Elastic Diaper Element:

Christoph Willing, Vreden, Germany; Paul Waller, Rosenheim, Germany; Michael Scherer, Flintsbach im Inn, Germany; and Reinhard Epping, Gronau-Epe, Germany.
Assigned to RKW SE, Mannheim, Germany.

Filed: 1/22/20
Issued: 8/5/25

A stretchable diaper element, comprising an extruded elastic layer (1); a layer (2) made of nonwoven material; the elastic layer has spaced-apart connecting regions (5) between the elastic layer (1) and the layer (2) made of the nonwoven material; the layer (2) made of the nonwoven material is corrugated in a non-stretched state of the diaper element to form regions (6) acting as reserve that are configured to enable stretching; the connecting regions (5) comprise zones (8) in which there is a form-fitting bond of material of the layer (2) made of the nonwoven material, including fibers of the nonwoven material that are not melted that are pressed into and pierce through a surface of the extruded elastic layer (1) when the extruded elastic layer (1) is in a molten state, and the fibers of the nonwoven material are held in place by a form-fitting bond with the extruded elastic layer (2) after solidification; and the fibers of the layer (2) made of the nonwoven material are in at least one of oriented or stretched form in the connecting regions (5).