This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable garment,
subassemblies of the garment, and apparatus and methods for making the
garment and subassemblies. The garment is designed to hold a primary
absorbent sanitary pad. The garment may have elasticized leg and waist
openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user.
The garment provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that
leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The garment
includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending
into the body of the disposable garment, front and back, and preferably
over the leg elastics to trap, inside the garment, leakage from the
primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing
and bed linen. The apparatus and methods facilitate assembling leg
elastics and crotch elastics into the garment subassemblies while
assembling a series of garment subassemblies in a continuous web structure
at a constant, or relatively constant, continuous and efficient speed.