriented in various different ways with respect to the machine direction MD and / or the cross direction CD. For example, as described above, the vulnerable path 700 includes a plurality of vulnerable lines 704. As shown in FIG. 14B, the vulnerable lines 704 within the third region 7003 are sized, shaped, oriented, arranged, and / or positioned, for example, to define a pattern that reflects the pattern of the vulnerable lines 704 within the first region 7001 about a reference line extending in the machine direction MD, such as a reference line extending in the machine direction MD that bisects the second region 7002. Further, the vulnerable lines 704 within the first vulnerable path 700a are sized, shaped, oriented, arranged, and / or positioned, for example, to define a pattern that reflects the pattern of the vulnerable lines 704 within the second vulnerable path 700b about a reference line extending in the cross direction CD, such as with respect to the notch cut region 709.

[0133] As described above, the vulnerable path 700 may be disposed at various positions on the first elastic laminate 200a and / or the second elastic laminate 200b with respect to other features and / or elements formed in other process operations, such as a chassis-belt coupling operation. For example, FIG. 14C shows an example of the chassis 102 disposed on the first elastic laminate 200a after the chassis coupling operation as described above with reference to FIGS. 6, 6C1, 6C2, and 6D1. As shown in FIG. 14C, the chassis 102 may be disposed between the first vulnerable path 700a and the second vulnerable path 700b. Additionally, a portion of the first vulnerable path 700a and the second vulnerable path 700b may overlap the chassis 102. For example, the second region 7002 of the first vulnerable path 700a and the second vulnerable path 700b may be disposed with respect to the chassis 102 such that the fastening element 707 is sandwiched between the first elastic laminate 200a and the chassis 102. In a particular example, the fastening element 707 may be sandwiched between the second surface 216 of the first elastic laminate of the second substrate 206 and the backsheet 134 of the chassis 102.

[0134] Figures 14D1 and 14D2 show an example of the chassis 102 and the first elastic laminate 200a after undergoing the waist edge folding operation as described above with reference to Figures 6D1 and 6D2. As shown, when the extension portion 204c is folded along the fold line 200h, the folded portion 204g of the first elastic laminate 200a is folded so as to overlap the first laterally extending edge portion 144 of the chassis 102. In addition, the second small region 7004b of the fourth region 7004 of the first and second vulnerable paths 700a, 700b is positioned on the folded portion 204g as shown in Figure 14D1. Also, the first small region 7004a of the fourth region 7004 of the first and second vulnerable paths 700a, 700b is positioned adjacent to the fold line 200h as shown in Figure 14D2. Further, as shown in Figures 14D1 and 14D2, the plurality of vulnerable lines 704 of the fourth region 7004 may be generally aligned with the vulnerable lines 704 of the third region 7003. Since the fourth region 7004 includes a group of vulnerable lines 704, very precise alignment of the vulnerable lines 704 of the third and fourth regions 7003, 7004 may not be required during the folding operation of the waist edge.

[0135] As described above, the frangible path 700 can include frangible lines 704 that are sized, shaped, oriented, positioned, and / or located in various different ways and / or to define various different patterns. FIGS. 15A and 15B show a detailed view of frangible lines 704 of a portion of the frangible path 700, such as can be applied to the first belt 106 and the second belt of the pant diaper 100P as described above, for example as described in FIG. 14B. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the frangible lines 704 within the frangible path 700 cut and separate the elastic strand 208(168) at least once. The frangible lines 704 within the frangible path 700 may also cut the elastic strand and separate it into separate pieces 706. For clarity, the elastic strand 208(168) and the separate pieces 706 of the elastic strand 208(168) are not shown in FIG. 15A. The frangible lines 704 are shown thinner in FIG. 15B to emphasize the visibility of the elastic strand 208(168) and the separate pieces 706 of the elastic strand 208(168). In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 penetrate the elastic strand 208(168), the first substrate 204, and the second substrate 164. In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 may penetrate only the elastic strand 208(168) and one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164). In some configurations, the frangible lines 704 may penetrate the elastic strand 208(168) that couples the first substrate 204(162) to the second substrate 206(164).

[0136] It should be understood that the description provided regarding the details of the frangible path 700 and frangible lines 704 described with reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B is also applicable to the frangible paths 700 shown in other figures described herein. When applying the description of the frangible path 700 of the elastic laminate 200a of FIGS. 15A and 15B to the frangible path 700 and frangible lines 704 of a figure showing the assembled diaper pant 100P, the orientation of the frangible path 700 and frangible lines 704 with respect to the machine direction MD and the cross direction CD may similarly be taken with respect to the respective lateral axis 126 and longitudinal axis 124 of the first belt 106 of the assembled diaper pant 100P.

[0137] It should be understood that the frangible line 704 can be arranged in various orientations and sizes. For example, as shown in FIG. 15A, the frangible line may be oriented to define an offset angle 708 with respect to the machine direction MD. The magnitude of the offset angle 708 is such that when the elastic belts 106, 108 are stretched laterally, for example, when the elastic laminate 200a (108) is subjected to forces opposing the machine direction or the lateral direction, it may be configured to help minimize or prevent separation of the side portions 704a, 704b on both sides of the frangible line 704. In some configurations, the offset angle 708 may be greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

[0138] Continuing to refer to FIG. 15A, the score line 704 can be disposed in a column 710 that includes at least a first column 710a and a second column 710b adjacent to the first column 710a. The score lines 704 of the first column 710a and the second column 710b can extend over a length 712 from a first end 704c to a second end 704d. In some configurations, the length 712 of each score line 704 of the first column 710a and the second column 710b can be from about 1 mm to about 50 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within the above range or given by the above range are described. In some configurations, the score lines 704 of the first column 710a and the score lines 704 of the second column 710b are parallel to each other. The score lines 704 of the first column 710a and / or the second column 710b may be separated from each other by a cut line gap distance 714. In some configurations, the cut line gap distance 714 can be from about 1 mm to about 50 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within the above range or given by the above range are described. The first end 704c of the cut line 704 of the first column 710b and the first end 704c of the score line 704 of the second column 710b may be aligned along a first reference line 716 oriented to define an angle 720 of the column with respect to the lateral axis 126. In some configurations, the column angle 720 can be from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, specifically, all values in 1 degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within the above range or formed by the above range are described. As shown in FIG. 15A, the second end 704d of the score line 704 of the first column 710a and the second end 704d of the score line 704 of the second column 710b may be aligned along a second reference line 718. In some configurations, the second reference line 718 is parallel to the first reference line 716. Additionally, the second reference line 718 of the first column 710a can be separated from the first reference line 716 of the second column 710b by a column gap distance 722. When the second reference line 718 of the first column 710a is positioned downstream in the machine direction MD of the first reference line 716 of the second column 710b, the column gap distance 722 can be represented as a positive number.When the second reference line 718 of the first column 710a is positioned upstream in the machine direction MD of the first reference line 716 of the second column 710b, the column gap distance 722 can be represented as a negative number. In some configurations, the column gap distance 722 may be from about -10 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0139] As described above, the vulnerable line 704 in the vulnerable path 700 may cut some of the elastic strands 208(168) once, or cut some of the elastic strands 208(168) two or more times to separate some of the elastic strands 208(168) into separate pieces 706. As shown in Figure 15B, the separate piece 706 of the elastic strand (208)168 extends over an elastic piece length 724 between the first end 725 and the second end 726. In some configurations, the first elastic piece length 722 of the separate piece 706 may be defined by the extending distance, or may be defined by the distance extending laterally between the vulnerable line 704 of the first column 710a and the vulnerable line 704 of the second column 710b. As described above, the elastic strand 168 may be continuously coupled with at least one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164), or may be intermittently coupled with at least one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164). Thus, the separate piece 706 of the elastic strand 208(168) may be continuously coupled with at least one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164), or may be intermittently coupled with at least one of the first substrate 204(162) and the second substrate 206(164). It should also be understood that the elastic strand 208(168) and the separate piece 706 of the elastic strand 208(168) may be joined by an adhesive applied to at least one of the first substrate 204(162), the second substrate 206(164), and the elastic strand 208(168).

[0140] As described above, the knife roll 502 can include blades 510 that extend radially outwardly to a blade edge 604 that is adapted to rotate about an axis 514. Thus, the blade edge 604 may be oriented to cut the elastic strands 208 on the first substrate 200a into a frangible path 700 within the elastic laminate 200a having corresponding frangible lines 704 and discrete elastic pieces 706 as described above with reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B. FIG. 16 shows an exemplary orientation of a portion of the group of blade edges 604 on the knife roll 502. It is to be understood that the knife roll 502 may be configured to rotate at a variable angular velocity or at a constant angular velocity and may be driven by a servo motor.

[0141] It should be understood that the blade edge 604 can be arranged in various orientations and sizes. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the blade edge 604 may be oriented to define an offset angle 608 with respect to the rotation axis 514. In some configurations, the offset angle 608 can be from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, specifically, all values in 1-degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described. Continuing to refer to FIG. 13, the blade edge 604 can be arranged in a row 610 that includes at least a first row 610a and a second row 610b adjacent to the first row 610a. The blade edges of the first row 610a and the second row 610b can extend over a length 612 from a first end 604c to a second end 604d. In some configurations, the length 612 of each blade edge 604 of the first row 610a and the second row 610b can be from about 1 mm to about 50 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1-mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or provided by the above range are described. In some configurations, the blade edges 604 of the first row 610a and the blade edges 604 of the second row 610b are parallel to each other. The blade edges 604 of the first row 610a and / or the second row 610b may be separated from each other by a blade edge gap distance 614. In some configurations, the blade edge gap distance 614 can be from about 1 mm to about 50 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1-mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or provided by the above range are described. The first end 604c of the blade edge 604 of the first row 610b and the first end 604c of the blade edge 604 of the second row 610b may be aligned along a first reference line 616 oriented to define a row angle 620 with respect to the rotation axis 514. In some configurations, the row angle 620 can be from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, specifically, all values in 1-degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described.As shown in FIG. 16, the second end 604d of the blade edge 604 of the first row 610a and the second end 604d of the blade edge 604 of the second row 610b may be aligned along the second reference line 618. In some configurations, the second reference line 618 is parallel to the first reference line 616. Additionally, the second reference line 618 of the first row 610a may be separated from the first reference line 616 of the second row 610b by the row gap distance 622. When the second reference line 618 of the first row 610a is positioned upstream in the machine direction MD of the first reference line 616 of the second row 610b, the row gap distance 622 may be represented as a positive number. When the second reference line 618 of the first row 610a is positioned downstream in the machine direction MD of the first reference line 616 of the second row 610b, the row gap distance 622 may be represented as a negative number. In some configurations, the row gap distance 622 may be from about -10 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0142] FIGS. 17A - 17E show further variations and configurations of the vulnerable path described above with reference to FIGS. 14B - 14D2. For example, as shown in FIG. 17A, the vulnerable path 700 of FIG. 14B may be modified such that the first region 7001 includes a first sub-region 7001a and a second sub-region 7001b, and the first sub-region 7001a extends at an angle different from the second sub-region 7001b with respect to the machine direction. Additionally, the third region 7003 may include a first sub-region 7003a and a second sub-region 7003b, and the first sub-region 7003a extends at an angle different from the second sub-region 7003b with respect to the machine direction MD. For example, in some configurations, the first sub-region 7003a may extend at an angle of about 20 degrees with respect to the machine direction MD, and the second sub-region 7003b may extend at an angle of about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees with respect to the machine direction MD, specifically, all values in 1 degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described.

[0143] In yet another example, the second region 7002 may include a single distinct frangible line 704 that defines an outer perimeter that extends partially around the fastening component 707. In some configurations, the frangible line 704 of the second region 7002 may include a slit or cut that extends completely through the first elastic laminate 200a. Such a slit or cut may serve to provide a relatively easy way to begin tearing the elastic belt and / or may serve to provide relatively easy access to the fastening component 707 during use of the assembled absorbent article 100P. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may be sized relative to the second region 7002 such that the frangible line 704 also passes through a portion of the fastening component 707, as shown, for example, in FIG. 17B.

[0144] As described above with respect to the frangible path 700 with reference to FIGS. 14B, 15B, and 15C, the column 710 may include three or more frangible lines 704. For example, FIG. 17C shows a frangible path in which the columns 710 in the first region 7001 and the third region 7003 may include three frangible lines 710. In yet another variation shown in FIGS. 17D1 and 17D2, the second region 7002 of the frangible path 700 may comprise a single distinct frangible line 704 in combination with a plurality of frangible lines 704 that define an outer perimeter that extends partially around the fastening component 707.

[0145] As described above, the absorbent article 100, such as the diaper pants 100P, may be configured to have a frangible path 700 including a frangible line 704 arranged in various ways to assist in improving the ability of a caregiver to remove the soiled diaper pants 100P from the wearer without the need to slide the soiled diaper pants off the wearer's legs. As described above, the frangible path 700 may be configured to allow the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 to be relatively easily torn along the frangible path 700, such as when removing the diaper pants 100P from the wearer. Additionally, the frangible path 700 may also be configured to provide access to a fastening component 707 that can be used to help hold the soiled product in a disposal configuration. The following provides a discussion of additional exemplary embodiments of the frangible path 700 on the diaper pants 100P in the context of the above description of various details of the absorbent article 100, the fastening component 707, the frangible path 700, and the frangible line 704. It should be understood that the discussion of the frangible path 700 within the first elastic belt 106 may also apply to the frangible path 700 within the second elastic belt 108.

[0146] It should be understood that the fastening component 707 may be arranged in various positions and / or orientations relative to the other components of the absorbent article 100. As shown in FIGS. 18B and 18D1, the fastening component 707 may include a lateral centerline 126d that is substantially parallel to the lateral centerline 126a of the first elastic belt 106, and / or the lateral centerline 126b of the second elastic belt 108, and / or the lateral centerline 126c of the chassis 102. The fastening component 707 may include a longitudinal centerline 124d that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline 124a of the first elastic belt 106, and / or the longitudinal centerline 124b of the second elastic belt 108, and / or the longitudinal centerline 124c of the chassis 102. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may be positioned and connected on the surface facing the wearer of the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 in the region where the first elastic belt 106 and / or the second elastic belt 108 overlap the chassis 102. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may be sandwiched between the second substrate 164 of the first elastic belt 106 or the second elastic belt 108 and the backsheet 134 of the chassis 102. To help prevent the fastening component 707 from contacting the wearer's skin while wearing the diaper pants 100P, the fastening component 707 may be positioned at least about 25 mm or at least about 50 mm longitudinally inward from the front belt waist edge 121 (or the rear belt waist edge 122), specifically, all values in increments of 0.1 mm within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. In some configurations, the fastening component 707 may be positioned at least about 20 mm or at least about 80 mm laterally inward from the first longitudinal edge 128 and / or the second longitudinal edge 130 of the chassis 102, specifically, all values in increments of 0.1 mm within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.In some configurations, the fastening component 707 is positioned approximately equidistant from both the laterally extending outer edge 107a and the laterally extending inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106, and / or from both the laterally extending outer edge 109a and the laterally extending inner edge 109b of the second elastic belt 108.

[0147] As described above, the central chassis 102 is connected or coupled to each of the elastic belts 106, 108 to form the pant diaper 100P. As shown in FIGS. 18B and 18D1, the elastic belts 106, 108 may include a separable region 800 configured to separate from the central chassis 102 under a relatively small force applied by a caregiver. The separable region 800 may include at least a portion of the fastening component 707 and the belt material adjacent to the fastening component 707. In some configurations, the separable region 800 may extend outwardly from the outer periphery of the fastening component 707 by a distance of about 8 mm to about 40 mm, specifically, all values in increments of 0.1 mm within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. The separable region 800 may be substantially free of adhesive, or may include a relatively weak adhesive bond compared to the remaining portion of the belt region coupled to the chassis 102. The relatively weak adhesive bond can be formed in various ways, such as reducing the amount of adhesive, the geometric pattern of the adhesive such as a relatively low coverage area of the adhesive, an adhesive having a relatively low adhesive strength, or a brittle adhesive. When an adhesive with a lower adhesive strength is used, the adhesive may be applied over the entire elastic belts 106, 108 in the region overlapping the chassis 102, and such regions may include both types of adhesives.

[0148] To assist a caregiver in relatively easily accessing the fastening component 707 with a finger or thumb, an accessible opening 802 can be disposed in the elastic belts 106, 108 adjacent to the fastening component 707. The accessible opening 802 may be defined in part or all of the layers of the elastic belts 106, 108. The accessible opening 802 may be at least partially located within the region of the elastic belts 106, 108 that includes the fastening component 707. In some configurations, the accessible opening 802 may be disposed adjacent to the edge 707c of the fastening component 707 or within the region of the elastic belts 106, 108 surrounding the fastening component 707 that extends inwardly or outwardly from the edge 707c of the fastening component 707 by about 5 mm or less, specifically listing all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range. The accessible opening 802 may include one or more components 804 such as a linear slit and / or a curved opening. The accessible opening 802 may be disposed only in the vicinity of at least a portion of the longitudinal and / or transverse inner edges of the fastening component 707, or may be disposed in the vicinity of at least a portion of one of such edges and at least a portion of the longitudinal outer edge of the fastening component 707. The accessible opening 802, or its component 804, may have a length dimension in the range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm, specifically listing all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range. In a configuration where the accessible opening 802 includes two or more components 804, the spacing between each component 804 and the nearest adjacent component may be greater than 0 and about 3 mm or less.

[0149] In some configurations, the accessible opening 802 can be at least partially located within the region of the elastic belts 106, 108 that can penetrate at least a portion of the thickness of the fastening component 707. For example, as shown in FIG. 18D2, the first portion 707a of the fastening component 707 at least partially surrounded by the component 804 may be separated from the second portion 707b of the fastening component 707. In some configurations, the first portion 707a of the fastener 707 may include a transverse centerline 126d1 parallel to the transverse centerline 126d of the fastening component 707 and / or a longitudinal centerline 124d1 parallel to the longitudinal centerline 124d of the fastening component 707. In some configurations, the first portion 707a of the fastening component 707 may have a transverse width of about 35 mm, or about 10 mm to about 50 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. In some configurations, the first portion 707a of the fastening component 707 may have a transverse width of about 25 mm, or about 10 mm to about 50 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0150] As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the frangible path 700 may extend from the operable vicinity of the accessible opening 802 to the operable vicinity of both the laterally extending outer edge 107a and the laterally extending inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106. The term "operable vicinity" refers to the distance at which a tear will reliably propagate in the intended direction from one frangible line to another under a reasonable force applied by a caregiver. When removing and disposing of soiled pants, the caregiver accesses the fastening component 707 through the accessible opening 802, grips at least a portion of the fastening component 707, separates the fastening component from the remainder of the elastic belt 106, and, in parallel with the tear propagating simultaneously away from both the longitudinal inner and outer edges of the accessible opening 802 and the fastening component 707 until the tear reaches the laterally extending outer edge 107a and the laterally extending inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106, continues to pull on the fastening component 707 to open the elastic belt 106, thus completely separating the elastic belt 106 into a plurality of separate sections at the distal end 808 and the proximal end 810. The portion of the fastening component 707 that is separated from the remainder of the elastic belt 106 as a result of the tearing operation, such as the first portion 707a described above, may be referred to herein as the disposal fastener 806. In some configurations, the tear may reach the laterally extending outer edge 107a and the laterally extending inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106 at approximately the same instant and break through them. The distal end 808 and / or the proximal end 810 of the frangible path 700 may each be disposed at various lateral positions along the laterally extending outer edge 107a and the laterally extending inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106. In some configurations, the distal end 808 and / or the proximal end 810 of the frangible path 700 may be positioned at a lateral distance of from about 0 mm to about 100 mm from the side seams 178, 180, specifically all values in increments of 0.1 mm within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0151] As shown in FIG. 18C, when the above-described tearing operation is completed, the disposal ear region 812 of the elastic belt 106 may be bounded by the accessible opening 802, the weak path 700, and the side seams 178, 180, and also includes the disposal fastener 806. As described above, for the purpose of removing the pants from the wearer, the caregiver may access at least a portion of the disposal fastener 806 through the accessible opening 802. The caregiver grips the fastening component 707 and pulls it away from the remaining portion of the elastic belt 106. During this operation, along the entire length of the weak path 700, the belt 106 is torn through the laterally extending outer edge 107a and the laterally extending inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106, and the disposal ear region 812 may be released for use in disposing of the diaper pants 100P. Next, the caregiver removes the remaining portion of the diaper pants 100P from the wearer, wraps the chassis 102 including the pant leg opening inside the belt 106 including the disposal ear region 812, and may use the disposal fastener 806 to secure the wrapped pants for easy and hygienic disposal, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5A - 5E. To facilitate this function, the entire weak path 700 is disposed in the separable region 800 of the belt 106 and the region of the belt 106 disposed laterally outside the chassis 102. It should be understood that the weak path 700 and the belt 106 may be configured to define various sizes and shapes of the disposal ear region 812. In some configurations, the disposal ear region 812 may have a lateral dimension of about 100 mm to about 200 mm, measured from the side seams 178, 180 to the edge of the disposal ear region 812 closest to the longitudinal centerline 124c of the chassis 102 prior to separation of the weak path 700. Specifically, all values in increments of 0.1 mm within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. In a configuration where the fastening component 707 is positioned relatively close to the longitudinal centerline 124c of the chassis 102, a relatively long disposal ear region 812 may be provided, which can help the caregiver more easily completely wrap the soiled pants and close its leg openings.

[0152] As described above with reference to FIGS. 10 to 17D2, the vulnerable path 700 of the present specification may include one or more regions 7000 (such as 7001, 7002,..., 700n) including vulnerable lines 704 of different types, amounts, sizes, and / or orientations. In some examples, the vulnerable lines may be arranged in an array that may have different angles or orientations with respect to the lateral centerline 126a of the belt 106. The array may include a sequence of straight or curved lines, parallel lines, stepped parallel lines, herringbone patterns, and any other pattern of vulnerable lines. It should be understood that the region 7000 may also be different from one or more other regions in terms of the number of layers of material involved in the perforation. Next, the region 7000 of the vulnerable path 700 may be configured to define different functional zones of the vulnerable path 700.

[0153] For example, as shown in FIG. 18E, the vulnerable path 700 may include a first region called an initial tear zone 814. The vulnerable lines 704 within the initial tear zone 814 may be arranged such that the vulnerable path 700 defines an initial tear zone angle 816 between the vulnerable path and the lateral centerline 126a of the belt 106. In some configurations, the initial tear zone angle 816 may be in the range of 0 degrees to 45 degrees, specifically, all values in 1-degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described. In some configurations, a relatively small initial tear zone angle 816 may be used to minimize the required longitudinal dimension of the separable region 800 and help maximize the area and mechanical integrity of the waist belt with respect to the central chassis connection.

[0154] The vulnerable line 704 within the vulnerable path 700 may be arranged in a "railway line" pattern, and the vulnerable path 700 may include, for example, two or more substantially parallel rows of vulnerable lines 704 each having individual perforations. Each individual perforation may have a length in the range of about 10 mm or less, specifically, all values in increments of 0.1 mm within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. The angle of each individual perforation with respect to the lateral center line 126a may be different from the angle of the vulnerable path 700 with respect to the belt lateral center line 126a. The closest distance between the perforations in the parallel rows may be in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm, specifically, all values in increments of 0.1 mm within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described.

[0155] In some configurations, the vulnerable lines 704 within the initial tear zone 814 may be arranged in a stepped orientation of "single down" SD with respect to each other as shown in FIG. 18F. In the "single down" SD configuration, each vulnerable line 704 that is continuous along the vulnerable path 700, for example, the vulnerable line immediately laterally outside the preceding vulnerable line, overlaps longitudinally with the preceding vulnerable line towards the lateral center line 126d of the fastening component 707. The amount of overlap may be about 50% of the length of the preceding vulnerable line, or may be in the range of about 35% to about 60% of the length of the vulnerable line 704.

[0156] Continuing to refer to FIG. 18E, the vulnerable path 700 may further include a waist tear zone 818. The vulnerable lines 704 within the waist tear zone 818 may be arranged in a "railway line" configuration as described above. The vulnerable lines 704 within the waist tear zone 818 may be arranged such that the vulnerable path 700 defines a waist tear zone angle 820 between the vulnerable path and the lateral center line 126a of the belt 106.

[0157] In some configurations, the weak lines 704 within the lumbar tear zone 814 may be arranged in a "single up" SU stepped orientation relative to each other, as shown in FIG. 18F. In the "single up" SU configuration, each successive weak line 704 along the weak path 700, e.g., the weak line immediately laterally outside of the preceding weak line, overlaps longitudinally with the preceding weak line away from the lateral centerline 126d of the fastening component 707. The amount of overlap may be about 30% of the length of the preceding weak line, or may be in the range of about 10% to about 50% of the length of the weak line.

[0158] As described above, the outer longitudinal edge 107a of the first elastic belt 106 may be defined by the fold line 162h. In the absorbent article 100P having the folded waist belt edge 162h, the waist tear zone 818 may include a base waist zone 818a and a folded waist zone 818b disposed longitudinally outside the base waist zone 818a, and may be folded and joined to the base waist zone 818a in the process of forming the folded belt waist edge 162h. In such a configuration, the weak line 704 in the folded waist zone 818b may overlap or be in the operational vicinity of the weak line 704 in the base waist zone 818a when in the folded and joined configuration, which may help enable the tear of the weak path 700 to propagate to the waist edge 107a and release the disposal ear region 812 for use. One of the base waist zone 818a and the folded waist zone 818b may include a weak line having a greater transverse length than the other to achieve overlap or operational proximity in the folded configuration over the entire range of potential manufacturing overlap tolerances, as shown in FIGS. 14B - 14D2. The weak path 700 in the folded waist zone 818b may have a similar width to the base waist zone 818a, or may be larger than the base waist zone 818a, and may have a width in the range of about 10 mm to about 50 mm, specifically listing all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range. The waist tear zone angles 820 in the base waist zone 818a and the folded waist zone 818b may be mirror images of each other with respect to the transverse center line 126a of the waist belt 106. Alternatively, the waist belt edge may be folded and joined before forming the weak line including the perforations to form the folded belt edge. In these embodiments, the weak path 700 may not require a mirror image angle and may proceed directly to the waist edge of the belt 121. In the completed belt state, regardless of whether it has a folded waist edge, the absolute value of the angle of these arrangements is in the range of about 15 to about 90 degrees with respect to the transverse center line.Particularly when three or more nonwoven layers are involved in the tearing, a higher angle is preferred to maximize the robustness of the separation of the weak path 700 in this region. The force required to tear the weak path 700 within the folded waist zone 818b may be less than the force required to tear the weak path 700 within the base waist zone 818a.

[0159] Continuing to refer to FIG. 18E, the weak path 700 may also include a leg edge zone 822. The weak line 704 within the leg edge zone 822 may be arranged such that the weak path 700 defines a leg edge zone angle 824 between the weak path 700 and the lateral centerline 126a of the belt 106. The leg edge zone angle 824 can range from about 15 degrees to about 90 degrees, specifically describing all values in 1-degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range. A relatively high leg edge zone angle 824 can help increase the robustness of the separation of the weak path 700 in the leg edge zone 822. The force required to tear the weak path 700 within the leg edge zone 822 may be greater than the force required to tear the weak path 700 in other regions of the belt 106, preventing the weak path 700 from being accidentally torn by the wearer's leg during typical movements during wearing activities.

[0160] In some configurations, the vulnerable path 700 may also include a transition zone 826 that operably connects zones to facilitate the propagation of tearing from one zone to another along the vulnerable path 700. For example, the transition zone 826 may operably connect the initial tear zone 814 and the base waist zone 818a. In another example, the transition zone may operably connect the initial tear zone 814 or the waist tear zone 818 to the leg edge zone 822. The vulnerable lines within the transition zone may be of a particular length and / or angle with respect to the lateral centerline, for example, of an inter-column spacing that helps provide a desired propagation of material breakage when removing the product from the wearer. It should be understood that the length, angle, and spacing of the transition zone may be different from the length, angle, and spacing of the adjacent vulnerable lines.

[0161] In another configuration shown in FIG. 19, the elastic belt 106 may include one fastening component 707 coupled to the inner surface of the elastic belt 106 at a position overlapping the longitudinal centerline 124c of the chassis 102. The longitudinal centerline 124d of the fastening component 707 may coincide with or be in the vicinity of the longitudinal centerline 124c of the chassis 102. The vulnerable path 700 can divide the fastening component 707 into two disposal fasteners 707a, 707b of substantially similar size and shape. The accessible opening 802 may be disposed at or near the longitudinal inner lateral edge of the fastening component 707. Outside the longitudinal outer side of the lateral edge of the fastening component 707, the vulnerable path 700 may extend longitudinally and laterally to the waist edge 121 and the leg edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106. The caregiver can access and grip the fastening component 707 through the accessible opening 802 and subsequently separate the vulnerable path 700 into two disposal ear regions 812, each having one of the disposal fasteners 707a, 707b. In this embodiment, a region of higher adhesion between the elastic belt 106 and the chassis 102 is disposed between the fastening component 707 and the longitudinal inner edge 107b of the first elastic belt 106, which can help prevent the belt edge 107b from inadvertently separating from the chassis 102.

[0162] Examples of the progression of tearing along the weak path 700 when the caregiver separates the disposal fastener 806 and the disposal ear region 812 from the remaining portion of the belt 106 are shown in FIGS. 20A-20F. FIG. 20A shows the weak path 700 before the caregiver opens it. FIG. 20B shows the accessible opening 802 in the open state and the start of the separation of the weak path 700 within the initial tear zone 814 when the first seam is almost open. FIG. 20C shows the opened initial weak line and the continued propagation of the tear along the weak path 700. FIG. 20D shows the fully opened initial tear zone 814. FIG. 20E shows where the first seam of the waist tear zone 818 is starting to open. FIG. 20F shows the continued propagation of the tear along the weak path 700 within the waist tear zone 818.

[0163] In some configurations, the weak path 700 does not include a change in the angle between the accessible opening 802 and either the waist edge or the leg edge of the belt. In these configurations, the weak path 700 includes the initial tear zone 814, but may not include one or more of the waist tear zone 818, the base waist zone 818a, the folded waist zone 818b, the leg edge zone 822, or the transition zone 826.

[0164] The size and orientation of the individual weak lines 704, including the stitch marks, can help provide the caregiver with the desired pants removal experience. In some configurations, the length of the stitch marks may be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. In some configurations, the distance between each stitch mark and the nearest adjacent one may be between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm, specifically, all values in 0.1 mm increments within the above range, and all ranges within or given by the above range are described. The angle of each individual stitch mark with respect to the lateral centerline 126a of the belt 106 may be 45 degrees or less so as to help prevent the stitch marks from accidentally opening during manufacture or use. In some configurations, the angle of each individual stitch mark with respect to the lateral centerline 126a of the belt 106 can be in the range of about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees, specifically, all values in 1 degree increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described. In some configurations, the cut width of the stitch marks can be in the range of about 10 microns to about 200 microns, specifically, all values in 1 micron increments within the above range, and all ranges within or formed by the above range are described.

[0165] As described above, the weak path may also be configured to help ensure that each elastomer is cut along the weak path 700 so that the disposal ear region 812 is cleanly separated from the remainder of the belt 106. Each elastomer may be cut at one or more locations. That is, one or more stitch marks or weak lines may cross each elastomeric strand along the entire length of the weak path 700. In some configurations, any imaginary line drawn on the belt 126 parallel to the lateral centerline 126a of the belt 106 may intersect at least one stitch mark or weak line 704 on each side of the longitudinal centerline 124c of the chassis 102.

[0166] It should be understood that the number of nonwoven layers within the belt 106 may vary along the longitudinal dimension of the weak path 700. For example, the initial tear zone 814 may include two nonwoven layers, while the folded waist zone 818b may include three nonwoven layers. To assist the caregiver in understanding how to use the product, the outer nonwoven of the belt 106 may include printing or other markings adjacent to, or aligned with, at least a portion of the weak path 700 and / or the weak line 704 including the weak path 700.

[0167] When the disposal ear region 812 is separated from the remainder of the waist belt along the weak path 700, the force required to open the weak path 700 can vary over time depending on the location of the tear along the weak path 700.

[0168] Average decitex (average Dtex) Using the average decitex method, the average Dtex for elastic fibers present in a complete article or in a sample of the subject extracted from the article is calculated on a length-weighted basis. The decitex value is the mass in grams of the fibers present in 10,000 meters of that material in a relaxed state. The decitex value of an elastic fiber or an elastic laminate containing elastic fibers is often reported by the manufacturer as part of the specification of the elastic fiber or elastic laminate containing elastic fibers. The average Dtex can be calculated from these specifications if available. Alternatively, if these specified values are not known, the decitex value of an individual elastic fiber is determined by determining the cross-sectional area of the fiber in a relaxed state via a suitable microscopy technique such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), determining the composition of the fiber via Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and then calculating the mass in grams of the fibers present in 10,000 meters of fiber using literature values for the density of the composition. The decitex values for individual elastic fibers removed from a complete article or a sample extracted from the article, provided by the manufacturer or measured experimentally, are used in the equation described below, in which the length-weighted average of the decitex values among the elastic fibers present is determined.

[0169] If the lengths of the elastic fibers present in an article or a sample extracted from the article are known, they are calculated from the component or overall dimensions of the article having the components or the sample, and the elastic fiber pre-strain ratio associated with the component or sample of the article having the components. Alternatively, if the dimensions and / or the elastic fiber pre-strain ratio are not known, the absorbent article or the sample extracted from the absorbent article is disassembled and all the elastic fibers are removed. This disassembly can be done, for example, by gently heating to soften the adhesive, using a cryogenic spray (e.g., Quick-Freeze, Miller-Stephenson Company, Danbury, CT), or using a suitable solvent that removes the adhesive but does not expand, modify, or break the elastic fibers. The length of each elastic fiber in the relaxed state is measured and recorded to the nearest millimeter (mm) in millimeters (mm).

[0170] Calculation of Average Dtex For each individual elastic fiber f i in the absorbent article or sample extracted from the absorbent article, having a relaxed length L i (either obtained from the manufacturer's specifications or measured experimentally) and a fiber decitex value d i the average Dtex of the absorbent article or sample extracted from the absorbent article is defined as follows:

[0171]

Equation

[0172] If the decitex value of any individual fiber is not known from the specifications, it is determined experimentally as described below, and the resulting fiber decitex value is used in the above equation to determine the average Dtex.

[0173] Experimental Determination of Fiber Decitex Value For each of the elastic fibers taken from an absorbent article or a sample extracted from an absorbent article according to the above procedure, each elastic fiber L k Measure the relaxed length of and record it to the nearest millimeter (mm). Each elastic fiber is analyzed via FT-IR spectroscopy to determine its composition, and its density ρ k is determined from available literature values. Finally, each fiber is analyzed via SEM. The fiber is cut vertically at three approximately equal positions along its length using a sharp blade to create a clean cross-section for SEM analysis. The three fiber sections with these cross-sections exposed are mounted in a relaxed state on an SEM specimen holder, sputter-coated with gold, introduced into the SEM and analyzed, and imaged at a resolution sufficient to clearly elucidate the fiber cross-section. To minimize any diagonal distortion in the measured cross-section, orient the fiber cross-section as perpendicular as possible to the detector. The shapes of the fiber cross-sections vary widely, and some fibers are composed of multiple individual filaments. In any case, the area of each of the three fiber cross-sections is determined (e.g., the diameter of a circular fiber, the major and minor axes of an elliptical fiber, and using image analysis for more complex shapes), and the average of the three areas a k of the elastic fiber is recorded in square micrometers (μm 2 ) to the nearest 0.1 μm 2 . The measured decitex d k of the k-th elastic fiber is calculated as follows: d k = 10000m × a k × ρ k × 10 -6 where the unit of d k is grams per 10,000 meters of calculated length, the unit of a k is μm 2 , and the unit of ρ k is grams per cubic centimeter (g / cm 3 ). For any elastic fiber analyzed, the experimentally determined L k value and d k value are later used in the above equation for the average Dtex.

[0174] Average strand interval Using a gauge accurate to 0.5 mm calibrated against a certified NIST gauge, measure the distance between two distal strands in a section in 0.5 mm units and then divide by the number of strands in that section minus 1. Average strand interval = d / (n - 1), where n > 1 Report in 0.1 mm units.

[0175] Average pre-strain Measure the average pre-strain of the sample with a constant speed tensile testing machine using a load cell where the measured force is within 1% to 90% of the cell's limit (a suitable instrument is MTS Insight using Testworks 4.0 Software available from MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, MN). Prior to analysis, condition the article at 23°C ± 2°C and 50% ± 2% relative humidity for 2 hours and then test under the same environmental conditions.

[0176] After adjusting the initial gauge length, program the tensile testing machine to perform elongation until breakage. First, raise the crosshead at 10 mm / min to a force of 0.05 N. Set the gauge at this point to the adjusted gauge length. Raise the crosshead at a speed of 100 mm / min until the sample breaks (the force drops by 20% after the maximum peak force). Return the crosshead to its original position. Force and elongation data are obtained at a rate of 100 Hz throughout the experiment.

[0177] Set the nominal gauge length to 40 mm using a calibrated caliper block and zero the crosshead. Insert the sample into the grip such that the center of the test strip is positioned 20 mm below the upper grip. The sample may be folded perpendicular to the tensile axis and placed within the grip to achieve this position. After closing the grip, excess material can be trimmed. Insert the sample into the lower gripping part and close it. Once again, the strip can be folded, but then trimming can be done after closing the grip. Zero the load cell. The sample should have a minimum of slack but a force on the load cell of less than 0.05 N. Start the test program.

[0178] From the data, calculate force (N) versus extension (mm). Calculate the average pre-strain from the inflection point of the curve corresponding to the extension when the non-woven fabric in the elastomer is engaged. Plot two lines corresponding to the region of the curve before the inflection point (mainly the elastomer) and the region after the inflection point (mainly the non-woven fabric). Read the extension when these two lines intersect and calculate the pre-strain % from this extension and the corrected gauge length. Record the pre-strain % as 0.1%. Calculate the arithmetic mean of three replicate test specimens for each elastomer laminate and the average pre-strain in 0.1% units.

[0179] Combination A1. A chassis including a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the chassis further including a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region, a first belt connected to the first end region of the chassis, and a second belt connected to the second end region of the chassis, wherein an end portion of the second belt facing laterally is connected to an end portion of the first belt facing laterally to form a waist opening, the first belt including a proximal edge, a distal edge, elastic strands positioned between and connected to a first substrate and a second substrate, and a first weak path in the first belt extending between the proximal edge and the distal edge, the first weak path including a weak line, and all elastic strands extending through the first weak path being cut by the weak line such that a first plurality of elastic strands are cut only once and a second plurality of elastic strands are cut two or more times. An absorbent article.

[0180] A2. The absorbent article according to paragraph A1, further comprising a second weak path in the first belt laterally separated from the first weak path.

[0181] A3. The absorbent article according to paragraph A2, wherein the first end region of the chassis is positioned between the first weak path and the second weak path.

[0182] A4. The absorbent article according to paragraph A2 or A3, wherein the first end region of the chassis overlaps a part of the first weak path and the second weak path.

[0183] A5. The absorbent article according to any one of paragraphs A1 to A4, further comprising a low-elongation zone in the first belt, wherein the first end region of the chassis overlaps the low-elongation zone.

[0184] A6. The absorbent article according to any one of paragraphs A1 to A5, wherein the first weak path includes a first region and a second region, and a part of the first substrate is folded onto the second substrate and the first end region of the chassis such that the first region of the first weak path overlaps the second region of the first weak path.

[0185] A7. The absorbent article according to any one of paragraphs A1 to A6, further comprising a fastening component disposed between the first belt and the backsheet.

[0186] A8. The absorbent article according to paragraph A7, wherein the first weak path includes a first region and a second region longitudinally separated from the first region by a third region, and the fastening component is positioned adjacent to the third region of the weak path.

[0187] A9. The absorbent article according to any one of paragraphs A7 or A8, further comprising a slit in the third region adjacent to the fastening component.

[0188] A10. The absorbent article according to any one of paragraphs A7 to A9, wherein the fastening component includes a hook that can be reattached to the outer surface of at least one of the chassis, the first belt, and the second belt.

[0189] A11. The absorbent article according to any one of paragraphs A1 to A10, wherein the weak line includes a separate cutting line.

[0190] A12. The absorbent article according to any one of paragraphs A1 to A11, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate include non-woven fabrics, the weak line includes a separate joint, and the materials of the non-woven fabrics are bonded together.

[0191] A13. The absorbent article according to any one of paragraphs A1 to A12, wherein the first weak path extends over the entire length of the first weak path from the outermost edge of the weak line closest to the proximal edge of the first belt to the outermost edge of the weak line closest to the distal edge of the first belt.

[0192] The absorbent article according to paragraph A13, wherein a first belt defined by a longitudinal distance between a proximal edge and a distal edge has a first belt length, and the total length of the first weak path is less than or equal to the first belt length.

[0193] The absorbent article according to paragraph A13, wherein a first belt defined by a longitudinal distance between a proximal edge and a distal edge has a first belt length, and the total length of the first weak path is greater than the first belt length.

[0194] The absorbent article according to paragraph A13, wherein the weak line extends over a length from a first end to a second end, and the sum of all lengths of the weak line in the first weak path is greater than the total length of the first weak path.

[0195] A method for assembling an absorbent article, comprising: providing a first elastic laminate, wherein the first elastic laminate is disposed between and connected to a first substrate and a second substrate, and includes elastic strands extending in the machine direction, the first elastic laminate further includes a first edge separated from a second edge in the cross direction, and the first elastic laminate includes a first laminate width defined by a distance extending in the cross direction between the first edge and the second edge; advancing the first elastic laminate in the machine direction; forming a first weak path extending in the cross direction between the first edge and the second edge in the first elastic laminate, wherein the first weak path includes a weak line, and all elastic strands extending through the first weak path are cut by the weak line such that a first plurality of elastic strands are cut only once and a second plurality of elastic strands are cut two or more times.

[0196] The method according to paragraph B1, further comprising forming a second weak path in the first elastic laminate separated from the first weak path in the machine direction.

[0197] Step of providing a second elastic laminate, and step of providing a chassis comprising an absorbent core positioned between a surface facing the body, a surface facing the clothing, and the surface facing the body and the surface facing the clothing, the chassis further comprising a first end region and a second end region separated in the transverse direction from the first end region by a crotch region, the step of providing a chassis, and the step of coupling the first end region of the chassis to the first elastic laminate and the second end region of the chassis to the second elastic laminate, further included in the method according to any one of paragraphs B1 or B2.

[0198] B4. The method according to paragraph B3, wherein the first end region of the chassis is positioned between a first weak path and a second weak path.

[0199] B5. The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B4, wherein the first end region of the chassis overlaps a part of the first weak path and the second weak path.

[0200] B6. The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B4, further comprising the step of forming a low-elongation zone in the first elastic laminate.

[0201] B7. The method according to paragraph B6, wherein the first end region of the chassis overlaps the low-elongation zone.

[0202] B8. The method according to any one of paragraphs B6 or B7, wherein the step of forming the low-elongation zone further comprises the step of intermittently coupling elastic strands to a first substrate and a second substrate to form a non-bonding region where the strands are not bonded to the first substrate and the second substrate, and the step of cutting the elastic strands within the non-bonding region so that the strands recede from the non-bonding region.

[0203] B9. The method according to any one of paragraphs B6 or B7, wherein the step of forming the low-elongation zone further comprises the step of cutting the elastic strands into a plurality of separate pieces.

[0204] Step B10. A step of folding the chassis in the crotch region and positioning the first elastic laminate in a facing relationship with the second elastic laminate; and a step of forming a joining portion between the first elastic laminate and the second elastic laminate, the joining portion being positioned between a first weak path and a second weak path; and a step of cutting the first elastic laminate and the second elastic laminate in a transverse direction through the joining portion to form separate absorbent articles, the method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B9.

[0205] Step B11. A step of forming a first region of the first weak path and a second region of the first weak path in the first elastic laminate; following the step of forming the first and second regions of the first weak path, a step of joining a first end region of the chassis to the first elastic laminate; following the step of joining the first end region of the chassis to the first elastic laminate, a step of folding a part of the first substrate over the second substrate and the first end region of the chassis such that the first region of the first weak path overlaps the second region of the first weak path, the method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B10.

[0206] Step B12. The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B10, further comprising a step of joining a fastening component to the first elastic laminate.

[0207] Step B13. The method according to paragraph B12, wherein the first weak path comprises a first region and a second region that is separated transversely from the first region by a third region, and the fastening component is positioned adjacent to the third region of the weak path.

[0208] Step B14. The method according to paragraph B12, wherein the fastening component is positioned between a first end region of the chassis and the first elastic laminate.

[0209] Step B15. The method according to any one of paragraphs B11 to B14, wherein the fastening component comprises a hook that can be releasably attached to an outer surface of at least one of the chassis, the first elastic laminate, and the second elastic laminate.

[0210] The method according to any one of paragraphs B11 to B15, further comprising cutting a slit in a third region adjacent to the fastening component.

[0211] The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B16, wherein each weak line is oriented to define an offset angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the machine direction.

[0212] The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B17, wherein the step of forming the first weak path further comprises cutting through the first substrate and the second substrate such that the weak line comprises separate cutting lines.

[0213] The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B18, wherein the step of forming the first weak path further comprises pressure - bonding the first substrate and the second substrate together such that the weak line comprises separate joints, and the materials of the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded together.

[0214] The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 to B19, wherein the second plurality of elastomers are cut two or more times in the first weak path from a first separate piece and a second separate piece of the elastic strand, the first separate piece of the elastic strand has a first length, the second separate piece of the elastic strand has a second length, and the second length is greater than the first length.

[0215] The method according to paragraph B20, wherein the weak lines are arranged in a first row and a second row adjacent to the first row.

[0216] The method according to paragraph B21, wherein the first length of the first separate piece of the elastic strand is defined by the distance extending in the machine direction between adjacent weak lines in the first row.

[0217] The method according to paragraph B22, wherein the second length of the second separate piece of the elastic strand is defined by the distance extending in the machine direction between the weak line in the first row and the weak line in the second row.

[0218] The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 - B23, wherein the first weak path extends over the entire length of the first weak path from the outermost edge of the weak line closest to the first edge of the first elastic laminate to the outermost edge of the weak line closest to the second edge of the first elastic laminate.

[0219] The method according to paragraph B24, wherein the total length of the first weak path is less than or equal to the first laminate width.

[0220] The method according to paragraph B24, wherein the total length of the first weak path is greater than the first laminate width.

[0221] The method according to any one of paragraphs B1 - B26, wherein the weak line extends over the length from the first end to the second end, and the sum of the lengths of all the weak lines in the first weak path is greater than the total length of the first weak path.

[0222] A cutting device comprising a knife roll having means for forming a weak path in an elastic laminate and means for creating a low - elongation zone in the elastic laminate.

[0223] A cutting device comprising a knife roll having means for forming a weak path in an elastic laminate and means for cutting the elastic laminate into separate pieces.

[0224] The dimensions and values disclosed in this specification should not be understood to be strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and the functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

[0225] All documents cited herein, including any patents or patent applications that are cross-referenced or related, and any patent applications or patents for which this application claims priority or the benefit thereof, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, unless expressly excluded or limited. The citation of any document shall not be construed as an admission that such document is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein, nor shall it be construed as teaching, suggesting, or disclosing any such invention, either alone or in combination with any other one or more references. Further, in the event of any conflict between any meaning or definition of a term in this document and any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition given to the term in this document shall prevail.

[0226] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the invention are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for assembling an absorbent article, comprising: providing a first elastic laminate (200a), wherein the first elastic laminate (200a) includes an elastic strand (208) disposed between and connected to a first substrate (204) and a second substrate (206), the elastic strand (208) extending in the machine direction, the first elastic laminate (200a) further including a first edge (200aa) separated from a second edge (200ab) in the cross direction, and the first elastic laminate (200a) including a first laminate width defined by a distance extending in the cross direction between the first edge (200aa) and the second edge (200ab); advancing the first elastic laminate (200a) in the machine direction; forming a first weak path (700a) extending in the cross direction between the first edge (200aa) and the second edge (200ab) in the first elastic laminate (200a), the first weak path (700a) including a weak line (704), and all elastic strands (208) extending through the first weak path (700a) being cut by the weak line (704) such that a first plurality of the elastic strands are cut only once and a second plurality of the elastic strands are cut two or more times.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming a second weak path (700b) in the first elastic laminate (200a) separated from the first weak path (700a) in the machine direction.

3. providing a second elastic laminate (200b); providing a chassis (102) having a body-facing surface (132), a garment-facing surface (134), and an absorbent core (140) located between the body-facing surface (132) and the garment-facing surface (134), the chassis (102) further including a first end region (116a) and a second end region (118a) separated from the first end region (116a) in the cross direction by a crotch region (119). The step of coupling the first end region (116a) of the chassis (102) to the first elastic laminate (200a) and coupling the second end region (118a) of the chassis (102) to the second elastic laminate (200b), the method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first end region (116a) of the chassis (102) is positioned between the first vulnerable path (700a) and the second vulnerable path (700b).

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first end region (116a) of the chassis (102) overlaps a part of the first vulnerable path (700a) and the second vulnerable path (700b).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising the step of forming a low-elongation zone (701) in the first elastic laminate (700a).

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first end region (116a) of the chassis (102) overlaps the low-elongation zone (701).

8. The step of forming the low-elongation zone (701) is The step of intermittently coupling the elastic strand (208) to the first substrate (204) and the second substrate (206) to form a non-coupled region where the elastic strand (208) is not coupled to the first substrate (204) and the second substrate (206), The method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising the step of cutting the elastic strand (208) within the non-coupled region such that the strand retreats from the non-coupled region.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the step of forming the low-elongation zone (701) further comprises the step of cutting the elastic strand (208) into a plurality of separate pieces.

10. The step of folding the chassis (102) in the crotch region (119) to position the first elastic laminate (200a) in a facing relationship with the second elastic laminate (200b), A step of forming a coupling portion between the first elastic laminate (200a) and the second elastic laminate (200b), the coupling portion being positioned between the first vulnerable path (700a) and the second vulnerable path (700b), the step of forming. The method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of cutting the first elastic laminate (200a) and the second elastic laminate (200b) in the transverse direction through the joint portion to form separate absorbent articles.

11. A step of forming a first region (7001) of the first weak path (700a) and a second region (7002) of the first weak path (700a) in the first elastic laminate (200a); A step of joining the first end region (116a) of the chassis (102) to the first elastic laminate (700a) following the step of forming the first and second regions (7001, 7002) of the first weak path (700a); Following the step of joining the first end region (116a) of the chassis (102) to the first elastic laminate (200a), folding a part of the first base material (204) onto the second base material (206) and the first end region (116a) of the chassis (102) such that the first region (7001) of the first weak path (700a) overlaps the second region (7002) of the first weak path (700a). The method according to any one of claims 3 to 10, further comprising this step.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a step of joining a fastening component (707) to the first elastic laminate (700a).

13. The first weak path (700a) includes a first region (7001) and a second region (7002) separated from the first region (7002) in the transverse direction by a third region (7003). The method according to claim 12, wherein the fastening component (707) is positioned adjacent to the third region (7003) of the first weak path (700a).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the fastening component (707) is positioned between the first end region (116a) of the chassis (102) and the first elastic laminate (200a).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the fastening component (707) includes a hook that can be releasably attached to an outer surface of at least one of the chassis, the first elastic laminate, and the second elastic laminate, and further includes cutting a slit in the third region adjacent to the fastening component.

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