Refastenable Absorbent Article And A Method Of Applying Thereof

Abstract

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, the absorbent articles can be pulled on and/or off as a pant. This feature is provided by the ear panels which maintain sufficient tension to hold the diaper on the wearer throughout the period of use without harming the wearer's skin, while providing enough stretch to allow the diaper to be pulled up or down over the wearer's hips. The fastening system is refastenable for convenience yet strong enough to maintain the diaper in a fastened configuration without becoming detached if the diaper is pulled on or off the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pant-like disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed therebetween, the pant-like disposable absorbent article comprising:
 a containment assembly comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and a core between the topsheet and the backsheet;   a first elastically extensible flap joined to the containment assembly in the first waist region;   a second elastically extensible joined to the containment assembly in the first waist region;   a third elastically extensible flap joined to the containment assembly in the second waist region;   a fourth elastically extensible flap joined to the containment assembly in the second waist region;   wherein each of the elastically extensible flaps comprise a plurality of elastic strands between a first nonwoven and a second nonwoven;   a mechanical refastenable fastening system, the mechanical refastenable fastening system comprising:
 a first engaging component present on the first elastically extensible flap; 
 a second engaging component present on the second elastically extensible flap; 
 a first landing component; 
 a second landing component; 
 wherein the third elastically extensible flap comprises the first landing component; 
 wherein the fourth elastically extensible flap comprises the second landing component; and 
 wherein the first engaging component is releasably joined to the first landing component and the second engaging component is releasably joined to the second landing component such that the pant-like disposable absorbent article comprises leg openings and a waist opening and is in a refastenable pull-on configuration; 
   wherein the first engaging component is present on a garment facing surface of the first elastically extensible flap;   wherein the second engaging component is present on a garment facing surface of the second elastically extensible flap;   wherein a body facing surface of the third elastically extensible flap comprises the first landing component; and   wherein a body facing surface of the fourth elastically extensible flap comprises the second landing component.   
     
     
         2 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging component is joined to an elastically extensible portion of the first elastically extensible flap, and wherein the second engaging component is joined to an elastically extensible portion of the second elastically extensible flap. 
     
     
         3 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the elastically extensible first, second, third, and fourth flaps are discrete from the containment assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second engaging components are discrete from the first and second elastically extensible flaps, respectively, and wherein the first and second engaging components comprise a base and a plurality of engaging elements extending from the base. 
     
     
         5 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first waist region forms a front waist region of the pant-like disposable absorbent article and wherein the second waist region forms a back waist region of the pant-like disposable absorbent article. 
     
     
         6 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth elastically extensible flaps comprise an elastomeric scrim comprising the plurality of elastic strands. 
     
     
         7 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging component is attached to an intermediate member. 
     
     
         8 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 7 , wherein the intermediate member is a tape tab. 
     
     
         9 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second engaging components are joined to the first and second elastically extensible flaps, respectively, by an adhesive, a mechanical bond, a heat bond, a pressure bond, an ultrasound bond, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein a waist hoop circumference of the pant-like disposable absorbent article, before being pulled onto a wearer, is smaller than a smallest waist circumference of a size range of the pant-like disposable article, when the pant-like disposable absorbent article is in a relaxed state. 
     
     
         11 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the backsheet is breathable so as to permit vapors to escape from the core while still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet. 
     
     
         12 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the backsheet comprises a thermoplastic film joined with a nonwoven covering. 
     
     
         13 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second elastically extensible flaps each further comprise a woven web, a nonwoven web, a film, a foam, a laminate material, a film laminate, a nonwoven laminate, a zero strain laminate, a formed film, an elastomer, a composite, a structural elastic like-film web, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth elastically extensible flaps each further comprise a structural elastic-like film web, a natural rubber, a natural rubber foam, an elastomeric scrim, a woven elastomeric web, a non-woven elastomeric web, an elastomeric composite, a laminate comprising a formed film, an elastomeric nonwoven laminate, a zero strain stretch laminate, a prestrained stretch laminate, an elastomeric film, a styrene block copolymer, a synthetic foam, a crosslinked natural rubber foam, a polyurethane foam, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric strands are oriented in a machine direction. 
     
     
         16 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the topsheet, a portion of the backsheet and a portion of the first flap overlap to form a high bond zone, and wherein the high bond zone comprises a mechanical bond. 
     
     
         17 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the size range of the pant-like disposable absorbent article is from about 280 mm to about 360 mm, and wherein the hoop circumference is less than about 280 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a waist feature formed by a separate element, wherein the separate element is joined to the body facing surface of the pant-like disposable absorbent article. 
     
     
         19 . The pant-like disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a waist feature formed integrally with other elements of the pant-like disposable absorbent article and forms a portion of the body facing surface of the pant-like disposable absorbent article. 
     
     
         20 . A pant-like disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed therebetween, the pant-like disposable absorbent article comprising:
 a containment assembly comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and a core between the topsheet and the backsheet;   a first elastically extensible flap joined to the containment assembly in the first waist region;   a second elastically extensible joined to the containment assembly in the first waist region;   a third elastically extensible flap joined to the containment assembly in the second waist region;   a fourth elastically extensible flap joined to the containment assembly in the second waist region;   wherein each of the elastically extensible flaps comprise a plurality of elastic strands between a first nonwoven and a second nonwoven;   a mechanical refastenable fastening system, the mechanical refastenable fastening system comprising:
 a first engaging component present on the first elastically extensible flap; 
 a second engaging component present on the second elastically extensible flap; 
 a first landing component; 
 a second landing component; 
 wherein the third elastically extensible flap comprises the first landing component; 
 wherein the fourth elastically extensible flap comprises the second landing component; and 
 wherein the first engaging component is releasably joined to the first landing component and the second engaging component is releasably joined to the second landing component such that the pant-like disposable absorbent article comprises leg openings and a waist opening and is in a refastenable pull-on configuration; 
   wherein a body facing surface of the first elastically extensible flap comprises the first landing component;   wherein a body facing surface of the second elastically extensible flap comprises the second landing component;   wherein the first engaging component is present on a garment facing surface of the third elastically extensible flap; and   wherein the second engaging component is present on a garment facing surface of the fourth elastically extensible flap.