Patent Application
20200260798
The present invention relates to pant-type wearable articles having a favorable tactile and aesthetic sense.
Infants and other incontinent individuals wear absorbent articles such as diapers to receive and contain urine and other body exudates. Pull-on absorbent articles, or pant-type absorbent articles, are those which are donned by inserting the wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the article up into position about the lower torso. Pant-type absorbent articles have become popular for use on children who are able to walk and often who are toilet training, as well as for younger children who become more active in movement such that application of taped-type absorbent articles tends to be more difficult, and also for younger babies requiring a soft fit around the waist opening and leg openings.
Pant-type articles may take various structures wherein the circumference of the waist opening and vicinity thereof is made elastic enough to facilitate the wearer or the caregiver to expand the article and insert the wearer's legs into the leg openings for wearing the article. The region of the waist circumference and vicinity thereof is often referred to as the elastic belt. One type of structure for the pant-type article is the belt-type pant having a central chassis to cover the crotch region of the wearer and a separate elastic belt defining the waist opening and leg opening, such as described in PCT Publication WO 2006/17718A. Another type of structure for the pant-type article is the uni-body type pant configured such that the outer cover of the article completely covers the entirety of the garment-facing surface of the article, wherein the portion configured to stretch about the torso is considered the elastic belt region.
Whatever the structure of the article may be, the outer surface, or garment-facing surface of the article may be the portion which is most touched and observed by the wearer or the caregiver upon use, and thus its properties most associated with the quality and function of the article. By quality, what may be desired is an undergarment like appearance, and pleasant tactile sense such as softness and cushiony touch. Undergarment like appearance may be enhanced by providing the garment-facing surface with certain aesthetic sense such that the belt region and crotch region are not easily distinguished. By function, what may be desired are secure wearability, breathability and comfort, or intuitive signals of such attributes.
Meanwhile, from a manufacturer's point of view, there is desire to provide a high quality absorbent article while controlling cost for making the article; by selecting materials and assembling them in a manner that may provide the best user experience per cost of material.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a wearable article providing improved stretchability for ease of application, improved fit for preventing sagging, improved comfort and softness, and improved breathability for skin health. There is also a need for a wearable article having improved aesthetics which intuitively communicates the functional benefits described above. There is also a need for providing such a wearable article which can be economically made.
The present invention is directed to a wearable article continuous in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction comprising a front elastic belt, a back elastic belt, a crotch region, a waist opening, and a pair of leg openings; the crotch region extending longitudinally between the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt;
each of the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt being a laminate comprising an inner sheet, an outer sheet, and an elastic member running in the transverse direction, and the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt being discontinuous with each other in the crotch region;
the front elastic belt and back elastic belt having a transverse dimension of LW, the smaller longitudinal dimension of the front elastic belt or the back elastic belt having a dimension of LS, wherein from about 10% to about 40% of LW, and from about 15% to about 75% of LS, preferably from about 30% to about 70% of LS, is removed of its elastic activity, wherein the region of the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt removed of its elastic activity is a non-elastic region 221; the front and back non-elastic regions 221 have a First Belt Pattern FBP and the crotch region has a First Crotch Pattern FCP.
In one aspect, the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP are both a Geometric Pattern, and the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP both have a Longitudinal Orientation, according to the measurements herein.
In another aspect, both the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP form a High Order Pattern HOP having an area dimension of from about 16 mm2 to about 200 mm2, wherein the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP are Geometric Patterns having a common element, and both the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP have a Non-directional Orientation, according to the measurements herein.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and which like designations are used to designate substantially identical elements, and in which:
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meaning specified thereafter:
“Wearable article” refers to articles of wear which may be in the form of pants, taped diapers, incontinent briefs, feminine hygiene garments, and the like. The “wearable article” may be so configured to also absorb and contain various exudates such as urine, feces, and menses discharged from the body. The “wearable article” may serve as an outer cover adaptable to be joined with a separable disposable absorbent insert for providing absorbent and containment function, such as those disclosed in PCT publication WO 2011/087503A.
“Pant” refers to disposable absorbent articles having a pre-formed waist and leg openings. A pant may be donned by inserting a wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the pant into position about the wearer's lower torso. Pants are also commonly referred to as “closed diapers”, “prefastened diapers”, “pull-on diapers”, “training pants” and “diaper-pants”.
“Longitudinal” refers to a direction running substantially perpendicular from a waist edge to an opposing waist edge of the article and generally parallel to the maximum linear dimension of the article.
“Transverse” refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
“Proximal” and “distal” refer respectively to the position closer or farther relative to the longitudinal center of the article.
“Body-facing” and “garment-facing” refer respectively to the relative location of an element or a surface of an element or group of elements. “Body-facing” implies the element or surface is nearer to the wearer during wear than some other element or surface. “Garment-facing” implies the element or surface is more remote from the wearer during wear than some other element or surface (i.e., element or surface is proximate to the wearer's garments that may be worn over the disposable absorbent article).
“Disposed” refers to an element being located in a particular place or position.
“Joined” refers to configurations whereby an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element and to configurations whereby an element is indirectly secured to another element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element.
“Film” refers to a sheet-like material wherein the length and width of the material far exceed the thickness of the material. Typically, films have a thickness of about 0.5 mm or less.
“Water-permeable” and “water-impermeable” refer to the penetrability of materials in the context of the intended usage of disposable absorbent articles. Specifically, the term “water-permeable” refers to a layer or a layered structure having pores, openings, and/or interconnected void spaces that permit liquid water, urine, or synthetic urine to pass through its thickness in the absence of a forcing pressure. Conversely, the term “water-impermeable” refers to a layer or a layered structure through the thickness of which liquid water, urine, or synthetic urine cannot pass in the absence of a forcing pressure (aside from natural forces such as gravity). A layer or a layered structure that is water-impermeable according to this definition may be permeable to water vapor, i.e., may be “vapor-permeable”.
“Extendibility” and “extensible” mean that the width or length of the component in a relaxed state can be extended or increased.
“Elasticated” and “elasticized” mean that a component comprises at least a portion made of elastic material.
“Elongatable material”, “extensible material”, or “stretchable material” are used interchangeably and refer to a material that, upon application of a biasing force, can stretch to an elongated length of at least about 110% of its relaxed, original length (i.e. can stretch to 10 percent more than its original length), without rupture or breakage, and upon release of the applied force, shows little recovery, less than about 20% of its elongation without complete rupture or breakage as measured by EDANA method 20.2-89. In the event such an elongatable material recovers at least 40% of its elongation upon release of the applied force, the elongatable material will be considered to be “elastic” or “elastomeric.” For example, an elastic material that has an initial length of 100 mm can extend at least to 150 mm, and upon removal of the force retracts to a length of at least 130 mm (i.e., exhibiting a 40% recovery). In the event the material recovers less than 40% of its elongation upon release of the applied force, the elongatable material will be considered to be “substantially non-elastic” or “substantially non-elastomeric”. For example, an elongatable material that has an initial length of 100 mm can extend at least to 150 mm, and upon removal of the force retracts to a length of at least 145 mm (i.e., exhibiting a 10% recovery).
“Dimension”, “Length”, “Width”, “Pitch”, “Diameter”, “Aspect Ratio”, “Angle”, and “Area” of the article are all measured in a state wherein the article is extended to the Full Stretch Circumference W1 according to the “Whole Article Force Measurement” herein, and utilizing a ruler or a loupe, unless specified otherwise.
“Artwork” refers to a visual presentation to the naked eye, which is provided by printing or otherwise, and having a color. Printing includes various methods and apparatus well known to those skilled in the art such as lithographic, screen printing, flexographic, and gravure ink jet printing techniques.
“Color” or “Colored” as referred to herein includes any primary color except color white, i.e., black, red, blue, violet, orange, yellow, green, and indigo as well as any declination thereof or mixture thereof. The color white is defined as those colors having a L* value of at least 94, an a* value equal to 0±2, and a b* value equal to 0±2 according to the CIE L*a*b* color system.
The wearable article 20 may be a belt-type pant as in
The central chassis 38 may comprise a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core 62 disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and further an outer cover layer 42 for covering the garment-facing side of the backsheet. The topsheet may be a water permeable substrate. The backsheet may be a water impermeable film. The outer cover layer 42 may be a nonwoven sheet. The central chassis 38 may contain an absorbent core 62 for absorbing and containing body exudates disposed on the central chassis 38, and an absorbent material non-existing region 61 surrounding the periphery of the absorbent core 62. The absorbent material non-existing region 61 may be made of the topsheet and/or the backsheet and/or the outer cover layer 42 and/or other parts configuring the central chassis 38. In the embodiment shown in
The absorbent core 62 may include an absorbent layer and an acquisition layer. The absorbent layer is the region wherein absorbent materials having a high retention capacity, such as superabsorbent polymers, are present. The absorbent layer may be substantially cellulose free. Superabsorbent polymers of the absorbent layer may be disposed between first and second layers of material immobilized by a fibrous layer of thermoplastic adhesive material. The first and second layers of materials may be nonwoven fibrous webs including synthetic fibers, such as mono-constituent fibers of PE, PET and PP, multiconstituent fibers such as side by side, core/sheath or island in the sea type fibers. Such synthetic fibers may be formed via a spunbonding process or a meltblowing process. The acquisition layer facilitates the acquisition and the distribution of body exudates and may be placed between the topsheet and the absorbent layer. The acquisition layer may include cellulosic fibers.
The absorbent layers may be disposed in plurality in the absorbent core 62. Some portions of the absorbent layers may be configured to have substantially no absorbent material to form a channel or a plurality of channels. Channels may be useful for allowing the absorbent core 62 to bend upon swelling with fluids, such that the absorbent article conforms to the wearer's body after swelling and prevent sagging of the article. The channels may also be formed in the acquisition layer, and may be configured to at least partly match the channels of the absorbent layer in the thickness direction.
The elastic belt 40 of the article of the present invention acts to dynamically create fitment forces and to distribute the forces dynamically generated during wear. The front and back elastic belts 84, 86 may be joined with each other only at the side edges 89 to form side seams 32, a waist opening and two leg openings. Each leg opening may be provided with elasticity around the perimeter of the leg opening. The elasticity around the leg opening may be provided by the combination of elasticity from the front elastic belt 84, the back elastic belt 86, and the central chassis 38.
Referring to
The front elastic belt 84 and back elastic belt 86 are configured to impart elasticity to the belt 40. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The remainder of the front elastic belt 84 and the back elastic belt 86 each comprise an elastic region, the elastic regions at least extending along the waist opening in the transverse direction to provide a circumferential elastic region. The circumferential elastic region along the waist opening defines the Upper Gather Region 220.
Referring to
What is meant by elastic bonding 230 herein is a bonding that bonds the elastic member 96 along the side edges 89 of the front and back elastic belts 84, 86. The elastic bonding 230 may be continuously applied to each elastic member 96 for a length of at least about 10 mm, or from about 10 mm to about 60 mm in the direction of stretch adjacent the side edges 89 of the front and back elastic belts 84, 86, including the length planned for side seaming. The elastic bonding 230 is to provide relatively strong bonding for the elastic member 96 and thus securely anchor the elastic member 96 within the laminate. The anchoring may be assisted by the side seaming. A certain percentage, or a greater percentage, of the dimension of the elastic bonding 230 along the side edges 89 may be seamed. The elastic bonding may also be utilized for an effective process of deactivating a limited transverse dimension of the elastic member 96. Referring to
What is meant by vertical bonding 234 herein is a bonding applied to at least one of the inner sheet 94 and the outer sheet 92 with intervals in the transverse direction for intermittently bonding the inner sheet 94 and the outer sheet 92. The vertical bonding 234 may also bond the elastic member 96 to at least one of the inner sheet 94 and the outer sheet 92. The vertical bonding 234 may only be provided to the outer sheet 92. Referring to
Referring to
Without being bound by theory, it is believed that by having less restriction for the inner sheet 94 and outer sheet 92 against the elastic members 96, this contributes in creating gathers of improved regularity, in that a significant amount of the inner and outer sheet materials 92, 94 existing between the vertical bondings 234 are available for creating gathers continuous in the longitudinal direction. Without being bound by theory, it is also believed that, by having less restriction for the inner and outer sheet materials 92, 94 against the elastic members 96, this allows improved stretchability of the elastic members 96, which may provide ease of application. Compared to elastic belts made only by elastic bonding 230 wherein all of the elastic members 96 are continuously bonded, the elastic belt 40 of the present invention may have a lower Stretch Circumference Force, according to the measurements herein. Further, despite such relatively low Stretch Circumference Force, the elastic belt 40 of the present invention may maintain a suitable Fit Circumference Force, according to the measurements herein. Without being bound by theory, it is also believed that, by having less restriction for the inner and outer sheet materials 92, 94 against the elastic members 96, this improves the breathability of the overall laminate, which may enhance skin health. Without being bound by theory, it is also believed that vertical bonding 234 provides a configuration wherein a greater percentage of the inner and outer sheet materials 92, 94 are available for forming the outer surfaces of the laminate when the elastic belt 40 is contracted, while the elastic members 96 remain positioned inside the thickness of the laminate. As such, the laminate is provided with improved loft and thickness, thus imparting improved comfort and softness when worn. Further, without being bound by theory, in that there is a great percentage of the inner and outer sheet materials 92, 94 available for forming the outer surfaces of the laminate in high regularity when the elastic belt 40 is contracted, this provides the body facing surface of the elastic belt 40 to have higher stiffness in the longitudinal direction, thus contributing in improved fit for preventing sagging. Still further, in that the elastic members are less visible when the elastic belt 40 is contracted, this further enhances the aesthetically pleasing regularity of gathers.
In order to make available for gathering a significant amount of the inner and outer sheet materials 92, 94 between the vertical bondings 234 in the transverse direction, VG1 may be from about 2 times to about 20 times, or from about 3.5 times to about 10 times of VG2.
By bonding, what may be utilized are any methods known in the art, such as use of hot melt adhesive, thermal energy, and ultrasonic energy. Bonding strength may be adjusted by the area of bonding, or by different adhesion or energy level provided by the bonding, for example, adjusting the amount and strength of an adhesive agent. The bonding strength of the elastic bonding 230 and the vertical bonding 234 may be the same or may be varied. The elastic bonding 230 and the vertical bonding 234 may be provided by the same hot melt adhesive.
The vertical bonding 234 may be a continuous line extending in the longitudinal direction. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The front and back elastic belts 84, 86 may be made by running the continuous inner and outer sheet materials as well as the continuous elastic strands along the transverse axis of the article, and bonding them via the elastic bondings 230 and vertical bondings 234. During manufacture, the continuous inner and outer sheet materials and continuous elastic strands may be transferred in the machine direction, wherein the machine direction of manufacture matches the transverse axis TX of the article. In such manufacturing process, the vertical bondings 234 are provided continuous or discretely aligned in the cross machine direction and intermittently spaced apart by a pitch of VG1 in the machine direction of manufacture. The longitudinal pattern of vertical bondings 234 may match the cross machine direction of manufacture, namely the longitudinal axis LX of the article, or may be slightly titled for better control of the process, particularly when the vertical bonding 234 is provided by applying bonding on a rotating roller. The vertical bonding 234 may be tilted with an angle from the cross machine direction of manufacture, namely the longitudinal axis LX of the article, by from about 0.1 to about 30 degrees in either clock-wise or counterclock-wise direction, or from about 0.1 to about 15 degrees in either clock-wise or counterclock-wise direction.
The tensile stress (N/m) of the entirety of the front and back elastic belts 84, 86, respectively, may be profiled in order to provide the functional benefits of the present invention, such as ease of stretch and application, while also maintaining certain force during wear, to prevent the article from sagging after loading. When the elasticity of the front and back elastic belts 84, 86 are provided by a plurality of elastic members 96 running in the transverse direction, the tensile stress may be adjusted by one or more of the following methods; 1) elongation rate of the elastic member 96; 2) density (dtex) of the elastic member 96; 3) longitudinal interval of multiple elastic members 96; and 4) effective length of elasticity of the elastic member 96 in the transverse direction. By elongation, “0% elongation” is meant the original length of the elastic member. When a portion of an elastic member 96 is removed of its elasticity, the remainder of the intact elastic member capable of imparting elasticity is defined as the “effective length of elasticity of an elastic member”.
Referring to
In the article of the present invention, the tensile stress of the front proximal tummy zone 106 may be provided higher than the tensile stress of any of the front waist zone 102, the front distal tummy zone 104, or the front leg zone 108. The tensile stress of the front proximal tummy zone 106 may be higher than the tensile stress of any other zone, either in the front or the back. The tensile stress of the back distal tummy zone 104 may be provided higher than any of the tensile stress of the back waist zone 102, the back proximal tummy zone 106, or the back leg zone 108. When comparing the 4 zones each of the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt, the tensile stress may be provided greatest in the order of: the front proximal tummy zone 106, followed by the back distal tummy zone 104. Without being bound by theory, such profiling of the tensile stress per zone is believed to provide the article of the present invention with a shaped elastic belt 40 that conforms well to a human body, particularly to a lower torso of a child of less than 36 months of age, and therefore provide good fit and comfort to the wearer, without compromise of sagging prevention or leakage prevention. Namely, the front proximal tummy zone 106 is subject to high tensile stress such that the article may be anchored against the wearer's trochanter, while leaving more area for the back proximal tummy zone 106 to accommodate the wearer's buttock. As long as the article is anchored securely at the trochanter, the Upper Gather Region 220 may be provided in relatively lower tensile stress. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that such relatively lower tensile stress contributes in providing the Upper Gather Region 220 with improved regularity of gathering, as well as soft fit.
In the present invention, at least one of the inner sheet 92 and the outer sheet 94 may further comprise a plurality of deformations wherein the deformations are aligned in the longitudinal direction. Deformations may be apertures, slits, engravings, embossings, projections, or any other permanent deformation to the nonwoven material for making the inner sheet 92 and/or the outer sheet 94, so long as they are aligned in the longitudinal direction. For example, referring to
The deformation may be a continuous line extending in the longitudinal direction, or an array of discrete deformations aligned in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other with a longitudinal pitch of DF2, wherein DF2 is not greater than DF1, as in
The deformation may be an aperture on the outer sheet, wherein the aperture is in the shape of a circle, oval, or polyhedron, and having have a minor radius of at least about 0.1 mm, or from about 0.1 mm to about 1.5, or from about 0.4 mm to about 1.5 mm, and having an aspect ratio of less than about 3, or less than about 2. What is meant by minor radius herein is the radius of a circle, minor radius of an oval, or one half the shortest dimension of a polyhedron. Apertures of such size and shape may be visible to the naked eye on the garment-facing surface, and thus connote breathability and high quality of the gather, as well as the entire laminate. Thus, apertures may be provided on the outer sheet 92. The apertures may be provided on both the inner and outer sheets 92, 94 for enhancing breathability. Further, by providing VG1 greater than DF1, the apertures are positioned on the folding as described above, thus the visibility of the apertures are enhanced, even when the gathers are in contracted state.
The front and back non-elastic regions 221 are removed of elasticity and have less or no gathering, thus the material forming the garment facing side of the non-elastic regions 221 have high visibility. Further, the front and back non-elastic regions 221 are adjacent the Upper Gather Region 220 as well as the crotch region 30, and positioned more or less in the longitudinal and transverse center of the article when worn. Thus, the aesthetic effect of the non-elastic regions 221 in coordination with the remainder of the article provide certain perception of quality for the entire article. The aesthetic effect of the non-elastic regions 221 may be coordinated with the Upper Gather Region 220 to enhance the directionality of the longitudinally continuing gathers of the Upper Gather Region 220. Additionally or alternatively, the aesthetic effect of the non-elastic regions 221 may be coordinated with the crotch region 30 to enhance the integral undergarment like appearance of the article. Such aesthetic effects are expected to provide the perception of a high quality article.
The non-elastic regions 221 and crotch region 30 are provided with an Aesthetic Pattern or a Geometric Pattern. In the present invention, by Aesthetic Pattern, what is meant is a repeating visual presentation which may be a Geometric Pattern, or a printed pattern, so long as the repeating visual presentation is visible from the garment-facing side by the naked eye. In the present invention, by Geometric Pattern, what is meant is a repeating visual presentation which is a permanent deformation to the material forming the garment-facing side of the non-elastic region 221, and which is visible from the garment-facing side by the naked eye. Permanent deformation may be apertures, embossings, and other textural deformations provided on the garment facing surface of the article. The garment facing surface of the crotch region 30 may be the outer cover layer 42. Permanent deformations that are not visible to the naked eye are not considered as a Geometric Pattern herein. Permanent deformations not visible to the naked eye include those that are too fine or too subtle for the naked eye to perceive, those which are provided in such uniformity that the deformation may not be perceived, and those which are not disposed on the garment facing surface. Permanent deformations may be the same or different deformations as described above for assisting gather forming. Printed patterns may be those directly printed by color on the garment facing surface of the non-elastic region 221 or crotch region 30, and/or printed on layers superposing the non-elastic region 221 or crotch region 30 and visible through the layers overlapping them. For example, the printed pattern may be provided on the garment facing surface of the inner sheet 94. For example, the printed pattern may be provided on a layer of the central chassis overlapping with the non-elastic region 221 or crotch region 30.
The non-elastic region 221 herein is provided with a First Belt Pattern FBP. The First Belt Pattern FBP may have a Longitudinal Orientation, according to the measurements herein. Longitudinal Orientation may be measured by Observation. Alternatively or additionally, Longitudinal Orientation may be determined by Image Analysis wherein the First Belt Pattern FBP may have a Longitudinal Distribution of at least about 35%, or at least about 50%, or at least about 70%, and a Transverse Distribution of no more than about 35%, or no more than about 20%, or no more than about 10%, according to the measurements herein. What is described by the Longitudinal Orientation herein, is the longitudinally directed impression that the naked eye perceives when observing the repeating visual presentation of a pattern. For example, referring to
Referring to
Longitudinal Orientation may be determined by Image Analysis, as discussed in further detail in the measurement section below. The Longitudinal/Transverse Distribution is for extracting the longitudinally continuous and transverse continuous impressions of a pattern by utilizing image analysis, in order to define the distribution of a particular pattern in the longitudinal and transverse direction.
Without being bound by theory, by providing the First Belt Pattern FBP to have a Longitudinal Orientation, the non-elastic region 221 appears coordinated with the Upper Gather Region 220 to enhance the directionality of the longitudinally continuing gathers of the Upper Gather Region 220.
The crotch region 30 herein is provided with a First Crotch Pattern FCP. The First Crotch Pattern FCP may be an Aesthetic Pattern or a Geometric Pattern. The First Crotch Pattern FCP may have a Longitudinal Orientation, according to the measurements herein. Similarly to the First Belt Pattern FBP, the Longitudinal Orientation of the First Crotch Pattern FCP may be measured by Observation and/or determined by Image Analysis. What is described by Longitudinal Orientation, according to measurements herein, is the longitudinally directed impression that the naked eye perceives when observing the repeating visual presentation of a pattern, similar to what was discussed for the First Belt Pattern FBP. Referring to
By providing both the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP to have Longitudinal Orientation, the non-elastic regions 221 appear coordinated with the crotch region 30 to enhance the integral undergarment like appearance of the article. Such combination of the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP is particularly useful for belt-type pants wherein the ring like elastic belt 40 and the central chassis 38 are provided as different parts. By providing both the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP to have Longitudinal Orientation, the visibility of the border between the different parts may be alleviated. The First Belt Pattern FBP and First Crotch Pattern FCP may both be a Geometric Pattern.
The First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP may have a common element. By having a common element, what is meant is that the Basic Unit, according to the measurements herein, of the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP are provided the same or similar. For example, the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP of
The common element may be expressed in different sizes wherein the Basic Unit is geometrically similar. The common element may be disposed in similar orientation of direction, color, and density. For example, referring to
The common element may be provided in different methods. For example, a particular element provided as a Geometric Pattern for the First Belt Pattern FBP may be provided as a printed pattern for the First Crotch Pattern FCP. In another example, a particular element provided as an embossing for the First Belt Pattern FBP may be provided as an aperture for the First Crotch Pattern FCP.
Referring back to
For preventing the interference as discussed above, the front or back elastic belts 84, 86 may be provided to have an Opacity of at least about 25%, or at least about 45%, according to the measurements herein. By providing such Opacity, and providing the First Belt Pattern FBP to have a Longitudinal Orientation, it is difficult to see through the materials configuring the belt materials, such that it is difficult to identify the First Crotch Pattern FCP through the belt materials.
Referring to
The non-elastic region 221 may further comprise a Second Belt Pattern SBP. The Second Belt Pattern SBP is a different pattern from the First Belt Pattern FBP in either visual presentation or a similar pattern provided in different methods, as discussed above. By similar pattern provided in different methods, what is meant is, for example a First Belt Pattern FBP provided in embossing, and a Second Belt Pattern SBP provided in color matching the embossing. The Second Belt Pattern SBP may be an Aesthetic Pattern or a Geometric Pattern. The Second Belt Pattern SBP may have a common element with the First Belt Pattern FBP or the First Crotch Pattern FCP. The crotch region 30 may further comprise a Second Crotch Pattern SCP. The Second Crotch Pattern SCP is a different pattern from the First Crotch Pattern FCP in either visual presentation or a similar pattern provided in different methods, as discussed above. The Second Crotch Pattern SCP may be an Aesthetic Pattern or a Geometric Pattern. The Second Crotch Pattern SCP may have a common element with the First Belt Pattern FBP or the First Crotch Pattern FCP. The Second Belt Pattern SBP and the Second Crotch Pattern SCP may have a common element. Referring to
The First Belt Pattern FBP, the First Crotch Pattern FCP, the Second Belt Pattern SBP, and the Second Crotch Pattern SCP may each have a Pattern Density, according to measurements herein. The Pattern Density of a particular pattern may be selected in order to provide a particular aesthetic effect. For example, the Pattern Density of the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP may be made to have less than about 10 points difference, such that the non-elastic region 221 appears coordinated with the crotch region 30 to enhance the integral undergarment like appearance of the article. For the belt-type pant, the visibility of the border between the different parts may be alleviated. In another example, the Pattern Density may be provided in a gradient which gradually decreases from the distal edge 88 towards the proximal edge 90 and further into the crotch region 30.
Referring to
The First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP may form a High Order Pattern HOP in an area dimension of from about 16 mm2 to about 200 mm2 wherein the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP are Geometric Patterns having a common element, wherein both the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP having a Non-directional Orientation, according to the measurements herein. By Non-directional Orientation, what is meant is an impression that the pattern is neither oriented in the longitudinal direction or the transverse direction. The direction orientation of the High Order Pattern HOP is determined by Image Analysis, according to measurements herein. Specifically, a Non-direction Orientation has a Longitudinal Distribution (distribution % at 90 degrees) of less than about 35% as well as a Transverse Distribution (distribution % at 0 degrees) of less than about 35%. Specifically, a Non-direction Orientation may have a Longitudinal Distribution of less than about 15% as well as a Transverse Distribution of less than about 15%. What is meant by High Order Pattern HOP is a pattern which, unlike the randomly repeating unit described above, have inconsistent spacing between the deformations. The inconsistent spacing may be alternating or varying. Because of the inconsistent spacing, the pattern may provide a presentation of a shape that is of a greater dimension than that of the individual deformations. Referring to
The area dimension of a High Order Pattern HOP is obtained as follows. First, a base pattern of the High Order Pattern HOP is identified. By base pattern, what is meant is, for example, the circle shape of
Referring to
By providing both the First Belt Pattern FBP and the First Crotch Pattern FCP to have a Non-directional Orientation, and further having a common element of a High Order Pattern HOP, the non-elastic region 221 appears coordinated with the crotch region 30 to enhance the integral undergarment like appearance of the article. For the belt-type pant, the visibility of the border between the different parts may be alleviated.
Force is measured using an Electronic Tensile Tester with a computer interface such as the MTS Criterion C42 running TestWorks 4 Software (available from MTS SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD) or equivalent instrument. A load cell is selected so that force results for the samples tested will be between 10% and 90% of capacity of the load cell used. The instrument is calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. All testing is performed in a room maintained at 23±2° C. and 50±5% relative humidity.
The tensile tester is fitted with hanger-type sample holding fixtures 300 as shown in
Gauge Circumference=2×(H+D+πD/2)
where H is the vertical gap between the horizontal bar sections 302, and D is the outer diameter of the bar.
The instrument is set up to go through the following steps:
An article 20 sample is inserted onto the upper horizontal bar section 302 so that the bar passes through the waist opening and one leg opening of the article. The crosshead is raised until the specimen hangs above the lower bar and does not touch lower bar 302. The load cell is tared and the crosshead is lowered to enable the lower bar 302 to be inserted through the waist opening and other leg opening without stretching the article. The article is adjusted so that the longitudinal centerline LX of the article is in a horizontal plane halfway between the upper and lower bars 302. The center of the side portion in contact with the bar 302 is situated on the same vertical axis as the instrument load cell. The crosshead is raised slowly while the article is held in place by hand as necessary until the force is between 0.05 and 0.1N, while taking care not to add any unnecessary force. The gauge circumference at this point is the Initial Gauge Circumference. The test is initiated and the crosshead moves up at 254 mm/min until a force of 19.6N is attained, then the crosshead immediately returns to the Initial Gauge Circumference at the same speed. The maximum circumference at 19.6N and the force at 70% of the maximum circumference during the loading segment and unloading segment of the test are recorded.
The maximum circumference (mm) at 19.6N is defined as the Full Stretch Circumference
W1. The Full Stretch Circumference (mm)×0.7 is defined as the 70% Stretch Circumference
W2. The force (N) during the loading segment of the test at 70% Stretch Circumference is defined as the Stretch Circumference Force. The force (N) during the unloading segment of the test at 70% Stretch Circumference is defined as the Fit Circumference Force. Five samples are analyzed and their average are calculated and reported to the nearest 1 mm or 0.01N, respectively.
The opacity of a material, or material combined, is the degree to which light is blocked by that material. A higher opacity value indicates a higher degree of light block by the material. Opacity may be measured using a 0° illumination/45° detection, circumferential optical geometry, spectrophotometer with a computer interface such as the HunterLab LabScan XE running Universal Software (available from Hunter Associates Laboratory Inc., Reston, Va.). Instrument calibration and measurements are made using the standard white and black calibration plates provided by the vendor. All testing is performed in a room maintained at about 23±2° C. and about 50±5% relative humidity.
The spectrophotometer is configured for the XYZ color scale, D65 illuminant, 10° standard observer, with UV filter set to nominal. The instrument is standardized according to the manufacturer's procedures using the 44.45 mm (1.750 inch) area view. After calibration, the software is set to the Y opacity procedure which prompts the operator to cover the sample with either the white or black calibration tile during the measurement.
To obtain a sample, the front or back elastic belt is removed from the remainder of the article by removing the center chassis by hand after applying cold spray, such as La Pointique Int'l Ltd. Cold spray 829, to the adhesive connecting the belt and center chassis. The belt thus removed from the center chassis is opened at the side seams by scissors. The non-elastic region of the belt is cut into a 101.6 mm by 101.6 mm portion using scissor for analysis. Samples are pre-conditioned at 23° C.±2° C. and 50%±5% relative humidity for two hours prior to testing.
Place sample over the measurement port. The sample should completely cover the port with the surface corresponding to the garment-facing surface of the article directed toward the port. Cover the specimen with the white standard plate. Take a reading, then remove the white tile and replace it with the black standard tile without moving the specimen. Obtain a second reading, and calculate the opacity as follows:
Opacity=(Y value(black backing)/Y value(white backing))×100
A total of three belts of similar region are analyzed and their opacity results recorded. Calculate and report the average opacity to the nearest 0.1%.
This measurement is provided for a visible randomly repeating pattern, which is defined as a visually recognizable pattern by the naked eye when observed from a distance of 10 cm. Referring to
Those patterns having the X spacing greater than the Y spacing by at least 10% are considered having a Longitudinal Orientation. Five portions of the same pattern are analyzed and their average are calculated and reported to the nearest %.
This measurement is provided for a High Order Pattern HOP. A HOP is a Geometric Pattern visually recognizable by the naked eye when observed from a distance of 10 cm, and having inconsistent spacing between the deformations. The inconsistent spacing may be alternating or varying. The repetition of a HOP made of a number of deformations is identified by observation. Referring to
Five HOP Units of the same pattern are analyzed, and reported to the closest 1 mm2.
An article 20 sample is mounted on a rigid plastic plate which has an appropriate size which enables mounting the elastic belt 40 of the sample in a state stretched by 65% to 90% of its Full Stretch Circumference W1. For measurement of the article samples of Examples 1-2, a rigid plastic plate having a dimension of 250 mm in the transverse direction and a thickness of 4 mm was used. Further, a stretching block is inserted in the sample between the front side and the plastic plate. Regardless of the size of the sample, the stretching block has a dimension of 110 mm in the transverse direction, 170 mm in the longitudinal direction, and thickness of 25 mm. The stretching block is inserted to the center of the article such that any elastics on the central chassis (38) are in a substantially stretched state.
The sample prepared above is placed on a non-reflective black background plate horizontally with the front side facing up. A Canon camera (CanonEO2 6D Mark 2) with lens (EF 24-105 mm f/4L IS2 USM) or equivalent is placed directly vertically above the sample in a length of 1050 mm. Two bar lights (Smart Vision Lights LHF 300 or equivalent) are placed 650 mm away from the sample in the transverse direction, 300 mm away from the sample in the vertical direction, wherein the surface of the light is faced in an angle of 45±6 degrees from the horizontal direction, and the longer dimension of the bar light is placed in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the sample. The focal length of the camera is set to 64 mm. The image acquisition settings are; ISO: 400, F: 5.0, exposure time: 1/160 seconds
a) The above acquired images are imported into ImageJ software (version. 1.52h, National Institute of Health, USA) or equivalent, and converted into 8 bit.
b) Set the scale referencing to the rigid plastic plate.
c) The analyzing region of the First Belt Pattern (FBP) and First Crotch Pattern (FCP) are cropped out simultaneously as a 50 mm×50 mm square each, and side by side, from nearly the transverse center of the article, while avoiding regions which have wrinkles, shadows, or high reflection. The images obtained by this step were as such:
d) The cropped images are filtered using the “FFT bandpass filter” in ImageJ with filter large structure down to 10 pixels, filter small structure up to 3 pixels with check marks on the “function of autoscale after filtering” and “surtulation when autoscaling”.
e) The filtered images obtained in step d) are converted to black & white color using threshold at 70 gray value.
f) An ImageJ built-in plugin called “particle analysis” is applied to the threshold images obtained in step e) for filtering out particles having a size of less than 0.2 mm2, set “Show” pull down menu to “Masks” to create cleaned pattern images and check mark on the summary table. The cleaned pattern images obtained by this step for Examples 1 and 2 were
g) The cleaned pattern images obtained in step f) are T filtered using the “Gaussian Blur” filter in ImageJ with a Sigma (radius) of 1 mm. The images obtained by this step for Examples 1 and 2 were
h) To calculate the orientation distribution, an ImageJ built-in plugin called “directionality” is applied to the blur filtered images obtained in step g) to calculate the orientation distribution. The analysis parameters used are: Method: Fourier components; Nbins: 5, histogram start: −45; histogram end: 135 with check mark at the Display table.
i) Obtain directional distribution from the output table. The output table contains distribution of each angle −45°, 0°, 45°, 90° and 135°. Transversal Distribution is defined as the distribution % at 0°. Longitudinal Distribution is defined as the distribution % at 90°. Five samples are analyzed and their average are calculated and reported to the nearest 0.01 points.
Examples 1 and 2 were created by having the belt configuration of
The article of Examples 1 and 2 provide aesthetically pleasing integral appearance. The article of Examples 1 and 2 also have improved stretchability for ease of application, improved fit for preventing sagging, improved comfort and softness, and improved breathability for skin health.
Examples A-H were created as synthetic photographs of pant type articles having an appearance seen from the front of the article as in
20 panelists who were caregivers of babies using pant diapers, mostly of Size 4 or 5 (L or XL size), and having a mixture of usage experience of major brands were recruited. The panelists were shown all of the visuals for Examples A-H and asked to rate the values as found in Table 4 below against those values using the 5 ratings, which were scored as such: “Poor”=0, “Fair”=25, “Good”=50, “Very Good”=75, and “Excellent”=100. The scores were averaged.
According to the test above, Examples B, C, and D which meet the requirements of the present invention have statistically significant overall preference over at least some of Examples E through H which do not meet the requirements of the present invention.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.” Further, every numerical range given throughout this specification includes every narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numerical range.
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2019/075102 | Feb 2019 | CN | national |
| PCT/CN2020/073410 | Jan 2020 | CN | national |
This application claims priority to Chinese PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CN2020/073410, filed on Jan. 21, 2020, and to Chinese PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CN2019/075102, filed on Feb. 14, 2019, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
