Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Resealable Adhesive Tab Fastener
Background of the Invention
This invention relates to a resealable adhesive tab
fastener means suitable or use on a disposable diaper.
Disposable diapers provide substantial advantages and
convenience over diapers intended to be laundered and
reused, particularly when they are used away from home.
In recent years many different disposable diapers have
been proposed and some have been successful in the
marketplace. A typical disposable diaper structure
comprises a moisture-re..aining absorbent batt of high
liquid holding capaci^ty enclosed between a moisture-
permeable soft facing sheet and a moisture-impervious
backing sheet, generally made of a plastic film. Typical
disposable diaper structures are shown in U. S. Patent
3,612~055 to Mesek et al and 3,938,522 to Repke.
As may be seen from the above cited patents, it is
desirable to obviate the problems thatare inherent in
closure systems which utilize extraneous fasteners
such as safety pins, snaps and zippers. To this end,
adhesive closures have presented acceptable solu-tions
which eliminate the need for pins.
Although tape tab fastening means have become a suitable
substitute for extraneous fasteners such as pins, a
suitable tape tab fastening system needs to simulate the
ability of an extraneous fastener to be opened and,
subsequently, closed. Some rather successful attempts
have been made to provide resealable adhesive tape tab
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fasteners. }lowever, most prior tape tab systems have
not provided this flexibility. The commercially available
tape tabs which are used on disposable diapers generally
cannot be opened readily to check for soiling or or
repositioning the diaper. On most, i-f not all occasions,
undesirable rupture of the outside sheet of the diaper
occurs ~hen the tape tab itself is torn in order to
check inside the diaper. This tearing has made refastening
unmanageable or impossible and frequently results in the
loss of a possibly unsoiled diaper.
In an attempt to solve the foregoing problems, U. S. Patent
No. 3,848,S96 to Pennau teaches a tape tab fastener
fastening means which allows an originally faskened diaper
to be opened and subsequently closed. The tape tab
consists of two adhesive areas on each tab covered by two
release sheets. On the first closure, only one release
sheet is removed to expose pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Upon adjustment or inspection, the tape is peeled from the
fastened position or the tab torn and the other release
sheet is removed exposing fresh adhesive for a subsequent
fastening. This arrangement is practical for only two
fastenings, the original and one more 9 and has a serious
drawback that undesirable rupture ox the diaper can occur
when peeling off the tape tab if the diaper user does not
choose to tear the tab itself. With a torn fastening
area, refastening is very difficult even with a freshly
exposed adhesive area on the tape.
Several other U. S. Patents such as ~,G16,114, 3,951,1495
4,049,001 and 4,186,744 have provided resealable tape
closures. l~hereas these patents provide systems which
may have some deuree of success, in each case the user
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faces the problem of potential tear on t}-e diaper or the
manufacturer faces the problem of having to use more than
one kind of adllesive in the tape tab system. The present
invention provides a resealable adhesive tab fastener
S means requiring only one kind of adhcsive and which does
not tear away from the diaper upon opening and closing.
Summary of the Invention
According Jo the present invention, an improved economical
resealable adhesive tab fastener means is provided for use
in disposable diapers. This tab fastener means does not
require use of more than one type of adhesive nor does
the tab fastener tear the diaper when reopened.
Consequently, the tab fastener means of the present
invention is used for the original closure and subsequent
closings around the infant to provide good strong
adhesive attachment of the diaper.
The resealable adhesive tab fastener means of the present
invention comprises a carrying tape segment which has an
innerface and an outerface and includes a fixed end secured
to the diaper and a free end. The free end includes a
gripping means at the terminating end of the free end
portion. Also provided is a transferable holding means
which is adhesively, but releasably, carried on the
innerface of the free end of the carrying tape segment.
The holding means is a tape segment having an adhesi-ve-
coated face on the face opposite the face adhesively; but
releasably,attached to the carrying tape segment. The
holding means is at least co-extensive with the free end
of the carrying tape segment and has a gripping means at
the terminating end nearest the gripping means of the
carrying tape segment. Thus, in use of the resealable tab
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fastener means of the present invention, each of the tape
segments are grlpped, the lower one being held as the holding
means while the upper one is pulled from the lower tape
segment. Both sections of the tab fastener means are held in
the hands preventing tearing of the tab fastener jeans itself
and tearing away from the diaper surface. An adhesive with
sufficient strength to prevent accidental opening of the
diaper can be used, because the user has complete control of
the tab fastener when reopening by use of both gripping means.
The improved resealable tab fastener means of the present
invention allows one to inspect or adjust the diaper during
the service of the diaper. Whereas many disposable diapers
have to be discarded even when unsoiled because ox torn tabs
or rupture of the diaper, the improved system of the present
invention provides the economical advantage of inspections
and reuse of the diaper until soiled. Upon refastening, the
tape tabs provide a good strong securement to the diaper.
Further features are the economy of manufacture and the
assurance that neither the tape tab nor the diaper will tear
upon multiple closings.
according to a further broad aspect of the present invention
there is provided a resealable adhesive tab fastener means
suitable for use on a disposable diaper. The fastener means
comprises a carrying tape segment having an innerface and an
outerface and including a fixed end secured to the diaper and
a free end which includes a gripping means at the terminating
end of the free end portion. A transferable holding means is
adhesively, but releasably, carried on the innerface of the
free end of the carrying tape segment. The holding means is
a tape segment having an adhesive coated surface on the face
opposite the face adhesively, but releasably, attached to the
carrying iape segment. The holding means is at ]east
co-extensive with the free end of the carrying tape segment
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and has a gripping means at the terminating end nearest
the gripplng means of the carrying tape segment. The
gripping means is provided by the absence of adhesive on
the tape segment at the terminating end thereof. A
fingerlift comprising a separate piece of material is
secured to the adhesive coated surface, or an adhesive-
to-adhesive turned over portion of the tape segment at
the terminating end thereof. The gripping means allows
the opening of the fastener without application of pres-
sure to the body of the wearer of the diaper.
According to a further broad aspect of the present in-
vention there is provided a disposable diaper having a
facing sheet defining a diaper inside surface for direc-
tion toward an infant. A moisture-impervious backing
sheet extends substantially co-extensive with the facing
sheet and defines a diaper outside surface. An absorbent
panel is positioned between the facing sheet and the
backing sheet. A resealable adhesive tab fastener means
is also provided and comprises a carrying tape segment
having an innerface and an outerface and including a
fixed end secured to the diaper and a free end which in-
cludes a gripping means at the terminating end of the
free end portion. The tab fastener means also comprises
a transferable holding means adhesively, but releasably~
carried on the innerface ox the free end of the carrying
tape segment. The holding means is a tape segment having
an adhesive coated surface on the face opposite the face
adhesively, but releasably, attached to the carrying tape
segment. The holding means is at least co-extensive with
the free end of the carrying tape segment and has a grip-
ping means at the terminating end nearest the gripping
means of the carrying tape segment. The gripping means
is further provided by the absence of adhesive on the
tape segment at the terminating end thereof. A finger-
lift is further comprised in the tab fastener means andcomprises a separate piece of material secured to the
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adhesive surface, or an adhesive-to-adhesive turned over
portion of the tape segment at the terminating end
thereof. The gripping means allows the opening of the
fastener without application of pressure to the body of
the wearer of the diaper.
Brief Description of the Drawinqs
FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially broken away to
show the interior detail of an open, unfolded diaper in
accordance with the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 1 in
a configuration assumed by the diaper when placed about
the wearer,
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FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view
of the tape tab of the diaper of FIG 1 taken along
line 3 - 3;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a gripping means of
a tab fastener means of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of still another gripping
means of a tab fastener means of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a tab fastener means
of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of still another tab
fastener means of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a tab
fastener means taken along line 8 - 8 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 8A is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the tab
fastener of FIG. 8 in an opened position.
Detailed D _ cription of the Present Invention
Referring to FIG. 1, a typical diaper 10 comprises a
moisture-pervious facing sweet 20 defining a diaper inside
surface 12 and overlying moisture-retaining absorbent
pad 22. The backing sheet 24 is made of a moisture-
impervious material and defines a diaper outside surface 14.
The absorbent pad 22 is somewhat smaller than the backing
sheet 24 and is centrally disposed thereon, however, the
absorbent pad 22 can be made co-extensive with the
backing sheet 24 if desired, The facing sheet 20 is
substantially co-extensive with the backing sheet 24.
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Both the facing sheet 20 and the pad 22 can be anchored
to the backing sheet 2~ by means of adhesive beads 26,
glue spots, or in any other convenient manner. or
example, if the backing sheet 24 is made of a thermoplastic
material, the facing sheet 20 and the pad 22 con be
attached thereto by heat bonding. The resealable tab
fastener means 16 are shown in FIG. 1 in a closed storage
position and in an open position ready for use.
FIG. 2 shows the diaper of FIG. l in a closed position
using the tab fastener means 16 to secure the diaper 10
about the wearer. The facing surface 12 is shown on the
interior and the backing sheet 24 provides the exterior
cover 14.
FIG. 3 depicts a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a
tab fastener means 30 which view is provided along lines
3--3 of FIG. l. The carrying tape segment 36 consists
of an adhesive layer 38, a release surface 37, and a
gripping means 39. The transferable holding means 32
consists of an adhesive layer 33, an exterior surface
which is non-adhesive 34, and a gripping means 35. The
adhesive layer 33 is first fastened to the exterior diaper
surface when first closing the diaper. For opening and
then resealing, the adhesive surface 38 is released from
the release sur-face 34 by utilization of the gripping
means 35 in one hand and the gripping means 39 in the
other hand and pulling in opposite directions. This use
is further illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8A. The gripping
means depicted in FIG. 3 is a fingerlift gripping means
which consists of a non-adhesive piece fastened at the
terminating end of the tape segment.
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FIG. 4 depicts another type of gripping means 40 wherein
the terminating end of the tape segment 44 is not coated
with adhesive 42.
S FIG. 5 illustrates still another gripping means 50
whereupon the adhesive layer 54 is turned back on itself
to provide the end 56 whereupon only the non-adhesive
surface 52 is exposed.
FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of a resealable tab
fastener means 60 whereupon the non-adhesive surface 61
analagous to the non-adhesive surface 37 of FIG. 3 îs
shown. The gripping means 65 is provided for the tape
segment 61 which comprises the carrying tape segment of
the tab fastener means of the present invention. The
tape segment 63 depicts the transferable holding means
having a gripping means 67.
FIG 7 depicts another tab fastener means 70 of the present
invention. In this instance, the holding means tape
segment 73 is larger in area than the carrying tape
segment 71. The gripping means 77 for the holding means
tape segment 73 is of commensurate size. Also, the
gripping means 75 for tape segment 71 is commensurate in
size. The larger holding means provides an expanded
landing area for closing the tab fastener after opening.
FIG. 8 depicts a fragmenkary view of the tab fastener
means 16 of FIG. 2 along lines 8 - 8. The front surface
of the diaper 80 is held securely to the back portion of
the diaper 81 by a combination of the fixed end adhesive 83
of the carrying tape segment 82 and the transferable
holding means adhesive layer 88. When reopening the
diaper, the carrying tape segment working end 91 is
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pulled cay from the holding means 86 hy gripping the
carrying tape segment gripping means ~5 in one hand and
the holding means gripping means 89 in the other hand and
pulling the adhesive mass 83 away from the release
surface 87. The diaper then opens, retaining the
carrying tape segment 82 on the back portion of che
diaper and the holding means segment 86 on the front
portion 80 ox the diaper. In order to reseal the diaper
the carrying tape segment workîng end 91 is replaced
against the holding means 86 ancl the adhesive layer 83
readheres to the release surface 87. The opening and
closing steps may be repeated as often as desired.
The resealable tab fastener means of the present invention
may be adhered to the diaper surface in any manner desired.
The tab fastener means should be firmly affixed to the
diaper surface so tllat upon use of the resealable
features of the present invention the tab does not
become dislodged,
When the diaper is in a st.ored state prior to its use
the adhesive surface ox the holding means shsuld be
protected in such a way as not 'co accidentally adhere
to the surface of the diaper prematurely. This can be
accomplished by use of a removable release strip, or a
release strip which remains attached to a portion of
the tab fastener, or a release surface which is adhered
to -the diaper surface in a position to permit storage
of the tab fastener in a closed but releasable state.
adhesive tabs suitable for the purpose of the present
invention can be made frorn a wide variety of backing
materials provided that such materials are suficiencly
flexible. Preferred materials for this purpose are
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pol~alkylene webs such as polyethylene or polypropylene
paper, fabric and the like. Particularly preferred
are webs which are oriented along the narrow d;mension
of the tab or webs thigh have filament reinforcements
therein.
The pressure-sensiti~e layers such as adhesive coatings 83
and 88 in FIG. 8, are provided by applying a coating of a
pressure-sensitive adhesive composition known in the art
to be the appropriate surfaces of the tape segments 82
and 86, respectively. The applied adhesive should have
good tack, good cohesive strength good resistance to
moisture and good resistance to aging. Illustrative
of such adhesive compositions are mixtures of natural
or synthetic rubber, zinc oxide and various resins, also
latices of natural or synthetic rubber or water dispersions
of acrylate tacky polymers or co-polymers, or adhesive
compounds based on ethylene vinyl acetate polymers, or
block co-polymers, and the like.
Anchored release strips can be made from smooth plastic
film having a relatively non-adhering surface, from paper
coated with a silicone release compound, or from similar
release materials. A number of appropriate release
coatings may be used with the present invention. Examples
of such coatings are disclosed in U. S. Patent No.
2,822,290 to Webber, U. S. Patent No. 2,880,862 to
Sermattei, and U. S. Patent No. 2,985,554 to Dickard.
Referring again to FIG. 1, several different types of
facing materials may be used for the diaper facing sheet 20.
For example, a facing sheet may be made up of a mixture
of fibers consisting predominantly of inexpellsil~e short
cellulosic fibers such as wood pulp fibers or cotton linters
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in amounts of 75-98~, the balance being textile length
fibers, such as rayon, as described in U.S. Patent No.
3,663,348 to Liloia et al.
Generally the facing sheet material suitable for use in
the invention will have fabric weights in the ranye of
about 0.5 -to about 5 oz/yd2 and densities of less than
0.15 gms/cc. The dry strength of the facing sheet for a
fabric typically having a weight of about 1.5 oz/yd2 is
generally at least 0.15 lbs. per inch of width in the
machine direction and at least 0.1 lbs. per inch of
width in the cross-direction. Such fabrics have unusually
good elongation, loft, softness and drape characteristics.
A fabric sheet may also be made of an apertured non-woven
fabric which is formed, for example, in accordance with
the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Paten-t Nos.
2,862,251, 3,081,514 and 3,081,515. Briefly, such fabrics
are foraminous structures wherein groups or groupings of
fibers have been rearranged from a fibrous non-woven
starting web into positions surrounding less dense fabric
portions by passage of a fluid through the starting materia].
The fibers within the groupings are mechanically interlocked
and may be arranged into various patterns as is well known
to those skilled in the art. A suitable binder may be
utilized to help retain the fibers in their rearranged
Iocations as is also well known by those skilled in the
art. The fabric can be made of naturally occurring fibers,
synthetic fibers, or blends thereof. Typical facing
shee-ts may be made of a polyester-type material and may
have a weight of about 0.7 oz/yd2.
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In addition, the facing sheet can be formed of a non-
apertured material such as a non-wove~ isotropic web or
the like. In all of the aforementioned facing materials,
the material should be relatively hydrophobic so as to
retard wicking within the facing layer also suitable
are porous polymeric sheet materials, such as polyalkylene
webs having a fibrous surface and the like.
The highly moisture absorbent fibrous pad or batt 22
which usually is substantially rectangular in shape but
smaller than the facing sheet and the backing sheet can
be formed in accordance with the teachings of U. S. Patent
No. 3,612,055 to Mesek et al. If desired, a highly
moisture absorbent layer can be provided substantially
co-extensive with the backing sheet and the facing sheet.
A suitable backing sheet material for the diapers disclosed
in the present application can be an opaque polyethylene
web. Another suitable material for this purpose is a poly-
ethylene terephthalate web. Typical disposable diaperswhich can be fitted with tape tab adhesive fasteners
described here and above are shown in U. S. Patent No.
3,612,055 to Mesek et al and U. S. Patent No. 3,683,916
to Mese~ et al. Other suitable disposable diaper
structures which can be improved by the improved tape
tab fasteners are shown in U. S. Patent No. Reissue
26,151 to Duncan et al.
In use, a diaper equipped with the adhesive fasteners
of the present invention is applied to the infant by
laying out the diaper on a suitable flat surface and
placing the ïnfant thereon so that the waist underlying
end of the diaper is that having lie tab fastener means.
The other end of the diaper then extends downwardly
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between the infant's legs. Next the downwardly extending
end of the diaper is brought up between the infant 7 5 legs
to a position contiguous with the front of the infant's
waist. The diaper is thereafter secured to the infant
by placing the corners of the waist portion of the
abdomen-covering encl as far around the infant's waist as
they will go and by bringing the corners of the underlying
end of the diaper into an overlapping relationship with the
aforementioned corner so that the diaper snugly encircles
the infant's waist and provides a custom fit. The adhesive
fasteners are then prepared for use by exposing the adhesive
surface and applying the free-working end of the holding
means. The tabs are then used to secure the diaper in the
desired position by simply urging the pressure-sensitive
adhesive surface in contact with the adjacent outer surface
of the diaper and can be detached and refastened as
described above. The applied diaper assumes a configuration
illustrated in FIG. 2.
The foregoing description and the dral~ings are illustrative
but are not to be taken as limiting. Still other variations
and modifications are possible without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
