Method for manufacturing a three dimensionally shaped article comprising hip/thigh panels and a hoop from a plus-shaped blank, and such an article

Abstract

The present invention relates to an article for being worn on the lower torso of a wearer. The article having leg hoops for encircling a part of the upper thigh regions, a waist hoop for encircling the waist of a wearer during use, a centre piece, two hip/thigh panels, and a further web material for being positioned on the inner thigh region of the wearer. The centre piece having a web material including a front region for being positioned in the front abdominal region of the wearer, a rear region for being positioned in the lower back region of the wearer, and a centre region for being positioned in the crotch region of the wearer. The two hip/thigh panels have web materials for being positioned on the hips of the wearer and extending downwardly into at least the upper thigh region of the wearer, being rectangularly or trapzoidally shaped.

1 . An article for being worn on a lower torso of a wearer, said article comprising:
 leg hoops for encircling a part of an upper thigh region respectively;   a waist hoop for encircling a waist of the wearer during use;   a centre piece comprising a web material comprising a front region for being positioned in a front abdominal region of the wearer, a rear region for being positioned in a lower back region of the wearer, and a centre region for being positioned in a crotch region of the wearer;   at least two hip/thigh panels comprising web materials for being positioned on hips of the wearer and extending downwardly into at least the upper thigh region of the wearer, said hip/thigh panels being at one of rectangularly and trapzoidally shaped; and   a further web material for being positioned on an inner thigh region of the wearer;   wherein said hip/thigh panels are connected to said centre region of said centre piece essentially only adjacently to a front respectively rear region to form said leg hoops during use;   wherein said hip/thigh panels are connected to said front and rear regions of said centre piece to form said waist hoop;   wherein said centre region has a three-dimensional (3D) cup shape sustained by curve-linear fold lines in a lateral outward position of said centre region, said fold lines forming at least one connecting line.   
     
     
         2 . The article according to  claim 1 , further comprising a further material comprised in said waist hoop, which is essentially unitary within hip regions, and which is one of closed by being connected in a region corresponding to said front region of said centre piece, said rear region of said centre piece, said front and rear region of said centre piece, and which forms a gap positioned in one of a front region of said article, a rear region of said article, and said front and rear region of said article. 
     
     
         3 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said waist and said leg hoops further comprising at least one draw string, wherein a first end of said drawstring is connected to said hip/thigh panels in a proximity to a connection of said hip/thigh panels to said rear region of said centre piece, and a second end of said drawstring comprises means for being releasably connected to one of said front region of said centre piece, and to said first end of said drawstring, wherein said drawstring is positioned in a tube like envelope, formed by folding over said hip/thigh panels. 
     
     
         4 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein at least said centre piece further comprising liquid absorbent material and a topsheet overlaying said liquid absorbent material oriented towards the wearer during use. 
     
     
         5 . The article according to  claim 4 , further comprising a secondary topsheet positioned essentially between said topsheet and the wearer during use. 
     
     
         6 . The article according to  claim 5 , wherein said secondary topsheet is positioned at least in said centre region of said centre piece, overlaying at least partially said topsheet, and is connected to said topsheet in a region of said centre piece, and is connected to leg cuff forming materials in a region laterally outwardly/upwardly positioned relative to one of said fold lines, and said connecting line. 
     
     
         7 . The article according to  claim 6 , wherein said secondary topsheet defining an opening for being positioned in a region of an anal opening of the wearer during use, said opening having an MD and an CD extension and a respective perimeter at least during use, and wherein said article further comprising at least two elastic elements each connected to at least a point of a perimeter of said opening or in proximity of said perimeter of said opening, whereby each two connection points are in a opposing position relative to a centre of said opening, and at least to a connection point of one of said topsheet and said secondary topsheet, said connection point being positioned outwardly away relative to said centre of said opening creating a force to sustain said opening. 
     
     
         8 . The article according to  claim 7 , wherein said secondary topsheet further comprising a cut line to form said opening positioned in the region of the anal opening of the wearer during use, wherein said elastic elements being one of elastic threads and bands are positioned essentially aligned with a longitudinal centre line of said article, wherein said elastic elements are connected to a point on a perimeter of said cut line or to a point in the proximity of said cut line and to a point longitudinally away from said cut line being in a waist region of said article, and tensioning of said elastic elements being configured to sustain said opening formed by said cut line. 
     
     
         9 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said hip/thigh panels including a side portion material having a curve-linearly shaped perimeter. 
     
     
         10 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said hip/thigh panels including a side portion material comprising one of defined openings arranged in a predetermined pattern, and discontinuous cut lines in MD orientation arranged in a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The article according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tear line for allowing tearing at a predetermined location, and a re-closeable connecting means arranged to re-connect parts after being separated along said tear line. 
     
     
         12 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said hip/thigh panels comprises at least two zones differing in one of composition and properties. 
     
     
         13 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein said article being one of a disposable absorbent article, a baby incontinence article, an adult incontinence article, a training pant, a feminine care article, a menstrual pant, and pant shaped underwear. 
     
     
         14 . An article for being worn on a lower torso of a wearer, said article comprising:
 leg hoops for encircling a part of an upper thigh region respectively;   a waist hoop for encircling a waist of the wearer during use;   a centre piece comprising a web material comprising a front region for being positioned in a front abdominal region of the wearer, a rear region for being positioned in a lower back region of the wearer, and a centre region for being positioned in a crotch region of the wearer;   at least two hip/thigh panels comprising web materials for being positioned on hips of the wearer and extending downwardly into at least the upper thigh region of the wearer, said hip/thigh panels being at one of rectangularly and trapzoidally shaped;   a further web material for being positioned on an inner thigh region of the wearer; and   a further material comprised in said waist hoop, which is essentially unitary within hip regions, and which is one of closed by being connected in a region corresponding to said front region of said centre piece, said rear region of said centre piece, said front and rear region of said centre piece, and which forms a gap positioned in one of a front region of said article, a rear region of said article, and said front and rear region of said article;   wherein said hip/thigh panels are connected to said centre region of said centre piece essentially only adjacently to a front respectively rear region to form said leg hoops during use;   wherein said hip/thigh panels are connected to said front and rear regions of said centre piece to form said waist hoop;   wherein said centre region has a three-dimensional (3D) cup shape sustained by curve-linear fold lines in a lateral outward position of said centre region, said fold lines forming a perimeter of a connecting region between said centre region and said further web material.   
     
     
         15 . The article according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said waist and said leg hoops comprises at least one draw string, wherein a first end of said drawstring is connected to said hip/thigh panels in a proximity to a connection of said hip/thigh panels to said rear region of said centre piece, and a second end of said drawstring comprises means for being releasably connected to one of said front region of said centre piece, and to said first end of said drawstring, wherein said drawstring is positioned in a tube like envelope, formed by folding over said hip/thigh panels. 
     
     
         16 . The article according to  claim 14 , wherein at least said centre piece further comprising liquid absorbent material and a topsheet overlaying said liquid absorbent material oriented towards the wearer during use. 
     
     
         17 . The article according to  claim 16 , further comprising a secondary topsheet positioned essentially between said topsheet and the wearer during use, said secondary topsheet being positioned at least in said centre region of said centre piece, overlaying at least partially said topsheet, and is connected to said topsheet in a region of said centre piece, and is connected to leg cuff forming materials in a region laterally outwardly/upwardly positioned relative to one of said fold lines, and said perimeter of said connecting region. 
     
     
         18 . The article according to  claim 17 , wherein said secondary topsheet defining an opening for being positioned in a region of an anal opening of the wearer during use, said opening having an MD and an CD extension and a respective perimeter at least during use, and wherein said article further comprising at least two elastic elements each connected to at least a point of a perimeter of said opening or in proximity of said perimeter of said opening, whereby each two connection points are in a opposing position relative to a centre of said opening, and at least to a connection point of one of said topsheet and said secondary topsheet, said connection point being positioned outwardly away relative to said centre of said opening creating a force to sustain said opening. 
     
     
         19 . The article according to  claim 18 , wherein said secondary topsheet further comprising a cut line to form said opening positioned in the region of the anal opening of the wearer during use, wherein said elastic elements being one of elastic threads and bands are positioned essentially aligned with a longitudinal centre line of said article, wherein said elastic elements are connected to a point on a perimeter of said cut line or to a point in the proximity of said cut line and to a point longitudinally away from said cut line being in a waist region of the article, and tensioning of said elastic elements being configured to sustain said opening formed by said cut line. 
     
     
         20 . The article according to  claim 14 , further comprising a tear line for allowing tearing at a predetermined location, and a re-closeable connecting means arranged to re-connect parts after being separated along said tear line.