Disposable absorbent article and process for making the same

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article such as a disposable diaper including fastener means by means of which front and rear waist regions are releasably connected with each other improved so that the fastener means are not affected by contraction of elastic members arranged in these waist regions In this absorbent article, a waist region and/or a waist region is or are divided into elasticized intermediate zone provided with elastic means and inelasticized transversely opposite side edge zones provided with none of the elastic means and contiguous to transversely opposite side edges of the intermediate zone. Fastener means are provided in the transversely opposite side edge zones.

1 . A disposable absorbent article comprising: 
 an absorbent chassis having a first waist region;    a second waist region, a crotch region extending between these waist regions;    leg region extending on transversely opposite sides of said crotch region wherein;    of said first and second waist regions, at least said first waist region being provided with first elastic means adapted to operate in a waist-surrounding direction of a wearer;    said leg regions being provided second elastic means adapted to operate in a leg-surrounding direction of the wearer;    said first waist region being provided along transversely opposite side edge portions thereof with fastener means adapted to be releasably engaged one with another and thereby to releasably connect said first and second waist regions; and    said first waist region having an elasticized intermediate zone and inelasticized transversely opposite side edge zones in which said fastener means are attached to said first waist region.    
     
     
         2 . The article as set forth by  claim 1 , wherein said fastener means are attached to said first waist region in said transversely opposite side edge zones through the intermediary of reinforcing layers made of material provided separately of said first waist region.  
     
     
         3 . The article as set forth by  claim 1 , wherein said chassis comprises a flexible and liquid-resistant base sheet having inner and outer surfaces and semirigid absorbent panel fixed to said inner surface.  
     
     
         4 . The article as set forth by  claim 3 , wherein said base sheet comprises a laminate sheet consisting of at least two sheets intermittently bonded together and said first and second elastic means are interposed between said two sheets.  
     
     
         5 . The article as set forth by  claim 1 , wherein said first elastic means are provided substantially over a whole area of said intermediate zone.  
     
     
         6 . The article as set forth by  claim 1 , wherein said first and second elastic means comprise a plurality of thread- or strand-like means having rubber elasticity.  
     
     
         7 . The article as set forth by  claim 1 , wherein said fastener means comprise mechanical fasteners or fasteners formed by adhesive directly or indirectly applied on said chassis in desired regions thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The article as set forth by  claim 1 , wherein said fastener means are continuously or intermittently provided on said first waist region over a range defined between end portions opposed in a vertical direction of said chassis.  
     
     
         9 . The article as set forth by  claim 1 , wherein said first and second elastic means comprise a plurality of elastic members and longitudinally opposite ends of said elastic members are laid in the vicinity of side edges of said fastener means and oriented so as to cross these side edges.  
     
     
         10 . The article as set forth by  claim 1 , wherein said article is an open type diaper or a pull-on type diaper.  
     
     
         11 . A process for making the article as set forth by  claim 1 , comprising the steps of feeding a plurality of continuous elastic members extending in parallel to and spaced from one another, onto a continuous web destined to form individual base sheets constituting said chassis so as to be fixed to a first zone of said web corresponding to said intermediate zone and treating said elastic members lying in second zones of said web corresponding to said transversely opposite side edge zones to be inelasticized.  
     
     
         12 . The process for making the article as set forth by  claim 11 , said step of inelasticizing said elastic members lying in said second zones further includes a step of fixing said elastic members lying in said second zones to said second zone and then cutting said elastic members lying on a boundary line between said second zones adjacent to each other along said boundary line so as to leave said elastic members lying in said second zones contract.  
     
     
         13 . The process for making the article as set forth by  claim 11 , said step of inelasticizing said elastic members lying in said second zones further includes a step of fixing said elastic members lying in said second zones to said second zones and then cutting said elastic members lying in said second zones in such fixed state.  
     
     
         14 . The process for making the article as set forth by claim  11 , said step of inelasticizing said elastic members lying in said second zones includes a step of fixing said elastic members lying in said second zones to said second zones and then forming said second zones with a plurality of slits extending through said base sheet in said second zones.  
     
     
         15 . The process for making the article as set forth by  claim 11 , said step of fixing said elastic members to said second zones is achieved by means of adhesive intermittently applied on said web.