Absorbent article with improved fastening system

Abstract

An article to be worn about a wearer including an fastening system joined to the article including a receiving member having at least a first receiving fastening element and a second receiving fastening element. The first receiving fastening element is disposed on a flap having a proximal portion joined to the article and a distal portion extending from the proximal portion. The second receiving fastening element is disposed so as to be generally in face to face relationship with the first receiving fastening element when the receiving member is in a closed configuration. An engaging member includes at least a first engaging fastening element and a second engaging fastening element. The first engaging fastening element is engageable with at least the first receiving fastening element and the second engaging fastening element is engageable with at least the second receiving fastening element. The fastening system may be unbalanced; the second flap may be substantially unjoined to the article; the receiving member may have a hinge oriented substantially parallel to a primary direction of load bearing; and/or the fastening system may have a peel resistance in a direction other than the primary direction of load bearing greater than or equal to about 1000 grams.

1 . An article to be worn about a wearer comprising: 
 an unbalanced fastening system joined to the article including 
 a receiving member having at least a first receiving fastening element and a second receiving fastening element, the first receiving fastening element being disposed on a flap having a proximal portion joined to the article and a distal portion extending from the proximal portion, the second receiving fastening element being disposed so as to be generally in face to face relationship with the first receiving fastening element when the receiving member is in a closed configuration; and  
 an engaging member having at least a first engaging fastening element and a second engaging fastening element disposed thereon, the first engaging fastening element being engageable with at least the first receiving fastening element and the second engaging fastening element being engageable with at least the second receiving fastening element,  
 wherein said unbalanced fastening system is characterized in that a first connection between said first receiving fastening element of said receiving member and said first engaging fastening element of said engaging member in a closed configuration has at least some performance difference versus that of a second connection between said second receiving fastening element of said receiving member and said second engaging fastening element of said engaging member in a closed configuration.  
   
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first receiving fastening element is a different type of fastener from the second receiving fastening element.  
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first receiving fastening element includes hooks and the first engaging fastening element includes loops.  
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first receiving fastening element includes loops and the first engaging fastening element includes hooks.  
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first receiving fastening element includes hooks and the first engaging fastening element includes hooks.  
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening system is unbalanced in one or more of the group of: performance characteristics of one or more fastening element, technology type of one or more fastening element, size, shape and location.  
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the flap includes a hinge.  
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flap is selected from one or more of the group of: extensible and elastomeric.  
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a second flap having a second proximal portion joined to the article and a second distal portion extending from the second proximal portion, the second receiving fastening element being disposed on the second flap so as to be generally in a face to face relationship with the first receiving fastening element when the receiving member is in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the flap and the second flap extend outward from an edge of the article.  
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the second flap is made from a portion of one or more of the group selected from: a topsheet and a backsheet.  
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the flap and the second flap include a hinge.  
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge of the second flap is oriented in a different direction relative to the hinge of the flap.  
   
   
       14 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the hinge may be oriented in a direction selected from one of the group of: substantially perpendicular to a primary direction of load bearing, substantially parallel to a primary direction of load bearing or at an angle between substantially perpendicular to and substantially parallel to a primary direction of load bearing.  
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is an absorbent article and the flap is made from a portion of one or more of the group selected from: a topsheet and a backsheet.  
   
   
       16 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is joined to a belt of the article.  
   
   
       17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first receiving fastening element and the second receiving fastening elements are laterally offset.  
   
   
       18 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first receiving fastening element and the second receiving fastening elements are longitudinally offset.  
   
   
       19 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening system includes a secondary fastener member.  
   
   
       20 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the secondary fastener member includes one or more from the group selected from: a tab and slot fastener, an interlocking projection and receptacle fastener, a snap, a hook, a loop, an adhesive, a cohesive, a magnet and a buckle.  
   
   
       21 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the flap is joined to the article in an open configuration prior to use.  
   
   
       22 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is held in an open configuration on the article prior to use via one or more of the group selected from: a perforation, score, bond and slit.  
   
   
       23 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is one or more of the group selected from: an absorbent article, a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin and a body wrap.  
   
   
       24 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging member is at least partially extensible or elastic.  
   
   
       25 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein a closure member major axis of at least one of the fastening elements is oriented at an angle to a primary direction of load bearing.  
   
   
       26 . The article of  claim 25 , wherein the fastening element is a hook.  
   
   
       27 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening system of the article is pre-fastened.  
   
   
       28 . An article to be worn about a wearer comprising: 
 a fastening system joined to the article including 
 a receiving member having at least a first receiving fastening element and a second receiving fastening element, the first receiving fastening element being disposed on a flap having a proximal portion joined to the article and a distal portion extending from the proximal portion, the flap being substantially unjoined to the article, the second receiving fastening element being disposed on a second flap so as to be generally in face to face relationship with the first receiving fastening element when the receiving member is in a closed configuration, the second flap being substantially unjoined to the article; and  
 an engaging member having at least a first engaging fastening element and a second engaging fastening element disposed thereon, the first engaging fastening element being engageable with at least the first receiving fastening element and the second engaging fastening element being engageable with at least the second receiving fastening element.  
   
   
   
       29 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the flap and the second flap extend outward from a longitudinal edge of the article.  
   
   
       30 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein a substantial portion of the second flap is free to lift away from the article.  
   
   
       31 . The article of  claim 30 , wherein the distal edge of the second flap is substantially unjoined to the article.  
   
   
       32 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the fastening system is unbalanced in one or more of the group of: performance characteristics of one or more fastening element, technology type of one or more fastening element, size shape and location.  
   
   
       33 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein at least one fastening element is oriented at an angle relative to the a primary direction of load bearing.  
   
   
       34 . The article of  claim 33 , wherein the fastening element is a hook.  
   
   
       35 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the receiving member is one or more of the group of: extensible and elastomeric.  
   
   
       36 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the engaging member is one or more of the group of: extensible and elastomeric.  
   
   
       37 . An absorbent article to be worn about a wearer comprising: 
 an unbalanced fastening system joined to the article including 
 a receiving member having at least a first receiving fastening element and a second receiving fastening element, the first receiving fastening element being disposed on a flap having a proximal portion joined to the article and a distal portion extending from the proximal portion, the second receiving fastening element being disposed so as to be generally in face to face relationship with the first receiving fastening element when the receiving member is in a closed configuration, the receiving member having a hinge oriented substantially parallel to a primary direction of load bearing; and  
 an engaging member having at least a first engaging fastening element and a second engaging fastening element disposed thereon, the first engaging fastening element being engageable with at least the first receiving fastening element and the second engaging fastening element being engageable with at least the second receiving fastening element,  
 wherein said unbalanced fastening system is characterized in that a first connection between said first receiving fastening element of said receiving member and said first engaging fastening element of said engaging member in a closed configuration has at least some performance difference versus that of a second connection between said second receiving fastening element of said receiving member and said second engaging fastening element of said engaging member in a closed configuration.  
   
   
   
       38 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the performance difference between said first and second connections is as measured by shear force and has an unbalance ratio of at least 1.1.  
   
   
       39 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the performance difference between said first and second connections is as measured by shear force and has an unbalance ratio of at least 1.5.  
   
   
       40 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the performance difference between said first and second connections is as measured by peel force and has an unbalance ratio of at least 1.1.  
   
   
       41 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the performance difference between said first and second connections is as measured by peel force and has an unbalance ratio of at least 1.5.  
   
   
       42 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the performance difference between said first and second connections is as measured by size and has an unbalance ratio of at least 1.1.  
   
   
       43 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the performance difference between said first and second connections is as measured by size and has an unbalance ratio of at least 1.5.