Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
10426Q7
B~CKGROU~D 0~ THE INVENTION
.
~ le present invention relates to absorbent articles, and more
particularly to disposable diapers.
During recent years diapers of the disposable type have come into
widespread use. Although disposable diapers have attained popularity ~itll
parents due to convenience, unfavorable comments have been made about leakage
from the diapers during use and their fit on the infant. In particular, the
ends of the diaper are normally susceptible to leakage due, in part, to a
loose fit of the diaper about the infant.
Many of the present disposable diapers have tape strips located
adjacent one end of the diapers. The diapers are normally placed on the in-
` fant by laying the infant on the diaper with the strip bearing part of the
diaper being located beneath the back waistline of the infant. After removal
of release sheets from the tape strips, attachment portions of the strips are
brought around the infant's legs, and anchored to the front portion of the
diaper. However, in order to obtain a tight fit of the diaper and prevent
leakage about the infant's legs, the attachment portions of the strips are
frequently secured at a location on the front portion of the diaper which is
spaced somewhat from the front end edge or waistline of the diaper.
Since the permanently anchored portions of the strips are usually
located adjacent the back end edge of the diaper, after place~ent of the
diaper the tape strips apply tension to the back waistline of the diaper and
thus may maintain a relatively close fit of the diaper against the back waist-
line of the infant. In contrast, the attachment portions of the strips are
often spaced from the front waistline of the diaper, and significant tension
is not applied by the strips against the diaper front waistline. The front
waistline of the diaper is thus permitted to gap away from the infant, in-
creasin~ the possibility of urine leakage in this area of the diaper, in spite
that the front waistline of the diaper is normally more susceptible to urine
~b
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leakage than the back waistline, since it is closer to the site
of urine deposition on the diaper. Also, infants are generally
inclined to spend more time on their stomachs than their backs,
causing gravity to drive urine in the diaper with greatcr fre-
quency toward the front waistline. Thus, the diaper ends are
nor~ally susceptible to leakage where it should most be prevented.
SU~RY OF THE INVENTION
_
The invention provides a disposable diaper, comprising:
an absorbent pad assembly having a front surface, a back surface,
and a pair of waistline portions; and selectively engageable
elastic means extending from opposed sides of the waistline portion
completely around the back surface of the other waistline portion
between side margins of one waistline portion to obtain a snug fit
of the diaper about an infant, said elastic means being connectable
intermediate said side margins.
Thus, the elastic means applies tension to the waistline
portions and provides a snug fit of the diaper around the waistline
of the infant. The constrained waistline portions reduce leakage
from an end of the diaper and provide a comfortable fit of the diaper
on the infant.
From another aspect, the invention provides a tape fastener
for a diaper comprising, tape means having first and second end por-
tions, said first end portion being secured to a first panel the
diaper and said second end portion being releasably attached to a
back surface of the first end portion, said second end portion being
attachable to a surface of a second panel of the diaper after re-
moval from the first end portion to secure the two panels of the
diaper about an infant and means for connecting said first and second
end portions.
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The invention also provides a tape fastener for a diaper
having first and second waist-panels comprising, a tape means having
first and second relatively inelastic end portions, said first end
portion being fixedly secured to the diaper adjacent a first waist
panel and said second end portion being attachable to a surface of
said second waist panel of the diaper to secure the diaper about
an infant, said tape means having an elastic loop extending between
said first and second end portions.
Further features will become more fully apparent in the
following description of the embodiments of this invention and from
the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary front plan view of one embodi-
ment of the diaper of the present invention;
~ igure 2 is a perspective view of the diaper of Figure 1
with elastic means in the diaper being secured after placement of
the diaper;
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Fig. 3 is a fragmentary fro~t plan vie~ o~ ano~h~r
embodiment of the diaper of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front plan view of anothe~
embodiment o~ the diaper of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of elastic means in
the diaper of Fig. 4 as it is being secured together;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tape
fastener of the present invention for use on a diaper;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substanti-
ally as indicated along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and
Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the tape
fastener of Fig. 6 as utilized to secure the diaper about an
infant.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a dis-
posable diaper generally designated 20 having an absorbent pad
assembly 22. The pad assembly has a fluid impervious backing
sheet 24 defining a back surface 26 of the pad assembly, a fluid
pervious cover sheet 28 defining a substantial portion of a front
surface 30 of the pad assembly, an absorbent pad 32 intermediate
the backing and cover sheets 24 and 28, a pair of side edges 34a
and 34b, and a pair of end edges 36a and 36b connecting the side
edges 34a and b. T~e diaper or pad assembly also has a pair of
waistline portion~ 38A and 38b adjacent the end edges 36a and b,
and a crotch portion 40 intermediate the waistline portions 38a
and b. As shown in Fig. 1, the pad assembly 22 may be folded
into a box-pleat configuration, if desired, along a plurality of
longitudinally extending folds, with the pleated pad assembly
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defining a longitudinally extending central panel 42, a pair o~
firQt panels 44a and 44b extending from and overlying the front
surface 30 of the central panel 42, and a pair of outermost
- panels 46a and 46b extending from and overlying the first panels
44a and b.
The diaper of Figs. 1 and 2 has elastic band means 48
in the form of an elongated elastic loop 50, which may be made of
any suitable material, such as rubber. Although the band means
48 will be described primarily as an elastic loop, it will be
understood that any suitable form of an elastic means may be used,
such as an elongated elastic strip.
The loop 50 has one end 52 secured to the waistline
portion 38a adjacent the side edge 34b by a tape strip 54 which
passes through the one end 52 of the loop 50, with the tape strip
54 being secured to the surfaces of the diaper adjacent the side
edge to retain the end of the loop in place. The loop 50 also
has a remote free end 56, and courses of the loop may be secured
together intermediate the ends of the loop by any suitable means,
if desired. A tape strip 58 is attached to the waistline portion
38a adjacent the other side edge 34a, the tape strip 58 having a
securement portion 60 extending past the side edge 34a which is
releasably covered by a release sheet 62. Separate tape strips
64a and 64b may also be secured to the waistline portion 38a
adjacent the opposed side edges 34a and b, with securement gor-
tions 66a and 66b extending past the side edges 34a and b, respec-
tively, the securement portions being releasably covered by
release sheets 68a and 68b. The tape strips 64a and b are pref-
erably located adjacent the tape strips 58 and 54, respectively.
In u~e, the diaper 20 is unfolded and placed on the
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infant, with the diaper generally forming the con~igura~ion
illustrated in Fig. 2. The release sheets 68a and b are removed
from the securement portions 66a and b of the tape strips 64a and
b, and the securement portions 66a and b are then secured to the
back surface 26 of the waistline portion 38b to retain the diaper
in place on the infant. Next, the release sheet 62 is removed
from the securement portion 60 of the tape strip 58, the elastic
loop 50 is expanded around the back surface of the waistline por-
tion 38b, and the securement portion 60 is passed through the
free end 56 of the loop 50. The securement portion may then be
attached to inner portions of the tape strip 58 or the diaper
itself, such that the free end 56 of the loop is captured by the
securement portion 60 of the tape strip 58. Thus, the expanded
elastic loop 50 is retained in place by the strips 54 and 58
around the back surface 26 of the waistline portion 38b, and the
loop 50 applies tension to the waistline portions of the diaper.
It is apparent that the amount of tension applied by the elastic
loop 50 may be controlled by suitable adjustment of the secure-
ment portion 60 of the tape strip 58 when it is passed through
the free end 56 of the elastic loop and secured in place. More-
over, the length of the elastic loop 50 may be selected according
to the general size of infants who will wear the particular
diaper.
It is apparent that the tension applied by the band
means or loop 50 causes a snug fit of the waistline portions
against the infant's skin to provide added comfort to the infant.
Additionally, the elastic or band means 48 prevents gapping away
of the waistline portion 38b from the infant's skin and minimizes
leaka~e from the end of the diaper.
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Another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention
is illustrated in Figure 3, in which like reference numerals desig-
nate like parts. In this embodiment, which is si~;lar in most
respects to the diaper described in connection with Figures 1 and
2, the tape strips 64a and b have been omitted, and the band means
48 itself is utilized to retain the diaper in place on the infant
by securement of the tape strip 58 through the free end 56 of the
elastic loop 50, as previously described. Thus, the expanded band
means 48 in the placed diaper retains the waistline portions of
the diaper in their proper location on the infant. As shown, the
width of the tape strips 54 and 58 may be wider then the side-by-
side tape strips illustrated in Figuresl and 2, if desired.
Another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention
is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, in which like reference numerals
designate like parts. As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment one
end 52 of the elastic loop 50 is secured to the waistline portion
38a adjacent the side edge 34b by a tape strip 54, as previously
described. However, in this embodiment the band means 48 has a second
loop 50' having one end 52' secured to the waistline portion 38a
adjacent the other side edge 34a by a tape strip 54', the loop 50'
having a remote free end 56'. me first loop 50 has means 70 for
securing the free end 56 of the loop 50 to free end 56' of the loop 50'
me securing means 70 may be any suitable structure, such as the
tape strip 72 shown. The tape strip 72 has one end 74 secured to
the free end 56 of the loop 50, and an attachment end 76 having ad-
hesive releasably covered by a release sheet 78. Alternatively, the
release sheet 78 may be omitted, and the attachment end 76 may be
brought around the back
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surface of the attachment end 76 through the free end 56 of the
loop 50, such that the attachment end 76 may be releasably
attached to the back surface of the tape strip 72 itself.
During placement of the diaper, the release sheet 78 is
removed from the attachment end 76 of the tape strip 72, and the
attachment end 76 is passed through the free end 56' of the loop
50', as shown in Fig. 5. The outer end 79 of the attachment end
76 may be secured to inner portions of the tape strip 72 in order
to secure the free ends 56 and 56' together and retain the loops
50 and 50' around the back surface 26 of the waistline portion
38b. The loops 50 and 50' operate as previously described to
apply tension to the waistline portions of the diaper, and retain
the diaper in place, although additional tape strips, previously
described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, may be added to the
diaper of Figs. 4 and 5 to assist in retaining the diaper in place
on the infant. It is apparent that the tension applied by the
loops 50 and 50' may be adjusted by the tape strip 72 as the free
ends 56 and 56' are secured together, ~ince the free end 56' may
be brought into the desired proximity of the free end 56' by the
tape strip.
Another embodiment of the diaper of the present inven-
tion is illustrated in Figs. 6-8, in which like reference numerals
designate like parts. In this embodiment, a tape fastener or
tape means generally deslgnated 80 is shown having first and sec-
ond relatively inelastic end portions 82 and 84, respectively,such as sections of pre~sure-sensitive tape, and elastic band
mean~ 86 extending between the end portions 82 and 84. The first
end portion 82 of the tape means 80 is secured to the back sur-
face 26 of the diaper adjacent the side edges 34a and b, and the
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second end portion 84 is releasably attached to the back sùrface
88 of the first end portion 82. The backing of the first tape
section 82 is made of material which provides excellent release
characteristics for removal of the second tape section 84. For
example, the first tape section 82 may have a backing of polyethy-
lene, or a paper backing having a silicon release coating.
The elastic band means 86 may comprise an elastic loop
90 having opposed ends retained by the end portions 82 and 84.
Thus, one end 92 of the first end portion 82 may pass through the
loop 90 adjacent the side edges of the diaper and capture a sec-
tion of the loop 90 in the end portion 82. Similarly, an opposed
end of the loop 90 may be captured and retained by one end 94 of
the second end portion 84 which passes through the loop 90. The
second end portion 84 of the tape means 80 may be releasably
attached to the back surface 88 of the first end portion 82 with
the one end 94 of the second end portion 84 being located remote
the one end 92 of the first end portion 82, as shown.
In use, during placement of the diaper on an infant the
second end portion 84 of the tape fastener 80 is removed from the
back surface 88 of the first end portion 82, and the second end
portion 84 of the tape fastener is brought into position and
secured against the back surface of the other waistline portion
38b with the band means 86 expanded, as shown in Fig. 8. Thus,
the tape means or fastener 80 applies tension to the waistline
portions to obtain a snug and comfortable fit of the diaper
about the infant, and reduce leakage of the diaper at its ends.
Moreover, as described, the second end portion 84 of the tape
fastener 80 is initially releasabl~ attached to the first end
portion 82 of the fastener prior to placement of the diaper, thus
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eliminating the necessity for a separate release sheet which must
otherwise be discarded after palcement of the diaper on the infant.
The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness
of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be
understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those
skilled in the art.
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