AU595002B2

AU595002B2 - A diaper comprising type a fastening means with buckles and grips

Info

Publication number: AU595002B2
Application number: AU68617/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean Brellmann; Raymond Pigneul; Remy Ruppel
Original assignee: Beghin Say SA
Current assignee: Beghin Say SA
Priority date: 1986-02-21
Filing date: 1987-02-09
Publication date: 1990-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2007-02-09
Also published as: DE3771742D1; FI87313C; EP0235014A3; DK88987A; PT84333A; PT84333B; IE870235L; FI870583A; NO162792B; NO870687D0; ES2023202B3; MC1789A1; BR8700752A; JPS62206001A; EP0235014A2; NO870687L; FI87313B; FR2594650B1; IE59781B1; CA1311588C

Abstract

The disposable complete diaper, comprising an absorbent pad of elongated form consisting of a body absorbing liquids, included between an outer support sheet and a liquid-permeable sheet intended to come into contact with the skin, the fastening means for holding the pad around the waist of the user being of the touch-and-close type, a first element (8) of which, having loops or hooks, is attached to the support sheet close to one longitudinal end (22) of the pad, is characterised in that the second element (52, 62), having loops or hooks and complementing the first (8), is mounted on the free-end section of a tab (51, 61) whose other end is attached to the support sheet. <IMAGE>

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: f 17le 7 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority 5950"02 1 Related Art: r t *Il C C o o 040 o oa o ao 0.104 APPLICANT'S REF.: DD/LP/9351B/104 Name(s) of Applicant(s): BEGHIN-SAY SA Address(es) of Applicant(s): 59239 Thumeries

FRANCE

Actual Inventor(s): RAYMOND PIGNEUL REMY RUPPEL JEAN BRELLMANN Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: A DIAPER COMPRISING TYPE A FASTENING MEANS WITH BUCKLES AND GRIPS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): P19/3/84 I i- 1A A DIAPER COMPRISING TYPE A FASTENING MEANS WITH BUCKLES AND GRIPS The invention relates to a disposable all-in-one diaper comprising fastening means of the buckles and grips of the type known also under the name of VELCRO.

The disposable all-in-one diapers after use for babies and incontinent adults are generally made of an absorbent mass consisting of a pad of cellulose fibres, obtained for example, by dry-grinding paper pulp the absorbent material is placed between a generally impermeable support sheet and a sheet, permeable to liquids, designed to come into contact with the skin of the user. In the case where the support sheet itself is permeable, liquidtightness is obtained by incorporating a sheet impermeable to liquids between the absorbent mass and the support sheet.

The diaper is generally maintained around the waist of the baby or adult S by means of lateral adheatve fasteners which consist of a ribbon or tongue of rectangular shape of which one end section is fixed solidly to the support sheet on the upper rear part of the diaper, and the free end section is coated C. with a pressure-sensitive adhesive substance protected by siliconated p;.per.

At tne moment of fitting the diaper and securing it round the waist, the 000 adhesive part is separated from its protective paper and the rear part joined S to the front part on each side, by applying the ahdhesive coated surface oo of the fastener to the support sheet in the ventral region.

This mode of fastening is made simply and economically, and is relatively reliable. It has, however, some disadvantages If the adhesive-coated surfacG is soiled by a foreign matter, it partially or totally loses its adhesive capacity, resulting in a lesser resistance of the fastener to the stresses to which it is subjected when the diaper is worn. To avoid this, the mother must for example ensure that the adhesive remains thoroughly clean once the protective sheet has been removed, that she does not touch this surface with her fingers, and that no talc or fatty matter is deposited on it. This is not easy when the baby has to be held Ib at the same time.

Current adhesives provide only a small number of ways of releasing the fastening temporarily, for example, to move the fastener with the object of adjusting the diaper or check its condition.

The adhesive substance may deteriorate, depending on storage conditions.

Other fastening modes not making use of an adhesive substance have been suggested. Thus Fr patent 8,401,333 and its Certificate of Addition Fr 8,416,844 recommend the use of hook-and-pile type fastening means such as the type known under the registered Trade Mark VELCRO and consisting of two complementary parts, that is, a first part covered with a plurality of hooks or grips between which pile ends are 00 °oo. gripped, and a second part coated with pile.

ooooo Q o2Q According to this patent, the opposite edges of a same side 0 of the diaper pad are each provided with a patch with hooks 0 or pile and are linked by a half-belt made of fabric with .,oo hooks or pile complementary to the preceding oa o o o I t CCIIrrrr?~ at the same time.

Curren adhesives provide only a small number of ways of releasing the fastening mporarily, for example, to move the fastener with the object of adjusting th diaper or check its condition.

The adhesive substance ay deteriorate, depending on storage conditions.

Other fastening modes not making e of an adhesive substance have been suggested. Thus Fr patent 8,401,333 and s Certificate of Addition Fr 8,416,844 recommend the use of fastening means ofthe type known under the name of VELCRO and consisting of two complementary p ts, that is, a part covered with a plurality of buckles between which the pile nds are gripped, provided with rough parts in the form of hooks or grips, with hich the second part is coated.

According to this patent, the opposite edges of a same side of e diaper pad are provided with a patch with buckles and grips and are linke by a half-belt made of fabric with buckles or grips, complementary to the predit patches. This solution overcomes the disadvantages mentioned in connection with adhesive-coated fasteners. The fasteners can be secured or released S as desired, without fear of impairing their adhesive properties in addition, 0o o there is no risk of deterioration by foreign matter. However, this fastening o, mode has the disadvantage of being more costly, which limits its development.

From patents or patent applications, GB 1,428,572, US 3,081,772, US 4,402,690, US 3,359,980, WO 83/03754 are also known garments for babies, babies' diapers, all made of fabric which are therefore not designed to be discarded after one use and for which fastening means of the VELCRO type are prescribed.

Patches are sewn onto the front face of the garment, and lateral fasteners of complementaey material are sewn by an end to each of the lateral panels, or else fixed onto the internal face of the rear part. Such solutions are not transferable to disposable articles, if only because of their manufacturing method, the cost of which must be au low as possible.

ALU

0*/I ~prl-----"ll-Tnmrm~l- 31 rarP~ The object of the invention is to provide a disposable all-in-one diaper comprising fastening means of the hook-and-pile type; a first part of said fastening means being a first piece of hook-and-pilp 'e fastener integral with said external support sheet near one longitudinal end of said diaper, and a second part of said fastening means at the other longitudinal end of said diaper; said second part comprising first and second flexible tongue means each having first and second ends, characterized in that each of said first ends is .ermanently attached to said support sheet by adhesive or fusion, and each of said second ends has a second piece of hook-and-pile type fastener complementary to the said first piece mounted on each of said second ends by adhesive or fusion.

C c cc tCe C 9 C C t t S 4 0 t o 0 0 00 ou AR P 4- k- 4 IM 4- 4 4 In nnnri Am n A i H n t 1P n n innan comprising ing means of the buckles or grips type of which the first part with buckles or grips tegral with the support sheet, characterized in that the second part with buckles or complementary to the first, is mounted on the free end section of a tongue integra 'h the support The first part is preferably a part withf for example, a patch of teased mesh fabric, the complementary part being part of the fastener with bob S i, t I C( C C C CC oC2O rC The advantage of such an arrangement is that it makes a simple and efficient assembly of the sec6nd part possible with already known means for making adhesive-coated fasteners. In particular, the part can be fixed simply by gluing, with a hot melt glue, for example.

Another advantage resides in the great saving of material that it enables to make. Thus, the size of the part withg jof the fastener can be limited to that strictly required for the fastening function.

00 By choosing a tongue of flexible but not very deformable material, an even o distribution of shearing stresses on the linkage between the parts and the o0 tongue can be ensured, thereby limiting the risks of the part separating.

o This result could not be obtained if this small part were fixed directly to the external support sheet, usually of polyethylene, which is flexible but not very strong, the shearing stresses then causing deformation of the 0 14 0 support sheet, which results in the progressive loosening of the linkage.

In addition, with the solution according to the invention, an externalsheet PIoCN op fastening linkage as wide as possible maybe chosen in order to avoid plastic the sheet without being obliged to increase the size of the part.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages will become apparent on reading the following specification of a mode of embodiment,

I

4I .rc c r or or 0 Ori accompanied by drawings in which Figure 1 shows a disposable all-in-one diaper according to the invention Figure 2 is an enlarged view of' one of the fasteners Figure 3 is a sectional view along III-III in Figure 2 Figure 4 is a diagram of a part of a device for mounting fasteners on diapers.

Figure 1 shows a disposable all-in-one diaper designated by reference 1 it is viewed from the side designed to come into contact with the skin of tc the user. It comprises an absorbent pad 2 of substantially rectangular form, 15 consisting of an absorbent material of cellulose fibres obtained, for example, by dry-grinding paper pulp, held between an external support sheet 3 and C a sheet 4 permeable to liquids, designed to come into contact with the skin.

The materials are generally polyethylene for the support sheet, and a nonwoven fabric obtained by direct spinning for sheet 4, but other materials 20 also are used. The support sheet is usually impermeable, but it can also have a certain permeability or be combined with an additional impermeable oo o sheet placed between it and the absorbent material. The two sheets are joined 00 to one another in a manner such as to form a closed pocket. The pad can com- S prise rounded cuts corresponding to the contour of the thighs of the user and in this area be provided, on both sides, with an absorbent mass, short elastic fibres or other means of conforming to the anatomy of the user, thereby avoiding leaks.

The pad comprises lateral fasteners, 5 and 6, in the proximity of edge 21.

These fasteners included a tongue 51,61 of rectangular shape, joined to the pad by an end section, and made of a flexible but not very deformable material. This material can be polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, paper, non-woven fabric, or else a laminated structure consisting of two or more layers of the preceding materials. This can be, for example, a non-woven fabric made by direct spinning of polyester combined with a polyesteer film.

ii ICI -LY- 15~ According to the invention, the fastener also comprises a fastening part of the VELCRO type 52, 62, fixed onto the face of the tongue on the sheet 4 side, near its free edge. This part is joined preferably by gluing, but it can also be fused.

Near edge 22, opposite edge 21, the pad comprises at least one fastening part of the VELCRO type 8, complementary to the parts mounted on the fasteneners. This part is joined by gluing or fusing to the support sheet. Pre- -Sok ferably, parts 52, 62 of the fasteners are of the type with/?, and part 8 is of the type with/ E for example, of teased mesh fabric.

According to the mode of embodiment shown, part 8 is rectangular and extends over a substantial part of the width of the pad in order to give a sufficient margin for adjustment when the diaper is fitted. However, other embodiments are envisageable, for example, two or three parts in the form of patches can be placed appropriately on this face to make optimum adjustment of fasteners 5 and 6 possible.

Fastener 5 is shown in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3. Tongue 51 is joined ,jto the support sheet, along one end section, by means of a continuous or 'o discontinuous layer of an adhesive substance which is preferably hot melt 90 ho kS 6oo glue. Part 52 with/^~ is fastened to the tongue by means of a continuous or discontinuous layer of adhesive substance 55 which can be same as the o preceding one. Part 52 is fixed set back slightly from the free edge of tongue 51 to make a prehensile strip 54. This strip can be obtained by folding the tongue over onto itself, thereby forming a padded strip, making it easier Sto grasp the fastener.

Fastener 6 is made in the same way as fastenei 5. It includes a tongue 61, Ihooks a part withf~r:p 62, fixed to the tongue by an adhesive layer 65, and a prehensile strip 64.

In a variant, not shown, the end of the fastener can be applied not to the external face of the support sheet, but placed between the support sheet and the permeable sheet so that the linkage of the fastener to the pad has a greater tear strength.

Figure 4 shows an example of a device for making fasteners according to the invention and their linkage to the pad.

Ribbon 10 is unwound from a reel mounted on a winder, its width being equal to the length of the tongue of the fasteners. A spraygun 12 comprising two nozzles of defined width deposits hot melt glue along the two parallel strips.

It is evidently possible to apply the glue along a single strip. Thereafter, h oo-<S ribbon 14, made of material constituting the parts with is unwound from a reel mounted on a second winder and deposited on the adhesive-coated part of ribbon 10 provided for that purpose, with application of pressure by passing it between rollers 16.

The double ribbon then reaches a cutting and transfer station which comprises, S in a manner known in itself, a knife 18 cooperating with a partially perforated drum 19, whose internal volume is maintained at reduced pressure. This drum carries along, at regular intervals, a fastener cut by knife 18 and places it on polyethylene film 20, constituting the diaper support sheet, to which it is fastened by means of the adhesive layer.

#OI

,0 In the variant where the fastener is joined between the two sheets of the cover, film 20 onto which the fastener is placed can be the film of permeable o, material or the film for the support, it being possible to apply the coating 0 a 0 with the adhesive material directly to one of the two films.

eD 0 .1 tM Wa I11~W U.

Claims

1. A disposable all-in-one diaper comprising an external support sheet composed of a disposable and non-reusable material, an internal sheet permeable to liquids composed of a disposable and non-reusable material, an absorbent pad of elongated form including a liquid-absorbent mass composed of a disposable and non-reusable material between said external support sheet and said internal sheet, and fastening means for maintaining the diaper around the waist of a user; a first part of said fastening means being a first piece of hook-and-pile type fastener integral with said external support sheet near one longitudinal end of said diaper, and a second part of said fastening means i at the other longitudinal end of said diaper; said second part comprising first and second flexible tongue means each having first and second ends, characterized in that each of said first ends is 2P permanently attached to said support sheet by adhesive or fusion, and each of said second ends has a second C piece of hook-and-pile type fastener complementary to C cc C 9 4 the said first piece mounted on each of said second ends by adhesive or fusion. So 2. A diaper according to Claim i, characterized in that So each second piece is fixed to each tongue means by o00 Oa0 gluing. o 2 3. A diaper according to either Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each second piece is set back from the edge of the second end of each tongue means %0.a in a manner such as to make a prehensile strip.

4. A diaper according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first piece is with pile, the second piece with hooks. 8 A diaper according to one of the principal claims, characterized in that the tongue means of the second part is of paper.

6. A diaper according to any of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tongue means is of a material such as polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene.

7. A diaper according to any of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tongue means is of non-woven material.

8. A diaper according to any of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tongue means is a laminated complex comprising two or more materials according to Claims 5 to 7. C c

9. A diaper according to any of the preceding claims, 4 ,20 characterized in that the tongue means is fastened to the pad between the internal rErmeable sheet and the Sexternal support sheet. 4 0 A diaper substantially as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to any one of figures 1 to 3. DATED: 4 January, 1990 o PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: BEGHIN-SAY, SA 043,~