  In both the Gardner equation and its extensions, the non-convex convection
bounds the range of solitons / compactons velocities beyond which they dissolve
and kink/anti-kink form. Close to solitons barrier we unfold a narrow strip of
velocities where solitons shape undergoes a structural change and rather than
grow with velocity, their top flattens and they widen rapidly; $\epsilon ^2 <<
1$ change in velocity causes their width to expand ln $(1/ \epsilon)$. To a
very good approximation these solitary waves, referred to as flatons, may be
viewed as made of a kink and anti-kink placed at an arbitrary distance from
each other. Like ordinary solitons, once flatons form they are very robust. A
multi-dimensional extension of the Gardner equation reveals that spherical
flatons are as prevalent and in many cases every admissible velocity supports
an entire sequence of multi-nodal flatons.
