Gabriele Sablone, Pescara, Italy. Assigned to Fameccanica.Data S.P.A., Pescara, Italy.

Filed: 2/8/11
Issued: 4/5/16

A method of producing a sanitary article wearable as pants, the article including: a central body to be arranged around the crotch portion of the user, said central body extending in a longitudinal direction between two opposed ends, and at least one pair of side panels connected to one of the ends of said central body and extending from opposite sides of said central body to define at least a portion of a waist line of the article, the side panels of said at least one pair having each a proximal edge connected to said central body and a distal edge carrying closure formations for the article at its waist line, wherein the method comprises: producing said central body, producing said at least one pair of side panels, and connecting the side panels of said at least one pair of side panels to said central body with said side panels in a folded condition, wherein the method also comprises: i) producing the side panels, of said at least one pair in a folded condition by providing: an inner portion to connect to said central body at said proximal edge, and an outer portion carrying a closure means at said distal edge said inner portion and said outer portion being connectable to each other at an intermediate region of the respective side panels, ii) folding over one of said inner portion and said outer portion to form an end pleat at said intermediate region, iii) applying said outer portion against said inner portion by connecting them via said end pleat at said intermediate region, and iv) connecting said inner portion to said central body.