Method for attaching discrete, stretched elastic strands to predetermined isolated portions of disposable absorbent products

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a method for attaching discrete portions of stretched elastic strands to predetermined isolated portions of disposable absorbent articles having obstructing elements positioned thereon in the areas where the elastic strands are to be unattached to the disposable absorbent article, is provided. In a preferred embodiment, discrete portions of stretched, continuous elastic strands are attached to predetermined isolated portions of a continuous diaper web having obstructing elements positioned thereon in the areas where the continuous elastic strands are to be unattached to the continuous diaper web. A disposable absorbent article made in accordance to the above described method is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for adhering discrete portions of an elastomeric member to a substrate having at least one obstructing element joined thereto, said method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having a first and second portion, at least part of said second portion of said substrate having at least one obstructing element comprising construction adhesive positioned thereon;   providing an elastomeric member in a stretched condition, said elastomeric member having a first portion and a second portion;   applying an elastic adhesive to said first portion of said elastomeric member;   applying a release agent to at least said second portion of said elastomeric member;   joining said elastomeric member to said substrate such that said first portion of said elastomeric member becomes joined to at least a portion of said first portion of said substrate and said second portion of said elastomeric member is disposed essentially on said second portion of said substrate, at least a part of said second portion of said elastomeric member superposing said obstructing element; and   relaxing said elastomeric member such that said first portion of said elastomeric member contracts said first portion of said substrate and said second portion of said elastomeric member becomes relaxed, inactive and non-functional without becoming restrained by said obstructing element.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive applied to said first portion of said elastic member is unaffected by said release agent and wherein said step of applying a release agent comprises continuously coating said elastic member with said release agent such that since said adhesive is unaffected by said release agent, said elastic member is joined to said substrate by said adhesive. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of applying a release agent comprises intermittently coating said elastic member with said release agent. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said release agent is applied to said elastic member before said elastic adhesive is applied to said elastic member. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said elastic member is intermittently coated with said elastic adhesive after said release agent is applied to said elastic member. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said obstructing element consists of construction adhesive. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said obstructing element additionally comprises a layer of natural rubber foam. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said release agent is a mineral oil. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises a portion of a disposable diaper. 
     
     
       10. A method for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having at least one obstructing element and having at least one elasticized leg cuff, said method comprising the steps of: providing a chassis having end edges, longitudinal side edges; a periphery substantially adjacent said end edges and said longitudinal side edges; a first waist region; a second waist region; and a crotch region extending between said first waist region and said second waist region; said chassis comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet, and absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet; and at least one obstructing element comprising construction adhesive joined to at least a portion of said second waist region of said chassis;   providing at least one elastomeric member in a stretched condition, said elastomeric member having a first portion and a second portion;   applying a release agent to at least said second portion of said elastomeric member;   applying an elastic adhesive to said first portion of said elastomeric member;   joining said elastomeric to a periphery of said chassis adjacent one of said longitudinal side edges such that at least part of said second portion superposes said obstructing element and said first portion becomes joined to at least a portion of said crotch region of said chassis; and   relaxing said elastomeric member from a stretched condition so that said first portion of said elastomeric member contracts at least a portion of said crotch region and said second portion becomes relaxed, inactive, and non-functional without being restrained by said obstructing element.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 wherein said adhesive applied to said first portion of said elastic member is unaffected by said release agent and wherein said step of applying said release agent to said elastomeric member comprises applying release agent to the entire length of said elastomeric member such that since said adhesive is unaffected by said release agent, said elastic member is joined to said substrate by said adhesive. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10 wherein said obstructing element comprises a layer of construction adhesive. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of providing a chassis comprising at least one obstructing element joined to at least a portion of said second waist region, comprises providing a chassis comprising two obstructing elements, each of said obstructing elements being joined to said second waist region, substantially adjacent to opposite longitudinal side edges of said chassis. 
     
     
       14. A method for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article having obstructing elements and having a first and second elasticized leg cuff, said method comprising the steps of: providing a chassis having end edges; a first longitudinal side edge; a second longitudinal side edge; a periphery substantially adjacent said end edges, said first longitudinal side edge, and said second longitudinal side edge; a first waist region having ear flaps; a second waist region having ear flaps; a crotch region extending between said first waist region and said second waist region; said chassis comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, at least one obstructing element comprising construction adhesive joined to at least the ear flaps of said second waist region; and at least one obstructing element comprising construction adhesive joined to at least the ear flaps of said first waist region;   providing a first elastomeric member and a second elastomeric member, said first elastomeric member and said second elastomeric member being in a stretched condition, said first elastomeric member and said second elastomeric member each having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion extending between said first end portion and said second end portion;   applying a release agent to at least first end portion and said second end portion of said first elastomeric member and said second elastomeric member;   applying an elastic adhesive to said middle portion of said first elastomeric member and said second elastomeric member;   joining said first elastomeric member and said second elastomeric member between said topsheet and said backsheet such that said first end portions superpose a portion of said obstructing element of said first waist region, said second end portions superpose a portion of said obstructing element of said second waist region, and said middle portions become joined to at least a portion of said crotch region, a middle portion of said first elastomeric member being joined in the periphery adjacent said first longitudinal side edge and the middle portion of said second elastomeric member being joined in the periphery adjacent said second longitudinal side edge;   relaxing said first elastomeric member and said second elastomeric member from a stretched condition so that: said first end portions become relaxed, inactive, and non-functional without being restrained by said obstructing element of said first waist region; said second end portions become relaxed, inactive, and non-functional without being restrained by said obstructing element of said second waist region; said middle portion of said first elastomeric member contracts a portion of the periphery adjacent said first longitudinal side edge to form a first elasticized leg cuff; and said middle portion of said elastomeric member contracts at least a portion of said periphery adjacent said longitudinal side edge to form a second elasticized leg cuff.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14 wherein said adhesive applied to said first portion of said elastomeric member is unaffected by said release agent and wherein said step of applying said release agent to at least said first elastomeric member and said second elastomeric member, comprises applying release agent to the entire length of said first elastomeric member and said second elastomeric member such that since said adhesive is unaffected by said release agent, said elastic member is joined to said substrate by said adhesive. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 14 wherein said obstructing element of said first waist region and said obstructing element of said second waist region comprise a layer of construction adhesive. 
     
     
       17. A disposable absorbent article having elasticized leg bands and at least one obstructing element, said disposable absorbent article comprising: a chassis having end edges; longitudinal side edges; a periphery substantially adjacent said end edges and said longitudinal side edges; a first waist region; a second waist region; and a crotch region extending between said first waist region and said second waist region; said chassis comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;   at least one obstructing element comprising construction adhesive joined to at least a portion of said second waist region of said chassis;   two elasticized leg cuffs, each of said leg cuffs being joined to the periphery of said chassis adjacent one of said longitudinal side edges, each of said elasticized leg cuffs comprising at least one elastomeric member having a first portion which is operatively associated with at least a portion of said crotch region of said chassis, and a second portion which is relaxed, inactive, and non-functional, each said elasticized leg cuffs being formed according to the method comprising the steps of:   providing at least one elastomeric member in a stretched condition, said elastomeric member having a first portion and a second portion;   applying a release agent to at least said second portion of said elastomeric member; applying an elastic adhesive to said first portion of said elastomeric member;   joining said elastomeric member between said topsheet and said backsheet such that said at least a part of said second portion superposes said obstructing element and said first portion becomes joined to at least a portion of said crotch region of said chassis; and   relaxing said elastomeric member from a stretched condition so that said first portion of said elastomeric member contracts at least a portion of said crotch region and said second portion becomes relaxed, inactive, and non-functional without being restrained by said obstructing element.   
     
     
       18. A disposable absorbent article having elasticized leg bands and at least two obstructing elements, said disposable absorbent article comprising: a chassis having end edges; longitudinal side edges; a periphery substantially adjacent said end edges and said longitudinal side edges; a first waist region; a second waist region; and a crotch region extending between said first waist region and said second waist region; said chassis comprising:   a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet; and first and second obstructing elements comprising construction adhesive, said first obstructing element being joined to at least a portion of said first waist region, said obstructing element being joined to at least a portion of said second waist region;   two elasticized leg cuffs, each of said leg cuffs being joined to the periphery of said chassis adjacent one of said longitudinal side edges, each of said elasticized leg cuffs comprising at least one elastomeric member having a first portion which is operatively associated with at least a portion of said crotch region of said chassis, and a second portion which is relaxed, inactive, and non-functional, each said elasticized leg cuffs being formed to the method comprising the steps of:   providing at least one elastomeric member in a stretched condition, said elastomeric member having a first portion and an alternating second portion;   applying a release agent to at least said alternating second portion of said elastomeric member;   applying an elastic adhesive to said first portion of said elastomeric member;   joining said elastomeric member between said topsheet and said backsheet such that at least part of said alternating second portion superposes said first obstructing element, at least part of said alternating second portion superposes said second obstructing element, said first portion becomes joined to at least a portion of said crotch region of said chassis; and   relaxing said elastomeric member from a stretched condition so that said first portion of said elastomeric member contracts at least a portion of said crotch region and said alternating second portion becomes relaxed, inactive, and non-functional without being restrained by said first and second obstructing element.   
     
     
       19. The disposable absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said obstructing element comprises a layer of construction adhesive. 
     
     
       20. The disposable absorbent article of claim 18 wherein said first and second obstructing elements comprise a layer of construction adhesive. 
     
     
       21. The disposable absorbent article of claim 18 wherein said first and second obstructing elements comprise a patch of natural foam.