Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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REUSA L _ IAPER WITII SEPARATE FASTENER
The presen-t invention relates to an adjustable and
reusable diaper with separate and removable hook material
joining loop material on opposed ends and surfaces of a
material adapted to form a diaper when folded.
In the prior art, reusable and adjustable diapers
are well known. These diapers generally include saEety pins
for joining the ends of the diaper or an adhesive tape
arrangement for the same. These fastening methods have
disadvanta~es, particularl~ if used for incontinent adults.
lo The tape fasteners are susceptible to failure after
prolonged use, i.e., several washings, and the safety pinned
fastened arrangement does not allow for much adjustment by a
user.
Further fastening means, including Velcro ~
material as applied for use in diapers, is also well known
as is illustrated in U.S. Patents 4,259,957, 4,410,327,
3,943,930, 4,773,906, 4,680,030 and 3,653,381. None of
these references discloses a separate tab interposed between
two Velcro ~ surfaces as in the present invention.
Further prior art known in the domain o~ the
invention includes U.S. Patent ~,402,690. This patent
discloses hooked sections of material stitched to one end of
the diaper with complementary loop sections stitched to the
other end and other side. The diaper is situated about a
user's torso and the hook and loop sections fastened.
Although this diaper is effective, it uses a supsrfluous
amount of Velcro ~ material, which results in a costlv
product.
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In another U.S. Patent issued to Coates~ No.
4,680,030, a diaper having a band of loop material situated
on one side of the diaper at one end with winged sections at
the opposed end having hook material is discussed. In
addition, the patentee includes a self-closing correspondiny
winged section having loop material sewn thereon. The self-
closing wing covers the hook material of the winged portion,
thereby preventing lint accumulation on ~he hook material,
and thus prolonging its use. The disadvantage of this
arrangement occurs when the diaper is in use. The self-
closing wing is placed between the diaper and the infant's
skin, which results in the possibility of the infant's skin
becoming irritated and further, alters the fit of the
diaper.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,70~,117, an adjustable diaper
is disclosed further employing a band of loop material with
cooperating tabs at an end opposite to the band of material.
The -tabs are located on winged portions and are adapted for
adjustably fitting the diaper on a user, and include the
mating tabs to cover the material. A similar disadvantage
as mentioned in the '030 patent exists with this
arrangement, however, to an even greater extent. The mating
tabs have no excess material surrounding them and, after
progressively more washings, the tab becomes weakened and
loose, causing skin irritation when the diaper is worn.
Additionally, all prior art diapers using Velcro ~ are
susceptible to damage when they are cleaned. The chemicals
used by cleaning services are known to destroy the hook
material of the diaper, therefore limiting the useful life
of the diaper and hook material affixed thereto.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a reusable diaper having adjustability.
In ~nother aspect of the invention, there is
provided a diaper which i5 tanyle-p~oof with itself and
other such diapers.
According to a further preferred aspect of the
invention, a separate and removahle fastening means is
provided.
A further aspect of the invention provides a
diaper having a highly absorbent material therein, as well
as a supplementary absorbent material insert for overnight
and travel use.
Yet another aspect of the invention provides a
diaper comprising: a length of reusable material having
opposed inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being
adapted for contact with the skin of a user, the length of
material having a pair of opposed ends and a pair of opposed
sides; first cooperating means attached to the inner surface
at least at opposed sides of one of the ends; first
cooperating means extending on the outer surface of the
length of material at the other end; and at least one
double-faced tab of second cooperating means adapted to join
the first cooperating means of the inner surface with the
first cooperating means of the outer surface when the diaper
is folded for use about a torso.
SUMMARY
The diaper of the present invention provides a
reusable, adjustable garment including moisture absorbing
material therein. The diaper preferably comprises internal
and external surfaces and opposed ends, each of which has
winged portions to which, on an inner surface, a loop
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material is affixed ~nd, on an outer surface, to which there
is affixed a similar element. The loop material areas of
the diaper, when the diaper is placed about the torso of a
user, join by means of separate double-faced hook tabs which
are placed between loop material of the outer and inner
surfaces thereby joining the two opposed ends. The separate
tab permits maxim~lm adjus-tabilit.y, thereby obviating the
need for diapers which are categorized by weight and age of
an infant. Having a separate hook material prevents the
diaper from becoming entangled, i.e., with the hook and loop
material of the diaper or these materials of other diapers
during a washing operation. The unentangled diaper will
result in greater exposure of the material to cleansers.
In another embodiment of the present invention,
~5 there is provided an adjustable garment useful for newborns
to toddlers, as well as for adult usage, e.g., for
incontinency. The winged portions of one snd of the diaper
can be folded inwardly onto the band of loop material with
the loop material of the winged portions in facing relation;
each winged portion is releasably fastened to the band of
loop material. These surfaces are each joined with a hook
tab placed therebetween. The other ends, having winged
portions, are folded inwardly to join the loop material at a
third hook tab placed between the two winged portions, when
the diaper is folded. The use of winged portions also
permits adjustment of sizing for the diaper when in use, and
thus provides additional comfort.
The diaper of the present invention, in terms of
its structure for absorbing fluids, can be one of ~ various
number of constructions. In the case of reusable diapers,
preferred constructions are cloth or other fabric materials
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which may include additional absorbent portions within the
str~cture. Typically, in the case of a reusable diaper, two
layers of material are employed to form the inner and outer
surfaces. In general, the structure of the present
invention in terms of its shape may also vary from, e.g., a
rectangular shape to an hourglass shape.
In the present invention, a preferred closure
means comprises the type of material known as "Velcro",
which forms the preferred hook and loop material for use
with the diapers of the present invention. There are also
other forms of hook a~d loop material which may be used.
The diaper can also be constructed in various
sizes to meet the needs of different people, ranging in size
from infant to toddler and larger as desired, e.g., for
adults.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
illustrating preferred embodimentsl and in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic view o~ the
diaper f showing the inner surface having the loop material
in one embodiment;
Fiy. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the
diaper, with the opposed ends joined by the separate hook
tabs shown in dashed line; and
Fig. 3 illustrates an outer plan view of the
diaper having a third hook tab for joining the winged
portion.
Fig. 4 illustrates a plan view of a supplemental
absorbent insert for use with the diaper.
DESCRIPTIOM OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Eigure 1, there is shown a
diagrammatic view of the diaper 10 of the invention. The
diaper can be made of any suitable absorbent makerial 38
which will be sufficient in lenqth and width for use with
infants, although slight dimensional modifications can
easily be made to accommodate aclults. At one of the opposed
ends 16, there are opposed winged sections 34 which inc].ude
astening means in the preferred form of loop tabs 2~
affixed to the inner surface 12 of the diaper 10. The siæe
of the loop tabs 24 may vary considerably but preferably, in
the case of an infant's or toddler's diaper, they will range
from, e.g., 1/4" to 1" or more. Such tabs 24 may be affixed
to the sections 34 by suitable means such as sewing,
adhesives or the like. Located at the opposite end 18, the
preferred form of the fasteniny means is shown in dotted
lines indicating the positioning on the outer surface 14.
The fastening means, in a preferred form, transversely
extends between the opposed sides 20 and 22 of the diaper
10, to the winged portions 36. The fastening means, also in
the form of a loop type material, can extend across the
complete end or alternately, be located in spaced apart
positions. If provided in the form of spaced apart
positions, the tabs may be affixed to the end of the diaper
as described above with respect to tabs 24. Spaced between
the opposed ends 16 and 18 of the diaper 10, a provision
ensuring proper fit of the garment is made in the form of
elastic means 32 on each of the opposed sides 20 and 22
surrounding the legs, and further elastic means 27,
surrounding the ends 16 and 18 to be placed about the torso
of a user.
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In accordance with the present invention, and as
shown in Figure ~, the fastening of the upwardly folded
opposed ends 16 and 18 is achieved by the interposition of a
separate fastening member 28 between the inner and outer
surfaces 12 and 14 of the opposed sides. These separate
fastening members 28 are adapted to be placed in
juxtaposition between the opposed mating or coacting members
fixed to the diaper when in use. Thus, they may have a size
similar to, buk preferably generally the same as, the tabs
24. It will be understood that the tabs 28 may be mounted
on a separate length of material as opposed to being merely
made of the hook type material.
Although the tabs 24, band 26 and separate tabs 28
are indicated as comprising loop and hoo~ material
respectively, it will be understood that the tabs 24 and
band 26 can comprise hook material with a separate tab 28
comprising loop material.
Referring to Figure 2, shown is a perspective view
of the diaper 10, having opposed ends 16 and 18 which are
folded upwardly, wheraby inner surface 12 having winged
portions 34 with loop tabs 24 is juxtaposed to meet with the
loop material 26 of the winged portions 36 of outer surface
14. The two portions are releasably fastened with a double-
faced separate hook tab 28 on each side.
Referring to Figure 3, a diagrammatic view of the
diaper is shown in a further embodiment.
Similar numerals represent similar components from
previous Figures. This diagram shows the outer surface 14
facing up with the band of loop material 26 at end 18
preferably including three separate hook tabs 28 engaged
therewith. This arrangement allows the diaper to be use~ul
for srnaller infants since the waist size is decreased. It
is preferred that the size reduction be carried out by
inwardly Eolding winged portions 36 of sides 20 and 22 so
that the loop material of these wings contact tabs 28A and
28C. The opposed end 16 is folded towards the other end and
winged portions 34 oE each of the opposed sides 20 and 22
are folded inwardly, exposing the loop material 24 for
contact with hook tab 28B. The absorbent material 3B is
preferably comprised oE super-absorbent cotton material
which can be supplemented with an insert oE a similar
material, as shown in Figure 4, providing extra protection
and convenience during travel or overnight use. The elastic
ends 16 and 18 and sides 20 and 22 will ensure a perfect ~it
for the in~ant.
The diaper of the present invention supersedes
known diapers due to the fact that it incorporates separate
and removable hook tabs to cooperate with the loop material.
Since the hook material is damaged in washing by various
solvents, it is particularly advantageous to remove such
material from the diaper entirely. This circumvents the
limitations of the known fastening arrangements.
Additionally, when the hook material is removed for the
diaper to be washed~ the diaper only has loop material
exposed, thereby preventing the diaper from becoming
entangled with itself or with other such diapers or from
picking up lint which would render it useless. This
arrangement also results in a cleaner diaper.
It will be understood that various modifications
can be made to the above-described preferred embodiments,
without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
