Disposable absorbent pant-type articles, and methods for producing disposable absorbent pant-type articles

Abstract

The disposable pant-type article includes a front and a rear body panel, the body panels being formed of a front body panel material that is elastically stretchable in the transverse direction (T) of the pant-type article (1), with a crotch region disposed between the front and rear body panels. The absorbent core is disposed with its front and rear end parts overlapping the body panels in the front and rear overlap areas. The article includes at least one body panel zone having a reduced elasticity, which is disposed in an overlap area between the absorbent core and the front or rear body panel. The elasticity of the body panel material in the body panel zone is from 30% to 70% of the elasticity of the body panel material outside the body panel zone. A method of producing a disposable pant-type article having a body panel zone is also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elastic disposable absorbent pant-type article, which includes a front body panel configured by a front body panel material that is elastically stretchable in the transverse direction of the pant-type article, a rear body panel configured by a rear body panel material that is elastically stretchable in the transverse direction of the pant-type article, and a crotch region positioned between the front body panel and the rear body panel. The absorbent core is arranged such that the central part of the absorbent core is in the crotch region, the front end part of the absorbent core overlaps with the front body panel in the front overlap area, and the rear end part of the absorbent core overlaps with the rear body panel in the rear overlap area. The first front panel side edge is joined to the first rear panel side edge at the first side seam, and the second front panel side edge is joined to the second rear panel side edge at the second side seam, thereby forming a waist opening and two leg openings in the disposable pant-type article.

[0002] The present disclosure further relates to a continuous method of producing an elastic disposable pant-type article using at least one continuous elastic web material.

Background Art

[0003] In the technical field of disposable absorbent pant-type articles, and particularly disposable pant-type articles intended for use by adult users, the articles should meet high requirements for fit and comfort, while at the same time having the appearance of underwear tailored while equally meeting high requirements for absorbency and leakage prevention. Disposable absorbent articles are intended to be discarded after single use and are not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored for reuse, which means there is also a desire that the product be cost-effective to produce and can be made with minimal materials and separate components.

[0004] This type of pant-like article is a relatively complex product that includes a plurality of materials and components that are combined in a high-speed process to form an absorbent article. The article generally includes a nonwoven material, a barrier, an elastomer, a binder, etc., and usually an absorbent core, which can be provided in the form of an absorbent assembly that includes a barrier layer surrounding the absorbent core together with a liquid-permeable topsheet.

[0005] Elastic web materials (such as elastic nonwoven materials, etc.) and elastic polymer films have been used to produce pant-like articles having body-conforming properties similar to those of high-quality fabric underwear. In addition, it is common to enhance the fit and leakage security by arranging pre-tensioned elastic elements along all or selected parts of the waist opening and leg openings of the pant-like article.

[0006] In a disposable pant-like article including an absorbent core, the fit and body-conforming properties conveyed by the elastic material in the article may be adversely affected by the absorbent core. The reason is that the absorbent material used in the disposable article is non-elastic and tends to increase the rigidity of the article in the area where the absorbent core is disposed. The reinforced part of the pant-like article impairs the fit and conformity of the article to the body and may even cause the article to bulge away from the user's body. On the other hand, the elastic material may adversely affect the properties of the absorbent core. The reason is that under the influence of the contraction force exerted by the elastic material in the article, the core may be wrinkled or deformed in other undesired ways.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

[0008] Accordingly, there is a continuing need for improved elastification of disposable absorbent pant-type articles. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0009] Disposable pant-type articles having good functionality, fit, and comfort can be at least partially provided by the features of claim 1 and can be produced in accordance with claim 20. Modifications of the present disclosure are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0010] Disclosed herein is a disposable pant-type article, the article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the article comprising: - a front body panel constituted by a front body panel material, the front body panel material being elastically stretchable in the transverse direction, the front body panel; - a rear body panel constituted by a rear body panel material, the rear body panel material being elastically stretchable in the transverse direction, the rear body panel; - a crotch region positioned between the front body panel and the rear body panel; - an absorbent core, the absorbent core being disposed such that a central part of the absorbent core is positioned within the crotch region, and a front end part of the absorbent core overlaps with the front body panel in a front overlap area, and a rear end part of the absorbent core overlaps with the rear body panel in a rear overlap area, the absorbent core; - The first front panel side edge joined to the first rear panel side edge at the first side seam, - The second front panel side edge joined to the second rear panel side edge at the second side seam, - The waist opening, - The first leg opening, - The second leg opening and The disposable pant-type article further includes a body panel zone having reduced elasticity, and the body panel zone having reduced elasticity is disposed in an overlap area between the absorbent core and one of the front body panel and the rear body panel. The elasticity of the body panel material in the body panel zone having reduced elasticity is 30% to 70% of the elasticity of the body panel material outside the body panel zone having reduced elasticity. For example, it is 40% to 70% of the elasticity of the body panel material outside the body panel zone having reduced elasticity, preferably 30% to 60%, etc. It is a disposable pant-type article.

[0011] In this context, an elastic material is defined as a material having a permanent elongation after relaxation of less than 10% after the material has undergone a 30% elongation in the elastic test specified herein.

[0012] A non-elastic material is a material that does not fall within the definition of an elastic material. Thus, a non-elastic material as used herein may be a material that is stretchable or non-stretchable. In the case of a stretchable material, the material has a permanent elongation after stretching and relaxation greater than 10% after undergoing a 30% elongation as determined according to the elastic test.

[0013] At least one body panel zone having reduced elasticity as disclosed herein is a zone within the body panel, which is treated to make the body panel material within the treated body panel zone less elastic than the untreated parts of the body panel material. The zone having reduced elasticity is also referred to herein as a "heat-treated zone" or a "treated zone". The treated and less elastic body panel zone is a heat-treated zone within the body panel material.

[0014] At least one body panel zone having reduced elasticity as disclosed herein can be a front body panel zone having reduced elasticity.

[0015] The disposable pant-type article can further include a rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity, and the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity is disposed within an overlap area between the absorbent core and the rear body panel. The elasticity of the rear body panel material in the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity is 30% to 70% of the elasticity of the rear body panel material outside the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity. For example, it is 40% to 70% of the elasticity of the rear body panel material outside the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity, preferably 30% to 60%, etc.

[0016] In a disposable pant-type article having a body panel zone with reduced elasticity in both the front body panel and the rear body panel, at least one of the shape, size, and elasticity of the body panel zone with reduced elasticity can be different between the front body panel and the rear body panel. Alternatively, the shape, size, and elasticity of the body panel zone with reduced elasticity can be the same in the front body panel and the rear body panel. Usually, the rear body panel zone with reduced elasticity has a larger area than the front body panel zone with reduced elasticity and has a different shape from the front body panel zone with reduced elasticity. The reason is that disposable pant-type articles as disclosed herein generally have a rear body panel larger than the front body panel.

[0017] The elastically stretchable front body panel and / or the elastically stretchable rear body panel can include, or can be composed of, an elastic laminate, and the elastic laminate includes at least a first layer of a nonwoven material and an elastic layer. The term "elastic layer" as used herein refers to a layer of a coherent, essentially elastic web material (such as an elastic nonwoven material or an elastic film).

[0018] The first layer of the nonwoven material can be an elastic nonwoven material, but generally, it can be suitable that the first layer of the nonwoven material is a non-elastic layer.

[0019] The elastic laminate can include a second layer of nonwoven material, and the elastic layer can be an intermediate elastic layer disposed between the first and second layers of nonwoven material. The laminate can include one or more additional layers in addition to the first and second layers of nonwoven material and the elastic layer. The elastic laminate can be a three-layer laminate (e.g., a three-layer laminate having an outer non-elastic nonwoven layer and an intermediate elastic film or nonwoven layer sandwiched therebetween).

[0020] With respect to the first layer of nonwoven material, the second layer of nonwoven material may preferably be a non-elastic layer.

[0021] The elastic layer in the elastic laminate disclosed herein can include, or can be composed of, a layer of elastic film, or can include, or can be composed of, a layer of elastic nonwoven material.

[0022] Also, laminates including both an elastic film layer and an elastic nonwoven layer can be used in disposable pant-type articles as disclosed herein.

[0023] In a pant-type article as disclosed herein, at least two layers of an elastic laminate for use in a pant-type article can be joined together by a plurality of discrete junctions, the junctions being arranged in a regular joining pattern, the joining pattern being visible on an outer surface of an elastic body panel, which includes being visible on an outer surface of the elastic body panel in a body panel zone having reduced elasticity. The outer surface of the body panel is the surface of the body panel that forms part of the outer surface of the pant-type article and faces away from the body of the wearer of the pant-type article. Also, the outer surface of the pant-type article can also be referred to as the surface facing the clothing of the pant-type article. Thus, the joining pattern on the body panel can be seen from the outside of the pant-type article.

[0024] In a three-layer laminate, for example, in a laminate of a first and a second outer nonwoven web and an intermediate elastic layer (such as an elastic film layer or an elastic nonwoven layer, etc.), all three layers can be joined together in the same joining step. In such a case, the joining pattern will be visible on both the outer clothing-facing surface of the body panel produced from the three-layer laminate and the opposing inner body-facing surface of the body panel.

[0025] The joining pattern can be a pattern of discrete joining elements (such as a pattern of uniformly distributed discrete joining elements, etc.). Each discrete joining element can have a surface area on the order of from 0.1 mm 2 to 3.0 mm 2 . The surface area of an individual joining area can preferably be in the lower part of the range (such as from 0.1 mm 2 to 1.5 mm 2 , or from 0.1 mm 2 to 1.0 mm 2 , etc.).

[0026] The total bonding area is in the range of 4% to 13%, and preferably can be in the range of 5% to 10%.

[0027] The bonding elements can have any useful shape or combination of shapes, including rounded shapes (such as circular and oval shapes), polygonal shapes (such as triangular, square / rectangular, and diamond-shaped), as well as rod-shaped bonding elements, graphic bonding elements, etc.

[0028] The bonding pattern can be formed by ultrasonic bonding or thermal bonding, and the bonding elements are formed by locally heating the layers being bonded together, causing the thermoplastic material in the laminated layers to soften and / or melt and then solidify in the bond.

[0029] The elastically stretchable front body panel and the elastically stretchable rear body panel of the pant-type article as disclosed herein can include or can be composed of a stretch-bonded laminated elastic web material. The stretch-bonded laminate is formed by bonding the layers of the laminate together while holding the layers of the elastic material in a stretched state, at least in the machine direction MD of the layer of elastic material and optionally also in the cross-machine direction CD. In the pant-type article as disclosed herein, the elastic laminate is disposed in the article with the machine direction corresponding to the transverse direction of the pant-type article and the cross-machine direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the pant-type article.

[0030] The layers of the bonded laminate can have the same extent, i.e., they can completely overlap each other. Alternatively, the elastic material layer can have a smaller extent in the cross-machine direction of the laminate than the nonwoven layer or layers of nonwoven, i.e., the elastic material layer can have a smaller extent in the longitudinal direction of the pant-type article.

[0031] The bonding elements are distributed over the entire area of the body panel (i.e., even in the zones with reduced elasticity) in a regular bonding pattern on the body panel. In other words, the bonding pattern is the same as that of the other parts of the body panel in the body panel zones with reduced elasticity. Moreover, the surface structure of the elastic laminate has not been modified or has not been significantly modified by the heat treatment that the elastic laminate has undergone when generating the zones with reduced elasticity. Thereby, the visual appearance of the body panel material is the same or substantially the same over the entire surface of the body panel. This has the effect of masking or hiding the presence of the absorbent core positioned inside the body panel in the body panel zones with reduced elasticity, thereby enhancing the similarity of the disposable pant-like article to normal underwear.

[0032] The nonwoven material layer or web in the elastic laminate as disclosed herein can be a spunbond nonwoven, an airlaid nonwoven, a wetlaid nonwoven, a carded nonwoven, an electrospun nonwoven, or a meltblown nonwoven. Also, composite webs such as spunbond - meltblown - spunbond (SMS) and similar materials can be used. The nonwoven material can be bonded by any suitable technique (such as needling, hydroentangling, ultrasonic welding, or thermobonding, etc.).

[0033] The fibers of the nonwoven material used herein can be man - made fibers or a mixture of man - made fibers and natural fibers. Man - made fibers include single - component fibers, bicomponent fibers, and multicomponent fibers of polymers (such as polyolefins, polyesters, polyacrylates, etc.), as well as regenerated fibers (such as viscose fibers and modal fibers, etc.). Natural fibers are, for example, cellulose fibers (such as pulp fibers, cotton fibers, linen, hemp, etc.).

[0034] In a laminate in which the layers are joined by ultrasonic or thermal bonding, the nonwoven material used to form the laminate should contain an amount of thermoplastic material sufficient to allow the formation of bonding elements. Examples of thermoplastic polymers suitable for use in the fibers of nonwoven webs as disclosed herein are polyethylene, polypropylene, and other polyolefin homopolymers and copolymers, and polyesters. The fibers can be single-component fibers, bicomponent fibers, or multicomponent fibers. The thermally bondable nonwoven web preferably contains at least 50% thermoplastic material, more preferably at least 80% thermoplastic material.

[0035] As an alternative to being composed of an elastic laminate, at least a portion of the elastically stretchable front body panel and / or the elastically stretchable rear body panel can be composed of a single layer of elastic nonwoven material.

[0036] The elastically stretchable front body panel can be formed from a continuous front body panel web that extends transversely across the width of the pant-like article between a first front panel side edge and a second front panel side edge, and / or the elastically stretchable rear body panel can be formed from a continuous rear body panel web that extends transversely across the width of the pant-like article between a first rear panel side edge and a second rear panel side edge.

[0037] The crotch region of a disposable pant-like article as disclosed herein can include a non-elastic crotch web material (e.g., a non-elastic nonwoven web, etc.).

[0038] In a disposable pant-type article as disclosed herein, a body panel zone having reduced elasticity can have a shape with a smaller transverse extent adjacent to the waist opening than adjacent to the crotch region in the longitudinal direction of the disposable pant-type article.

[0039] At least one body panel zone having reduced elasticity can have any tapered shape, such as a triangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a drop shape, or a funnel shape. Moreover, the body panel zone having reduced elasticity can have a mushroom shape or a club shape. The contour of the body panel zone having reduced elasticity is preferably continuous without stepped or sharp changes to promote a smooth transition between the body panel zone having reduced elasticity and the body panel material outside the body panel zone having reduced elasticity.

[0040] Both the front body panel zone having reduced elasticity and the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity can have a tapered shape, and the extent of the body panel zone having reduced elasticity is smaller transversely adjacent to the waist opening than adjacent to the crotch region. The transverse extent of the body panel zone having reduced elasticity is also referred to herein as the width of the body panel zone having reduced elasticity. When both a front body panel zone having reduced elasticity and a rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity are provided, one or both of the front body panel zone having reduced elasticity and the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity can have a tapered shape. If only one body panel zone having reduced elasticity has a tapered shape, it may be preferred for the tapered shape to be provided in the front body panel zone having reduced elasticity.

[0041] By forming a zone of reduced elasticity having a narrower part at the waist portion of the article and a wider part at the absorbent core of the article, the article will have a stronger elasticity (i.e., a greater contracting force) at the waist portion. Moreover, the elastic gradient in the front body panel and / or the rear body panel of the pant-type absorbent article will cause the side seams to be inclined inwardly when the pant-type article is in a non-tensioned state. The side seams shaped in such a way will fit better to the shape of the user's buttocks.

[0042] At least one body panel zone having reduced elasticity can terminate at an elastic waistband, the elastic waistband being disposed at the waist opening, providing a waist elastomer to the article, or the body panel zone having reduced elasticity can continue under the elastic waistband, the elastic waistband being applied so as to overlap the front and rear body panels. When producing a pant-type article as disclosed herein, the elastic waistband is preferably applied after treating the material of the front body panel and / or the rear body panel to form at least one body panel zone having reduced elasticity. The waistband can be applied so that it completely or partially overlaps a body panel zone having reduced elasticity at the waist opening and provides an elastic waistband that completely surrounds a fully functional waist to the article.

[0043] In a pant-type disposable article as disclosed herein, the absorbent core can form part of an absorbent assembly, the absorbent assembly including the absorbent core, a liquid-permeable topsheet, and a liquid-impermeable backsheet, the absorbent core being sandwiched between the liquid-permeable topsheet and the liquid-impermeable backsheet.

[0044] Disposable pant-type articles as disclosed herein can include an elastic waist feature. The elastic waist feature forms a continuous waistband that surrounds the waist opening of the disposable pant-type article.

[0045] The elastic waist feature can fully overlap with the front body panel and / or the rear body panel and can share a waist edge with the corresponding front body panel and / or rear body panel.

[0046] The elastic waist feature can include one or more elastic elements. The waist feature can include a plurality of elastic strands or elastic bands. Alternatively, the elastic waist feature can include, or be composed of, a band of elastic material (such as an elastic nonwoven, an elastic foam, or an elastic film). The elastic waist feature can be attached to the front body panel and / or the rear body panel as a prefabricated component (such as a waistband component including two layers of carrier web with a plurality of elastic strands or bands attached between the layers of the carrier web). An elastic waist feature including a plurality of elastic elements (such as strands or bands) can alternatively be formed directly on the elastic body panel material by applying the elastic elements along the waist edge of the body panel to the body panel and then covering the elastic elements with a cover web (such as a nonwoven cover web).

[0047] An elastic waist feature provides an article with a waist elastomer provided by an elastic material within a front body panel and a rear body panel in addition to an elastomer. The elastic waist feature can be a component of a disposable pant-type article produced separately from the body panel material of the front body panel and the rear body panel, or can be incorporated into the front body panel material and / or the rear body panel material by being applied between layers of the front body panel material and / or the rear body panel material. The elastic waist feature is preferably applied after a body panel zone or zones of reduced elasticity have been formed in the body panel material to avoid reducing the elasticity in the elastic waist feature.

[0048] The elastic waist feature can completely overlap with the front body panel and / or the rear body panel, or can be applied to the waist edge of the body panel and project beyond the waist edge of the body panel.

[0049] Also disclosed herein is a method of producing a disposable pant-type article (e.g., a disposable pant-type article disclosed herein, etc.), the method comprising: - continuously feeding a tensioned elastic web material (e.g., an elastic laminated web material, etc.) in a machine direction, the elastic web material having a first side edge and a second side edge; - Generating zones with reduced elasticity in the elastic web material by subjecting a portion of the elastic web material to a heat treatment, wherein the zones with reduced elasticity are spaced apart in the machine direction and have an elasticity that is 30% to 70% of the elasticity in parts of the elastic web material that have not undergone the heat treatment that reduces elasticity, for example, 40% to 70% of the elasticity in parts of the elastic web material that have not undergone the heat treatment that reduces elasticity, preferably 30% to 60% of the elasticity in parts of the elastic web material that have not undergone the heat treatment that reduces elasticity, etc., and steps; - Forming at least a tensioned first body panel web as part of a composite web of interconnected precursor articles from the tensioned elastic web material, wherein the composite web of the precursor articles has a first waist edge and a second waist edge, and the tensioned first body panel web includes at least a portion of each of the spaced-apart zones with reduced elasticity; - Placing the tensioned first body panel web alongside the tensioned second body panel web in the composite web of the interconnected precursor articles, with a distance between the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web in the cross-machine direction; - Intermittently applying an absorbent assembly to the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web, wherein the absorbent assemblies are applied at intervals in the machine direction, and a first end part of each absorbent assembly overlaps a zone of reduced elasticity in the tensioned first body panel web, and a second end part of the absorbent assembly is attached in an overlapping state to a part of the tensioned second body panel web; - folding the composite web of the precursor article along a fold line extending in the machine direction (MD) and aligning a first waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article with a second waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article; - forming first and second side seams in each precursor article, the side seams joining a tensioned first body panel web to a tensioned second body panel web and being formed in the cross-machine direction (CD) along a dividing line between the precursor articles; - cutting individual pant-shaped articles from the composite web of the precursor article and a method comprising the steps of:

[0050] In the heat treatment step, the heat supplied to the elastic web material is preferably controlled to avoid raising the temperature of the thermoplastic material in the elastic web material above the melting point of the thermoplastic material. Thereby, the fibrous structure of the nonwoven web, which comprises or consists of thermoplastic fibers and forms part of the elastic web material, can be kept or at least substantially kept in the elastic web material. The heat supply can be controlled by controlling the heat exposure time and / or the temperature of the heat supply means (e.g., heating rollers, etc.).

[0051] In the heat treatment step, the elasticity of the elastic web material is reduced, i.e., not completely eliminated. By maintaining some elasticity in the areas with reduced elasticity, the difference in the appearance of the pant-like article between the untreated zone and the treated zone is less noticeable. Moreover, the heat treatment does not or substantially does not affect the surface structure (e.g., fibrous structure and bonding pattern, etc.) of the outer surface of the heat-treated elastic body panel material. Thereby, the material in the heat-treated zone is not distinguishable or at least not easily distinguishable by the naked eye from the untreated material, which makes the presence of the heat-treated zone less prominent. The outer cover of the absorbent article having a different appearance with the cover overlapping the absorbent core can indicate the presence of the absorbent core. Thus, the uniform appearance of the outer core is very beneficial in that it can mask the contour of the absorbent core and make the presence of the absorbent core not easily visible. A particular benefit of using the bonding pattern of a plurality of discrete bonding elements when bonding together the layers of the elastic laminate web material as disclosed herein is that the bonding pattern contributes to the masking effect by obscuring the transition between the untreated material and the treated zone having reduced elasticity.

[0052] Thereby, an article as disclosed herein is more underwear-like than prior articles having a completely non-elastic zone within the area of the absorbent core. Additionally, by heat-treating the elastic material in the overlapping area with the absorbent core, the elastic effect from the elastic material on the core is reduced, and unwanted shrinkage and deformation of the core can be avoided. At the same time, the remaining elasticity in the heat-treated, less elastic zone acts to hold the absorbent core in contact with the body of the wearer of the pant-like absorbent article, thereby contributing to reducing the bulkiness of the article and enhancing the underwear-like feel.

[0053] The elastic web material can be an elastic laminate web material. The elastic laminate web material can be formed by bonding at least a first layer of nonwoven material to an elastic layer, and the bonding is carried out by a plurality of discrete bonding portions, and the bonding portions are arranged in a bonding pattern.

[0054] As described herein, discrete bonding elements can be created within the laminate, and apertures are formed in and / or within the elastic film adjacent to the bonding elements. The discrete bonding elements increase the bulkiness of the laminate, and the apertures provide high breathability to the elastic laminate, thereby contributing to an increase in the comfort of the wearer.

[0055] A method as disclosed herein - feeding a non-elastic continuous crotch web in the machine direction; - attaching the crotch web to a tensioned first body panel web and a tensioned second body panel web, thereby bridging the distance between the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web, wherein the non-elastic continuous crotch web is attached to the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web after arranging the tensioned first body panel web alongside the tensioned elastic second body panel web and before applying an absorbent assembly to the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web; - forming leg cuts in the composite web of the interconnected precursor article, each leg cut having a closed-loop configuration and forming a first leg edge of the leading precursor article and a second leg edge of the trailing precursor article; can further include.

[0056] A method of manufacturing a disposable pant-type article (e.g., a disposable pant-type article as disclosed herein) comprises - continuously feeding in a machine direction a tensioned elastic web material (e.g., an elastic laminated web material), the tensioned elastic web material having a first side edge and a second side edge; - generating zones of reduced elasticity in the elastic web material by subjecting portions of the elastic web material to a heat treatment, the zones of reduced elasticity being spaced apart in the machine direction and having an elasticity that is from 30% to 70% of the elasticity of parts of the elastic web material that have not been subjected to the heat treatment to reduce elasticity, e.g., from 40% to 70% of the elasticity of parts of the elastic web material that have not been subjected to the heat treatment to reduce elasticity, preferably from 30% to 60% of the elasticity of parts of the elastic web material that have not been subjected to the heat treatment to reduce elasticity; - forming at least a tensioned first body panel web as part of a composite web of interconnected precursor articles from the tensioned elastic web material, the composite web of precursor articles having a first waist edge and a second waist edge, the tensioned first body panel web including at least a portion of each of the spaced-apart zones of reduced elasticity; - disposing the tensioned first body panel web alongside a tensioned elastic second body panel web in the composite web of interconnected precursor articles, there being a distance between the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web in the cross-machine direction; - feeding in a machine direction a non-elastic continuous crotch web; - Attaching a crotch web to a tensioned first body panel web and a tensioned second body panel web, thereby bridging the distance between a front panel crotch edge and a rear panel crotch edge, wherein the inelastic continuous crotch web is placed alongside the tensioned elastic second body panel web and the tensioned first body panel web after the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web are arranged, and before an absorbent assembly is applied to the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web, the inelastic continuous crotch web is attached to the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web; - Intermittently applying an absorbent assembly to the tensioned first body panel web, the crotch web, and the tensioned second body panel web, wherein the absorbent assembly is applied at intervals in the machine direction, and a first end part of each absorbent assembly overlaps a reduced elasticity zone in the tensioned first body panel web, and a second end part of the absorbent assembly overlaps a part of the tensioned second body panel web, and the part of the tensioned second body panel web is optionally a reduced elasticity zone in the tensioned second body panel web; - Forming leg cuts in a composite web of interconnected precursor articles, each leg cut having a closed loop configuration and forming a first leg edge of a leading precursor article and a second leg edge of a trailing precursor article; - Folding the composite web of the precursor article along a folding line extending in the machine direction (MD) and aligning a first waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article with a second waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article; - Forming first and second side seams in each precursor article, the side seams joining a tensioned first body panel web to a tensioned second body panel web and being formed in the cross-machine direction (CD) along a dividing line between the precursor articles; - Cutting individual pant-like articles from the composite web of precursor articles; and can include.

[0057] A method for producing an absorbent pant-like article as disclosed herein, the method including applying a crotch web between a tensioned first body panel web and a tensioned second body panel web, the method comprising: - Providing a pair of crotch elastic members, the pair of crotch elastic members being composed of a first crotch elastic member and a second crotch elastic member; - Stretching each crotch elastic member in the longitudinal direction of the crotch elastic member and aligning the longitudinal direction of the crotch elastic member with the cross-machine direction; - Attaching each stretched crotch elastic member to the crotch web while maintaining the crotch elastic member in a stretched state and aligned with the cross-machine direction, the first crotch elastic member being spaced apart from the second crotch elastic member by a machine-direction crotch spacing, and the pair of crotch elastic members of a leading precursor article being spaced apart from the pair of crotch elastic members of a trailing precursor article by an article spacing, the article spacing depending on the pitch length of the precursor articles in the composite web of interconnected precursor articles. can further include.

[0058] As used herein, the pitch length is the length of each precursor article in the machine direction during the production of a panty-type article as disclosed herein, which corresponds to the width direction of the final panty-type article. The pitch length can be maintained the same throughout the production process until individual panty-type articles are cut from the composite web of interconnected precursor articles.

[0059] A method as disclosed herein - forming cuts in the heat-treated elastic web material along dividing lines extending in the machine direction to divide the heat-treated elastic web material into two parts, thereby forming a tensioned first body panel web and a tensioned second body panel web, wherein the tensioned first body panel web has a first side edge constituted by a first side edge of the elastic web material and a second side edge formed by the cut in the elastic web material, and the tensioned second body panel web has a first side edge constituted by a second side edge of the elastic web material and a second side edge formed by the cut in the elastic web material, can further include.

[0060] In a method as disclosed herein, including the step of dividing a heat-treated elastic web material into two parts, the step of arranging a tensioned first body panel web and a tensioned second body panel web side-by-side at a distance from each other in the cross-machine direction can include shifting the positions of the tensioned first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web in the cross-machine direction, whereby a second side edge of the tensioned first body panel web forms a first waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article and a second side edge of the tensioned second body panel web forms a second waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article. A waist elastomer is applied to the elastic web material along a dividing line in the elastic web material before forming a cut in the elastic web material, and thereafter it is possible to form a cut through the elastic web material and through the waist elastomer. Thereby, after cutting the elastic web material and shifting the positions of the first body panel web and the tensioned second body panel web, the applied and divided waist elastomer will form front and rear waist elastomers on the produced pant-type article.

[0061] In a method as disclosed herein, including the step of dividing a heat-treated elastic web material into two parts, a zone having reduced elasticity formed in the elastic web material can be divided into a first part and a second part respectively by a cut in the elastic web material with the first part of each zone having reduced elasticity positioned in the tensioned first body panel web and the second part of each zone having reduced elasticity positioned in the tensioned second body panel web.

[0062] In a method as disclosed herein, including the step of dividing a heat-treated elastic web material into two parts and shifting the positions of a tensioned first body panel web and a tensioned second body panel web in the cross-machine direction, a zone having reduced elasticity formed in the elastic web material can have a shape including a first end portion and a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first end portion and the second end portion as viewed in the cross-machine direction, the first end portion and the second end portion having a width in the machine direction greater than the width in the machine direction of the intermediate portion, and a cut in the elastic web material divides each zone having reduced elasticity at the intermediate portion of the zone having reduced elasticity.

[0063] In a method as disclosed herein, including the step of dividing a heat-treated elastic web material into two parts, the step of arranging a tensioned first body panel web and a tensioned second body panel web spaced apart from each other in the cross-machine direction can include pulling the tensioned first body panel web away from the tensioned second body panel web in the cross-machine direction, whereby a first side edge of the tensioned first body panel web forms a first waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article and a first side edge of the tensioned second body panel web forms a second waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article. A waist elastomer can be applied along the first and second side edges of the elastic web material before or after forming a cut in the elastic web material.

[0064] In a method as disclosed herein, including the step of dividing a heat-treated elastic web material into two parts and pulling the parts apart in the cross-machine direction, a zone having reduced elasticity formed in the elastic web material can have a shape comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, as viewed in the cross-machine direction, the first end portion and the second end portion having a machine-direction width smaller than the machine-direction width of the intermediate portion, and a cut in the elastic web material divides each zone having reduced elasticity at the intermediate portion of the zone having reduced elasticity.

[0065] Generally, a waist elastomer can be applied to the waist edge of a first body panel web under tension and to the waist edge of a second body panel web under tension prior to forming a composite web of a precursor article, or can be applied along the first and second waist edges of a composite web of a precursor article.

[0066] In a method of producing a disposable pant-type article as disclosed herein, an absorbent assembly attached to first and second body panel webs and bridging the distance between the first and second body panel webs can form the only connection between the first body panel web and the second body panel web in a coherent composite web of a precursor article. Leg opening portions are formed in the coherent composite web of the precursor article at gaps between intermittently attached absorbent assemblies. The leg opening portions can then be shaped by cutting to provide a desired curvature to the leg opening edges.

[0067] The alternating crotch portions and leg opening portions in the coherent chassis web are formed by cutting a leg opening in a chassis web formed by continuous connection of the side edges facing inward of the first and second panel webs. The side edges of the first and second panel webs can either be directly connected to each other or can be indirectly connected by a bridging web.

[0068] As described herein, the distance between the first body panel web and the second body panel web can be bridged by outer and / or inner cover webs, and the outer and / or inner cover webs are applied across the entire cross-machine direction width of the composite web of the precursor article, or it is applied at least across the crotch region and optionally across all or part of one or both of the first and second body panel webs. In such cases, the leg openings are cut out in one or more cover webs between intermittently applied absorbent assemblies. The absorbent assemblies can be applied before or after forming the leg openings.

[0069] The elastic panel web can include reinforcing elastic elements (such as leg elastic elements and / or waist elastic elements applied in addition to the coherent elastic layer in the elastic panel web, etc.).

[0070] The method as disclosed herein can further include steps of applying components such as leg elastics, elastic barrier cuffs, disposal means, fastening elements, etc. Such components will then form part of a disposable absorbent pant-type article as disclosed herein.

[0071] As described herein, one or both of the front panel web and the rear panel web can include or be composed of a trilaminate web, which includes two outer nonwoven layers and an intermediate coherent elastic layer (e.g., an elastic film or elastic nonwoven sandwiched between the outer nonwoven layers). The three-layer nonwoven film-nonwoven laminate provides the elastic panel with outer and inner surfaces that are smooth, soft, and skin-friendly. The laminate can be produced by any known method or combination of methods (e.g., a stretch bonding method), which can include incremental stretching.

[0072] The layers of the laminate can be joined together by a pattern of discrete bonding elements (e.g., point bonds) distributed across the surface of the laminate. The bonding elements can be formed by ultrasonic bonding or thermal bonding (also referred to herein as thermobonding). After cutting individual pant-like articles from the production web, the tensioned elastic layer in the laminate contracts, causing the inelastic nonwoven layers to bunch between the bonding elements, thereby increasing the bulkiness of the outer surface of the laminate in the finished pant-like article. As described herein, joining the laminate can also be performed such that apertures are formed in or through the elastic layer at the bonding elements, thereby increasing the breathability of the laminate. Such apertures in the inner elastic layer in the three-layer laminate are generally not visible from the surface of the outer layer of the laminate.

[0073] The three-layer elastic panel web can be formed by stretch-bonding the first surface of an elastic layer (e.g., an elastic film or an elastic non-woven fabric, etc.) to a first non-woven fabric layer and then bonding a second non-woven fabric layer to the second surface of the elastic layer. As described herein, bonding between layers can be carried out by ultrasonic bonding or thermal bonding.

[0074] As described herein, in addition to a coherent elastic layer, the elastic panel web can include reinforcing elastic elements, which can be applied between the first non-woven fabric layer and the second non-woven fabric layer or can be applied to the outer surface of the three-layer panel web. Forming a laminate by stretch-bonding implies that the elastic layer is stretched (e.g., by 50% to 600% in the machine direction MD, etc.) and held in the stretched state while being bonded to a non-elastic or less elastic web (e.g., a non-elastic or less elastic non-woven fabric layer, etc.) to maintain the elastic properties of the elastic layer in the laminate. As described herein, the first and second non-woven fabric layers are preferably non-elastic non-woven fabric layers.

[0075] In the method disclosed herein, when using a laminated elastic panel web including a stretch-bonded elastic layer and one or more non-stretchable layers (e.g., one or more non-stretchable non-woven fabric layers, etc.), the web is held under tension throughout the process until the final step of cutting individual pant-like articles from the chassis web. This generally means that the web is stretched in the machine direction to the maximum extent allowed by one or more non-stretchable layers.

[0076] A crotch web as disclosed herein can be any suitable non - stretchable web material (e.g., a non - stretchable non - woven web, a non - stretchable polymer film, or a non - stretchable laminate, etc.). Laminates including one or more non - woven webs, as well as laminates including one or more non - woven webs and polymer films, are also contemplated. In the crotch web forming the surface facing the outer garment of the pant - type article, it may be preferable for the surface facing the outer garment to be formed by a non - woven material. The crotch web can be a crotch panel web having a first side edge and an opposing second side edge, wherein the first side edge of the crotch panel web is attached at the front seam to the front crotch edge of the tensioned front panel web, and the second side edge of the crotch panel web is attached at the rear seam to the rear crotch edge of the tensioned rear panel web, thereby bridging the gap between the front crotch edge of the front panel web and the rear crotch edge of the rear panel web. Alternatively, the crotch web can be an outer or inner cover web extending in the cross - machine direction over all or at least 75% of the distance between the front waist edge and the rear waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article.

[0077] The underwear - like feel of a pant - type absorbent article as disclosed herein can be further improved by shaped heat - treated zones. By forming zones of reduced elasticity having a narrower part at the waist portion of the article and a wider part at the crotch portion of the article, the article will have a stronger elasticity at the waist portion. As described herein, the higher elasticity in the front panel and / or rear panel of a pant - type absorbent article causes the side seams to take an inwardly - inclined configuration, which promotes a better fit to the user's body across the buttocks. Such a shape can be particularly beneficial for female users, as it conforms well to the female anatomical structure.

[0078] An absorbent article and a method for its production as disclosed herein will be further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0079]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0080] The different aspects of the present disclosure will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments disclosed herein can be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects described herein.

[0081] The absorbent pant-type article can be a baby diaper, training pants, feminine hygiene pants, swimwear, disposable underwear, etc.

[0082] The drawings are schematic, and the pant-type article shown in the figures is a simplified article. It should be understood that the article can include additional features such as barrier cuffs, disposal means, etc. Also, it should be understood that the waist elastomer disclosed herein is optional, or that any other suitable type of waist elastomer can be used. The side seams can be reclosable side seams, and the pant-type article can be provided with fastening elements to provide the reclosability of the side seams.

[0083] A method for producing a pant-type article as disclosed herein is described in the context of disposable pant-type articles including an absorbent assembly. However, it should be understood that the method is equally applicable to the production of absorbent pant-type articles that do not include a prefabricated absorbent assembly. The method as disclosed herein is useful in the production of any type of disposable pant-type article such as adult incontinence articles, baby diapers, training pants, swim pants, disposable underwear, feminine sanitary pants, etc.

[0084] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a disposable absorbent pant-like article 1 in the form of a pant-like article for adult users. The pant-like article 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in an unfolded flat condition, with all elastic elements and components in an extended state, such that the pant-like article 1 generally appears two-dimensional. FIG. 1 shows the article from the surface facing the wearer on the inside of the article, and FIG. 2 shows the article from the surface facing the clothing on the outside of the article.

[0085] The pant-like article 1 has a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, measurements of distances and dimensions are taken with the pant-like article in a fully stretched and ungathered condition.

[0086] The article includes a front body panel 3 and a rear body panel 4. The front body panel 3 is formed of a front body panel material that is elastically stretchable in the transverse direction T, and the rear body panel 4 is formed of a rear body panel material that is elastically stretchable in the transverse direction T. The crotch region 5 is positioned between the front body panel 3 and the rear body panel 4.

[0087] At least a front body panel web that is elastically stretchable in the transverse direction T provides the overall elastic stretchability of the front body panel 3.

[0088] At least a rear body panel web that is elastically stretchable in the transverse direction T provides the overall elastic stretchability of the rear body panel 4.

[0089] The article further includes an absorbent core 7. The absorbent core 7 forms part of the absorbent assembly 6, which is disposed in the crotch region 5 of the pant-type article 1. The absorbent assembly 6 extends forwardly over the front body panel 3 in the longitudinal direction L and rearwardly over the rear body panel 4. The absorbent assembly 6 bridges the gap between the front body panel 3 and the rear body panel 4. The absorbent assembly 6 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a separately produced component, which includes an absorbent core 7, a liquid-permeable top sheet 8, and a liquid-impermeable back sheet 9. The absorbent core 7 is sandwiched between the top sheet 8 and the back sheet 9.

[0090] The absorbent core 7 is arranged such that the central part 7c of the absorbent core 7 is positioned in the crotch region 5, the front end part 7f of the absorbent core overlaps with the front body panel 3 in the front overlap area 10, and the rear end part 7r of the absorbent core 7 overlaps with the rear body panel 4 in the rear overlap area 11.

[0091] The absorbent core 7 shown in the figure has an hourglass shape. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to an hourglass-shaped core, and the absorbent core can have any useful shape (for example, rectangular shape, T-shaped, etc.) as known in the art.

[0092] The absorbent assembly 6 is applied on the inner surface of the pant-type article 1, and the inner surface is the surface intended to face the wearer when the pant-type article 1 is worn. The inner surface of the absorbent assembly 6 is formed by the liquid-permeable top sheet 8 and can optionally include a barrier cuff (not shown) extending along the side edges of the absorbent assembly 6.

[0093] As disclosed herein, both the topsheet 8 and the backsheet 9 can extend beyond the periphery of the absorbent core 7 and can be joined to each other at an edge seal that extends along the periphery of the absorbent core 7 outwardly of the peripheral edge of the absorbent core 7. Moreover, the peripheral edge portion of the absorbent assembly 6 can be formed by only one of the topsheet and the backsheet.

[0094] The absorbent core 7, as disclosed herein, can include any conventional material suitable for absorbing discharged body waste, such as cellulosic fluff pulp, tissue layers, superabsorbent polymers (superabsorbents), absorbent foam materials including hydrogel foam materials, or absorbent nonwoven materials. The absorbent core can include non-absorbent components (such as reinforcing elements, shaping elements, binders, etc.). Also, various types of liquid receiving elements and liquid distributing elements can be included within the core.

[0095] The absorbent core 7 can be a three-dimensionally shaped core having different amounts of absorbent material in different parts of the core. The core can be provided with features such as embossing, fluid acquisition cavities, and fluid distribution channels. Also, the properties of the absorbent core, such as density, amount of absorbent material, and absorbency capacity, can be varied in different parts of the absorbent core. The absorbent core 7 can include a core cover, which sandwiches absorbent material between an upper core cover layer and a lower core cover layer. Such a core cover can be a tissue material or a nonwoven material and is provided in addition to the topsheet and the backsheet.

[0096] The liquid-permeable topsheet 8 can include a nonwoven material or can be composed of a nonwoven material. Other suitable topsheet materials include tow fibers, porous foams, plastic films and laminates with apertures, and combinations of such materials. The material that is best suited as the topsheet material is soft and non-irritating to the skin, is easily penetrated by body fluids, and exhibits low rewet.

[0097] The liquid-impermeable backsheet 9 can be composed of a thin plastic film (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene film), a nonwoven material coated with a liquid-impermeable material, a hydrophobic nonwoven material resistant to liquid penetration, or a laminate of a plastic film and a nonwoven. The backsheet material can be breathable such that it allows vapor to escape from the absorbent body while still preventing liquid from passing through the backsheet material.

[0098] The topsheet and the backsheet can be connected to each other, for example, by adhesive bonding, pasting, or welding by heat or ultrasonic waves. The topsheet and / or the backsheet can be further attached to the absorbent core by any method known in the art (e.g., adhesives, thermal bonding, welding, needling, etc.).

[0099] The front body panel 3 has a front panel waist edge 31 extending in the transverse direction T, a pair of front panel side edges 32, 33 extending in the longitudinal direction L, and a front panel crotch edge 34 extending in the transverse direction T on the opposite side of the front panel waist edge 31. The rear body panel 4 has a rear panel waist edge 41 extending in the transverse direction T, a pair of rear panel side edges 42, 43 extending in the longitudinal direction L, and a rear panel crotch edge 44 extending in the transverse direction T on the opposite side of the rear panel waist edge 41.

[0100] The crotch region 5 includes a crotch region web, preferably a non - stretchable web material, such as a non - stretchable non - woven fabric, etc.

[0101] In the pant - type article 1 shown in FIGS. 1 - 3, the crotch region 5 includes a crotch panel 5'. The crotch panel 5' is attached to the front body panel 3 at a front overlap seam 23 that extends along the front panel crotch edge 34, and the crotch panel 5' is attached to the rear body panel 4 at a rear overlap seam 24 that extends along the rear panel crotch edge 44. The crotch panel 5' is preferably formed from a non - stretchable web material such as a non - stretchable non - woven fabric.

[0102] Alternatively, or in addition to applying a crotch panel within the crotch region as shown in FIGS. 1 - 3, the crotch region can include a portion of web material (e.g., an inner or outer cover web material of the pant - type article that extends continuously longitudinally from the front panel waist edge to the rear panel waist edge and bridges the gap between the front panel crotch edge and the rear panel crotch edge). The portion of the continuous cover web material applied in the crotch region between the front panel crotch edge and the rear panel crotch edge constitutes the crotch web material.

[0103] In the pant-type article 1 shown in the figure, the elastically stretchable front body panel 3 is formed from a continuous front body panel web applied in the machine direction MD corresponding to the transverse direction T of the pant-type article 1. Thereby, the front body panel web extends in the transverse direction T across the pant-type article 1 from the first front panel side edge 32 to the second front panel side edge 33, and extends in the longitudinal direction L from the front waist edge 31 to the front crotch edge 34. The elastically stretchable rear body panel 4 is formed from a continuous rear body panel web applied in the machine direction MD corresponding to the transverse direction T of the pant-type article 1. Thereby, the rear body panel web extends in the transverse direction T across the pant-type article 1 from the first rear panel side edge 42 to the second rear panel side edge 43, and extends in the longitudinal direction L from the rear waist edge 41 to the rear crotch edge 44.

[0104] The crotch region 5 is disposed between the front body panel 3 and the rear body panel 4, is continuous with the front body panel 3 along the front panel crotch edge 34, and is continuous with the rear body panel 4 along the rear panel crotch edge 44. The extension of the crotch region 5 in the longitudinal direction L is defined as the longitudinal distance between the front panel crotch edge 34 and the rear panel crotch edge 44.

[0105] The first front panel side edge 32 is intended to be joined to the first rear panel side edge 42 at the first side seam 20, and the second front panel side edge 33 is intended to be joined to the second rear panel side edge 43 at the second side seam 21, forming the pant-type article 1 having a waist opening 12, a first leg opening 13, and a second leg opening 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0106] The waist opening 12 is defined by the front panel waist edge 31 and the rear panel waist edge 41. The first leg edge 18 defines the first leg opening 13, and the second leg edge 19 defines the second leg opening 14.

[0107] The side seams of the pant-type articles as disclosed herein can generally be band-shaped joints, which are formed by ultrasonic welding or thermal welding. In order to have sufficient strength to withstand the forces to which the pant-type articles are exposed while being worn, and to allow sufficient production tolerances when cutting individual pant-type garments from the precursor web, the side seams generally have a width on the order of 5 millimeters to 10 millimeters. It is also known to produce side seams having a width of less than 5 mm.

[0108] It is generally desired that soiled pant-type garments can be easily removed without the need to pull the garment down over the user's legs. Thus, the side seams are generally made such that they can be broken by manual force, allowing the user or caregiver to pull the side seams apart before removing the soiled pant-type garment. The pant-type article can be a reclosable article, which means that, for example, the side seams can be manually opened to check whether the article is soiled and needs to be replaced, and then reclosed if the article is found to still be in a condition allowing further use. Reclosability is generally provided by fastening elements (such as hook-and-loop fastener type fasteners, etc.).

[0109] The disposable pant-like article 1 includes a front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity, and the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity is disposed in an overlap area 10 between the absorbent core 7 and the front body panel 3. The elasticity of the body panel material in the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity is 30% to 70% of the elasticity of the body panel material outside the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity, for example, 40% to 70% of the elasticity of the body panel material outside the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity, preferably 30% to 60%, etc.

[0110] Also, the disposable pant-like article 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity, and the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity is disposed in an overlap area 11 between the absorbent core 7 and the rear body panel 4. The elasticity of the body panel material in the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity is 30% to 70% of the elasticity of the body panel material outside the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity, for example, 40% to 70% of the elasticity of the body panel material outside the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity, preferably 30% to 60%, etc.

[0111] It should be understood that the disposable pant-type article shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 can alternatively have a body panel zone with reduced elasticity on only one of the front body panel 3 and the rear body panel 4. When the disposable pant-type article has only a single body panel zone with reduced elasticity, the body panel zone with reduced elasticity is preferably a front body panel zone with reduced elasticity. The front body panel zone with reduced elasticity can be particularly beneficial. The reason is that the front body panel zone with reduced elasticity will be the part of the pant-type article 1 that is applied over the wearer's abdomen. The front body panel zone 16 with reduced elasticity will exert less pressure on the wearer's abdomen than the adjacent unprocessed part of the front body panel 3, thereby contributing to improved wearer comfort while still keeping the pant-type article 1 in contact with the wearer's body in the abdominal area.

[0112] As disclosed herein, the elastically stretchable front body panel 3 and / or the elastic rear body panel 4 can be composed of a single layer of elastic material (preferably an elastic nonwoven material). Alternatively, the elastic front body panel 3 and / or the elastic rear body panel 4 can include, or be composed of, an elastic laminate including at least a first layer of nonwoven material and an elastic layer. The elastic laminate can include a second layer of nonwoven material, and the elastic layer is an intermediate elastic layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer of nonwoven material. One or both of the first layer and the second layer of nonwoven material can be a non-elastic nonwoven material.

[0113] The elastic layer in the elastic laminate can include, or be composed of, a layer of elastic film, elastic nonwoven material, or elastic scrim.

[0114] At least two layers of the elastic laminate can be joined together by a plurality of discrete joining elements 27, and the joining elements 27 are arranged in a joining pattern as shown in FIG. 3. The joining pattern can be seen on the entire outer surface of the elastic front body panel 3 including the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity. The joining pattern is the same throughout the entire front body panel 3, which means that the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity cannot be visually distinguished, and the presence of the absorbent core below the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity is ambiguous. Each discrete joining element can have a surface area on the order of 0.1 mm 2 to 3.0 mm 2 . The surface area of the individual joining areas can preferably be in the lower part of that range (for example, 0.1 mm 2 to 1.5 mm 2 , or 0.1 mm 2 to 1.0 mm 2 , etc.). The joining elements can be formed by ultrasonic bonding or by thermo-bonding as disclosed herein.

[0115] The total joining area is in the range of 4% to 13%, and preferably can be in the range of 5% to 10%.

[0116] As disclosed herein, the apertures can be located within the elastic layer, within the joining elements, or in the joining elements.

[0117] In FIG. 3, only the front body panel 3 can be seen. However, the rear body panel 4 is also preferably composed of an elastic laminate having a joining pattern applied over the entire outer surface of the rear body panel 4, and the joining pattern obscures the presence of the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity and the portion of the absorbent core 7 located inside the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity in the same manner as for the front body panel 3.

[0118] The leg elastic members 25, 26 are disposed on the rear body panel part 4 that can elastically expand and contract along the rear parts of the leg edges 18, 19. Although not shown in the figure, the leg elastic members can be applied along other parts of the leg edges 18, 19 (for example, along the parts of the leg edges 18, 19 extending into the crotch region 5 and / or along the leg edges 18, 19 extending on the front body panel part 3, etc.). Each leg elastic member can include a plurality of individual elastic elements (for example, 2 to 15 individual elastic elements, 3 to 12 individual elastic elements, or 4 to 10 individual elastic elements, etc.).

[0119] The plurality of individual elastic elements can be elastic strings, threads, or bands that are applied at intervals along the rear leg edge sections of the first and second leg edges.

[0120] The reinforcing leg elastic members can be covered by a non-woven fabric covering web.

[0121] The leg elastic members constitute a reinforcing elastic body applied in addition to the elastic materials in the front and rear body panel webs. The reinforcing leg elastic members are optional for the pant-type absorbent article disclosed herein and can be omitted, and only the elasticization provided at the leg openings 13, 14 is the elasticity from the elastically expandable front and rear body panel materials.

[0122] As shown in FIGS. 1 - 3, the pant - type article 1 as disclosed in this specification can have an elastic waist feature 50 disposed along the waist opening 12. The elastic waist feature 50 can include one or more elastic elements that extend parallel to the front - panel waist edge 31 and the rear - panel waist edge 41. One or more elastic waist elements can be incorporated into the front body - panel 3 and the rear body - panel 4, or can be applied as a separate waistband. The separate waistband can be attached to the front - panel waist edge 31 and the rear - panel waist edge 41, or can be attached to the front body - panel 3 and / or the rear body - panel 4 in a state where the waistband completely overlaps the corresponding body - panels 3, 4 and shares a common waist edge. The pant - type article 1 shown in FIGS. 1 - 3 has an elastic waist feature 50 that extends around the entire perimeter of the waist opening 12, thus forming a waistband that surrounds a continuous waist.

[0123] The waist elastic feature 50 constitutes a reinforcing elastomer applied in addition to the elastic material in the front and rear body - panel webs.

[0124] The elastic material in the elastic elements disposed along the leg openings 13, 14 and the waist opening 12 can be any suitable elastic material such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, for example, thermoplastic polyurethane or styrene - block copolymers or elastane (also referred to as spandex (a polyurethane - polyurea copolymer)). The elastic element can be of the elastane type available under the trade name “LYCRA”, but any suitable elastic thread can also be used. The thread can have a linear mass density (dtex) of about 80 - 1200 dtex.

[0125] The front and rear body panel zones 16, 17 having reduced elasticity shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 have a tapered shape in the longitudinal direction L of the disposable pant-type article, have a wider portion in the crotch region 5, and have a narrower portion in the waist elastic feature 50. By forming a zone having reduced elasticity with a narrower part in the waist portion of the article and a wider part in the crotch portion of the article, the elasticity in the front and rear body panels 3, 4 becomes higher in the waist portion, causing the side seams to take the inwardly inclined configuration shown in FIG. 3. The shaped side seams better conform to the shape of the wearer's buttocks than the side seams of a normal pant-type absorbent article, improving the fit characteristics and stay-up property of the pant-type absorbent article.

[0126] The front and rear body panel zones 16, 17 having reduced elasticity are shown in the figure to be arranged so that they substantially coincide with the overlap areas 10, 11 between the absorbent core 7 and the front and rear body panels 3, 4. It may be preferable that the body panel zone having reduced elasticity coincides with the corresponding front or rear overlap area 10, 11 by at least 70%, more preferably by at least 80%. The front and rear body panel zones 16, 17 having reduced elasticity can be shaped and sized to correspond to the shape and size of each one of the front and rear overlap areas 10, 11.

[0127] The tapered part of the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity positioned between the front end edge of the absorbent assembly 6 and the front end edge of the front body panel 3 is part of the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity that provides an improved body-conforming shape to the pant-type absorbent article 1 by generating an elastic gradient (which causes the side seams 20, 21 to take the inclined configuration shown in FIG. 3).

[0128] As shown in FIG. 1, the taper angle α is the inclination line l of the portion of the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity positioned between the front end edge 27 of the absorbent assembly 6 and the front waist edge 2 of the front body panel 3 i measured between the line l parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the pant-type absorbent article 1. The taper angle α of the front body panel zone 16 having reduced elasticity is from 3° to 35°, and preferably can be from 7° to 25°.

[0129] In an article in which the absorbent assembly is narrower than the front body panel zone having reduced elasticity and the front body panel zone having reduced elasticity extends transversely beyond the side edge of the absorbent assembly, the inclination line is from the point where the front body panel zone having reduced elasticity intersects the line drawn parallel to the transverse direction T of the pant-type absorbent article and passing through the front end point of the absorbent assembly to the point where the front body panel zone having reduced elasticity intersects the front waist edge of the front body panel.

[0130] In a corresponding manner, the taper angle α of the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity is the inclination line l of the portion of the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity positioned between the rear end edge 28 of the absorbent assembly 6 and the rear waist edge 15 of the rear body panel 4 i measured between the line l parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the pant-type absorbent article 1. The taper angle α of the rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity is from 3° to 35°, and preferably can be from 7° to 25°.

[0131] In an article where the rear part of the absorbent assembly is narrower than the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity and the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity extends transversely beyond the side edge of the absorbent assembly, the inclined line is drawn from the point where the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity intersects a line that is parallel to the transverse direction T of the pant-type absorbent article and is drawn through the rear end point of the absorbent assembly to the point where the rear body panel zone having reduced elasticity intersects the rear waist edge of the rear body panel.

[0132] When the edge of the body panel zone having reduced elasticity deviates from a straight line, as in the case of the funnel-shaped rear body panel zone 17 having reduced elasticity shown in the figure, the inclined line l i is drawn from the point where the inclined edge of the body panel zone having reduced elasticity crosses the end edge of the absorbent assembly 6 to the point on the end edge of the body panel where the inclined edge of the body panel zone meets the end edge of the body panel.

[0133] In the example shown in the figure, the front waist edge 2 of the front body panel 3 coincides with the front waist edge 31 of the pant-type absorbent article 1, and the rear waist edge 15 of the rear body panel 4 coincides with the rear waist edge 41 of the pant-type absorbent article 1. The reason is that the elastic waist feature 50 is applied so that it completely overlaps the front and rear body panels 3, 4. As described herein, the elastic waist feature can alternatively be applied to absorbent pant-type articles, and the elastic waist feature extends longitudinally L beyond the waist edges of the front and rear body panels 3, 4.

[0134] In an absorbent pant-type article where the absorbent core is applied without being incorporated into the absorbent assembly, the inclined line l iIt is determined with respect to the portion of the body panel zone having reduced elasticity positioned between the end edge of the absorbent core and the waist edge of the body panel.

[0135] Pant-type articles as disclosed herein have a two-piece chassis with a crotch panel, the crotch panel being connected to the front panel along the front panel crotch edge and to the rear panel along the rear panel crotch edge as shown in the figures. Alternatively, the pant-type article can have a one-piece chassis with an inelastic outer or inner cover web extending the full distance between the front panel waist edge and the rear panel waist edge, the cover web constituting the inelastic layer of each of the front panel and the rear panel and constituting the crotch web material in the crotch region of the pant-type article.

[0136] As disclosed herein, the elastically stretchable front body panel and the elastically stretchable rear body panel can include, or can be composed of, a stretch-bonded laminated elastic web material. The stretch-bonded laminated elastic web material is preferably formed by ultrasonic bonding or thermal bonding and bonded by a bonding pattern composed of a plurality of discrete uniformly distributed bonding elements. The bonding elements can each have a surface area on the order of 0.1 mm 2 to 3.0 mm 2 The surface area of the individual bonding areas can preferably be in the lower part of that range (for example, 0.1 mm 2 to 1.5 mm 2 or 0.1 mm 2 to 1.0 mm 2 etc.). The total bonding area is in the range of 4% to 13%, preferably in the range of 5% to 10%.

[0137] A suitable stretch-bonded laminate can include a nonwoven material layer or web (e.g., spunbond nonwoven, airlaid nonwoven, wetlaid nonwoven, carded nonwoven, electrospun nonwoven, or meltblown nonwoven, etc.). The nonwoven material can be bonded by any suitable technique (e.g., by needling, hydroentangling, ultrasonic welding, or thermobonding, etc.).

[0138] The fibers of the nonwoven material used herein can be man-made fibers, natural fibers, or a mixture of man-made and natural fibers. Man-made fibers include single-component fibers, bicomponent fibers, and multicomponent fibers of polymers (e.g., polyolefins, polyesters, polyacrylates, etc.), as well as regenerated fibers (e.g., viscose fibers and modal fibers, etc.). Natural fibers are, for example, cellulose fibers (e.g., pulp fibers, cotton fibers, linen, hemp, etc.).

[0139] The nonwoven web material used in a pant-type article as disclosed herein can include a thermoplastic material. The nonwoven web material will typically be incorporated into the joints and seams within the pant-type article, and it is desirable that the nonwoven web be weldable by heat or by an ultrasonic welding process. Examples of polymers suitable for use in the fibrous nonwoven webs as disclosed herein are polyethylene polypropylene, and other polyolefin homopolymers and copolymers, as well as polyesters. A weldable nonwoven web has a high content of thermoplastic components, preferably containing at least 50% thermoplastic fibers, more preferably at least 80% thermoplastic fibers.

[0140] The elastic material used in the front and rear body panels of an absorbent pant-type article as disclosed herein can be a breathable elastic film (e.g., an elastic film with apertures or a microporous elastic film, etc.). The elastic film is 20 g / m2 to 80 g / m 2 basis weight, preferably between 20 g / m 2 and 60 g / m 2 It is possible to have a basis weight between. The elastic web can be of any suitable elastic polymer (natural or synthetic). Some examples of useful materials for the elastic web are low-crystalline polyethylene, metallocene-catalyzed low-crystalline polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyurethane, polyisoprene, butadiene-styrene copolymer, styrene block copolymers such as styrene / isoprene / styrene (SIS), styrene / butadiene / styrene (SBS), or styrene / ethylene-butadiene / styrene block copolymer. Blends of these polymers can also be used, as well as other modified elastomeric or non-elastomeric materials.

[0141] As described herein, the front and / or rear body panels can be composed of an elastic laminate including an elastic film, the elastic film being sandwiched between two non-elastic nonwoven layers and formed into a laminate by bonding the layers together by a bonding pattern of a plurality of discrete bonding elements. The discrete bonding elements can be created within the laminate such that apertures are formed in and / or within the elastic film adjacent to the bonding elements. The discrete bonding elements increase the bulkiness of the laminate and the apertures provide high breathability to the elastic laminate, thereby contributing to increased comfort for the wearer.

[0142] The basis weight of the stretch-bonded elastic laminate web for use as an elastic panel material in an absorbent pant-type article as disclosed herein is preferably between 40 g / m 2 and 100 g / m 2 and more preferably below 90 g / m 2 as follows.

[0143] A continuous method of producing a disposable absorbent pant-like article as disclosed herein will be described with reference to FIGS. 4-9.

[0144] FIG. 4 shows a continuous elastic front panel web 101 advancing in the machine direction MD. The front panel web 101 is advanced in the machine direction MD while being stretched in the machine direction MD so that the front panel web 101 is tensioned in the machine direction MD.

[0145] The front panel web 101 has a front waist edge 102 and an opposing front crotch edge 103.

[0146] FIG. 4 further shows a continuous elastic rear panel web 108 fed in the machine direction MD parallel to the elastic front panel web 101. The rear panel web 108 is advanced in the machine direction MD while being stretched in the machine direction MD so that the rear panel web 108 is tensioned in the machine direction MD.

[0147] The rear panel web 108 has a rear waist edge 109 and an opposing rear crotch edge 110. The rear panel web 108 is disposed spaced apart from the front panel web 101 in the cross-machine direction CD perpendicular to the machine direction MD, and there is a distance 115 between the front panel web 101 and the rear panel web 108 in the cross-machine direction CD between the crotch edge 103 of the front panel web 101 and the crotch edge 110 of the rear panel web 108.

[0148] By subjecting a portion of the elastic front panel web 101 to heat treatment, a front zone 116 having reduced elasticity is formed within the elastic front panel web 101. The front zone 116 having reduced elasticity is spaced apart in the machine direction (MD) and has an elasticity of 30% to 70% of the elasticity in the parts of the front panel web 101 that have not undergone the heat treatment for reducing elasticity. For example, it has an elasticity of 40% to 70% of the elasticity in the parts of the front panel web 101 that have not undergone the heat treatment for reducing elasticity, preferably 30% to 60% of the elasticity, and so on.

[0149] By subjecting a portion of the elastic rear panel web 108 to heat treatment, a rear zone 117 having reduced elasticity is formed within the elastic rear panel web 108. The rear zone 117 having reduced elasticity is spaced apart in the machine direction (MD) and has an elasticity of 30% to 70% of the elasticity in the parts of the rear panel web 108 that have not undergone the heat treatment for reducing elasticity. For example, it has an elasticity of 40% to 70% of the elasticity in the parts of the rear panel web 108 that have not undergone the heat treatment for reducing elasticity, preferably 30% to 60% of the elasticity, and so on.

[0150] In the heat treatment step, the heat supplied to the elastic web material is preferably controlled to avoid raising the temperature of the thermoplastic material in the elastic web material above the melting point of the thermoplastic material. Thereby, the fibrous structure of the non-woven web, which contains or consists of thermoplastic fibers and forms part of the elastic web material, can be maintained or at least substantially maintained within the elastic web material. The heat supply can be controlled by controlling the heat exposure time and / or the temperature of the heat supply means such as a heating roller.

[0151] In the heat treatment step, sufficient heat is supplied to reduce the elasticity of the elastic web material without completely eliminating the elasticity of the elastic web material.

[0152] The elastic front panel web 101 and / or the elastic rear panel web 108 can be an elastic laminate web material as disclosed herein. The elastic laminate web material can be formed by bonding at least a first layer of nonwoven material to an elastic layer, and the bonding is effected by a plurality of discrete bonding elements, which are arranged in a bonding pattern (preferably, a bonding pattern of uniformly distributed bonding elements).

[0153] Providing heat-treated zones 116, 117 of reduced elasticity in both the elastic front panel web 101 and the elastic rear panel web 108 is optional for the methods and pant-type absorbent articles as disclosed herein. If only one of the elastic front panel web 101 and the elastic rear panel web 108 is provided with a heat-treated zone of reduced elasticity, it may be preferable that the body panel web having reduced elasticity is the elastic front panel web 101.

[0154] In the method illustrated in FIGS. 4-9, the elastic front panel web 101 provides a front panel zone 116 of reduced elasticity having a shape that tapers in a direction from the front crotch edge 103 to the front waist edge 102. The front panel zone 116 of reduced elasticity is created prior to the application of any waist elastics, and it may be preferable that the heat treatment is such that it does not affect the waist elastics disposed along the front waist edge 102 of the elastic front panel web 101.

[0155] Similarly, the elastic rear panel web 108 provides a rear panel zone 117 having a reduced elasticity and having a shape that tapers in a direction from the rear crotch edge 110 to the rear waist edge 109. The rear panel zone 117 having a reduced elasticity is created prior to the application of any waist elastics, and it may be preferred that the rear panel zone 117 having a reduced elasticity does not affect the waist elastics 111 disposed along the rear waist edge 109 of the elastic rear panel web 108.

[0156] By forming a zone of reduced elasticity having a narrower part at the waist portion of the article and a wider part adjacent to the absorbent core of the article, the article will have a stronger elasticity at the waist portion. Moreover, in parts of the front body panel and the rear body panel positioned above the corresponding end edges of the absorbent assembly or the absorbent core, the increasing elasticity in the front panel and / or the rear panel of the pant-type absorbent article will cause the side seams to take an inwardly inclined configuration when the pant-type article is in a non-tensioned state. The side seams shaped in such a way will fit better with the shape of the user's (especially female user's) hips.

[0157] The shape and size of the zone having reduced elasticity are not limited to the shapes and sizes shown in FIGS. 1-9, but can be varied as disclosed herein, for example, according to the size and cut of the pant-type article, and the size and shape of the absorbent core in the absorbent pant-type article. However, the body panel zone having reduced elasticity as disclosed herein is disposed between the absorbent assembly or the end edge of the absorbent core of the absorbent pant-type article and the waist edge of the body panel in which the zone having reduced elasticity is disposed. In a part of the zone having reduced elasticity, it is preferred that it has a continuously tapered shape without a sharp change in the width of the body panel zone having reduced elasticity.

[0158] The front waist elastomer 104 is disposed along the front waist edge 102, and the rear waist elastomer 111 is disposed along the rear waist edge 109. The front and rear waist elastomers 104, 111 are attached to the front panel web 101 and the rear panel web 108, for example, by a method as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, prior to the production steps shown in FIG. 4. The methods in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 start with a base web to which a continuous waist elastomer is attached, and then the base web is cut into two parts along a cutting line extending in the machine direction, cutting both the base web and the waist elastomer along the cutting line. By dividing the base web into two parts, a first panel web and a second panel web are formed, the first panel web having a first part of the waistband component attached thereto, and the second panel web having a second part of the waistband component attached thereto. The two web parts are then shifted in the cross-machine direction such that the cut edges of the web parts (along which the parts of the waist elastomer are attached) are arranged facing away from each other. When the web parts are further processed in a method as disclosed herein, the cut edge of the first panel web forms the front waist edge 102 of the front panel web 101 as shown in FIG. 4, and the cut edge of the second panel web forms the rear waist edge 109 of the rear panel web 108. The divided waistband components form the front waist elastomer 104 and the rear waist elastomer 111 on the respective front panel web 101 and rear panel web 108.

[0159] The methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 result in a front waist elastomer 104 that coincides with the front waist edge 102 of the front panel web 101 and a rear waist elastomer 111 that coincides with the rear waist edge 109 of the rear panel web 108.

[0160] In the examples shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, the front waist edge portion 102 and the rear waist edge portion 109 have a matching sine wave configuration. It should be understood that the waist edge does not necessarily have the undulating configuration shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, and that any other configuration, such as a straight edge, a zigzag edge, etc., as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, for example, can be used. Moreover, it should be understood that other methods for attaching the waist elastomer to the front and rear panel webs can also be used. The front waist elastomer can alternatively be attached by an edge seam along the front waist edge of the front panel web, and the rear waist elastomer can be attached by an edge seam along the rear waist edge of the rear panel web. In such embodiments, the waist elastomer extends in the cross-machine direction CD outwardly of the waist edge of the corresponding panel web. Another possible arrangement of the waist elastomer is to attach the waist elastomer slightly inwardly of the waist edge of the panel web. In such embodiments, each waist elastomer completely overlaps with the corresponding panel web, and a small edge portion of the panel web extends in the cross-machine direction CD a distance on the order of 2 mm to 15 mm outwardly of the waist edge of the panel web, and the edge portion of the panel web forms a frill border above the waist elastomer when the pant-type article is worn.

[0161] The waist elastomer attached to the front panel web and the rear panel web by a method other than the methods disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can be attached during any suitable stage of the methods as disclosed herein, or can be attached before the stage shown in FIG. 4. Also, it should be understood that the waist elastomer member as disclosed herein is optional for the methods and disposable pant-type articles as disclosed herein.

[0162] The waist elastic member can include, or be composed of, any suitable elastic or stretchable material known in the art, including elastic yarns, elastic films, elastic nonwovens, and elastic foams. Moreover, the elastic member can be applied in the form of a plurality of elongated elastic elements, for example, as a single band of elastic or stretchable material such as an elastic laminate. In all cases, the elastic member is a component of a chassis web or disposable pant-type article as disclosed herein, which is distinct from the elastic material in the front and rear panel webs of the pant-type article such as leg elastics or body elastics.

[0163] An inelastic continuous crotch panel web 118 having a first side edge 119 and an opposing second side edge 120 is advanced in the machine direction MD, and the first side edge 119 of the crotch panel web 118 is attached at a first overlap seam 121 along the crotch edge 103 of the tensioned front panel web 101 as shown in FIG. 5, and the second side edge 120 of the crotch panel web 118 is attached at a second overlap seam 122 along the crotch edge 110 of the tensioned rear panel web 108. The crotch panel web 118 bridges the distance 115 between the front panel web 101 and the rear panel web 108 and forms a coherent composite web 130 of interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c (bounded by a dividing line Ld extending in the cross-machine direction CD), each precursor article 131a, 131b, 131c having a pitch length Lp in the machine direction MD between the dividing lines Ld. The pitch length Lp of the precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c remains the same until the final step of the method as disclosed herein when the individual pant-type articles are cut from the chassis web 130 and when the application of tension to the composite web 130 of interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c ceases.

[0164] Referring to FIG. 6, a pair of crotch elastic members is provided, which is composed of a first band-shaped crotch elastic member 141 and a second band-shaped crotch elastic member 142.

[0165] Each of the crotch elastic members 141, 142 has a longitudinal direction L of the crotch elastic member that coincides with the cross-machine direction CD of the moving composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c. e It is stretched in the longitudinal direction L.

[0166] Each of the stretched crotch elastic members 141, 142 is attached to the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c while maintaining the stretched state of the crotch elastic members 141, 142 and the state aligned with the cross-machine direction CD. The pair of crotch elastic members 141, 142 is attached to the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c in a state where the first crotch elastic member 141 is spaced apart from the second crotch elastic member 142 by a crotch interval S in the machine direction, and is symmetrically installed on each side of the center line Lc of the precursor articles extending in the cross-machine direction CD. The pair of crotch elastic members of the precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c are spaced apart in the machine direction by an article interval corresponding to the pitch length of the precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c. C In the moving composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c shown in the figure, the respective first end portions 143, 144 of the first and second crotch elastic members 141, 142 are overlapped with and attached to the tensioned front panel web 101 as seen in FIG. 6, and the respective second end portions 145, 146 of the first and second crotch elastic members 141, 142 are overlapped with and attached to the tensioned rear panel web 108.

[0167] In the moving composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c shown in the figure, the respective first end portions 143, 144 of the first and second crotch elastic members 141, 142 are overlapped with and attached to the tensioned front panel web 101 as seen in FIG. 6, and the respective second end portions 145, 146 of the first and second crotch elastic members 141, 142 are overlapped with and attached to the tensioned rear panel web 108.

[0168] When applying the stretched crotch elastic members 141, 142 to the chassis web, the first and second end portions 143, 144, 145, 146 of the crotch elastic members 141, 142 can be held in movable clamps in a stretching device (not shown). The clamped end portions 143, 144, 145, 146 are applied and attached to the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c under conditions where they are not stretched and not under tension.

[0169] The stretched crotch elastic members 141, 142 can have a width w measured in the machine direction MD in the range of 15 mm to 50 mm and a length l measured in the cross-machine direction in the range of 150 mm to 350 mm.

[0170] The crotch elastic members 141, 142 can include, or can be composed of, an elastic film or an elastic nonwoven band.

[0171] The crotch elastic member is optional for the methods and pant-type absorbent articles as disclosed herein.

[0172] As shown in FIG. 7, the method further includes applying and attaching the absorbent assembly 160 to the moving composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c. Each absorbent assembly 160 includes an absorbent core 161, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 162, and a liquid-permeable topsheet 163, and the absorbent core 161 is sandwiched between the topsheet 163 and the backsheet 162.

[0173] Each absorbent assembly 160 is applied to the composite web 130 of the precursor article on the precursor article center line Lc extending in the cross-machine direction (CD) and covers the stretched and attached crotch elastic members 141, 142.

[0174] The absorbent assemblies 160 are applied at intervals in the machine direction (MD), with the front end part 160' of each absorbent assembly 160 overlapping the reduced-elasticity front zone 116 in the front body panel web 101, and the rear end part 160" of the absorbent assembly 160 overlapping the rear panel zone 117 having reduced elasticity in the rear body panel web 108, and are attached in this overlapping state.

[0175] The absorbent core 161 is disposed between the topsheet 163 and the backsheet 162 and absorbs the liquid (such as urine or other body fluids, etc.) that has passed through the topsheet 163. The topsheet 162, the backsheet 163, and the absorbent core 161 can be composed of any material suitable for their purposes.

[0176] The absorbent core 161 can be a single-layer structure or a layered structure. The absorbent core 161 can contain an appropriate amount of superabsorbent material. Such superabsorbent materials are well-known in the field of absorbent articles and are composed of water-swellable and water-insoluble materials that can absorb a large amount of fluid when forming a hydrogel. The absorbent core 161 can contain superabsorbent material in the form of fibers or particles of an absorbent polymer material. For example, the superabsorbent material can be a surface cross-linked, partially neutralized polyacrylate. The superabsorbent material (such as superabsorbent fibers or particles) can be mixed with other absorbents or one or more liquid uptake materials (such as cellulose fluff pulp, etc.) and / or can be placed in pockets or layers in the absorbent core 161.

[0177] The absorbent core 161 can further include components for improving the characteristics of the absorbent core 161 (such as integrity and strength, etc.). For example, the absorbent core 161 can include one or more binders (such as binder fibers, etc.). Elastic fibers, chemically reinforced fibers, etc. can be present in the absorbent core 161 to counteract the wet-collapse of cellulose fibers. Also, such fibers may be useful in maintaining a fluid transport capillary network within the absorbent component so that the absorbent fluid can be distributed within the absorbent component and can also be absorbed by the superabsorbent material in parts of the absorbent component outside the initial wet area of the absorbent article.

[0178] The topsheet 163 is the layer facing the wearer and can include or be composed of a fluid-permeable nonwoven fabric, a perforated polymer film, a mesh, or a foam. The topsheet can be made from a thermoplastic material (such as thermoplastic synthetic fibers, films, or nets, etc.). The topsheet 163 can be composed of a single layer or can have a laminate structure including multiple layers (such as two or more layers). The layers can be made from the same material or some or all of the layers can be made from different materials.

[0179] Moreover, the backsheet 162 can be composed of a liquid-impermeable layer (such as a polymer film, etc., such as a film of polyethylene or polypropylene). The backsheet 162 can be breathable. Materials that can be used for the backsheet 162 include thin and flexible fluid-impermeable plastic films, or fluid-impermeable nonwoven materials, fluid-impermeable foams, and fluid-impermeable laminates. The backsheet 162 can be formed by a single layer or can be a multi-layered structure in which at least one layer is fluid-impermeable.

[0180] After the application and attachment of the absorbent assembly 160 to the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c, a leg cut 170 is formed in the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c between the precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c. Each leg cut 170 has a closed-loop configuration as shown between the precursor articles 131b and 131c in FIG. 7. The leg cut forms a first leg edge 171 of the leading precursor article 131c and a second leg edge 172 of the trailing precursor article 131b.

[0181] As shown in FIG. 7, the closed-loop leg cut 170 forms a cutout portion 173 having an approximately heart shape inside each leg cut 170. The shape of the leg cut 170 and the outer contour of the cutout portion are not limited to the methods or pant-type absorbent articles as disclosed herein and can be varied within the scope of the appended claims. By way of example, the leg edges of the pant-type absorbent article 1 shown in FIGS. 1-3 have slightly different leg outer contours but can still be produced by the methods as described in connection with FIGS. 4-9.

[0182] After forming the leg cut 170, the cutout portion 173 is removed from the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c and is not part of a further portion of the process as disclosed herein.

[0183] After forming the leg cut, the absorbent assembly 160 can be positioned centrally in the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c between the first leg edge 171 and the second leg edge 172 of each of the precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c.

[0184] As shown in FIG. 9, when the leg edges 171, 172 are formed, the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c is folded along the fold line Lv extending in the machine direction MD to align the waist edge 102 of the front panel web 101 with the waist edge 109 of the rear panel web 108.

[0185] The first side seam 181 and the second side seam 182 are formed from the aligned waist edges 102, 109 of the front and rear panel webs 101, 108 to the leg cut 170 along the dividing line Ld between the precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c into the respective precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c.

[0186] The first side seam 181 of the leading precursor article 131a and the second side seam 182 of the trailing precursor article 131b can be formed as a single wide seal extending along the dividing line Ld, as shown in FIG. 9. By cutting the composite web 130 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c along the dividing line Ld, when separating the individual pant-type articles from the chassis web 130 of the precursor articles 131a, 131b, 131c, the single wide seal shown in FIG. 9 will be simultaneously divided into the two side seams 181, 182 of the interconnected precursor articles 131a, 131b.

[0187] Alternatively, the side seams 181, 182 can be formed as individual seals installed on each side of the dividing line Ld.

[0188] The side seams can be formed by any method appropriate for the purpose (e.g., by heat welding, by ultrasonic welding, or by an adhesive, etc.). In the case of an adhesive side seam, the adhesive is generally applied before the chassis web is folded along the fold line Lv.

[0189] The method as disclosed herein can further include attaching a reinforcing leg elastomer along all or selected parts of the leg opening.

[0190] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the zones of reduced elasticity 116, 117 can be formed in an elastomeric material web 200 that is a precursor web for forming the first and second body panel webs 101, 108 (e.g., front and rear body panel webs 101, 108, etc.). The elastomeric material web 200 is divided into front and rear body panel webs 101, 108 after the formation of the zones of reduced elasticity 116, 117.

[0191] The method steps shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are carried out before arranging the tensioned front body panel web 101 and the tensioned rear body panel web 108 side by side, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0192] The tensioned first body panel web 101 and the tensioned second body panel web 108 are formed from a single elastic web material 200 having a first side edge 201 and a second side edge 202, and the single elastic web material 200 is heat treated to form a zone 205 of reduced elasticity. The tensioned elastic web material 200 is then divided into two parts by forming a cut 210 into the elastic web material 200 along a dividing line L1 extending in the machine direction MD, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, thereby forming from the heat treated elastic web material 200 the tensioned first body panel web 101 and the tensioned second body panel web 108. The tensioned first body panel web 101 has a first side edge 101' constituted by the first side edge 201 of the elastic web material 200 and a second side edge 101" formed by the cut 210 in the elastic web material, and the tensioned second body panel web 108 has a first side edge 108' constituted by the second side edge 202 of the elastic web material 200 and a second side edge 108" formed by the cut 210 in the elastic web material 200.

[0193] As shown in FIG. 10, steps in a method as disclosed herein of arranging a tensioned first body panel web 101 and a tensioned second body panel web 108 spaced apart from each other by a distance 115 in the cross-machine direction (CD) can include shifting the positions of the first body panel web 101 and the second body panel web 108 formed by dividing a tensioned elastic web material 200. Thereby, a second side edge 101” of the tensioned first body panel web forms a first waist edge 102 of a composite web of a precursor article 130 as shown in FIGS. 4-8, and a second side edge 108” of the tensioned second body panel web 108 forms a second waist edge 109 of the composite web of the precursor article 130 as shown in FIGS. 4-8.

[0194] Referring to FIG. 10, a waist elastomer 215 is applied to the elastic web material 200 along a dividing line L1 in the elastic web material 200 before a cut 210 is formed in the elastic web material 200. Thereafter, the cut 210 is formed through the elastic web material 200 and through the waist elastomer 215 applied and attached to the elastic web material 200. In the example of FIG. 10, the waist elastomer 215 is applied in the form of a plurality of elastic elements that are subsequently covered by a nonwoven covering web 216. It should be understood that the waist elastomer can be applied in any useful form (such as in the form of a prefabricated band-shaped waist elastomeric member that can include one or more elastic elements such as a band, string, elastic film, elastic nonwoven, etc.).

[0195] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, zones 205 having reduced elasticity formed in the elastic web material 200 are divided into a first part 116 and a second part 117 by cuts 210 in the elastic web material 210, and the first part 116 of each zone 205 having reduced elasticity of the original elastic web material 200 is positioned in the tensioned first body panel web 101, and the second part 117 of each zone 205 having reduced elasticity is positioned in the tensioned second body panel web 108.

[0196] In FIG. 10, the zone 205 having reduced elasticity formed in the elastic web material 200 has a shape including a first end portion 205', a second end portion 205", and an intermediate portion 205'" between the first end portion 205' and the second end portion 205", as seen in the cross-machine direction CD. The first end portion 205' and the second end portion 205" have a width in the machine direction MD that is larger than the width in the machine direction MD of the intermediate portion 205'". The cut 210 in the elastic web material 200 divides each zone 205 having reduced elasticity at the narrow intermediate portion 205'" of the width of the zone 205 having reduced elasticity.

[0197] FIG. 11 shows an alternative way of performing the step of arranging the tensioned first body panel web 101 and the tensioned second body panel web 108 side by side at a distance 115 from each other in the cross-machine direction (CD), wherein the first body panel web 101 and the second body panel web 108 formed by dividing the tensioned elastic web material 200 are pulled apart in the cross-machine direction CD, whereby the first side edge 101' of the tensioned first body panel web 101 forms the first waist edge 102 of the composite web of the precursor article 130 as shown in FIGS. 4-8, and the first side edge 108' of the tensioned second body panel web 108 forms the second waist edge 109 of the composite web of the precursor article 130 as shown in FIGS. 4-8.

[0198] In the method shown in FIG. 11, the waist elastomer can be applied along the first and second side edges 201, 202 of the elastic web material 200 either before or after forming the cut 210 in the elastic web material 200.

[0199] In both the method shown in FIG. 10 and the method shown in FIG. 11, the waist elastomer can be omitted. It should also be understood that the waist elastomer can be added at the waist edge of the composite web of the precursor article at any stage of the process until the individual absorbent pant-type articles are cut from the composite web of the precursor article.

[0200] As shown in FIG. 11, the zone 205 with reduced elasticity formed in the elastic web material 200 can have a shape including a first end portion 205', a second end portion 205", and an intermediate portion 205'" between the first end portion 205' and the second end portion 205", as seen in the cross-machine direction CD. The first end portion 205' and the second end portion 205" have a width in the machine direction MD that is smaller than the width in the machine direction MD of the intermediate portion 205'". The cut 210 in the elastic web material 200 divides each zone 205 with reduced elasticity in the wider intermediate portion 205'" of the zone 205 with reduced elasticity.

[0201] A further option for providing the tensioned first body panel web 101 and the tensioned second body panel web 108 is to supply the body panel webs 101, 108 as separate elastic material webs 200. Such an option provides the advantage that the first body panel web 101 and the second body panel web can be freely selected from different materials (for example, materials having different elastic properties).

[0202] Figure 12 shows a further alternative for forming heat-treated zones 205', 205" of reduced elasticity within a tensioned elastic web material 200. The difference from the method shown in Figure 10 is that the part of the tensioned elastic web material 200 that is to form the first tensioned body panel web 101 provides a first part zone 205' of reduced elasticity, and the part of the tensioned elastic web material 200 that is to form the second tensioned body panel web 108 provides a second part zone 205" of reduced elasticity, and the first and second zones 205', 205" of reduced elasticity form first and second zones 116, 117 of reduced elasticity within the first and second tensioned body panel webs 101, 108. The first and second part zones 205', 205" of reduced elasticity are spaced apart in the cross-machine direction CD, leaving area 206 at the dividing line L1, which has not been heat-treated and retains its original elastic properties. The spacing between the first and second part zones 205', 205" of reduced elasticity is preferably sufficient to allow the application of the waist elastomer in the untreated part of the elastic web material.

[0203] Description of Test Methods and Examples Elasticity Test This method is used to determine whether a material can be considered elastic by determining the degree of permanent deformation after two loading and unloading cycles.

[0204] A suitable tensile testing machine (such as those available from Lloyd, Instron, or Zwick) is used. The tensile testing machine should be equipped with two vertically aligned clamps and should be able to perform cyclic movement.

[0205] The material to be tested should be conditioned for at least 4 hours in an environment set at 23°C ± 2°C and 50% ± 5% relative humidity. The test is to be conducted in this same environment.

[0206] For subsequent stable attachment into the tensile testing machine clamps, high friction tape can be attached over the front and back sides of the sample strip, just outside the 50 mm middle section of the sample to be tested.

[0207] Sample strips (25 mm wide and preferably at least 100 mm long) are cut from the material to be tested using a scalpel and cutting template.

[0208] The clamps of the testing machine should be as wide or wider than the sample to be tested. At the start of the procedure, the clamps are set at a mutual distance of 50 mm equal to the length of the sample to be tested.

[0209] This method can be used to determine the cross - machine direction elasticity or the machine direction elasticity of the material, depending on which direction is aligned with the length direction of the sample. Thus, this method measures the elasticity in the length direction of the sample.

[0210] When testing parts of an article as disclosed herein, the functionality of the part of the article being tested should be considered when preparing the sample strip. For example, the elasticity of the panel material in a pant - type diaper is generally evaluated with the length direction of the sample arranged parallel to the waist edge (in the transverse direction of the article). The reason is that this is the main direction of stretching when the article is in use. However, it is also possible to evaluate the elasticity of the article in the length direction by the method described herein.

[0211] The tensile testing machine is calibrated according to the equipment instructions.

[0212] The load and clamp distance in the tensile testing machine are set to zero. The sample is inserted into the clamp (centered vertically), and a very slight stress (preload) of 0.05 N ± 0.01 N is applied onto the sample. This is the starting point for the test. The upper clamp is set to move over a distance of 15 mm (equal to 30% extension from the initial 50 mm sample length) at a speed of 500 mm / min and then immediately return to the starting point at the same speed.

[0213] The first cycle of elongation and return to the starting point is performed, and immediately followed by the same second cycle. The pre - test value regarding the elongation of the sample is recorded at 0.1 N at the start of the first cycle. After performing the second cycle, the sample is allowed to rest for 60 seconds while remaining clamped at the starting point. Thereafter, the sample is stretched until a force of 0.1 N is registered, and the post - test elongation of the sample is recorded as the elongation of the sample at 0.1 N. The permanent deformation of the sample is calculated by dividing the difference (δ) between the post - test elongation and the pre - test elongation at 0.1 N by the pre - test elongation at 0.1 N.

[0214] For example, in the post - test stretch to 0.1 N, an elongation of 5 mm is read. Then the elongation (5 mm) is divided by the initial length of the sample (50 mm), giving a permanent deformation of 10%.

[0215] In the context of the present disclosure, a material is considered elastic if the permanent deformation is less than 10% and inelastic if the permanent deformation exceeds 10%.

[0216] Comparison of elasticity in different zones of the material The test method for panel zone elasticity involves several adaptations and modifications following the general setup of the standard method ASTM D882-18, as specified in the instructions below.

[0217] All preparations and tests are conducted in a laboratory environment set at 23°C + / - 1°C and 50% + / - 5% relative humidity.

[0218] The test is performed on samples taken from an elastic body panel, which has crotch edges and waist edges and is formed from an elastic web material heat-treated to form zones of reduced elasticity within the body panel. The test is performed on the elastic web material of the elastic body panel (i.e., without additional elastic or inelastic components).

[0219] Test samples are taken from the heat-treated body panel. The samples are 25 mm wide and at least 100 mm long. All samples are cut with the length direction of the sample parallel to the transverse direction of the panel (i.e., parallel to the crotch and waist edges of the panel). For this purpose, a metal template is placed on the panel, and the samples are prepared by cutting along the periphery of the template with a scalpel. The first set of 10 samples is centered such that the 50 mm middle section of the sample fully enters the zone of reduced elasticity. The second set of samples is centered such that the 50 mm middle section fully enters outside the zone of reduced elasticity.

[0220] For subsequent stable attachment into the tensile testing machine clamp, high-friction tape can be attached over the front and back sides of the sample strip immediately outside the 50 mm middle section of the sample to be tested.

[0221] The elasticity test should be completed within 10 minutes after cutting the samples from the panel in order to minimize creep in the elastic material.

[0222] A conventional tensile testing machine is used for the test (e.g., available from Zwick / Roell, Instron, or Lloyd). The upper and lower clamps should be at least 25 mm wide and aligned vertically. The gauge length (test length) between the clamps is set to 50 mm. The force reading of the tensile testing machine is set to zero, and the tape-like section of the sample is inserted into the clamps. After insertion, the sample pre-tension should be 0.05 N + / - 0.01 N (as shown on the force display). Then, the upper clamp is set to move at a constant speed of 500 mm / min. When the tensile testing machine reads a force of 5 N, the percentage elongation of the sample is calculated.

[0223] For example, a 50 mm test length is inserted into the clamps. The upper clamp moves, and 5 N is read after 70 mm (or a total clamp separation of 120 mm). The elasticity reported at 5 N is equal to 70 mm of elongation divided by the initial 50 mm sample length (or 140%).

[0224] The elasticity value in the context of this disclosure is the arithmetic mean from a series of 10 representative individual samples.

[0225] Example The elasticity in the treated and untreated portions of a 3-layer elastic laminate was compared using the above elasticity comparison method.

[0226] The laminate tested was a three-layer ultrasonically bonded laminate having an elastic film sandwiched between two nonwoven layers. The film was a polyolefin-based elastic film (Exten, Extretch MD2 35 gsm), and the nonwoven was a spunbond polypropylene nonwoven (Fitesa, SS6KW-01 16NN 16 GSM).

[0227] The laminate was point bonded to a film stretched to 300% elongation with a 4x stretch ratio and 6.25% bond area, and each bonding element had a bond area of 0.64 mm 2 .

[0228] Samples were taken from elastic panels made from a three-layer elastic laminate, and the elastic panels were provided with zones of reduced elasticity generated at three different temperatures (134 °C, 139 °C, and 144 °C, reported as material numbers 67, 68, and 69 in the table below). Thus, the three-layer laminate used in the tests was the same material for all samples, with the only difference being that heat-treated zones in the material were generated at different temperatures.

[0229] The ratio of elasticity in the heat-treated zones of each panel compared to the untreated zones was calculated from the average of 10 measurements for each of the heat-treated and untreated zones as follows. % = (percentage strain at 5N in the treated zone / percentage strain at 5N in the untreated zone) * 100

[0230]

Table 1

[0231] The measurement showed that the percentage strain at 5N and the relative elasticity in the zone decreased with increasing temperature. Sample 69, which was heat-treated at 144 °C and found to have a relative elasticity of only 48% between the heat-treated zone and the untreated zone, may be particularly advantageous when a minimal impact on the absorbent core is desired.

Explanation of Signs

[0232] 1 Disposable pant-type article 2 Front waist edge 3 Front body panel 4 Rear body panel 5 Crotch region 5’ Crotch panel 6 Absorbent assembly 7 Absorbent core 7c Central part 7f Front end part 7r Rear end part 8 Top sheet 9 Back sheet 10 Front overlap area 11 Rear overlap area 12 Waist opening 13 First leg opening 14 Second leg opening 15 Rear waist edge 16 Front body panel zone with reduced elasticity 17 Rear body panel zone with reduced elasticity 18 First leg edge 19 Second leg edge 20 First side seam 21 Second side seam 23 Front overlap seam 24 Rear overlap seam 25 Leg elastic member 26 Leg elastic member 27 Front end edge, coupling element 28 Rear end edge 31 Front panel waist edge 32 First front panel side edge 33 Second front panel side edge 34 Front panel crotch edge 41 Rear panel waist edge 42 First rear panel side edge 43 Second rear panel side edge 44 Rear panel crotch edge 50 Elastic waist feature 101 Front panel web 101’ First side edge 101” Second side edge 102 Front waist edge 103 Front crotch edge 104 Front waist elastomer 108 Rear panel web 108’ First side edge 108” Second side edge 109 Rear waist edge 110 Rear crotch edge 111 Rear waist elastomer 115 Distance 116 Front zone with reduced elasticity 117 Rear zone with reduced elasticity 118 Crotch panel web 119 First side edge 120 Second side edge 121 First overlap seam 122 Second overlap seam 130 Composite web 131a, 131b, 131c Precursor articles 141 First crotch elastic member 142 Second crotch elastic member 143 First end portion 144 First end portion 145 Second end portion 146 Second end portion 160 Absorbent assembly 160’ Front end part 160” Rear End Part 161 Absorbent Core 162 Backsheet 163 Topsheet 170 Leg Cut 171 First Leg Edge 172 Second Leg Edge 173 Cutout Portion 181 First Side Seam 182 Second Side Seam 200 Elastic Material Web 201 First Side Edge 202 Second Side Edge 205 Zone with Reduced Elasticity 205’ First End Portion 205” Second End Portion 205”’ Intermediate Portion 206 Area 210 Cut 215 Waist Elastic 216 Nonwoven Coated Web CD Cross-Machine Direction l Line l i Inclined Line L Longitudinal Direction Lc Precursor Article Center Line Ld Dividing Line L e Longitudinal Direction of Crotch Elastic Member Lp Pitch Length Lv Fold Line L1 Dividing Line MD Machine Direction S C Crotch Spacing T Transverse Direction w Width α Taper Angle

Claims

Claim 1 A disposable pant-type article (1), said disposable pant-type article (1) having a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T), said disposable pant-type article (1) comprising: - A front body panel (3) formed of a front body panel material, said front body panel material being elastically stretchable in said transverse direction (T), the front body panel (3); - A rear body panel (4) formed of a rear body panel material, said rear body panel material being elastically stretchable in said transverse direction (T), the rear body panel (4); - A crotch region (5) positioned between said front body panel (3) and said rear body panel (4); - An absorbent core (7), said absorbent core (7) being arranged such that a central part (7c) of said absorbent core (7) is positioned within said crotch region (5), and a front end part (7f) of said absorbent core (7) overlaps said front body panel (3) in a front overlap area (10), and a rear end part (7r) of said absorbent core (7) overlaps said rear body panel (4) in a rear overlap area (11), the absorbent core (7); - A first front panel side edge (32) joined to a first rear panel side edge (42) at a first side seam (20); - A second front panel side edge (33) joined to a second rear panel side edge (43) at a second side seam (21); - A waist opening (12); - A first leg opening (13); - A second leg opening (14) and comprising The disposable pant-like article (1) further includes at least one body panel zone (16, 17) having a reduced elasticity, and the at least one body panel zone (16, 17) having a reduced elasticity is disposed in the front overlap area and the rear overlap area (10, 11) between the absorbent core (7) and one of the front body panel (3) and the rear body panel (4). The elasticity of the body panel material in the at least one body panel zone (16, 17) having a reduced elasticity is 30% to 70% of the elasticity of the body panel material outside the body panel zone (16, 17) having a reduced elasticity. Disposable pant-like article (1).

2. The at least one body panel zone having a reduced elasticity is a front body panel zone (16) having a reduced elasticity, and the front body panel zone (16) having a reduced elasticity is disposed between the absorbent core (7) and the front body panel (3). The disposable pant-like article (1) according to claim 1, which is disposed in the front overlap area and the rear overlap area (10, 11).

3. The disposable pant-like article (1) further includes a rear body panel zone (17) having a reduced elasticity, and the rear body panel zone (17) having a reduced elasticity is disposed between the absorbent core (7) and the rear body panel (4). The elasticity of the rear body panel material in the rear body panel zone (17) having a reduced elasticity is 30% to 70% of the elasticity of the rear body panel material outside the rear body panel zone (17) having a reduced elasticity. Disposable pant-like article (1) according to claim 2.

4. The elastically stretchable front body panel material and / or the elastically stretchable rear body panel material includes or is composed of an elastic laminate, and the elastic laminate includes at least a first layer of a non-woven fabric material and an elastic layer. Disposable pant-like article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The first layer of the non-woven fabric material is a non-elastic layer. Disposable pant-like article (1) according to claim 4. Claim 6 The disposable pant-type article (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the elastic laminate includes a second layer of nonwoven material, and the elastic layer is an intermediate elastic layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer of nonwoven material. Claim 7 The disposable pant-type article (1) according to claim 6, wherein the second layer of nonwoven material is a non-elastic layer. Claim 8 The disposable pant-type article (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the elastic layer includes or consists of a layer of elastic film. Claim 9 The disposable pant-type article (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the elastic layer includes or consists of a layer of elastic nonwoven material. Claim 10 The disposable pant-type article (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein at least two layers of the elastic laminate are joined together by a plurality of discrete bonding elements (27). Claim 11 The disposable pant-type article (1) according to claim 10, wherein the total bonding area of the discrete bonding elements (27) is in the range of 4% to 13%. Claim 12 The disposable pant-type article (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the bonding elements (27) are arranged in a regular bonding pattern that is visible to the naked eye on the outer surface of the elastically stretchable front body panel (3) and / or the elastically stretchable rear body panel (4), which includes being visible to the naked eye on the outer surface of the elastically stretchable body panel in the body panel zones (16, 17). Claim 13 The disposable pant-type article (1) according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the elastically stretchable front body panel (3) and / or the elastically stretchable rear body panel (4) includes or consists of an elastic nonwoven material. Claim 14 The elastically stretchable front body panel (3) is formed from a continuous front body panel web (101) extending in a transverse direction across the width of the pant-like article (1) between the first front panel side edge (32) and the second front panel side edge (33), and / or the elastically stretchable rear body panel (4) is formed from a continuous rear body panel web (108) extending in a transverse direction across the width of the pant-like article (1) between the first rear panel side edge (42) and the second rear panel side edge (43). The disposable pant-like article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The crotch region (5) comprises a non-elastic crotch web material such as a non-elastic non-woven web. The disposable pant-like article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The at least one body panel zone (16, 17) having reduced elasticity has a shape with a smaller extension in the transverse direction adjacent to the waist opening (12) rather than adjacent to the crotch region (5) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the disposable pant-like article. The disposable pant-like article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. The body panel zone having reduced elasticity has a triangular shape or a trapezoidal shape. The disposable pant-like article (1) according to claim 16.

18. The absorbent core (7) forms part of an absorbent assembly (6). The absorbent assembly (6) includes the absorbent core (7), a liquid-permeable topsheet (8), and a liquid-impermeable backsheet (9). The absorbent core (7) is sandwiched between the liquid-permeable topsheet (8) and the liquid-impermeable backsheet (9). The disposable pant-like article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. The disposable pant-like article includes an elastic waist feature (50). The disposable pant-like article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. The elastic waist feature (50) includes one or more elastic elements. The disposable pant-like article (1) according to claim 19.

21. The disposable pant-type article (1) according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the elastic waist feature (50) is a component of the disposable pant-type article (1) that is different from the body panel material of the front body panel (3) and the rear body panel (4).

22. A method of producing a disposable pant-type article, the method comprising: - feeding a tensioned elastic web material (200) continuously in the machine direction, the elastic web material (200) having a first side edge (201) and a second side edge (202); - subjecting a portion of the elastic web material (200) to a heat treatment to create zones (205; 205', 205") having reduced elasticity in the elastic web material (200), the zones (205; 205', 205") having reduced elasticity being spaced apart in the machine direction (MD) and having an elasticity that is 30% to 70% of the elasticity in parts of the elastic web material (200) that have not received the heat treatment for reducing elasticity; - forming at least a first body panel web (101) from the elastic web material (200) as part of a composite web of interconnected precursor articles (130), the composite web of the precursor articles (130) having a first waist edge (102) and a second waist edge (109), the tensioned first body panel web (101) including at least a portion (116, 117) of each of the spaced-apart zones (205) having reduced elasticity; - arranging the tensioned first body panel web (101) alongside a tensioned elastic second body panel web (108) in the composite web of interconnected precursor articles (130), there being a distance (115) between the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108) in the cross-machine direction (CD). - applying an absorbent assembly (160) intermittently to the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108), wherein the absorbent assemblies (160) are applied spaced apart in the machine direction (MD), and a first end part (161') of each absorbent assembly (160) overlaps a zone of reduced elasticity (116) in the tensioned first body panel web (101), and a second end part (161") of the absorbent assembly (160) is attached in an overlapping state to a part of the tensioned second body panel web (108); - folding the composite web of the precursor article (130) along a folding line (Lv) extending in the machine direction (MD) and aligning a first waist edge (102) of the composite web of the precursor article (130) with a second waist edge (109) of the composite web of the precursor article (130); - forming first and second side seams (181, 182) in each precursor article (131a, 131b, 131c), wherein the side seams (181, 182) join the tensioned first body panel web (101) to the tensioned second body panel web (108) and are formed in the cross-machine direction (CD) along a dividing line (Ld) between the precursor articles (131a, 131b, 131c); - cutting individual pant-shaped articles from the composite web of the precursor article (130); A method comprising the steps of: **Claim 23** The method according to claim 22, wherein the elastic web material (200) is formed by bonding at least a first layer of nonwoven material to an elastic layer, and the bonding is effected by a plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a bonding pattern. **Claim 24** The method further comprises: - feeding a continuous inelastic crotch web (118) in the machine direction (MD); - Attaching the inelastic crotch web (118) to the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108), thereby bridging the distance (115) between the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108), wherein the inelastic continuous crotch web (118) is attached to the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108) after arranging the tensioned first body panel web (101) alongside the tensioned elastic second body panel web (108), and before applying the absorbent assembly (160) to the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108). - Forming leg cuts (170) in the composite web of the interconnected precursor articles (130), each leg cut (170) having a closed loop configuration and forming a first leg edge (171) of the leading precursor article (131a) and a second leg edge (172) of the trailing precursor article (131b). The method according to claim 22 or 23, further comprising. **Claim 25** The method comprises - Providing a pair of crotch elastic members (141, 142), the pair of crotch elastic members being composed of a first crotch elastic member (141) and a second crotch elastic member (142). - Stretching each crotch elastic member (141, 142) in the longitudinal direction (Le) of the crotch elastic member (141, 142) and aligning the longitudinal direction (Le) of the crotch elastic member (141, 142) with the cross-machine direction (CD). - While maintaining the crotch elastic member (118) in a stretched state and aligned with the cross-machine direction (CD), attaching each stretched crotch elastic member (141, 142) to the crotch web (118), wherein the first crotch elastic member (141) is spaced apart from the second crotch elastic member (142) by the crotch interval (Sc) in the machine direction (MD), and a pair of crotch elastic members (141, 142) of the leading precursor article (131a) is spaced apart from a pair of crotch elastic members (141, 142) of the trailing precursor article (131b) by the article interval in the machine direction (MD), and the article interval depends on the pitch length (Lp) of the precursor articles (131a, 131b, 131c) in the composite web of the interconnected precursor articles (130). Step and The method according to claim 24, further comprising.

26. The method is - By forming a cut (210) in the elastic web material along a dividing line (L1) extending in the machine direction (MD), dividing the tensioned heat-treated elastic web material (200) into two parts, thereby forming from the heat-treated elastic web material (200) the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108), wherein the tensioned first body panel web (101) has a first side edge (101') constituted by the first side edge (201) of the elastic web material (200) and a second side edge (101") formed by the cut (210) in the elastic web material (200), and the tensioned second body panel web (108) has a first side edge (108') constituted by the second side edge (202) of the elastic web material and a second side edge (108") formed by the cut (210) in the elastic web material (200). Step The method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, further comprising.

27. The step of arranging the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108) side by side at a distance (115) from each other in the cross-machine direction (CD) includes shifting the positions of the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108) in the cross-machine direction, whereby the second side edge (101”) of the tensioned first body panel web (101) forms the first waist edge (102) of the composite web of the precursor article (130), and the second side edge (108”) of the tensioned second body panel web (108) forms the second waist edge (109) of the composite web of the precursor article (130), the method according to claim 26.

28. The waist elastomer (215) is applied and attached to the elastomeric web material (200) along the dividing line (L1) in the elastomeric web material before forming the cut (210) in the elastomeric web material, and then the cut (210) is formed through the elastomeric web material and through the waist elastomer (215), the method according to claim 27.

29. The zones (205; 205’, 205”) having reduced elasticity formed in the elastomeric web material (200) are each divided by the cut (210) in the elastomeric web material (200) into a first part (116) and a second part (117), and the first part (116) of each zone (205; 205’, 205”) having reduced elasticity is positioned in the tensioned first body panel web (101), and the second part (117) of each zone (205) having reduced elasticity is positioned in the tensioned second body panel web (108), the method according to any one of claims 26 to 28.

30. The zone (205) having the reduced elasticity formed in the elastic web material (200) has a shape including a first end portion (205'), a second end portion (205"), and an intermediate portion (205''') between the first end portion (205') and the second end portion (205"), as seen in the cross-machine direction (CD). The first end portion (205') and the second end portion (205") have a width in the machine direction (MD) that is greater than the width in the machine direction (MD) of the intermediate portion (205'''). The cut (210) in the elastic web material (200) divides each zone (205) having the reduced elasticity at the intermediate portion (205''') of the zone (205) having the reduced elasticity. The method according to claim 27.

31. The step of arranging the tensioned first body panel web (101) and the tensioned second body panel web (108) side by side at a distance (115) from each other in the cross-machine direction (CD) includes pulling the tensioned first body panel web (101) away from the tensioned second body panel web (108) in the cross-machine direction, whereby the first side edge of the tensioned first body panel web (101) forms the first waist edge (102) of the composite web of the precursor article (130), and the first side edge of the tensioned second body panel web (108) forms the second waist edge (109) of the composite web of the precursor article (130). The method according to claim 26.

32. The waist elastomer is applied along the first and second side edges of the elastic web material (200) before or after forming the cut (210) in the elastic web material (200). The method according to claim 31.

33. The zone having the reduced elasticity formed in the elastic web material (200) has a shape including a first end portion (205'), a second end portion (205"), and an intermediate portion (205''') between the first end portion (205') and the second end portion (205"), as seen in the cross-machine direction (CD). The first end portion (205') and the second end portion (205") have a width in the machine direction (MD) that is smaller than the width in the machine direction (MD) of the intermediate portion (205'''). The cut (210) in the elastic web material (200) divides each zone (205) having the reduced elasticity in the intermediate portion (205''') of the zone (205) having the reduced elasticity. The method according to claim 31 or 32.

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