Absorbent articles with frangible pathways with simultaneously propagating tear zones
Inventors
Willhaus, Keith Richard • Raycheck, Jeromy Thomas • Rosiak, Jeffry • Naylor, Jason Edward • Long, Michael Devin • TAYLOR, Nicholas Alexander
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12582561-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including a first belt and a second belt, the first belt and/or the second belt comprising one or more frangible pathways. The frangible pathway may comprise a first tear zone extending from an accessibility opening to a distal terminus, and a second tear zone extending from the accessibility opening to a proximal terminus. The diaper pant may also be configured such that a first tear line propagating along the first tear zone and a second tear line propagating along the second tear zone may reach the distal terminus and the proximal terminus, respectively, at the same time or about the same time.
Core Innovation
An absorbent article is provided as diaper pant structure including a first belt and a second belt connected to form a waist opening around a chassis. The chassis includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The chassis overlaps an inner wearer-facing surface of the first belt to define a chassis overlap region, and the first belt includes an accessibility opening positioned in the overlap region or between an outer edge and an inner edge.
The first belt includes a frangible pathway extending between a proximal terminus on an inner edge and a distal terminus on an outer edge. The frangible pathway comprises a first tear zone extending for a first length LTZ1 from the accessibility opening to the distal terminus and a second tear zone extending for a second length LTZ2 from the accessibility opening to the proximal terminus. The distal terminus and proximal terminus are positioned laterally between a longitudinally extending first side edge of the chassis and a first side seam, and the absolute value expression ((LTZ1-LTZ2)/LTZ1)*100 is less than about 20%.
A fastener component is adapted to refastenably connect the first belt zone with at least one other component of the absorbent article in a disposal configuration. The accessibility opening comprises a slit in the first belt providing access to the fastener component, and the accessibility opening is associated with the frangible pathway such that tearing progresses along both the first tear zone and the second tear zone toward their respective termini. In some described embodiments, the accessibility opening passes through the fastener component to split the fastener component into at least two parts, and the accessibility opening may be curved and extend longitudinally.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims. Both claims cover an absorbent article with first and second belts, a chassis with overlap and a defined accessibility opening, and a frangible pathway that separates the first belt into first and second belt zones while a fastener component provides a refastenable disposal configuration; the main inventive structure is quantified by a constraint on the relative lengths LTZ1 and LTZ2.
Belt and chassis overlap with accessibility opening
A first belt comprising an inner wearer-facing surface and an outer garment-facing surface, where a portion of the chassis overlaps the inner wearer-facing surface of the first belt to define a chassis overlap region, and an accessibility opening in the first belt positioned in the overlap region or between the outer edge and the inner edge comprises a slit providing access to the fastener component.
Frangible pathway with first and second tear zones between proximal and distal termini
A frangible pathway in the first belt extending between a proximal terminus on the inner edge and a distal terminus on the outer edge, the frangible pathway comprising a first tear zone extending for a first length LTZ1 from the accessibility opening to the distal terminus, and a second tear zone extending for a second length LTZ2 from the accessibility opening to the proximal terminus, with the distal terminus and the proximal terminus positioned laterally between the first side edge of the chassis and the first side seam.
Asymmetry constraint on tear-zone lengths
An absolute value of ((LTZ1-LTZ2)/LTZ1)*100 is less than about 20%, characterizing the relationship between the first length LTZ1 and the second length LTZ2 of the tear zones.
Refastenable separation into first and second belt zones in disposal configuration
The first belt is separable along the frangible pathway to define a first belt zone and a second belt zone, and the fastener component is adapted to refastenably connect the first belt zone with at least one other component of the absorbent article in a disposal configuration.
Accessibility opening split of the fastener component
The accessibility opening passes through the fastener component and splits the fastener component into at least two parts.
Across the two independent claims, the inventive coverage is directed to an absorbent diaper pant having a chassis overlap region with an accessibility opening to a fastener component, a frangible pathway on a first belt with first and second tear zones defined by proximal and distal termini, and a quantitative constraint on the relative tear-zone lengths, together with separation of the belt into first and second belt zones and refastenable connection in a disposal configuration.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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