Edge fold having substantially uniform gathers for absorbent article and method for making

摘要

An absorbent article may have an edge fold having substantially uniform gathers. The edge fold may form a finished edge cuff. The finished edge cuff may be formed around and/or along a portion of a longitudinal edge. The edge fold may be formed by folding and seaming existing material (i.e., without the addition of a discrete part). The edge fold may be extensible, or elastic. The edge fold may completely encircle the portion of the longitudinal edge that defines the leg opening of a diaper. A method and an apparatus for forming an edge fold are also provided.

主权项

1. An absorbent article comprising:
a leg elastic; and a chassis with a longitudinal edge that includes a leg opening portion with a leg opening portion length, wherein:
at least a portion of the chassis adjacent to the leg opening portion is an activated portion, which is incrementally stretched along an activated portion length, wherein the activated portion has an overall shape that is substantially arched;the leg elastic is disposed along at least a portion of the activated portion;at least a portion of the activated portion is a folded portion, folded transversely inward, along a folded portion length; andat least a portion of the folded portion is bonded along a bonded portion length and inboard to the leg elastic, forming an edge fold with substantially uniform gathers, wherein the portion of the leg elastic longitudinally coincident with the folded portion is disposed transversely outboard of the bonded portion and at or transversely inboard of the edge fold.