Printed Absborbent Article Components For A Uniform Appearance

Abstract

A method is presented for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having multiple components including selecting a first material appropriate for use as an outer cover; producing a chassis including the outer cover, the outer cover including an outer cover central region having an outer cover central region appearance; selecting a second material appropriate for use as an elastic panel, wherein the second material is different from the first material; and producing a first elastic panel having a first elastic panel central region. The method also includes printing the first elastic panel central region with a first elastic panel printed graphic; and attaching the first elastic panel to the chassis, wherein the selecting and printing are performed such that the first elastic panel central region gives the appearance of being substantially similar to the outer cover central region appearance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable absorbent article having a uniform garment-like appearance, the article comprising:
 a chassis including an outer cover, a liner generally parallel to the outer cover, an absorbent core disposed therebetween, and an outer cover central region including an outer cover printed graphic;   a first elastic panel attached at a seam to the chassis, the first elastic panel including a first elastic panel central region having a first elastic panel central region appearance;   wherein the outer cover includes a first material, wherein the first elastic panel includes a second material, wherein neither the outer cover central region nor the first elastic panel central region includes a printed waistband, and wherein the outer cover central region has the appearance of being substantially similar to the first elastic panel central region appearance.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic panel central region appearance includes a first elastic panel texture appearance, and wherein the outer cover printed graphic is printed to appear substantially similar to the first elastic panel texture appearance. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic panel central region appearance includes a first elastic panel printed graphic, wherein the first elastic panel printed graphic is substantially similar to the outer cover printed graphic. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic panel central region and the outer cover central region do not include a waistband or a leg band. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second elastic panel attached at a seam to the chassis, the second elastic panel including a second elastic panel central region having a second elastic panel central region appearance, wherein the outer cover central region has the appearance of being substantially similar to the second elastic panel central region appearance.   
     
     
         6 . A disposable absorbent article having a uniform garment-like appearance, the article comprising:
 a chassis including an outer cover, a liner generally parallel to the outer cover, and an absorbent core disposed therebetween;   a first elastic panel attached at a seam to the chassis;   a second elastic panel attached at a seam to the chassis, wherein the first elastic panel is attached at a seam to the second elastic panel;   a waist opening and two leg openings; and   a lateral circumference taken between the waist opening and the leg openings, wherein the outer cover includes a first material, wherein each elastic panel includes a second material, wherein the first material is different from the second material, and wherein the article includes a printed graphic along the entire circumference and on the outer cover.   
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the second material has a greater elasticity than the first material.