IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,182,457
Granted Patent B2
US 8,182,457 · App. 09/855,196 · Granted May 22, 2012

Garment having an apparent elastic band

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,182,457
App. No.
09/855,196
Granted
May 22, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A disposable garment includes a chassis defining one or more openings for the legs, arms, waist or the like on a wearer. An apparent elastic band is located in the vicinity of at least one of the openings. The apparent elastic band looks and functions like an elastic band, but is not an elastic band, and is less expensive to implement than an elastic band.

Claims (43)

1. A disposable garment, comprising:

a chassis defining a waist opening and two leg openings; and

an apparent elastic band in the vicinity of at least one of the waist and leg openings, the apparent elastic band including a color pigment applied to a zone in a targeted elastic material that creates a visible perception of a discrete elastic band on the targeted elastic material where no actual elastic band is present on the targeted elastic material.

2. The disposable garment of claim 1 , comprising the apparent elastic band in the vicinity of the waist opening.

3. The disposable garment of claim 1 , comprising apparent elastic bands in the vicinity of both leg openings.

4. The disposable garment of claim 1 , comprising apparent elastic bands in the vicinity of the waist and leg openings.

5. The disposable garment of claim 1 , wherein the apparent elastic band comprises a high tension zone of the targeted elastic material, and a strip of extendible inelastic material over the high tension zone.

6. The disposable garment of claim 5 , wherein the extendible inelastic material comprises a spunbond web.

7. The disposable garment of claim 6 , wherein the spunbond web comprises a neck-stretched spunbond web.

8. The disposable garment of claim 5 , wherein the extendible inelastic material comprises a meltblown web.

9. The disposable garment of claim 5 , wherein the extendible inelastic material comprises a carded web selected from bonded carded webs and hydraulically entangled webs.

10. The disposable garment of claim 5 , wherein the extendible inelastic material comprises an air laid web.

11. The disposable garment of claim 5 , wherein the extendible inelastic material comprises a polymer film.

12. The disposable garment of claim 5 , wherein the strip of extendible inelastic material further comprises a color pigment.

13. The disposable garment of claim 1 , wherein the apparent elastic band comprises a high tension zone of the targeted elastic material, and a band of color pigment in or over the high tension zone.

14. A disposable absorbent garment, comprising:

a chassis including an absorbent composite structure and side panels extending from the absorbent composite structure;

waist and leg openings defined by the chassis; and

an apparent elastic band in the vicinity of at least one of the waist and leg openings, the apparent elastic band including a color pigment applied to a zone in a targeted elastic material that creates a visible perception of a discrete elastic band on the targeted elastic material where no actual elastic band is present on the targeted elastic material.

15. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 14 , comprising the apparent elastic band in the vicinity of the waist opening.

16. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 14 , comprising apparent elastic bands in the vicinity of the leg openings.

17. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 14 , comprising apparent elastic bands in the vicinity of the waist and leg openings.

18. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 14 , comprising apparent elastic bands in the side panels, further comprising at least one elastic band on the chassis substantially aligned with an apparent elastic band.

19. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 14 , wherein the side panels comprise the targeted elastic material, the targeted elastic material having high and low tension zones.

20. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 19 , wherein the targeted elastic material comprises a targeted elastic laminate.

21. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 20 , wherein the apparent elastic band comprises a high tension zone of the targeted elastic laminate, and a strip of extendible inelastic material over the high tension zone.

22. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21 , wherein the extendible inelastic material comprises a nonwoven web.

23. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 22 , wherein the nonwoven web comprises a neck-stretched nonwoven web.

24. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21 , wherein the strip of extendible inelastic material further comprises a color pigment.

25. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 20 , wherein the apparent elastic band comprises a high tension zone of the targeted elastic laminate, and a band of color pigment in or over the high tension zone.

26. A disposable garment, comprising:

a chassis defining one or more openings; and

an apparent elastic band in the vicinity of at least one of the openings, the apparent elastic band including a color pigment applied to a zone in a targeted elastic material that creates a visible perception of a discrete elastic band on the targeted elastic material where no actual elastic band is present on the targeted elastic material.

27. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising a diaper.

28. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising a training pant.

29. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising a feminine hygiene article.

30. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising swim wear.

31. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising an absorbent underpant.

32. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising a protective gown.

33. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising a protective cap.

34. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising a protective glove.

35. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising a protective drape.

36. The disposable garment of claim 26 , comprising a protective face mask.

Assignments (1)
NAME CHANGE Recorded Feb 3, 2015
From: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
To: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 034880/0742 →