Patent Description:
Disposable absorbent hygiene articles, for example in the form of diapers and incontinence garments, are well known. Such articles are used for absorbing, distributing and storing various types of body exudates, for example urine, while providing a high level of comfort and sense of dryness to the wearer during use. A conventional disposable absorbent article is normally designed with an absorbent assembly comprising an absorbent core which is sandwiched between a top sheet and a back sheet.

The absorbent assembly may comprise a first portion and a second portion, defining a longitudinal extension of the article from the first portion to the second portion, and opposing side edges extending from the first portion to the second portion, defining a transverse extension between the side edges.

Some disposable absorbent hygiene articles, for example diapers and incontinence garments, comprise front and/or back side panels which extend beyond the side edges of the absorbent assembly. When the article is in a use position with the absorbent assembly positioned over the crotch of the wearer, the front and/or back side panels are configured to form at least part of a waist opening around the waist of the wearer, and leg openings for the legs of the wearer are formed between the side panels and the absorbent assembly.

An open-type absorbent hygienic article, such as an open-type diaper, is an article which is provided to a user in an open state and which is configured to be closed to form a closed state around the wearer's waist when the article is worn (in the use position). To this end, the front and/or back side panels may be provided with fasteners for closing the article around a wearer when the article is applied. The fasteners may be openable and re-closable to allow for reclosing of the article for example for inspection thereof after some time of use, or for adjustment of the size of the waist opening of the article.

As such, open-type absorbent articles differ from pant-type articles. Pant-type articles are provided to a user in a closed state and are pulled over the legs of the wearer when applied. In such articles, front and back side panels extending from the absorbent assembly are conventionally permanently joined to each other by means of a seam in each side of the article, so as to form a pant-like article with a waist opening and leg openings. A pant-type article may be removed either by pulling it down along the legs of the wearer, or by ripping open the article by destruction of its side seams. Pant-type articles are thus provided in fixed sizes.

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> describe examples of open-type absorbent articles.

There is a continuous need for improvement in open-type absorbent articles as described in the above. Such needs may relate to one or more of needs for improving comfort to the wearer, needs for facilitating production, and needs for enabling efficient use of materials.

It is desired to provide an open-type absorbent hygiene article which may fulfil one or more of the above-mentioned needs.

Such an article is provided by an article as defined by the appended claim <NUM>.

As such, there is provided a disposable open-type absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and comprising an absorbent assembly and an elastic back panel. The absorbent assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion, and opposing side edges extending in the longitudinal direction from the first portion to the second portion.

The elastic back panel extends in the longitudinal direction between a first edge and a second edge, and is permanently joined to the second portion of the absorbent assembly so as to extend beyond the side edges of the absorbent assembly in the transverse direction of the article, so as to form elastic side portions configured to contact and be fastened to the first portion of the absorbent assembly when the absorbent article is worn. The second edge of the elastic back panel forms a continuous waist edge at the back and sides of the wearer when the article is worn, and the first edge of the elastic back panel in the elastic side portions, together with the side edges of the absorbent assembly, form leg openings around the legs of the wearer when the article is worn.

The elastic back panel comprises a panel material comprising elastic threads extending in the transverse direction and being spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, the elastic threads providing elasticity to the elastic back panel. In accordance with the present disclosure, the elastic back panel comprises no or only disabled elastic threads in a waist fringe region extending over a longitudinal length from the second edge of the back panel towards the first edge of the back panel, wherein the length is at least <NUM>.

As such, the waist fringe region will be non-elastic due to the lack of active elastic threads therein. The panel material of the elastic back panel will hence form a soft wrinkled edge in said waist fringe region. This provides for increased comfort to a wearer and for an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

When the article is worn, the elastic back panel extending over the back and sides of the wearer provides for comfort and fit, as the elastic back panel is able to adapt to the wearer's body and movements. In use, the elastic back panel may be repeatedly stretched and contracted, stretching and contracting the elastic threads. The waist fringe region provides for softness at the uppermost end of the waist of the article, diminishing the risk of chafing at the upper edge (the second edge) of the back panel.

The elastic side portions of the elastic back panel extend beyond the side edges of the absorbent assembly, i.e. the elastic side portions of the elastic back panel extend on a respective side of the absorbent assembly.

The second edge of the back panel is to be determined as the outermost portion of the edge of the back panel in a direction away from the absorbent assembly along the longitudinal direction (y). The second edge hence forms the uppermost waist edge of the article when the article is worn. The second edge of the back panel may remain at the same height as seen along the longitudinal direction over a majority of its transverse width. The second edge of the back panel may remain at the same height as seen along the longitudinal direction over at least <NUM>% of its transverse width.

Similarly, the waist fringe region may extend over a majority of the transverse width of the back panel. The waist fringe region may extend over at least <NUM>% of the transverse width of the back panel.

The waist fringe region length in a longitudinal direction may be selected to provide the desired softness. For example, the waist fringe region may extend over a longitudinal length from the second edge of the back panel towards the first edge of the back panel being within the range of from <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the length may be within the range of from <NUM> to <NUM>.

At least in the elastic side portions of the elastic back panel, the elastic back panel may comprise no or only disabled elastic threads in a leg fringe region extending over a longitudinal length from the first edge of the back panel in the side panels towards the second edge of the back panel in the side panels, wherein the length is at least <NUM>.

As such, the provision of a leg fringe region may provide for increased comfort and softness as well as an aesthetically pleasing design at the leg openings of the article.

For example, the leg fringe region may extend over a longitudinal length from the first edge of the back panel being within the range of from <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the length may be within the range of from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The leg fringe region may extend along the entire first edge of the elastic back panel. When the leg fringe region extends along the entire first edge of the elastic back panel, this implies that the leg fringe region extends at least in the elastic side portions of the elastic back panel. That the leg fringe region extends along the entire first edge of the elastic back panel may be advantageous considering the manufacture of the article, since it allows for e.g. the elastic threads to be removed or disabled from/in a continuous leg fringe region extending along the first edge of the elastic back panel.

The first edge of the back panel is to be determined as the outermost portion of the edge of the back panel in a direction towards the absorbent assembly along the longitudinal direction. The first edge of the back panel may remain at the same height as seen along the longitudinal direction over a majority of its transverse width. The first edge of the back panel may remain at the same height as seen along the longitudinal direction over at least <NUM>% of its transverse width.

Similarly, the leg fringe region may extend over a majority of the transverse width of the back panel. The leg fringe region may extend over at least <NUM>% of the transverse width of the back panel.

The elastic back panel may for example be arranged on the garment-facing side of the article. To this end, the elastic back panel may be arranged over a garment-facing side of the absorbent assembly, e.g. over the back sheet of the absorbent assembly.

When the elastic back panel is arranged towards the garment-facing side of the article, e.g. over the back sheet of the absorbent assembly, the elastic back panel may nevertheless at least partly face the wearer-facing side of the article, i.e. contact the wearer when the article is worn. For example, at least the elastic side portions of the elastic back panel may be arranged so as to contact the wearer when the article is worn.

The absorbent assembly may extend in the longitudinal direction y between an assembly first edge and an assembly second edge. The assembly first edge is directed towards the same direction as the first portion of the absorbent assembly, hence towards the front portion of the article. The assembly second edge is directed towards the same direction as the second portion of the absorbent assembly, hence towards the back portion of the article.

The permanent attachment of the absorbent assembly to the elastic back panel may be made such that at least a portion of the elastic back panel extends longitudinally beyond the second edge of the absorbent assembly. Thus, a portion of the elastic back panel extending longitudinally beyond the second edge of the absorbent assembly may contact the waist region of a wearer when the article is worn.

In another example, the elastic back panel may be arranged towards the wearer-facing side of the article. In this case, the elastic back panel may be arranged over the topsheet of the absorbent assembly This implies that substantially the entire elastic back panel will contact the wearer when the article is worn.

In all of the above-mentioned options, the article may be configured such that at least the waist fringe region contacts the wearer when the article is worn.

The waist fringe region may extend longitudinally beyond the second edge of the absorbent assembly.

The longitudinal length of the leg fringe region may be greater than the longitudinal length of the waist fringe region. For example, the longitudinal length of the leg fringe region may be at least <NUM> greater than the longitudinal length of the waist fringe region.

The elastic threads may be uniformly spaced from each other, i.e. arranged at the same distance from each other as seen in the longitudinal direction over a major part of the longitudinal extension of the elastic back panel. This enables use of conventional panel materials with elastic threads as starting materials for forming the elastic back panel. Also, this allows for an even elasticity in the back panel outside of the waist fringe region and any leg fringe regions.

The elastic threads may be uniformly spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction over a full longitudinal extension of the elastic back panel apart from in the waist fringe region, and, when there is a leg opening fringe region, preferably apart from in the leg opening fringe region.

Alternatively, the back panel may comprise inelastic and elastic zones, where the elastic zones comprise a plurality of elastic threads. For example, the back panel may comprise two to three zones comprising elastic threads.

The back panel, when in a stretched out condition, may have a transverse extension being at least <NUM> % of the transverse extension of the first portion of the absorbent assembly. For example, at least <NUM> %. Or in another example at least <NUM> %.

Thus, the back panel is intended to extend over the majority of the waist circumference of a user, providing the desired comfort and fit.

With "stretched out condition" is meant a condition in which the elastic threads are stretched out such that the panel material of the elastic back panel reaches its maximum dimension in the transverse direction, but that the panel material is not stretched per se.

The transverse extension of the first portion may be measured at the location were the elastic side portions are to be fastened to the first portion of the absorbent assembly. For example, this may be at the location of a landing zone for fastening elements provided at the side portions.

The transverse extension of the back panel when in a stretched out condition may be within the range of from <NUM> to <NUM> % of the transverse extension of the first portion of the absorbent assembly. For example, within the range of from <NUM> to <NUM> %, or in another example within the range of from <NUM> to <NUM>%.

The transverse extension of the first portion of the absorbent assembly may be in the range <NUM> to <NUM>. The back panel may have a longitudinal length within the range of from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the context of the present disclosure, a longitudinal length is to be understood as the longest length of a specified part or sub-part in the longitudinal direction. Analogously, a transverse width is to be understood as the widest width of specified part or sub-part in the transverse direction.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, and unless otherwise explicitly mentioned, lengths, widths and other dimensions of a disposable absorbent hygiene product are measured with the disposable absorbent hygiene product in a relaxed flattened out state on a flat surface with any contracting elements being deactivated.

Each of the elastic side portions may carry at least one fastener. The fastener may be configured to fasten the elastic side portion to the first portion of the absorbent assembly.

The fastener may be arranged outside of the waist fringe region. When there is a leg opening fringe region, the fastener may be arranged outside of the leg fringe region.

The fastener may be an openable and reclosable fastener.

The elastic side portions may form tapered ends to contact and be fastened to the first portion of the absorbent assembly when the absorbent article is worn.

In a second aspect, there may be provided a disposable open-type absorbent hygiene article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and comprising an absorbent assembly and an elastic back panel. The absorbent assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion, and opposing side edges extending in the longitudinal direction from the first portion to the second portion, the elastic back panel having a first edge and a second edge, and being permanently joined to the second portion of the absorbent assembly so as to extend beyond the side edges of the absorbent assembly in the transverse direction of the article, so as to form elastic side portions configured to contact and be fastened to the first portion of the absorbent assembly when the absorbent article is worn, such that the second edge of the elastic back panel forms a continuous waist edge at the back and sides of the wearer when the article is worn, and such that the first edge of the elastic back panel in the elastic side portions, together with side edges of the absorbent assembly, form leg openings around the legs of the wearer when the article is worn. At least in the elastic side portions of the elastic back panel, the elastic back panel comprises no or only disabled elastic threads in a leg fringe region extending over a longitudinal length from the first edge of the back panel in the side panels towards the second edge of the back panel in the side panels, wherein the length is at least <NUM>. As such, leg fringe regions are provided at least in the portions of the elastic back panel forming the elastic side portions.

As such, in the second aspect, there is provided an article having a leg fringe region, but not necessarily a waist fringe region. Such an article may be combined with all the features and aspects mentioned in the above, and providing similar advantages.

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of variants of the open-type absorbent articles cited as examples.

The following description relates to an absorbent article <NUM> being a baby diaper. The diaper should be seen as an example of a disposable open-type absorbent article which may comprise an absorbent assembly <NUM> and elastic side portions <NUM> such as illustrated in <FIG>. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in a plurality of different types of disposable open-type absorbent articles such as adult diapers, incontinence garments and the like.

<FIG> illustrates a disposable open-type absorbent article <NUM> having a longitudinal direction y and a transverse direction x, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction y. The article <NUM> also has a height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction y and transverse direction x.

In the context of the present disclosure "disposable" is used in its ordinary sense to mean an article that is disposed or discarded after a limited number of usage events over varying lengths of time, for example, less than <NUM> events, less than about <NUM> events, or after <NUM> event.

The article <NUM> is an open-type absorbent article meaning that it is provided in an open state (as illustrated in <FIG>) to a user, and is closed to form a waist opening and two leg openings when applied to a wearer (as illustrated in <FIG>).

The article <NUM> comprises an absorbent assembly <NUM>, and an elastic back panel <NUM>.

The absorbent assembly <NUM> has a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> and opposing side edges <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction Y from the first portion <NUM> to the second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> is intended to be at the front (belly) waist region of the user, and the second portion <NUM> intended to be in the back region of the user when the article <NUM> is worn. The absorbent assembly <NUM> extends longitudinally between an assembly first edge <NUM> and an assembly second edge <NUM>, wherein the assembly first edge <NUM> is intended to be directed towards the front of the user, and the assembly second edge <NUM> is intended to be directed towards the back of the user.

Accordingly, the assembly first edge <NUM> is directed towards the same direction as the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>, hence towards the front portion of the article <NUM>. The assembly second edge <NUM> is directed towards the same direction as the second portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>, hence towards the back portion of the article <NUM>.

The absorbent assembly <NUM> may comprise a back sheet <NUM>, a top sheet <NUM>, and an absorbent core <NUM> positioned between the back sheet <NUM> and top sheet <NUM>.

The back sheet <NUM> may typically be a liquid impermeable back sheet <NUM> at the garment facing side of the absorbent assembly <NUM>. Materials suitable as back sheets are commonly known in the art of disposable absorbent hygiene products. The back sheet <NUM> may preferably be substantially impermeable to liquids such as urine. The back sheet may be breathable, i.e. gas permeable, implying that air and other gases may pass through the back sheet <NUM>, while being substantially impermeable to liquids. For the purposes of the present disclosure, any material commonly known for use as back sheet materials may be included in the backsheet, including but not limited to polymeric films, hydrophobized nonwoven materials, fluid impermeable foams and fluid impermeable laminates. The back sheet may comprise one or more layers of material.

The top sheet <NUM> may typically be a liquid permeable top sheet <NUM> at the body facing side of the absorbent assembly <NUM>. Materials suitable for top sheet <NUM> are commonly known in the art of disposable absorbent hygiene products, and for the purposes of the present disclosure any material commonly known for use as top sheet materials may be used, including, but not limited to woven materials, non-woven materials, perforated polymeric films, open cell foams, or combinations or laminates of these materials. The top sheet <NUM> may suitably be sufficiently fluid permeable to allow discharged body fluids such as urine to penetrate through the thickness of the top sheet <NUM>. Also, the top sheet <NUM> is suitably manufactured from a material which is compliant and soft-feeling to the skin of the wearer.

The absorbent core <NUM> may comprise any suitable absorbent material, for example cellulosic fibers and/or super absorbent polymers.

In the disposable absorbent article <NUM>, the top sheet <NUM> and the back sheet <NUM> may extend outside the outer contour of the absorbent core <NUM> and be joined together outside the absorbent core <NUM> contour using methods commonly known in the art such as gluing or welding by means of heat or ultrasound.

Further, the absorbent assembly <NUM> may comprise one or more additional layers such as an acquisition layer or a distribution layer.

The absorbent assembly <NUM> may further display any additional features as used in the art, such as for example raised elastic members, commonly known as standing gathers. The absorbent assembly <NUM> may also be provided with a wetness indicator.

The article <NUM> of <FIG> comprises an elastic belt panel <NUM> being permanently attached to the second portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>. The elastic belt panel <NUM> extends in the longitudinal direction Y between a first edge <NUM> and a second edge <NUM>. The elastic belt panel <NUM> extends beyond the side edges <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM> in the transverse direction X of the article <NUM>, so as to form an elastic side portion <NUM> extending beyond each of the side edges <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM> in the transverse direction X of the article <NUM>. The side portions <NUM> are configured to contact and be fastened to the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM> when the absorbent article <NUM> is worn.

When worn, it is hence intended that the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent article <NUM> will be directed towards the front of the wearer, with the top sheet <NUM> facing the wearer. As may be seen in <FIG>, when worn, the second edge <NUM> of the elastic back panel <NUM> forms a continuous waist edge at the back and sides of the article <NUM>. The first edge <NUM> of the elastic back panel <NUM> in the elastic side portions <NUM>, together with side edges <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>, form leg openings around the legs of the wearer.

Turning back to <FIG>, in the article illustrated therein, the elastic back panel <NUM> comprises a panel material comprising elastic threads <NUM> extending in the transverse direction x and being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction y. The elastic threads <NUM> provides elasticity to the elastic back panel <NUM>, such that it may be stretched in the transverse direction x.

The back panel <NUM> may be made by any suitable elastic material comprising elastic threads. For example, the back panel <NUM> may comprise a nonwoven material, or a laminate nonwoven material comprising elastic threads. For example, the back panel <NUM> may comprise elastic threads arranged between two plies of nonwoven material. The back panel material may be selected to be a material being satisfactory when it comes to softness when the elasticity of the elastic threads is removed.

As further illustrated in <FIG>, the elastic back panel <NUM> comprises no elastic threads <NUM> in a waist fringe region <NUM> extending over a longitudinal length Lw from the second edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM> towards the first edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM>, wherein the length Lw is at least <NUM>. As a result, the waist fringe region <NUM> may form folds or creases at the waist of the article <NUM> when in a closed condition. The waist fringe region <NUM> may hence form a soft edge providing increased comfort to the wearer of the article <NUM>.

In a non-illustrated variant, the elastic back panel <NUM> may comprise only disabled elastic threads <NUM> in the waist fringe region <NUM>. The elastic threads <NUM> may be disabled e.g. by being cut at one or more locations, such that the waist fringe region <NUM> is not subject to stress from the elastic threads <NUM>.

The waist fringe region <NUM> extending over a longitudinal length Lw from the second edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM> towards the first edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM>, where the length Lw is at least <NUM> may display a suitable length to provide the desired comfortable waist fringe region. The length Lw may be less than <NUM>, for example less than <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, at least in the elastic side portions <NUM> of the elastic back panel <NUM>, the elastic back panel <NUM> may comprise no or only disabled elastic threads <NUM> also in a leg fringe region <NUM> extending over a longitudinal length LI from the first edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM> in the side panels <NUM> towards the second edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM> in the side panels <NUM>. Thus, a leg fringe region providing increased comfort to a user may be provided also at the leg openings of the article <NUM> when worn.

The leg fringe region <NUM> extending over a longitudinal length LI from the first edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM> in the side panels <NUM> towards the second edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM> in the side panels <NUM>, wherein the length LI is at least <NUM>. This may be suitable to form a comfortable leg fringe at the leg opening. The length LI may <NUM> or less, such as <NUM> or less.

As in the illustrated article <NUM>, the leg fringe region <NUM> may extend along the entire first edge <NUM> of the elastic back panel <NUM>. This may provide for simplified construction of the article <NUM> since it is immediately ensured that the entire elastic side panels <NUM> will indeed be provided with leg fringe regions <NUM>.

However, other variants are conceivable wherein the leg fringe region <NUM> extend only along the portions of the elastic back panel <NUM> which form the elastic side portions <NUM>.

In some variants, and as illustrated in <FIG>, the longitudinal length LI of the leg fringe region <NUM> is greater than the longitudinal length Lw of the waist fringe region <NUM>. Accordingly, the leg fringe region <NUM> and the waist fringe region <NUM> may be adapted to the different types of movement of the wearer occurring at the leg opening versus the waist opening.

By virtue of the elastic back panel <NUM> forming the elastic side portions <NUM>, which are fastened towards the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM> when worn, the elastic side portions <NUM> may extend continuously over the leg openings which are formed when the article <NUM> is worn. Accordingly, the side portions <NUM> are able to adjust to the wearer's movements during use, and seams or the like may be avoided in the regions of the leg openings. This contributes to the comfort experienced by the wearer.

When the article <NUM> is in a closed condition, each elastic side portion <NUM> may extend from the second portion <NUM> to the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>, and the leg opening be formed by the longitudinal edge <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM> and the side portion <NUM>.

As in the illustrated example, the elastic side portions <NUM> may form tapered transverse ends <NUM> to contact and be fastened to said first portion <NUM> of said absorbent assembly <NUM> when said absorbent article <NUM> is worn.

In some variants, and as illustrated in <FIG>, the elastic back panel <NUM> may be provided on the garment facing side of the absorbent assembly <NUM>, i.e. so as to partly cover the back sheet <NUM>. The second edge <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM> may be arranged at a distance from the second edge <NUM> of the back panel <NUM> such that at least the waist fringe region Lw contacts the wearer. at least in the waist fringe region Lw, one side of the back panel <NUM> forms an outer surface of the article <NUM> towards the garment-facing side thereof, and another side of the back panel <NUM> forms an inner surface of the article <NUM> towards the body-facing side thereof.

In a non-illustrated variant, the elastic back panel <NUM> may be provided on the body facing side of the absorbent assembly <NUM>, i.e. so as to partly cover the top sheet <NUM>. In this case, substantially the entire elastic back panel <NUM> may contact the wearer when the article is worn.

In another non-illustrated variant, the first edge <NUM> of the elastic back panel <NUM> may be permanently attached to the second edge <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>. In this case, substantially the entire body facing side of the elastic back panel <NUM> will contact the wearer and substantially the entire garment facing side of the elastic back panel <NUM> will contact the garment when the article <NUM> is worn.

In all of the variants mentioned in the above, the elastic side portions <NUM> will contact the wearer when the article <NUM> is worn. Hence, a first side of the elastic side portions <NUM> may form an inner side of the article <NUM> towards the body facing side and a second side of the elastic side portions <NUM> may form an outer side of the article towards the garment facing side. Also, at least the leg fringe regions <NUM> contact the wearer when the article <NUM> is worn.

However, it will be understood that the outermost transverse portions of the elastic side portions <NUM>, such as the tapered ends <NUM> in the illustrated variant, will not contact the wearer when the article is worn, since the outermost transverse portions will be attached to the backsheet <NUM> of the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM> for closing the article <NUM>.

The back panel <NUM> may, when in a stretched out condition, have a transverse extension being at least <NUM> % of the transverse extension of the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>. With "a stretched out condition" is meant herein that the back panel <NUM> is stretched such that the panel material carrying the elastic threads is fully expanded, but not stretched per se. The transverse extension of the back panel <NUM> in a stretched out condition hence corresponds to the transverse extension of the panel material.

With the transverse extension of the back panel being at least <NUM>% of the transverse extension of the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly, the back panel <NUM> may form well over <NUM>% of the waist circumference of the diaper.

The transverse extension of the back panel may be at least <NUM>% of the transverse extension of the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly. For example, it may be at least <NUM> %.

As illustrated in <FIG>, each of the elastic side portions <NUM> may carry at least one fastener <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> may be arranged outside of the waist fringe region <NUM>, and, when a leg opening fringe region is present, also outside of the leg opening fringe region <NUM>. Accordingly, the fastener <NUM> will not interfere with the comfort and aesthetical effect provided by the waist fringe region <NUM> and/or the leg fringe regions <NUM>.

The fastener <NUM> may be configured to be fastened to a corresponding landing zone <NUM> arranged at the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent article.

The fastener <NUM> may comprise a fastening element configured to accomplish the fastening of the elastic side portion <NUM> to the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>, for example to a landing zone <NUM> thereof. The fastening element may comprise e.g. an adhesive, tape or a hook/loop or hook/hook material. The fastening element may form a reclosable fastening element, allowing for the article <NUM> to be closed to a closed state and then opened to assume an open state several times. This may facilitate for e.g. a caretaker inspecting whether the article is used or not.

The landing zone <NUM> on the first portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM> may for example have an extension along the transverse direction X allowing for adjusting the fastening of the fastener <NUM> to the needs of the wearer. Alternatively, the fastener <NUM> may be attached by fastening the fastening element immediately onto the topsheet <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>.

The possibility of adjusting the location of the fastening element on the first portion <NUM> when the article <NUM> is closed allows for adjustment of the size of the waist opening to the wearer, and hence contributes to increased comfort.

Turning back to the description of the elastic back panel <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the elastic threads <NUM> may be substantially uniformly spaced in the longitudinal direction over a major part of the longitudinal extension of the elastic back panel <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the elastic threads <NUM> may be substantially uniformly spaced in the longitudinal direction Y over a full longitudinal extension of the elastic back panel <NUM> apart from in the waist fringe region <NUM> and in the leg opening fringe region <NUM>.

This provides for the elastic back panel <NUM> having an even elasticity apart from in any fringe regions <NUM>, <NUM>, which are to be non-elastic.

Further, the option enables easy manufacture of the elastic back panel <NUM> from an elastic material comprising elastic threads as will now be described in relation to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrate a piece of starting material <NUM>' to eventually form an elastic side panel <NUM> in an absorbent article <NUM>. The piece of starting material <NUM>' may be a conventional elastic panel material comprising a panel material provided with elastic threads <NUM>'. The piece may initially be cut to form a rectangle having a length and width suitable for the elastic side panel. The piece <NUM>' extends in a longitudinal direction between a first edge <NUM>' and a second edge <NUM>'. The elastic threads <NUM>' extend in a transverse direction, and, in this example, the elastic threads <NUM>' are uniformly spaced over the longitudinal length of the piece <NUM>'. To form an elastic back panel piece suitable for forming a back panel <NUM> of an article as described in the above, transversetransverse, the elastic threads <NUM>' may be removed or disabled in a waist fringe region <NUM>' and/or a leg fringe region <NUM>' of the starting material <NUM>'. Hence, a convenient way of forming the waist fringe region <NUM>' and/or the leg fringe regions <NUM>' is to allow said region(s) to extend over the full length of the first and/or second edges <NUM>', <NUM>'. Also, as illustrated in <FIG>, the corners of the rectangle starting piece of <FIG> may be cut to form tapered outer transverse ends <NUM>' of the starting material <NUM>'. The taper may be made to facilitate attachment of the transverse ends <NUM>' which will form the outermost transversal ends of the elastic side portions <NUM> in the article <NUM>, to the front portion <NUM> of the absorbent assembly <NUM>.

In this manner, the piece of starting material <NUM>' may be simply and efficiently formed to be ready to be attached to the absorbent assembly <NUM> to form the absorbent article <NUM>.

In other, non-illustrated variants the elastic side panel <NUM> may comprise elastic and inelastic zones, wherein a plurality of elastic threads <NUM> are arranged in each elastic zone. For example, the elastic side panel <NUM> may comprise two or more elastic zones, such as two or three elastic zones.

Claim 1:
A disposable open-type absorbent hygiene article (<NUM>) having a longitudinal direction (y) and a transverse direction (x), perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (y), and comprising an absorbent assembly (<NUM>) and an elastic back panel (<NUM>),
said absorbent assembly (<NUM>) comprising a first portion (<NUM>) and a second portion (<NUM>), and opposing side edges (<NUM>) extending in said longitudinal direction (y) from said first portion (<NUM>) to said second portion (<NUM>),
said elastic back panel (<NUM>) extends in said longitudinal direction (y) between a first edge (<NUM>) and a second edge (<NUM>), the elastic back panel (<NUM>) is permanently joined to said second portion (<NUM>) of said absorbent assembly (<NUM>) so as to extend beyond said side edges (<NUM>) of said absorbent assembly (<NUM>) in said transverse direction (x) of said article (<NUM>), so as to form elastic side portions (<NUM>) configured to contact and be fastened to said first portion (<NUM>) of said absorbent assembly (<NUM>) when said absorbent article (<NUM>) is worn,
such that said second edge (<NUM>) of said elastic back panel (<NUM>) forms a continuous waist edge at the back and sides of the wearer when said article is worn, and
such that said first edge (<NUM>) of said elastic back panel (<NUM>) in said elastic side portions (<NUM>), together with side edges (<NUM>) of said absorbent assembly (<NUM>), form leg openings around the legs of the wearer when said article is worn,
wherein
said elastic back panel (<NUM>) comprises a panel material comprising elastic threads (<NUM>) extending in said transverse direction (x) and being spaced apart from each other in said longitudinal direction (y), said elastic threads (<NUM>) providing elasticity to said elastic back panel (<NUM>), and
said elastic back panel (<NUM>) comprises no or only disabled elastic threads (<NUM>) in a waist fringe region (<NUM>) extending over a longitudinal length (Lw) from said second edge (<NUM>) of said back panel (<NUM>)
towards said first edge (<NUM>) of said back panel (<NUM>), wherein said length (Lw) is at least <NUM>.