DISPOSABLE ELASTICIZED PANTY AND METHOD

CULOTTE JETABLE

English Abstract

DISPOSABLE ELASTICIZED PANTY AND METHOD
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A disposable panty and method of making the disposable
panty wherein two panels are positioned so that four elasticized
strips are bonded to the panels parallel each other along edges
of said panels. An absorbent pad is disposed between said panels.
The panels are folded together and the side edges bonded with
two elasticized strips forming a waistband, the other strips in
conjunction with said absorbent pad forming leg seals.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A disposable panty comprising separate front and back panels,
said panels having end edges interconnecting top edges and bottom edges,
the crotch portions of said bottom edges being spaced from each other,
an absorbent pad having end portions disposed on said panels and a
central portion extending between the spaced crotch portions of said
bottom edges for forming the crotch, said panels each having elasticized
strips along the top edges thereof forming the panty waistband, said
panels being attached to each other at said side edges, each of said
panels having elasticized strips along said bottom edges forming crotch
seals in cooperation with said absorbent pad.
2. A disposable panty according to claim 1, wherein said elasticized
strips are adhesively bonded to said panels.
3. A disposable panty according to claim 1, wherein said panels are
bonded together at said side edges.
4. A disposable panty according to claim 1, wherein said absorbent
pad overlies said elasticized strips along said spaced portions of said
bottom edges and is adhesively bonded to said panels.
5. A disposable panty according to claim 1, wherein said absorbent
pad includes a backing sheet adjacent said panels, absorbent material on
said backing sheet and non-woven material overlying said absorbent
material.
6. A process of making a disposable panty comprising the steps of
disposing a pair of panty panels in side by side spaced relationship to
each other, bonding four elasticized strips in parallel relationship to
each other along parallel top and bottom edges of said panels, disposing
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an absorbent pad transverse to said elasticized strips and having portion
overlying said panels with a central portion extending between said
panels, folding one panel into overlying relationship to the other and
bonding together the side edges transverse to said elasticized strips.
7. A process of making a disposable panty according to claim 6,
wherein said side edges are heat sealed to each other.
8. A process of making a disposable panty according to claim 6,
wherein said side edges are adhesively secured to each other.
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Description

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1. ~ACKGROUND OF THE INVE~TION
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FI ELD OF THE IMVENTI ~)N
This invention relates to an elasticized disposable
~anty and to a method of makiny an elasticized disposable panty.
DESC~ /r In~ r~lo ~
In the past elasticized dia~ers have been developed
for use only with contoured shaped configurations such as hour-
glass shape such as that disclosed in the United States Patent
to Buell, No. 3,860,003, issued January 14, 1975, for "Contract-
able Side Portions for Disposable Diaper" wherein elastic strips
are secured to the crotch portions of the diaper to provide
elasticized crotch seals for securement over the legs of the infant
to prevent loss of fluid from the interior of the diaper along the
legs of the infant.
Elasticized waistbands are common in panties but are
not easily capable of beinq mass produced for use in elasticized
diapers because of manufacturiny difficulties~ Eurther, contoured
dia~ers are difficult and expensive to manufacture.
Therefore specialized and complicated production equip-
ment is necessitated to contour a diaper and to provide an elas-
ticized waistband for the diaper. Further, diapers so manufactured
still require tape fasteners or other securin~ devices for holding
;the diaper on the infant or incontinent adult, and require time
- and technique to assure even a reasonable secure fit.
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SUMMARY OF TIIE INVFI~TION
The present invention overcom~s the disadvantages of prior
elasticized diapers by overcoming manufacturing difficulties, eliminating
fastening problems providing for bo-th waist and leg seals, and providing
for an inexpensive disposable elasticized panty which does not require
elaborate cutting for contouring, and which is comfor-table to the wearer.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a disposable panty comprising separate front and back panels,
said panels having end edges interconnecting top edges and bo-ttom edges,
the crotch portions of said bottom edges being spaced from each other,
an absorbent pad having end portions disposed on said panels and a
central portion extending between the spaced crotch portions of said
bottom edges for forming the crotch, said panels each having elasticized
strips along the top edges thereof forming the panty waistband, said
panels being attached to each other at said side edges, each of said
panels having elasticized strips along said bottom edges forming crotch
seals in cooperation with said ahsorbent pad.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a process of making a disposable panty comprising the steps of
disposing a pair of panty panels in side by side spaced relationship to
each other, honding four elasticized strips in paralle] relationship
to each other along parallel top and bottom edges of said panels, dis-
posing an absorbent pad transverse to said elasticized strips and having
portion overlying said panels with a central portion extending between
said panels, folding one panel into overlying relationship to the other
and bonding together the side edges transverse to said elasticized strips.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of panels with parts broken away
for a clear showing of the disposable panty during an intermediate stage
of manufacture thereof;
Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the completed panty, and
~'ig. 3 is a perspective view of the elasticized disposable panty.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE I~_NTIO~
With con-tinuing reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein like reference numerals designate si~ilar parts through-
out the various views, reEerence numeral ]0 generally designates
I in Fig. 1 a panty in an intermediate stage of manufacture.
" l'he panty lO includes a pair of panels 12 and 14
preferably formed of a non-woven hydrophobic material formed of
polyethylene and/or polypropylene fibers. In an alternate em-
bodiment the panels can be made from a fluid impervious sheet
material such as polyethylene or polypropylene film. The panels
12 and 14 are arranged parallel to each other so that the adjacent
edges 16, 18 will be on the bottom and spaced edges 20, 22
will be at the top of the panty after manufacture.
Elasticized strips 24 and 26 are preferably adhesively
' bonded to the panels 12 and 14 adjacent the edges 20 and 22 and
~extend the full length of the panel to the side edges 30, 32 and
34, 36 respectively.
Elasticized strips 38 and 40 are bonded preferably by
` adhesive to the panels 12 and 14 adjacen-t the edges 16 and 18.
An absorbent pad 50 having a backing shee-t ~2 of water
impervious material such as a plastic Eilm of polyethylene or
~Ipolypropylene~ a wood fluff absorbent layer 54, and a top sheet
j356 of non~woven fiber forming a hydrophobic body contacting
sheet from fibers of polyethylene or polypropylene is provided.
The absorbent pad 50 is disposed transverse to the panels 12 and
14 and extends therebetween and is preferably bonded to the
panels 12 and 14. The pad 50 overlies the elastici~ed strips 38, 40.
Thereater, one of the panels 12 or 14 is folded into
overlying position with respect to the other panel folding the
absorbent pad 50 so that side edges 30 and 34 and edges 32 and
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36 may be respectively bonded together forming the sides of the
panty. The elasticized strips 24 and 26 form a waistband.
Tn conjunction with pad 50 leg openings are provided with
elasticiæed seals formed by strips 38 and 40.
The panels 12 and 14 can be separate or unitary.
If unitary the panels are slitted to form leg openings either
~prior to folding or simultaneously with the sealing of the side
edges either by heat sealinq or adhesive bondinq.
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