Disposable undergarment and related manufacturing equipment and processes

Abstract

This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable panty, subassemblies of the panty, and an apparatus and methods for making the panty and subassemblies. The panty is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The panty may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user. the panty provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The panty includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable panty, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the panty, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen. The apparatus and methods facilitate assembling leg elastics and crotch elastics into the panty subassemblies while assembling a series of panty subassemblies in a continuous web structure at a constant, or relatively constant, continuous and efficient speed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part application of and claims priority to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 548,231, filed Apr. 12, 2000 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Undergarments are made typically of cotton and / or synthetic materials. The cotton and synthetic panties typically do not offer barrier protection. Often the synthetic undergarments have a cotton lined crotch to absorb vaginal discharges or perspiration. The absorbent / barrier properties of regular undergarments are minimal such that any vaginal discharge and / or heavy perspiration may strike through onto outer clothing; i.e., liquid penetrates from the interior to the exterior of the panty. [0003] Panty liners and feminine care sanitary napkins or pads used with regular undergarments have polyethylene backings that provide some barrier properties inhibiting liquid strike through. However, if the vaginal d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] According to a further aspect of the invention, a disposable garment assembly includes a disposable garment defining a length and a width and including an outer cover having a front body portion and a back body portion, the front body portion and the back body portion being connected by a crotch portion, the outer cover, when laid out flat, having a length and a width, the front body portion and the back body portion being connected together to form a waist opening, a first leg opening and a second leg opening, the first and second leg openings having respective first and second front and back leg edge portions and corresponding first and second side leg edge portions connecting the front and back leg edge portions, the outer cover comprising a first layer, and a second layer having a front portion and a back portion, the second layer front portion disposed adjacent the front body portion of the outer cover, the second layer back portion disposed adjacent the back body portion of the outer cover; a first absorbent defining a length and a width, each respectively less than the length and the width of the disposable garment, the first absorbent further including a liquid impermeable outer sheet and a liquid permeable inner sheet, the liquid impermeable outer sheet having a front portion and a back portion, and a center portion therebetween, e

Problems solved by technology

The cotton and synthetic panties typically do not offer barrier protection.

However, if the vaginal discharge extends to the sides or the ends of the pads, the discharge can leak or seep around an edge of the pad and onto the undergarment.

Such leakage can stain the undergarment.

Depending upon the amount of leakage, liquid may strike through or go around the undergarment and stain outer clothing and/or bedding.

Normally this leakage occurs at the side of the pad, although end

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