Absorbent article with an elastic waistband having a preferred ratio of elastic to non-elastic materials
View Patent ↗An absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, includes a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front and back waist regions. An outer cover member and a bodyside liner extend longitudinally between the front and back waist regions. An absorbent body structure is sandwiched between the outer cover member and the bodyside liner. A waistband portion includes at least one elastomeric portion. The waistband portion has a relaxed circumference wherein between about 45% to about 70% of the circumference is defined by the elastomeric portion. The waistband portion has an extended circumference for a target wearer wherein, at the extended circumference, the elastomeric portion is extended between about 10% to about 40% of its relaxed circumferential length.
1. An absorbent article, comprising:
a. a chassis, wherein said chassis includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and an intermediate region connecting said front and back waist regions and wherein said front and back waist regions define a circumference when connected;
b. a substantially liquid permeable bodyside liner and a substantially liquid impermeable outer cover extending longitudinally between said front and back waist regions;
c. an absorbent body between said liner and said outer cover;
d. an elastomeric region in at least one of said front and back waist regions, wherein said elastomeric region extends across approximately 45% to 70% of said circumference;
e. wherein said elastomeric region experiences at least approximately 25% load loss upon stretching to increase said circumference from approximately 10% to no more than 40%.
2. The absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric region includes at least two spaced apart regions of elastomeric material.
3. The absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said front waist region is non-elastomeric.
4. The absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric region may be extended approximately 17% to 26% of said circumference.
5. The absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric region comprises a continuous, unitary portion of said back waist region.
6. The absorbent article as in claim 5 , wherein said continuous, unitary portion of said back waist region comprises elastomeric attachment tabs.
7. The absorbent article as in claim 6 , wherein said attachment tabs include non-elastomeric material at a distal end.
8. The absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said absorbent article comprises a diaper.
9. The absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said absorbent article is a child's training pant.
10. The absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said absorbent article is an adult incontinence article.
11. An absorbent article, comprising:
a chassis, wherein said chassis includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and an intermediate region connecting said front and back waist regions and wherein said front and back waist regions define a circumference when connected;
a substantially liquid permeable bodyside liner and a substantially liquid impermeable outer cover extending longitudinally between said front and back waist regions;
an absorbent body between said liner and said outer cover;
a continuous, unitary elastomeric region in said back waist region, wherein said elastomeric region extends across approximately 45% to 70% of said circumference;
wherein said elastomeric region experiences at least approximately 25% load loss upon stretching to increase said circumference from approximately 10% to no more than 40%.
12. The absorbent article as in claim 11 , wherein said front waist region is non-elastomeric.
13. The absorbent article as in claim 11 , wherein said continuous, unitary elastomeric region comprises elastomeric attachment tabs.
14. The absorbent article as in claim 13 , wherein said attachment tabs include non-elastomeric material at a distal end.