ABSORBENT ARTICLES; DISPOSABLE DIAPER WITH ELASTIC ELEMENTS MOUNTED, BUT NOT FIXED WITHIN HOSE-LIKE FOLDS TO FORM AN EDGE-LEAKAGE BARRIER WHEN THE ARTICLE IS WORN

摘要

An absorbent article for one-time use only, such as a disposable diaper, incontinence guard, sanitary napkin, panty protector or the like, includes at least one hose-like fold (20, 20', 21, 21') which extends in the transverse and/or longitudinal direction of the article. Mounted in the fold (20, 20', 21, 21') are mutually spaced elastic elements (32, 32', 33, 33') which are fastened to respective end parts (27, 27', 28, 28') of the fold on respective sides of fold lines (24, 25) which depart from the upper casing layer (1) of the article, although these elastic elements (32, 32', 33, 33') are freely moveable in the intermediate part (29, 29') of the fold. The end-parts (27, 27', 28, 28') of the fold are joined to the upper casing layer (1) in a flat, permanently down-pressed state, whereas the intermediate fold part (29, 29') is forcibly lifted vertically by the action of the elastic elements (32, 32', 33, 33') as the article is fitted to the wearer and consequently curved, so as to form leakage barriers along the side edges and/or the end edges (4-7) of the article.