Patent Description:
Along an assembly line, various types of articles, such as for example, diapers and other absorbent articles, may be assembled by adding components to and/or otherwise modifying an advancing, continuous web of material. For example, in some processes, advancing webs of material are combined with other advancing webs of material. In other examples, individual components created from advancing webs of material are combined with advancing webs of material, which in turn, are then combined with other advancing webs of material. In some cases, individual components created from an advancing web or webs are combined with other individual components created from other advancing webs. Webs of material and component parts used to manufacture diapers may include: backsheets, topsheets, leg cuffs, waist bands, absorbent core components, front and/or back ears, fastening components, and various types of elastic webs and components such as leg elastics, barrier leg cuff elastics, stretch side panels, and waist elastics. Once the desired component parts are assembled, the advancing web(s) and component parts are subjected to a final knife cut to separate the web(s) into discrete diapers or other absorbent articles.

Some absorbent articles have components that include elastomeric laminates. Such elastomeric laminates may include an elastic material bonded to one or more nonwovens. The elastic material may include an elastic film and/or elastic strands. In some laminates, a plurality of elastic strands are joined to a nonwoven while the plurality of strands are in a stretched condition so that when the elastic strands relax, the nonwoven gathers between the locations where the nonwoven is bonded to the elastic strands, and in turn, forms corrugations and rugosities. The resulting elastomeric laminate is stretchable to the extent that the corrugations allow the elastic strands to elongate.

Stranded elastomeric laminates are sometimes used to make diaper pant belts. In some instances, it may be desirable to provide diaper pant belts with features that may differ along a width and/or length of the belts. Such features may include, for example, belt tensioning, rugosities, bonding patterns, and aperture arrangements. However, imparting such varying features to localized regions of an elastic laminate can result in various challenges relating to web handling and quality challenges during the absorbent article assembly process.

Consequently, it would be beneficial to provide elastic laminates for use as diaper belts having various features that differ along a width and/or length of the laminates while at the same time having a construction that reduces some of the difficulties associated with the assembly process that may otherwise be associated with imparting such features to an assembled laminate.

<CIT> relates to absorbent articles that may comprise one or more pluralities of elastics which are spaced by less than <NUM>, have less than <NUM> dtex and/or less than <NUM>%, strain to deliver a pressure less than <NUM> psi under the elastics, while providing a modulus of between about <NUM> gf/mm and <NUM> gf/mm.

Optional features are found in the dependent claims.

An absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the chassis further comprising a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region; a first belt connected with the first end region of the chassis; a second belt connected with the second end region of the chassis, wherein laterally opposing end portions of the second belt are connected with laterally opposing end portions of the first belt to form a waist opening; wherein at least one of the first belt and the second belt comprises: an elastic material positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate; wherein the first substrate and the second substrate each comprise a wearer facing surface, a garment facing surface, and a distal edge extending along a portion of the waist opening; and a panel layer comprising a third substrate connected with the garment surface of the first substrate and the wearer facing surface of the second substrate, the panel layer folded along a fold line that defines at least a portion of the waist opening.

An absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the chassis further comprising a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region; a first belt connected with the first end region of the chassis; a second belt connected with the second end region of the chassis, wherein laterally opposing end portions of the second belt are connected with laterally opposing end portions of the first belt to form a waist opening; wherein at least one of the first belt and the second belt comprises: an elastic material positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate; wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate comprises a distal edge extending along a portion of the waist opening; and a panel layer extending longitudinally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge, the panel layer connected with at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate; a first region that comprises the panel layer; a second region outside the first region that does not comprise the panel layer; and wherein when the elastic material is contracted, the first region and the second region each comprise longitudinally extending gathers, wherein the first region comprises a first Rugosity Frequency and a first Rugosity Wavelength, and the second region comprises a second Rugosity Frequency and a second Rugosity Wavelength; and wherein the first Rugosity Frequency is not equal to the second Rugosity Frequency.

An absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the chassis further comprising a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region; a first belt connected with the first end region of the chassis; a second belt connected with the second end region of the chassis, wherein laterally opposing end portions of the second belt are connected with laterally opposing end portions of the first belt to form a waist opening; wherein at least one of the first belt and the second belt comprises: an elastic material positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate; wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate comprises a distal edge extending along a portion of the waist opening; and a panel layer extending longitudinally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge, the panel layer connected with at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate; and wherein the first substrate is bonded directly with the second substrate with a first plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a first pattern; and wherein the panel layer is bonded directly with the first substrate or the second substrate with a second plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a second pattern, wherein the first pattern is the different from the second pattern.

An absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the chassis further comprising a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region; a first belt connected with the first end region of the chassis; a second belt connected with the second end region of the chassis, wherein laterally opposing end portions of the second belt are connected with laterally opposing end portions of the first belt to form a waist opening; wherein at least one of the first belt and the second belt comprises: a distal edge extending along a portion of the waist opening; an elastic material positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate, the elastic material comprising a first plurality of elastic strands positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first plurality of elastic strands comprises an Average-Strand-Spacing from about <NUM> to about <NUM> and an Average-Dtex from about <NUM> to about <NUM>; wherein the first substrate and the second substrate each comprise a wearer facing surface, a garment facing surface; and a panel layer connected with the wearer surface of the second substrate, the panel layer comprising a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, wherein the first lateral edge is positioned longitudinally outboard of the second lateral edge.

An absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the chassis further comprising a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region; a first belt connected with the first end region of the chassis; a second belt connected with the second end region of the chassis, wherein laterally opposing end portions of the second belt are connected with laterally opposing end portions of the first belt to form a waist opening; wherein at least one of the first belt and the second belt comprises: a first plurality of elastic strands positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first plurality of elastic strands comprises an Average-Strand-Spacing from about <NUM> to about <NUM> and an Average-Dtex from about <NUM> to about <NUM>; and wherein the first substrate and the second substrate each comprise a wearer facing surface, a garment facing surface; and wherein the first substrate comprises first apertures.

An absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the chassis further comprising a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region; a first belt comprising a first end region laterally separated from a second end region by a central region, the central region connected with the first end region of the chassis; a second belt comprising a first end region laterally separated from a second end region by a central region, the central region connected with the second end region of the chassis, wherein first and second end regions of the second belt are connected with respective first and second end regions of the first belt to form a waist opening; wherein at least one of the first belt and the second belt comprises: an elastic material positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate; wherein the first substrate and the second substrate each comprise a wearer facing surface, a garment facing surface; and wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate comprises a distal edge extending along a portion of the waist opening and a proximal edge extending across the backsheet.

The following term explanations may be useful in understanding the present disclosure:
"Absorbent article" refers to devices, which absorb and contain body exudates and, more specifically, refers to devices, which are placed against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body. Exemplary absorbent articles include diapers, training pants, pull-on pant-type diapers (i.e., a diaper having a pre-formed waist opening and leg openings such as illustrated in <CIT>), refastenable diapers or pant-type diapers, incontinence briefs and undergarments, diaper holders and liners, feminine hygiene garments such as panty liners, absorbent inserts, menstrual pads and the like.

"Body-facing" and "garment-facing" refer respectively to the relative location of an element or a surface of an element or group of elements. "Body-facing" implies the element or surface is nearer to the wearer during wear than some other element or surface. "Garment-facing" implies the element or surface is more remote from the wearer during wear than some other element or surface (i.e., element or surface is proximate to the wearer's garments that may be worn over the disposable absorbent article).

An "elastic," "elastomer" or "elastomeric" refers to materials exhibiting elastic properties, which include any material that upon application of a force to its relaxed, initial length can stretch or elongate to an elongated length more than <NUM>% greater than its initial length and will substantially recover back to about its initial length upon release of the applied force. Elastomeric materials may include elastomeric films, scrims, nonwovens, ribbons, strands and other sheet-like structures.

As used herein, the term "joined" encompasses configurations whereby an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element, and configurations whereby an element is indirectly secured to another element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element.

As used herein, the term "distal" is used to describe a position situated away from a center of a body or from a point of attachment, and the term "proximal" is used to describe a position situated nearer to a center of a body or a point of attachment.

The term "substrate" is used herein to describe a material which is primarily two-dimensional (i.e., in an XY plane) and whose thickness (in a Z direction) is relatively small (i.e., <NUM>/<NUM> or less) in comparison to its length (in an X direction) and width (in a Y direction). Nonlimiting examples of substrates include a web, layer or layers or fibrous materials, nonwovens, films and foils such as polymeric films or metallic foils. These materials may be used alone or may comprise two or more layers laminated together. As such, a web is a substrate.

The term "nonwoven" refers herein to a material made from continuous (long) filaments (fibers) and/or discontinuous (short) filaments (fibers) by processes such as spunbonding, meltblowing, carding, and the like. Nonwovens do not have a woven or knitted filament pattern.

The term "machine direction" (MD) is used herein to refer to the direction of material flow through a process. In addition, relative placement and movement of material can be described as flowing in the machine direction through a process from upstream in the process to downstream in the process.

The term "cross direction" (CD) is used herein to refer to a direction that is generally perpendicular to the machine direction.

"Pre-strain" refers to the strain imposed on an elastic or elastomeric material prior to combining it with another element of the elastomeric laminate or the absorbent article. Pre-strain is determined by the following equation Pre-strain = ((extended length of the elastic-relaxed length of the elastic)/relaxed length of the elastic)*<NUM>.

"Decitex" also known as Dtex is a measurement used in the textile industry used for measuring yarns or filaments. <NUM> Decitex = <NUM> gram per <NUM>,<NUM> meters. In other words, if <NUM>,<NUM> linear meters of a yarn or filament weights <NUM> grams that yarn or filament would have a decitex of <NUM>.

The term "taped diaper" (also referred to as "open diaper") refers to disposable absorbent articles having an initial front waist region and an initial back waist region that are not fastened, pre-fastened, or connected to each other as packaged, prior to being applied to the wearer. A taped diaper may be folded about the lateral centerline with the interior of one waist region in surface to surface contact with the interior of the opposing waist region without fastening or joining the waist regions together. Example taped diapers are disclosed in various suitable configurations <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>; and <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

The term "pant" (also referred to as "training pant", "pre-closed diaper", "diaper pant", "pant diaper", and "pull-on diaper") refers herein to disposable absorbent articles having a continuous perimeter waist opening and continuous perimeter leg openings designed for infant or adult wearers. A pant can be configured with a continuous or closed waist opening and at least one continuous, closed, leg opening prior to the article being applied to the wearer. A pant can be preformed or pre-fastened by various techniques including, but not limited to, joining together portions of the article using any refastenable and/or permanent closure member (e.g., seams, heat bonds, pressure welds, adhesives, cohesive bonds, mechanical fasteners, etc.). A pant can be preformed anywhere along the circumference of the article in the waist region (e.g., side fastened or seamed, front waist fastened or seamed, rear waist fastened or seamed). Example diaper pants in various configurations are disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT> and <CIT>; <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

"Closed-form" means opposing waist regions are joined, as packaged, either permanently or refastenably to form a continuous waist opening and leg openings.

"Open-form" means opposing waist regions are not initially joined to form a continuous waist opening and leg openings but comprise a closure means such as a fastening system to join the waist regions to form the waist and leg openings before or during application to a wearer of the article.

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including belts, and more particularly, to front and back waist belt assemblies. In some configurations, an absorbent article may include a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The chassis may further comprise a first end region and a second end region longitudinally separated from the first end region by a crotch region. A first belt may be connected with the first end region of the chassis; and a second belt may be connected with the second end region of the chassis, wherein laterally opposing end portions of the second belt are connected with laterally opposing end portions of the first belt to form a waist opening. At least one of the first belt and the second belt may comprise: an elastic material positioned between and connected with a first substrate and a second substrate. A panel layer extending longitudinally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge may be connected with at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate. As discussed below, the panel layer and/or the first and/or second substrate of the first and/or second belts may include features that may differ along a width and/or length of the belts. Such features may include, for example, belt tensioning, rugosities, bonding patterns, and aperture arrangements.

<FIG> show an example of an absorbent article <NUM> in the form of a diaper pant 100P that may include components constructed from elastomeric laminates assembled in accordance with the configurations disclosed herein. In particular, <FIG> shows a perspective views of a diaper pant 100P in a pre-fastened configuration. <FIG> shows a plan view of the diaper pant 100P with the portion of the diaper that faces away from a wearer oriented toward the viewer, and <FIG> shows a plan view of the diaper pant 100P with the portion of the diaper that faces toward a wearer oriented toward the viewer. The diaper pant 100P includes a chassis <NUM> and a ring-like elastic belt <NUM>. As discussed below in more detail, a first elastic belt <NUM> and a second elastic belt <NUM> are bonded together to form the ring-like elastic belt <NUM>.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the diaper pant 100P and the chassis <NUM> each include a first waist region <NUM>, a second waist region <NUM>, and a crotch region <NUM> disposed intermediate the first and second waist regions. It may also be described that the chassis <NUM> includes a first end region 116a, a second end region 118a, and a crotch region <NUM> disposed intermediate the first and second end regions 116a, 118a. The first waist region <NUM> may be configured as a front waist region, and the second waist region <NUM> may be configured as back waist region. The diaper 100P may also include a laterally extending front waist edge <NUM> in the front waist region <NUM> and a longitudinally opposing and laterally extending back waist edge <NUM> in the back waist region <NUM>. To provide a frame of reference for the present discussion, the diaper 100P and chassis <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> are shown with a longitudinal axis <NUM> and a lateral axis <NUM>. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis <NUM> may extend through the front waist edge <NUM> and through the back waist edge <NUM>. And the lateral axis <NUM> may extend through a first longitudinal or right side edge <NUM> and through a second longitudinal or left side edge <NUM> of the chassis <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the diaper pant 100P may include an inner, body facing surface <NUM>, and an outer, garment facing surface <NUM>. The chassis <NUM> may include a backsheet <NUM> and a topsheet <NUM>. The chassis <NUM> may also include an absorbent assembly <NUM>, including an absorbent core <NUM>, disposed between a portion of the topsheet <NUM> and the backsheet <NUM>. As discussed in more detail below, the diaper 100P may also include other features, such as leg elastics and/or leg cuffs to enhance the fit around the legs of the wearer.

As shown in <FIG>, the periphery of the chassis <NUM> may be defined by the first longitudinal side edge <NUM>, a second longitudinal side edge <NUM>, a first laterally extending end edge <NUM> disposed in the first waist region <NUM>, and a second laterally extending end edge <NUM> disposed in the second waist region <NUM>. Both side edges <NUM> and <NUM> extend longitudinally between the first end edge <NUM> and the second end edge <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the laterally extending end edges <NUM> and <NUM> are located longitudinally inward from the laterally extending front waist edge <NUM> in the front waist region <NUM> and the laterally extending back waist edge <NUM> in the back waist region <NUM>. When the diaper pant 100P is worn on the lower torso of a wearer, the front waist edge <NUM> and the back waist edge <NUM> may encircle a portion of the waist of the wearer. At the same time, the side edges <NUM> and <NUM> may encircle at least a portion of the legs of the wearer. And the crotch region <NUM> may be generally positioned between the legs of the wearer with the absorbent core <NUM> extending from the front waist region <NUM> through the crotch region <NUM> to the back waist region <NUM>.

As previously mentioned, the diaper pant 100P may include a backsheet <NUM>. The backsheet <NUM> may also define the outer, garment facing surface <NUM> of the chassis <NUM>. The backsheet <NUM> may also comprise a woven or nonwoven material, polymeric films such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene or polypropylene, and/or a multi-layer or composite materials comprising a film and a nonwoven material. The backsheet may also comprise an elastomeric film. An example backsheet <NUM> may be a polyethylene film having a thickness of from about <NUM> (<NUM> mils) to about <NUM> (<NUM> mils). Further, the backsheet <NUM> may permit vapors to escape from the absorbent core (i.e., the backsheet is breathable) while still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet <NUM>.

Also described above, the diaper pant 100P may include a topsheet <NUM>. The topsheet <NUM> may also define all or part of the inner, wearer facing surface <NUM> of the chassis <NUM>. The topsheet <NUM> may be liquid pervious, permitting liquids (e.g., menses, urine, and/or runny feces) to penetrate through its thickness. A topsheet <NUM> may be manufactured from a wide range of materials such as woven and nonwoven materials; apertured or hydroformed thermoplastic films; apertured nonwovens, porous foams; reticulated foams; reticulated thermoplastic films; and thermoplastic scrims. Woven and nonwoven materials may comprise natural fibers such as wood or cotton fibers; synthetic fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene fibers; or combinations thereof. If the topsheet <NUM> includes fibers, the fibers may be spunbond, carded, wet-laid, meltblown, hydroentangled, or otherwise processed as is known in the art. Topsheets <NUM> may be selected from high loft nonwoven topsheets, apertured film topsheets and apertured nonwoven topsheets. Exemplary apertured films may include those described in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

As mentioned above, the diaper pant 100P may also include an absorbent assembly <NUM> that is joined to the chassis <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the absorbent assembly <NUM> may have a laterally extending front edge <NUM> in the front waist region <NUM> and may have a longitudinally opposing and laterally extending back edge <NUM> in the back waist region <NUM>. The absorbent assembly may have a longitudinally extending right side edge <NUM> and may have a laterally opposing and longitudinally extending left side edge <NUM>, both absorbent assembly side edges <NUM> and <NUM> may extend longitudinally between the front edge <NUM> and the back edge <NUM>. The absorbent assembly <NUM> may additionally include one or more absorbent cores <NUM> or absorbent core layers. The absorbent core <NUM> may be at least partially disposed between the topsheet <NUM> and the backsheet <NUM> and may be formed in various sizes and shapes that are compatible with the diaper. Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core of the present disclosure are described in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

Some absorbent core embodiments may comprise fluid storage cores that contain reduced amounts of cellulosic airfelt material. For instance, such cores may comprise less than about <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or even <NUM>% of cellulosic airfelt material. Such a core may comprise primarily absorbent gelling material in amounts of at least about <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or even about <NUM>%, where the remainder of the core comprises a microfiber glue (if applicable). Such cores, microfiber glues, and absorbent gelling materials are described in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT> as well as <CIT> and <CIT>.

As previously mentioned, the diaper 100P may also include elasticized leg cuffs <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the leg cuffs <NUM> can be and are sometimes also referred to as leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, elastic cuffs or gasketing cuffs. The elasticized leg cuffs <NUM> may be configured in various ways to help reduce the leakage of body exudates in the leg regions. Example leg cuffs <NUM> may include those described in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

As mentioned above, diaper pants may be manufactured with a ring-like elastic belt <NUM> and provided to consumers in a configuration wherein the front waist region <NUM> and the back waist region <NUM> are connected to each other as packaged, prior to being applied to the wearer. As such, diaper pants may have a continuous perimeter waist opening <NUM> and continuous perimeter leg openings <NUM> such as shown in <FIG>. The ring-like elastic belt may be formed by joining a first elastic belt to a second elastic belt with a permanent side seam or with an openable and reclosable fastening system disposed at or adjacent the laterally opposing sides of the belts.

As previously mentioned, the ring-like elastic belt <NUM> may be defined by a first elastic belt <NUM> connected with a second elastic belt <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> extends between a first longitudinal side edge 111a and a second longitudinal side edge 111b and defines first and second opposing end regions 106a, 106b and a central region 106c. And the second elastic <NUM> belt extends between a first longitudinal side edge 113a and a second longitudinal side edge 113b and defines first and second opposing end regions 108a, 108b and a central region 108c. The distance between the first longitudinal side edge 111a and the second longitudinal side edge 111b defines the pitch length, PL, of the first elastic belt <NUM>, and the distance between the first longitudinal side edge 113a and the second longitudinal side edge 113b defines the pitch length, PL, of the second elastic belt <NUM>. The central region 106c of the first elastic belt is connected with the first waist region <NUM> or first end region 116a of the chassis <NUM>, and the central region 108c of the second elastic belt <NUM> is connected with the second waist region <NUM> or second end region 118a of the chassis <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first end region 106a of the first elastic belt <NUM> is connected with the first end region 108a of the second elastic belt <NUM> at first side seam <NUM>, and the second end region 106b of the first elastic belt <NUM> is connected with the second end region 108b of the second elastic belt <NUM> at second side seam <NUM> to define the ring-like elastic belt <NUM> as well as the waist opening <NUM> and leg openings <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the first belt <NUM> and the second belt <NUM> may be permanently or refastenably connected with each other at the first side seam <NUM> and the second side seam <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> also defines an outer laterally extending edge 107a and an inner laterally extending edge 107b, and the second elastic belt <NUM> defines an outer laterally extending edge 109a and an inner laterally extending edge 109b. As such, a perimeter edge 112a of one leg opening may be defined by portions of the inner laterally extending edge 107b of the first elastic belt <NUM>, the inner laterally extending edge 109b of the second elastic belt <NUM>, and the first longitudinal or right side edge <NUM> of the chassis <NUM>. And a perimeter edge 112b of the other leg opening may be defined by portions of the inner laterally extending edge 107b, the inner laterally extending edge 109b, and the second longitudinal or left side edge <NUM> of the chassis <NUM>. The outer laterally extending edges 107a, 109a may also define the front waist edge <NUM> and the laterally extending back waist edge <NUM> of the diaper pant 100P.

It is to be appreciated that the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may define different sizes and shapes. For example, <FIG> shows a configuration wherein the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> both define generally rectangular shapes. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the outer laterally extending edge 107a of the first elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a lateral width of W1D and the inner laterally extending edge 107b may comprise a lateral width of W1P, wherein W1D and W1P are equal or substantially equal. In addition, the outer laterally extending edge 109a of the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a lateral width of W2D and the inner laterally extending edge 109b may comprise a lateral width of W2P, wherein W2D and W2P are equal or substantially equal.

In some configurations, at least one of the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise lateral edges having different lengths. For example, <FIG> shows a configuration wherein the first elastic belt <NUM> defines a generally rectangular shape, such as described with reference to <FIG>, and wherein the outer laterally extending edge 109a of the second elastic belt <NUM> and the inner laterally extending edge 109b have different lengths. As shown in <FIG>, the outer laterally extending edge 109a of the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a lateral width of W2D and the inner laterally extending edge 109b may comprise a lateral width of W2P, wherein W2D is greater than W2P.

In some configurations, both the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise lateral edges having different lengths. For example, <FIG> shows a configuration wherein the outer laterally extending edge 107a of the first elastic belt <NUM> and the inner laterally extending edge 107b have different lengths, and wherein the outer laterally extending edge 109a of the second elastic belt <NUM> and the inner laterally extending edge 109b have different lengths. As shown in <FIG>, the outer laterally extending edge 107a of the first elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a lateral width of W1D and the inner laterally extending edge 107b may comprise a lateral width of W1P, wherein W1D is greater than W1P, and wherein the outer laterally extending edge 109a of the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a lateral width of W2D and the inner laterally extending edge 109b may comprise a lateral width of W2P, wherein W2D is greater than W2P.

With reference to <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> may define a longitudinal length LT1 extending between outer laterally extending edge 107a and the inner laterally extending edge 107b, and the second elastic belt <NUM> may define a longitudinal length LT2 extending between outer laterally extending edge 109a and the inner laterally extending edge 109b. In some configurations, LT1 may be equal to LT2. In some configurations, LT1 may be less or greater than LT2. With continued reference to <FIG>, in some configurations, W1D may be equal to W1P, or W1D may be different than W1P. In some configurations, W2D may be equal to W2P, or W2D may be different than W2P. In some configurations, W1D and/or W1P may be equal to or different W2D and/or W2P.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may also each include a first substrate <NUM> and a second substrate <NUM>. The first substrates <NUM> may be oriented to define at least a portion of the garment facing surfaces of the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM>, and the second substrates <NUM> may be oriented to define at least a portion of the wearer facing surfaces of the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM>. The first substrate <NUM> may extend from a proximal edge 162b to a distal edge 162a for a maximum length L1, and the second substrate <NUM> may extend from a proximal edge 164b to a distal edge 164a for a maximum length L2. It is to be appreciated that the distal edge 162a and/or the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate <NUM> may be straight and/or curved and/or may be parallel or unparallel to each other. It is also to be appreciated that the distal edge 164a and/or the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate <NUM> may be straight and/or curved and/or may be parallel or unparallel to each other. As such, the maximum length L1 refers to the longest distance extending longitudinally between the distal edge 162a and the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate <NUM>, and the maximum length L2 refers to the longest distance extending longitudinally between the distal edge 164a and the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the distal edge 162a of the first substrate <NUM> may define at least a portion of the front waist edge <NUM> and/or at least a portion of back waist edge <NUM>, and/or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate <NUM> may define at least a portion of the front waist edge <NUM> and/or at least a portion of back waist edge <NUM>. As such, in some configurations, the distal edge 162a of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate <NUM> may define at least a portion of the waist opening <NUM>. It is also to be appreciated that the first substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate <NUM> may extend continuously from the first belt <NUM> to the second belt <NUM>.

In some configurations, the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate <NUM> may extend laterally across the backsheet <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first substrate <NUM> includes a garment facing surface 162c and an opposing wearer facing surface 162d, and the second substrate <NUM> includes a garment facing surface 164c and an opposing wearer facing surface 164d.

Belt elastic material <NUM> may be positioned between the wearer facing surface 162d of the first substrate <NUM> and the garment facing surface 164c of the second substrate <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the belt elastic material <NUM> may include one or more elastic elements such as strands, ribbons, elastic films, or panels extending along the lengths of the elastic belts. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the elastic material <NUM> may include a plurality of elastic strands <NUM>. In some configurations, the elastic strands <NUM> may be in the form of extruded elastic strands, which may also be bonded with the first substrate <NUM> and/or second substrate <NUM> in a pre-corrugated configuration, such as disclosed for example in <CIT>, which is incorporated by reference herein. In some configurations, the elastic strands <NUM> may be referred to herein as outer, waist elastics <NUM> and inner, waist elastics <NUM>. Elastic strands <NUM>, such as the outer waist elastics <NUM>, may continuously extend laterally between the first and second opposing end regions 106a, 106b of the first elastic belt <NUM> and between the first and second opposing end regions 108a, 108b of the second elastic belt <NUM>. In some embodiments, some elastic strands <NUM>, such as the inner waist elastics <NUM>, may be configured with discontinuities in areas, such as for example, where the first and second elastic belts <NUM>, <NUM> overlap portions of the chassis <NUM>, such as the absorbent assembly <NUM>.

In some configurations, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM> may define curved contours. For example, the inner lateral edges 107b, 109b of the first and/or second elastic belts <NUM>, <NUM> may include non-linear or curved portions in the first and second opposing end regions. Such curved contours may help define desired shapes to leg opening <NUM>, such as for example, relatively rounded leg openings. In addition to having curved contours, the elastic belts <NUM>, <NUM> may include elastic strands <NUM> that extend along non-linear or curved paths that may correspond with the curved contours of the inner lateral edges 107b, 109b.

As shown in <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may also include a panel layer <NUM>, which may comprise a substrate or a laminate of substrate layers. The panel layer <NUM> may extend longitudinally between a first lateral edge 165a and a second lateral edge 165b for a maximum distance D. It is to be appreciated that the first lateral edge 165a and/or the second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM> may be straight and/or curved and/or may be parallel or unparallel to each other. As such, the maximum distance D refers to the longest distance extending longitudinally between the first lateral edge 165a and the second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM>. In some configurations, the maximum distance D may or may not be equal to the maximum length L1 of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the maximum length L2 of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the maximum distance D may be less than or equal to the maximum length L1 of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the maximum length L2 of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, D may be less than about <NUM>% of L1 and/or L2. It is also to be appreciated that panel layer <NUM> may be positioned in various longitudinal positions relative to the first substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the first lateral edge 165a of the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned longitudinally outward from the distal edge 162a of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the first lateral edge 165a of the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned to be coterminous with the distal edge 162a of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the first lateral edge 165a of the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned longitudinally inboard from the distal edge 162a of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned such that the first lateral edge 165a of the panel layer <NUM> may define at least a portion of the front waist edge <NUM> and/or the back waist edge <NUM>. As such, in some configurations, the first lateral edge 165a of the panel layer <NUM> may define at least a portion of the waist opening <NUM>.

In some configurations, the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned so as to cover at least a portion of the first end region 116a and/or the second end region 118a of the chassis <NUM>, such as shown in <FIG>. As such, the second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM> may extend across the topsheet <NUM>. In some configurations, the second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM> may extend across the backsheet <NUM>. The second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM> may be longitudinally inboard or longitudinally outboard of the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate <NUM>. And in some configurations, the second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM> may be conterminous with the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, at least a portion of the second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM> may not be bonded with the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM> to define a pocket between the panel layer <NUM> and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>.

It is to be appreciated that the first substrate <NUM>, the second substrate <NUM>, and the panel layer <NUM> may define various lateral widths that may or may not be equal. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the first substrate <NUM> may extend laterally between a first longitudinal edge 162e and a second longitudinal edge 162f to define a first lateral width W1, and the second substrate <NUM> may extend laterally between a first longitudinal edge 164e and a second longitudinal edge 164f to define a second lateral width W2. In addition, the panel layer <NUM> may extend laterally between a first longitudinal edge 165e and second longitudinal edge 165f to define a third lateral width W3. In some configurations, the third lateral width W3 may be equal to at least one of the first lateral width W1 and the second lateral width W2. In some configurations, the third lateral width W3 may be less than at least one of the first lateral width W1 and the second lateral width W2.

It is to be appreciated that the panel layer <NUM> may be connected with the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> in various positions and/or with various components of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the panel layer <NUM> may be connected with the garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate <NUM> on the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include belt elastic material <NUM> positioned between and connected with the first substrate <NUM> and the panel layer <NUM>. As mentioned above, the elastic material <NUM> may include a plurality of elastic strands <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and others, the elastic strands <NUM> connected with the panel layer <NUM> may be referred to herein as panel layer elastic strands <NUM>. In some configurations, the elastic strands <NUM> may be in the form of extruded elastic strands, which may also be bonded with the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, and/or panel layer <NUM> in a pre-corrugated configuration, such as disclosed for example in <CIT>. In another configuration, such as shown in <FIG>, the panel layer <NUM> may be connected with the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM> on the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>. And in some configurations, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include elastic material <NUM> positioned between and connected with the second substrate <NUM> and the panel layer <NUM>.

It is to be appreciated that the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise the same materials and/or may have the same structure. In some embodiments, the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt may comprise different materials and/or may have different structures. It should also be appreciated that components of the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM>, such as the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, and/or panel layer <NUM>, may be constructed from various materials. For example, the first and/or second belts may include a first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, and/or panel layer <NUM> that may be manufactured from materials such as plastic films; apertured plastic films; woven or nonwoven webs of natural materials (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g., polyolefins, polyamides, polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene fibers) or a combination of natural and/or synthetic fibers; or coated woven or nonwoven webs. In some configurations, the first and/or second belts may include a first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, and/or panel layer <NUM> comprising a nonwoven web of synthetic fibers, and may include a stretchable nonwoven. In some configurations, the first and second elastic belts may include an inner hydrophobic, non-stretchable nonwoven material and an outer hydrophobic, non-stretchable nonwoven material.

It is also to be appreciated that the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and/or elastic material <NUM> of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM> may be bonded together and/or with other components, such as the chassis <NUM>, with adhesive and/or mechanical bonds. It is to be appreciated that adhesive and mechanical bonding methods may be utilized alone or in combination with each other.

In some configurations, adhesive may be applied to at least one of the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and/or elastic material <NUM> when being combined to form the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM>. Such adhesive may be applied by with adhesive applicator devices configured in various ways, such as for example, spray nozzles and/or slot coating devices. In some configurations, the adhesive applicator devices may be configured in accordance with the apparatuses and/or methods disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT> and <CIT>.

In some configurations, mechanical bonding devices may apply mechanical bonds to the to at least one of the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and/or elastic material <NUM> when being combined to form the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM>. Such mechanical bonds may be applied with heat, pressure, and/or ultrasonic devices. Examples of ultrasonic bonding devices, which may include linear or rotary type configurations, are disclosed for example in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>. In some configurations, the ultrasonic bonding device may be configured as a linear oscillating type sonotrode, such as for example, available from Herrmann Ultrasonic, Inc. Examples of such mechanical bonding devices and methods are disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>; and <CIT>; and <CIT>. In some configurations, mechanical bonding devices may apply bonds that bond the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and/or elastic material <NUM> together and/or may act to trap or immobilize discrete lengths of the contracted elastic strands in the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM>.

It is also to be appreciated that the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and/or elastic material <NUM> may be bonded together with various methods and apparatuses to create various elastomeric laminates, such as described in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT> as well as <CIT> and <CIT>, and combinations thereof.

It is to be appreciated that the panel layers <NUM> herein may be configured as a single layer substrate or a laminate comprising two or more layers. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the panel layer <NUM> may be configured as a laminate comprising a garment facing layer 165c and a wearer facing layer 165d. The panel layer <NUM> may also include elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> positioned between and connected with the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing layer 165d. As previously mentioned, the panel layer <NUM> may be connected with the first substrate <NUM> or the second substrate <NUM> of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the wearer facing layer 165d may be connected with the garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate <NUM>. In addition, elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> may be positioned between and connected with the wearer facing layer 165d and the garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the first lateral edge 165a of the panel layer <NUM> may be defined by one of or both of the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing layer 165d. It is also to be appreciated that the second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM> may be defined by one of or both of the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing layer 165d. In some configurations, such as shown in <FIG>, the garment facing layer 165c may be connected with the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. It is also to be appreciated that in some configurations, elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> may be positioned between and connected with the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. It is also to be appreciated that in some configurations, elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> may be positioned between and connected with the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, the panel layer <NUM> may be configured as a laminate formed by a substrate that is folded along a fold line 165e to form a first portion defining the garment facing layer 165c and a second portion defining the wearer facing layer 165d. In the folded configurations, the panel layer <NUM> may also include elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> positioned between and connected with the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing layer 165d. As previously mentioned, the panel layer <NUM> may be connected with the first substrate <NUM> or the second substrate <NUM> of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the wearer facing layer 165d may be connected with the garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate <NUM>. In addition, elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> may be positioned between and connected with the wearer facing layer 165d and the garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the first lateral edge 165a of the panel layer <NUM> may be defined by the fold line 165e. As such, in some configurations, the panel layer may be positioned such that the fold line 165e of the panel layer <NUM> may define at least a portion of the front waist edge <NUM> and/or the back waist edge <NUM>. As such, in some configurations, the fold line 165e of the panel layer <NUM> may define at least a portion of the waist opening <NUM>.

It is also to be appreciated that the second lateral edge 165b of the panel layer <NUM> may be defined by one of or both of the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing layer 165d. In some configurations, such as shown in <FIG>, the garment facing layer 165c may be connected with the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. It is also to be appreciated that in some configurations, elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> may be positioned between and connected with the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. It is also to be appreciated that in some configurations, elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> may be positioned between and connected with the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>.

In some configurations of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>, the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> may be positioned between the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing layer 164d. More particularly, the garment facing layer 165c of the panel layer <NUM> may be connected with the first substrate <NUM> and the wearer facing layer 165d of the panel layer <NUM> may be connected with second substrate <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the panel layer <NUM> is depicted as a laminate formed by a substrate that is folded along a fold line 165e to form a first portion defining the garment facing layer 165c and a second portion defining the wearer facing layer 165d. As shown in <FIG>, the garment facing layer 165c is connected with garment facing layer 162c of the first substrate <NUM>, and the wearer facing layer 165d is connected with wearer facing layer 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. In addition, the panel layer <NUM> may also include elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> positioned between and connected with the garment facing layer 165c and the wearer facing layer 165d. As shown in <FIG>, elastic material <NUM>, <NUM> may also be positioned between and connected with the garment facing layer 165c and garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate and/or positioned between and connected with the wearer facing layer 165d and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the first lateral edge 165a of the panel layer <NUM> may be defined by the fold line 165e. As such, in some configurations, the panel layer may be positioned such that the fold line 165e of the panel layer <NUM> may define at least a portion of the front waist edge <NUM> and/or the back waist edge <NUM>. As such, in some configurations, the fold line 165e of the panel layer <NUM> may define at least a portion of the waist opening <NUM>. It is also to be appreciated that the garment facing layer 165c may define a first second lateral edge 165b1 of the panel layer <NUM> extending along the garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate <NUM>, and the wearer facing layer 165d may define a second second lateral edge 165b2 of the panel layer <NUM> extending along the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>.

It is also to be appreciated that panel layer <NUM> may be positioned in various longitudinal positions relative to the first substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fold line 165e of the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned longitudinally outward from the distal edge 162a of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the fold line 165e of the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned to extend along the distal edge 162a of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the distal edge 164a of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned such that the first lateral edge 165a or fold line 165e of the panel layer <NUM> may define at least a portion of the front waist edge <NUM> and/or the back waist edge <NUM>. As such, in some configurations, the fold line 165e of the panel layer <NUM> may define at least a portion of the waist opening <NUM>.

In some configurations, the panel layer <NUM> may be positioned such that garment facing layer 165c and/or the wearer facing layer 165d covers at least a portion of the first end region <NUM> and/or the second end region <NUM> of the chassis <NUM>. In some configurations, the first second lateral edge 165b1 of the panel layer <NUM> may extend across the backsheet <NUM>, and/or, the second second lateral edge 165b2 of the panel layer <NUM> may extend across the topsheet <NUM>. The first second lateral edge 165b1 and/or the second second lateral edge 165b2 of the panel layer <NUM> may be longitudinally inboard or longitudinally outboard of the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate <NUM>. And in some configurations, the first second lateral edge 165b1 and/or the second second lateral edge 165b2 of the panel layer <NUM> may be conterminous with the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, at least a portion of the second second lateral edge 165b2 of the panel layer <NUM> may not be bonded with the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM> to define a pocket between the wearer facing layer 165d of the panel layer <NUM> and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the panel layer <NUM> may extend longitudinally between the first lateral edge 165a (or fold line 165e) and the first second lateral edge 165b1 for a first maximum distance D1, and the panel layer <NUM> may extend longitudinally between the first lateral edge 165a (or fold line 165e) and the second second lateral edge 165b2 for a second maximum distance D2. It is to be appreciated that the first lateral edge 165a and/or the first second lateral edge 165b1 of the panel layer <NUM> may be straight and/or curved and/or may be parallel or unparallel to each other. It is also to be appreciated that the first lateral edge 165a and/or the second second lateral edge 165b2 of the panel layer <NUM> may be straight and/or curved and/or may be parallel or unparallel to each other. As such, the maximum distance D1 refers to the longest distance extending longitudinally between the first lateral edge 165a and the first second edge 165b1 of the panel layer <NUM>, and the maximum distance D2 refers to the longest distance extending longitudinally between the first lateral edge 165a and the second second edge 165b2 of the panel layer <NUM>. In some configurations, the first maximum distance D1 and the second maximum distance D2 may be equal or different lengths. It is also to be appreciated that the first maximum distance D1 and the second maximum distance D2 may define have various lengths relative to the maximum length L1 of the first substrate <NUM> and the maximum length L2 of the second substrate <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. For example, in some configurations, the first maximum distance D1 and/or the second maximum distance D2 may be less than or equal to maximum length L1 of the first substrate <NUM> and/or the maximum length L2 of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the first maximum distance D1 and/or the second maximum distance D2 may be less than about <NUM>% of L1 and/or L2. It is also to be appreciated that features of the panel layer <NUM> discussed above with reference to folded configuration in <FIG> are also applicable to the panel layer <NUM> laminate structure that comprises at least two separate substrates bonded together, such as shown in <FIG>.

In addition to the various configurations of panel layers <NUM> discussed herein, it is to be appreciated that the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may be configured in various ways with various configurations and/or combinations of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the first substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate <NUM> may be configured as single substrate layer or a laminate structure including a plurality of substrate layers. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include a second substrate <NUM> configured as a laminate comprising a garment facing layer <NUM>' and a wearer facing layer <NUM>". It is to be appreciated that the garment facing layer <NUM>' and a wearer facing layer <NUM>" may be the same or different materials. In another example, as shown in <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include a first substrate <NUM> configured as a laminate comprising a garment facing layer <NUM>' and a wearer facing layer <NUM>". It is to be appreciated that the garment facing layer <NUM>' and a wearer facing layer <NUM>" may be the same or different materials. In some configurations, instead of having separate garment facing layers <NUM>' in each of the first and second elastic belts <NUM>, <NUM>, a single garment facing layer <NUM>' may be connected with and extend between the wearer facing layers <NUM>" of the first and second elastic belts <NUM>, <NUM>, such as shown in <FIG>. In yet another configuration, such as shown in <FIG>, the first and second elastic belts <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured without separate wearer facing layers <NUM>", and as such, the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may include a portion of a single garment facing layer <NUM>' of the first substrate <NUM> that forms part of the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> and extends longitudinally between the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> along the backsheet <NUM> of the chassis <NUM>.

In some configurations, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include a folded portion of at least the first substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include a folded portion of the first substrate <NUM> extending longitudinally between a fold line <NUM> in the first substrate <NUM> and a lateral edge <NUM>. As such, the folded portion of the first substrate <NUM> may be connected with the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. As shown in the configuration of <FIG>, elastic material <NUM> may also be positioned between and connected with the folded portion of the first substrate <NUM> and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. In another example shown in <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include a folded portion of the second substrate <NUM> extending longitudinally between a fold line <NUM> in the second substrate <NUM> and a lateral edge <NUM>. As such, the folded portion of the second substrate <NUM> may be connected with the garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate <NUM>. As shown in the configuration of <FIG>, elastic material <NUM> may also be positioned between and connected with the folded portion of the second substrate <NUM> and the garment facing surface 164c of the first substrate <NUM>.

In some configurations, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include a folded portion of both the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include a folded portion of both the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> extending longitudinally between a fold line <NUM> in the first substrate <NUM> and a lateral edge <NUM> and extending longitudinally between a fold line <NUM> in the second substrate <NUM> and a lateral edge <NUM>. As such, the folded portion of the second substrate <NUM> may be connected with the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. As shown in the configuration of <FIG>, elastic material <NUM> may also be positioned between and connected with the folded portion of the second substrate <NUM> and the wearer facing surface 164d of the second substrate <NUM>. It is to be appreciated the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> may be folded in an opposite direction than that shown in <FIG>, such that the folded portion of the first substrate <NUM> may be connected with the garment facing surface 162c of the first substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, the folded portion of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may configured to overlap and/or cover at least a portion of the first end region 116a and/or the second end region 118a of the chassis <NUM>, such as shown in <FIG>.

It is to be appreciated that components of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may be assembled in various ways and various combinations to create various desirable various features that may differ along the lateral width and/or longitudinal length of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>. Such features may include, for example, Dtex values, bond patterns, aperture arrangements, elastic positioning, Average Dtex values, Average Pre-Strain values, rugosity frequencies, rugosity wavelengths, height values, and/or contact area. It is to be appreciated that differing features may be imparted to various components, such as for example, the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and elastic material <NUM> before and/or during stages of assembly of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>. For example, differing features may be separately imparted to the panel layer <NUM> before being combined with the first substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate <NUM>. In another example, differing features may be separately imparted to the first substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate <NUM> before being combined. As such, in some configurations, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include differing features without the necessity to impart such features to fully assembled products.

It is to be appreciated that the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and/or elastic material <NUM> of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM> herein may be formed in various ways and may be bonded together in various ways and with differing or identical bond patterns. In some configurations, the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and/or elastic material <NUM> may be bonded continuously or discontinuously. In some configurations, the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, panel layer <NUM>, and/or elastic material <NUM> may be bonded with a plurality of individual bond sites that may or may not form a visually discernable pattern. Such individual bond sites may also define various features with various sizes relative to each other, and such bond sites may be formed in various ways, such as with adhesive or mechanical bonds and/or combinations thereof. It is to be appreciated that the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM> may include various portions of components bonded together in various ways and with differing or identical bond patterns. <FIG> shows generic examples of first bonds B1, second bonds B2, and third bonds B3 that may be arranged in first, second, and third patterns, respectively on first substrates, second substrates, and/or panel layers on the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the bonds may be arranged in various ways and may be arranged to bond various different components of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>.

For example, with reference <FIG>, in some configurations of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM>, the first substrate <NUM> may be bonded directly with the second substrate <NUM> with a first plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a first pattern, and the panel layer <NUM> may be bonded directly with the first substrate <NUM> or the second substrate <NUM> with a second plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a second pattern, wherein the first pattern may be the same as or different from the second pattern.

In another example, the panel layer <NUM> may be bonded directly with the first substrate <NUM> with a first plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a first pattern; the panel layer <NUM> may be bonded directly with the second substrate <NUM> with a second plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a second pattern; and the first substrate <NUM> may be bonded directly with the second substrate <NUM> with a third plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a third pattern. As such, in some configurations, the first pattern may be the same or different from the second pattern. And in some configurations, at least of the first pattern and the second pattern may be different from the third pattern. Further, the first plurality of discrete bonds, the second plurality of discrete bonds, and the third plurality of discrete bonds may comprise at least one of adhesive bonds and mechanical bonds.

In yet another example, the wearer facing layer 165d of the panel layer <NUM> may be bonded directly with the garment facing layer 165c of the panel layer <NUM> with a first plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a first pattern. In addition, the wearer facing 165d of the panel layer <NUM> is bonded directly with the second substrate <NUM> and the garment facing layer 165c of the panel layer <NUM> is bonded directly with the first substrate <NUM> with a second plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a second pattern. Further, the first substrate <NUM> may be bonded directly with the second substrate <NUM> with a third plurality of discrete bonds arranged in a third pattern. In some configurations, the first pattern may be the same as the second pattern, and at least one of the first pattern and the second pattern may be different from the third pattern. In addition, the first plurality of discrete bonds, the second plurality of discrete bonds, and the third plurality of discrete bonds may comprise at least one of adhesive bonds and mechanical bonds.

It is also to be appreciated that components of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise additional features, such as apertures arranged in various ways. For example, the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, and/or panel layer <NUM> may comprise apertures. Such apertures may be arranged in same or different patterns and may comprise the same or different sizes. In some configurations, apertures in the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, and/or panel layer <NUM> may define an area of about <NUM><NUM> to about <NUM><NUM>, specifically reciting all <NUM><NUM> increments within the above-recited range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In addition, apertures may be positioned within bonded regions and/or within unbonded regions of the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, and/or panel layer <NUM>. <FIG> shows generic examples of first apertures A1, second apertures A2, and third apertures A3 that may be arranged in first, second, and third patterns and/or first, second, and third sizes, respectively on first substrates, second substrates, and/or panel layers on the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the apertures may be arranged in various ways and may be arranged in various different components of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, in some configurations, the first substrate <NUM> may comprise first apertures, the second substrate <NUM> may comprise second apertures, and the panel layer <NUM> may comprise third apertures. In some configurations, the garment facing layer 165c of the panel layer <NUM> and/or the wearer facing layer 165d of the panel <NUM> may comprise the third apertures. In some configurations, the first apertures and the second apertures may be at least partially aligned and overlapping to define apertures that extend through both the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> in an assembled first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM>. In some configurations, the first apertures and the third apertures may be at least partially aligned and overlapping to define apertures that extend through both the first substrate <NUM> and the panel layer <NUM> in an assembled first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM>. In some configurations, the second apertures and the third apertures may be at least partially aligned and overlapping to define apertures that extend through both the second substrate <NUM> and the panel layer <NUM> in an assembled first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM>. In some configurations, the first apertures, the second apertures, and the third apertures may be at least partially aligned and overlapping to define apertures that extend through all of the first substrate <NUM>, the second substrate <NUM>, and the panel layer <NUM> in an assembled first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM>. In some configurations, the first apertures may define a first size, a first shape, and a first pattern; the second apertures may define a second size, a second shape, and a second pattern; and the third apertures may define a third size, a third shape, and a third pattern. As such, at least one of the first size, the first shape, and the first pattern may be respectively the same or different as at least one of the second size, the second shape, and the second pattern. In some configurations, at least one of the first size, the first shape, and the first pattern may be respectively the same or different as at least one of the third size, the third shape, and the third pattern. And in some configurations, at least one of the second size, the second shape, and the second pattern may be respectively the same or different as at least one of the third size, the third shape, and the third pattern. It is also to be appreciated that at least some of the elastic strands <NUM> may extend across some of the first apertures, second apertures, and/or third apertures.

It is to be appreciated that the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include various configurations of belt elastic materials <NUM> arranged in relation to each other and to the first substrate <NUM>, second substrate <NUM>, and panel layer <NUM>. As discussed above, the elastic material <NUM> may include configurations of one or more elastic elements such as strands, ribbons, films, or panels positioned in various arrangements. In some configurations, the elastic material <NUM> may comprise various elastics, elastic features and arrangements, and processes for assembly, such as described in <CIT>; <CIT>;<CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>;<CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and<CIT> as well as <CIT> and <CIT>. It is also to be appreciated the elastic materials <NUM> herein may be configured with identical or different colors in various different locations on the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>.

In some configurations, the elastic material <NUM> may be configured as elastic strands <NUM> disposed at a constant interval in the longitudinal direction. In other embodiments, the elastic strands <NUM> may be disposed at different intervals in the longitudinal direction. In some configurations, the elastic material <NUM> in a stretched condition may be interposed and joined between uncontracted substrate layers. When the elastic material <NUM> is relaxed, the elastic material <NUM> returns to an unstretched condition and contracts the substrate layers. The elastic material <NUM> may provide a desired variation of contraction force in the area of the ring-like elastic belt. It is to be appreciated that the chassis <NUM> and elastic belts <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured in different ways other than as depicted in attached Figures. It is also to be appreciated that the elastic material <NUM> material may be joined to the substrates continuously or intermittently along the interface between the elastic material <NUM> material and the substrates.

As discussed above for example with reference to <FIG>, the elastic material <NUM> discussed herein may be in the form of elastic strands <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM> may be configured to include various quantities of elastic strands <NUM>. In some configurations, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise from about <NUM> to about <NUM> elastic strands <NUM>. It is also to be appreciated that elastic strands <NUM> herein may comprise various Dtex values, strand spacing values, and pre-strain values and such elastic strands <NUM> may utilized with other elastic strands to create first and second elastic belts <NUM>, <NUM> comprising elastic strands <NUM> in various combinations of Dtex values, strand spacing values, and pre-strain values. For example, in some configurations, the Average-Dtex of one or more elastic strands <NUM> may be greater than <NUM>. In some configurations, the Average-Dtex of one or more elastic strands <NUM> may be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, specifically reciting all <NUM> Dtex increments within the above-recited range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In some configurations, a plurality of elastic strands <NUM> may comprise an Average-Strand-Spacing of less than or equal to <NUM>. In some configurations, a plurality of elastic strands <NUM> may comprise an Average-Strand-Spacing from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, specifically reciting all <NUM> increments within the above-recited range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In some configurations, a plurality of elastic strands <NUM> may comprise an Average-Strand-Spacing of greater than <NUM>. In some configurations, the Average-Pre-Strain of each of a plurality of elastic strands may be from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, specifically reciting all <NUM>% increments within the above-recited range and all ranges formed therein or thereby.

With reference to the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> configurations disclosed herein, it is to be appreciated that the elastic strands may arranged in various positions with various Average-Dtex values, Average-Pre-Strain values, and various Average-Strand-Spacing values. For example, with reference to <FIG>, in some configurations, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may include the first substrate <NUM> connected with the second substrate <NUM>, and the panel layer <NUM> connected with either or both the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. Elastic material <NUM> may be positioned between and connected with first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. In addition, elastic material <NUM> may be positioned between and connected with the panel layer <NUM> and the first substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate <NUM>. Further, in some configurations, elastic material <NUM> may be positioned within the garment facing layer 165c and wearer facing layer 165d of the panel layer <NUM>. As previously mentioned, the elastic material <NUM> may comprise elastic strands <NUM>. As such, the elastic strands <NUM> may be grouped in pluralities of elastic strands <NUM>. In turn, one or more pluralities of elastic strands <NUM> may be positioned in various locations between the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>; in various locations between the panel layer <NUM> and the first substrate <NUM>; in various locations between the panel layer <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>; and/or in various locations between the garment facing layer 165c and wearer facing layer 165d of the panel layer <NUM>. For example, in some configurations, a plurality of elastic strands <NUM> may be positioned adjacent the distal edge 162a of the first substrate <NUM> and/or adjacent the distal edge 164a of the second substrate <NUM>. In some configurations, a plurality of elastic strands <NUM> may be positioned adjacent the proximal edge 162b of the first substrate <NUM> and/or adjacent the proximal edge 164b of the second substrate <NUM>.

n some configurations, a first plurality of elastic strands may comprise a first Average-Pre-Strain from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, and a second plurality of elastic strands may comprise a second Average-Pre-Strain that is greater than first Average-Pre-Strain. In some configurations, a first plurality of elastic strands comprises an Average-Strand-Spacing from about <NUM> to about <NUM> and an Average-Dtex from about <NUM> to about <NUM>; and a second plurality of elastic strands may comprise an Average-Strand-Spacing greater than about <NUM> and an Average-Dtex greater than about <NUM>.

n some configurations of the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM>, when the elastic material <NUM> is contracted, the first substrate <NUM>, the second substrate <NUM>, and the panel layer <NUM> may each comprise longitudinally extending gathers. <FIG> shows generic examples of first gathers G1 and second gathers G2 that may be arranged to comprise various Rugosity Wavelengths and/or Rugosity Frequencies. For example, in some configurations, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a first region R1 that includes the panel layer <NUM>. In addition, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a second region R2 outside the first region, wherein the second region does not include the panel layer <NUM>. In turn, when the elastic material <NUM> is contracted, the first region R1 and the second region R2 each comprise longitudinally extending gathers. For example, the first region R1 may comprise first gathers G1 and the second region R2 may comprise second gathers G2. As such, the first region R1 may comprise a first Rugosity Frequency and a first Rugosity Wavelength, and the second region R2 comprises a second Rugosity Frequency and a second Rugosity Wavelength. In some configurations, the first Rugosity Frequency is not equal to the second Rugosity Frequency, and in some configurations, the first Rugosity Wavelength is not equal to the second Rugosity Wavelength. For example, the first Rugosity Frequency may be less than the second Rugosity Frequency.

t is to be appreciated that the first and second Rugosity Frequencies may have various values. For example, in some configurations, at least one of the first Rugosity Frequency and the second Rugosity Frequency may be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, specifically reciting all <NUM> increments within the above-recited range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In some configurations, at least one of the first Rugosity Frequency and the second Rugosity Frequency may be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, specifically reciting all <NUM> increments within the above-recited range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. It is also to be appreciated that the first and second Rugosity Wavelengths may have various values. In another example, at least one of the first Rugosity Wavelength and the second Rugosity Wavelength may be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, specifically reciting all <NUM> increments within the above-recited range and all ranges formed therein or thereby. In some configurations, at least one of the first Rugosity Wavelength and the second Rugosity Wavelength may be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, specifically reciting all <NUM> increments within the above-recited range and all ranges formed therein or thereby.

t is also to be appreciated that second region R2 may be configured to comprise a plurality of Rugosity Frequencies and Rugosity Wavelengths. For example, the second region R2 may comprises a third Rugosity Frequency and a third Rugosity Wavelength. In some configurations, the third Rugosity Frequency is not equal to the second Rugosity Frequency and/or the first Rugosity Frequency. In some configurations, the third Rugosity Wavelength is not equal to the second Rugosity Wavelength and/or the first Rugosity Wavelength.

As previously mentioned, the first elastic belt <NUM> and/or the second elastic belt <NUM> may be constructed to comprise additional desirable features, such as for example, percent contact area and/or height values. In some configurations, at least one of the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a Percent Contact Area of at least one of: greater than about <NUM>% at <NUM>, greater than about <NUM>% at <NUM>, and greater than about <NUM>% at <NUM>. And in some configurations, at least one of the first elastic belt <NUM> and the second elastic belt <NUM> may comprise a <NUM>%-<NUM>% Height Value of <<NUM>.

The Average Decitex Method is used to calculate the Average-Dtex on a length-weighted basis for elastic fibers present in an entire article, or in a specimen of interest extracted from an article. The decitex value is the mass in grams of a fiber present in <NUM>,<NUM> meters of that material in the relaxed state. The decitex value of elastic fibers or elastic laminates containing elastic fibers is often reported by manufacturers as part of a specification for an elastic fiber or an elastic laminate including elastic fibers. The Average-Dtex is to be calculated from these specifications if available. Alternatively, if these specified values are not known, the decitex value of an individual elastic fiber is measured by determining the cross-sectional area of a fiber in a relaxed state via a suitable microscopy technique such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), determining the composition of the fiber via Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and then using a literature value for density of the composition to calculate the mass in grams of the fiber present in <NUM>,<NUM> meters of the fiber. The manufacturer-provided or experimentally measured decitex values for the individual elastic fibers removed from an entire article, or specimen extracted from an article, are used in the expression below in which the length-weighted average of decitex value among elastic fibers present is determined.

he lengths of elastic fibers present in an article or specimen extracted from an article is calculated from overall dimensions of and the elastic fiber pre-strain ratio associated with components of the article with these or the specimen, respectively, if known. Alternatively, dimensions and/or elastic fiber pre-strain ratios are not known, an absorbent article or specimen extracted from an absorbent article is disassembled and all elastic fibers are removed. This disassembly can be done, for example, with gentle heating to soften adhesives, with a cryogenic spray (e.g. Quick-Freeze, Miller-Stephenson Company, Danbury, CT), or with an appropriate solvent that will remove adhesive but not swell, alter, or destroy elastic fibers. The length of each elastic fiber in its relaxed state is measured and recorded in millimeters (mm) to the nearest mm.

For each of the individual elastic fibers fi of relaxed length Li and fiber decitex value di (obtained either from the manufacturer's specifications or measured experimentally) present in an absorbent article, or specimen extracted from an absorbent article, the Average-Dtex for that absorbent article or specimen extracted from an absorbent article is defined as: <MAT> where n is the total number of elastic fibers present in an absorbent article or specimen extracted from an absorbent article. The Average-Dtex is reported to the nearest integer value of decitex (grams per <NUM><NUM>).

If the decitex value of any individual fiber is not known from specifications, it is experimentally determined as described below, and the resulting fiber decitex value(s) are used in the above equation to determine Average-Dtex.

For each of the elastic fibers removed from an absorbent article or specimen extracted from an absorbent article according to the procedure described above, the length of each elastic fiber Lk in its relaxed state is measured and recorded in millimeters (mm) to the nearest mm. Each elastic fiber is analyzed via FT-IR spectroscopy to determine its composition, and its density ρk is determined from available literature values. Finally, each fiber is analyzed via SEM. The fiber is cut in three approximately equal locations perpendicularly along its length with a sharp blade to create a clean cross-section for SEM analysis. Three fiber segments with these cross sections exposed are mounted on an SEM sample holder in a relaxed state, sputter coated with gold, introduced into an SEM for analysis, and imaged at a resolution sufficient to clearly elucidate fiber cross sections. Fiber cross sections are oriented as perpendicular as possible to the detector to minimize any oblique distortion in the measured cross sections. Fiber cross sections may vary in shape, and some fibers may consist of a plurality of individual filaments. Regardless, the area of each of the three fiber cross sections is determined (for example, using diameters for round fibers, major and minor axes for elliptical fibers, and image analysis for more complicated shapes), and the average of the three areas ak for the elastic fiber, in units of micrometers squared (µm<NUM>), is recorded to the nearest <NUM><NUM>. The decitex dk of the kth elastic fiber measured is calculated by: <MAT> where dk is in units of grams (per calculated <NUM>,<NUM> meter length), ak is in units of µm<NUM>, and ρk is in units of grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm<NUM>). For any elastic fiber analyzed, the experimentally determined Lk and dk values are subsequently used in the expression above for Average-Dtex.

Using a ruler calibrated against a certified NIST ruler and accurate to <NUM>, measure the distance between the two distal strands within a section to the nearest <NUM>, and then divide by the number of strands in that section - <NUM><MAT> where n><NUM>
report to the nearest <NUM>.

The Average-Pre-Strain of a specimen are measured on a constant rate of extension tensile tester (a suitable instrument is the MTS Insight using Testworks <NUM> Software, as available from MTS Systems Corp. , Eden Prairie, MN) using a load cell for which the forces measured are within <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the limit of the cell. Articles are conditioned at <NUM> ± <NUM> C° and <NUM>% ± <NUM>% relative humidity for <NUM> hours prior to analysis and then tested under the same environmental conditions.

Program the tensile tester to perform an elongation to break after an initial gage length adjustment. First raise the cross head at <NUM>/min up to a force of <NUM>. Set the current gage to the adjusted gage length. Raise the crosshead at a rate of <NUM>/min until the specimen breaks (force drops <NUM>% after maximum peak force). Return the cross head to its original position. Force and extension data is acquired at a rate of <NUM> throughout the experiment.

Set the nominal gage length to <NUM> using a calibrated caliper block and zero the crosshead. Insert the specimen into the upper grip such that the middle of the test strip is positioned <NUM> below the grip. The specimen may be folded perpendicular to the pull axis, and placed in the grip to achieve this position. After the grip is closed the excess material can be trimmed. Insert the specimen into the lower grips and close. Once again, the strip can be folded, and then trimmed after the grip is closed. Zero the load cell. The specimen should have a minimal slack but less than <NUM> N of force on the load cell. Start the test program.

From the data construct a Force (N) verses Extension (mm). The Average-Pre-Strain is calculated from the bend in the curve corresponding to the extension at which the nonwovens in the elastic are engaged. Plot two lines, corresponding to the region of the curve before the bend (primarily the elastics), and the region after the bend (primarily the nonwovens). Read the extension at which these two lines intersect, and calculate the % Pre-Strain from the extension and the corrected gage length. Record as % Pre-strain <NUM>%. Calculate the arithmetic mean of three replicate samples for each elastomeric laminate and Average-Pre-Strain to the nearest <NUM>%.

In the Surface Topography Method, an elastic laminate specimen is removed from an absorbent article and extended across and in contact with the convex surface of a transparent horizontal cylindrical tubing segment, allowing the areal surface topology of the body facing side of the laminate to be measured through the transparent tubing segment using optical profilometry. The 3D surface data are then sampled and processed to extract several parameters that describe the percent contact area and height of the elastic laminate specimen surface as well as the frequency and wavelength of its associated rugosities. All sample preparation and testing is performed in a conditioned room maintained at about <NUM> ± <NUM> and about <NUM> ± <NUM> % relative humidity, and samples are equilibrated in this environment for at least <NUM> hours prior to testing.

Each elastic laminate specimen extracted from an article is mounted on a horizontal tubing segment as described below. The tubing segment is cut from a sufficient length of optically clear, colorless cast acrylic cylindrical tubing having an outer diameter of <NUM> inches (<NUM>) and a wall thickness of <NUM> inches (<NUM>). The segment has a dimension of <NUM> inches (<NUM>) along an axis parallel to the central cylindrical axis of the parent tubing and a circumferential outer arc length of <NUM> inches (<NUM>).

The elastic laminate specimen is extended in its primary stretch direction to a width of <NUM>% of the original, for example a sample having an original width of <NUM> would be extended to a width of <NUM> for testing. In this extended state, the extended elastic laminate specimen is oriented such that its body-facing surface is in contact with the convex surface of the tubing segment and that the axis of extension is oriented around the circumference of the tubing segment. The extended laminate is secured at both ends to the transparent tubing segment such that the body-facing surface of the laminate is viewable through the concave side of the transparent tubing segment.

Five replicate elastic laminate specimens are isolated and prepared in this way from five equivalent absorbent articles for analysis.

A three-dimensional (3D) surface topography image of the body facing surface of the extended elastic laminate specimen is obtained using a DLP-based, structured-light 3D surface topography measurement system (a suitable surface topography measurement system is the MikroCAD Premium instrument commercially available from LMI Technologies Inc. , Vancouver, Canada, or equivalent). The system includes the following main components: a) a Digital Light Processing (DLP) projector with direct digital controlled micro-mirrors; b) a CCD camera with at least a <NUM> x <NUM> pixel resolution; c) projection optics adapted to a measuring area of at least <NUM> x <NUM>; d) recording optics adapted to a measuring area of <NUM> x <NUM>; e) a table tripod based on a small hard stone plate; f) a blue LED light source; g) a measuring, control, and evaluation computer running surface texture analysis software (a suitable software is MikroCAD software with Mountains Map technology, or equivalent); and h) calibration plates for lateral (XY) and vertical (Z) calibration available from the vendor.

The optical 3D surface topography measurement system measures the surface height of a sample using the digital micro-mirror pattern fringe projection technique. The nature of this pattern projection technique allows the surface topography of a specimen to be interrogated through a transparent material. The result of the measurement is a 3D data set of surface height (defined as the Z-axis) versus displacement in the horizontal (XY) plane. This 3D data set can also be thought of as an image in which every pixel in the image there is associated an XY displacement, and the value of the pixel is the recorded Z-axis height value. The system has a field of view of <NUM> x <NUM> with an XY pixel resolution of approximately <NUM> microns, and a height resolution of <NUM> microns, with a total possible height range of <NUM>.

The instrument is calibrated according to manufacturer's specifications using the calibration plates for lateral (XY plane) and vertical (Z-axis) available from the vendor.

The elastic laminate specimen mounted on the transparent tubing segment is positioned with the concave surface of the tubing segment surface facing upward so that the body facing surface is facing upward and visible through the transparent material. The tubing segment is placed on a stand such that the convex (downward-facing) specimen surface in the region to be analyzed is suspended freely and not resting on a surface. The tubing segment is oriented such that its circumferential direction (that direction or axis along which the laminate is stretched) is centered and perpendicular relative to the long axis of the camera's field of view (or either of the central axes if the field of view is square). A 3D surface topology image of the elastic laminate specimen is collected by following the instrument manufacturer's recommended measurement procedures, which may include focusing the measurement system and performing a brightness adjustment. No pre-filtering options are used. The collected height image file is saved to the evaluation computer running the surface texture analysis software.

If the field of view of the 3D surface topography measurement system exceeds the evaluation region on the elastic laminate specimen the image may be cropped to remove extraneous areas and retain a rectangular field of view of the relevant portion, while maintaining the XY resolution, prior to performing the analysis.

The 3D surface topography image is opened in the surface texture analysis software. The following filtering procedure is then performed on each image: <NUM>) removal of invalid or non-measured points; <NUM>) a 5x5 pixel median filter to remove noise; <NUM>) a 5x5 pixel mean filter to smooth the surface; and <NUM>) subtraction of a two-dimensional, second-order polynomial (determined via least-squares fit of the surface topology image) to remove the general form and flatten the surface. The second-order polynomial is defined by the following equation: <MAT> Each data set that has been processed to this point as described above is referred to as a "preprocessed specimen data set. " The highest points of the resulting topology image correspond to those areas in contact with the convex surface of the tubing segment, and the lowest points are those points most distal below the convex surface of the tubing segment.

For each of the 3D surface topography images of the five replicate specimens, the following analysis is performed on preprocessed specimen data sets. The Percent Surface Contact Area and <NUM>-<NUM>% Height measurements are derived from the Areal Material Ratio (Abbott-Firestone) curve described in the ISO <NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM> standard extrapolated to surfaces. This curve is the cumulative curve of the surface height distribution histogram versus the range of surface heights measured. A material ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percent, of the area corresponding to points with heights equal to or above an intersecting plane passing through the surface at a given height, or cut depth, to the cross-sectional area of the evaluation region (field of view area). The height at a material ratio of <NUM>% is initially identified. A cut depth of <NUM> below this height is then identified, and the material ratio at this depth is recorded as the Percent Surface Contact Area at <NUM>. This procedure is repeated at a cut depth of <NUM> and <NUM> below the identified height at a material ratio of <NUM>%, and the material ratio at these depths are recorded as the Percent Surface Contact Area at <NUM> and the Percent Surface Contact Area at <NUM> respectively. All of the Percent Contact Area values are recorded to the nearest <NUM>%.

The <NUM>-<NUM>% Height of the specimen surface is defined as the difference in heights between two material ratios that exclude a small percentage of the highest peaks and lowest valleys. The <NUM>-<NUM>% Height of the specimen surface is the height between the two cutting depths corresponding to a material ratio value of <NUM>% to the material ratio of <NUM>%, and is recorded to the nearest <NUM>.

The preprocessed 3D surface topology images for each specimen are subjected to Fourier transform spatial frequency analysis to determine Rugosity Frequency and Rugosity Wavelength.

Each 3D surface topology image is deconstructed into individual line profiles by isolating each entire row of single data points that run in the dimension parallel to the elastic strands (if present and evident) of the elastic laminate, or, more generally, perpendicular to the rugosity exhibited by the elastic laminate in the relaxed state. These line profiles are therefore data sets in the form of height (in millimeters) versus distance (in millimeters).

For each replicate 3D surface topology image deconstructed, each line profile is mean centered, and a fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied to calculate the frequency amplitude spectrum of each line profile. The Fourier transform amplitude versus spatial frequency spectra of all extracted line profiles are averaged, and the resulting average amplitude versus spatial frequency spectrum is defined as F(<NUM>/d), where <NUM>/d is reciprocal distance in units of mm-<NUM>. Finally, the function P(<NUM>/d) = d × F<NUM>(<NUM>/d), the spatial frequency power spectral density with a prefactor of distance d to correct for the expected <NUM>/d noise, is plotted versus <NUM>/d. The value of reciprocal distance <NUM>/d at which P(<NUM>/d) is at a maximum is defined as the Rugosity Frequency and is recorded in units of mm-<NUM> to the nearest <NUM>-<NUM>. The reciprocal of the Rugosity Frequency is defined as the Rugosity Wavelength and is recorded in units of mm to the nearest <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An absorbent article comprising:
a chassis (<NUM>) comprising a topsheet (<NUM>), a backsheet (<NUM>), and an absorbent core (<NUM>) positioned between the topsheet (<NUM>) and the backsheet (<NUM>), the chassis (<NUM>) further comprising a first end region (116a) and a second end region (118a) longitudinally separated from the first end region (116a) by a crotch region (<NUM>);
a first belt (<NUM>) connected with the first end region (116a) of the chassis (<NUM>);
a second belt (<NUM>) connected with the second end region (118a) of the chassis (<NUM>), wherein laterally opposing end portions (108a, 108b) of the second belt (<NUM>) are connected with laterally opposing end portions (106a, 106b) of the first belt (<NUM>) to form a waist opening (<NUM>);
wherein at least one of the first belt (<NUM>) and the second belt (<NUM>) comprises:
a distal edge (<NUM>, <NUM>) extending along a portion of the waist opening (<NUM>);
an elastic material (<NUM>) positioned between and connected with a first substrate (<NUM>) and a second substrate (<NUM>), the elastic material (<NUM>) comprising a first plurality of elastic strands (<NUM>) positioned between and connected with the first substrate (<NUM>) and the second substrate (<NUM>), wherein the first plurality of elastic strands (<NUM>) comprises an Average- Strand- Spacing from about <NUM> to about <NUM> and an Average-Dtex from about <NUM> to about <NUM>;
wherein the first substrate (<NUM>) and the second substrate (<NUM>) each comprise a wearer facing surface (162d, 164d), a garment facing surface (162c, 164c); and
a panel layer (<NUM>) connected with the wearer surface (164d) of the second substrate (<NUM>), the panel layer (<NUM>) comprising a first lateral edge (165a) and a second lateral edge (165b), wherein the first lateral edge (165a) is positioned longitudinally outboard of the second lateral edge (165b)
wherein the panel layer (<NUM>) is a laminate; and
wherein the laminate comprises a second elastic material.