Abstract:
An integral disposable elasticized absorbent article is provided for use as infant training pants or adult incontinent underpants, briefs and the like. The article comprises an absorbent body having a liquid pervious top layer, a liquid impervious backsheet and a liquid absorbent layer therebetween. A pair of elasticized members (belts) are secured to the absorbent body, with one elasticized member being disposed substantially parallel to the left of the longitudinal axis of the article, and the second elasticized member being disposed substantially parallel to the right of the longitudinal axis of the article. Each elasticized member has an end closure means adapted to engage the end closure means of the other elastic member to secure the absorbent article firmly to the body of the wearer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to absorbent article such as disposable diapers, and is more particularly related to infant training pants and adult incontinent underpants, briefs and guards used for absorption and containment of urine and other body exudates. In one particular aspect, the present invention relates to such adult incontinent articles which are easy to wear, securely fit against the body contours for effective prevention against leakage of urine and other body exudates, and which are also easy to remove. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Disposable absorbent articles such as disposable baby diapers and adult incontinent briefs, underpants, guards and the like articles are widely used in homes and various health care facilities and institutions. Indeed the use of such articles have become a common sanitary practice, and while initially such absorbent articles were used mostly for baby care, more recently their use has expanded for adults as well. In both instances, the absorbent article must be designed to effectively prevent leakage of urine and other fecal materials, while insuring body fit and comfort. 
     Present commercially available absorbent articles are generally unitary in structure, pre-shaped and pre-folded, and comprise an absorptive pad having a liquid permeable top sheet facing the wearer&#39;s body, a liquid impermeable backsheet on the opposite side, and an absorbent sheet or panel disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent article comprises a front side portion, a crotch portion and a backside portion, and further includes elastic members along the circumference of the waist and around the leg openings. While the heretofore commercially available absorbent articles have been somewhat effective against leakage of body fluids and fecal materials, and have therefore met some degree of acceptability, they have not been entirely satisfactory for their intended applications. In other words, they have not proven to be entirely leak proof, nor have they completely prevented issuance of the body exudates outside the diaper or the underpants. These deficiencies are primarily due to inadequate and loose body fit, which result in leakage of the body fluids and solids through the legs&#39; openings. These problems are even more pronounced in case of adults because of their diverse body shapes and varying contours. Another disadvantage of the commercially available absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinent briefs and the like, is associated with the ability of opening and removing the soiled article without soiling the wearer&#39;s legs or body. 
     There is a plethora of patents which disclose the different attempts made by the prior art workers over the years to eliminate, or at least minimize, the shortcomings of the present commercially available absorbent articles. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,804 issued to Herman Douglas, Jr. on Mar. 20, 1990 discloses a child toilet training pant which has a means for elasticizing the leg and waist openings by elastic bands at the waist and leg openings. The training pant described in that patent is provided with a separable side seem from the waistband to the legband on both sides in order to permit easy removal of the toddler&#39;s pant when soiled. This article does not provide for examination of the condition of the diaper and requires tearing the side seams to remove the diaper which can thus result in soiling the toddler as well as the applier. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,234 issued to Kenneth B. Buell et al. on Oct. 29, 1996 describes a pull-on garment provided with a continuous belt in the front region and the back region to distribute the forces generated during use in order to better fit the pull-on garment on the wearer. As in the above-mentioned patent to Douglas, Jr., the article described in Buell et al. does not provide for examination of the condition of the diaper and requires tearing a side seam for its removal, thus also causing soiling to the wearer and applier of the garment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,416 issued to Masamitsu Yamamoto et al. on Mar. 4, 1997 describes a disposable absorbent pad comprising a pad member adapted to be formed into a boat shape under the contractible forces of elastic members contained in side flaps, and an elastic support member; longitudinally opposite sides of the pad member being connected to the front and rear sides of the support member by end flaps. Each of the end flaps comprises a top sheet and a back sheet and is divided in a pair of end flap halves by a slit so as to function as a suspending strap. The end flaps halves are set apart in a V-shape with the slit therebetween as the support members is stretched and contributes to suspend the pad member with high stability. The absorbent pad described in the Yamamoto et al. patent does not provide for forces to counteract the weight of the soiled pad which eventually stretches the crotch region and thus may cause leakage of urine and other body exudates through the leg openings. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,997 issued to Migaku Suzuki et al. on Apr. 27, 1993 describes a disposable pant-type garment, such as a diaper of the pant type, which is constructed by attaching elastic surrounding flaps around the leg openings and the waist opening. This garment however is not elastically integral between the crotch and the waist portions and is not adjustable around the waist to conformably fit the body shape. Nor does this garment allow adjustment or refastening of the elastic flaps to insure body fit when the garment is soiled. 
     The foregoing patents by no means constitute an exhaustive list of the patents which reflect the efforts of the prior art workers in this field, but are merely illustrative for background purposes. As it can be appreciated, however, notwithstanding attempts by others to provide satisfactory absorbent articles for infants as well as for incontinent adults, there is still a need for providing such articles commercially, which are highly effective in preventing leakage of urine and other body exudates, and which are comfortable to wear and conformably fit the body contours so as to insure against such leakage and prevent soiling the wearer&#39;s body as well as the person who applies the garment to the wearer. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable absorbent article such as baby diapers, adult incontinent underpants, briefs, guards and the like articles which overcome the deficiencies and shortcomings of the prior art absorbent articles, including the presently commercially available products used for this purpose. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide such disposable absorbent articles which are provided with a unitary elastically contractible waist and crotch region. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide such disposable absorbent articles which have integral refastenable and longitudinally tensionable elastic belts around the waist in order to insure body fit and conformal movements in response to the body shape and contours. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide disposable absorbent articles having angularity disposed elastic bands (belts) in order to assure drawing of the crotch region laterally and longitudinally toward the waist and hip of the wearer thus providing a more perfect snug fit. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide such a disposable absorbent articles which, due to their unique construction, provide improved fit to the body and prevent leakage of urine and other body exudates through the leg openings by drawing the crotch portion towards the hip line of the wearer thus countering the movements of the wearer and the weight of the downstretching of the crotch portion, while maintaining its closeness to the body when the absorbent core is soiled and contains body liquids and other exudates. 
     The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully comprehended and appreciated from the ensuing detailed description and the various figures in the drawing which form parts of the application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides uniquely designed and constructed absorbent articles for use as infant diapers and adult incontinent underpants, briefs, guards and the like which overcome the deficiencies and problem associated with the prior art products of this kind. The absorbent article in accordance with the present invention is an integral disposable elasticized article having an absorbent body comprising a liquid pervious top layer facing the body of the wearer, a liquid impervious backsheet, a liquid absorbent layer therebetween, a crotch region and leg openings. The article is provided with elasticized members (belts) which, in one embodiment, are secured to the outside of the article, with one elasticized member being disposed substantially parallel to the left of the longitudinal axis of the article, and other elasticized member being disposed substantially parallel to the right of the longitudinal axis of the article. Each elasticized member has an end portion which is folded laterally outward along the waist at an angle relative to the horizontal axis of the article. In addition, each elasticized member terminates in a closure means which is adapted to inter-engage with a closure means at the end of the other elastic member, thereby securing the absorbent article firmly to the body of the wearer. 
     Different embodiments of the invention are contemplated wherein the elastic belts are secured to the inside rather than the outside of the absorbent body, and the elastic belts may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article or may cross each other at the crotch region in a generally V-shaped configuration. The details of those and other embodiments are described in the ensuring detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an absorbent article made in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention having elastically contractible bands (belts) attached to the outer side of the backsheet of the article, and a closure means at the end of the bands; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1, in stretched position; 
     FIG. 2A is view similar to FIG. 2 but, wherein the elastically contractible bands are discontinuous at the mid crotch region; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the elastically contractible bands in stretched position; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2 showing the attachment of the bands to the backsheet, and the relative positions of the bands and other components; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention substantially similar in construction to FIG. 1, but wherein the elastically contractible bands are attached to the outer side of the backsheet and the closure means is located at the front of the waist portion of the absorbent article; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in stretched position, wherein the front side ends of the bands are folded in the direction of the waist; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in stretched position similar to FIG. 7, but wherein the front ends of the bands terminate at the waist; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  9 — 9  of FIG. 7 showing the attachment of the bands to the backsheet, and further showing the relative positions of the bands and other parts of the article; 
     FIG. 10 is a partially perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention similar in structure to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but wherein the elastically contractible bands are attached to the outside of the absorbent article and cross each other in the crotch region, and closure means are disposed at the ends of the bands; 
     FIG. 11 is a stretched plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  12 — 12  of FIG. 11 showing the attachment of the bands to the backsheet and the relative positions of the bands and other parts of the absorbent article; 
     FIG. 13 is a partially perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention similar in structure to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, but wherein the elastically contractible bands are attached to the outside of the absorbent article and cross each other in the crotch region, and the closure means are disposed in the front waist portion of the article; 
     FIG. 14 is a stretched plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 wherein the front side ends of the bands are folded towards the waist; 
     FIG. 15 is a stretched plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 but wherein the front side ends of the bands terminate at the waist; 
     FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  16 — 16  of FIG. 14 showing the attachment of the bands to the backsheet and also showing the relative positions of the bands and other parts of the articles; 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention similar in structure to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but wherein the elastically contractible bands are attached to the inner side of the backsheet and the closure means are located at the ends of the bands; 
     FIG. 18 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, in stretched position; 
     FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  19 — 19  in FIG. 18 showing the attachment of the bands to the backsheet and the closure means in the front of the waist portion of the absorbent article; 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention similar in structure to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but wherein the elastically contractible bands are attached to the inside of the backsheet, and the closure means are located in the front of the waist portion of the absorbent article; 
     FIG. 21 is a stretched plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 20 wherein the front side ends of the bands are folded towards the waist; 
     FIG. 22 is a stretched plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 20 wherein the front side ends of the bands terminate at the waist; 
     FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  23 — 23  in FIG. 20 showing the attachment of the bands to the backsheet, and the relative positions of the bands and other components of the article; 
     FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but wherein the elastically contractible bands are attached to the inner side of the article and cross each other in the crotch region, and the closure means are located at the ends of the bands; 
     FIG. 25 is a stretched plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  26 — 26  in FIG. 24 showing the attachment of the bands to the backsheet, and the relative position of the bands and other components of the article; 
     FIG. 27 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention similar to the structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but wherein the elastically contractible bands are attached to the inner side of the article and cross each other in the crotch region, and the closure means are located at the front waist portion of the article; 
     FIG. 28 is a stretched plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 27 wherein the front side ends of the bands are folded towards the waist; 
     FIG. 29 is a stretched plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 27 wherein the front side ends of the bands terminate at the waist; and 
     FIG. 30 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  30 — 30  in FIG. 28 showing the attachment of the bands to the backsheet, and the relative positions of the bands and other components of the article. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown, in FIG. 1 the absorbent article in the form of a brief, generally designated as  100 . The term “brief” as used herein is intended to refer to disposable garments worn below the lower part of the torso by incontinent person, and also encompasses other disposable articles such as baby diapers, adult incontinent underpants, guards, and the like articles. The absorbent article  100  comprises a back waist portion  101 , a front waist portion  103  and a crotch region  105 . The crotch portion  105  comprises a liquid pervious top sheet or layer  107  facing the body of the wearer, a liquid impervious backsheet or layer  19  which is usually coextensive with the top sheet  107  (see FIG. 5) and an absorbent layer or pad  111  disposed between the backsheet  109  and the top sheet  107 . An acquisition layer  113  is disposed between the backsheet layer  109  and the liquid pervious layer  107  and serves to temporarily retain the body exudate and slowly distribute them through the absorbent layer  111 . These layers are sealed together at their ends to form a composite sheet. 
     In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the absorbent article  100  is provided with the elastic or belts  115  which are disposed outside the circumference of the absorbent article and are secured to each other at the ends of the belts as hereinafter described. The elastic belt  115  to the left of the longitudinal axis of the article comprises a left longitudinal portion  115 A disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article, and is folded laterally outward into a left hand front band portion  117  and a left hand rear band portion  119  (see FIG.  2 ). The elastic belt  115  to the right of the longitudinal axis comprises a longitudinal portion  115 B also disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article and which is also folded laterally outward into a right hand front band portion  121  and a right rear band portion  123 . Each of the band portions terminate in a closure tab adapted to secure the belts together. Thus, the left hand front band portion  117  terminates in the closure tab  125  and the left hand front belt portion  119  terminates in the closure tab  127 . Similarly, the right hand front band portion  121  terminates in the closure tab  129  and the right hand rear belt portion  123  terminates in the closure tab  131 . The closure tabs  125 ,  127 ,  129  and  131  may be covered by areas of Velcro® material as shown in FIG. 1, which can overlap each other to securely engage the respective ends of the belts when the belts are tensioned to adjust to the waist of the wearer. It can be appreciated, however, that the end closure tabs may be areas provided with clips or other fastening means for adjustably engaging the closure tabs when the belts are tensioned to adjust to the body waist. 
     In order to assure a more perfect fit of the absorbent article to the body of the wearer, each of the band portions  117 ,  119 ,  121  and  123  is folded laterally outward at an angle, preferably at an angle of from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees relative to the horizontal axis of the absorbent article. Such angular disposition of the band portions permits drawing of the crotch region longitudinally and laterally toward the waist and hip of the wearer and thus assures a more perfect snug fit. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent article  100  is also provided with a back waist reinforcement portion  133  and a front waist reinforcement portion  135  for attachment of the belts as hereinafter described. 
     The elastic belts  115  are attached to the absorbent article  100  by attaching them to the outer side of the liquid impervious layer  109  by means of a suitable adhesive, such as construction adhesive (non-pressure sensitive)  137 . The adhesive is applied as a hot melt, intermittently between the liquid impervious layer  109  and the belts  115  when the elastic elements are in stretched or tensioned position. Thus, the hot melt adhesive may be applied to the elastic belts  115  along its entire length or at equally spaced intervals while the elastic belt is stretched to at least 200 percent of its original length, preferably to from about 200 to about 350 percent of its original length. When the elastic band  115  is allowed to contract, the absorbent article is rendered elastic in the longitudinal directions between the front and back portions of the article and around the circumference of the waist. 
     If the adhesive is applied at unequal spaced intervals, the elastic band contracts in unequal increments along its length. 
     The absorbent article  100  also has a pair of leg openings  139 . By positioning the elastic bands  115  close to the leg openings, an elastic gasketing seal is formed around each of the leg openings in order to further insure against leakage of the urine and the body exudates. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the tensionable elastic belt  115  comprises elastic elements  141  which may be films, foam, elastic strings or strips and spaced in equal or unequal distance relative to each other. The elastic elements  141  are attached to the band wrapping material  143  by means of elastic adhesive  145 . The wrapping material  143  envelopes the elastic elements  141  and is secured against unfolding by the construction adhesive  137 . The wrapping material  143  may be made of nonwoven fabric, film or a composite thereof. Alternative, the elastic belts  115  may be made of woven or knit elastic fabric. 
     While in FIG. 2, the longitudinal portions  115 A and  115 B of the respective elastic bands  115  on the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the absorbent article are shown as continuous bands. In the variation shown in FIG. 2A, these band portions are shown to be discontinuous as in  115 C,  115 D,  115 E and  115 F, with each discontinuous band portion having an end terminating at about the mid-crotch region and adhesively secured to the crotch region  105  in spaced apart relationship as shown in FIG.  2 A. Otherwise, the construction of the absorbent article is the same as the article shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     In the preferred practice of the present invention, the elastic belts  115  and the elastic elements  141  are available as System 7000 from the Fulflex Company, Middletown, R.I. and the hot melt adhesive is available from H.B. Fuller Company, St. Paul, Minn. as Code No. HL-1434-X-ZP. The wrapping material  143  may be a 17 gsm polypropylene spunbound polymer available as grade 171LWH from First Quality Fabrics, McElhattan, Pa. 
     The materials and fabrics used in the construction of the absorbent article of the invention are of the type and variety known in the art and are described in several patents such as, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,278 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,454. 
     Thus, the liquid pervious top layer  107  is a compliant soft material which is not irritating to the skin. Such material can be made from porous foams, reticulated foams, plastics, natural fibers, such as wood or cotton fibers, synthetic fibers such as polyester or polypropylene fibers, or made from a combination of said materials. A suitable polypropylene material is available from First Quality Fibers, Inc., McElhattan, Pa., as grade 15 ILWH. 
     The liquid impervious backsheet or layer  109  is preferably manufactured from a thin flexible plastic film such as polyethylene film available from Clopay Plastic Products Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, as grade DH-203. 
     The absorbent layer  111  may be manufactured from a wide variety of liquid absorbent materials of the type usually used in manufacturing disposable diapers and other absorbent articles. Such materials include comminuted wood pulp, creped cellulose wadding, absorbent foams, absorbent sponges, super absorbent polymers or a combination of said materials. 
     The acquisition layer  113  is made from a nonwoven material which temporarily retain the exudates and distributes them in the absorbent layer. Such material is available from American Nonwoven Corporation, Columbus, Miss., as grade RB-265-14-B/R. 
     The construction adhesives employed in the present invention is a hot melt adhesive available from Reynolds Inc., Greensville, S.C. as Reynolds Code No. 51-942. 
     In use, the disposable absorbent article of the present invention is placed around the waist with the belts tensioned so as to fit snugly but comfortably to the shape of the wearer&#39;s body, while the legs extend through the leg openings. The tensioned belts are then secured by securing the respective end closure tabs to one another. 
     Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-9, inclusive, the disposable absorbent article  200  shown therein is provided with the elastic bands (belts)  201  having portions  203  and  205  disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article on the left and right sides of said axis. By positioning the elastic bands  201  near the leg openings  207 , an elastic sealing gasket is formed along the leg openings  207 . 
     The longitudinal portion  203  has a left-hand rear band portion  209  and the longitudinal portion  205  has right-hand rear band portion  211  at the back waist region  213  of the absorbent article, and are outwardly folded at said region in a generally lateral direction along the waist as shown in FIG.  7 . The left rear band portion  209  terminates in a rear closure tab  215  and the right rear band portion  211  terminates in the closure tab  217 . The longitudinal left and right portions  203  and  205  are folded back at the front waist region  221  and secured at the left waist portion  223  and right waist portion  225 . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the portions  203  and  205  of the elastic bands  201  may be attached unfolded at the front waist portion  227  of the absorbent article. The elastic bands  201  are securely attached to the back waist reinforcement panel or pad  229  by means of a suitable adhesive, such as construction (i.e., non-elastic) adhesive as hereinbefore mentioned in connection with description of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5. 
     The disposable absorbent article  200  shown in FIGS. 6-9 also comprises a body side liquid pervious top sheet or layer  231  (see FIG.  9 ), an outer liquid impervious sheet or layer  233  and absorbent layer or pad  235  disposed between said two layers. An acquisition layer  237  is disposed between the liquid pervious top layer  231  an the absorbent layer  235 . The elastic bands  201  are securely adhered to the outer side of the liquid impervious backsheet  233  by means of a suitable adhesive such as the construction adhesive  239  as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. 
     The absorbent article  200  has a crotch region  241  which comprises the liquid pervious top layer  231 , the liquid impervious backsheet or layer  233  and the absorbent layer or pad  235 . The different layers are adhered to one another essentially in the same manner as described in connection with the description of FIG.  5 . Each tensionable elastic band comprises the elastic elements  243  which are attached to the band wrapping material  245  by means of the elastic adhesive  247 . The wrapping material  245  envelopes the elastic elements  243  and is secured against unfolding by the construction adhesive  239 . 
     As in the previously described embodiment, the construction hot melt adhesive is applied intermittently between the liquid impervious layer  233  and the elastic bands  201  when the elastic bands are in stretched condition. When the elastic bands contract, the absorbent article is rendered elastic in the longitudinal direction between the front and back portions of the article and around the circumference of the waist. 
     In use, the disposable absorbent article is placed around the waist with the belts tensioned so as to fit snugly but comfortably to the shape of the wearer&#39;s body while the legs extend through the leg openings  207 . The belts are then adjusted to the body shape by stretching the left hand band portion  209  and the right hand portion  211  and securing the end closure means or tabs  215  and  217  by attaching them to an attachment zone  249  by Velcro® or any suitable attachment means. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-12, inclusive, the absorbent article  300  is shown in partial perspective stretched view with emphasis on the configuration and relative positions of the elastic bands. Otherwise, the article shown therein is of the same general construction as the disposable absorbent article illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6. 
     With reference to FIGS. 10,  11  and  12 , the elastic bands (belts)  301  are attached to the outside of the article with the band portions  303  and  305  being disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the article, crossing each other in the crotch region  307 , thus forming a generally V-shaped configuration in the front waist portion  309  and back waist portion  311  of the article. By positioning the elastic belts  301  near the leg openings  313  of the absorbent article, an elastic gasketing seal is formed around the leg openings. 
     The diagonally disposed band portions  303  and  305  of the belts are folded outwardly as shown by the left hand back band portion  315 , the left hand front band portion  317 , the right hand back band portion  319  and the right hand front band portion  321 . The elastic belts  301  are securely fastened at the front waist reinforcement panel  323  and the back reinforcement panel  325  by means of a suitable adhesive such as the construction adhesive as hereinbefore described. The left rear band  315  terminates in the closure means or end tab  327 , the left-hand front band  317  terminates in the closure means or end tab  329 , the right hand rear band  319  terminates in the closure means or end tab  331  and the right hand front band  321  terminates in the end tab  333 . 
     As in the case of the two previously described embodiments, the disposable absorbent article shown in FIGS. 10-12 comprises a body-side liquid pervious top cover  335 , an outer liquid impervious backsheet or layer  337  and an absorbent layer  339  disposed therebetween (see FIG.  12 ). An acquisition layer  341  is placed between the absorbent layer  339  and the liquid pervious layer  335 . The two elastic bands  301  are secured to the outer side of the liquid impervious layer  337  by means of a suitable adhesive, such as the construction hot melt adhesive  343 . The construction adhesive  343  is applied intermittently between the liquid impervious layer  337  and the elastic belts  301  while the belts are in stretched condition. When the belts contract, the absorbent article  300  is rendered elastic in the longitudinal direction between the front and back portions of the article and around the circumference of the waist. As is further shown in FIG. 12, the belts  301  of absorbent article  300  are provided with the tensionable elastic elements  346  which are attached to the band wrapping material  347  by means of the adhesive  343 . 
     In use, the absorbent article is placed around the waist and is adjusted to the wearer&#39;s body shape by stretching the belts  301  and securing them through engagement of the end closure tabs such that the closure tab  327  is engaged with the closure tab  329 , and the closure tab  331  is engaged with the closure tab  333  by Velcro® or any other suitable securing means. 
     Referring to FIGS. 13-16, inclusive, the absorbent article generally designated as  400  in FIG. 13 has the same general construction as the absorbent article shown in FIG.  6 . Once again, however, this figure is shown in stretched view as the embodiment shown in FIG.  10 . Thus, the absorbent article  400  in FIG. 13 comprises the elastic tensionable belts  401  comprising an inner longitudinal band portion  403  and an outer longitudinal band portion  405  which cross each other at the crotch region  407 , at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the absorbent article, forming a generally V-shaped configuration at the crotch region in the front waist portion  409  and the back waist portion  411  of the article. By positioning the elastic belts  401  near the leg openings  413 , an elastic gasketing seal is formed around each leg opening. The left hand inner longitudinal band portion  403  and right hand outer longitudinal band portion  405  are folded outwardly in the waist region into the lateral directions to form the left hand rear band portion  417  and the right hand rear band portion  419 . The left hand rear band portion  417  terminates in the end closure tab  421  and the right hand rear band portion  419  terminates in the end closure tab  423 . In the front portion, the absorbent article is provided with a Velcro covered attachment region  425  for attachment thereto of the front ends of the folded closure tabs  427  and  429  of the longitudinal band portions  405  and  403  (see FIG.  14 ). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, these front end portions of the belts may be attached unfolded to the attachment region  425 . 
     The disposable article  400  also comprises a body side liquid pervious top sheet or layer  431 , an outer impervious backsheet or layer  433  and an absorbent core layer  435  disposed between said two layers. As in the pervious embodiments, an acquisition layer  437  is placed between the absorbent core layer  435  and the liquid pervious layer  431  as shown in FIG.  16  and the layers are sealed to form a composite sheet. The elastic belts  401  are attached to the outer side of the liquid impervious backsheet  433  by means of the construction hot melt adhesive  439 . As in the previous embodiments, the construction hot melt adhesive  439  may be applied intermittently between the liquid impervious backsheet  433  and the elastic belts  401  while the belts are in stretched condition. Thus when the elastic bands  401  contract, the absorbent article  400  will be rendered elastic in the longitudinal direction between the front and back portions of the absorbent article. Also as in the previous embodiments, the absorbent article  401  comprises absorbent pad  441  and the back reinforcement pad  443 . The elastic belts  401  are provided with the tensionable elastic elements  445  which are attached to the band wrapping material  447  by means of the elastic adhesive  449 . 
     In use, the disposable article is placed around the waist and is adjusted to the body shape by stretching the elastic band portions  403  and  405  and securing them in place by engaging the end closure tabs  421  and  423  and attaching the ends  427 ,  429  to the attachment region  425 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 17-19, inclusive, the elastic belts are attached to the inner side of the absorbent article. Thus, as is shown in FIG. 17, the absorbent article  500  is of the same general construction as the article shown in FIG.  1  and comprises the elastic tensionable belts  501  having a right hand longitudinal band portion  503  and a left hand longitudinal band portion  505 , both disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the absorbent article  500 . The right hand band portion  503  is folded laterally outwardly into a right hand front band portion  507  and in the rear into a right hand rear band portion  509 . Similarly, the left hand band portion  505  is folded laterally outward into a left hand front band portion  511  and in the rear into a left hand rear band portion  513 . Each of the lateral band portions  507 ,  509 ,  511  and  513  terminate in an end closure tab  515 ,  517 ,  519  and  521 , respectively. 
     The absorbent article  500  comprises a liquid permeable layer or cover  523  facing the body of the wearer, a liquid impervious layer or backsheet  525  and an absorbent layer or pad  527  therebetween. The elastic bands  501  are fastened to a front waist reinforcement pad  535  and are disposed between the inner surface of the liquid impervious backsheet  525  and the absorbent pad  527 . The absorbent article  501  also comprises back waist portion  529 , the front waist portion  531 , a back waist reinforcement pad  533 , a front waist reinforced pad  535 , a crotch region  537  and leg openings  539 . When the elastic belts  501  are placed near the leg openings  539 , they form an elastic gasketing seal around the leg openings. 
     Referring to FIG. 19, there is shown an acquisition layer  541  between the liquid pervious layer  523  and the liquid impervious backsheet or layer  525 . Two elastic belts  501  are attached to the outer side of the liquid impervious backsheet  525  by means of the construction hot melt adhesive  543 , which may be applied intermittently between the liquid impervious layer  525  and the elastic belts  501  when the belts are in stretched condition. The elastic belts  501  comprise the tensionable elastic elements  545  which are attached to the wrapping material  547  by means of the adhesive  543 . Thus, once again as described in connection with the previous embodiments, when the belts  501  contract, the absorbent article is rendered elastic in the longitudinal direction between the front and back portions of the absorbent article and along the circumference of the waist. 
     In use, the disposable article is placed around the waist of the wearer and is adjusted to the wearer&#39;s body shape by stretching the elastic bands and securing them by engaging the end closure tabs  515 ,  517 ,  519  and  521 , at the attachment portions  516  and  518 , respectively. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 20-23, the disposable absorbent article generally designated as  600  comprises the elastic tensionable belts  601  attached to the inner side of the article as hereinafter described. The absorbent article  600  comprises a liquid pervious layer  603  facing the wearer&#39;s body, a liquid impervious layer or backsheet  605  superimposed on the liquid pervious layer  603  and an absorbent pad or layer  607  disposed therebetween. An acquisition layer  608  is placed between the absorbent layer  607  and the liquid pervious layer  603  as shown in FIG.  23 . As in the previous embodiments, these layers are sealed at these ends to form a composite sheet. 
     The elastic tensionable belts  601  are positioned to the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the article in generally parallel relation thereto, and comprise the right hand longitudinal band portion  609  and the left hand longitudinal band portion  611 . In the back portion of the absorbent article  600 , the right hand band portion  609  is folded laterally outward into the right hand lateral band portion  613  and the left hand band portion  611  is folded laterally outward into the left hand lateral band portion  615 . The right hand lateral band portion  613  terminates in the closure tab  617  and the left hand lateral band portion  615  terminates in the closure tab  619 . In the front portion of the article, the right hand longitudinal band portion  609  is folded laterally outward into the band portion  621  and the left hand longitudinal band portion  611  folds laterally outward into the band portion  623 . The laterally folded portions  621  and  623  may be attached at the front waist portion  625  (see FIG. 21) or they may be attached unfolded at the front waist portion  625  (see FIG.  22 ). The back waist portion  627  of the absorbent article is provided with a back reinforcement pad  629 . The elastic bands  601  are fastened to the back waist reinforcement pad  629  by the construction adhesive  631  and are thus attached to the inner side of the absorbent article between the inner surface of the liquid impervious backsheet  605  and the absorbent pad or layer  607 . As shown in FIG. 23, the elastic bands  601  comprise the elastic elements  633  which are attached to the wrapping material  635  by means of the construction adhesive  631 . By placing the elastic bands  601  near the leg openings  637 , there are formed elastic gasketing seals around the legs&#39; openings near the crotch region  639 . 
     In use the absorbent article  600  is placed around the waist of the wearer and is adjusted to fit the body shape by stretching the left hand band portion  615  and the right hand band portion  613  and securing them by engaging the end closure tabs  617  and  619  onto the attachment zone  653 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 24-26, inclusive, the absorbent article  700  comprises a back waist portion  702 , a front waist portion  704 , a crotch region  706 , a liquid pervious layer  708  facing the body of the wearer, a liquid impervious layer or backsheet  710  and an absorbent pad or layer  712  disposed therebetween. The absorbent article  700  also comprises elastic belts  701  disposed on the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the article. Thus, the left belt  701  comprises the longitudinal diagonally disposed inner band portion  714  and the longitudinal diagonally disposed outer band portion  716 . The diagonally disposed inner and outer band portions  714  and  716  cross each other at the crotch region  706  to form a generally V-shaped configuration as shown in FIG.  25 . The inner band portion  714  is folded outwardly in the front portion of the article into the band portion  718  which terminates in the closure tab  720 , and is folded outwardly in the back portion of the article into the band portion  722  which terminates in the closure tab  724 . Similarly, the external band portion  716  is folded outwardly in the front portion of the absorbent article into the band portion  726  which terminates in the closure tab  728 , and in the rear of the article is folded outwardly into the band portion  730  which terminates in the closure tab  132 . The elastic belts  701  are attached to the inner side of the absorbent article and are fastened to the front reinforcement pad  734  and the back reinforcement pad  736  by means of the construction hot melt adhesive  738  (as shown in FIG.  26 ). As is also shown in FIG. 26, the elastic belts  701  are attached to the inner side of the liquid impervious backsheet  710  by means of the construction hot melt adhesive  738 . The adhesive is applied intermittently between the liquid impervious backsheet  710  and the elastic belts  701  when the elastic bands are in stretched condition. Thus, when the bands contract, the absorbent article is rendered elastic in the longitudinal direction between the front and back portions of the article and around the circumference of the waist portion. Once again by placing the elastic belts near the leg openings  740  a gasketing seal is formed around each leg opening. 
     As shown in FIG. 26, the elastic bands  701  are provided with the elastic elements  742  which are attached to the band wrapping material  744  by means of the adhesive  738 . An acquisition layer  746  is disposed between the liquid pervious layer  708  and the absorbent pad  712 . 
     In use, the absorbent article  700  is placed around the wearer and is adjusted to fit the wearer&#39;s body by stretching the elastic bands  701  and securing the belts in place by attaching the closure tabs  720  and  732  together as well as engaging the closure tab  724  to closure tab  728 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 27-30, inclusive, the absorbent article  800  comprises a back waist portion  802 , a front waist portion  804 , a liquid pervious layer  806 , a liquid impervious backsheet  808  and an absorbent pad or layer  810  disposed between the liquid pervious layer and the liquid impervious backsheet. The absorbent article  800  also comprises the contractible tensionable elastic belts  801  on the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the absorbent article (See FIGS.  28  and  29 ). The belt disposed to the left comprises the longitudinal diagonally disposed inner band portion  814  and the right belt comprises the longitudinal diagonally disposed external and portion  816 . The diagonally disposed band portions  814  and  816  cross each other in the crotch region  812  to form a generally V-shaped configuration as shown in FIGS. 28-29. The inner band portion  814  and the outer band portion  816  are folded outwardly in the back waist region  802  into band portions  818  and  820 . The left band portion  818  terminates in the closure tab  822  and the right band portion  820  terminates into the end closure tab  824 . In the front waist portion  804  the elastic band portions  814  and  816  are folded into the laterally outward portions  826  and  828 , respectively, and are attached to the front waist portion (see FIG. 28) or the band portions  814  and  816  may be attached unfolded to the attachment zone  830  as shown in FIG.  29 . The elastic belts  801  are attached to the inner side of the liquid impervious backsheet  808  by means of the construction hot melt adhesive  832 . The hot melt adhesive is applied intermittently between the liquid impervious layer  810  and the elastic belts  801  when the belts are in stretched condition. Thus, when the belts  801  contract, the absorbent article  801  is rendered elastic in the longitudinal direction between the front and back portions of the absorbent article. Once again, by placing the elastic bands near the leg openings  834 , a gasketing seal is formed around each of these openings. The elastic belts  801  are also fastened to the back reinforcement pad  836  by means of the construction adhesive  832 . 
     As shown in FIG. 30, the elastic belts  801  comprise the elastic elements  838 , which are attached to the band wrapping material  838  by means of the adhesive  832 . As in the previous embodiments, an acquisition layer  840  is disposed between the liquid pervious layer  806  and the absorbent pad  810 . 
     In use, the absorbent article  800  is placed around the wearer and is adjusted to fit snugly against the wearer&#39;s body by stretching the elastic band portions  818  and  820  and securing them by attaching the closure means  822  and  824  to the landing zone  830 . 
     While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to several embodiments with certain degree of specificity, other embodiments and modifications are obvious are obvious to those skilled in the art based on the detailed description herein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5,  6 - 9 ,  10 - 12  and  13 - 16  the elastic contractible belts are attached to the outside of the absorbent article whereas in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 17-19,  20 - 23 ,  24 - 26 , and  27 - 30 , the elastic contractible belts are secured to the inside of the absorbent article. Moreover, the elastic contractible belts may be disposed generally parallel to each other and relative to the longitudinal axis of the article as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-5,  6 - 9 ,  13 - 16 ,  17 - 19 , and  20 - 23 , or these belts may be disposed diagonally, crossing one another in the crotch region as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10-12,  14 - 26  and  27 - 30 . In addition, the elastic belts may be continuous unitary belts, or they may discontinuous, preferably in two segments, as shown in the embodiment in FIG.  2 A.