Patent Publication Number: US-2021177665-A1

Title: Disposable Absorbent Pants With Advantageous Stretch And Manufacturability Features, And Methods For Manufacturing The Same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/691,652 (12437MCCC), filed on Nov. 22, 2019, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/151,688 (12437MCC), filed Oct. 4, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,517,771, granted Dec. 31, 2019, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/739,222 (12437MC), filed Jun. 15, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,166,151, granted Jan. 1, 2019, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/893,632 (12437M), filed May 14, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,095,472, granted on Aug. 4, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/646,925 (12437P), filed May 15, 2012, the substances of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, disposable absorbent pants are manufactured and marketed for wear by toddlers and young children who are not yet toilet trained, older children who are experiencing childhood enuresis, and adults suffering from incontinence. A disposable absorbent pant usually includes a central chassis having a core formed of absorbent material, enveloped between a liquid permeable, wearer-facing topsheet, and a liquid impermeable, outer- or garment-facing backsheet. The chassis is usually adapted to be positioned on the wearer such that it wraps between the wearer&#39;s legs and upwardly about the lower torso, such that the front and rear ends extend toward the wearer&#39;s waistline in the front and rear, respectively. The chassis is often joined to a pair of side/hip panels that each connects front and rear regions of the chassis on either side thereof, thereby forming a pant structure. In many current designs, the side/hip panels are manufactured so as to be elastically extensible in the lateral direction, providing stretchability that eases donning, while providing a relatively snug and comfortable fit once donned. Disposable absorbent pants are usually manufactured in one of two differing overall configurations. 
     In the first configuration, the backsheet and topsheet of the central chassis structure extend to, and form, the front and rear waist edges of the pant in the regions near the wearer&#39;s navel in the front, and small of the back in the rear. Separate and discrete side/hip panels are joined to longitudinal (side) edges of the central chassis structure in its front and rear regions, joining them to form the pant structure. An example of this type of configuration is currently manufactured and sold in the United States by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS EASY UPS. 
     In the second configuration, the central chassis structure does not extend to, or form, the front and rear waist edges of the pant. Rather, an elasticized belt structure entirely encircles the wearer&#39;s waist and forms the waist edge about the entire pant, and the side/hip panels. The central chassis is joined to the belt structure, usually on the inside thereof, with its ends disposed at locations in the front and rear waist regions somewhat below the waist edges of the belt structure. This second configuration is sometimes known as a “belt” or “balloon” configuration (hereinafter, “belt” configuration). An example of this type of configuration is currently manufactured and sold in Asia by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS, and also by Unicharm Corporation under the trademark MAMY POKO. 
     While both configurations have their advantages, in some circumstances a belt configuration may be deemed desirable. Among other advantages, because the encircling belt may be made elastically extensible in the lateral direction, considerable elastic stretch and contraction as well as targeted elastic profiles may be provided entirely about the wearer&#39;s waist. 
     For purposes of optimal fit, appearance and containment, it may be desired that a pant have elastic extensibility not only laterally hoop-wise about the waist and hips, but also hoop-wise about each of the legs, so as to provide an elasticized leg band or leg band-like structure. This may be accomplished by incorporating elastic members into the structure that at least partially encircle the leg openings, in addition to the laterally extending elastic members encircling the waist opening. Although some currently manufactured belt configuration pants include such an arrangement of elastic members, they could be deemed to have a rough or unfinished appearance, or are inefficient to manufacture, or both. For example, some current designs have elastic members that continue across front and rear regions of the chassis, having no important function and creating an unsightly appearance. 
     Therefore, improvements to the design of disposable absorbent pants of a belt configuration, that provide for elasticized leg band-like features that and also efficient manufacturability, would be advantageous. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is simplified perspective view of a disposable absorbent pant; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified plan view of a precursor structure of a disposable absorbent pant, shown with inner or wearer-facing surfaces upward; 
         FIG. 3A  is a simplified, schematic cross-section view taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , in one example of a possible configuration; 
         FIG. 3B  is a simplified, schematic cross-section view taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , in another example of a possible configuration; 
         FIG. 3C  is a simplified, schematic cross-section view taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , in another example of a possible configuration; 
         FIGS. 4A-4K  are simplified, schematic cross-section views taken through line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 , in various examples of possible configurations; 
         FIG. 5A  is a plan view of a portion of a nonwoven web with applied elastic members; 
         FIG. 5B  is a simplified schematic view of equipment and components for manufacturing a laminate, shown along a cross-direction view; 
         FIG. 6A  is a plan view of a portion of a multilayer web shown with cut lines; 
         FIG. 6B  is a plan view of a portion of a multilayer web shown with cut lines in an alternative configuration; 
         FIG. 6C  is a plan view of portions of the multilayer web as shown in  FIG. 6A , with a middle section severed away; 
         FIG. 6D  is a plan view of portions of the multilayer web as shown in  FIG. 6B , with a middle section severed away; 
         FIG. 6E  is a simplified schematic view of equipment and components for manufacturing a laminate, shown along a cross-direction view; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a multilayer web and applied chassis structures illustrating a method for manufacturing pant structures; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a portion of a multilayer web including two nonwoven layers and a pre-strained elastic member, with formations of shirrs along the elastic member in the nonwoven layers; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-section view along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIGS. 10A-10C  are cross-sections similar to that of  FIG. 9 , but including a third layer and showing examples in which a third layer may be included and attached in an elasticized multilayer web structure and imparted with differing patterns of shirrs. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES 
     Definitions 
     “Cross direction” (CD)—with respect to the making of a nonwoven web material, the nonwoven material itself, a laminate thereof, or an article in which the material is a component, refers to the direction along the material substantially perpendicular to the direction of forward travel of the material through the manufacturing line in which the material and/or article is manufactured. 
     As used herein, the term “elastic” or “elastomeric” refers to the property of an extensible material (or a composite of multiple materials) that can extend, without substantial rupture or breakage, to a strain of 100% in the Hysteresis Test, with a set less than or equal to 10% of the elongation as measured according to the Hysteresis Test. An elastic material is considered elastically extensible. 
     “Machine direction” (MD)—with respect to the making of a nonwoven web material, the nonwoven material itself, a laminate thereof, or an article in which the material is a component, refers to the direction along the material substantially parallel to the direction of forward travel of the material through the manufacturing line in which the material and/or article is manufactured. 
     “Lateral”—with respect to a pant and its wearer, refers to the direction generally perpendicular with the wearer&#39;s standing height, or the horizontal direction when the wearer is standing. “Lateral” is also the direction generally perpendicular to a line extending from the midpoint of the front waist edge to the midpoint of the rear waist edge. 
     “Longitudinal”—with respect to a pant and its wearer, refers to the direction generally parallel with the wearer&#39;s standing height, or the vertical direction when the wearer is standing. “Longitudinal” is also the direction generally parallel to a line extending from the midpoint of the front waist edge to the midpoint of the rear waist edge. 
       FIG. 1  is a general simplified perspective depiction of a disposable absorbent pant  10  having a belt configuration. Pant  10  may include a central chassis  20  and a belt structure  30 . Belt structure  30  may be elastically extensible in the lateral direction, providing elastic stretchability for ease of donning, and a snug and comfortable fit following donning. Central chassis  20  may include a wearer-facing, liquid permeable topsheet (not specifically shown in  FIG. 1 ), an outer- or garment-facing backsheet (not specifically shown in  FIG. 1 ) and an absorbent core (not specifically shown in  FIG. 1 ) sandwiched or enveloped between the topsheet and backsheet. A pair of laterally opposing, longitudinally extending barrier cuffs  25  also may be included with the central chassis in a crotch region thereof, disposed adjacent to the topsheet. Generally the central chassis and barrier cuffs may have any construction and components, including leg cuff structures, suitable for disposable diapers, training pants, and adult incontinence pants, such as, but not limited to, those described in U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/480,663 and application(s) claiming priority thereto. Belt structure  30  may have a front portion  31  and a rear portion  32 . Front and rear portions  31 ,  32  may be joined together at respective left and right side seams  33   l,    33   r.  Belt structure  30  may form front and rear waist edges  11 ,  12  defining waist opening  15 , and at least portions of left and right leg opening edges  13   l,    13   r  of the pant  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified plan view of the precursor structure of the pant  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , shown prior to joining of front and rear portions  31 ,  32  along their respective side edges  34   l,    35   l  and  34   r,    35   r.  Front region  31   a,  including front portion  31 , and rear region  32   a,  including rear portion  32 , may each include anywhere from 25 percent to 40 percent of the overall longitudinal length of the precursor structure; correspondingly, a crotch region  45  may include anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent of the overall longitudinal length of the precursor structure, with at least a portion thereof lying at lateral axis LA. To form pant  10 , the precursor structure may be folded along lateral axis LA to bring front and rear regions  31   a,    32   a,  and front and rear portions  31 ,  32  together such that their side edges  34   l,    35   l  and  34   r,    35   r,  respectively, may be joined at seams  33   l,    33   r  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Seams  33   l,    33 R may be formed by adhesive, thermal, pressure, or ultrasonic bonding, and combinations thereof. In an alternative example, the seams may be formed by mechanical fasteners such as cooperating pairs of hook-and-loop fastening components disposed along side edges  34   r,    35   r  and  34   l,    35   l.  Fasteners may also include tape tabs, interlocking fasteners such as tabs &amp; slots, buckles, buttons, snaps, and/or hermaphroditic fastening components. Exemplary surface fastening systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,848,594; 4,662,875; 4,846,815; 4,894,060; 4,946,527; 5,151,092; and 5,221,274, while an exemplary interlocking fastening system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,098. The fastening system may also include primary and secondary fastening systems, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,622. Additionally exemplary fasteners and fastener arrangements, the fastening components forming these fasteners, and the materials that are suitable for forming fasteners are described in U.S. Published Application Nos. 2003/0060794 and 2005/0222546 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,526. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , one or both of front and rear portions  31 ,  32  may include at least a first elastic member  36 ,  37  disposed nearer the waist edges  11 ,  12  and at least a second elastic member  38 ,  39 , disposed nearer the leg opening edges  13   l,    13   r.  As suggested in  FIG. 2 , one or a plurality of waist elastic members  36 ,  37  may be disposed in a substantially straight lateral orientation, and one or a plurality of leg elastic members  38 ,  39  may be disposed along curvilinear paths to provide hoopwise elastic stretch about the leg openings  13   l,    13   r  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). For purposes of manufacturing a pant having a neat appearance as will be described below, it may be desired that leg elastic members  38 ,  39  terminate proximate the respective longitudinal edges  21  of chassis  20 . For purposes herein, where used to describe a positional relationship between two features, “proximate” is intended to mean within 2.0 cm, more preferably within 1.0 cm, of the identified features. 
     Elastic members  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39  may be in the form of film or sections or strips thereof, strips, ribbons, bands or strands of circular or any other cross-section, formed in any configuration of any elastomeric material such as described in, for example, co-pending U.S. applications Ser. Nos. 11/478,386 and 13/331,695, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,879. A suitable example is LYCRA HYFIT strands, a product of Invista, Wichita, Kans. 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  are examples of potential longitudinal cross-sections taken at line  3 - 3  through the rear portion  32  of the belt structure and rear region of the pant as shown in  FIG. 2 , depicting features in three possible configurations. It can be appreciated that in each of these particular examples, the cross-section may substantially mirror a cross-section taken through the front portion  31  of the belt structure and the front region of the pant. 
       FIG. 4A  is an example of a potential longitudinal cross-section taken at line  4 - 4  through the rear portion  32  of the belt structure and rear region of the pant as shown in  FIG. 2 , depicting features in one configuration. It can be appreciated that this cross-section may also be a substantial mirror image of a cross-section taken through the front portion  31  of the belt structure and the front region of the pant. Belt structure  30  where shown in  FIG. 4A  has the same layers and components as those depicted in  FIG. 3A , but with the addition of leg elastic members  39  and without the chassis components, as a result of the location of the cross-section. As suggested in  FIG. 2 , leg elastic members  39  may terminate proximate the longitudinal edges  21  of central chassis  20 ; thus, they do not appear in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Additional elastics (not shown) may be disposed longitudinally between the waist elastics and the leg elastics shown in  FIGS. 4A-4K . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3C , chassis  20  may have liquid permeable topsheet  22  forming at least a portion of its inner, wearer-facing surface. Top sheet  22  may be formed of a nonwoven web material which is preferably soft and compatible with sensitive skin, and may be formed of and have any of the features of topsheets used in disposable diapers, training pants and inserts including those described in, for example, co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/841,553. Chassis  20  may also have an outward-facing backsheet  24 , which may be liquid impermeable. Backsheet  24  may be formed of and have any of the features of backsheets used in disposable diapers and training pants including those described in, for example, the co-pending U.S. patent application referenced immediately above. Chassis  20  may also have an absorbent core  23  disposed between topsheet  22  and backsheet  24 . Absorbent core  23  may include one or more absorbent acquisition, distribution and storage material layers and/or components; it may be formed of and have any of the features of absorbent cores used in disposable diapers and training pants including those described in, for example, the co-pending U.S. patent application referenced immediately above. 
     As suggested in  FIGS. 3A-3C , chassis  20  may be affixed to a belt structure  30 , to the inner, wearer-facing side thereof, or alternatively, to the outer, garment-facing surface thereof. Chassis  20  may be bonded to the belt structure  30  by adhesive, by thermal bonds/welds, mechanical fasteners or a combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 4A , belt structure  30  may have a first belt layer  40 , which may be formed of a suitable nonwoven web material. Since the first belt layer may come into direct contact with the wearer&#39;s skin, it may be deemed preferable to select a nonwoven web material for the layer that is soft, comfortable and relatively breathable/vapor permeable. One or more waist elastic members  37  may be disposed between first belt layer  40  and a second belt layer  41 . Second belt layer  41  may be formed of the same, similar or differing nonwoven web material as first belt layer  40 . First belt layer  40  and second belt layer  41  may be bonded together by adhesive, a pattern of thermal bonds or a combination thereof, such that first belt layer  40  and second belt layer  41  form a laminate, with the one or more waist elastic members  37  sandwiched and affixed therebetween. 
     Similarly, referring to  FIG. 4A , the one or more leg elastic members  39  may be affixed and sandwiched between first belt layer  40  and second belt layer  41 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , during manufacture, the one or more waist elastic members  37  may be pre-strained along the direction of their lengths or longer dimensions, before they are affixed between the belt layers, such that, upon completion of manufacture and subsequent relaxation, contraction of elastic members  37  will induce a pattern of wrinkles, pleats, corrugations or rugosities (hereinafter, “shirrs”)  43  in first belt layer  40  and second belt layer  41 . The shirrs  43  are formed of material that gathers about the elastic members as they contract, and the gathered material serves to accommodate stretching and contraction of the belt structure  30 . The shirrs  43  are oriented along fold or bending lines roughly transverse or perpendicular to the direction of lateral contraction of the elastic members  37 . 
     Similarly, the one or more leg elastic members  39  may be pre-strained along their paths of placement (which, as noted, may be curvilinear) during manufacture before they are affixed between the layers, such that, upon completion of manufacture and subsequent relaxation, contraction of elastic members  39  will induce a pattern of shirrs in first belt layer  40  and second belt layer  41 . These shins are also formed of material that gathers about the elastic members as they contract, and serve to accommodate stretching and contraction of the belt structure  30  about the leg openings. The shins are oriented along fold or wrinkle lines roughly transverse or perpendicular to the direction of contraction of the elastic members  39 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , patterns of deposits of adhesive may be applied to either of the layers  40 ,  41 , and/or to the elastic members  37 ,  39  to adhere the layers to the elastic members  37 , 39  at adhered portions  44 , in regular patterns and/or intervals, so that the shins formed upon relaxation and contraction of elastic members  37 ,  39  are somewhat uniform, evenly distributed and neat in appearance. 
     Also as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C and 4A-4K , the belt structure may include a longitudinally extending wrapping layer  42 . Wrapping layer  42  may form a layer that wraps not only about the front and rear portions of the belt structure, but also extends from the front portion, around and beneath the chassis  20  through the crotch region, and into the rear portion. The wrapping layer  42  may be formed of a single material web disposed as a layer of the rear portion  32  of the belt structure  30 , the central chassis  20 , and the front portion  31  of the belt structure  30 . Wrapping layer  42  may be disposed so as to form an outer layer of the belt structure  30  in the front and rear portions as suggested in  FIGS. 3A and 4A-4G , an intermediate layer in the front and rear portions as suggested in  FIGS. 3B and 4H , or an inner layer as suggested in  FIGS. 3C and 4K . Wrapping layer  42  may be formed of any suitable nonwoven web material having desired properties of softness and mechanical strength. 
     Wrapping layer  42  may be added to the belt structure  30  in a step occurring later than the step in which the first belt layer  40 , elastic members  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39 , and second belt layer  41  are joined. In some circumstances the shins in layers  40 ,  41  caused by attachment of the elastic members to layers  40  and  41  and relaxation and contraction of elastic members  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39  from a pre-strained state may be formed in a manner to provide a relatively smooth texture and surface against the skin of the wearer. Referring to  FIGS. 10A-10C , one advantage provided by a third layer is that, during a step following lamination of the portions of belt structure  30  including layers  40  and  41 , with one or more elastic members  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39  therebetween, the wrapping layer  42  may be joined to the outside surface of second belt layer  41  at attachment points  46  to form a distinct and different configuration of second shirrs  47 . As a result, wrapping layer  42  may be imparted with larger second shirrs than exist on first or second belt layers  40 ,  41 , providing an appearance of a greater degree of stretch and/or lofty feel. Differences in appearance and/or height and spacing of shirrs in the belt laminate formed by, e.g., layers  40 ,  41  and interposed elastic elements can be achieved by differing the types of adhesive and/or differing patterns of adhesive deposits or mechanical bonds, used to affix wrapping layer  42  to the other layers at attachment points  46 . For example, the elastic members may be joined to the first belt layer  40  and second belt layer  41  by a first adhesive or mechanical bond pattern that produces a first configuration of shins, and this precursor elasticized multilayer web structure may then be joined to the wrapping layer  42  via a different pattern of adhesive deposits, resulting in a distinctly different configuration of shins from that of the precursor elasticized multilayer web structure. Such a difference may provide for enhanced visual and tactile softness attributes, fewer instances of skin irritation or marking that can result from concentrations of pressure at shins, less bulk under clothing, improved stretch and other perceptual advantages. In an alternative example, one or more of the layers  40 ,  41  and/or  42  may include an extensible porous substrate such as an elastomeric nonwoven material (i.e., a nonwoven material whose fiber constituents are formed of elastomeric polymer(s)) or an elastomeric foam material, which may be applied in a partially strained state, thereby reducing the size of the shins in such layer when the belt is in its relaxed, contracted state. Additionally, as may be appreciated from  FIG. 3A , in one configuration wrapping layer  42  may be disposed to cover over the junction between central chassis  20  and the belt structure  30 , concealing it and further contributing to a smooth, unified outward appearance. It will be appreciated that  FIGS. 10A-10C  are non limiting examples, and other configurations of three layers of web material with elastic members disposed there between may be manufactured to impart differing patterns of shins in the respective layers. 
     Examples of suitable nonwoven web materials useful for forming any of layers  40 ,  41  and  42  are described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/090,761. 
       FIGS. 4B-4K  depict alternative configurations that cross-section  4 - 4  ( FIG. 2 ) may have, according to differing embodiments of a pant with a belt structure having a first belt layer  40 , second belt layer  41 , and wrapping layer  42 . As may be appreciated by a comparison of  FIGS. 4A and 4B-4C , and  4 D- 4 E, waist elastic members  36 ,  37  and leg elastic members  38 ,  39 , may be disposed between differing pairs of layers  40 ,  41  and  41 ,  42 , and may have alternating dispositions between layers. These varying locations of disposition of elastic members provide for flexibility in manufacturing and/or alteration of the outward appearance of the pant. For example, it may be desired that shirrs imparted by relaxation and contraction of pre-strained elastic members be accentuated at the waist line and/or at the leg band area, which may signal fit and stretchability to the consumer. In this circumstance, it may be desired to dispose, e.g., waist elastic members  36 ,  37  between an intermediately disposed belt layer and an outwardly-disposed layer. Alternatively, it may be desired that the appearance of shins be partially subdued or concealed. In this circumstance, it may be desired to dispose, e.g., leg elastic members  38 ,  39  between an intermediately-disposed layer and an inwardly-disposed layer. In another alternative, disposing the elastic members between an outwardly-disposed layer and an intermediately-disposed layer may impart a smoother texture to the inwardly-disposed layer, thereby providing a more comfortable surface next to the wearer&#39;s skin. In the alternatives depicted in  FIGS. 4D and 4E , alternating disposition of elastic members between differing layer pairs may serve to allow a closer longitudinal distribution of elastic members for a greater force profile in one or both of the waist band and leg band areas, than would be achievable if all elastic members are disposed between the same layers, because, during manufacture, it may be difficult to achieve close longitudinal spacing when applying elastic members to a web, without having the members bunch together in some locations—particularly when they are applied along a curvilinear path. 
     In still other examples, elastic members along the waist or leg band areas may be added about the waist opening or leg openings outside the outermost layer. Referring to  FIGS. 4F and 4G , added elastic members  37   a,    39   a  may be substituted for elastic members  37 ,  39 , or may be supplemental to them. Added leg elastic members  39   a  and waist elastic members  37   a  may be first incorporated into elasticized band structures having inner and outer band layers  51 ,  52  as suggested in  FIGS. 4F and 4G . The inner and outer band layers  51 ,  52  may be formed of respective nonwoven web materials, film materials or a combination thereof. In one example, a single layer may be folded over on itself to enclose and sandwich added elastic members  37   a  and/or  39   a  therebetween. In one embodiment the leg elastic members may be applied between two carrier layers in a linear fashion to create an elastic leg band laminate, and the elastic leg band laminate may subsequently be applied to the outermost layer or to a portion of the belt structure along a curvilinear path. Placing elastic laminates of outer band layers  51  and  52  with elastic members therebetween at the outer surfaces of the pant may provide a visual signal of stretchability and fit and a neat banded appearance, while moving the elastic members and resulting shirrs to the outer portions of the structure and away from the wearer&#39;s skin. 
     One or more of elastic members  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39  may be varied from one or more of the others in various ways to impart differing stretch and force characteristics. For example, it may be desired that curvilinear leg elastic members exert greater or less tension about the leg openings than exists about the waist opening during wear, for fit snugness about these openings that differ according to specific design circumstances. One or more of the elastic members  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39  may be selected and/or configured so as to differ from one or more of the others in a respect selected from number of elastic strands or bands, cross-sectional size of elastic strands or bands, cross-sectional shape of elastic strands or bands, chemical composition of material from which elastic strands or bands are formed, amount of pre-strain imparted to the elastic strands or bands during manufacture of the pant, spacing of the strands and combinations thereof. 
     In addition to the waist elastic members  36 ,  37  and curvilinear leg elastic members  38 ,  39 , additional elastic members (not shown) may be included longitudinally therebetween, to impart additional stretch, contraction and load/force bearing capability to the belt structure, in the same manner as such capability is imparted by the waist and leg elastic members. The additional elastic members may be disposed between the same pairs of layers as any of elastic members  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39 , or may be disposed between differing pairs of layers, and may be disposed in alternating locations between differing pairs of layers as described above. 
     Some examples described above, as well as other examples not expressly described, may also be advantageous because they may lend themselves to relatively efficient manufacture. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a first nonwoven web  70 , to be used to form one of first belt layer  40  or second belt layer  41  for both front portion  31  and rear portion  32  (see  FIG. 2 ), may be conveyed in a machine direction MD. As first nonwoven web  70  travels in the machine direction, one or more leg elastic members  38 ,  39  may be applied to the first nonwoven web  70  along one or more curvilinear paths. (Alternatively, some of the elastic members may be applied at a later step, as described below.) The respective curvilinear paths for elastic members  38 ,  39  may mirror each other about a machine direction axis along the web, or they may differ in some respects, to provide leg band profiles that vary from front to rear of the finished product. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the curvilinear paths for the elastic members  38 ,  39  may be arranged such that, when they are severed as described below, the severed ends are proximate to, and even meet, or align with, complement, and/or effectively form extensions of, leg cuff elastic members  21   a  present on leg cuff components of central chassis  20 . This provides for the appearance and/or function of an elasticized leg band that completely encircles the wearer&#39;s leg. The leg elastic members may be applied along the curvilinear paths via methods and equipment described in, for example, U.S. Pats. Nos. 8,062,454 and 8,075,722 or U.S. applications Ser. Nos. 12/362,981; 12/363,002; 12/363,023; and 12/363,048. 
     Simultaneously with, or before or after this step, one or more waist elastic members  36 ,  37  may be applied to the first nonwoven web  70  along substantially straight paths, and may be applied along the outer edges  70   a,    70   b  of the web and may be spaced at equal or varying intervals therefrom, but so as to be disposed approximately along a lateral direction in the finished pant. In another example, the leg elastic members  38 ,  39 , or fewer than all of them, may be applied to a second nonwoven web layer  80  and/or an outer surface of a first elasticized multilayer web  90 , following lamination in rollers  100 ,  101  as depicted in  FIG. 5B . 
     As they are applied to a web, the elastic members may be pre-strained by a controlled amount in the direction of their greater lengths, such that upon completion of manufacture and subsequent relaxation, shins of gathered nonwoven material are created that will accommodate elastic stretch when the pant is donned and worn. The elastic members may be adhered to web  70  along their paths of application by an adhesive applied to the web or to the elastic members or both, prior to application. Referring to  FIG. 5B , following application of the waist elastic members and leg elastic members to web  70 , first nonwoven web  70  and a second nonwoven web  80  (to form another of the component layers of a belt structure) may be passed through the nip between a first pair of laminating rollers  100 ,  101 . If adhesive is applied to the surface at least one of the webs  70 ,  80  facing the other, passage through the laminating rollers will adhere the webs together and affix the elastic members in place between webs  70 ,  80  along their paths of application, and form a first elasticized multilayer web  90 . In one example, the nonwoven web  80  may be a single continuous web extending across the cross direction to cover the entirety of web  70 , or web  80  may be 2 separate webs spaced apart in the cross direction, to cover only the front and rear portions (i.e., relative  FIG. 5A , the left and right portions) of web  70 . Alternatively or in addition, one or both of rollers  100 ,  101  may have thereon a pattern of discrete bonding protrusions and one or both of rollers  100 ,  101  may have heating energy supplied thereto, such that a corresponding pattern of discrete bonds that affix webs  70 ,  80  together is impressed at the nip through heat, pressure or a combination thereof. It may be preferred, however, to use adhesive to form the laminate rather than heat/pressure bonding, since the latter method may damage the elastic members, and the former may be deemed more reliable to affix and hold the elastic members in place and prevent displacement of the elastic members relative to web  90 , resulting from their tendency to contract following pre-strain. In another alternative, however, adhesive may be used to adhere the elastic members along their paths of application, and heat/pressure bonds may be used to affix the webs  70 ,  80  together in areas not occupied by the applied elastic members, the pattern of discrete bonding protrusions on one or both of rollers  100 ,  101  being arranged accordingly. In another alternative, the web  90  may be subjected to mechanical bonding following formation of the laminate. 
     The above-described steps provide for the securement and bonding of pre-strained elastic members, e.g., leg elastic members  38 ,  39 , between two layers of nonwoven web, in a manner that reduces the likelihood that that they will substantially snap back and curl at their severed ends, when portions of the web including the elastic members  38 ,  39  are severed away as described below and illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-6D . This provides for a neater appearance in the finished product about, e.g., leg openings, when such elastic members are severed proximate the leg openings. 
     Following its formation, in one alternative, first elasticized multilayer web  90  may be passed through incremental stretching and/or ring-rolling equipment to impart, promote formation of, or affect the appearance of an orderly pattern of shirrs in the layers, as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,897 (P&amp;G 4339); U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,793 (P&amp;G 4340); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,679 (P&amp;G 4341); or U.S. application Ser. No. 10/288,095 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,411 (P&amp;G 8768M)); Ser. No. 10/288,126 (P&amp;G 9076); Ser. No. 10/429,433 (P&amp;G 9235); Ser. No. 11/410,170 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,833,211 (P&amp;G 10381)); Ser. No. 11/811,130 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,177,766 (P&amp;G 10440M)); Ser. No. 11/899,656 (P&amp;G 10899); Ser. No. 11/899,810 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,597,268 (P&amp;G 10898)); Ser. No. 11/899/811 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,668,679 (P&amp;G 10900)); Ser. No. 11/899,812 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,790,325 (P&amp;G 10897)); Ser. No. 12/204,844 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,858,523 (P&amp;G 10897R)); Ser. No. 12/204,849 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,945,079 (P&amp;G 10897R2)); Ser. No. 12/204,854 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,050,221 (P&amp;G 10897R3)); Ser. No. 12/204,858 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,056,031 (P&amp;G 10897R4)); or Ser. No. 12/204,864 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,060,900 (P&amp;G 10897R5)) and the co-pending U.S. applications filed on the same day hereof in the names of Zink et al. bearing attorney docket nos. 12413P (U.S. Pat. No. 8,720,666); 12414P (U.S. App. Ser. No. 61/647,061 and U.S. Ser. No. 13/893,405; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,899) and 12415P U.S. App. Ser. No. 61/647,071 and U.S. Ser. No. 13/893,735). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6E , first elasticized multilayer web  90  may then be passed through cutting equipment that severs away middle section  97  from web  90  along cut paths  96 , and middle section  97  may then be removed. This severs leg elastic members  38 ,  39  at repeated intervals as suggested in  FIGS. 6A-6D , and leaves behind front and rear waist sections  98 ,  99  of first elasticized multilayer web  90 . It may be appreciated from  FIGS. 6B and 6D  that cut paths  96  may also be nonlinear, and that a cutting die may be configured to cut along a cutting path that shifts in the cross direction, and/or is approximately parallel the path(s) of leg elastic members  38 ,  39 . Also as suggested in  FIGS. 6B and 6D , the cutting die may be configured to sever the leg elastic members and the associated web layer(s) in the cross direction so as to effect a longitudinally-oriented cut and arrangement of the severed ends of the leg elastic members in the finished pant, as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Thus, in one example, it may be desired to cut elastic members  38 ,  39  along cross direction lines as suggested by cut paths  96  in  FIG. 6B , rather than along machine direction lines as suggested by cut paths  96  in  FIG. 6A . This enables the severed ends of elastic members  38 ,  39  to be neatly arranged longitudinally, i.e., at similar lateral locations, along the longitudinal edges  21  of the central chassis  20  (e.g., see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     Following the severing of the leg elastic members, in one alternative, one or more waist elastic members may be applied to the front and rear waist sections  98 ,  99 , in the event it is desired to supplement waist elastic members already added and disposed between the same pair of layers as the leg elastic members, or, in another alternative, in the event it is desired that waist elastic members be disposed between a differing pair of layers than leg elastic members  38 ,  39 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6E , front and rear waist sections  98 ,  99  together with a third layer web  91  (which also may be a nonwoven web) may then be passed through the nip between a second pair of laminating rollers  102 ,  103  to form a second elasticized multilayer web  95  that is a precursor to a belt structure. Prior to passing front and rear waist sections  98 ,  99 , and web  91  through the nip between rollers  102 ,  103 , one or both of the front and rear waist sections  98 ,  99  may be shifted in the cross direction to increase or decrease the spacing between the front and rear belt sections. Additionally, one or both of the front and rear waist sections may be allowed to partially (but not entirely) relax and contract along the machine direction through contraction of the pre-strained elastic members. This will allow third layer web  91  to be applied to the laminate in a manner that results in shins in web  91  about the elastic members that are fewer in number, and/or lower in height/depth, and/or spaced differently, compared with those resulting in the first and second nonwoven webs in the finished product, and thereby, provide a differing appearance and/or feel to the outer layer web component of the belt structure. Third layer web  91  may be affixed to front and rear waist sections  98 ,  99  by adhesive applied to one or more of the facing surfaces thereof in a continuous film-like application, or a continuous or discontinuous pattern; as noted above, the pattern may be configured to affect the features of shirrs that appear in the third layer. Alternatively or in addition, one or both of rollers  102 ,  103  may have thereon a pattern of discrete bonding protrusions and one or both of rollers  102 ,  103  may have heating energy supplied thereto, such that a corresponding pattern of discrete bonds that affix webs  90 ,  91  together is impressed at the nip through heat, pressure or a combination thereof. The pattern may be arranged so as to avoid the areas occupied by the elastic members so as not to damage them, and to provide an appearance that does not have a distinct pattern of shirrs. 
     There are several advantages provided by including a third layer (in addition to elastic members) in the belt structure as described herein. First, as described above, including three layers allows for formation of a differing pattern of shirrs, exposed on either the inside or outside of the belt structure, than the pattern formed in the first two layers. Second, inclusion of a third layer provides options concerning the locations of elastic members in differing areas (e.g., waistband area and legband area) between differing pairs of layers. See, e.g.,  FIGS. 4A-4C, 4D, 4E, and 4H-4J . This allows the manufacturer to manipulate the mechanical properties, comfort and appearance of the belt structure. 
     Following its formation, in one alternative, second elasticized multilayer web  95  may be passed through incremental stretching and/or ring-rolling equipment to impart or promote formation of an orderly pattern of shirrs in the layers, as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,897 (P&amp;G 4339); U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,793 (P&amp;G 4340); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,679 (P&amp;G 4341); or U.S. application Ser. No. 10/288,095 (U.S. Pat. No. 7.056,411 (P&amp;G 8768M)); Ser. No. 10/288,126 (P&amp;G 9076); Ser. No. 10/429,433 (P&amp;G 9235); Ser. No. 11/410,170 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,833,211 (P&amp;G 10381)); Ser. No. 11/811,130 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,177,766 (P&amp;G 10440M)); Ser. No. 11/899,656 (P&amp;G 10899); Ser. No. 11/899,810 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,597,268 (P&amp;G 10898)); Ser. No. 11/899,811 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,668,679 (P&amp;G 10900)); Ser. No. 11/899,812 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,790,325 (P&amp;G 10897)); Ser. No. 12/204,844 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,858,523 (P&amp;G 10897R)); Ser. No. 12/204,849 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,945,079 (P&amp;G 10897R2)); Ser. No. 12/204,854 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,050,221 (P&amp;G 10897R3)); Ser. No. 12/204,858 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,056,031 (P&amp;G 10897R4); or Ser. No. 12/204,864 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,060,900 (P&amp;G 10897R5)) and the co-pending U.S. applications filed on the same day hereof in the names of Zink et al. bearing attorney docket nos. 12413P (U.S. Pat. No. 8,720,666); 12414P (U.S. App. Ser. No. 61/647,061 and U.S. Ser. No. 13/893,405; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,899) and 12415P (U.S. App. Ser. No. 61/647,071 and U.S. Ser. No. 13/893,735). 
     Following that step, referring to  FIG. 7 , central chassis  20  structures may be applied to either surface of second elasticized multilayer web  95  and affixed thereto by any suitable method including thermal bonding, adhesive bonding, mechanical fastening or a combination thereof. Where central chassis  20  includes elasticized leg cuff structures, for example, such as described in U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/480,663, with leg cuff elastic members  21   a,  these may be directly affixed to the belt structure at cuff bonding locations  21   b  proximate the severed ends of leg elastic members  38 ,  39 ; this may provide for effective creation of an elasticized cuff/banding structure that substantially or entirely encircles the wearer&#39;s leg. 
     Lastly, individual pant precursor structures such as shown in  FIG. 2  may be severed and separated from the web along separation lines  120 . Simultaneously with or prior this severing step, leg opening cutouts  111  may be made in the outer layer web  91  component of web  95 . A single rolling cutting die may be made and paired with an anvil roller to form a cutting nip that effects cutting along separation lines  98  and leg cutouts  111  in a single operation. (As noted above, in another alternative, leg opening cutouts may be made simultaneously with the cutting step described above in which middle section  97  is cut away, along cut lines  96 , as suggested in  FIGS. 6B and 6D .) The final cutting step severing the web along separation lines  120  sever away individual pant precursor structures, such as shown in  FIG. 2 , for example. 
     In another alternative, however, the entire second elasticized web  95  combined with applied central chassis  20  structures, may be passed through a folding device (not shown) prior to severing away individual pant structures. The folding device may be configured to fold the entire combined web  95  and chassis  20  structure along a fold line  110  extending in the machine direction, central chassis  20  to the inside of the fold, thereby bringing front portions  31  and rear portions  32  together prior to severing away pant structures. Thereafter, the combined, folded web  95  and central chassis  20  may be passed through seaming and cutting equipment that forms seams along both sides of separation lines  120 , joining front portions  31  and rear portions  32  at side seams  33   r,    33   l  (see  FIG. 1 ), and severs away individual pants  10  from the web  95 . It may be desirable that this final seaming and cutting operation be performed simultaneously, wherein the seaming and cutting equipment includes a seaming and cutting die configured to simultaneously compress the web material along both sides of separation lines  120 , and cut the material along separation lines  120 . Heating energy may be supplied to the seaming and cutting equipment such that the compression effects thermal bonding of the web materials to form the seams  33   r,    33   l.    
     An advantage that may be provided by the foregoing manufacturing steps is that they provide for the severing of the leg elastic members  38 ,  39  such that they terminate neatly at locations proximate the longitudinal edges  21  of central chassis  20  (see  FIG. 2 ), while their severed ends are held in place and prevented from retracting by being held in place within the laminate structure. This eliminates an unsightly continuation of these elastic members across the front and rear of the chassis, as is present in some currently marketed pant designs. Other currently marketed pant designs have severed leg elastics that terminate proximate longitudinal edges of a chassis, but exhibit substantial “snap back,” wherein the severed ends of elastic members have retracted and/or curled about within the structure, providing an unfinished, unsightly appearance. The steps described above, in which the elastic members are adhered or otherwise secured between layers of a laminate structure prior to any severing, may help avoid this effect. 
     Hysteresis Test 
     Obtain samples of subject material sufficient to provide for a gauge length of at least 15 mm along the direction of stretch in the Test, and should be of a constant width (perpendicular to the direction of stretch in the Test) of at least 5 mm. 
     The Hysteresis Test can be used to various specified strain values. The Hysteresis Test utilizes a commercial tensile tester (e.g., from Instron Engineering Corp. (Canton, Mass.), SINTECH-MTS Systems Corporation (Eden Prairie, Minn.) or equivalent) interfaced with a computer. The computer is used to control the test speed and other test parameters and for collecting, calculating, and reporting the data. The tests are performed under laboratory conditions of 23° C.±2° C. and relative humidity of 50%±2%. The samples are conditioned for 24 hours prior to testing. 
     Test Protocol 
     1. Select the appropriate grips and load cell. The grips must have flat surfaces and must be wide enough to grasp the sample along its full width. Also, the grips should provide adequate force to ensure that the sample does not slip during testing. The load cell is selected so that the tensile response from the sample tested is between 25% and 75% of the capacity of the load cell used. 
     2. Calibrate the tester according to the manufacturer&#39;s instructions. 
     3. Set the distance between the grips (gauge length) at 15 mm. 
     4. Place the sample in the flat surfaces of the grips such that the uniform width lies along a direction perpendicular to the gauge length direction. Secure the sample in the upper grips, let the sample hang slack, then close the lower grips. Set the slack preload at 0.02 N/cm. This means that the data collection starts when the slack is removed (at a constant crosshead speed of 10 mm/min) with a force of 0.02 N/cm. Strain is calculated based on the adjusted gauge length (I ini ), which is the length of the sample in between the grips of the tensile tester at a force of 0.02 N/cm. This adjusted gauge length is taken as the initial sample length, and it corresponds to a strain of 0%. Percent strain at any point in the test is defined as the change in length divided by the adjusted gauge length times 100. 
     5(a) First cycle loading: Pull the sample to the specified strain (herein, 100%) at a constant cross head speed of 100 mm/min. Report the stretched sample length between the grips as l max . 
     5(b) First cycle unloading: Hold the sample at the specified strain for 30 seconds and then return the crosshead to its starting position (0% strain or initial sample length, I ini ) at a constant cross head speed of 100 mm/min. Hold the sample in the unstrained state for 1 minute. 
     5(c) Second cycle loading: Pull the sample to the specified strain at a constant cross head speed of 100 mm/min. 
     5(d) Second cycle unload: Next, return the crosshead to its starting position (i.e. 0% strain) at a constant cross head speed of 100 mm/min. 
     A computer data system records the force exerted on the sample during the test as a function of applied strain. From the resulting data generated, the following quantities are reported (note that loads are reported as force divided by the width of the sample and do not take into account the thickness of the sample): 
     i. Length of sample between the grips at a slack preload of 0.02 N/cm (I ini ) to the nearest 0.001 mm. 
     ii. Length of sample between the grips on first cycle at the specified strain (l max ) to the nearest 0.001 mm. 
     iii. Length of sample between the grips at a second cycle load force of 0.02 N/cm (I ext ) to the nearest 0.001 mm. 
     iv. % set, which is defined as (I ext −I int )/(I max −I int )*100% to the nearest 0.01%. 
     The testing is repeated for six separate samples and the average and standard deviation reported. 
     The Hysteresis Test can be suitably modified depending on the expected attributes and/or properties of the particular material sample to be measured. For example, the Test can be suitably modified where a sample of the length and width specified above are not available from the subject pant. 
     All patents and patent applications (including any patents which issue thereon) referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the extent that it is consistent herewith. 
     The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.” All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.