Three-piece disposable undergarment with stretchable crotch member

Abstract

A disposable undergarment includes a front body panel having a pair of opposite first side edges, a first terminal edge and a first cut edge spaced from the first terminal edge and defining a first wave pattern and a rear body panel having a pair of opposite second side edges, a second terminal edge and a second cut edge spaced from the second terminal edge and defining a second wave pattern. A crotch member includes at least one stretchable component having an elastic material connected to the front and rear body panels and stretchable in at least one direction. A first maximum rise of the front body panel is aligned with and spaced apart from a second maximum rise of the rear body panel in a non-overlapping relationship. The crotch member is aligned with and overlaps the first and second maximum rises of the front and rear body panels respectively.

1 . A disposable undergarment comprising: 
 a front body panel comprising a pair of opposite first side edges, a first terminal edge and a first cut edge spaced from said first terminal edge and defining a first wave pattern, said first wave pattern further defining a first maximum rise and a first minimum rise of said front body panel along a first direction, wherein said first maximum rise is greater than said first minimum rise such that said first cut edge further defines a first amplitude of said first wave pattern, and wherein said opposite first side edges are spaced along a second direction, said second direction being substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said opposite first side edges defining a first pitch of said first wave pattern, and wherein said front body panel is stretchable in at least said second direction;    a rear body panel comprising a pair of opposite second side edges, a second terminal edge and a second cut edge spaced from said second terminal edge and defining a second wave pattern, said second wave pattern further defining a second maximum rise and a second minimum rise along said first direction, wherein said second maximum rise of said rear body panel is greater than said second minimum rise such that said second cut edge defines a second amplitude of said second wave pattern, and wherein said opposite second side edges are spaced along said second direction, said opposite second side edges defining a second pitch of said second wave pattern, and wherein said rear body panel is stretchable in at least said second direction; and    a crotch member comprising at least one stretchable component comprising an elastic material connected to said front and rear body panels and stretchable in at least said second direction, wherein said first maximum rise of said front body panel is aligned with and spaced apart from said second maximum rise of said rear body panel in a non-overlapping relationship, and wherein said crotch member is aligned with and overlaps said first and second maximum rises of said front and rear body panels respectively.    
     
     
         2 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 1  wherein said first and second wave patterns are substantially the same.  
     
     
         3 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 1  wherein said crotch member comprises a back sheet connected to a top sheet and a retention portion disposed between said back sheet and said top sheet, wherein at least one of said back sheet and said top sheet are stretchable and comprise said elastic material.  
     
     
         4 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 3  wherein each of said front and rear body panels comprise one or more elastic elements disposed adjacent said first and second terminal edges and said first and second cut edges.  
     
     
         5 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 3  wherein said back sheet is stretchable and comprises said elastic material.  
     
     
         6 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 5  wherein said back sheet comprises a laminate comprising a non-woven material and said elastic material.  
     
     
         7 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 1  wherein said front and rear body panels are extensible in said first direction.  
     
     
         8 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 1  wherein said crotch member is connected to a garment side surface of each of said front and rear body panels.  
     
     
         9 . A disposable undergarment comprising: 
 a front body panel comprising a pair of opposite first side edges, a first terminal edge and a first cut edge spaced from said first terminal edge and defining a first wave pattern, said first wave pattern further defining a first maximum rise and a first minimum rise of said front body panel along a first direction, wherein said first maximum rise is greater than said first minimum rise such that said first cut edge further defines a first amplitude of said first wave pattern, and wherein said opposite first side edges are spaced along a second direction, said second direction being substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said opposite first side edges defining a first pitch of said first wave pattern;    a rear body panel comprising a pair of opposite second side edges, a second terminal edge and a second cut edge spaced from said second terminal edge and defining a second wave pattern, said second wave pattern further defining a second maximum rise and a second minimum rise along said first direction, wherein said second maximum rise of said rear body panel is greater than said second minimum rise such that said second cut edge defines a second amplitude of said second wave pattern, wherein said second wave pattern and said first wave pattern have substantially the same shape, and wherein said opposite second side edges are spaced along said second direction, said opposite second side edges defining a second pitch of said second wave pattern; and    a crotch member comprising at least one stretchable component comprising an elastic material connected to said front and rear body panels and stretchable in at least said second direction, wherein said first maximum rise of said front body panel is aligned with and spaced apart from said second maximum rise of said rear body panel in a non-overlapping relationship, and wherein said crotch member is aligned with and overlaps said first and second maximum rises of said front and rear body panels respectively.    
     
     
         10 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 9  wherein said crotch member comprises a back sheet connected to a top sheet and a retention portion disposed between said back sheet and said top sheet, wherein at least one of said back sheet and said top sheet are stretchable and comprise said elastic material.  
     
     
         11 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 10  wherein said back sheet is stretchable and comprises said elastic material.  
     
     
         12 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 11  wherein said back sheet comprises a laminate comprising a non-woven material and said elastic material.  
     
     
         13 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 9  wherein each of said front and rear body panels comprise one or more elastic elements disposed adjacent said first and second terminal edges and said first and second cut edges.  
     
     
         14 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 9  wherein said front and rear body panels are extensible in said first direction.  
     
     
         15 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 9  wherein said crotch member is connected to a garment side surface of each of said front and rear body panels.  
     
     
         16 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 9  wherein said front body panel is stretchable in at least said second direction.  
     
     
         17 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 9  wherein said rear body panel is stretchable in at least said second direction.  
     
     
         18 . A disposable undergarment comprising: 
 a front body panel comprising a pair of opposite first side edges, a first terminal edge and a first cut edge spaced from said first terminal edge and defining a first wave pattern, said first wave pattern further defining a first maximum rise and a first minimum rise of said front body panel along a first direction, wherein said first maximum rise is greater than said first minimum rise such that said first cut edge further defines a first amplitude of said first wave pattern, and wherein said opposite first side edges are spaced along a second direction, said second direction being substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said opposite first side edges defining a first pitch of said first wave pattern, and wherein said front body panel is stretchable in at least said second direction;    a rear body panel comprising a pair of opposite second side edges, a second terminal edge and a second cut edge spaced from said second terminal edge and defining a second wave pattern, said second wave pattern further defining a second maximum rise and a second minimum rise along said first direction, wherein said second maximum rise of said rear body panel is greater than said second minimum rise such that said second cut edge defines a second amplitude of said second wave pattern, and wherein said opposite second side edges are spaced along said second direction, said opposite second side edges defining a second pitch of said second wave pattern, and wherein said rear body panel is stretchable in at least said second direction; and    a crotch member comprising at least one stretchable component comprising an elastic material connected to said front and rear body panels and stretchable in at least said second direction, wherein said first maximum rise of said front body panel is aligned with and spaced apart from said second maximum rise of said rear body panel in a non-overlapping relationship, and wherein said crotch member is aligned with and overlaps said first and second maximum rises of said front and rear body panels respectively, wherein said crotch member comprises a back sheet connected to a top sheet and a retention portion disposed between said back sheet and said top sheet, wherein at least one of said back sheet and said top sheet are stretchable and comprise said elastic material, wherein said back sheet is stretchable and comprises said elastic material and wherein said back sheet comprises a laminate comprising a non-woven material and said elastic material.    
     
     
         19 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 18  wherein said first and second wave patterns are substantially the same.  
     
     
         20 . The disposable undergarment of  claim 18  wherein said front and rear body panels are extensible in said first direction.