CA2265583A1

CA2265583A1 - Fastening device and method of use

Info

Publication number: CA2265583A1
Application number: CA002265583A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Patrick Jay Allen; Daniel Charles Peck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1996-09-11
Filing date: 1997-09-10
Publication date: 1998-03-19
Also published as: US5762645A; WO1998010728A1; JP3469248B2; DE69721286T2; EP0929281B1; JP2000502592A; AU4339197A; EP0929281A1; KR100323819B1; DE69721286D1; KR20000035981A

Abstract

A fastening system including a male component and a female component. The male component includes a base having a first fastening surface and an opposed first nonfastening surface. The first fastening surface has a plurality of engaging elements extending, each engaging element having a proximal end adjacent the first fastening surface, a stem extending outwardly from the proximal end and distal end spaced apart from the proximal end by the stem. The female component includes a backing having a second fastening surface and an opposed second nonfastening surface; and a receiving material joined to said second fastening surface. At least a portion of the second fastening surface includes a bonding element such that when the fastening system is in a closed, fastened configuration, at least a portion of the distal end of some of the engaging elements of the male component pass through the receiving material and are joined to the second fastening surface with the bonding element.

Description

ï»¿CA 02265583 l999-03- 10W0 98/10723 PCT/US97/V 159821FASTENING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USEFIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an improved fastening device including acombination of mechanical fastening elements and adhesive or cohesive means. Theinvention also relates to articles, especially disposable absorbent articles, for whichthe fasteners are particularly useful.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRefastenable fastening devices of the hook and loop type are currently usedin a great number of situations. Such refastenable fastening devices have beenparticularly useful in clothing, disposable absorbent articles, disposable diapers,disposable packages, cartons, and the like. Hook and loop type devices are oftenused when it is desirable to refastenably secure two or more articles or portions of anarticle. In certain applications, these refastenable fastening devices have replacedconventional buckles, zippers, buttons, snaps, tie fasteners, and sewing.One popular type of mechanical fastener currently in wide use which utilizesmechanical entanglement to create a refastenable fastener is sold under thetrademark "VELCRO". Some VELCRO fastening devices are described in greaterdetail in U.S. Patent 2,717,437, U.S. Patent 3,009,235, U.S. Patent 3,266,113, U.S.Patent 3,550,837, U.S. Patent 4,169,303, and U.S. Patent 4,984,339.VELCRO fasteners generally utilize two components, a male component anda female component. The male and female components are often referred to as thehook and loop components, respectively. The male component of VELCRO-typefastening devices generally contains a plurality of resilient, upstanding hook shapedelements and the female component generally consists of a fabric containing aplurality of upstanding loops. When the male component and the loop componentare pressed together in a face to face relationship to close the fastening device, thehooks entangle the loops such that the components will not easily disengage. Thefastener is opened by applying a gradual peeling force to bend the resilient bookssuch that they release the loops or to break the loops. In either case, it is desirablethat the male and female components have enough integrity to be fastened multipletimes.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONï»¿W0 98/ 10728CA 02265583 l999-03- 10PCT/US97l159822The present invention is directed to a fastening system including a malecomponent and a female component. The male component includes a base having afirst fastening surface and an opposed first nonfastening surface. The ï¬rst fasteningsurface has a plurality of engaging elements extending, each engaging elementhaving a proximal end adjacent the ï¬rst fastening surface, a stern extendingoutwardly from the proximal end and distal end spaced apart from the proximal endby the stem. The female component includes a backing having a second fasteningsurface and an opposed second nonfastening surface; and a receiving material joinedto said second fastening surface. At least a portion of the second fastening surfaceincludes a bonding element such that when the fastening system is in a closed,fastened configuration, at least a portion of the distal end of some of the engagingelements of the male component pass through the receiving material and are joinedto the second fastening surface with the bonding element.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, asillustrated in the accompanying ï¬gures of the drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to the same parts throughout the different ï¬gures wherein:Fig. l is a greatly enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of a malefastening component;Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the fastening systems ofthe present invention; 'Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged view of one embodiment of the fastening devicein a closed, fastened conï¬guration;Fig. 4 is a plan view of one embodiment of a disposable absorbent garmentincluding the fastening system of the present invention;Fig. 5 is a plan view of one embodiment of the fastening system of thepresent invention; andFig. 6 is a greatly enlarged view of one embodiment of an engaging elementof the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONOverall Characteristics of the Refastenable Fastening Deviceï»¿CA 02265583 1999-03-10W0 98/10723 PCT/US97Il59823A preferred embodiment of the refastenable fastening device of the presentinvention, fastening device 20, is shown in FIG. 2. The fastening device 20comprises a female component 22 and a complementary male component 24.The male portion of the device, more specifically, the hook fasteningcomponent (or simply "hook component") 24, preferably comprises a base 26 havinga first fastening surface 27 and an opposed first nonfastening surface 29. The base26 comprises a plurality of upstanding engaging elements 28 (such as "hooks")extending from the first surface 27. The term "hook", as used herein, is nonlimitingin the sense that the engaging elements 28 may be in any shape known in the art solong as they are adapted to engage the complimentary female component 22 of thepresent invention. The engaging elements 28 generally have distal ends 38(engaging means) which are disposed on top of the shanks, or stems 40, that extendfrom the first fastening surface 27 of the male component 24.The female portion of the device, more specifically, the female component22 preferably receives and entangles the engaging elements 28 of the malecomponent 24. The female component 22, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, preferablycomprises a receiving material 42 secured to a backing 34. The receiving material42 preferably comprises a nonwoven web 30 including a plurality of filaments (orfibers) 36 that entangle the engaging elements 28 of the male component 24. Thebacking 34 has a second fastening surface 31 and a second nonfastening surface 33opposed to the second fastening surface 31. At least a portion of the secondfastening surface 31 preferably includes or is coated with bonding element 80.A preferred embodiment of the fastening device 20 of the present inventionfunctions in the following manner. The fastening device 20 is closed when thefemale component 22 and the male component 24 are pressed faceâto-face againsteach other. In this configuration, at least some of the engaging elements 28 passthrough the receiving material 42 and become joined to the bonding element 80comprised in or disposed on the fastening surface 31 of the backing 34.The fastening device 20 is preferably unfastened or opened by peeling themale component 24 away from the female component 22 (or by peeling the femalecomponent 22 away from the male component 24). The peeling action breaks thebond between the engaging elements 28 and the bonding element 80 of the femalecomponent 22. The engaging elements 28 no longer joined with the bondingelement 80 are then able to disengage from the receiving material 42 such that themale component 24 is completely detached from the female component 22. (Whenhooks are used, the hooks may need to be separated from the receiving material 42by bending the receiving material 42 or the hooks, or by breaking the receivingï»¿CA 02265583 1999-03-l0W0 93/10723 PCT/US97/159824material 42 or the hooks.) In preferred embodiments, the fastening device 20 iscapable of being refastened and reopened in the manner herein described.The Male Fastening ComponentThe term "male component", as used herein, is used to designate the portionof the fastening device 20 having engaging elements 28, such as hooks or prongs. Inpreferred embodiments the male component 24 includes a base 26 and engagingelements 28 extending therefrom. The engaging elements 28 of the male component24 are preferably capable of passing through the receiving material 42 of the femalecomponent 22 and becoming joined with the bonding element 80 which is associatedwith the backing of the female component 22.l. The BaseIn preferred embodiments, the base 26 of the male component 24 has a ï¬rstfastening surface 27 and an opposed first nonfastening surface 29. When thefastening device is fastened, or closed, the first fastening surface 27 is preferable âdisposed toward the female component 22 and the first nonfastening surface 29 ispreferably disposed away from the female component 22.The base 26 may comprise any material known in the art which is capable ofsupporting the engaging elements 28 of the male component 24. For example, thebase 26 may comprise a thin ï¬lm having a uniform or varying thickness, slits, holes,deformations or the like, or a laminate of two or more ï¬lms with any of theaforementioned characteristics. Other suitable backing materials include, but are notlimited to polymeric ï¬lms, foams, woven webs, nonwoven webs, apertured ï¬lms,adhesives, cohesives, paper products and the like, or combinations of one or more ofsuch materials. Further, the backing 34 may be all or any portion of the topsheet,backsheet or any other element of the article in which it is being used.The base 26 may also be extensible, elastomeric or relatively inelastic. Asused herein, the term "extensible" refers to materials that can be made longer in atleast one dimension when a forces is applied. Relatively inelastic materialsgenerally maintain their original shape under normal forces or break apart beforebecoming elongated. The term "elastomeric" refers to materials that extend in atleast one direction when a force is applied and return to approximately their originaldimensions after the force is removed. Thus, elastomeric materials have anelongated orientation (when force is applied) and a relaxed orientation (when forceremoved).ï»¿CA 02265583 l999-03- 10WO 93/10723 PCT/U S97/ 159822. The Engaging ElementsThe engaging elements 28 are that portion of the male component 24 whichextend outwardly from second fastening surface 27 of the base 26. In preferredembodiments, the engaging elements 28 include a proximal end 39, a stem 40 and adistal end 38. The stem 40 extends outwardly from the proximal end 39 which isdisposed adjacent the base 26. The stem 40 supports the distal end 38 of theengaging element 28 such that the distal end 38 is spaced apart from the base 26.Although there may be little or no physical distinction between the stem 40 and thedistal end 38 of each engaging element 28, the distal end 38 is that portion of theengaging element 28 which generally passes through the receiving material 42 of thefemale component 22 and becomes joined with the bonding element 80 located in oron the second fastening surface of the backing 34.Although the male component 24 of the present invention may haveengaging elements 28 including conventional, commercially available hooks, themale component 24 is not limited to conventional hooks. In fact, suitable malecomponents 24 may include engaging elements 28 having any shape known in theart, such as "T's", mushrooms, prongs or any other shape which can penetrate thereceiving material 42 and become joined with the bonding element 80 associatedwith the second fastening surface 31 of the female component 22. One preferredmale component is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815 entitled "DisposableDiaper Having An Improved Fastening Device" which issued to Charles L. Scrippson July 11, 1989. Other particularly preferred male components and methods formaking the same are the prongs described in U.S. Patent 5,058,247 entitled"Mechanical Fastening Prong" issued on October 22, 1991; U.S. Patent 5,116,563entitled "Process for Producing a Mechanical Fastener" issued on May 26, 1992;U.S. Patent 5,180,534 entitled "Process of Manufacturing A RefastenableMechanical Fastening System", issued on January 19, 1993; U.S. Patent 5,230,851entitled "Process of Manufacturing a Refastenable Fastening System" issued toThomas on July 27, 1993; and U.S. Patent 5,540,673 entitled "RefastenableMechanical Fastening System" issued on July 30, 1996; each of which issued in thenames of Thomas et al. All of the above-identiï¬ed U.S. Patents are herebyincorporated by reference herein.One preferred embodiment of an engaging element 28 is shown in greatdetail in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the engaging element 28 is configured morelike a hair than a conventional hook or "T" shaped engaging element. In suchembodiments, it is preferred that the distal end 38 and the stem 40 of the engagingelement 28 are thin and very ï¬exible such that the engaging element 28 may easilyï»¿CA 02265583 1999-03-l0W0 93/10723 PCT/US97/159826bend as shown in Figure 3. These very ï¬exible hair-like engaging elements 28 arepreferably soft to the touch and thus, provide more of a cloth-like feel thanconventional hooks. Exemplary hair-like engaging elements 28 are arranged on thebase 26 in any pattern, regular or irregular, with an average density of between about400 and 3600 engaging elements 28 per square inch. Further, preferred hair-likeengaging elements 28 have a height H of between about .lmm and about 2mm, morepreferably between about .25m and about 1 mm, and a thickness in the stem 40and distal ends of less than about .5mm, more preferably less than about .2mm.The engaging elements 28 of the male component 24 may be manufacturedfrom a wide range of materials, including but not limited to thermoplastic materials,polymeric materials, adhesive materials, cohesive materials or combinations of theseand other materials. Further, the engaging elements 28 may include the sameiordifferent materials than those which make up any part of the base 26. Particularlypreferred materials for use in the male component 24 include nylon, polyester,polypropylene, adhesives, cohesives or any combination of these or other materials._In embodiments wherein it is desirable for the male component 24 to includea cohesive, such as when the bonding element 80 of the female component 22includes a cohesive, all or a part of the male component 24 may be made of or becovered with the cohesive. Likewise, the engaging elements 28 may be made fromor may be covered with a cohesive or any other material which helps to attain thedesired bond between the engaging elements 28 and the second fastening surface 31of the female component 24.The Female Fastening ComponentThe "female fastening component", "female component" or "landingcomponent", which is generally designated 22 herein, is that portion of the fasteningdevice 20 which receives and entangles the engaging elements 28 of thecomplementary male component 24. In one preferred embodiment, as shown inFigures 2 and 3, the female component 22 includes a backing 34 and a receivingmaterial 42 joined thereto.A The female component 22 may comprise any materials or combination ofmaterials that are known in the art. Further, the female component 22 may take onany configuration suitable for receiving the engaging members 28 of the malecomponent 24.l. The Backingï»¿CA 02265583 1999-03-l0W0 93/10723 PCT/US97/1159827The backing 34 of the present invention is that part of the female fasteningcomponent 22 to which the receiving material 42 is secured. The backing 34preferably has a second fastening surface 31 and an opposed second nonfasteningsurface 33. The second fastening surface 31 is preferably disposed such that it facesthe male component 24 when the fastening device 20 is in a closed, fastenedconfiguration, whereas the second nonfastening surface 33 of the backing ispreferably disposed such that it faces away from the male component 24 when thefastening device 20 is fastened. The backing 34 provides a supporting foundationfor the receiving material 42.The backing 34 of the present invention may take on a number of differentconï¬gurations. For example, the backing 34 may comprise a thin ï¬lm having auniform or varying thickness, slits, holes, deformations or the like, or a laminate oftwo or more ï¬lms with any of the aforementioned characteristics. Other suitablebacking materials include, but are not limited to polymeric ï¬lms, foams, wovenwebs, nonwoven webs, apertured ï¬lms, elastomeric materials, adhesives, cohesives,paper products and the like, or combinations of one or more of such materials. Thebacking 34 may also be extensible, elastomeric or relatively inelastic. Further, thebacking 34 may be all or any portion of the topsheet, backsheet or any other elementof the article in which it is being used.2. Bonding MemberIn preferred embodiments, the female fastening component 22 includes abonding element 80 integral with or applied to at least a portion of the ï¬rst fasteningsurface 31 of the backing 34. (As used herein, the term "integral" refers to elementswhich are not discontinuous with each other, but rather, form a single structurewhich carmot be easily separated without generally destroying the continuousstructure. An example of an integral structure would be a co-extruded ï¬lm withseparate elements integrally joined together.) The bonding element 80 provides ameans for releasably bonding portions of the engaging elements 28 of the malecomponent 24 with the backing 34 of the female component 22. The bondingelement 80 may also provide the means by which the receiving material 42 is joinedto the backing 34. In at least one embodiment, the bonding element 80 is providedon the receiving material 42 adjacent the backing 34.The bonding element 80 provides the fastening system 20 with peel forceresistance. (As used herein, "peel force resistance" is the maximum peel force in thez direction, the direction normal to the plane of the fastening mechanism, that theengaged fastener can withstand without disengaging. Peel force resistance isï»¿CA 02265583 l999-03- 10W0 98/10723 PCT/US97/ 159828measured as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815 entitled "Disposable DiaperHaving An Improved Fastening Device" which issued to Charles L. Scripps on July11, 1989, which is incorporated herein by reference.) The peel force resistanceprovided by the bonding element 80 is important when the male component 24 hasengaging elements 28 which are very ï¬exible or do not have means for securelyentangling with the receiving material 42. An example would be a thin, ï¬exible"hair" without a deï¬ned hook to entangle the ï¬laments or other structure of thereceiving material 42. (Examples of such hairs are shown in Figures 1 and 6.)Another example of an engaging element which may perform better with the addedpeel force resistance associated with the bonding element is a directional engagingelement which needs shear forces to keep it engaged. (Although the bondingelement 80 has been described as providing peel force resistance, it should beunderstood that most bonding means will also provide at least some shear forceresistance as well.)The bonding element 80 may be any bonding agent or means known in theart which will releasably bond the engaging elements 28 with the ï¬rst fasteningsurface 31 of the backing 34. (Alternative embodiments are contemplated, however,wherein the bonding element 80 provides a permanent bond.) For example, thebonding element 80 may include an adhesive, a cohesive or a combination ofadhesives and/or cohesives. (The term "adhesive" refers to materials which arecapable of bonding to another material by sticking, or adhering, to the surface of theother material. A "cohesive" is a material which generally only bonds to itself.) Theadhesives or cohesives may be pressure sensitive, heat activated, solvent activatedand/or light activated. (A "pressure sensitive adhesive" is an adhesive that isgenerally responsive to pressure, i.e., is capable of adhering under the inï¬uence ofpressure alone.) Examples of a suitable adhesives are marketed by the FindleyAdhesive Corporation of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin under the trade names H2206,HS2206 and 198-338. Suitable cohesives include H9078, H9054, 207-939, 211-939and 218-939 also available from Findley Adhesive Corporation. Alternativebonding means may include static electricity, magnetism and the like.The amount, type, and manner of applying the bonding means 80, such asthose described above, can be varied to increase or decrease the shear and peelfastening characteristics of the fastening device 20. Typical adhesive and cohesivecoatings are from about 0.30 mg/in? to about 1.0 g/inz. Also, more bond sites orcontact points between the engaging elements 28 and the adhesive, cohesive or otherbonding means can increase the shear and peel force resistance.ï»¿CA 02265583 l999-03- 10W0 98/10723 PCT/US97/159829In one preferred embodiment of a backing 34 with an integral bondingelement 80, the backing 34 comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive that has beenextruded in the form of a thin ï¬lm of about 0.03 mm. to about 1.0 mm. (about 0.001in. to about 0.04 in.). In other preferred embodiments however, a web of adhesive, asingle or multiple strands of adhesive, discrete regions of adhesive formed inrandom or regular patterns or any combination of the above may be integral with orjoined to the backing 34.3. Receiving MaterialThe female component 22 preferably comprises a receiving material 42 toreceive and entangle the engaging elements 28 of the male component 24. Thereceiving material 42 can be any material through which at least a portion of some ofthe engaging elements 28 can pass, such that they may be adhered or otherwisebonded to the second fastening surface 31 of the female component 22. Whenfastened in use, the receiving material 42 provides shear force resistance bypreventing movement of the male fastening component 24 in the x/y plane across thesurface of the female component 22. (As used herein, "shear force resistance" isdeï¬ned as the force in the x/y plane that the engaged fastening mechanism canwithstand without disengaging. Shear force resistance is measured as described inU.S. Patent No. 4,699,622 entitled "Disposable Diaper Having An Improved SideClosure" issued to John W. Toussant et al. on October 13, 1987, which isincorporated herein by reference.)The receiving material 42 may comprise woven or nonwoven webs,apertured ï¬lms, foams, loose ï¬bers or any other structure extending from or joinedto the second fastening surface 31 of the backing 34 having interstices through withthe distal ends 38 of the engaging elements 28 may pass. Especially preferredembodiments include woven or nonwoven webs.One example of the female fastening component 22 of the present inventionhaving a receiving material 42 including a nonwoven web 30 is shown in Figures 2and 3. Preferably portions of at least some of the ï¬laments 36 comprised in the web30 are joined to or extend from the second fastening surface 31 of the backing 34.The unjoined spaces between the ï¬laments 36 of the nonwoven web 30 provideinterstices through which the distal ends 38 of the engaging elements 28 can pass.In preferred embodiments, the receiving material 42 will be chosen to have ainterstices of proper size and number to allow a majority of the engaging elements28 to pass through the receiving member 42. Thus, the size, shape and location ofthe interstices is important as well as the loft associated with the receiving material.ï»¿CA 02265583 l999-03- 10wo 9s/10723 PCT/US97/1598210(As used herein, the "loft" associated with a material is deï¬ned as the measurementtaken in the "z" direction from the first fastening surface 31 of the backing 34 to thesurface of the receiving material which is located away from the backing 34.) Ingeneral, the loft of the receiving material should be less than the length of theengaging elements 28 such that at least a portion of the distal ends 38 of theengaging elements 28 can reach the second fastening surface 31 of the backing 34.In some instances, the loft may be greater than the length of the engaging elements28 until a usual force is exerted to compress the receiving material 42. An exampleof a common compression force which could be exerted in order to properly fastenthe fastening device 20 of the present invention is between about 1 gram and about500 grams.In alternative embodiments, it may be desirable for the receiving material 42to include an adhesive, cohesive or other bonding means. Such conï¬gurations mayprovide for better peel and/or shear resistance and may allow for reduced materialusage.Examples Of Uses Of The Refastenable Fastening DeviceThe refastenable fastening device 20 of the present invention is especiallyuseï¬il as a fastening device for absorbent and disposable absorbent articles. Thetenn "disposable absorbent article", as used herein, refers to articles which absorband contain body exudates. More particularly, the term refers to articles which areplaced against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain thevarious exudates discharged from the body. The term "disposable" means that sucharticles are intended to be discarded after a single use (i.e., they are not intended tobe laundered or otherwise be used). Examples of disposable absorbent articlesinclude diapers, incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, bandages, bibs and thelike.Figures 4 and 5 show exemplary disposable diapers 50 each comprising afastening system 72 including the female fastening component 22 of the presentinvention. The diaper 50 preferably comprises a crotch region 51 and two waistregions, a first waist region 56, and a second waist region 58. Preferably, at least thecrotch region 51 comprises a liquid pervious topsheet 64, a liquid imperviousbacksheet 68, and an absorbent core 66 joined between the topsheet 64 and thebacksheet 68. As used herein, the term "joined" refers to conï¬gurations whereby anelement is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to theother element, and configurations whereby an element is indirectly secured toï»¿CA 02265583 l999-03- 10W0 98/10728 PCT/US97/1598211another element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn areafï¬xed to the other element.As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the fastening system 72 of the diaper 50comprises the female fastening component 22 of the present invention, among otherelements. The fastening system 72 may take on a number of conï¬gurations andconstructions. In one preferred embodiment, the male component 24 is disposed ona tab 74 (Figure 4). As shown in Fig 4, a tab 74 may be provided adjacent eachlongitudinal edge 70 of the diaper 50, most preferably in the second waist region 58.In such embodiments, the female component 22 is preferably disposed in at least aportion of the first waist region 56. However, the positions of the components of thefastening device 20 of the present invention could be reversed so that the malecomponent 24 is located in the first waist region and the female component 22 islocated in the second waist region.If a tab 74 is used, any known conï¬gurations and/or constructions may beused. One preferred tape tab is a Y-shaped tape tab as described in detail in Pat. No. 3,848,594 entitled "Tape Fastening System for Disposable Diaper" whichissued to Kenneth B. Buell on Nov. 19, 1974 and which patent is incorporated hereinby reference.The landing member 44 of the fastening system 72 includes the femalecomponent 22 of the present invention and provides an attachment zone for the malecomponent 24. When the first device 72 is closed, it provides a secure side closurefor the diaper 50 to maintain the first waist region 56 and the second waist region 58in a closed, generally overlapping configuration. The landing member 44 may bedisposed anywhere on the diaper 50 so long as it may be engaged by the malecomponent 24 so as to provide the side closure. For example, the landing member44 may be disposed on the outside surface 76 in the second waist region 58, on theinside surface 78 in the first waist region 56, or on any other portion of the diaper 50which is disposed to engage the male component 24. In addition, the landingmember 44 may be a discrete separate element affixed to an element of the diaper 50(such as the topsheet 64 or the backsheet 68), or a unitary piece of material that isneither divided nor discontinuous with an element of the diaper 50 such as thetopsheet 64 or the backsheet 68. While the landing member 44 can assume varyingsizes and shapes in one preferred embodiment, it preferably comprises one or moreseparate patches of material that are larger in area than each male component 24 andwhich are secured to the diaper 50 to allow for a maximum fit adjustment in at leastthe waist region of the wearer. One preferred embodiment of the diaper 50,ï»¿CA 02265583 1999-03-l0wo 93/10723 PCTIU S97/ 1598212illustrated in Fig. 4, has a rectangular-shaped landing member 44 secured to theoutside surface 76 of the diaper 50 in the front waist region 56.Several examples of well known diaper conï¬gurations to which the presentinvention can be readily adapted are described in U.S. Patents 5,151,092 and5,221,274 both entitled "Absorbent Article With Dynamic Elastic Waist FeatureHaving A Predisposed Flexural Hinge", issued to Kenneth B. Buell, et al. onSeptember 29, 1992 and June 22, 1993, respectively; co-pending U.S. PatentApplication Serial No. 08/ 155,048 entitled "Absorbent Article With Multi-Directional Extensible Side Panels", ï¬led November 19, 1993. Each of the abovementioned patents and co-pending patent applications are hereby incorporated byreference herein. It should be understood, however, that the fastening device 20 ofthe present invention is not limited to use with any speciï¬c diaper structure orconï¬guration.In another preferred embodiment, the landing member 44 of the fasteningsystem 72, including the female component 24, is disposed across the majority of theï¬rst waist region 56 (Figure 5). In yet other embodiments, the landing member 44comprises most or all of the outer surface 76 of at least the ï¬rst waist region 56 andthe crotch region 51, and/or the second waist region 58. This provides for numerousattachment conï¬gurations and thus, better ï¬t for a wide range of wearers.The landing member 44 may be disposed in said second waist region 58 inorder to provide greater fastening alternatives or to allow for attachment in adisposal conï¬guration.In use, the diaper 50 is applied to the wearer by positioning the ï¬rst waistregion 56 under the wearer's back and drawing the remainder of the diaper 50between the legs of the wearer so that the second waist region 58 is positioned acrossthe front of the wearer. The male component 24 is then placed in face-to-facerelationship with the landing member 44 so at least some of the engaging elements28 will pass through the receiving material 42 and become releasably bonded to thefastening surface 31 of the female component 22 by means of the adhesive, cohesiveor other releasable bonding means.While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustratedand described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various otherchanges and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all suchchanges and modiï¬cations that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A fastening system having an open, unfastened configuration and a closed, fastened configuration, the fastening system comprising:
a male component including a base having a first fastening surface and an opposed first nonfastening surface; said first fastening surface having a plurality of engaging elements extending therefrom; said engaging elements each having a proximal end adjacent said first fastening surface, a stem extending outwardly from said proximal end and distal end spaced apart from said proximal end by said stem; and a female component including a barking having a second fastening surface and an opposed second nonfastening surface; and a receiving material joined to said second fastening surface;
the fastening system characterized in that at least a portion of said second fastening surface including a bonding element such that when the fastening system is in said closed, fastened configuration, at least a portion of said distal end of some of said engaging elements of said male component pass through said receiving material and are joined to said second fastening surface with said bonding element.

2. An absorbent article having a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region located between said front waist region and said rear waist region, the absorbent article comprising;
a chassis including a topsheet, a backsheet having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of said backsheet being joined with said topsheet, and an absorbent core having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges and a pair of opposed end edges;
an ear panel having a proximal edge and a distal edge, said proximal edge disposed adjacent said longitudinal edge of said absorbent core and said distal edge extending laterally outwardly from said proximal edge;
and a closure system including a male component located on said ear panel and a female component located on said outer surface of said backsheet in at least said front waist region, said closure system including the fastening system of Claim 1.

3. The absorbent article of Claim 2 wherein said female component includes a discrete patch joined with said outer surface of said backsheet in at least said front waist region.

4. The absorbent article of Claims 2 or 3 wherein said female component is integral with said backsheet.

5. The absorbent article of Claims 2-4 wherein said female component is disposedin at least a portion of said front waist region and at least a portion of said rear waist region to provide a means for disposal.

6. The absorbent article of Claim 11 wherein said receiving material is selected from the following group: apertured film, woven or nonwoven web, foam and scrim.

7. The absorbent article of Claim 11 wherein said engaging members include hook-like elements or hair-like elements.

8. The absorbent article of Claim 11 wherein said bonding element comprises an adhesive, a cohesive or both.

9. A method of fastening a fastening device having a male component and a female component, the method comprising the steps of a) providing a male fastening component including i) a base having a first fastening surface and a first nonfastening surface, and ii) at least one engaging element extending from said base, said engaging element including a proximal end adjacent said first fastening surface of said base, a stem extending outwardly from said proximal end and a distal end spaced apart from said proximal end by said stem;
(b) providing a female fastening component including (i) a backing having a second fastening surface and a second nonfastening surface, said second fastening surface including a bonding element; and (ii) a receiving material engageable with said male component joined with said second fastening surface of said backing;
the method characterized by (c) contacting said male fastening component to said female fastening component such that the distal ends of at least some of said engaging elements pass through said receiving material and become releasably joined with said bonding element of said female fastening component.