Method for the flat manufacture of three-dimensional articles, particularly absorbent, disposable articles, and an article produced in accordance with the method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG.
1 illustrates the step in the manufacture of an inventive diaper prior to applying a liquid-permeable casing layer.
As shown in the Figure, the absorbent pad of the diaper is comprised of a number of elongated, narrow flat bodies 1.
sub.
a -1.
sub.
g made of an absorbent material, for instance cellulose fluff, which may be admixed with so-called superabsorbents and/or melt fibres.
In the case of the FIG.
1 embodiment, the bodies 1.
sub.
a -1.
sub.
g have been placed, in a first manufacturing step, on a web of liquid-impermeable material 2 in the pattern illustrated in FIG.
1, said liquid-impermeable material forming an outer casing layer or backing sheet of the finished article.
A plurality of transverse, stretched elastic threads 3 have then been placed on the bodies 1.
sub.
a -1.
sub.
g in a second manufacturing step.
The stage of manufacture illustrated in FIG.
1 has now been reached.
In order to obtain a finished diaper from the configuration illustrated in FIG.
1, all that remains is to apply a web of liquid-permeable material 4 (not shown in FIG.
1) such as to form an inner casing layer of the finished article, and to secure this material web to the material web 2 in regions lying outside the bodies 1.
sub.
a -1.
sub.
g, and attach fastener tabs 5 (not shown in FIG.
1) and then cut the finished article from the composite web.
The material webs are preferably joined together with the aid of glue coated on one or on both of said webs over the whole of its surface or over parts thereof.
When the article is cut from the composite web, the elastic threads 3 will contract in those parts which lie outside the bodies 1.
sub.
a -1.
sub.
g.
No appreciable contraction of the elastic threads will take place in those parts of the threads which extend over the bodies 1.
sub.
a -1.
sub.
g, owing to the stiffness or rigidity of these bodies.
Thus, those parts of the mutually joined, thin casing layers 2, 4 located between the bodies 1.
sub.
a -1.
sub.
g will be folded or pleated between said bodies and the side surfaces of said bodies will be moved towards one another