Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
9'~98
CONFORMABLE DIAPER USING ELASTIC MEANS
The present invention refers to elastic means
and, more precisely, to an elastic means used in absor-
bent products such as diapers and the like, provided
in the crotch region and around the thighs region of
the user.
Elastic systems for absorbent products have
been used with the objective of sealing and improving
the anatomical form achieved by cutting said product
10 in the crotch region so as to substantially reduce this
area.
Several improvements have been introduced in
attempt to solve existing prior art problems, however
the inefficiency in closure and absorption as well as
15 the discomfort provided by products with cuts in the
crotch region still remain unsolved.
One of the objectives of the present invention
for solving prior art problems is the arrangement, in
a substantially rectangular-shaped diaper, of a heat-
20 shrinkable material on the sides, in combination witha provision of transversal elastic bands fixed to the
plastic backing sheet in the crotch region in order
to provide an adequate anatomical configuration appro-
priate to the user's body.
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Such objective is obtained in the present
invention by providing elastic means in the
absorbent product which is cut in an absolutely
rectangular configura~ion in the region
correspondent to the zone which will adhere to the
user's thighs, parallel to the length of the
rectangle which constitutes said absorbent pxoduct.
According to the above object, from a bxoad
aspect, the present invention provides a disposable
diaper comprising a substantially rectangular
liquid-impermeable backing sheet, a substantially
rectangular liquid-permeable facing sheet and a
substantially xectangular absorbent pad secured
between the facing sheet and the backing sheet. The
diaper has a crotch xegion and a paix of generally
parallel side margins. The diaper fuxther has a
longitudinally extending elastic element secured at
each of its side margins. At least one
transversely extending elastic element is secuxed
in the crotch region thereof. The transversely
extending elastic element is centxally located so
that its ends do not reach the side margins of the
diaper.
The present invention will be hereinafter
described, based on the attached dxawings in which:
~ - Fig. l is a rear perspective view of a
,~
diaper showing said means of the present invention.
- Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line A-A of
Fig. l.
The configuration of the absoxbent product l,
that is, the diaper, is substantially rectangular
without any cut or groove.
In order to obtain an anatomical
configuration, adequate to the outline of the
; 35 user's thighs, a heat shrinkable material 4 having
elastomeric characteristics is longitudinally
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1~39?~98
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applied in the sides of the product, between the
impermeable facing sheet 2 and the liquid-permeable
covering 3.
The heat shrinkable material 4 comprises an
S ethylene vinyl acetate polymer or copolymer film,
being also obtainable from plastic mixtures such as
polyethylene or polypropylene with elastomeric
materials or thermoplastic rubbers.
This film when suitably strained, will have
its molecules oriented along a dete~mined
direction,
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~289Z98
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longitudinally or transversally, according to its
application.
When heat is applied to the film, the film
will shrink, tending to return to a stable position.
Then some wrinkles will appear on the sides of the
diaper because said film is tightly fixed to said
covering 3 and said sheet 2. Such wrinkle will beof an
anatomical configuration, providing better comfort and
sealing.
In the crotch region, transversally to the
absorbent product, elastic members 5 are fixed to the
impermeable sheet 2. Such elastic memebers 5 are
monofilaments coated with a hot-melt adhesive.
When applied, said monofilaments are strained
and receive an adhesive which will fix said monofila-
ments to the sheet 2.
~; In order to return to its stable position,
said monofilaments will shrink causing a corrugation
in the crotch region, thus increasing the absorption
capacity of the product by concentrating said absor-
bent material in said region. The monofilaments may,
of course, be applied by other means such as sewing,
etc...
An anatomical configuration that provides a
~ 25 better adaptation to the user's body and, consequently,
d~ a better absorption and sealing, is obtained by
combining said shrinkable material 4 with said elastic
members 5, eliminating the need for usual cuts and
grooves.
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A monofilament 6 is also provided in said
impermeable sheet 2 in the waist region, in order to
provide better adjustment of said absorbent product
to the user, thus avoiding bagginess due to excess of
material.
Having thus described the present invention,
it must be understood that few changes may be made and
should not go beyond the basic concept of the invention
which will be limited by the following claims.
J-12.107
MLM/men
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