KR102526991B1 - Disposable article with reinforced handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A pant-type absorbent article is disclosed having handles on the side panels of the article for ease of putting on and removing the absorbent garment. The article includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a sash extending longitudinally between the front and back waist regions attached by at least one side panel and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. Formed inside the side panel is at least one handle. The handle includes an aperture formed through the side panel. The handle further includes a stiffener operatively connected to at least one side panel adjacent the distal side edge of the aperture.

Description

Disposable items with reinforced handles {DISPOSABLE ARTICLE WITH REINFORCED HANDLE}

related application

This application is filed on October 31, 2014 and is entitled Disposable Product with Reinforced Handle, US Provisional Application No. U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/073172, an article, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/073296, a disposable article having a handle with an optimal shape and position for the invention, filed on October 31, 2014, which claim priority; The contents of this application are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in a manner consistent with this application.

Many absorbent articles for personal use, such as diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, bandages, medical garments, etc., are separated from the wearer to reduce skin irritation due to prolonged exposure to moisture and contain urine, menstrual secretions, and blood. It is designed to be absorbent enough to attract moisture from liquid body exudates, including the back. Diapers, for example, are typically positioned and secured to the wearer using a primary set of fastening tabs, such as adhesive tabs or mechanical (eg, hook or loop) fastening system tabs, in place to absorb excreta and contain excreta. will be put on

Diapers and other training pants are typically pre-assembled into a wearing configuration that closely resembles conventional pants. In particular, the front and back waist regions of such training pants are typically permanently or re-fastenable (e.g., by means of a primary fastening system) to seams to form a fitting configuration of the panty with waist openings and leg openings. attached Such a design allows for a pull-on, pre-fastened garment that allows for self-application and removal.

Unfortunately, current pull-on pre-fastened garments are not optimized for children's applications. While it is desirable for children of toilet training age to complete tasks independently, they typically lack the dexterity and cognitive ability to successfully don current pull-on pre-fastened garments on their own. As a result, most of the time the caregiver will either put the product on completely, assist the child in the donning process, or readjust the panties after the child has tried unsuccessfully on their own. In addition to gripping difficulties, there are no clues to guide the child as to where to grip the garment. Left alone, children typically try to pull the product by gripping the front or back of the garment. When the garment is pulled at the front, the garment is usually caught below the hips. Holding the product from the back is difficult for children and results in the product not being fully raised from the front. In both cases, readjustment by the caregiver is required.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide an optimized handle for use in an absorbent article having the requisite strength and design that allows a toddler to successfully pull on a garment.

The present disclosure relates to a pant-type absorbent article having handles on the side panels of the article for easy removal and donning of the absorbent garment. In one embodiment, the article includes a liquid pervious inner surface facing the wearer, an outer surface facing away from the wearer, and an absorbent body disposed therebetween. The absorbent article further includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. At least one side panel is attached to the front waist region and the back waist region to form a wearing configuration of an absorbent article having a waist opening and a leg opening spaced apart from the waist opening, wherein at least one side panel extends from the waist opening to the leg opening. extend Formed inside the side panel is at least one handle. The handle includes an aperture formed through the side panel. The handle further includes a stiffener operatively coupled to the at least one side panel adjacent the distal side edge of the aperture at the longitudinal midpoint of the aperture.

In another embodiment, an absorbent article includes a liquid pervious inner surface facing the wearer, an outer surface facing away from the wearer, and an absorbent body disposed therebetween. The absorbent article further includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. The front side panels are attached to the waist region and the back side panels are attached to the back waist region. The front and back side panels can be releasably attached to refastenable seams to form a fitted configuration of an absorbent article having a waist opening and a leg opening spaced apart from the waist opening. Formed inside the side panel is at least one handle. The handle further includes a stiffener operatively coupled to the back panel adjacent the distal side edge of the aperture at the longitudinal midpoint of the aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS When reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, the present invention will be more fully understood and further features will become apparent. The drawings are representative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.
1 is an illustration of one embodiment of a personal wear article in the form of a pair of training pants in an unfastened, unfolded, flat lay condition with handles as described herein, and for training facing away from the wearer; It is a bottom view showing the surface of the panties.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the product of FIG. 1 showing the surface of the training pant facing the wearer when worn, with portions cut away to show underlying features;
Fig. 3 is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the handles on the training pants illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;
4A-4E are partial views of different embodiments of handle shapes and sizes on side panels.

Repeat use of reference characters in the specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention. The drawings are representative and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Certain proportions of the drawings are exaggerated, while others are minimized.

Justice

Those skilled in the art should appreciate that this discussion is only a description of exemplary aspects of the invention and is not intended to limit the broader aspects of the invention.

Within the context of this specification, each term or phrase below shall include the following meaning or meanings.

“Bonded” refers to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered joined together when they are directly bonded to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each element is directly bonded to an intermediate element.

“Connected” refers to the joining, adhering, joining, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered connected together when they are connected directly to one another or indirectly to one another, eg when each element is directly connected to an intermediate element.

"Cross direction" is the width of a fabric in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction in which the fabric is made, as opposed to "machine direction" which refers to the length of the fabric in the direction in which the fabric is made. refers to

"Cross direction assembly" is the opposite of "machine direction assembly" in which products are joined end-to-end or waist-to-waist, moving through a converting machine parallel to the direction of arrow 49. A process in which a disposable absorbent product is fabricated in a direction in which the product is joined side-to-side in the transverse direction shown by arrow 49 in FIGS. 1 and 2, a process using cross-directional assembly involving the product refers to

“Disposable” refers to articles designed to be discarded after a limited use instead of being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse.

"Displaced", "placed in" and their derivatives mean a separate element in which one element may be integral with another element, or one element may be joined to another element, placed with another element, or placed near another element. It is intended to mean that it can be a structure of.

"Elastic", "resilient" and "resilient" refer to the property of a material or composite that tends to recover the material's original size and shape after removal of a deforming force.

"Elastomeric" refers to a material or composite capable of stretching at least 25% of its relaxed length and recovering at least 10% of its stretched length upon release of an applied force. Generally, an elastomeric material or composite is capable of stretching at least 100% of its relaxed length, more preferably at least 300%, and recovers at least 50% of its stretched length upon release of the applied force. desirable.

“Fabric” is used to refer to any woven, knitted and non-woven fibrous web.

“Film” refers to a thermoplastic film made using a film extrusion and/or forming process, such as a cast film or blown film extrusion process. The term includes apertured films, slit films, and other porous films that constitute non-liquid-transmitting films as well as liquid-transmitting films.

“Pliable” refers to a material that is compliant and readily conforms to the approximate shape and contours of the wearer's body.

“Hydrophilic” describes a fiber or surface of a fiber that is wetted by an aqueous liquid in contact with the fiber. Accordingly, the degree of wetting of a material can be described in terms of the contact angle and surface tension of the associated liquid and material. Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring the wettability of particular fiber materials or mixtures of fiber materials may be provided by the Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System or a substantially equivalent system. When measured with this system, fibers having a contact angle of less than 90 are designated as "wettable" or hydrophilic, and fibers having a contact angle of greater than 90 are designated as "non-wettable" or hydrophobic.

"Integral" or "integrally" is used to refer to various parts of a single integrated element instead of separate structures joined together, disposed with or adjacent to each other.

"Layer" when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.

"Liquid impervious", when used to describe a layer or multi-layer laminate, means that the layer or laminate does not allow liquids, such as urine, to pass through it under normal conditions of use in a direction approximately perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminate at the point of contact with the liquid. it means. Liquid or urine may be spread or transported parallel to the plane of the liquid impervious layer or laminate, but this is not considered within the meaning of "liquid impermeable" when used herein.

"Liquid permeable material" or "liquid permeable material" refers to a material present in one or more layers, such as a film, nonwoven fabric, or open-cell foam, that is porous and permeable due to the flow of water and other aqueous liquids through the pores. do. The pores in the film or blowing agent, or the spaces between the fibers or filaments in the nonwoven web, are sufficiently large and numerous to permit seepage and flow of liquid water through the material.

“Longitudinal direction” and “transverse direction” have their conventional meanings as indicated by the longitudinal and transverse axis lines shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The longitudinal axis lies in the plane of the article and is generally parallel to a vertical plane that bisects a standing wearer into a left body half and a right body half when the article is worn. The transverse axis lies in a plane of the article generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The article as illustrated is longer in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction.

"Machine direction" refers to the length of the fabric in the direction in which the fabric is made, as opposed to "cross direction" which refers to the width of the fabric in a direction approximately perpendicular to the machine direction.

"Machine direction assembly" is a process using machine direction assembly involving the product moving through a transforming machine parallel to the direction of arrow 48, as opposed to "cross direction assembly" where products are joined side-to-side. In, refers to a process in which a disposable absorbent product is fabricated in a direction in which the product is joined end-to-end or waist-to-waist in the longitudinal direction shown by arrow 48 in FIGS. 1 and 2 .

"Meltblown fibers" are produced by extruding molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries into a high velocity stream of heated gas (e.g., air) that converges into molten threads or filaments; It refers to a fiber formed by thinning a filament of molten thermoplastic material and reducing its diameter to a microfibre diameter. The meltblown fibers are then carried by a high-velocity gas stream and piled onto a collecting surface to form a randomly dispersed meltblown fiber web. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al. Meltblown fibers are microfibers that can be continuous or discontinuous, are generally less than about 0.6 denier and are generally self-bonding when laminated onto a collecting surface. The meltblown fibers used in this disclosure are preferably substantially continuous in the longitudinal direction.

"Member" when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.

“Nonwoven fabric” or “nonwoven web” refers to materials and webs of materials that are formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knitting process.

"Operably coupled", with respect to the attachment of an elastic member to another element, means that the elastic member provides elastic properties to the element when attached or connected to the element, such as by stretching or being treated with heat or a chemical; , with reference to the attachment of a non-resilient member to another element, it is meant that the member and element may be attached in any suitable manner that permits or enables the coupler to perform its intended or described function. Coupling, attaching, connecting, etc. may be used directly, such as directly coupling a member to an element, or may be used indirectly by another member disposed between the first member and the first element.

"Permanently bonded" refers to the joining, adhering, joining, attaching, or the like, of two elements of an absorbent garment such that the elements tend to bond and remain bonded during normal use of the absorbent garment.

"Polymer" includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers such as block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, and the like, and mixtures and variations thereof. Moreover, unless specifically defined otherwise, the term "polymer" shall include all possible geometrical configurations of the material. Such structures include, but are not limited to, isotonic, alternating, and hybridizable symmetries.

"Refastenable" refers to the property of two elements that allow for releasable attachment, detachment, and subsequent releasable reattachment without substantial permanent deformation or destruction.

"Releasably attached", "releasably coupled", and "derivatives thereof" means that an element tends to remain connected without a separation force applied to one or both of the elements, wherein the element is subject to substantial permanent deformation. or two elements that are or can be connected such that they can be separated without destruction. The separation force required typically exceeds the force encountered while wearing an absorbent garment. It should be noted that releasably attached or releasably joined seams are re-fastenable seams that do not include bonded seams that must be ripped, cut or otherwise ruptured.

"Spunbond" fibers" refers to small-diameter fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine capillaries in a spinnerette having circular or other configurations, followed by extruded filaments. Their diameters are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., US Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., US Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., US Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, and US Pat. 3,502,763, U.S. Patent No. 3,502,538 to Peterson, and U.S. Patent No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It cools when laminated and is generally non-tacky Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and often have an average denier greater than about 0.3, more specifically between about 0.6 and 10.

"Stretchable" means capable of being stretched without breaking to at least 150% of the material's original (unstretched) length in at least one direction, suitably at least 200% of the material's original length, preferably at least 250% of the material's original length. means that

A "superabsorbent" or "superabsorbent material" is capable of absorbing at least about 15 times its weight, more preferably at least about 30 times its weight, under the most favorable conditions, in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride. Refers to water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic substances present in water. Superabsorbent materials can be natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. Additionally, the superabsorbent material may be an inorganic material such as silica gel, or an organic compound such as a crosslinked polymer.

"Surface" includes any layer, film, fabric, nonwoven fabric, laminate, composite, etc., whether permeable or impermeable to air, gas, and/or liquid.

“Thermoplastic” describes a material that softens when exposed to heat and returns to a substantially non-soft state when cooled to room temperature.

These terms may be defined in additional language in the remainder of this specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles, more specifically to personal wear absorbent articles, and even more specifically to pant-like absorbent garments having one or more handles disposed on the side panels of the garment for ease of removal and donning. To facilitate donning, the handle is designed to have sufficient strength to allow the user of the product to pull on the garment without tearing the product. Moreover, when an infant or caregiver grabs the handle to pull the product, the handle is displaced but not broken.

Referring now to the drawings, in particular FIGS. 1 and 2 , an absorbent article for personal wear according to one aspect is in the form of a pant-like article for wear around the waist of a wearer, generally indicated at 20 , in particular for potty training children. It is exemplified in the form of panties. The term absorbent generally refers to articles that may be placed facing or proximate the body of the wearer to absorb and/or retain various liquid waste expelled from the body. Absorbent articles may be disposable, referring to articles intended to be discarded after a limited period of use instead of being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. The concepts described herein can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as well as various other pant-like articles such as adult incontinence articles, as well as apparel, diapers, feminine hygiene products, medical garments, surgical pads and bandages, and other personal care products. or other articles for personal wear, such as health care garments and the like.

By way of example only, various materials and methods for constructing the training pant 20 are disclosed in PCT Patent Application WO 00/37009 to A. Fletcher et al, published Jun. 29, 2000, Van Gompel et al., Jul. 10, 1990. U.S. Patent No. 4,940,464, issued June 16, 1998 to Brandon et al., and U.S. Patent No. 5,766,389, issued Jun. 16, 1998, are incorporated herein by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure.

A pair of training pant 20 is illustrated in FIG. 3 in a fully pre-assembled (i.e., as assembled during initial manufacture) configuration (broadly referred to herein as a panty, i.e., wearing configuration of an absorbent article). . Referring further to Figures 1 and 2, the training pant 20 has a front waist region 22, a back waist region 24, and a length between the front and back regions 22, 24 along the length of the panty. It includes a crotch region 26 extending in a direction and connecting the front and back regions to each other, an inner surface 28 configured in contact with the wearer, and an outer surface 30 opposite the inner surface 28 . The training pant 20 also has a pair of lateral opposed side edges 36 and a pair of longitudinally opposed waist edges each designated as a front waist edge 38 and a back waist edge 39. . A front waist region 22 abuts a front waist edge 38 and a back waist region 24 abuts a back waist edge 39 .

The illustrated panty 20 includes a central absorbent assembly, collectively referred to as 32, which may be rectangular or any other suitable shape when laid flat as in FIGS. 1 and 2. A pair of laterally opposed front side panels 34 extend outwardly from the absorbent assembly 32 at the front waist region 22 (thus forming a transversely outer portion of the front waist region 22; partly forming the transversely opposed sides of the training pant more extensively). Laterally facing back side panels 35 extend outwardly from absorbent assembly 32 at back waist region 24 (thus forming a transversely outer portion of back waist region 24, the front side panels ( 34) to further form the sides of the panties).

The central absorbent assembly 32 of the illustrated aspect comprises an outer cover 40 and a bodyside liner (connected to the outer cover 40 in overlapping relationship by suitable means such as adhesive, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding or other conventional techniques). 42) (FIG. 3). An absorbent structure 44 (FIG. 2) is disposed between the outer cover 40 and the bodyside liner 42. A pair of containment flaps 46 (FIG. 2) are secured to the bodyside liner 42 to contain the lateral flow of body exudates. The central absorbent assembly 32 has opposite ends forming portions of the front and back waist edges 38, 39, and forming portions of the side edges 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the training pant 20. It has opposite side edges (47).

The absorbent assembly 32 and side panels 34 and 35 may include two or more separate elements as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , or they may be integrally formed. The integrally formed side panels 34, 35 and absorbent assembly 32 include at least some common materials, such as bodyside liner 42, flap composite, outer cover 40, other materials, and/or combinations thereof. and may form a single-piece elastic, stretchable, or non-stretch panty 20. For further reference, arrows 48 and 49 in FIGS. 1 and 2 show the orientation of the longitudinal and transverse or lateral axes, respectively, of the training pant 20 .

The front waist region 22 of the training pant 20 is secured by an article fastening system 80 to form a pull-on pant-like configuration of the training pant having a waist opening and two leg openings, indicated at 50. It may optionally be coupled to the back waist region 24 via a pair of refastenable side seams 66 (one side seam shown in a fastened configuration and the other side seam shown in a non-fastened configuration). Article fastening system 80 may be any suitable complementary material including, for example and without limitation, hook and loop fasteners, other types of mechanical fasteners, adhesive fasteners, cohesive fasteners, and combinations thereof. - May include a fastening mechanism that can be fastened. In some suitable embodiments, the fastening components 90 and 92 may be pre-fastened during the manufacturing process of the training pant 20 so that the training pant 20 is supplied to the user in a fastened configuration. 1 illustrates the front and back regions 22, 24 being joined together via a releasable seam 66, the front and back regions are non-releasable bonded seams (eg adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, pressure bonding, by thermal bonding).

In the case of the training pant 20 in a fastened state as illustrated in FIG. 3 , the front and back side panels 34 and 35 are part of the panty 20 having a waist opening 50 and a pair of leg openings. They are first attached to each other or to the article fastening system 80 to form a pre-assembled three-dimensional wearing configuration. The front waist region 22 includes the portion of the training pant 20 that when worn is located at least partially on the front of the wearer, while the back waist region 24 is for training purposes located at least partially on the back of the wearer. Includes part of the panty 20. The crotch region 26 of the training pant 20 includes the portion of the training pant 20 that is located between the wearer's legs and covers the wearer's lower torso.

The front and back side panels 34 and 35 comprise portions of the training pant 20 (and more specifically, the front and back waist regions 22 and 24) that, when worn, are positioned at the wearer's buttocks. Accordingly, the attached side panels 34, 35 are transversely opposed to the pant 20 at the re-fastening seams 66 to which the fastening system 80 releasably attaches the front and back side panels 34, 35. side wide. The waist edges 38, 39 of the training pant 20 are configured to surround the wearer's waist and together form a waist opening 50 (FIG. 3). A portion of the side edges 36 of the crotch region 26 generally form a leg opening. Side panels 34 and 35 preferably have a panel length dimension measured parallel to longitudinal axis 48 along outer edge 68 . Optionally, the panel length dimension of the back side panel 35 is longer than the front side panel 34 .

The central absorbent assembly 32 is configured to contain and/or absorb exudates exuded from the wearer. For example, the containment flaps 46 are configured to provide a barrier to the lateral flow of body exudates. A flap elastic member 53 (FIG. 2) may be operatively engaged with each containment flap 46 in any suitable manner as is well known in the art. The elastic containment flaps 46 form a partially unattached edge that assumes an upright configuration at least in the crotch region 26 of the training pant 20 to form a seal against the body of the wearer. The containment flaps 46 may be located along the side edges 36 of the training pant 20 and may extend longitudinally along the entire length of the absorbent assembly 32, or may only be positioned along the absorbent assembly 32. It can partially extend along the length of. Suitable configurations and arrangements for containment flaps 46 are generally known to those skilled in the art and are described in US Pat. No. 4,704,116 to Enloe, issued Nov. 3, 1987, which is incorporated herein by reference. included by

To further enhance containment and/or absorption of body exudates, training pant 20 includes a front waist elastic member 54 (FIG. 2), a back waist elastic member 56, and Leg elastic members 58 are also suitably included. Waist elastic members 54 and 56 may be attached to outer cover 40 and/or bodyside liner 42 along opposite waist edges 38 and 39 and may extend over some or all of the waist edges. there is. The leg elastics 58 may be attached to the outer cover 40 and/or the bodyside liner 42 along opposite side edges 36 and may be positioned in the crotch region 26 of the training pant 20. A leg elastic member 58 may be longitudinally aligned along each side edge 47 of the absorbent assembly 32 .

The outer cover 40 suitably comprises a substantially liquid impervious material. The outer cover 40 may be a single layer of a liquid impermeable material, but more suitably may include a multi-layer laminate structure in which at least one of the layers is liquid impermeable. The inner layer of outer cover 40 may be liquid and vapor impermeable, or liquid impermeable and vapor permeable.

It is also contemplated that the outer cover 40 may be flexible and more suitably elastic. In particular, the outer cover 40 is suitably flexible and more suitably elastic in at least the transverse or circumferential direction of the pant 20 . In another aspect, the outer cover 40 may be stretchable in both the transverse and longitudinal directions, and more suitably elastic.

A liquid permeable bodyside liner 42 is illustrated as overlying the outer cover 40 and the absorbent structure 44, and may, but need not, have the same dimensions as the outer cover 40. The bodyside liner 42 conforms properly, feels soft, and does not irritate the child's skin. In addition, the bodyside liner 42 is less hydrophilic than the absorbent structure 44, which can provide a relatively dry surface to the wearer, allowing liquids to readily penetrate through its thickness.

Alternatively, the bodyside liner 42 may be more hydrophilic or may have essentially the same moisture affinity as the absorbent structure 44 to provide a relatively wet surface to the wearer to increase wet feeling. This wet feeling can be useful as a training aid. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties can be varied across the length, width and/or depth of the bodyside liner 42 and absorbent structure 44 to achieve a desired moist sensation or leak performance.

The bodyside liner 42 may also be flexible, more suitably elastic. In particular, the bodyside liner 42 may suitably be flexible and more suitably elastic in at least the transverse direction 49 or circumferential direction of the panty 20 . In another aspect, the bodyside liner 42 may be flexible in both the transverse and longitudinal directions 49, 48, and more suitably elastic.

As noted previously, the illustrated training pant 20 has front and back side panels 34 and 35 forming transversely opposed sides of the pant 20 in the pant's 20 wearing configuration. Side panels 34 and 35 may be permanently attached to central absorbent assembly 32 along seams 66 at the front and back waist regions 22 and 24, respectively. More specifically, as seen in FIG. 1 , front side panels 34 can be permanently attached to side edges 47 of absorbent assembly 32 at front waist region 22 and transversely beyond the side edges. The back side panels 35 are permanently affixed to the side edges 47 of the absorbent assembly 32 at the back waist region 24 and extend laterally outward beyond the side edges. can Side panels 34 and 35 may be attached to the absorbent assembly 32 using attachment means known to those skilled in the art, such as adhesive, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, or ultrasonic bonding. Alternatively, side panels 34 and 35 may be formed as integral parts of the components of absorbent assembly 32 . For example, side panels 34 and 35 may include a generally wider portion of outer cover 40 , bodyside liner 42 , and/or other components of absorbent assembly 32 .

The front and back side panels 34, 35 each have an outer edge 68 spaced laterally from seam 66, a leg end edge 70 disposed toward the longitudinal center of the training pant 20, and a training It has a waist end edge 72 disposed toward the longitudinal end of the dragon panty 20. Leg end edge 70 and waist end edge 72 extend from side edge 47 to outer edge 68 of absorbent assembly 32 . Leg end edges 70 of side panels 34 and 35 form part of side edge 36 of training pant 20 . The leg end edge 70 of the illustrated aspect may be suitably curved and/or beveled about the transverse axis 49 to provide a better fit around the wearer's leg. However, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, only one or both of the leg end edges 70 may be curved or beveled, such as the leg end edge 70 of the back waist region 24, or the leg end edge 70 ) is understood that not all can be curved or inclined. Waist end edge 72 is suitably parallel to transverse axis 49 . The waist end edge 72 of the front side panel 34 forms part of the front waist edge 38 of the training pant 20 and the waist end edge 72 of the back side panel 35 forms part of the pant 20 ) forms part of the back waist edge 39.

Side panels 34 and 35 suitably, but need not necessarily, comprise an elastic material capable of stretching in a direction generally parallel to the transverse axis 49 of training pant 20 . More suitably, the side panels 34 and 35 comprise a resilient material. One process, as well as a suitable elastic material for incorporating stretchable side panels into a training pant, is described in the following U.S. Patents: 4,940,464 to Van Gompel et al., issued Jul. 10, 1990, to Pohjola, 1993. U.S. Patent No. 5,224,405, issued July 6, U.S. Patent No. 5,104,116, issued April 14, 1992 to Pohjola, and U.S. Patent No. 5,046,272, issued September 10, 1991 to Vogt et al. All of the documents are incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, the stretchable material may include a stretch-thermal laminate (STL), a neck-bond laminate (NBL), a reversible neck laminate, or a stretch-bond laminate (SBL) material. Methods of making such materials are well known to those skilled in the art and are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,663,220 issued May 5, 1987 to Wisneski et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,226,992 issued July 13, 1993 to Morman, and Welch. PCT application WO 01/88245 to et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable materials are described in US Patent Application Serial No. 12/649,508 to Welch et al., and US Patent No. 8,287,677 to Lake et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, the side panel material may be other woven or non-woven materials, mechanically pre-strained composites, or stretchable but inelastic materials such as those described above as suitable for outer cover 40 or bodyside liner 42. can include

A handle 90 is formed in at least one side panel of the training pant 20 . Handle 90 is formed by cutting a hole 92 having a longitudinal center point 94, top portion 96 and bottom portion 98 through side panel material 35, as illustrated in FIG. 4D. . The handle 90 should have sufficient strength to allow the user to pull on the training pant 20 without causing too much displacement in the material. If the handle 90 is too weak, the material will stretch too much and catch the article on the lap or hip during pulling or not be positioned correctly, causing the article to get caught on the wearer's body and improperly positioned to contain waste.

The size and position of the handle 90 can also increase the functionality of the handle because it is optimized to be independent of the toddler learning potty training. For example, the width of aperture 92, measured as the greatest distance measured in a relaxed configuration that is laid out flat in the transverse direction 49 prior to use of the product, is the width of aperture 92 that a user, typically a toddler, may pass through the aperture with their fingers and It may enable the ability to insert a hand and pull the product. However, the width of the aperture 92 should not be so large as to allow too much displacement during wear, causing problems with the effectiveness of the article. Additionally, in certain instances, a user may be able to grip handle 90 using less than four fingers, such as just one or two fingers. Consequently, an optimal width for aperture 92 may be between about 20 mm and about 50 mm, such as between about 25 mm and about 40 mm, more preferably about 30 mm.

The position of the handle 90 can be critical to the ability of the handle to function correctly. Similarly, when the handle is placed longitudinally close to the leg edge 70 (49), the handle 90 becomes difficult for the user to grip or to guide the panty 20 onto the body. As a result, the distance between the handle 90 and the waist edge 70 can be optimized. For example, a handle 90 comprising an aperture 90 with top edge 100 would measure from the top edge 100 of the side panel 35 to the waist edge 70 when the handle is not extended. to about 10 to about 35 mm, such as about 15 to about 25 mm, more preferably about 20 mm to the side panel 35.

The position of handle 90 from side panel 35 to side 49 can also be considered to improve handle effectiveness. A handle 90 that is close to the side 49 to the re-fastenable seam 66 will cause excessive displacement or tearing, and a handle that is close from the side 49 to the effective edge 102 of the side panel 35 can cause gripping or product damage. was found to be difficult to guide onto the body. As a result, the handle 90 including the rear distal edge has a distance between the rear distal edge and the effective edge 102 of the side panel, as measured when the handle is not extended, from about 10 to about 35 mm, such as about 15 to about 25 mm, more preferably about 20 mm to the side panel 35. For purposes of this invention and illustrated in FIG. 3 , the effective edge 102 of the side panel 35 is the location where the side panel 35 is bonded to the absorbent assembly 32 . Where the side panels are integrated with the absorbent assembly 32, the effective edge is where the absorbent core is attached to the outer cover 40.

A handle 90 may be formed on the side panel 35 at an angle 125 to the side axis 49 of the side panel 35 to increase ease of use and strength. An angled handle can control and direct stress and strain resulting from wear. One potential benefit of controlling force concentration is to ensure that the force concentration does not occur adjacent to the distal end of the re-fastenable seam, potentially causing seam rupture during wear. As illustrated in FIG. 4C , handle 90 may be positioned on side panel 35 at an angle 125 to side axis 49 of side panel 35 to increase ease of use and strength. . Preferably, the handle 90 may have an angle 125 with respect to the transverse axis 49 of the side panel 35 of at least 2.5 degrees, and more preferably from about 10 to about 20 degrees.

Holes 92 may be of any shape known to those skilled in the art, including oval, rectangular, triangular, bean or similar shapes. The shape may also correspond to other graphics on the training pant 20 to provide an overall training pant 20 theme. 4A-4E illustrate various examples of the different shapes that a handle can form, which can allow for a functional handle. In one specific embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C , the hole has a rectangular ellipse shape with a maximum width. In Figure 4c, the hole is positioned at an angle to the waist edge. 4E illustrates an alternative shape for a hole illustrating a bean-shaped hole.

In FIG. 4D , an aperture 92 having a top portion 96 and a bottom portion 98 is formed. The hole 92 has a maximum width at the bottom portion 98 of the hole 92 and the hole 92 decreases in width from the bottom portion 98 to the top portion 96 . Alternatively, hole 92 has a width at bottom portion 98 of hole 92 and hole 92 increases in width from bottom portion 98 to top portion 96 . Optionally, the hole 92 includes a rounded corner at the top edge 104 of the hole, since a rounded corner will provide less tearing of the training pant 20 . Optionally, hole 92 may be a rounded triangle as illustrated in FIG. 4D. This shape helps provide the ability to manage larger peak stresses/strains without inhibiting extension of the handle. This results in a good balance of displacement and strength even without stiffeners.

To provide the necessary strength to the product for handle functionality, the handle 90 is operatively connected proximal to the distal side edge 106 of the aperture 92 and extends laterally therefrom, as illustrated in the Figures. A reinforcing material 110 may be included. Reinforcement 110 may be a separate piece or multi-piece material attached to at least one side panel. Alternatively, stiffener 110 may include a portion of a side panel that folds on itself. In this embodiment, the stiffener can also serve as a waistband for the article.

When handle 90 is used to pull a product, lateral and longitudinal forces are placed on handle 90 . The operative connection of the stiffener 110 to the longitudinal center point 94 of the distal side edge 106 of the hole 92 is capable of managing a greater maximum stress/strain without inhibiting extension of the handle 90. help to provide This provides a good balance of displacement and strength. One potential benefit of controlling force concentration is to ensure that the force concentration does not occur adjacent to the distal end of the re-fastenable seam, potentially causing seam rupture during wear. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B , stiffener 110 is formed at least from a midpoint between longitudinal center point 94 of hole 92 and top edge 100 of hole 92, at least through hole 92) and a material extending longitudinally to a midpoint between the bottom edge 108 of the hole 92 and the longitudinal center point 94 of the hole 92. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A , the stiffener 110 comprises a material extending longitudinally from the waist edge 72 to at least the longitudinal center point 94 of the aperture 92 .

Alternatively, stiffener 110 may extend from at least one contact point formed by a longitudinal tangent from hole 92 . A contact is made at the distal side edge 106 of the aperture 92 about the transverse axis 49 . In other words, contacts may be formed at the effective edges of the side panels by the nearest and farthest points on aperture 92 with respect to transverse axis 49 which may result in longitudinal tangents. Since stresses on the handle can be greatest at these junctions, the extension of the stiffener from hole 92 at this location helps provide the ability to manage larger maximum stresses/strains without inhibiting handle 90 from stretching. can give If the shape is not symmetrical, the contact points on either side of aperture 92 may not be at the same point on the longitudinal axis 48 of the article. This is a contact formed by a longitudinal tangent to one side edge 106 closer to the waist edge 72 of the side panel 35 and the other side closer to the leg edge 70 of the side panel 35. A tangent to the edge 106 may result in a contact formed by a longitudinal tangent. In one embodiment, stiffener 110 may extend from either side edge 106 of aperture 92 at a point longitudinally closer to the waist edge 72 of side panel 35 . More preferably, the stiffeners may extend from both side edges of the hole at a junction longitudinally closer to the leg edges of the side panels.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4E , the stiffener 110 is formed on at least the distal side edge 106 of the aperture 92 at a junction on the longitudinal axis 48 closer to the leg edge 70 of the product. Includes materials extending from Alternatively, although not shown, in FIG. 4E the stiffener 110 extends from at least the distal side edge 106 of the hole 92 at a junction on the longitudinal axis 48 closer to the waist edge 70 of the product. can do. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4A , stiffener 110 includes material extending from at least a distal side edge 106 of aperture 92 at a junction on a longitudinal axis. In this embodiment having a symmetrical rectangular oval shape, the contacts on both sides of the hole 92 are at the same longitudinal position at the distal side edge 106 .

The stiffener 110 may be of the same material as the side panel 35 or a different material from the side panel 35 . Stiffener 110 suitably, but not necessarily, may include a stretchable material that is generally capable of stretching in a direction parallel to the transverse axis 49 of training pant 20 . More suitably, the stiffener comprises an elastic material. Suitable elastic materials are described in the following patents. 4,940,464 issued Jul. 10, 1990 to Van Gompel et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,224,405 issued Jul. 6, 1993 to Pohjola, U.S. Patent No. 5,104,116 issued Apr. 14, 1992 to Pohjola, Vogt et al. is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,046,272, issued September 10, 1991, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, the stiffener may include a stretch-thermal laminate (STL), a neck-bonded laminate (NBL), a reversible neck laminate, or a stretch-bonded laminate (SBL) material. Methods of making these materials are well known to those skilled in the art and are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,663,220, issued May 5, 1987 to Wisneski et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,226,992, issued July 13, 1993 to Morman, Taylor European Patent Application No. EP 0 217 032, published on April 8, 1987 in the name of et al., and PCT application WO 01/88245 in the name of Welch et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. . Other suitable materials are described in US Patent Application Serial No. 12/649,508 to Welch et al., and US Patent No. 8,287,677 to Lake et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, stiffener 110 may be other woven or nonwoven materials, mechanically pre-strained composites, or stretchable but inelastic materials such as those described above as suitable for outer cover 40 or bodyside liner 42 . may contain substances.

Optionally, stiffener 110 is a different color or pattern than the side panel 35 material. This is a visual cue to direct the hand towards the handle 90 . Additionally, the double thickness provided by the stiffeners 110 on the side panels 35 provides tactile cues to help locate the proper hand position for gripping the handle 90. This may make the handle more intuitive for the infant to hold the handle.

To illustrate the importance of the handle 90 design, children weighing 18 to 34 pounds were each asked to put on and take off six training pants with handles to measure the number of tears.

2T/3T panty with handles with SBL single side panel with 74 mm functional stretch and its top edge sitting 17.5 mm from the top edge of the side panel and its back edge sitting 15 mm from the functional back edge of the side panel. Code 1 containing the design was tested. Cord 1 includes an SBL stiffener extending to the waist edge of the side panel attached via adhesive and a hole having a rectangular oval shape as illustrated in FIG. 4A having a width of 30 mm. 2T/3T panty with handles with SBL single side panel with 81 mm functional stretch and its top edge sitting 27.5 mm from the top edge of the side panel and its back edge sitting 15 mm from the functional back edge of the side panel Three different codes containing designs were tested: code 2, code 3 and code 4. Code 2 includes no reinforcement and a hole with a rectangular ellipse with a width of 30 mm. Code 3 includes no reinforcement and a hole with a rectangular ellipse with a width of 30 mm at an angle of 15 degrees. Code 4 does not include a stiffener and a hole having the shape of a rounded triangle as illustrated in FIG. 4C with a maximum width of 30 mm and a height of 30 mm.

code One 2 3 4 Products with slight tearing (%) 2% 43% 50% 5% Products with full tear (%) 2% 7% 2% 0%

Table 1: Handle tear

After the child had finished donning the product, each product was examined for tears in the handle. As illustrated in Table 1 above, Cord 4 rounded with a triangular shaped handle and Cord 1 reinforced with a rectangular oval shaped handle had a much lower tear against the unreinforced rectangular oval shaped handle of Cord 2. have a frequency Code 3 of angular handles has a much lower complete tear frequency than code 2 of rectangular elliptical shaped handles.

2T/3T panty with handles with SBL single side panel with 81 mm functional stretch and its top edge placed 20 mm from the top edge of the side panel and its back edge placed 15 mm from the back functional edge of the side panel Code 5 containing the design was tested. Cord 5 includes an SBL reinforcement material extending to the waist edge of the side panel attached via adhesive and a hole having a bean-shape as illustrated in FIG. 4C having a width of 30 mm. 2T/3T panty with handles with SBL single side panel with 81 mm functional stretch and its top edge placed 20 mm from the top edge of the side panel and its back edge placed 15 mm from the functional back edge of the side panel Three different codes containing the design were tested: code 6, code 7 and code 8. Code 6 includes a hole having a bean shape with a width of 30 mm and a stiffener extending to 50 mm. Code 7 contains no reinforcement and a bean-shaped hole with a width of 30 mm. Cord 8 includes a hole having a round triangular shape as illustrated in FIG. 4C, with a stiffener extending 30 mm and a width of 30 mm. Code 9 includes a stiffener extending 50 mm and a hole having a round triangular shape with a maximum width of 30 mm and a height of 30 mm. Code 10 does not include stiffeners and holes having a round triangular shape with a width of 30 mm.

In addition, handle maximum tensile strength and displacement at 600 gram-force, representative of an infant's handle pull, were also tested for the aforementioned codes. Handle ultimate tensile strength and displacement were calculated as described in the test method below. Three samples were tested and averaged to present the results.

code 5 6 7 8 9 10 Ultimate tensile strength (gram-force) 3063 4791 2407 3372 4493 3151 Displacement at 900 gram-force (mm) 30.8 29.9 48.1 26.0 25.4 33.3

Table 2: Handle Strength and Displacement

As illustrated in Table 2, the reinforced handle has a much higher strength than the non-reinforced handle. In addition, all codes have similar displacement capabilities.

Preferably, handle 90 may have an ultimate tensile strength of at least 2300 g. Preferably, handle 90 may have an ultimate tensile strength of about 3000 g to 7000 g. More preferably, handle 90 may have an ultimate tensile strength of 4000 g to 7000 g. Also, the handle 90 has a displacement of 5 mm to 50 mm at 900 gram-force. The combination of these two features combined together enables handle 90 to help provide the ability to manage greater peak stresses/strains without inhibiting extension of handle 90 . As such, the handle provides a good balance of displacement and strength to allow a toddler or other user to put on or pull the product.

Maximum tensile and displacement tests

The maximum tensile load and displacement of the handle can be quantified using the following maximum tensile load and displacement test method, which is designed to quantify the maximum tensile load and displacement of a material in the handle of an absorbent article in grams. Displacement of the handle is that direction in which the side panel material will progressively displace as the user pulls on the substrate when the product is in use.

Equipment

1. The constant rate elongation tensile tester is equipped with an appropriate load cell. A suitable tensile testing system is the Sintech Tensile Tester, commercially available from MTS, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA under the trade designation Sintech Model 1/G Tensile Tester.

2. Software is commercially available from MTS under the trade name MTS TESTWORKS® for Windows version 4.12.

3. Pneumatically-actuated grips are commercially available from Instron Corporation of Canton, MA, USA under the trade designation Instron Model 2712-004.

4. 2.5 cm x 10.1 cm (1 x 4 in) serrated grip face commercially available from Instron Corporation, Canton, Massachusetts, USA.

4. A metal rod with a diameter of 10 mm.

5. Test facility with a temperature of 23±1°C and relative humidity of 50±2%.

test procedure

1. The sample to be tested is conditioned in the test fixture for at least 4 hours prior to testing.

3. The load cell is calibrated and the software is loaded.

4. The grips are installed in the tensile tester with closed jaws.

5. Test conditions for the tensile tester are set as follows.

Crosshead speed: 305 mm/min

Max-scale load: 10 kg (22 lbs)

Gauge Length: 50.8 mm (2 in) (measured from the crook of the hook fixture to the top of the grip face of the floor fixture)

6. The clamp is weighed.

7. The leg edge of the article's side panel is inserted into the lower jaw just below the handle.

8. The metal rod is inserted into the handle so that the top edge of the handle rests on the crook of the metal rod. The lower jaw is closed, ensuring that the load is less than 10 g.

9. The crosshead starts operating and the test proceeds until the handle is broken.

10. The maximum tensile load in grams required to break the handle and displace the material is recorded for the handle. Displacements are collected at 600 gram-force.

When introducing elements of this disclosure or preferred aspect(s) of this disclosure, the articles “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to imply that one or more elements are present. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and indicate that there may be additional elements other than those listed.

The present disclosure has been described with reference to various specific and exemplary aspects and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications are possible while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (39)

An absorbent article for personal wear around the waist of a wearer having a transverse axis and a longitudinal centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
a liquid permeable inner surface facing the wearer;
an outer surface facing away from the wearer;
an absorbent disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface;
a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between the front waist region and the back waist region and interconnecting the front waist region and the back waist region;
at least one side panel extending from the waist opening to the leg opening and attached to the front waist region and the back waist region to form a wearing configuration of an absorbent article having a waist opening and a leg opening spaced apart from the waist opening; and
a wearer comprising at least one handle formed through the side panel and including an aperture having a longitudinal center point, the handle further comprising a stiffener proximate a distal side edge of the aperture and operatively connected to the at least one side panel. Absorbent articles for personal wear around the waist of a woman. 2. The absorbent article for personal wear around the waist of a wearer as in claim 1, wherein said stiffener extends from the longitudinal center point of the aperture. 2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the stiffener comprises a material extending longitudinally from the waist edge to at least a midpoint between the longitudinal midpoint of the aperture and the bottom edge of the aperture. 2. The wearer of claim 1 , wherein the stiffener comprises a material extending longitudinally from at least a midpoint between the longitudinal center point of the hole and the top edge of the hole to at least a midpoint between the longitudinal center point of the hole and the bottom edge of the hole. Absorbent articles for personal wear around the waist of a woman. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the side panels further include a front side panel attached to the front waist region and a back side panel attached to the back waist region, the front and back side panels comprising a waist opening and a leg spaced apart from the waist opening. For personal wear around the waist of a wearer releasably attachable to refastenable seams to form a wearing configuration of an absorbent article having an opening, the front and back side panels each extending from the waist opening to the leg opening. absorbent articles. The absorbent article of claim 1 , further comprising a handle having a longitudinal displacement of 5 mm to 50 mm at a force of 600 gram-force. 2. The absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist as in claim 1, wherein the handle comprises an ultimate tensile strength of from 3000 gram-force to 7000 gram-force in the longitudinal direction. 2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises an ultimate tensile strength of at least 2300 gram-force in the longitudinal direction. An absorbent article for personal wear around the waist of a wearer having a transverse axis and a longitudinal centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
a liquid permeable inner surface facing the wearer;
an outer surface facing away from the wearer;
an absorbent disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface;
a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between the front waist region and the back waist region and interconnecting the front waist region and the back waist region;
A front side panel bonded to the front waist region and a back side panel attached to the back waist region, the front and back side panels re-forming a wearing configuration of an absorbent article having a waist opening and a leg opening spaced from the waist opening. front and back side panels releasably attachable to fastenable seams, the front and back side panels extending from the waist opening to the leg openings; and
a handle formed through the side panel and comprising an aperture having a longitudinal center point, wherein the handle further comprises a stiffener proximate the aperture at the longitudinal center point of the aperture and operatively connected to the at least one side panel; An absorbent article for personal wear around the waist. 2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the stiffener comprises a material extending longitudinally from the waist edge at least 50% between the longitudinal center point of the aperture and the bottom edge of the aperture. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the stiffener comprises a material extending longitudinally from at least 50% between the longitudinal center point of the hole and the top edge of the hole to at least 50% between the longitudinal center point of the hole and the bottom edge of the hole. , an absorbent article for personal wear around the waist of the wearer. 10. The absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist as claimed in claim 1 or 9, wherein the stiffener comprises a material extending from the waistband to the longitudinal center point of the aperture. 10. The absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist according to claim 5 or 9, wherein the back side panels are longer than the front side panels. An absorbent article for personal wear around the waist of a wearer having a transverse axis and a longitudinal centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
a liquid permeable inner surface facing the wearer;
an outer surface facing away from the wearer;
an absorbent disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface;
a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between the front waist region and the back waist region and interconnecting the front waist region and the back waist region;
A front side panel bonded to the front waist region and a back side panel attached to the back waist region, the front and back side panels re-forming a wearing configuration of an absorbent article having a waist opening and a leg opening spaced from the waist opening. front and back side panels releasably attachable to fastenable seams, the front and back side panels extending from the waist opening to the leg openings; and
an aperture formed through the at least one side panel and having a contact formed tangentially longitudinally at a side edge of the aperture, further comprising a stiffener adjacent to the contact and operatively connected to the at least one side panel. An absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist, comprising a handle for holding. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the hole comprises a back contact formed by a longitudinal tangent transversely closer to the back waist region and a front contact formed by a longitudinal tangent transversely closer to the front waist region. An absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist, having a 16. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the back contact and front contact is longitudinally closer to the waist edge of the side panel, and the stiffener is a hole at one of the back contact and front contact longitudinally closer to the waist edge of the side panel. An absorbent article for personal wear about the wearer's waist, extending from both sides of the wearer. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the back contact and the front contact is longitudinally closer to the leg edge of the side panel, and the reinforcement has a hole at one of the back contact and the front contact longitudinally closer to the leg edge of the side panel. An absorbent article for personal wear about the wearer's waist, extending from both lateral edges of the body. 15. The absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist as in claim 14, wherein the back side panels are wider than the front side panels. 15. The absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist according to any one of claims 1, 9 or 14, wherein the reinforcement comprises the same material as the side panels. 15. The absorbent article of claim 1, 9 or 14, wherein the reinforcement comprises a different material than the side panels. 15. The absorbent article of claim 1, 9 or 14, wherein the stiffener extends outwardly from the distal side edge of the aperture. 15. The wearer of claim 1, 9 or 14, wherein the stiffener is selected from a continuous material of discrete parts, a multi-piece material adjacent to the distal side edge of the hole, and a folded waistband material. An absorbent article for personal wear around the waist. An absorbent article for personal wear around the waist of a wearer having a transverse axis and a longitudinal centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
a liquid permeable inner surface facing the wearer;
an outer surface facing away from the wearer;
an absorbent disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface;
a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between the front waist region and the back waist region and interconnecting the front waist region and the back waist region;
A front side panel attached to a front waist region and a back side panel attached to a back waist region to form a wearing configuration of an absorbent article having a waist opening and a leg opening spaced apart from the waist opening, the front side panels or the back side panels being attached to the back waist region. front and back side panels extending from the waist opening to the leg opening; and
at least one handle formed through the front side panel or the back side panel and comprising an aperture having a maximum width of 20 mm to 50 mm, the top edge of the aperture being located 10 to 35 mm from the waist edge; contains,
The absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist, wherein the rear side panels are wider than the front side panels. 2. The absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist as in claim 1, wherein the maximum width of the handle is 30 mm. 2. The absorbent article for personal wear around the wearer's waist as in claim 1, wherein the rear distal side edge of the aperture is located 10 to 35 mm from the effective edge of the side panel. 2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the handles are at an angle of at least 2.5 degrees to the transverse axis of the side panels. 2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the handles are at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees relative to the transverse axis of the side panels. An absorbent article for personal wear around the waist of a wearer having a transverse axis and a longitudinal centerline, the absorbent article comprising:
a liquid permeable inner surface facing the wearer;
an outer surface facing away from the wearer;
an absorbent disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface;
a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between the front waist region and the back waist region and interconnecting the front waist region and the back waist region;
at least one side panel extending from the waist opening to the leg opening and attached to the front waist region and the back waist region to form a wearing configuration of the absorbent article having a waist opening and a leg opening spaced apart from the waist opening; and
around the waist of a wearer, comprising a handle formed through at least one side panel, having a top portion and a bottom portion, reducing in width from the bottom portion to the top portion, and including a hole at the top edge further comprising a rounded corner. of absorbent articles for personal wear. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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