Method of manufacturing a pants-type diaper of a sanitary panty, and one such absorbent article

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, and an absorbent article, in the form of a pants-type diaper or a sanitary panty, starting from a flat blank which includes an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body on both sides thereof. The method includes the step of folding the blank around a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge. At least one folded band of flexible material is placed between each pair of front and rear side parts which lie opposite one another in the folded state of the blank, and the free ends of the bands are fastened to adjacent side parts.

1. A method of manufacturing a pants-type diaper or a sanitary panty, starting from a flat blank which includes an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body on both sides thereof, said method comprising the step of folding the blank around a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge, characterized by placing at least one folded band of flexible material between each pair of front and rear side parts which oppose one another in the folded state of the blank, so that the free ends of the bands situated between the pairs of opposing side parts are turned against each other, and by fastening the free ends of said bands to adjacent side parts to form the pant-type diaper or sanitary panty. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising placing the folded bands and fastening said bands to the front or the rear side parts prior to folding the blank. 
     
     
       3. A method of manufacturing a pants-type diaper or a sanitary panty, starting from a flat blank which comprises an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body and on opposite sides thereof, wherein one of the casing sheets comprises a liquid-permeable inner layer and the other of the casing sheets comprises a liquid-impermeable outer layer, wherein the blank is folded about a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge, characterized by folding at least one band of flexible material about each pair of front and rear side parts which oppose one another in the folded state of the blank, and by fastening the free ends of the folded bands directly to a surface of the adjacent side parts on the liquid-permeable inner layer which faces the wearer and is adapted to directly contact the wearer during use to form the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising folding the bands in a bellows-like fashion prior to their attachment to the side parts. 
     
     
       5. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond all portions of said body on both sides thereof, one casing sheet and the side parts thereof having the same lateral dimensions as the other casing sheet and the side parts thereof, and a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on the front end part being the same as a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on the rear end part,  
 the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, 
 wherein a separate piece of material, that is separate from the front and rear side parts by not being integral with the front and rear side parts, extends between each pari pair of the opposing front and rear side pars parts and forms a joint between these side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that surfaces of the front and rear side parts which face a wearer during use of the assembly are directly attached to a same side of the separate piece of material and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn, and the separate piece of material is formed of only non-elastic material. 
 
     
     
       6. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 5 , wherein the pieces of material joining the side parts are essentially non-elastic. 
     
     
       7. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 5 , wherein the separate pieces of material are joined to the inner surfaces of the side parts. 
     
     
       8. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 5 , wherein the separate pieces of material are joined to the outer surfaces of the side parts. 
     
     
       9. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 5 , wherein each separate piece of material is joined to the inner surface of one of the front or rear side parts and to the outer surface of the other front or rear side part. 
     
     
       10. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 5 , wherein the separate pieces of material are comprised of two separate parts which are mutually joined together by a releasable and refastenable fastener means. 
     
     
       11. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 10 , wherein the fastener means comprises a row of press studs. 
     
     
       12. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 10 , wherein the fastener means is comprised of projections which project from one of the separate parts of said piece and which pass through openings in the other of the separate parts of said piece. 
     
     
       13. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 10 , wherein the fastener means is comprised of mutually coacting hooks and eyes. 
     
     
       14. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 10 , wherein the fastener means is comprised of adhesive coatings. 
     
     
       15. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 10 , wherein the fastener means is comprised of a self-fastening or hook and loop band. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method comprises a method for continuous manufacturing of absorbent articles in the form of pants-type diapers or sanitary panties. 
     
     
       17. The pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to  claim 5 , wherein the pieces of material include bands placed between each pair of front and rear side parts so that end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge. 
     
     
       18. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets, the casing sheets having an area of reduced lateral width at a central portion along the length of the casing sheets to form leg openings, and at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body, the casing sheets have side parts which extend laterally beyond said body and the leg openings on both sides thereof, the side parts having lateral edges extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the casing sheets, one casing sheet and the side parts thereof having the same lateral dimensions as the other casing sheet and the side parts thereof, and a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on the front end part being the same as a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on rear end part;   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty,   wherein only a single separate piece of material, separate from the front and rear side parts, extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and is directly connected to the side parts to form a joint between the side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that said joint lies in a plane which is adjacent to and parallel with the opposing front and rear side parts and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn,   wherein each of the pairs of the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together by the respective single separate piece of material and the front and rear side parts are spaced apart by a predetermined distance such that the front and rear side parts do not overlap one another in the circumferential direction.    
     
     
       19. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond said body on both sides thereof, both casing sheets having a longitudinal length and a lateral width, the lateral width being the greatest at each longitudinal end of the casing sheets;   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty,   wherein only a single separate piece of material, separate from the front and rear side parts, extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and is directly connected to the side parts to form a joint between the side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that outside surfaces of the front and rear side parts are attached directly to a same side of the separate piece of material and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn,   wherein each of the pairs of the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together by the respective single separate piece of material and the front and rear side parts are not directly joined to one another and do not overlap one another when the article is worn, and the single separate piece of material is formed of only non-elastic material so that the material extending between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts is non-elastic.    
     
     
       20. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond said body on both sides thereof, one casing sheet and the side parts thereof having the same lateral dimensions as the other casing sheet and the side parts thereof, and a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on the front end part being the same as a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on rear end part,   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, wherein only a separate piece of material, that is separate from the front and rear side parts by not being integral with the front and rear side parts, extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and forms a joint between these side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that the front and rear side parts are directly attached to a same side of the separate piece of material and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn, and the separate piece of material is folded when the opposing front and rear side parts lie parallel to each other;   the front and rear side parts are spaced from each other to thereby define a predetermined distance between the front and rear side parts as measured along a circumferential direction of the circumferential waist; and   the separate piece of material is formed of only non-elastic material and the separate piece of material is non-elastic so that the predetermined distance remains constant when the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty is worn.    
     
     
       21. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond said body on both sides thereof,   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, wherein only a separate piece of material, that is separate from the front and rear side parts by not being integral with the front and rear side parts and which extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and forms a joint between these side parts, such that the side parts are not directly joined to each other and do not overlap one another when the article is worn, and such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that outside surfaces of the front and rear side parts are directly attached to a same side of the separate piece of material and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn, and the separate piece of material is formed of only non-elastic material so that the material extending between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts is non-elastic.    
     
     
       22. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond said body on both sides thereof, one casing sheet and the side parts thereof having the same lateral dimensions as the other casing sheet and the side parts thereof, and a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on the front end part being the same as a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on rear end part,   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, wherein only a separate piece of material, that is separate from the front and rear side parts by not being integral with the front and rear side parts and which extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and forms a joint between these side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that the front and rear side parts are directly attached to a same side of the separate piece of material and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces and the front and rear side parts are non-overlapping in the circumferential direction when the article is worn, the separate piece of material made up of only non-elastic material so that the material extending between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts is non-elastic.    
     
     
       23. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond all portions of said body on both sides thereof, one casing sheet and the side parts thereof having the same lateral dimensions as the other casing sheet and the side parts thereof, and a lateral distance between longitudinal edges of the side parts on the front end part being the same as a lateral distance between longitudinal edges of the side parts on rear end part,   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, wherein a separate piece of material, that is separate from the front and rear side parts by not being integral with the front and rear side parts extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and a joint is formed between each of these side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that the front and rear side parts are directly attached to a side of the separate piece of material that faces away from a wearer during use and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn, wherein the joint is a mechanical joint of a self-fastening type.    
     
     
       24. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond said body on both sides thereof, one casing sheet and the side parts thereof having the same lateral dimensions as the other casing sheet and the side parts thereof, and both casing sheets having a longitudinal length and a lateral width, the lateral width being the greatest at each longitudinal end of the casing sheets;   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, wherein a separate piece of material, that is separate from the front and rear side parts by not being integral with the front and rear side parts, extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and forms a joint between these side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that the front and rear side parts are directly attached to a same side of the separate piece of material, the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn and the front and rear side parts are spaced from each other to thereby define a predetermined distance between the front and rear side parts as measured along a circumferential direction of the circumferential waist, the separate piece of material is formed of only non-elastic material so that the material extending between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts is non-elastic.    
     
     
       25. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to claim 24, wherein outside surfaces of the front and rear side parts are attached to a same side of the separate piece of material.  
     
     
       26. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty according to claim 24, wherein inside surfaces of the front and rear side parts are attached to a same side of the separate piece of material.  
     
     
       27. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond said body on both sides thereof, one casing sheet and the side parts thereof having the same lateral dimensions as the other casing sheet and the side parts thereof,   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty,   wherein a separate piece of material, that is separate from the front and rear side parts by not being integral with the front and rear side parts, extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and forms a joint between the side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts,   wherein said separate piece of material lies in said plane such that the front and rear side parts are directly attached to a same side of the separate piece of material and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn, and   wherein the separate piece of material joining the front and rear side parts includes two parts formed of the same material, each part of the two parts having two ends, a first end of one part is positioned adjacent to a first end of the other part, and the first ends joined to each other by a mechanical fastener of a self-fastening type, and second opposite ends of each part are joined to a respective front or rear side part.    
     
     
       28. A pants-type diaper or sanitary panty, comprising:
 an elongated absorbent body enclosed between two casing sheets which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond all portions of said body on both sides thereof, one casing sheet and the side parts thereof having the same lateral dimensions as the other casing sheet and the side parts thereof, and a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on the front end part being the same as a lateral distance across longitudinal edges of the side parts on rear end part,   the opposing front and rear side parts are joined together during manufacture to form a circumferential waist opening and two predefined leg openings of the pants-type diaper or sanitary panty,   wherein a separate piece of material, that is separate from the front and rear side parts by not being integral with the front and rear side parts, extends between each pair of the opposing front and rear side parts and forms a joint between these side parts such that said joint lies in a plane which is the same plane as the opposing front and rear side parts so that surfaces of the front and rear side parts which face a wearer during use of the assembly are directly attached to a same side of the separate piece of material and the joint will be subjected essentially to shear forces when the article is worn, and   wherein the separate pieces of material are each comprised of two separate parts which are mutually joined together by a releasable and refastenable fastener means.