AU2006201680B2

AU2006201680B2 - Disposable garment

Info

Publication number: AU2006201680B2
Application number: AU2006201680A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yoshinori Kumasaka; Toshifumi Otsubo; Hiroyuki Soga
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2000-07-31
Filing date: 2006-04-21
Publication date: 2009-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-27
Also published as: AU2006201680A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation Actual Inventor(s): Toshifumi Otsubo, Yoshinori Kumasaka, Hiroyuki Soga Address for Service and Correspondence: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: 0 DISO SB.. E DISPOSABLE GARMENT Our Ref: 770967 POF Code: 1647/76530 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- 6006q 1A IDISPOSABLE GARMENT

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The present application is a divisional application from Australian Patent Application number 54084/01 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

OThis invention relates to a disposable garment adapted to absorb and to 00 I hold excretion discharged thereon.

OKnown to the applicant is a disposable diaper including the front and rear S 10 waist regions separately prepared and placed upon each other and the crotch Sregion partially defined by the front and rear waist regions. In the known disposable diaper the front and rear waist regions are bonded together along bonding lines extending from said crotch region up- and outward to side edges of the waist regions to describe circular arcs so that the waist-opening is defined at upper part and a pair of leg-openings are defined at lower part of the diaper.

Each of the front and rear waist regions includes, in turn, the liquid-pervious topsheet, the liquid-impervious backsheet and the liquid-absorbent panel disposed between these two sheets. In the known diaper, the bonding lines curving up-and outward from the crotch region to the side edges of the waist regions enable the transverse dimension of the crotch region to be dimensioned relatively large.

However, the known diaper is disadvantageous in that, if the transverse dimension of the crotch region is larger than the corresponding dimension of the wearer's crotch region, the peripheral edge portions of the respective legopenings may rub the inner sides of the wearer's thighs as the diaper is pulled up along the wearer's waist, obstructing the diaper from being smoothly put on the wearer's body. To avoid this problem, the initial dimension of the crotch region may be appropriately reduced. However, the dimension of the core lying in the crotch region also must be reduced and this would inevitably require corresponding reduction of the core's dimension, an excretion absorbing capacity achieved in the crotch region would be also deteriorated.

6 The above discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the

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i like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to

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the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

OO It would therefore be desirable to provide a disposable garment improved so that the transverse dimension of the crotch region may be appropriately reduced and 0 N thereby the article may be smoothly put on the wearer's body without deterioration of 0 10 the excretion absorbing capacity achieved in the crotch region.

i According to this invention, there is provided a disposable garment including a trunk body formed by a front trunk region, a rear trunk region opposed to said front trunk region and a crotch region extending between said front and rear trunk regions, said front and rear trunk regions being bonded along transversely opposite side edge portions thereof so as to define a waist-opening at an upper part of said trunk body and a pair of leg-openings at a lower part of said trunk body, so that said garment maintains said first and second zones in tucked-in shapes before said garment is actually used, wherein: said crotch region having a pair of folding guides transversely extending across a zone defined between peripheral edge portions of the respective leg-openings and intersecting to each other in a transversely middle zone of said crotch region and said crotch region being tucked about folding guides inwardly of said article so that said crotch region may be divided by said folding guides into substantially triangular first and second zones defined between said peripheral edge portions of said legopenings to be defined and said folding guides, respectively, a third zone extending from said folding guides into said front trunk region, and a fourth zone extending from said folding guides into said rear trunk region with said first and second zones being disposed between said third and fourth zones.

P:12006 201680 febD 9 doc According to one preferred embodiment of this Sinvention, the garment includes a liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposed between these sheets and wherein the top- and backsheets as well as the core are folded about the folding guides in the first 00 O0

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0D U and second zones.

According to another preferred embodiment of this C invention, the garment maintains the first and second zones in 0 tucked-in shapes before the garment is actually used.

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ND Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a trunks-type D .disposable diaper according to this invention as partially broken away; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a diaper as viewed from the side of the crotch region; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a diaper as before the first and second zones are tucked in; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the diaper as the first and second zones have been tucked in; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line A A in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the briefs-type disposable diaper as partially broken away; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the diaper as viewed from the side of the crotch region; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the diaper as the first and second zones are being tucked in; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the diaper as the CI first and second zones have been tucked in.

CI Details of a disposable garment according to this invention will be more fully understood from the description o00 O 5 of the trunks-type disposable diaper and the briefs-type CI disposable diaper as embodiments given hereunder with reference

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to- the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a trunks-type disposable diaper 1 according to this invention as partially broken away and Fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the diaper 1 as viewed from the side of the crotch region 10. The diaper 1 has a trunk body 4 formed by a front trunk region 2 and a rear trunk region 3 prepared separately of the front trunk region 2 to cover a wearer's torso and a pair of leg portions 5 formed by lower extensions of the front and rear trunk regions 2, 3 to cover the wearer' s respective thighs.

The diaper 1 is formed at an upper part of the trunk body 4 with a waist-opening 6 and at leg portions 5 with leg-openings 7.

The leg portions 5 circumferentially extend downward to form peripheral edge portions 7a of the leg-openings 7.

The trunk body 4 has a crotch region 10 extending between the. leg portions 5. An elastically stretchable member 8 including a plurality of circumferentially extending elements C is attached to a peripheral edge of the waist-opening 6.

Each of the front and rear trunk regions 2, 3 includes c a liquid-pervious topsheet 12, a liquid-impervious backsheet 0 13 and-a liquid-absorbent core 14 disposed between these two 00 sheets 12, 13 and entirely covered with and bonded to \Owater-pervious tissue paper (not shown). The core 14 is bonded

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O to at least one of the top- and backsheets 12, 13 with the tissue paper therebetween. The elastic member 8 associated with the waist-opening is disposed between the top- and backsheets 12, 13 in the front and rear trunk regions 2, 3 and bonded under tension to at least one of these sheets 12, 13.

The front and rear trunk regions 2, 3 are put flat together along peripheral edge portions thereof and bonded together at a plurality of welding spots 15 intermittently arranged in the vicinity of transversely opposite side edge portions 2a, 3a of these trunk regions 2, 3 and additionally at a plurality of welding zones 16 arranged intermittently in the vicinity of lower ends 2b, 3b of the front and rear trunk regions 2, 3 extending into the crotch region In the crotch region 10, a pair of folding guides LI, L2 transversely extend across a zone defined between the peripheral edge portions 7a of the respective leg-openings 7 and intersecting to each other in a transversely middle zone C 10a of.the crotch region 10, as indicated by two-dotted chain lines in Fig. 2. There leg-openings 7 herein described in C reference with Fig. 2 should be understood to be a pair of leg-openings 7 formed along a lower edge of the trunk body 4, 00

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as indicated by chain lines in Fig. 2 on the assumption that qDthe diaper 1 has not the leg portions 5. The crotch region

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is divided-by the folding-guides L1, L2 into substantially triangular first and second zones Si, S2 defined between the peripheral edge portions 7a and the folding guides L1, L2, respectively, a third zone S3 extending from the folding guides Li, L2 into the front trunk region 2, and a fourth zone S4 extending from the folding guides Li, L2 into the rear trunk region 3.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the diaper as before the first and second zones S1, S2 are being tucked in, Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the diaper as the first and second zones Si, S2 have been tucked in and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line A A in Fig. 4. Figs. 3 and 4 abstractly illustrate the diaper 1 so that it may be easily understood how to tuck in the first and second zones Si, S2.

The diaper 1 is folded along the folding guides Li, L2 and thereby the first and second zones S1, S2 are tucked inwardly of the diaper 1 as indicated by an arrow X in Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 4, the front and rear trunk regions 2, 3 are placed upon each other with the first and second zones Si, S2 disposed C' between the third and fourth zones S3, S4. In the diaper 1 having the first and second zones Si, S2 tucked in;, a transverse 00

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dimension M of the crotch region 10 is smaller than the ND corresponding dimension M before the zones Si, S2 are tucked C- in (See'Fig. 2).

With this diaper 1, the top- and backsheets 12, 13 and the core 14 are folded along the folding guides L1, L2 and thereby these top- and backsheets 12, 13 and core 14 are so firmly creased so that said top- and backsheets 12, 13 as well as the core are not easily unfolded. In this way, the first and second zones S1, S2 are well kept in their tucked shapes.

With this diaper i, the initial transverse dimension of the crotch region 10 can be appropriately reduced by tucking in the first and second zones Si, S2 even if the initial transverse dimension M is larger than a transverse dimension of the wearer's crotch region. With an advantageous consequence, there is no anxiety that the peripheral edge portions 7a of the respective leg-openings 7 might rub the inner sides of the wearer's thighs as the diaper 1 is pulled up along the wearer's trunk, allowing the diaper 1 to be smoothly put on the wearer's body.

The top- and backsheets 12, 13 and the core 14 are unfolded Saround the respective folding guides L1, L2 as the diaper 1 is c pulled up along the wearer' s trunk, and thus the first and second 0 zones. Sl, S2 get out of their-tucked-in shapes. Excretion 00

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absorbing capacity of the core 14 lying in the crotch region D0 10 is not affected by unfolding of these first and second zones C S1, S2 since the core- 14 lying in the crotch region 10 is dimensionally constant.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the briefs-type disposable diaper 20 as partially broken away, Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the diaper 20 as viewed from the side of the crotch region 25, Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the diaper 20 as the first and second zones Si, S2 are being tucked in and Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the diaper 20 as the first and second zones Sl, S2 have been tucked in.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 abstractly illustrate the diaper The diaper 20 includes a liquid-pervious topsheet 22, a liquid-impervious backsheet 21 and a liquid-absorbent core 23 disposed between these two sheets 21, 22 and entirely covered with and bonded to water-pervious tissue paper (not shown). The core 23 is bonded to at least one of the top- and backsheets 22, 21 with the tissue paper therebetween.

The diaper 20 has a front trunk region 24, a rear trunk region 26 opposed to the front trunk region 24 and a crotch region extending between these trunk regions 24, 26. With this diaper 20, transversely opposite side edge portions 24a, 26a 00 of the front and rear trunk regions 24, 26 are put flat and bonded oO

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together at a plurality of welding spots 27 intermittently ND arranged along the transversely opposite side edge portions 24a, C .26a so as to define a waist-opening 28 and a pair of leg-openings 29.

Along a peripheral edge portion of the waist-opening 28, a circumferentially extending elastic member 30 including a plurality of elements is disposed between the top- and backsheets 22, 21 and bonded under tension to at least one of these sheets 21, 22. Similarly, along peripheral edge portions of the respective leg-openings 29, circumferentially extending elastic members 31 each including a plurality of elements are' disposed between the top- and backsheets 22, 21 and bonded under tension to at least one of these two sheets 21, 22.

In the crotch region 25 of the diaper 20, a pair of folding guides Li, L2 transversely extend across a zone defined between the peripheral edge portions 29a of the respective leg-openings 29 and intersecting to each other in a transversely middle zone of the crotch region 25, as in the-case of the embodiment shown by Fig. 1. The crotch region 25 is divided by the folding guides L1, L2 into substantially triangular first and second zones Si, S2, a third zone S3 extending from the folding guides C LI, L2 into the front trunk region 24, and a fourth zone S4 extending from the folding guides. Li, L2 into the rear trunk 00

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region 26.

O The diaper 20 is folded along the folding guides L1, L2

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and thereby the first and second zones S1, S2 are tucked inwardly of the diaper 20 as indicated by an arrow X in Fig. 8. Referring to Fig. 9, the front and rear trunk regions 24, 26 are placed upon each other with the first and second zones Si, S2 disposed between the third and fourth zones 53, S4. In the diaper having the first and second zones Si, S2 tucked in, a transverse dimension M of the crotch region 25 is smaller than the corresponding dimension M before the zones Sl, S2 are tucked in (See Fig. 7).

These embodiments of the diaper i, 20 as illustrated, may be individually packaged with the first and second zones S1, 52 tucked inwardly of the diaper i, 20 or a plurality of diapers i, 20 may be packaged in the form of a stack.

The topsheet 12, 22 may be formed with a liquid-pervious sheet such as a nonwoven fabric or porous plastic film, preferably with a liquid-pervious hydrophilic sheet. The backsheet 13, 21 may be formed with a hydrophobic nonwoven -12- CN fabric, a liquid-impervious plastic film or a laminated sheet <of hydrophobic nonwoven fabric and a plastic film, preferably Cl with a breathable but liquid-impervious sheet. It is also possible to form the backsheet 13, 21 using a composite nonwoven 00 D 5 fabric (SMS nonwoven fabric) consisting of a melt blown nonwoven C fabric having a high water-resistance and two layers of spun O bond nonwoven fabric having high strength and flexibility sandwiching the melt blown nonwoven fabric.

The nonwoven fabric may be selected from a group including spun lace-, needle punch-, melt blown-, thermal bond-, spun bond-, chemical bond- and air through-nonwoven fabric.

Component fiber of the nonwoven fabric may be selected from a group including polyolefine-, polyester- and polyamide-based fibers and polyethylene/polypropylene or polyethylene/polyester core-sheath type conjugated fiber and side-by-side-type conjugated fiber.

The core 14, 23 is a mixture of fluff pulp, high absorption polymer grains and thermoplastic synthetic resin fiber compressed to a desired thickness. The high absorption polymer may be selected from a group including starch-, cellulose-based polymer and synthetic polymer.

Bonding of the top- and backsheets 12, 22, 13, 21 and the core 14, 23 as well as attaching of the elastic member 8, O -13c 31 may be carried out using suitable adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive or a technique of welding such as sonic sealing or C heat-sealing.

In the disposable garment according to this invention, 00 the first and second zones of the crotch region are tucked about the respective folding guides inwardly of the garment so that

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O the first and- second zones divided by the folding guides may be disposed between the third and fourth zones of the crotch region. The transverse dimension of the crotch region can be thereby reduced with respect to the corresponding dimension before the first and second zones are tucked in. With an advantageous consequence, there is no anxiety that the peripheral edge portions of the respective leg-openings might rub the inner sides of the wearer' s thighs as the diaper is pulled up along the wearer's trunk, allowing the diaper to be smoothly put on the wearer's body.

Furthermore, the other important feature lies in that the excretion absorbing capacity of the core in the crotch region is not affected by reduction of the crotch region's transverse dimension due to tucking-in of the first and second zones. This is because that a transverse dimension of the core lying in the crotch region is not affected by such reduction of the crotch region's transverse dimension.

Claims

2. The garment according to Claim 1, wherein said garment includes a liquid- pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposed between these sheets and wherein said top and backsheets as well as said core are folded about said folding guides in said first and second zones.
3. A disposable garment substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. P 2Q0O 201680 OefOQ.doc