FITTED DIAPERS

COUCHES AJUSTEES

English Abstract

ABSTRACT

The diaper described herein facilitates the diapering of
infants and small children. The hourglass shape of the diaper
conforms to the shape of the child. Elasticized leg openings enhance
fit and reduce leakage/soiling problems. The thickness of the diaper
is reduced by having a separate panel attached to the interior of the
diaper. This reduces drying time for a cloth diaper. The panel may
be placed forward or down the center of the diaper, providing extra
layers of absorbant material in the front half of the diaper for a
male infant or extra layers of absorbant material down the center of
the diaper for a female infant. The diaper is designed in such a way
that it will fit an average size child from birth up until normal
toilet training age.

Claims

CLAIMS
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A cloth diaper having an approximate "hourglass" shape with
a pair of end edges comprising the front and back waist portions of
the diaper where the back waist portion is wider than the front
waist portion
a pair of side edges with chlorine-treated-elastic attached to
the outside layer of the diaper
an inner absorbant panel.
2. The diaper of claim 1 wherein the said diaper has a
separate flap attached to the diaper such that it may be folded to
the front of the diaper to accommodate a male child or down the
center of the diaper to accommodate a female child.
3. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said diaper is a disposable
diaper incorporating the extra absorbant flap which may be adjusted
for a male or female child.
4. The diaper of Claim 1 wherein the diaper is of a size to be
used for older children or adults.
5. A separate flap that may be attached to a diaper of any
shape in such a way that it may be placed towards the front of the
diaper in order to accommodate a male child or placed down the
center of the diaper for a female child.

Description

2 ~

SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to cloth diapers.
It is common when using cloth diapers to use a square or
rectangular cloth and to fold it into a shape which may be secured
around the child. As the child moves, this frequently allows for
gaping and subsequent soiling and wetting of clothing. As well, if
the cloth is folded to provide the necessary thickness for absorbancy
or if the child is 'double-diapered' the child's rnovement is
restricted by the bulkiness of the diaper. Conversely, if this
thickness is not provided, the child will wet throu~h the diaper A
cloth diaper which is made up o~ numerous absorbant layers will
require an excessive amount of drying time. Existing cloth diapers
do not make provision for the necessity of diapering both male ancl
fernale children which require absorbant layers in different areas of
the diaper.
These difficulties may be overcome by making the cloth diaper
a unique shape which conforrns to the shape of the child. The sides
and edges of the diaper do not require bulky absorbant layers as ~hey
serve only to attach the diaper to the child. The diaper has an
interior panel of absorbant material. A separate flap sewn across
the center of the diaper provides additional absorbant material Thls
flap may be folded towards the front of the diaper to accommodaie a
male child, or be folded under and down the center of the diaper to
accommodate a female child. Having this flap separate, rather than
sewn into the diaper reduces drying time for the diaper.
Elasticized leg openings provide a comfortable fit for the
infant as well as helping to reduce leakage and soiling. Elastic is
set in from the leg edges of the diaper by 25 mm to provide a
decorative frill around the baby's leg and help reduce soiling.
Chlorine treated elastic is used so that frequent washing and drying
will not reduce the life of the elastic and hence the life of the
diaper. The elastic is on the exterior layer of the diaper so as not to
irritate the infants legs. The diaper may be secured to the infant
with diaper pins, velcro attachments or a diaper cover which holds
the diaper in place. The diaper is made in such a way that it may be
used to diaper an average size child from birth until normal toilet-


~2~ 7~

trainin~ age. A younger (smaller) child wears the diaper with theback edge folded downwards to the outside of the diaper.

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,
Figure 1 is a plan view of the inside of the diaper showing th~
location of the interior panel.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the outside of the diaper showing the
placement of the leg elastic.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the diaper showing the exterior
panel folded to accommodate a male infant.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the diaper showing the exterior
panel folded to accommodate a female infant.
Figure 5 is a perspective side view of the diaper as it would
appear when worn by an infant.
The infan~ is placed in the center of the diaper with the wider
end across the center of his/her back. For a smaller infant, the back
of the diaper is folded down to the outside of the diaper. For a male
infant both pieces of the flap are folded to the front of the diaper as
indicated in Figure 3. For a female infant, both pieces of the flap
are folded under and lain flat along the middle of the diaper as
indicated in Figure 4. Ths front of the diaper is drawn up between
the baby's legs as shown in figure 5 and secured using diaper pins,
velcro attachments or a diaper cover.
The inventive idea may also be used for larger diapers, for
older children or adults. As well, the use of a separate flap may be
incorporated into a disposable diaper allowing an adjustment for use
with a male or female child or adult.

Representative Drawing