Absorbent article with ear portion

Abstract

An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; and a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent article also includes an ear disposed in one of the waist regions. The ear includes a laminate having a first nonwoven and a second nonwoven and an elastomeric material sandwiched between said first and second nonwovens in an elasticized region. The laminate also includes a first bonding region comprising a first plurality of ultrasonic bonds having a first bond density, and a second bonding region comprising a second plurality of ultrasonic bonds having a second bond density. The first bond density is greater than the second bond density.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction;   a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions;   a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and   an ear disposed in one of the first or second waist regions, the ear comprising:
 an inelastic region extending in the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction; 
 an elasticized region adjacent to the inelastic region; and 
 a laminate comprising:
 a first nonwoven and a second nonwoven and an elastomeric material sandwiched between the first and second nonwovens in the elasticized region; 
 a first bonding region comprising a first plurality of ultrasonic bonds joining a first set of layers of the laminate and having a first bond density, wherein the first bonding region is laterally-extending and disposed in the inelastic region; and 
 a second bonding region disposed in the elasticized region, the second bonding region comprising a second plurality of ultrasonic bonds joining a second set of layers of the laminate different from the first set of layers and having a second bond density, wherein the first bond density differs from the second bond density, wherein a portion of the second plurality of ultrasonic bonds form a line extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the inelastic region. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , comprising a second inelastic region extending in the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction, wherein the elasticized region extends between the inelastic region and the second inelastic region. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , comprising a fastening system extending from the second inelastic region, wherein a fastener attachment bond attaches the fastening system to a portion of the second inelastic region, and wherein a portion of the fastener attachment bond overlaps a portion of a third bonding region in the second inelastic region. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the line is formed of discontinuous bonds. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 4 , wherein a second portion of the second plurality of ultrasonic bonds form a second line extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the inelastic region. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 5 , wherein a third portion of the second plurality of ultrasonic bonds form a third line extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the inelastic region. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the line, the second line, and the third line all extend in the same direction. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first bond density is at least 5% different than the second bond density. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second bond densities are determined solely by bond frequency. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first bond density and the second bond density are determined solely by aggregate bond coverage. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first bonding region and the second bonding region are adjacent. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the elasticized region comprises a first edge and a second edge, and wherein at least one of the first or second edges is disposed in the first bonding region. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first bonding region extends the length of the ear along a lateral width where the first bonding region is present. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 13 , wherein the second bonding region extends the length of the ear along a lateral width where the second bonding region is present. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the line extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the second inelastic region. 
     
     
         16 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction;   a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions;   a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and   an ear disposed in one of the first or second waist regions, the ear comprising:
 an inelastic region extending in the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction; 
 an elasticized region adjacent to the inelastic region; and 
 a laminate comprising:
 a first nonwoven and a second nonwoven and an elastomeric material sandwiched between the first and second nonwovens in the elasticized region; 
 a first bonding region comprising a first plurality of ultrasonic bonds joining a first set of layers of the laminate and having a first bond density, wherein the first bonding region is laterally-extending and disposed in the inelastic region; and 
 a second bonding region disposed in the elasticized region, the second bonding region comprising a second plurality of ultrasonic bonds joining a second set of layers of the laminate different from the first set of layers and having a second bond density, wherein the first bond density differs from the second bond density, wherein a portion of the second plurality of ultrasonic bonds form a discontinuous line extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the inelastic region. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 16 , wherein a second portion of the second plurality of ultrasonic bonds form a second discontinuous line extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the inelastic region. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 17 , wherein a third portion of the second plurality of ultrasonic bonds form a third discontinuous line extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the inelastic region. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 18 , wherein a fourth portion of the second plurality of ultrasonic bonds form a fourth discontinuous line extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the inelastic region. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 19 , wherein the discontinuous line, the second discontinuous line, the third discontinuous line, and the fourth discontinuous line all extend in the same direction.