Patent ID: 6409858
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of producing refastenable side seams in an absorbent garment, comprising the steps of:aligning a plurality of garment assemblies in a cross direction, each garment assembly including a chassis with two back side panels and two front side panels, wherein adjacent garment assemblies are joined to one another along one of the back side panels of each of the adjacent garment assemblies, and adjacent garment assemblies are also joined to one another along one of the front side panels of each of the adjacent garment assemblies; bonding a fastening component to each of the front side panels of each garment assembly; folding a plurality of mating fastening components each with a single fold, each of the mating fastening components having a first surface and a second surface with a plurality of engaging elements projecting from the first surface; bonding a portion of the first surface of at least one of the mating fastening components to each of the back side panels of each garment assembly with folded edges of the mating fastening components facing planned distal edges of the back side panels to which the mating fastening components are bonded; folding the garment assemblies to place the folded mating fastening components on the back side panels in contact with the fastening components on the front side panels, thereby releasably attaching the folded mating fastening components to the fastening components; and separating adjacent garment assemblies from one another by cutting between the joined back side panels and the joined front side panels, wherein the mating fastening components can be unfolded to form a lap seam.