Patent Publication Number: US-2002007148-A1

Title: Garment having integrated zone of elastic tension aligned with an opening

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to a garment having an integrated zone of elastic tension aligned with a garment opening, for instance a waist opening or a leg opening.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Garments, including pant-like absorbent garments, medical garments, and other products, are commonly made with an elastic band adjacent to at least one of the garment openings. A pant-like garment, for instance, may have an elastic band adjacent to the waist opening, each of the two leg openings, or all three of the openings. The elastic band adjacent to the waist opening holds the garment in place, and prevents it from falling off of the wearer. The elastic bands adjacent to the leg openings help to seal the garment against the wearer&#39;s legs, thereby preventing or reducing leakage of waste materials from inside the garment.  
       [0003] In conventional garments, the primary material for the garment is manufactured and assembled separately from the elastic bands. Following their separate manufacture, the elastic bands are attached to the primary material at some stage during manufacture of the garment by sewing, ultrasonic welding, thermal bonding, adhesive bonding, or the like. In the resulting product, the user can often see the elastic band as a distinct entity attached to the garment.  
       [0004] Because of competition, there is an incentive to reduce both material and manufacturing costs associated with garments, without sacrificing performance and quality. However, this should be accomplished without compromising the performance characteristics of the various regions in the garment. Conventional elastic bands can be relatively expensive to incorporate into garments, because of the current need for separate manufacture and attachment of the bands.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention is directed to a garment having one or more garment openings for the wearer&#39;s waist, legs, arms, and the like. The garment has elastic properties at the opening achieved without the use of a separately manufactured, separately attached elastic band, and is easier and less expensive to manufacture than a conventional garment having one or more elastic bands at the opening.  
       [0006] The garment of the invention is manufactured using a targeted elastic material (“TEM”) having a targeted elastic zone aligned with the garment opening or openings. The TEM may have a substantially homogeneous appearance, and does not have a separately manufactured elastic band attached to it. Yet the TEM has different elastic properties at different regions, and exhibits greater elastic tension in a region aligned with, and in the vicinity of, at least one garment opening.  
       [0007] With the foregoing in mind, it is a feature and advantage of the invention to provide a garment having a targeted elastic region aligned with, and in the vicinity of at least one garment opening, while eliminating the separate manufacture and attachment of an elastic band.  
       [0008] It is also a feature and advantage of the invention to provide various techniques for providing a garment with a targeted elastic material having a targeted elastic region aligned with, and in the vicinity of, at least one garment opening.  
       [0009] These and other features and advantages will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pant-like absorbent garment in accordance with the invention, having targeted elastic regions aligned with, and in the vicinity of garment openings;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a pant-like absorbent garment of the invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the garment shown in FIG. 1, showing the side facing away from the wearer;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the garment shown in FIG. 1, showing the side facing the wearer;  
     [0014] FIGS.  5 - 8  illustrate representative targeted elastic laminate (“TEL”) materials useful for making the garments of the invention;  
     [0015] FIGS.  9 - 12  illustrate representative processes for making TEL materials useful for making garments of the invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 13A shows one exemplary adhesive spray pattern in which the adhesive has been applied to the elastic filaments with attenuation in the cross direction;  
     [0017]FIG. 13B shows a second exemplary adhesive spray pattern;  
     [0018]FIG. 13C illustrates a third exemplary adhesive spray pattern;  
     [0019]FIG. 13D shows an exemplary bond angle in one exemplary adhesive spray pattern;  
     [0020]FIG. 14 illustrates the bonding pattern and method of calculating the number of bonds per unit length on elastic strands or filaments;  
     [0021]FIG. 15A shows a fourth exemplary adhesive spray pattern in a swirled-type of configuration;  
     [0022]FIG. 15B shows a fifth exemplary adhesive spray pattern that is more randomized and which provides a large percentage of adhesive lines in a perpendicular orientation to the elastic filaments;  
     [0023]FIG. 15C illustrates a sixth exemplary adhesive spray pattern having attenuation of adhesive lines in the cross-machine direction;  
     [0024]FIG. 15D shows a seventh exemplary adhesive spray pattern that resembles a “chain-link fence”; and  
     [0025]FIG. 16 is a schematic view of another process for making TEL materials useful for making garments of the invention.  
    
    
     DEFINITIONS  
     [0026] The term “elastic band” refers to a discrete elongated element having elastic properties. The term “discrete elongated element” refers to a long, relatively narrow element that is separately manufactured and then attached to an underlying material, and does not include elongated regions having elastic properties that are part of an underlying material as made. The terms “elastic” and “elastomeric” are used interchangeably to mean a material that is generally capable of recovering its shape after deformation when the deforming force is removed. Specifically, as used herein, elastic or elastomeric is meant to be that property of any material which upon application of a biasing force, permits that material to be stretchable to a stretched biased length which is at least about 50 percent greater than its relaxed unbiased length, and that will cause the material to recover at least 40 percent of its elongation upon release of the stretching force. A hypothetical example which would satisfy this definition of an elastomeric material would be a one (1) inch sample of a material which is elongatable to at least 1.50 inches and which, upon being elongated to 1.50 inches and released, will recover to a length of not more than 1.30 inches. Many elastic materials may be stretched by much more than 50 percent of their relaxed length, and many of these will recover to substantially their original relaxed length upon release of the stretching force.  
     [0027] The term “inelastic” refers to materials that are not elastic.  
     [0028] The term “targeted elastic regions” refers to isolated, often relatively narrow regions or zones in a single composite material or layer, which have greater elastic tension than adjacent or surrounding regions.  
     [0029] The term “targeted elastic material” (“TEM”) refers to a single elastic material or laminate having targeted elastic regions. TEM&#39;s include only materials or laminates which are made in a single manufacturing process, and which are capable of exhibiting targeted elastic properties without requiring an added elastic band or layer in the targeted elastic region. TEM&#39;s do not include materials having elasticized regions achieved through separate manufacture of an elastic band, and subsequent connection of the elastic band to the underlying material.  
     [0030] The term “targeted elastic laminate” or “TEL” refers to an elastic laminate which behaves as a TEM. The TEL suitably includes at least one elastic nonwoven filament web, in which different zones of different elastic tension exist across a width of the web when the laminate is stretched in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the width. The different zones may, but do not necessarily, have different elongations at break, or recoveries. What is important is that the different zones exhibit different levels of retractive force when the laminate is uniformly stretched by a selected amount. The elastic nonwoven filament web is laminated to at least one other layer, whereby the laminate exhibits different levels of elastic tension in zones corresponding to the high and low tension zones in the nonwoven filament web.  
     [0031] The term “targeted elastic stretch-bonded laminate” or “TE SBL” refers to a TEL which is formed by stretching the elastic nonwoven filament web having the zones of different elastic tension, maintaining the stretched condition of the elastic nonwoven filament web when the other layer is bonded to it, and relaxing the TEL after bonding.  
     [0032] The term “vertical filament stretch-bonded laminate” or “VF SBL” refers to a stretch-bonded laminate made using a continuous vertical filament process, as described herein.  
     [0033] The term “continuous filament stretch-bonded laminate” or “CF SBL” refers to a stretch-bonded laminate made using a continuous horizontal filament process, as described herein.  
     [0034] The term “elastic tension” refers to the amount of force per unit width required to stretch an elastic material (or a selected zone thereof) to a given percent elongation.  
     [0035] The term “low tension zone” or “lower tension zone” refers to a zone or region in a stretch-bonded laminate material having one or more filaments with low elastic tension characteristics relative to the filament(s) of a high tension zone, when a stretching or biasing force is applied to the stretch-bonded laminate material. Thus, when a biasing force is applied to the material, the low tension zone will stretch more easily than the high tension zone. At 50% elongation of the fabric, the high tension zone may exhibit elastic tension at least 10% greater, suitably at least 50% greater, desirably about 100-800% greater, or alternatively about 150-300% greater than the low tension zone.  
     [0036] The term “high tension zone” or “higher tension zone” refers to a zone or region in a stretch-bonded laminate material having one or more filaments with high elastic tension characteristics relative to the filament(s) of a low tension zone, when a stretching or biasing force is applied to the stretch-bonded laminate material.  
     [0037] Thus, when a biasing force is applied to the material, the high tension zone will stretch less easily than the low tension zone. Thus, high tension zones have a higher tension than low tension zones. The terms “high tension zone” and “low tension zone” are relative, and the material may have multiple zones of different tensions.  
     [0038] The term “nonwoven fabric or web” means a web having a structure of individual fibers or filaments which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. The terms “fiber” and “filament” are used herein interchangeably. Nonwoven fabrics or webs have been formed from many processes such as, for example, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, air laying processes, and bonded carded web processes. The term also includes films that have been cut into narrow strips, perforated or otherwise treated to allow air to pass through. The basis weight of nonwoven fabrics is usually expressed in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or grams per square meter (gsm) and the fiber diameters are usually expressed in microns. (Note that to convert from osy to gsm, multiply osy by 33.91.)  
     [0039] The term “microfibers” means small diameter fibers having an average diameter not greater than about 75 microns, for example, having an average diameter of from about  1  micron to about 50 microns, or more particularly, having an average diameter of from about 1 micron to about 30 microns.  
     [0040] The term “spunbonded fibers” refers to small diameter fibers which are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine capillaries of a spinnerette having a circular or other configuration, with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly reduced as by, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,538 to Petersen, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al. Spunbond fibers are quenched and generally not tacky on the surface when they enter the draw unit, or when they are deposited onto a collecting surface. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and may have average diameters larger than 7 microns, often between about 10 and 30 microns.  
     [0041] The term “meltblown fibers” means fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging high velocity heated gas (e.g., air) streams which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which may be to microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a process is disclosed for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al. Meltblown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, are generally smaller than 10 microns in diameter, and are generally self bonding when deposited onto a collecting surface. Meltblown fibers used in the invention are suitably substantially continuous.  
     [0042] The term “polymer” generally includes but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, including block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, etc., and blends and modifications thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term “polymer” shall include all possible geometrical configurations of the material. These configurations include, but are not limited to isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic symmetries.  
     [0043] The term “substantially continuous filaments or fibers” refers to filaments or fibers prepared by extrusion from a spinnerette, including without limitation spunbonded and meltblown fibers, which are not cut from their original length prior to being formed into a nonwoven web or fabric. Substantially continuous filaments or fibers may have lengths ranging from greater than about 15 cm to more than one meter; and up to the length of the nonwoven web or fabric being formed. The definition of “substantially continuous filaments or fibers” includes those which are not cut prior to being formed into a nonwoven web or fabric, but which are later cut when the nonwoven web or fabric is cut.  
     [0044] The term “staple filaments or fibers” means filaments or fibers which are natural or which are cut from a manufactured filament prior to forming into a web, and which have a length ranging from about 0.1-15 cm, more commonly about 0.2-7 cm.  
     [0045] The term “fiber” or “fibrous” is meant to refer to a particulate material wherein the length to diameter ratio of such particulate material is greater than about 10. Conversely, a “nonfiber” or “nonfibrous” material is meant to refer to a particulate material wherein the length to diameter ratio of such particulate material is about 10 or less.  
     [0046] The term “thermoplastic” is meant to describe a material that softens when exposed to heat and which substantially returns to its original condition when cooled to room temperature.  
     [0047] The term “recover” or “retract” relates to a contraction of a stretched material upon termination of a biasing force following stretching of the material by application of the biasing force.  
     [0048] The term “garment” includes personal care garments, protective garments, and the like. The term “disposable garment” includes garments which are typically disposed of after 1-5 uses.  
     [0049] The term “personal care garment” includes diapers, training pants, swim wear, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and the like.  
     [0050] The term “protective garment” includes protective (i.e., medical and/or industrial) gowns, caps, gloves, drapes, face masks, and the like.  
     [0051] The term “in the vicinity of garment openings” refers to a targeted elastic region of the garment within about two inches, suitably within about one inch, of a garment opening, such as a leg or waist opening. An elastic band or zone is said to be “in the vicinity of a garment opening” if any portion of the elastic band or zone is within two inches, suitably within one inch of the garment opening.  
     [0052] The term “aligned with a garment opening” refers to a targeted elastic region (i.e., a high tension zone or TEM) that is parallel, or within plus or minus 30 degrees of parallel, to a garment edge defining a garment opening.  
     [0053] The term “series” refers to a set including one or more elements.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0054] The principles of this invention can be applied to a wide variety of garments, including disposable garments, having a targeted elastic zone in the vicinity of at least one garment opening. Examples include diapers, training pants, certain feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, other personal care or medical garments, and the like. For ease of explanation, the following description is in terms of a child training pant having a targeted elastic material, in this case a targeted elastic laminate, used for the side panels.  
     [0055] Referring to FIG. 1, a disposable absorbent garment  20 , such as a child training pant, includes an absorbent chassis  32  and a fastening system  88 . The absorbent chassis  32  defines a front waist region  22 , a back waist region  24 , a crotch region  26  interconnecting the front and back waist regions, an inner surface  28  which is configured to contact the wearer, and an outer surface  30  opposite the inner surface which is configured to contact the wearer&#39;s clothing. With additional reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the absorbent chassis  32  also defines a pair of transversely opposed side edges  36  and a pair of longitudinally opposed waist edges, which are designated front waist edge  38  and back waist edge  39 . The front waist region  22  is contiguous with the front waist edge  38 , and the back waist region  24  is contiguous with the back waist edge  39 . The chassis  32  defines waist opening  50  and two opposing leg openings  52 .  
     [0056] The illustrated absorbent chassis  32  comprises a rectangular absorbent composite structure  33 , a pair of transversely opposed front side panels  34 , and a pair of transversely opposed back side panels  134 . The composite structure  33  and side panels  34  and  134  may be integrally formed or comprise two or more separate elements, as shown in FIG. 1. The illustrated composite structure  33  comprises an outer cover  40 , a bodyside liner  42  (FIGS. 1 and 4) which is connected to the outer cover in a superposed relation, an absorbent assembly  44  (FIG. 4) which is located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a part of containment flaps  46  (FIG. 4). The rectangular composite structure  33  has opposite linear end edges  45  that form portions of the front and back waist edges  38  and  39 , and opposite linear side edges  47  that form portions of the side edges  36  of the absorbent chassis  32  (FIGS. 3 and 4). For reference, arrows  48  and  49  depicting the orientation of the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, respectively, of the training pant  20  are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
     [0057] With the training pant  20  in the fastened position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the front and back waist regions  22  and  24  are joined together to define a three-dimensional pant configuration having a waist opening  50  and a pair of leg openings  52 . The front waist region  22  includes the portion of the training pant  20  which, when worn, is positioned on the front of the wearer while the back waist region  24  comprises the portion of the training paint which, when worn, is positioned on the back of the wearer. The crotch region  26  of the training pant  20  includes the portion of the training pant which, when worn, is positioned between the legs of the wearer and covers the lower torso of the wearer. The front and back side panels  34  and  134  comprise the portions of the training pant  20  which, when worn, are positioned on the hips of the wearer.  
     [0058] The front waist region  22  of the absorbent chassis  32  includes the transversely opposed front side panels  34  and a front center panel  35  (FIGS. 3 and 4) positioned between and interconnecting the side panels. The back waist region  24  of the absorbent chassis  32  includes the transversely opposed back side panels  134  and a back center panel  135  (FIGS. 3 and 4) positioned between and interconnecting the side panels. The waist edges  38  and  39  of the absorbent chassis  32  are configured to encircle the waist of the wearer when worn and provide the waist opening  50  which defines a waist perimeter dimension. Portions of the transversely opposed side edges  36  in the crotch region  26  generally define the leg openings  52 .  
     [0059] The absorbent chassis  32  is configured to contain and/or absorb any body exudates discharged from the wearer. For example, the absorbent chassis  32  desirably although not necessarily includes the pair of containment flaps  46  which are configured to provide a barrier to the transverse flow of body exudates. A flap elastic member  53  (FIG. 4) is operatively joined with each containment flap  46  in any suitable manner as is well known in the art. The elasticized containment flaps  46  define an unattached edge which assumes an upright, generally perpendicular configuration in at least the crotch region  26  of the training pant  20  to form a seal against the wearer&#39;s body. The containment flaps  46  can be located along the transversely opposed side edges of the absorbent chassis  32 , and can extend longitudinally along the entire length of the absorbent chassis or may only extend partially along the length of the absorbent chassis. Suitable constructions and arrangements for the containment flaps  46  are generally well known to those skilled in the art and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,116 issued Nov. 3, 1987 to Enloe, which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     [0060] To further enhance containment and/or absorption of body exudates, the training pant  20  desirably includes a front waist elastic member  54 , a rear waist elastic member  56 , and leg elastic members  58 , as are known to those skilled in the art (FIG. 4). The waist elastic members  54  and  56  can be operatively joined to the outer cover  40  and/or bodyside liner  42  along the opposite waist edges  38  and  39 , and can extend over part or all of the waist edges. The leg elastic members  58  are desirably operatively joined to the outer cover  40  and/or bodyside liner  42  along the opposite side edges  36  and positioned in the crotch region  26  of the training pant  20 . The leg elastic members  58  are desirably longitudinally aligned along each side edge  47  of the composite structure  33 . Each leg elastic member  58  has a front terminal point  63  and a back terminal point  65 , which points represent the longitudinal ends of the elastic gathering caused by the leg elastic members. The front terminal points  63  are desirably located adjacent the longitudinally innermost parts of the front side panels  34 , and the back terminal points  65  are desirably located adjacent the longitudinally innermost parts of the back side panels  134 .  
     [0061] The flap elastic members  53 , the waist elastic members  54  and  56 , and the leg elastic members  58  can be formed of any suitable elastic material, such as the targeted elastic material of the invention or separately manufactured and separately attached elastic materials. As is well known to those skilled in the art, suitable elastic materials include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric polymers. The elastic materials can be stretched and adhered to a substrate, adhered to a gathered substrate, or adhered to a substrate and then elasticized or shrunk, for example with the application of heat; such that elastic constrictive forces are imparted to the substrate. In one particular embodiment, for example, the leg elastic members  58  comprise a plurality of dry-spun coalesced multifilament spandex elastomeric threads sold under the trade name LYCRA® and available from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., U.S.A., and other components of the garment, such as the side panels  55 , comprise the targeted elastic material of the invention.  
     [0062] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the front and back side panels  34  and  134  are fastened together by fastening system  88  to form collective side panels  55  (with each collective side panel  55  including a front side panel  34  and back side panel  134 ). In alternate embodiments, the collective side panels  55  may be single-piece side panels, or may include more than one piece permanently joined together. The transversely opposed front side panels  34  and transversely opposed back side panels  134  can be permanently bonded to the composite structure  33  of the absorbent chassis  32  in the respective front and back waist regions  22  and  24 . More particularly, as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front side panels  34  can be permanently bonded to and extend transversely beyond the linear side edges  47  of the composite structure  33  in the front waist region  22  along attachment lines  66 , and the back side panels  134  can be permanently bonded to and extend transversely beyond the linear side edges of the composite structure in the back waist region  24  along attachment lines  66 . The side panels  34  and  134  may be attached using attachment means known to those skilled in the art such as adhesive, thermal or ultrasonic bonding. The side panels  34  and  134  can also be formed as a portion of a component of the composite structure  33 , such as the outer cover or the bodyside liner. The fastening system  88  may include a plurality of fastener tabs  82 ,  83 ,  84  and  85 , which can be known hook-and-loop fastener members, or other types of mechanical fasteners or adhesive fasteners. Alternatively, the front and back side panels  34 ,  134  can be permanently bonded together.  
     [0063] The illustrated side panels  34  and  134  each define a distal edge  68  that is spaced from the attachment line  66 , a leg end edge  70  disposed toward the longitudinal center of the training pant  20 , and a waist end edge  72  disposed toward a longitudinal end of the training pant. The leg end edge  70  and waist end edge  72  extend from the side edges  47  of the composite structure  33  to the distal edges  68 . The leg end edges  70  of the side panels  34  and  134  form part of the side edges  36  of the absorbent chassis  32 . In the back waist region  24 , the leg end edges  70  are desirably although not necessarily angled relative to the transverse axis  49  to provide greater coverage toward the back of the pant as compared to the front of the pant. The waist end edges  72  are desirably parallel to the transverse axis  49 . The waist end edges  72  of the front side panels  34  form part of the front waist edge  38  of the absorbent chassis  32 , and the waist end edges  72  of the back side panels  134  form part of the back waist edge  39  of the absorbent chassis.  
     [0064] In particular embodiments for improved fit and appearance, the side panels  34  and  134  desirably have an average length dimension measured parallel to the longitudinal axis  48  that is about 20 percent or greater, and particularly about 25 percent or greater, of the overall length dimension of the absorbent article, also measured parallel to the longitudinal axis  48 . For example, in training pants having an overall length dimension of about  54  centimeters, the side panels  34  and  134  desirably have an average length dimension of about 10 centimeters or greater, such as about 15 centimeters. While each of the side panels  34  and  134  extend from the waist opening  50  to one of the leg openings  52 , the back side panels  134  have a continually decreasing length dimension moving from the attachment line  66  to the distal edge  68 , as is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
     [0065] In accordance with the invention, the front side panels  34  each include a targeted elastic material including a main body (low tension) zone  130 , a narrow band-like high tension zone  131  in the vicinity of (and aligned with) waist opening  50 , and a narrow band-like high tension zone  133  in the vicinity of (and aligned with) the leg opening  52 . The dotted lines indicate the boundaries between the low tension zone  130  and high tension zones  131  and  133 , which boundaries are not visible to an observer. From the standpoint of the observer, the TEM forming front side panels  34  appears as a homogeneous, integrated material. Similarly, the rear side panels  134  each include a TEM including a main body (low tension) zone  136 , a narrow, band-like high tension zone  137  in the vicinity of (and aligned with) waist opening  50 , and a narrow, band-like high tension zone  139  in the vicinity of (and aligned with) the leg opening  52 . Again, the dotted lines indicate invisible boundaries between the low tension zone  136  and high tension zones  137  and  139 . The invention encompasses garments in which a high tension elastic zone is present in the vicinity of any one or more garment openings.  
     [0066] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and  4 , the high tension zones  131  and  137  in the vicinity of waist opening  50  may be aligned end-to-end with waist elastics  54  and  56  on the front and back of chassis  32 , to implement a performance similar to a continuous, or substantially continuous elastic band encircling the waist opening  50 . Similarly, high tension zones  133  and  139  in the vicinity of leg openings  52  can be aligned with leg elastics  58 , to implement a performance similar to a continuous, or substantially continuous elastic band encircling the leg openings. In the embodiments shown, actual elastic bands are aligned end-to-end with high tension zones on the TEM to create this function, with the use of TEM being limited to the front and back side panels. In other embodiments, and other garments, high tension zones of a TEM may encircle an entire garment opening, to give the performance of an elastic band without using one.  
     [0067] The high tension zones  131 ,  133 ,  137  and  139  exhibit greater elastic tension than the main portions  130  and  136  of side panels  34  and  134 , without requiring the use of separately manufactured and attached elastic materials. The side panels  34  and  134  are manufactured from a targeted elastic material. Various embodiments of targeted elastic materials include the targeted elastic laminate materials shown in FIGS.  5 - 8 . Referring to FIG. 5, TEL  100  (shown in sectional view, with the layers expanded apart from each other for clarity) includes a nonwoven layer  110  of elastomeric polymer filaments made from a single elastic polymer or polymer blend, laminated to at least one, desirably two outer facing layers  120 . TEL  100  includes a low tension central zone  102  (which may correspond to body region  136  in side panel  134  of FIG. 1), a first high tension end zone  104  (which may correspond to high tension zone  139  in FIG. 1) and a second high tension end zone  106  (which may correspond to high tension zone  137  in FIG. 1). In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the polymer filaments  108  in the low tension zone  102  are spaced further apart and, thus define a lower basis weight per unit area of nonwoven layer  110 . The polymer filaments  108  in the high tension zones  104  and  106  are spaced more closely together and, thus, define a higher basis weight per unit area of nonwoven layer  110 . Except for the spacing between filaments (and the resulting variation in nonwoven web basis weight), the polymer filaments  108  may be identical in size and composition. The elastomeric nonwoven layer  110  may be stretched in the machine direction (i.e., a direction parallel to the longitudinal orientation of filaments  108 ) prior to bonding nonwoven layer  110  to the facing layers  120  using processes as described below. After the layers are bonded together, the laminate may be relaxed (allowing retraction) and extended again as needed.  
     [0068] The TEL  100 , when viewed by itself or in garment  20 , would exhibit no visible perception of the high tension zones  104  and  106  as distinguished from the low tension zone  102 . Instead, TEL  100  would appear as a homogeneous material, particularly when viewed from an outer surface of one of the facing layers  120 . Yet the high tension zones  104  and  106  may function and perform as an elastic waist band and an elastic leg band, (i.e., may exhibit elasticity and elastic tension as would be provided by separately manufactured elastic bands). In order to accomplish this, the TEL  100  need only be sized and positioned in garment  20  so that the high tension zones  104  and  106  at both ends of the TEL are aligned with the waist and leg openings of the garment. The TEL  100  may be used to manufacture side panels  34  and  134  as shown, or may be used in larger portions of the garment, in alternative embodiments.  
     [0069]FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the garment of FIG. 1. Most of the elements in FIG. 2 are the same as in FIG. 1. As with FIG. 1, a TEL material can be used to form side panels  34  and  134 . However, in FIG. 2, multiple high tension regions are shown in the vicinity of the waist and leg openings  50  and  52 . In the front side panels  34 , a first high tension zone  131  and a second high tension zone  141  are aligned in the vicinity of waist opening  50 . A third high tension zone  133  and a fourth high tension zone  143  are aligned in the vicinity of leg opening  52 . In the back side panels  134 , a first high tension zone  137  and a second high tension zone  147  are aligned in the vicinity of waist opening  50 . A third high tension zone  139  and a fourth high tension zone  149  are aligned in the vicinity of leg opening  52 . The multiple high tension zones may have different levels of elastic tension, selected and tailored to optimize wearer comfort.  
     [0070] FIGS.  6 - 8  illustrate alternative embodiments of TEL materials which can be used to make the garment of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. In FIG. 6, multiple high tension zones are present. Polymer filaments  108  in low tension zone  102  have relatively small diameters, and relatively large spacings between them. Polymer filaments  109  in outer high tension zones  104  and  106  have larger diameters than filaments  108 , thus defining a higher nonwoven basis weight in zones  104  and  106 . Polymer filaments  107  in inner high tension zones  114  and  116  have similar diameters but less inter-filament spacing than polymer filaments  108 , again defining a higher nonwoven basis weight in zones  114  and  116  than in low tension zone  102 .  
     [0071] In the TEL of FIG. 7, the low and high tension zones  102 ,  104  and  106  are accomplished by forming the nonwoven layer  110  with two different elastic polymers or polymer blends, each one having a different elastic tension when stretched. The filaments  108  in low tension zone  102  are formed from a first elastic polymer or polymer blend having lower elastic tension. The filaments  109  in high tension zones  104  and  106  are formed from a second elastic polymer or polymer blend having higher elastic tension. Because different elastic polymers or polymer blends are used, the nonwoven layer  110  may have the same or different basis weights, the same or different filament sizes, and the same or different filament spacings in the low and high tension zones  102 ,  104  and  106 .  
     [0072] The laminates of FIGS.  5 - 6  may each be produced by extruding the filaments  107 ,  108  and  109  of nonwoven layer  110  from a single die, having die plate openings sized and spaced to correspond to the desired filament sizes and spacing, or from different dies. The laminate of FIG. 7 may be produced by extruding filaments from either the same die fed by two or more polymer extruders, or from different dies for each polymer. Some of the processes described below illustrate how this is accomplished. In the laminate of FIG. 8, the nonwoven layer  1   10  may be formed by extruding two narrower bands of higher tension filaments  109  over a single wider band of lower tension filaments  108 , using different dies and extruders. The result, shown in FIG. 8, is that low tension zone  102  contains only low tension filaments formed of a first elastic polymer or polymer blend. High tension zones  104  and  106  contain both high tension filaments  109  formed of a second elastic polymer or polymer blend, and low tension filaments  108 .  
     [0073] In TEL  100 , low tension zone  102  may have a first elastic tension, measured at  50 % elongation of the filaments, and high tension zones  104  and  106  may have second and third elastic tensions higher than the first tension, measured at the same elongation. At 50% elongation of the TEL  100  (in the machine direction, parallel to filament orientation), high tension zones  104  and  106  may have an elastic tension at least 10% greater, suitably at least 50% greater, desirably 100-800% greater, alternatively about 125-500% greater, or as another alternative 150-300% greater than the low tension zone  102 . Elastic tension may be measured, for instance, using an MTS Sintec Model 1/s, sold by MTS in Research Triangle Park, N.C., with a crosshead speed set to 500 mm/min. Samples having a 3-inch width and 6-inch length can be used, with  3  inches of the length clamped inside the jaws (leaving 3 inches of length for testing). The tension of each high and low tension region can be measured after the portion of the TEL laminate being tested is held in the extended condition (in the machine direction of the TEL) for 60 seconds.  
     [0074] In the TEL embodiments where the low and high tension zones are formed from nonwoven web sections having different basis weights (FIGS.  5 - 6 ), the nonwoven basis weights in the high tension zones  104  and  106  may be at least 10% greater, suitably at least 50% greater, desirably 100-800% greater, suitably 125-500% greater, or as another alternative 200-400% greater than the nonwoven basis weight in the low tension zone  102 . For instance, the nonwoven in the low tension zone may have a basis weight of about 2-14 grams per square meter (gsm), desirably about 4-12 gsm. In the high tension zones  104  and  106 , the nonwoven basis weight may be about 10-32 gsm, desirably about 12-30 gsm. If the higher and lower basis weights are achieved using spinning holes of different frequency in the die, resulting in a higher areal density of filaments in the high tension regions and lower areal density of filaments in the low tension region, then the higher areal density may be at least 10% greater, suitably at least 50% greater, desirably 100-800% greater, suitably 125-500% greater, or as another alternative 200-400% greater than the lower areal density. The filament density in each zone may range from about 4-40 filaments per square inch (fsi), suitably about 12-30 fsi, measured perpendicular to the length of the filaments.  
     [0075] If the higher and lower basis weights are achieved using filaments of higher and lower diameters, as in FIG. 6, the higher diameter filaments  109  may have diameters at least 5% higher, suitably at least 20% higher, desirably 40-300% higher, alternatively 50-125% higher, or as another alternative 75-100% higher than the lower diameter filaments  108 . The filament diameters in each zone may range from about 0.010-0.040 inch, suitably about 0.020-0.032 inch.  
     [0076] If the higher and lower tension zones are formed using nonwoven filaments  107 ,  108  and  109  of different elastic polymer composition, as shown in FIG. 7, then the different elastic polymers or polymer blends should be selected to give the desired higher elastic tension in the high tension zones  104  and  106  and the desired lower elastic tension in the low tension zone  102 . The nonwoven basis weights in the different zones may be the same or different, and may be adjusted, along with the polymer compositions, to achieve the desired elastic tensions. When a polymer blend is used, the blend itself should exhibit the desired elastic tension, regardless of the properties of the individual components.  
     [0077] Materials suitable for use in preparing elastomeric filaments  108  and  109  in the low and high tension zones  102 ,  104  and  106 , include diblock, triblock, tetrablock or other multi-block elastomeric copolymers such as olefinic copolymers, including styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styreneethylene/butylene-styrene, or styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, which may be obtained from the Shell Chemical Company, under the trade designation KRATON® elastomeric resin; polyurethanes, including those available from B. F. Goodrich Co., under the trade name ESTANE®; polyamides, including polyether block amides available from Ato Chemical Company, under the trade name PEBAX® polyether block amide; polyesters, such as those available from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Co., under the trade name HYTREL® polyester; and single-site or metallocene-catalyzed polyolefins having density less than about 0.89 grams/cc, available from Dow Chemical Co. under the trade name AFFINITY®.  
     [0078] A number of block copolymers can be used to prepare thermoplastic elastomeric filaments  108 ,  109  useful in this invention. Such block copolymers generally comprise an elastomeric midblock portion B and a thermoplastic endblock portion A. The block copolymers may also be thermoplastic in the sense that they can be melted, formed, and resolidified several times with little or no change in physical properties (assuming a minimum of oxidative degradation).  
     [0079] Endblock portion A may comprise a poly(vinylarene), such as polystyrene. Midblock portion B may comprise a substantially amorphous polyolefin such as polyisoprene, ethylene/propylene polymers, ethylene/butylene polymers, polybutadiene, and the like, or mixtures thereof.  
     [0080] Suitable block copolymers useful in this invention include at least two substantially polystyrene endblock portions and at least one substantially ethylene/butylene mid-block portion. A commercially available example of such a linear block copolymer is available from the Shell Chemical Company under the trade designation KRATON® G1657 elastomeric resin. Another suitable elastomer is KRATON® G2740.  
     [0081] Other suitable elastomeric polymers may also be used to make thermoplastic elastomeric filaments  108 ,  109 . These include, without limitation, elastomeric (single-site or metallocene catalyzed) polypropylene, polyethylene and other alpha-olefin homopolymers and copolymers, having density less than about  0 . 89  grams/cc; ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers; and substantially amorphous copolymers and terpolymers of ethylene-propylene, butene-propylene, and ethylenepropylene-butene.  
     [0082] Single-site catalyzed elastomeric polymers (for example, constrained geometry or metallocene-catalyzed elastomeric polymers) are available from Exxon Chemical Company of Baytown, Tex., and from Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich. The single-site process for making polyolefins uses a single-site catalyst which is activated (i.e., ionized) by a co-catalyst.  
     [0083] Commercial production of single-site catalyzed polymers is somewhat limited but growing. Such polymers are available from Exxon Chemical Company of Baytown, Tex. under the trade name EXXPOL® for polypropylene based polymers and EXACT® for polyethylene based polymers. Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich. has polymers commercially available under the name ENGAGE®. These materials are believed to be produced using non-stereo selective single-site catalysts. Exxon generally refers to their single-site catalyst technology as metallocene catalysts, while Dow refers to theirs as “constrained geometry” catalysts under the name INSITE® to distinguish them from traditional Ziegler-Natta catalysts which have multiple reaction sites. Other manufacturers such as Fina Oil, BASF, Amoco, Hoechst and Mobil are active in this area and it is believed that the availability of polymers produced according to this technology will grow substantially in the next decade.  
     [0084] Elastic filaments  108  and  109  may also contain blends of elastic and inelastic polymers, or of two or more elastic polymers, provided that the blend exhibits elastic properties. The filaments may be substantially continuous or staple in length, but are desirably substantially continuous. Substantially continuous filaments have better elastic recovery than staple length filaments. Elastic filaments  107 ,  108  and  109  may be circular but may also have other cross-sectional geometries such as elliptical, rectangular, triangular or multi-lobal. In one embodiment, one or more of the filaments may be in the form of elongated, rectangular film strips produced from a film extrusion die having a plurality of slotted openings.  
     [0085] The facing layer or layers  120  may each include a nonwoven web, for example a spunbonded web or a meltblown web, a woven web, or a film. Facing materials may be formed using conventional processes, including the spunbond and meltblowing processes described in the “DEFINITIONS.” For example, facing materials  120  may include a spunbonded web having a basis weight of about 0.1-4.0 osy, suitably 0.2-2.0 osy, desirably about 0.4-0.6 osy. The facing materials  120  may include the same or similar materials or different materials.  
     [0086] The facing materials  120  can be bonded to a nonwoven layer  110  (including the low and high tension zones thereof) using an adhesive, for example an elastomeric adhesive such as Findley H2525A, H2525 or H2096. Other bonding means well known to those having ordinary skill in the art may also be used to bond the facing materials  120  to filaments  108  and  109  of nonwoven layer  110 , including thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, mechanical stitching and the like. Many of the same techniques can be used to bond the stretchable band materials  125  to the surface of facing layers  120 .  
     [0087] FIGS.  9 - 12  and  16  illustrate representative processes for making TEL materials. FIGS. 9 and 10 each illustrate a continuous vertical filament stretch-bond laminate (VF SBL) method. Referring to FIG. 9, an extruder (not shown) supplies molten elastomeric material to a first die  230 . First die  230  includes different regions of spinning holes tailored to provide the nonwoven fabric  206  with higher and lower zones of elastic tension, having higher and lower basis weights or different polymer compositions as explained with respect to FIGS.  5 - 8 .  
     [0088] Referring to FIG. 9, molten elastomeric material is extruded from first spin plate region  232  through spinning holes as a plurality of elastomeric first filaments  212 . Similarly, a plurality of elastomeric second filaments  216  are extruded from second spin plate region  234  through spinning holes of different average diameter, different frequency, and/or different polymer composition. The resulting nonwoven web  206  has a higher elastic tension in the zone defined by second filaments  216 , than in the zone defined by first filaments  212 . After extruding, first and second filaments  212  and  216  are quenched and solidified.  
     [0089] In one embodiment, first and second filaments  212  and  216  are quenched and solidified by passing them over a first series of chill rolls  244 . For instance, first filaments  212  may be contacted with chill roll  246 . Second filaments  216 , having a higher aggregate basis weight, may be passed over two chill rolls  245  and  246 . Any number of chill rolls can be used. Suitably, chill rolls  245  and  246  have a temperature of about 40° F. to about 80° F.  
     [0090] The die of each extruder may be positioned with respect to the first roller so that the continuous filaments meet this first roller at a predetermined angle  247 . This strand extrusion geometry is particularly advantageous for depositing a melt extrudate onto a rotating roll or drum. An angled, or canted, orientation provides an opportunity for the filaments to emerge from the die at a right angle to the roll tangent point resulting in improved spinning, more efficient energy transfer, and generally longer die life. This improved configuration allows the filaments to emerge at an angle from the die and follow a relatively straight path to contact the tangent point on the roll surface. The angle  247  between the die exit of the extruder and the vertical axis (or the horizontal axis of the first roller, depending on which angle is measured) may be as little as a few degrees or as much as 90°. For example, a 90° extrudate exit to roller angle could be achieved by positioning the extruder directly above the downstream edge of the first roller and having a side exit die tip on the extruder. Moreover, angles such as about 20°, about 35°, or about 45° away from vertical may be utilized. It has been found that, when utilizing a 12-filament/inch spinplate hole density, an approximately 45 angle (shown in FIG. 9) allows the system to operate effectively. The optimum angle, however, will vary as a function of extrudate exit velocity, roller speed, vertical distance from the die to the roller, and horizontal distance from the die centerline to the top dead center of the roller. Optimal performance can be achieved by employing various geometries to result in improved spinning efficiency and reduced filament breakage. In many cases, this results in potentially increased roll wrap resulting in more efficient energy transfer and longer die life due to reduced drag and shear of the extrudate as it leaves the capillaries of the extruder die and proceeds to the chilled roll.  
     [0091] After first and second filaments  212  and  216  are quenched and solidified, they are stretched or elongated. In one desired embodiment, first and second filaments  212  and  216  are stretched using a first series of stretch rolls  254 . First series of stretch rolls  254  may include one or more individual stretch rolls  255 , desirably at least two stretch rolls  255  and  256 , as shown in FIG. 9. Stretch rolls  255  and  256  rotate at a speed greater than a speed at which chill rolls  245  and  246  rotate, thereby stretching the nonwoven fabric  206 , including the zones of first and second filaments  212  and  216 .  
     [0092] In one embodiment, each successive roll rotates at a speed greater than the speed of the previous roll. For example, referring to FIG. 9, chill roll  245  rotates at a speed “x”; chill roll  246  rotates at a speed greater than “x”, for example about “1.1x”; stretch roll  255  rotates at a still greater speed, for example about “1.15x”; second stretch roll  256  rotates at a still greater speed, for example about “1.25x” to about “2x”; and a third stretch roll (not shown) rotates at a still greater speed, for example about “2x” to about “7x.” As a result, first and second filaments  212  and  216  can be stretched by about 100% to about 800% of an initial length, suitably by about 200% to about 700% of an initial length.  
     [0093] After first and second filaments  212  and  216  are stretched, elastic nonwoven web  206  is laminated to a first facing material  218  and (alternatively) a second facing material  220 . First facing material  218  is unwound from one of the rollers  262  and laminated to a first side of nonwoven web  206 . Second facing material  220  is unwound from one of the rollers  264  and laminated to a second side of nonwoven web  206 . As shown in FIG. 9, before second facing material  220  is laminated to a second side of elastic nonwoven web  206 , at least a portion of second facing material  220  can be coated or sprayed with an elastomeric adhesive  221 , such as Findley H2525A, H2525 or H2096, via an adhesive sprayer  265 . The laminate material is then passed through nip rolls  270  (desirably smooth calender rolls) and is relaxed and/or retracted to produce a TEL  205 . Other means for bonding the laminate material known to those having ordinary skill in the art may be used in place of nip roll  270 .  
     [0094]FIG. 10 illustrates a VF SBL process similar to that of FIG. 9. In FIG. 10, instead of using a single spinnerette  230  having adjacent die regions for the high and low tension filament zones, two spinnerettes  230  and  236  are employed. First spinnerette  230  extrudes the first filaments  212 . Second spinnerette  236  extrudes the second filaments  216 . Again, the first and second spinnerettes differ as to the aggregate basis weights and/or polymer compositions of the elastomeric filaments produced. The second spinnerette  236  may have die openings of a) higher frequency and/or b) higher diameter, than the die openings of the first spinnerette  230 . Except for the use of two spinnerettes instead of one “hybrid” spinnerette, the processes of FIGS. 9 and 10 are similar. In either case, the first filaments  212  and second filaments  216  ultimately converge to form a single elastic nonwoven web  206  having zones of higher and lower elastic tensions. The filaments  212  and  216  may converge in a side-by-side fashion as shown in FIGS.  5 - 7 , for instance, to produce zones of higher and lower tension. Alternatively, the bands of filaments  212  and  216  may have different widths such that a narrower layer or band of second filaments  216  is superimposed directly over a wider layer band of filaments  212 , so that the higher tension zone occurs where the two layers coexist as exemplified in FIG. 8. In either process, the first filaments  212  and second filaments  216  may converge as shown, at the chill roll  246 .  
     [0095]FIG. 16 illustrates a VF SBL process in which no stretch rolls  254  are used. Instead, first filaments  212  are extruded onto chill roll  246 . Second filaments  216  are extruded onto chill roll  245 . The first filaments  212  and second filaments  216  converge on chill roll  246  to form a single elastic nonwoven layer  206  having zones of higher and lower elastic tensions. The first and second filaments  212 ,  216  are stretched between the chill rolls  245 ,  246  and the nip rolls  270 . Except for the lack of stretch rolls  254 , the processes of FIGS. 9 and 17 are similar. In either case, the elastic nonwoven layer  206  is laminated between a first facing layer  218  and a second facing layer  220  at the nip rolls  270 . The resulting laminate is then relaxed and/or retracted to form TEL  205 .  
     [0096]FIG. 11 illustrates a continuous horizontal filament stretch-bond laminate (CF SBL) process  300  for making TEL materials. A first extrusion apparatus  330  (which can be a spinnerette, as described above) is fed with an elastomeric polymer or polymer blend using one or more extruders (not shown). In various embodiments, the extrusion apparatus  330  can be configured to form a nonwoven layer  306  having zones of higher and lower elastic tension, as illustrated in FIGS.  5 - 7 . In another embodiment, the extrusion apparatus  330  can be configured with die holes of uniform size and spacing, to yield a nonwoven layer  306  which has uniform elastic tension across its width. The nonwoven layer  306  contains filaments  312  which are substantially continuous in length. In this regard, the extrusion apparatus  330  may be a spinnerette. Suitably, apparatus  330  is a meltblowing spinnerette operating without the heated gas (e.g., air) stream which flows past the die tip in a conventional meltblowing process. Apparatus  330  extrudes filaments  312  directly onto a conveyor system, which can be a forming wire system  340  (i.e., a foraminous belt) moving clockwise about rollers  342 . Filaments  312  may be cooled using vacuum suction applied through the forming wire system, and/or cooling fans (not shown). The vacuum may also assist in holding nonwoven layer  306  against the forming wire system.  
     [0097] In a desired embodiment, at least one, possibly two or more second extrusion apparatus  336  are positioned downstream of the first extrusion apparatus  330 . The second extrusion apparatus create one or more higher tension zones in the nonwoven layer  306  by extruding filaments  316  of elastic material directly onto the nonwoven layer  306  in bands or zones which are narrower than the width of nonwoven layer  306 . The second filaments  316  may be of the same elastic polymer construction as the first filaments  312 . The extrusion of second filaments  316  over the first filaments  312  only in selected regions of layer  306 , operates to create higher elastic tension zones  314  where the first and second filaments  312  and  316  coexist, and lower elastic tension zones  310  where the first filaments  312  exist alone. The first and second filaments  312  and  316  converge, and are combined in the forming conveyor  340  as it travels forward, to yield nonwoven layer  308  having at least one first zone  310  of lower elastic tension, and second, outer zones  314  of higher elastic tension.  
     [0098] As explained above, nonwoven layer  308  can be produced either a) directly from spinnerette  330 , which is configured to yield zones of higher and lower elastic tension similar to FIGS.  3 - 7 , or b) through the combined effect of spinnerette  330  as a uniform or nonuniform die, and secondary spinnerettes  336  which increase the elastic tension in localized regions of layer  308  by extruding secondary filaments  316  onto layer  306 , similar to the web in FIG. 8. In either case, the nonwoven layer  308  (including filaments  312  and  316 ) may be incidentally stretched and, to an extent, maintained in alignment by moving the foraminous conveyor  340  in a clockwise machine direction, at a velocity which is slightly greater than the exit velocity of the filaments leaving the die.  
     [0099] To make the TEL  305 , the elastic nonwoven layer  308  having higher and lower elastic tension zones is reinforced with one or more elastomeric meltblown layers made of the same or different elastic polymer material. Referring to FIG. 11, meltblowing extruders  346  and  348  are used to form meltblown layers  350  and  352  onto one side of layer  308 , resulting in TEL  305 . The meltblown layer or layers may act as structural facing layers in the laminate, and/or may act as tie layers if it is desired to add still more layers to the laminate.  
     [0100] Several patents describe various spray apparatuses and methods that may be utilized in supplying the meltblown layers (adhesives) to the outer facing(s) or, when desired, to the elastic strands themselves. For example, the following United States patents assigned to Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (“ITW”) are directed to various means of spraying or meltblowing fiberized hot melt adhesive onto a substrate: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,882,573; 5,902,540; 5,904,298. These patents are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto. The types of adhesive spray equipment disclosed in the aforementioned patents are generally efficient in applying the adhesive onto the nonwoven outer facings in the VFL process of this invention. In particular, ITW-brand Dynatec spray equipment, which is capable of applying about  3  gsm of adhesive at a run rate of about 1100 fpm, may be used in the melt-spray adhesive applications contemplated by the present inventive process.  
     [0101] Representative adhesive patterns are illustrated in FIGS. 13A through 15D. Applying an adhesive in a cross-machine pattern such as the ones shown in FIGS. 15C and 15D may result in certain adherence advantages. For example, because the elastic strands are placed in the machine direction, having the adhesive pattern orient to a large degree in the cross-machine direction provides multiple adhesives to elastic crossings per unit length.  
     [0102] In addition, in many particular embodiments of the present invention, the adhesive component is applied to the surface of the nonwoven layer in discrete adhesive lines. The adhesive may be applied in various patterns so that the adhesive lines intersect the elastic filament lines to form various types of bonding networks which could include either adhesive-to-elastic bonds or adhesive-to-elastic bonds, adhesive-to-facing layer, and adhesive-to-adhesive bonds. These bonding networks may include a relatively large total number of adhesive-to-elastic and adhesive-to-adhesive bonds that provide the laminated article with increased strength, while utilizing minimal amounts of adhesive. Such enhancements are achieved by the use of adhesive sprayed onto the surface of the nonwoven in a predetermined and specific pattern. In most cases, a final product with less adhesive exhibits a reduction in undesirable stiffness, and is generally more flexible and soft than products having more adhesive.  
     [0103] Applying the adhesive in a pattern so that the adhesive lines are perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the elastic components has been found particularly advantageous. A true 90° bond angle may not be possible in practice, but an average or mean bond angle that is as great as 50° or 60° will generally produce a suitable bond between the elastic strands and the facing material. A conceptual illustration of these types of bond angles is shown in FIGS. 13D and 14. The adhesive-to-elastic bonds are formed where the lines of adhesive  448  and elastic strands  430  join or intersect.  
     [0104] The continuous adhesive filaments-to-elastic strand intersections are also controlled to a predetermined number of intersections per unit of elastic strand length. By having such adhesive lines in a perpendicular orientation and optimizing the number of bonds per unit of elastic strand length, the final elastic strand laminate can be produced with a minimal amount of adhesive and elastomeric strand material to provide desirable product characteristics at a lower cost.  
     [0105] If the adhesive-to-elastic bonds are too few in number or are too weak, then the elastic tension properties of the laminate may be compromised and the tension applied to the elastic strands may break the adhesive joints. In various known processes, the common remedy for this condition is to increase the number of bonding sites by either increasing the meltspray air pressure, or by slowing the lamination speed. As the meltspray air pressure is increased, the resulting adhesive fiber size is reduced, creating weaker bonds. Increasing the amount of adhesive used per unit area to create larger adhesive filaments can strengthen these weaker bonds, which usually increases the cost of the laminate. Lowering the lamination speed decreases machine productivity, negatively impacting product cost. The present invention, in part, utilizes an effective bonding pattern where the number of bond sites per length elastic strand are prescribed and where the adhesive-to-elastic strand joints are generally perpendicular in orientation in order to provide maximum adhesive strength. This allows the laminate to be made at minimal cost by optimizing the adhesive and elastomer content to match the product needs.  
     [0106] As used herein, a “scrim” refers generally to a fabric or nonwoven web of material which may be elastic or inelastic, and having a machine direction (“MD”) oriented strand component along the path of product flow during manufacture and a cross-machine direction (“CD”) strand component across the width of the fabric.  
     [0107]FIG. 13A shows one exemplary scrim pattern useful in the present invention in which the adhesive has been applied to the elastic filaments with attenuation of the adhesive lines in the cross-machine direction. Scrim pattern  435  includes adhesive line  436  and elastic filaments  430 . FIG. 13B illustrates another exemplary scrim pattern  438  having adhesive lines  439  applied to elastic strands  430 . In this embodiment, it can be seen that the bond angle is very high, approaching 90° at the intersection between the adhesive and the elastic filaments. FIG. 13C illustrates still another scrim pattern  441  having adhesive lines  442  and continuous elastic strands  430 .  
     [0108] As previously discussed, FIG. 13D illustrates the relatively high bond angle that may be employed in products produced according to the present invention. In particular, lay down angle  444  is shown as the angle formed by the adhesive line  448  and the elastic strand  430 . Adhesive/elastic angle  446  and adhesive/elastic angle  445  are shown as being less than 90°.  
     [0109]FIG. 14 utilizes an exemplary bonding pattern to conceptually illustrate the measurement for determining the number of bonds per unit length on elastic strands or filaments. FIG. 15A shows another exemplary bonding pattern having the adhesive-to-adhesive bonding wherein a swirled type of configuration is employed. FIG. 15B illustrates a more randomized pattern wherein a large percentage of adhesive lines are in a perpendicular, or almost perpendicular, orientation to the elastic filaments. FIG. 15C is another exemplary embodiment of a bonding pattern having no adhesive-to-adhesive bonds, but numerous adhesive-to-elastic strand bonds. FIG. 15D illustrates another exemplary bonding pattern that has both adhesive-to-adhesive and adhesive-to-elastic strand bonds. The configuration shown in FIG. 15D is similar to the design of a chain-link fence.  
     [0110] Then, if it is desired to convert the TEL  305  into a stretch-bonded laminate, the TEL  305  may be stretched in a stretching stage  354  by pulling it between two nip rolls  356  and  358  which turn at a higher surface speed than the conveyor  340 . At the same time, the facing layers  360  and  362  can be unwound from supply rollers  364  and  366 , and laminated to the TEL  305  using the stretch roll assembly. To accomplish this dual purpose, the nip rolls  356  and  358  may be smooth or patterned calender rolls which use pressure to bond the materials  360 ,  305  and  362  together as well as stretch the TEL  305 . Alternatively, both heat and pressure may be applied to bond the materials  360 ,  305  and  362  together. The resulting stretch-bonded laminate  370  may then be relaxed and/or retracted using nip rollers  372  and  374  that rotate at lower surface speed than calender rolls  358 , and may be wound onto storage roll  376 . The facing layers  360  and  362  may be any of the facing materials described above, and are desirably polyolefin-based spunbond webs.  
     [0111]FIG. 12 illustrates a hybrid  300  of a CF SBL process and a VF SBL process for making a stretch-bonded TEL  370 . A first extrusion apparatus  330  is fed with an elastic polymer or polymer blend from one or more sources (not shown). Extrusion apparatus  330  may be any of the various devices described with respect to FIG. 11. Suitably, apparatus  330  is a meltblowing spinnerette operating without the heated gas (e.g., air) stream which flows past the die tip in conventional meltblowing processes. Apparatus  330  extrudes lower tension filaments  312  directly onto a conveyor system, which can be a forming wire system  340  (i.e., a foraminous belt) moving clockwise about rollers  342 . Filaments  312  may be cooled using vacuum suction applied through the forming wire system, and/or cooling fans (not shown). The vacuum may also help hold the filaments against the forming wire system.  
     [0112] A meltblowing extruder  346  is used to add a reinforcing elastic meltblown layer  350  to the elastic filaments  312 . Desirably, the meltblown layer  350  is made of the same elastic polymer as the low tension filaments  312 . The resulting laminate  307  travels forward on the conveyor.  
     [0113] To make the higher tension region, a vertical filament die  230  extrudes higher tension (i.e., higher basis weight) elastic filaments  316  in a band which is narrower than the laminate  307  containing filaments  312 . Filaments  316  pass around a chill roll  245 , or a series of chill rolls, and a series of stretch rolls, for example two stretch rolls  255 ,  256 , before being joined with laminate  307  between nip rolls  356  and  358 , which are suitably smooth or patterned calender rolls. Simultaneously, facing layers  360  and  362  are unwound from supply rolls  364  and  366  and joined with the laminate between nip rolls  356  and  358  to make TEL  370 . As TEL  370  is relaxed, it may assume the puckered configuration shown, due to retraction of high tension filaments  316  present in part of the laminate. TEL  370  may be flattened out between rolls  374  and  376 , and wound onto roll  376 .  
     [0114] The targeted elastic materials described above can be employed in a wide variety of personal care garments, and can be oriented and placed so that a high tension elastic region is in the vicinity of at least one garment opening. Suitable personal care garments having openings include, for instance, diapers, training pants, swim wear, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and certain feminine hygiene products. The targeted elastic materials may be used in similar fashion in protective garments including, for instance, medical gowns, gloves, caps, drapes, face masks, and the like, where it is desired to provide elastic properties in the vicinity of one or more garment openings without requiring a separately manufactured and attached elastic band.  
     [0115] While the embodiments of the invention described herein are presently preferred, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that fall within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.