CA1109202A - Disposable undergarments - Google Patents
Disposable undergarmentsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1109202A CA1109202A CA283,264A CA283264A CA1109202A CA 1109202 A CA1109202 A CA 1109202A CA 283264 A CA283264 A CA 283264A CA 1109202 A CA1109202 A CA 1109202A
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- undergarment
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- disposable undergarment
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- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
- Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A unitary, multi-layer disposable undergarment such as a panty adapted for use in training infants or for use by incon-tinent adults or children is provided. The undergarment is con-structed from a non-woven, stretchable fabric and comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion, a self-fitting waist portion and self-fitting leg apertures. The preferred undergarment has an-inner ply of stretchable fabric adapted to contact an infant's skin, a moisture-impervious or moisture re-tardant outer ply and an intermediate liquid-absorbent layer or panel disposed therebetween. The inner and outer plies prefer-ably are constructed from a non-woven fabric which has been micropleated in the machine direction and compacted in the cross direction to provide the desired stretch characteristics. The inner and outer plies are formed from substantially hour-glass shaped blanks having longitudinally oblong side cut-outs which blanks are cut from the micropleated, cross-compacted web so that the micropleats are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the blank to provide the desired stretch in the leg and crotch area.
Description
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Background of the Invention In recent years, disposable diapers have met with in-creased commercial accep-tance primarily because of their conven-ience as opposed to cloth diapers which neéd to be laundered once soiled. There exists, however, a need for a disposable training panty which can be ~sed during the transition period between dia-pers and reusable undergarments. An undergarment of this general type would also be useful with incontinent adults and children because of their absorbent properties, fit, and disposability.
Currently available training pants are generally made ~rom ~nitted or woven cloth, such as cotton, or cotton-polyester blenas. They may or may not include additional absorbent layers in the crotch area and they may include a water-repellent outer layer. Non-disposable training pants are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos~ 2,733,715, 3j237,625, 3,368,563, 3,530,859 and 3,613,687.
The prior art and commercially available training pants suffer from a number of disadvantages, however. Aside fro~ the obvious disadvantage of having to be laundered, the primary dis-advantage of the currently available conventional cloth training panty i5 the problem of liquid strike-through. The prior art has attempted to solve this problem by providing areas of extra ab-sorbency utilizing, for example, terrycloth or a piled fabric in the crotch portion of the panty and/or additionally including a water-repellent outer layer in the crotch area, or over the entire outer surface of the panty. However, as anyone knows who has ventured through the traumatic training period with their ~abies, the prior art simply has not provided a satisfactory solution. .
For ~he above reasons, many mothers continue to use diapers during -the training period, rather than suf~er the
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Background of the Invention In recent years, disposable diapers have met with in-creased commercial accep-tance primarily because of their conven-ience as opposed to cloth diapers which neéd to be laundered once soiled. There exists, however, a need for a disposable training panty which can be ~sed during the transition period between dia-pers and reusable undergarments. An undergarment of this general type would also be useful with incontinent adults and children because of their absorbent properties, fit, and disposability.
Currently available training pants are generally made ~rom ~nitted or woven cloth, such as cotton, or cotton-polyester blenas. They may or may not include additional absorbent layers in the crotch area and they may include a water-repellent outer layer. Non-disposable training pants are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos~ 2,733,715, 3j237,625, 3,368,563, 3,530,859 and 3,613,687.
The prior art and commercially available training pants suffer from a number of disadvantages, however. Aside fro~ the obvious disadvantage of having to be laundered, the primary dis-advantage of the currently available conventional cloth training panty i5 the problem of liquid strike-through. The prior art has attempted to solve this problem by providing areas of extra ab-sorbency utilizing, for example, terrycloth or a piled fabric in the crotch portion of the panty and/or additionally including a water-repellent outer layer in the crotch area, or over the entire outer surface of the panty. However, as anyone knows who has ventured through the traumatic training period with their ~abies, the prior art simply has not provided a satisfactory solution. .
For ~he above reasons, many mothers continue to use diapers during -the training period, rather than suf~er the
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3.~ 2 annoyance of liquid strike-through ~Ihen their child naS an acci-dent. While the use o diapers suhstantially reduces the problem of liquid strike-through, diaper use during the training period is highly undesirable and tends to prolong the periOd required to completely train the child. Psychologically, it is desirzble for children to be in panties during the training period so ~heY are ware of no longer being babies and are more aware or accidents.
Aside from the undesirable psychological drawbacks of continuing to use diapers during the training period, di~posable diapers present an economic drawback. Disposable diapers generally utilize tape tab fasteners in place of safety pins as fa~tening means. When the tabs are removed so that the child can be placed on the toilet, the unsoiled diaper must be discarded because the currently a~ailable tahs are for a single'use only and usually tear the backing fzbric when they are pulled away.
A variety of disposable panties are kno~m. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,424,162, 3,599,638, 3t599,640 and 3r636,953. Such panties are provided with or adapted to receive a sanitary napkin in the crot~h portion of the panty and are not adapted to deal with the liquid strike-through problem encountered during the training period or with incontinent adults or children.
Similarly, the disposable panty types disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,663,962, 3,245,407 and 3r488,778, do not satisfy the need for a disposable training panty,because the panties are either non-absorbent, such as plastic, or lack the necessary fit in the leg and waist area to prevent the problem of liquid strike-through and leakage.
Summary of the Invention , ~he disposable undergarment of this invention,' on the other hand, is particularly well adapted to be used as a training ' . ~ G`, OZ '' panty during the training period. The undergarment is constructed of one or more plies of strétchable non-woven fa~ric. Preferabl~, several plies of stretcha~le, non-woven fabric are utilized to provide different absorption and moisture-permeability character-istics for the inner and the outer layer of the undergarment, as - well as good conformability and fit without attendant ~ulkiness.
The inner, or faclng, layer of the undergarment provides an inner-most ply having a soft surface for contact with the ~7earer's skin, readily-permits passage of excreted body liquids therethrough, and can provide an absorbent mass for body liquids as well, if desired. The outer, or backing, layer of the undergarment, on the other hand, presents at least one ply which is an effective liquid barrier and which prevents or substantially minil~izes body li~uid strike-through. In a preferred em~odiment of this inven-tion, the non-woven outer fabric layer, as well as the non-woven inner fabric layer, are micropleated in the machine direction of ~he fabric and compacted in the cross-direction of the-fabric to give enhanced stretch or exten~ibility characteristics.
The preferred disposable undergarment comprises two stretchable, non-woven fabric layers having one or more plies each, preferably compressively-shrunk non-woven fabrics, and an absorbent layer or panel whi~h is disposed between the inner and out~r layers at least in the crotch portio~ of the undergarment.
If desired, the absorbent layer can extend further up the back and/or the front portions of the undergarment. The undersarment has a self-fitting ~raist aperture and self-fitting leg apertures.
Fabric blanks for manufacturing the undergarment of this invention are laid out and cut to provide a substantially hour-glass shape of which one end panel is adapted to become the front portion o~ the undergarment, another end panel is adapted to become the back or rear portion of the undergarment, and an intermediate xegion of the blank is adapted to beco~e the crotch portion of the 3~
undergarment. Longitudinally oblong cut-outs in the blz~k pro-vide leg apertures when an undergarment is formed from the bIank.
Elasticity can be impa~ted to the waistband portion of th~ under-garment by the use of a thermoplastic~ heat-sealable elastic material which can be laid down along the waistband region of the blank, stretched during heat-sealing, and then allowed to relax after the heat-sealinq process, gathering at least a portion of the fabric in the waistband region~ Fit in the waistband area and he leg area is enhanced by cutting the blanks from a cross-compacted and micropleated fabric so that the micropLeats r~nalong the lsngitudinal cente~ line of the blank, that is, from one waistband edge to the other waistband edge, and the com-paction runs substantially parallel to the micropleats, i.e., substantially normal to the machine direction of the fabric we~
during micropleating.
A further feature of the preferred disposable undergar-m~nts of this invention is the seam construction for joining the front and back portions of the undergarment to form the waist apexture and the leg apertures. According to this feature, side marglns of a pair of superimposed blanks are overlapped and joined so that the seam comprises only three ply thicknesses at any given location along the seam. That is, in the ovexlapping region, one o~ the outer plies abuts one of the inner plies while the other outér ply and the otner inn~r ply extend from opposite sides over the abutting plies.
The resulting product not only provides an undergarmen, which minimizes liquid strike-through problems while at the same time improving fit around the waist and leg areas, but does so with a novel arrangement of components which give the feel of a more costly cloth garment while being sufficiently ine.Ypensive tc 3~ 2 be disposed of after a single use. Thus, the garment of the present invention solves many of the problems inherent in the past, and constitutes a significant advance in the art.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a unitary, multilayer, disposable undergarment, suitable for use in training infants or with incontinent children or adults, constructed from a non-woven micropleated, cross-compacted fabric, and comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion connecting said front portion and said rear portion, and first and second side seams defining a self-fitting waist aperture and self-fitting leg apertures, said undergarment having a moisture-pervious inner layer adapted to contact the skin of the wearer, a moisture-impervious outer layer, and an intermediate liquid-absorbent panel disposed therebetween, micropleats in said fabric running parallel to the longitudinal center line of said front and rear portions of said undergarment and said fabric being more extensible in a direction substantially nor-mal to said longitudinal center linesO
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stretchable, integ~al blank of non-woven fabric suitable for forming a disposable undergarment, said blank being cut to define a front panel, a rear panel, and a crotch portion therebetween having first and second longitudinally oblong opposed cu~outs symmetrically situated on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said blank, each of said cut-outs extending from said front panel to said back panel along each longitudinal side margin of said blank, the radius of curvature of each said cut-out near the front panel being smaller than the radius of curvature of said cut-out near the back panels, said blank having an ex-tensibility to failure of at least about 40 percent along the j - 6 ~ .
longitudinal center line of said blank and at least ahout 30 percent in the direction substantially normal to said longi-tudinal center line said blank having a ribbed surface on one face thereof and a puffed surface on the other face there-of, and said front panel and said rear panel being asymmetri-cally positioned with respect to the longitudinal center line of said blanX.
Brief_Description of_the Drawin~s The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to the following detailed descxiption taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a disposable train-ing panty embodying this invention, FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the disposable training panty illustrated in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of another em-bodiment of the disposable training panty of this invention;
FIGURE 4 is a further embodiment of the disposable txaining panty of this invention, FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an assembly used to form the training panty illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 FIGURE 6 is a plan view of an assembly used to form the training panty of FIGURES 1 and 2 and having an absoxbent layer or panel positioned in the crotch area thereof:
FIGURE 7 is a plan view of an assembly utilizing two superimposed blanks used to form the training panty of FIGURES
1 and 2 after the leg and waist portions have been joined in a stretchable fashion, with parts of the uppermost blank folded away to show interior construction, ,~
- 6a -Z~2 FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the side seam portion of the disposable training panty taken along plane 8-8 of FIGURE 2, FIGURE 9 is an enlarged view of the front surface of the preferred fabric used in constructing the training panty of this invention, FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view of the back surface of - 6b -~k ~, . . .
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the fabric of FIGURE 9;
- FIGURE 11 is a plan view of an assembl~ used to form an embodiment of the disposable training panty of this inven-tion wherein the waistband portion of the blank has been folded over a heat-sealable, stretchable material;
FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the assembly of FIGURE ll after the waistband portions have been sealed;
FIGURE 13 is a view of an assembl~ similar to that shown in FIGURE ll and additionally having an absorbent layer or panel sealed at the leg portions to the single blank;
- FIGURE 14 is a cross-seGtional view of another suitable side seam construction;
FIGURE 15 is an end view of yet another side seam con-structio~ that can be utilized;
FIGURE 16 is a plan view of an asymmetric blank suit-able for manufacture of an undergarment embodying the present invention; and FIGURE 17 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of an assem~ly utilized to form a panty of this invention.
Detail~d Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a dispos-able training panty which is adapted to be used during the train-iny period of an infant. Baby training panty l is preferably constructed from a light-weight, non-woven fabric formed pre-dominantly of short-length cellulosic f.ibers with a minor per-centage of long fibers in a non-woven web OL the type disclosed in U,S. Patent No. 3,633,348 to Liloia et al. Other non-woven webs that can be used are the so-called transition webs manufac-tured by the process disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,768,1~8 to Ruffo et al. Other suitable webs are carded or spun-bonded long-fiber non-woven webs such as those disclosed in U.S. Pa-tent No.
3,815,602.
ZO~: , Prior to being cut into a blank suitable for use in the construc-tion of the ~aby panty of this invention, the non-woYen web can be made stretchable by compressive shrInking, preferably ~y com-pacting the fabric in the cross direction and micropleating in the machine direction, so that the extensibility to rupture prefer-ably is at least about 30 percent, and more preferably greater that about 55 percent, in the machine direction, and preferably at least about 40 percent, and more preferably greater than about 60 percent, in the cross directionq Such a fabric will be herein-after referred to as a compressively-shrunk fabric.
Compressively shrunk non-woven fabrics can be made by subjecting a non-woven fabric web to creping, micropleating, ru~ber belt compressing, or compacting in either the machine direction or the cross direction of the fabric. For optimum stretchability or extensibility, the abric web can be subjected to a combination of two or more of the aforementioned treatments.
For the purposes of the present invention a particularly pre-ferred compressively shrunk fabric is one which has been com-pacted in the cross direction by passa~e through nested bowed rolls of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,171,579 to Robertson and thereafter micropleated according to the teachings of U.S.
Patent No. 3,390,2I8 to Painter et al. and U.S. Patent No.
3,556,921 to Painter et al. After micropleating, the compres-sively shrunk fabric exhibits a plurality of discontinuous pleats across the width of the fabric, which pleats are made up of relatively smaller pleats interrupted in the transverse direc-tion of the fabric by relatively larger pleats. As can be seen from FIGURES 9 and 10, a pleat pattern of relatively smaller pleats 41 and relatively larger pleats 42 extends across the fabric ~idth, each of the relatively larger pleats having : ;
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adjacent thereto a relatively smallPr pleat both in the longitu-dinal and in the transverse directions. Stated in another ~lay, each relatively longer pleat is separated rom nearest pleat Oc substantially the same size by a relativelY smaller pleat. One surface of the micropleated web is puffed surface 40 and the other surface is ribbed surface 38 having a relatively softer hand. Micropleated fabrics generally have about 8 to about 20 rows o micropleats per inchO
Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, in the preferred embodi-ment, baby training panty 1 is a multi-layered construction having a front portion 2, a rear portion 3, crotch portion 4, front waistband section 5 and rear waistband section 6 which together form a self-fitting waistband, si~e seams 7 and 8, and self-fitting leg apertures 9 and 10. Side seams 7 and 8 are secured by securement lines such as glue lines 11 and 13, re-spectively.
Baby training panty 1 is constructed from paired superimposed fabric blanks such as stretchable integral blank 12 which is shown in FIGURE 16 to be a rectangular member having a length dimension greater than the width dimension. As will here-inafter appear, the paired blanXs 12 form the inner and outer layers of the panty garment, and both blanks axe identical in size and shape. The configuration of each blank 12 defines front panel 14, back panel 18 and crotch portion 16 therebetween. Longitu--dinally oblong opposed cut-outs 20 and 22 form leg apertures 9 and 10 of panty 1~ Cut-outs 20 and 22 are positioned on opposite sides of longitudinal center line ~4 of blank 12 and e~tend f~om front panel 14 to back panel 18 on each longitudinal side of the blank and define the side edges of crotch portion 16. T~e radius of curvature of cut-outs 20 and 22 near front panel 14 is smaller than the radius of curvature near back panel 18.
Front and back panels or portions 14-and 18 sf each of the two blanks are substantially the same ~lidth and are asym~m2tric, having une~ual distan.ces from opposite side edges of each portion to the longitudinal center line of the blanks. That is, the distance from the side edge of front portion longitudinal side margin 29 to the longitudinal center line 24 of blank 12 is gr~ater than the distance from the side edge o opposed front portion longitudinal side margin 28 to center line 24. Similarly, the distance from the side edge of back portion side margin 30 to longitudinal center line 24 is less than the di5tance from the side edge of opposed back portion side margin 32 to center line 2~.
Stated in another way, the distance from the side edge margin 26 to .center line 24 is greater than the distance from the side edge of margin 30 to center line 2~ and the distance rom the side edge of margin 28 to center line 24 is less than the distance from the side edge of margin 32 to center line 24.
Blank 12 can also be characterized as havin~ front panel or portion 14 and the back or rear panel or portion 18 asymmet-ZO rically positioned with xespect to the longitudinal center line24 of the blank. Such an arrangement provides the unique seam construction illustrated in FIGURE 8 and discussed hereinbelow.
Blank 12 additionally defines front waistband edge 34 and back waistband edge 36.
In order to provide the desired stretch in the walst-band area, blank 12 is cut from a micropleated, cross-compacted non-woven fabric web so that the micropleats preferably run along, i.e., substantially parallel to, longitudinal center line 24 of the blank and the cross-compaction runs substantially normal to the direction of micropleating. The blanks are cut .
in this manner for optimum stxetch and fit in the leg ar a.
Referring now to FIGURES 5, 9 and 10, in construct-ing panty 1, blank 12 is positioned so that ribbed surface 38 (FIGURE 9) of one face of the micropleated, cross-compacted fabric faces downwardly and puffed surface 40 ( FIGURE 10) formed during micropleating on the other face of the fabric faces upwardly~ Strip 42 of an elastomeric material such as an elastic natural rubber tape (e.g., L-l900 rubber compound which is commercially available from Easthampto~ Rubber Thread Company) is disposed along front waistband transverse edge 34 of blank 12 and strip 44 of a like elastomeric material is disposed along back waistband transverse edge 36. Strips 42 - and 44 are secured in place on the blank by, for example, double-sided transfer tape, such as ~o. 465 high-tack pressure-sensitive tap~ availablefrom the Minnesota Mining and Manu-facturing Co., St. Paul, MinnesotaO
It is preferred to provide stretch in the waistband by utilizing strips or extruded beads of thermoplastic elasto-meric materials such as heat-sealable, elastomeric block co-polymers of styrene and isoprene or a similar diene. Matérials of this general type are commercially available from Shell Chemical Company and identified by the Registered Trademark "KRATON". Similarly, elastorneric strips of the polyolefin type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,245,407 to Mason and elas- --tomeric strips of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
3,639,917 to Althouse can also be utilized. Also suitable are flexible heat-shrinkable polyurethane strips of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,912,565 to Koch et al~
Before blanks 12 and 112 are supermiposed, adhesive ~eads or strips 54, 56, 58 and 60 are deposited along the transverse axis of the blank substantially parallel'to the outer margins 26, 28, 30 and 32, respectively, of bla~k 12. The two blanks are then secured together along the glue lines depicted in ~IGURE 5, for ease of manufacture preferably prior to forming the heat-sealed waistband areas 5 and 6. Side seams J and 8 of panty 1 can be formed as described hereinbelow.
The fit in the leg area can be further enhanced by extruding or otherwise suitably depositing beads of hot-melt elastic 62 and 64 as shown i~ FIGURE 5. Suitable for this pur-pose are aforementioned thermoplastic elastomeric compositionscommercially available from Shell Chemical Company under the designation "Kraton".
Glue lines 54 and 56 are extruded onto adjacent longi-tudinal front panel side margins 26 and 28 of blank 12, respec-tively. Similarly glue lines 58 and 60 are deposited adjacent longitudinal'bac~ panel side margins 30 and 32, respectively,'to secure another blank over blank 12 when a multilayer garment is manuactured. The same set of glue lines is used to secure both blanks together, thus there is no need for an additional set of glue lines on the superimposed blank. Beads 62 and 64 of a hot-melt elastomeric material or the like (e.g., elastomeric block copolymers of styrene and isoprene) can be laid down along the margins of oblong cut outs 20 and 22 to provide a gasketing effect and to enhance fit in the leg area. Glue lines 58 a~d 60 and gasketing beads 6'~ and 64 can be of the same material or di~ferent, depending on the assembly methods that are used and the ultimate end us~ of the product.
When blanks 12 and 112 are secured together, the elasto-meric beads 62 and 64 which act as securement means also provide additional stretchability in the leg area as well as providing ~%~2 a li~uid-impervious barrier around the leg apertures. Extrud~d beads of an elastomeric composition such as gum rubb~r and the like, suitably secured to blanks 12 and 112, can also be used to this end.
The outermost of the two blanks, i.e., the blank which ultimately defines the outer surface of the training panty of this invention, preferably has different moisture permeability characteristics from those of the blank which defines the inner-most layer of the training panty. The former can be provided with an inherent moisture barrier which can be sprayed on or incorporated into the web from which the blank is cut during the manufacture thereof ~y appropriate use of fibers, binders and/or-surfactants. The latter, i.e., the innermost blank, on the other hand is pre~erably non-wettable albeit moisture permeable.
Again the desired non-wettability and moisture permeability characteristics can be obtained by suitable selection of fibers, binders, and/or surfactants during web manufacture.
- If desired, an absorbent inner la~er 66 of hydrophilic foam or unbonded cellulosic fluff can be disposed in the crotch area or portion 16 of blank 12. As shown in FIGURE 6, the mld-portion of absorbent inner layer 66 can be contoured to substan- -tially the same configuration as crotch portion 16 of blank 12.
Absorbent inner layer can also have an upper portion 68 which extends over a part of front panel 14 of blank 1~, crotch portion 70 which is longitudinally coextensive but horizontally non-coextensive with crotch portion 16 of blank 12 and lower por,ion 72 which extends over a part of bac~ panel 18 of blank 12. How-ever, it is to be understood that the absorbent inner layer can have any desired configuration and can be, for example, substan-tially coextensive with blank 12 or can be located simply in the crotch area or portion 16~
If absorbent inner layer 66 is disposed in the cro~cn area or portion 16 or blank 12 before blank 112 is superimposed thereon, it is not necessary to adhere the absorbent inner layer 66 to the blank 12. However, adhesive can be used if additional securement is desiredn Referring now to FIGURE 7, when baby panty 1 lS assembled, a second blank substantially identical in configuration to blank 12 is superimposed over blank 12. For purposes of clarity the second blank will ~e hereafter identified as blank 112 and the blank ele~ents corresponding to the same elements of blank 12 will be identified by 100-series legends having the same last two digits.
The blanks are superimposed so that the puffy surface of blank 112 faces and is juxtaposed to the exposed puffy surface of blank 12.
When blanks 12 and 112 are superimposed, margin 26 of blank 12 . . .
extends beyond adjacent margin 128 of blank 112 and margin 32 of blank 12 extends.beyond adjacent margin 130 of blank 112. Simil-arly, margin 126 of blank 112 extends over margin 28 of blank 12 and maxgin 132 of blank 112 extends over margin 30 of blank 12.
.. . . . . . .
Elastic stxip 42 is pre-stretched on blank 12 and sec-20 ured to form gathered rear waistband section 6. Tabs 46, 48, 50 and 52 are then preferably cut off. ~hen strips 42 and 44 are thermoplastic, securement by hea-t sealing is the method of choice.
The preferred method of heat-sealing is by intermittent heat-seal . . .
regions which provide ridges simulating stitching in the ~inished waistband.
In FIGURE 3, training panty 100 is made of similarly contoured blanks as training panty 1 but thermoplastic heat-- sealable elastic material 101 utilized in the waistband of panty 1 is also utilized to provide self-fit-ting leg apertures 102 and 104 of training panty 100. FIGURE 4 depicts trainin~ panty 106 .~Jhich is similar to trainin~ panty 1 but wherein con~inuous hot-, ~
~.~39~
melt elastic bead 107,. is used to enhance stretch in the waist~and area as well as in the leg area.
Side seams 7 and 8 can be formed in several ways. The preferred construction is sho~n in FIGURE 8. Longitudinal side margins 28 and 130 of blanks 12 and 112 respectively are butte, together. Margin 32 of blank 12 is then lapped over abutting margins 28 and 130 on one side and margin 126 is lapped over th~
same abutting margins on the other side to form side seam 7 (FIGURE 2) which is then sealed with additional glue lines 80 and ~6~ Similarly, the seam.on the opposite side of the panty, i.e., seam 8, is farmed by abutting margin 30 with margin 138 ' and then lapping over the abutting margins, margin 26 on one ,side thereof and margin 132 on.the other side thereof, and by securing the lapped margins by means of glue lines 82 and 84.
Such a side seam construction provides a side seam that is only three layers thick. As can be seen from FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8, while the blanks that are utilized to form a training panty ~ -having the preferr~d seam construction are asymmetric as dis-cussed in detail hereinabove, the glue lines such as lines 54, -- 56, 58, 60, 62 and,64 that are laid down or extxuded onto blank lZ during the assembly process are'symmetric with respect to longitudinal centerline 24~ That is, glue lines 56 and 58 are closer to the respective outermost edges of margins 28 and 30 than are glue lines 54 and 60 relative to respective'margins 26 and 32.
Since the fabric to adhesive bond is weaker than the fabric itself, the preferred seam construction described here-inabove and illustrated in FIGURE 8 permits the panty to be torn apart at the seams for easier removal when the pant~ is soiled.
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Referring to FIGURES 14 and 15, panty side seam can alternatively be constructed by alternativel~f lapping margins 26, 30, 126 and 130 or by lapFing margins 26 and 126 over sand-wiched edges 30 and 130, it belng understood that margins 30 and 130 could overlie sandwiched margins 26 and 126 and the order of lapping illustrated in FIGURE 14 could be reversed, if desired. The seam is then secured with glue lines such as lines 81, 83, 85 and 87 in FIGU~E 14 and ylue lines 88, 90, 92, 94 and 96 in FIGURE 15. An asymm~tric blank is not necessary for ihe i0 latter two seam constructions.
When the panty is worn, the rlbbed surface such as surface 38 in FIGUP~ 9 of one of the blanks faces the baby and forms the panty inner surface and similar ribbed surface o~ the other blank forms the outer surface of the panty. The pu~fed surfaces such as surface 40 in FIGURE 10 face one another.
In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 11, the training panty of this invention can be constructed from a single blank 212 of micropleated, cross-compacted abric which is pro-.:. . .................... . . . . . .
~ided with side margins 226, 228, 230 and 232 as ~ell as opposed oblong cut-outs 220 and 222. Elastomeric strips 242 and 244 are laid do~Jn as described in connection with FIGURE 5, with tabs 246 and 248 ex~ending from side margins 226 and 228,respectively, of blank 212 and tabs 250 and 252 extending from sides 20 and 232, respectively. Edges 234 and 236 are folded over strips 242 and 244, respectively, as shown in FIGURE 11, and sealed 2s descri~ed hereinabove to provide waistband front and rear por-tions 260 and 262, as shown in FIGURE 12 Tabs 246, 248, 250 and 252 are cut off, blank 212 is folded, and edges 228 and 232, and 226 and 233 are overlapped and secured.
Referring to FIGURE 13, if desired, an absorbent layer or panel 264, enveloped in or covered with a moisture-per~ious ,~L3LO~
facing if desired, can be placed in the crotch area 216 of blank 212 and sealed thereto by heat-sealable adhesive strips 26~ and 268, shown in phantom in the area of oblong cut-outs 220 and 222, before formation of the side seams.
A further embodiment is shown in FIGURE 17. In con-structing a training panty in accordance with this invention, a contoured blank 312, as shown in FIGURE 16, is positioned so that the puffy surface 340 faces upwardly as described hexeinabove. A non-contoured, horizontally non-coextensive facing layer 300 having a rectangular configuration overlies the longitudinal midportion of blank 312 so that front waist-band edge 334 is aligned with waistband edge 334 of blank 312 and waistband edge 336 is aligned with waistband edge 336.
Facing layer 300 is, of course, moistuxe-perme~ble, and an --absorben~ panel can be sandwiched be~ween facing layer 300 and blank 312 which in this case forms the backing layerO
T~e absorbent panel in ~his case extends from about ~he waist region of front portion of the undergarment defined by panel 314 to the waist region of back portion of the undergarment defined by panel 318. A portion of the waistband of the panty (not shown~ can be gathered to enhance fit, if desired.
Similarly, beads of an elastomeric thermoplastic material can be laid down along the leg cut-outs 320 and 322 to provide a gasket around the leg apertures of the produced training panty.
The outer ply of the undergarments of this invention can be inherently hydrophobic as manufactured. On the other hand, the outer ply can be an inherently hydrophilic web which is treated so as to be moisture-repellen~ or moisture-impervious;
for example, by spraying the outer layer with a hydrophobic agent. Suitable agents include the cellulose-reactive sizing agent emulsions like those sold by Hercules, Inc. under the i~ ~
,, . ~, (3Z
Registered Trademark "AQUAPEL" and the like. A stretchableplastic film can additionally be provided overlying the outer ply as an additional moisture barrier, if desired.
Preferably, the facing layer of the undergarment, i.e., the layer contacting the wearer's skin, is non-wet-table even though this layer is moisture permeable. To this end, the facing layer can be made of a non-woven fabric which contains synthetic hydrophobic fibers or hydrophobic binders for the non-woven fabric, or the layer can be treated before or during undergarment manufacture with small amounts of a ~uitable hydrophobic agent. Preferred webs are those dis-- closed in U.S. Patent NoO 3,663,348.
The foregoing description and the drawings are in-tended as illustrative and are not to be taken as limiting.
Still other variations within the spirit and scope of this invention are possible and will present themselves to one skilled in the art.
, , .
Aside from the undesirable psychological drawbacks of continuing to use diapers during the training period, di~posable diapers present an economic drawback. Disposable diapers generally utilize tape tab fasteners in place of safety pins as fa~tening means. When the tabs are removed so that the child can be placed on the toilet, the unsoiled diaper must be discarded because the currently a~ailable tahs are for a single'use only and usually tear the backing fzbric when they are pulled away.
A variety of disposable panties are kno~m. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,424,162, 3,599,638, 3t599,640 and 3r636,953. Such panties are provided with or adapted to receive a sanitary napkin in the crot~h portion of the panty and are not adapted to deal with the liquid strike-through problem encountered during the training period or with incontinent adults or children.
Similarly, the disposable panty types disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,663,962, 3,245,407 and 3r488,778, do not satisfy the need for a disposable training panty,because the panties are either non-absorbent, such as plastic, or lack the necessary fit in the leg and waist area to prevent the problem of liquid strike-through and leakage.
Summary of the Invention , ~he disposable undergarment of this invention,' on the other hand, is particularly well adapted to be used as a training ' . ~ G`, OZ '' panty during the training period. The undergarment is constructed of one or more plies of strétchable non-woven fa~ric. Preferabl~, several plies of stretcha~le, non-woven fabric are utilized to provide different absorption and moisture-permeability character-istics for the inner and the outer layer of the undergarment, as - well as good conformability and fit without attendant ~ulkiness.
The inner, or faclng, layer of the undergarment provides an inner-most ply having a soft surface for contact with the ~7earer's skin, readily-permits passage of excreted body liquids therethrough, and can provide an absorbent mass for body liquids as well, if desired. The outer, or backing, layer of the undergarment, on the other hand, presents at least one ply which is an effective liquid barrier and which prevents or substantially minil~izes body li~uid strike-through. In a preferred em~odiment of this inven-tion, the non-woven outer fabric layer, as well as the non-woven inner fabric layer, are micropleated in the machine direction of ~he fabric and compacted in the cross-direction of the-fabric to give enhanced stretch or exten~ibility characteristics.
The preferred disposable undergarment comprises two stretchable, non-woven fabric layers having one or more plies each, preferably compressively-shrunk non-woven fabrics, and an absorbent layer or panel whi~h is disposed between the inner and out~r layers at least in the crotch portio~ of the undergarment.
If desired, the absorbent layer can extend further up the back and/or the front portions of the undergarment. The undersarment has a self-fitting ~raist aperture and self-fitting leg apertures.
Fabric blanks for manufacturing the undergarment of this invention are laid out and cut to provide a substantially hour-glass shape of which one end panel is adapted to become the front portion o~ the undergarment, another end panel is adapted to become the back or rear portion of the undergarment, and an intermediate xegion of the blank is adapted to beco~e the crotch portion of the 3~
undergarment. Longitudinally oblong cut-outs in the blz~k pro-vide leg apertures when an undergarment is formed from the bIank.
Elasticity can be impa~ted to the waistband portion of th~ under-garment by the use of a thermoplastic~ heat-sealable elastic material which can be laid down along the waistband region of the blank, stretched during heat-sealing, and then allowed to relax after the heat-sealinq process, gathering at least a portion of the fabric in the waistband region~ Fit in the waistband area and he leg area is enhanced by cutting the blanks from a cross-compacted and micropleated fabric so that the micropLeats r~nalong the lsngitudinal cente~ line of the blank, that is, from one waistband edge to the other waistband edge, and the com-paction runs substantially parallel to the micropleats, i.e., substantially normal to the machine direction of the fabric we~
during micropleating.
A further feature of the preferred disposable undergar-m~nts of this invention is the seam construction for joining the front and back portions of the undergarment to form the waist apexture and the leg apertures. According to this feature, side marglns of a pair of superimposed blanks are overlapped and joined so that the seam comprises only three ply thicknesses at any given location along the seam. That is, in the ovexlapping region, one o~ the outer plies abuts one of the inner plies while the other outér ply and the otner inn~r ply extend from opposite sides over the abutting plies.
The resulting product not only provides an undergarmen, which minimizes liquid strike-through problems while at the same time improving fit around the waist and leg areas, but does so with a novel arrangement of components which give the feel of a more costly cloth garment while being sufficiently ine.Ypensive tc 3~ 2 be disposed of after a single use. Thus, the garment of the present invention solves many of the problems inherent in the past, and constitutes a significant advance in the art.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a unitary, multilayer, disposable undergarment, suitable for use in training infants or with incontinent children or adults, constructed from a non-woven micropleated, cross-compacted fabric, and comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion connecting said front portion and said rear portion, and first and second side seams defining a self-fitting waist aperture and self-fitting leg apertures, said undergarment having a moisture-pervious inner layer adapted to contact the skin of the wearer, a moisture-impervious outer layer, and an intermediate liquid-absorbent panel disposed therebetween, micropleats in said fabric running parallel to the longitudinal center line of said front and rear portions of said undergarment and said fabric being more extensible in a direction substantially nor-mal to said longitudinal center linesO
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stretchable, integ~al blank of non-woven fabric suitable for forming a disposable undergarment, said blank being cut to define a front panel, a rear panel, and a crotch portion therebetween having first and second longitudinally oblong opposed cu~outs symmetrically situated on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said blank, each of said cut-outs extending from said front panel to said back panel along each longitudinal side margin of said blank, the radius of curvature of each said cut-out near the front panel being smaller than the radius of curvature of said cut-out near the back panels, said blank having an ex-tensibility to failure of at least about 40 percent along the j - 6 ~ .
longitudinal center line of said blank and at least ahout 30 percent in the direction substantially normal to said longi-tudinal center line said blank having a ribbed surface on one face thereof and a puffed surface on the other face there-of, and said front panel and said rear panel being asymmetri-cally positioned with respect to the longitudinal center line of said blanX.
Brief_Description of_the Drawin~s The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to the following detailed descxiption taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a disposable train-ing panty embodying this invention, FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the disposable training panty illustrated in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of another em-bodiment of the disposable training panty of this invention;
FIGURE 4 is a further embodiment of the disposable txaining panty of this invention, FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an assembly used to form the training panty illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 FIGURE 6 is a plan view of an assembly used to form the training panty of FIGURES 1 and 2 and having an absoxbent layer or panel positioned in the crotch area thereof:
FIGURE 7 is a plan view of an assembly utilizing two superimposed blanks used to form the training panty of FIGURES
1 and 2 after the leg and waist portions have been joined in a stretchable fashion, with parts of the uppermost blank folded away to show interior construction, ,~
- 6a -Z~2 FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the side seam portion of the disposable training panty taken along plane 8-8 of FIGURE 2, FIGURE 9 is an enlarged view of the front surface of the preferred fabric used in constructing the training panty of this invention, FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view of the back surface of - 6b -~k ~, . . .
~ r ~
QZ
the fabric of FIGURE 9;
- FIGURE 11 is a plan view of an assembl~ used to form an embodiment of the disposable training panty of this inven-tion wherein the waistband portion of the blank has been folded over a heat-sealable, stretchable material;
FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the assembly of FIGURE ll after the waistband portions have been sealed;
FIGURE 13 is a view of an assembl~ similar to that shown in FIGURE ll and additionally having an absorbent layer or panel sealed at the leg portions to the single blank;
- FIGURE 14 is a cross-seGtional view of another suitable side seam construction;
FIGURE 15 is an end view of yet another side seam con-structio~ that can be utilized;
FIGURE 16 is a plan view of an asymmetric blank suit-able for manufacture of an undergarment embodying the present invention; and FIGURE 17 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of an assem~ly utilized to form a panty of this invention.
Detail~d Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a dispos-able training panty which is adapted to be used during the train-iny period of an infant. Baby training panty l is preferably constructed from a light-weight, non-woven fabric formed pre-dominantly of short-length cellulosic f.ibers with a minor per-centage of long fibers in a non-woven web OL the type disclosed in U,S. Patent No. 3,633,348 to Liloia et al. Other non-woven webs that can be used are the so-called transition webs manufac-tured by the process disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,768,1~8 to Ruffo et al. Other suitable webs are carded or spun-bonded long-fiber non-woven webs such as those disclosed in U.S. Pa-tent No.
3,815,602.
ZO~: , Prior to being cut into a blank suitable for use in the construc-tion of the ~aby panty of this invention, the non-woYen web can be made stretchable by compressive shrInking, preferably ~y com-pacting the fabric in the cross direction and micropleating in the machine direction, so that the extensibility to rupture prefer-ably is at least about 30 percent, and more preferably greater that about 55 percent, in the machine direction, and preferably at least about 40 percent, and more preferably greater than about 60 percent, in the cross directionq Such a fabric will be herein-after referred to as a compressively-shrunk fabric.
Compressively shrunk non-woven fabrics can be made by subjecting a non-woven fabric web to creping, micropleating, ru~ber belt compressing, or compacting in either the machine direction or the cross direction of the fabric. For optimum stretchability or extensibility, the abric web can be subjected to a combination of two or more of the aforementioned treatments.
For the purposes of the present invention a particularly pre-ferred compressively shrunk fabric is one which has been com-pacted in the cross direction by passa~e through nested bowed rolls of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,171,579 to Robertson and thereafter micropleated according to the teachings of U.S.
Patent No. 3,390,2I8 to Painter et al. and U.S. Patent No.
3,556,921 to Painter et al. After micropleating, the compres-sively shrunk fabric exhibits a plurality of discontinuous pleats across the width of the fabric, which pleats are made up of relatively smaller pleats interrupted in the transverse direc-tion of the fabric by relatively larger pleats. As can be seen from FIGURES 9 and 10, a pleat pattern of relatively smaller pleats 41 and relatively larger pleats 42 extends across the fabric ~idth, each of the relatively larger pleats having : ;
~z~
adjacent thereto a relatively smallPr pleat both in the longitu-dinal and in the transverse directions. Stated in another ~lay, each relatively longer pleat is separated rom nearest pleat Oc substantially the same size by a relativelY smaller pleat. One surface of the micropleated web is puffed surface 40 and the other surface is ribbed surface 38 having a relatively softer hand. Micropleated fabrics generally have about 8 to about 20 rows o micropleats per inchO
Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, in the preferred embodi-ment, baby training panty 1 is a multi-layered construction having a front portion 2, a rear portion 3, crotch portion 4, front waistband section 5 and rear waistband section 6 which together form a self-fitting waistband, si~e seams 7 and 8, and self-fitting leg apertures 9 and 10. Side seams 7 and 8 are secured by securement lines such as glue lines 11 and 13, re-spectively.
Baby training panty 1 is constructed from paired superimposed fabric blanks such as stretchable integral blank 12 which is shown in FIGURE 16 to be a rectangular member having a length dimension greater than the width dimension. As will here-inafter appear, the paired blanXs 12 form the inner and outer layers of the panty garment, and both blanks axe identical in size and shape. The configuration of each blank 12 defines front panel 14, back panel 18 and crotch portion 16 therebetween. Longitu--dinally oblong opposed cut-outs 20 and 22 form leg apertures 9 and 10 of panty 1~ Cut-outs 20 and 22 are positioned on opposite sides of longitudinal center line ~4 of blank 12 and e~tend f~om front panel 14 to back panel 18 on each longitudinal side of the blank and define the side edges of crotch portion 16. T~e radius of curvature of cut-outs 20 and 22 near front panel 14 is smaller than the radius of curvature near back panel 18.
Front and back panels or portions 14-and 18 sf each of the two blanks are substantially the same ~lidth and are asym~m2tric, having une~ual distan.ces from opposite side edges of each portion to the longitudinal center line of the blanks. That is, the distance from the side edge of front portion longitudinal side margin 29 to the longitudinal center line 24 of blank 12 is gr~ater than the distance from the side edge o opposed front portion longitudinal side margin 28 to center line 24. Similarly, the distance from the side edge of back portion side margin 30 to longitudinal center line 24 is less than the di5tance from the side edge of opposed back portion side margin 32 to center line 2~.
Stated in another way, the distance from the side edge margin 26 to .center line 24 is greater than the distance from the side edge of margin 30 to center line 2~ and the distance rom the side edge of margin 28 to center line 24 is less than the distance from the side edge of margin 32 to center line 24.
Blank 12 can also be characterized as havin~ front panel or portion 14 and the back or rear panel or portion 18 asymmet-ZO rically positioned with xespect to the longitudinal center line24 of the blank. Such an arrangement provides the unique seam construction illustrated in FIGURE 8 and discussed hereinbelow.
Blank 12 additionally defines front waistband edge 34 and back waistband edge 36.
In order to provide the desired stretch in the walst-band area, blank 12 is cut from a micropleated, cross-compacted non-woven fabric web so that the micropleats preferably run along, i.e., substantially parallel to, longitudinal center line 24 of the blank and the cross-compaction runs substantially normal to the direction of micropleating. The blanks are cut .
in this manner for optimum stxetch and fit in the leg ar a.
Referring now to FIGURES 5, 9 and 10, in construct-ing panty 1, blank 12 is positioned so that ribbed surface 38 (FIGURE 9) of one face of the micropleated, cross-compacted fabric faces downwardly and puffed surface 40 ( FIGURE 10) formed during micropleating on the other face of the fabric faces upwardly~ Strip 42 of an elastomeric material such as an elastic natural rubber tape (e.g., L-l900 rubber compound which is commercially available from Easthampto~ Rubber Thread Company) is disposed along front waistband transverse edge 34 of blank 12 and strip 44 of a like elastomeric material is disposed along back waistband transverse edge 36. Strips 42 - and 44 are secured in place on the blank by, for example, double-sided transfer tape, such as ~o. 465 high-tack pressure-sensitive tap~ availablefrom the Minnesota Mining and Manu-facturing Co., St. Paul, MinnesotaO
It is preferred to provide stretch in the waistband by utilizing strips or extruded beads of thermoplastic elasto-meric materials such as heat-sealable, elastomeric block co-polymers of styrene and isoprene or a similar diene. Matérials of this general type are commercially available from Shell Chemical Company and identified by the Registered Trademark "KRATON". Similarly, elastorneric strips of the polyolefin type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,245,407 to Mason and elas- --tomeric strips of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
3,639,917 to Althouse can also be utilized. Also suitable are flexible heat-shrinkable polyurethane strips of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,912,565 to Koch et al~
Before blanks 12 and 112 are supermiposed, adhesive ~eads or strips 54, 56, 58 and 60 are deposited along the transverse axis of the blank substantially parallel'to the outer margins 26, 28, 30 and 32, respectively, of bla~k 12. The two blanks are then secured together along the glue lines depicted in ~IGURE 5, for ease of manufacture preferably prior to forming the heat-sealed waistband areas 5 and 6. Side seams J and 8 of panty 1 can be formed as described hereinbelow.
The fit in the leg area can be further enhanced by extruding or otherwise suitably depositing beads of hot-melt elastic 62 and 64 as shown i~ FIGURE 5. Suitable for this pur-pose are aforementioned thermoplastic elastomeric compositionscommercially available from Shell Chemical Company under the designation "Kraton".
Glue lines 54 and 56 are extruded onto adjacent longi-tudinal front panel side margins 26 and 28 of blank 12, respec-tively. Similarly glue lines 58 and 60 are deposited adjacent longitudinal'bac~ panel side margins 30 and 32, respectively,'to secure another blank over blank 12 when a multilayer garment is manuactured. The same set of glue lines is used to secure both blanks together, thus there is no need for an additional set of glue lines on the superimposed blank. Beads 62 and 64 of a hot-melt elastomeric material or the like (e.g., elastomeric block copolymers of styrene and isoprene) can be laid down along the margins of oblong cut outs 20 and 22 to provide a gasketing effect and to enhance fit in the leg area. Glue lines 58 a~d 60 and gasketing beads 6'~ and 64 can be of the same material or di~ferent, depending on the assembly methods that are used and the ultimate end us~ of the product.
When blanks 12 and 112 are secured together, the elasto-meric beads 62 and 64 which act as securement means also provide additional stretchability in the leg area as well as providing ~%~2 a li~uid-impervious barrier around the leg apertures. Extrud~d beads of an elastomeric composition such as gum rubb~r and the like, suitably secured to blanks 12 and 112, can also be used to this end.
The outermost of the two blanks, i.e., the blank which ultimately defines the outer surface of the training panty of this invention, preferably has different moisture permeability characteristics from those of the blank which defines the inner-most layer of the training panty. The former can be provided with an inherent moisture barrier which can be sprayed on or incorporated into the web from which the blank is cut during the manufacture thereof ~y appropriate use of fibers, binders and/or-surfactants. The latter, i.e., the innermost blank, on the other hand is pre~erably non-wettable albeit moisture permeable.
Again the desired non-wettability and moisture permeability characteristics can be obtained by suitable selection of fibers, binders, and/or surfactants during web manufacture.
- If desired, an absorbent inner la~er 66 of hydrophilic foam or unbonded cellulosic fluff can be disposed in the crotch area or portion 16 of blank 12. As shown in FIGURE 6, the mld-portion of absorbent inner layer 66 can be contoured to substan- -tially the same configuration as crotch portion 16 of blank 12.
Absorbent inner layer can also have an upper portion 68 which extends over a part of front panel 14 of blank 1~, crotch portion 70 which is longitudinally coextensive but horizontally non-coextensive with crotch portion 16 of blank 12 and lower por,ion 72 which extends over a part of bac~ panel 18 of blank 12. How-ever, it is to be understood that the absorbent inner layer can have any desired configuration and can be, for example, substan-tially coextensive with blank 12 or can be located simply in the crotch area or portion 16~
If absorbent inner layer 66 is disposed in the cro~cn area or portion 16 or blank 12 before blank 112 is superimposed thereon, it is not necessary to adhere the absorbent inner layer 66 to the blank 12. However, adhesive can be used if additional securement is desiredn Referring now to FIGURE 7, when baby panty 1 lS assembled, a second blank substantially identical in configuration to blank 12 is superimposed over blank 12. For purposes of clarity the second blank will ~e hereafter identified as blank 112 and the blank ele~ents corresponding to the same elements of blank 12 will be identified by 100-series legends having the same last two digits.
The blanks are superimposed so that the puffy surface of blank 112 faces and is juxtaposed to the exposed puffy surface of blank 12.
When blanks 12 and 112 are superimposed, margin 26 of blank 12 . . .
extends beyond adjacent margin 128 of blank 112 and margin 32 of blank 12 extends.beyond adjacent margin 130 of blank 112. Simil-arly, margin 126 of blank 112 extends over margin 28 of blank 12 and maxgin 132 of blank 112 extends over margin 30 of blank 12.
.. . . . . . .
Elastic stxip 42 is pre-stretched on blank 12 and sec-20 ured to form gathered rear waistband section 6. Tabs 46, 48, 50 and 52 are then preferably cut off. ~hen strips 42 and 44 are thermoplastic, securement by hea-t sealing is the method of choice.
The preferred method of heat-sealing is by intermittent heat-seal . . .
regions which provide ridges simulating stitching in the ~inished waistband.
In FIGURE 3, training panty 100 is made of similarly contoured blanks as training panty 1 but thermoplastic heat-- sealable elastic material 101 utilized in the waistband of panty 1 is also utilized to provide self-fit-ting leg apertures 102 and 104 of training panty 100. FIGURE 4 depicts trainin~ panty 106 .~Jhich is similar to trainin~ panty 1 but wherein con~inuous hot-, ~
~.~39~
melt elastic bead 107,. is used to enhance stretch in the waist~and area as well as in the leg area.
Side seams 7 and 8 can be formed in several ways. The preferred construction is sho~n in FIGURE 8. Longitudinal side margins 28 and 130 of blanks 12 and 112 respectively are butte, together. Margin 32 of blank 12 is then lapped over abutting margins 28 and 130 on one side and margin 126 is lapped over th~
same abutting margins on the other side to form side seam 7 (FIGURE 2) which is then sealed with additional glue lines 80 and ~6~ Similarly, the seam.on the opposite side of the panty, i.e., seam 8, is farmed by abutting margin 30 with margin 138 ' and then lapping over the abutting margins, margin 26 on one ,side thereof and margin 132 on.the other side thereof, and by securing the lapped margins by means of glue lines 82 and 84.
Such a side seam construction provides a side seam that is only three layers thick. As can be seen from FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8, while the blanks that are utilized to form a training panty ~ -having the preferr~d seam construction are asymmetric as dis-cussed in detail hereinabove, the glue lines such as lines 54, -- 56, 58, 60, 62 and,64 that are laid down or extxuded onto blank lZ during the assembly process are'symmetric with respect to longitudinal centerline 24~ That is, glue lines 56 and 58 are closer to the respective outermost edges of margins 28 and 30 than are glue lines 54 and 60 relative to respective'margins 26 and 32.
Since the fabric to adhesive bond is weaker than the fabric itself, the preferred seam construction described here-inabove and illustrated in FIGURE 8 permits the panty to be torn apart at the seams for easier removal when the pant~ is soiled.
2~Z
Referring to FIGURES 14 and 15, panty side seam can alternatively be constructed by alternativel~f lapping margins 26, 30, 126 and 130 or by lapFing margins 26 and 126 over sand-wiched edges 30 and 130, it belng understood that margins 30 and 130 could overlie sandwiched margins 26 and 126 and the order of lapping illustrated in FIGURE 14 could be reversed, if desired. The seam is then secured with glue lines such as lines 81, 83, 85 and 87 in FIGU~E 14 and ylue lines 88, 90, 92, 94 and 96 in FIGURE 15. An asymm~tric blank is not necessary for ihe i0 latter two seam constructions.
When the panty is worn, the rlbbed surface such as surface 38 in FIGUP~ 9 of one of the blanks faces the baby and forms the panty inner surface and similar ribbed surface o~ the other blank forms the outer surface of the panty. The pu~fed surfaces such as surface 40 in FIGURE 10 face one another.
In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 11, the training panty of this invention can be constructed from a single blank 212 of micropleated, cross-compacted abric which is pro-.:. . .................... . . . . . .
~ided with side margins 226, 228, 230 and 232 as ~ell as opposed oblong cut-outs 220 and 222. Elastomeric strips 242 and 244 are laid do~Jn as described in connection with FIGURE 5, with tabs 246 and 248 ex~ending from side margins 226 and 228,respectively, of blank 212 and tabs 250 and 252 extending from sides 20 and 232, respectively. Edges 234 and 236 are folded over strips 242 and 244, respectively, as shown in FIGURE 11, and sealed 2s descri~ed hereinabove to provide waistband front and rear por-tions 260 and 262, as shown in FIGURE 12 Tabs 246, 248, 250 and 252 are cut off, blank 212 is folded, and edges 228 and 232, and 226 and 233 are overlapped and secured.
Referring to FIGURE 13, if desired, an absorbent layer or panel 264, enveloped in or covered with a moisture-per~ious ,~L3LO~
facing if desired, can be placed in the crotch area 216 of blank 212 and sealed thereto by heat-sealable adhesive strips 26~ and 268, shown in phantom in the area of oblong cut-outs 220 and 222, before formation of the side seams.
A further embodiment is shown in FIGURE 17. In con-structing a training panty in accordance with this invention, a contoured blank 312, as shown in FIGURE 16, is positioned so that the puffy surface 340 faces upwardly as described hexeinabove. A non-contoured, horizontally non-coextensive facing layer 300 having a rectangular configuration overlies the longitudinal midportion of blank 312 so that front waist-band edge 334 is aligned with waistband edge 334 of blank 312 and waistband edge 336 is aligned with waistband edge 336.
Facing layer 300 is, of course, moistuxe-perme~ble, and an --absorben~ panel can be sandwiched be~ween facing layer 300 and blank 312 which in this case forms the backing layerO
T~e absorbent panel in ~his case extends from about ~he waist region of front portion of the undergarment defined by panel 314 to the waist region of back portion of the undergarment defined by panel 318. A portion of the waistband of the panty (not shown~ can be gathered to enhance fit, if desired.
Similarly, beads of an elastomeric thermoplastic material can be laid down along the leg cut-outs 320 and 322 to provide a gasket around the leg apertures of the produced training panty.
The outer ply of the undergarments of this invention can be inherently hydrophobic as manufactured. On the other hand, the outer ply can be an inherently hydrophilic web which is treated so as to be moisture-repellen~ or moisture-impervious;
for example, by spraying the outer layer with a hydrophobic agent. Suitable agents include the cellulose-reactive sizing agent emulsions like those sold by Hercules, Inc. under the i~ ~
,, . ~, (3Z
Registered Trademark "AQUAPEL" and the like. A stretchableplastic film can additionally be provided overlying the outer ply as an additional moisture barrier, if desired.
Preferably, the facing layer of the undergarment, i.e., the layer contacting the wearer's skin, is non-wet-table even though this layer is moisture permeable. To this end, the facing layer can be made of a non-woven fabric which contains synthetic hydrophobic fibers or hydrophobic binders for the non-woven fabric, or the layer can be treated before or during undergarment manufacture with small amounts of a ~uitable hydrophobic agent. Preferred webs are those dis-- closed in U.S. Patent NoO 3,663,348.
The foregoing description and the drawings are in-tended as illustrative and are not to be taken as limiting.
Still other variations within the spirit and scope of this invention are possible and will present themselves to one skilled in the art.
, , .
Claims (40)
1. A stretchable, integral blank of non-woven fabric suitable for forming a disposable undergarment, said blank being cut to define a front panel, a rear panel, and a crotch portion therebetween having first and second longi-tudinally oblong opposed cut-outs symmetrically situated on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said blank, each of said cut-outs extending from said front panel to said back panel along each longitudinal side margin of said blank: the radius of curvature of each said cut-out near the front panel being smaller than the radius of curvature of said cut-out near the back panels, said blank having an ex-tensibility to failure of at least about 40 percent along the longitudinal center line of said blank and at least about 30 percent in the direction substantially normal to said longitudinal center line, said blank having a ribbed surface on one face thereof and a puffed surface on the other face thereof, and said front panel and said rear panel being asymmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal center line of said blank.
2. The blank of claim 1 wherein said extensibility to failure is greater than about 60 percent in a direction sub-stantially parallel to the longitudinal center line and greater than about 55 percent in a direction substantially normal to said longitudinal center line.
3. The blank of claim 1 wherein said front and rear panels are of substantially the same width but are off-set relative to one another and with respect to the longitudinal center line of said blank.
4. A unitary, multilayer, disposable undergarment, suitable fox use in training infants or by incontinent children or adults, which is constructed from a non-woven stretchable fabric and comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting said front and rear portions, both side margins of said front portion being joined to respective side margins of said rear portion so as to define a self-fitting waist portion and self-fitting leg apertures, said undergarment having a moisture-pervious fabric inner layer adapted to contact the wearer's skin and which is stretchable through its area, a moisture-impervious outer layer which is stretchable throughout its area, and an intermediate liquid absorbent panel disposed therebetween, said inner and outer layers being micropleated with the micropleats being disposed generally perpendicularly with respect to said front and rear portions, said undergarment having an extensibility to failure of at least about 40 percent along the longitudinal center line of said front and rear portions and an extensibility to failure of at least about 30 percent in the direction substantially normal to said longitudinal center line.
5. The disposable undergarment of claim 4 wherein said extensibility to failure along the longitudinal center line of said front and rear portions is greater than about 60 percent and the extensbility to failure is greater than about 55 percent in the direction substantially normal to said longitudinal center line.
6. The disposable undergarment of claim 4 wherein said stretchable fabric is compressively shrunk perpendi-cular to the machine direction of the fabric and is provided with micropleats extending substantially normal to the machine direction of the fabric.
7. The disposable undergarment of claim 4 wherein the inner layer and the outer layer of said undergarment are joined to one another around the apertures by thermo-plastic elastomeric beads.
8. The disposable undergarment of claim 4 wherein the self-fitting waist aperture is defined by transverse edges of the front portion and the rear portion and wherein an elastomeric member is secured between the inner and outer layers of the front and rear portions.
9. The disposable undergarment of claim 8 wherein the elastomeric member is a strip of a thermoplastic elas-tomer which joins adjacent regions of the inner and outer layers.
10. A unitary, multilayer, disposable undergarment, suitable for use in training infants or with incontinent children or adults, constructed from a non-woven micro-pleated, cross-compacted fabric, and comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion connecting said front portion and said rear portion, and first and second side seams defining a self-fitting waist aperture and self-fitting leg apertures, said undergarment having a moisture-pervious inner layer adapted to contact the skin of the wearer, a moisture-impervious outer layer, and an inter-mediate liquid-absorbent panel disposed therebetween, micro-pleats in said fabric running parallel to the longitudinal center line of said front and rear portions of said under-garment and said fabric being more extensible in a direc-tion substantially normal to said longitudinal center lines.
11. The undergarment defined in claim 10 wherein the front panel and rear panel of each layer is of substantially the same width but are off set with respect to one another, wherein the front portion and the rear portion of the under-garment each comprise two juxtaposed front panels and rear panels, respectively, said panels being positioned so that one longitudinal side margin of each panel extends beyond the adjacent side margin of the panel in juxtaposition therewith, and further so that at said side seams one side margin of one inner panel abuts one side margin of one outer panel and the resulting abutment is overlapped on both sides by the nearest side margins of the other inner panel and the other outer panel.
12. The undergarment defined in claim 11 wherein each of said side seams is three layers in thickness.
13. The undergarment defined in claim 10 wherein each of said side seams is four layers in thickness.
14. A disposable undergarment which comprises an inte-gral blank of a stretchable non-woven fabric and defining a front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion connect-ing the front portion with the back portion said crotch portion being provided with opposed longitudinally oblong cut-outs, said blank being folded over so as to align the transverse margin of the front portion with the transverse margin of the back portion, the side margins of the front portion being joined to the side margins of the back portion so as to define a waist aperture and a pair of leg apertures, and an elastomeric member being secured around at least a portion of said waist aperture so as to gather the fabric of at least one of said portions; said blank being formed of a fabric having micropleats throughout its area wherein the micropleats run generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of said front and rear portions and having an extensibility to failure of at least about 40 percent along the longitudinal center line of said front and back portions and an estensibility to failure of at least about 30 percent in the direction substantially normal to said longitudinal center lines.
15. The disposable undergarment defined in claim 11 wherein an absorbent panel is positioned within said under-garment at least in the crotch portion thereof.
16. The disposable undergarment defined in claim 15 wherein said absorbent panel extends over at least a portion of said front and back portions.
17. The disposable undergarment defined in claim 15 wherein said absorbent panel extends from the waist region of the front portion to the waist region of the back portion.
18. The disposable undergarment defined in claim 17 wherein said absorbent panel is covered with a facing layer.
19. A disposable undergarment comprising a first layer adapted to be positioned adjacent the wearer's skin, said first layer being a moisture permeable non-woven fabric formed from a blank having a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion of reduced width between said front and rear portions, said moisture permeable non-woven fabric being compacted in a direction normal to a longitudinal center line extending between said front and rear portions so as to provide an extensibility to failure of at least about 30 percent, said first layer being micropleated throughout its area with the micropleats running generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of said front and rear portions, said first layer including a puffed surface and a ribbed surface with the ribbed surface being adapted to contact the wearer's skin; a second layer adapted to be disposed out-wardly when the undergarment is worn, said second layer being dimensionally similar to said first layer and positioned in superimposed relationship with respect thereto, said second layer having stretch characteristics similar to those of said first layer and said second layer being more moisture repel-lent than said first layer, means securing peripheral por-tions of said first and second layers to one another and means securing the front and rear portions of said layers to one another on opposite sides of said crotch portion to com-plete the undergarment.
20. The disposable undergarment of claim 19 wherein said second layer is a non-woven fabric mechanically com-pacted in a direction normal to the longitudinal center line extending between its front and rear portions to provide an extensibility to failure of at least 30 percent.
21. The disposable undergarment of claim 19 wherein said second layer is an elastic thermoplastic film.
22. The disposable undergarment of claim 19 wherein said first layer is provided with a plurality of substan-tially parallel micropleats and said micropleats run sub-stantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of said first layer.
23. The disposable undergarment of claim 19 wherein said means securing peripheral portions of said first and second layers to one another include strips of elastic material secured in a stretched condition between peri-pheral portions of said layers.
24. The disposable undergarment of claim 23 wherein said strips of elastic are secured between peripheral por-tions of said layers by adhesive means.
25. The disposable undergarment of claim 23 wherein said layers have thermoplastic properties and said strips of elastic material are thermoplastic and are intimately bonded to said layers.
26. The disposable undergarment of claim 25 wherein said strips are intimately bonded to said layers at spaced locations.
27. The disposable undergarment of claim 26 wherein the bonds at said spaced locations are defined by resolidi-fied thermoplastic material heat softened by the applica-tion of ultrasonic energy.
28. The disposable undergarment of claim 19 wherein the means securing the front and rear portions of said layers to one another on opposite sides of said crotch por-tion include strips of elastic material bonded to said layers in a stretched condition.
29. The disposable undergarment of claim 28 wherein said layers have thermoplastic properties and said strips of elastic material are thermoplastic and are intimately bonded to said layers.
30. The disposable undergarment of claim 29 wherein said strips are intimately bonded to said layers at spaced locations.
31. The disposable undergarment of claim 30 wherein the bonds at said spaced locations are defined by resoli-dified thermoplastic material heat softened by the applica-tion of ultrasonic energy.
32. A disposable undergarment comprising a first layer adapted to be positioned adjacent the wearer's skin, said first layer being a moisture permeable non-woven fabric formed from a blank having a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion of reduced width between said front and rear portions, said moisture permeable non-woven fabric having discontinuous micropleats extending generally parallel to a longitudinal center line extending between said front and rear portions so as to provide an extensibility to failure of at least about 30 percent, said micropleats defining a ribbed surface on one side of said non-woven fabric and a puffed surface on the opposite side of the non-woven fabric a second layer adapted to be disposed outwardly when the undergarment is worn, said second layer being dimensionally similar to said first layer and positioned in superimposed relationship with respect to the puffed surface of said non-woven fabric, said second layer having stretch characteris-tics similar to those of said first layer and said second layer being more moisture repellent than said first layer;
an absorbent panel disposed between said first and second layers in the crotch portion thereof, means securing peri-pheral portions of said first and second layers to one another: gathering means associated with the ends of said front and rear portions for providing a self-fitting body aperture, and means securing the front and rear portions of said layers to one another on opposite sides of said crotch portion to complete the undergarment.
an absorbent panel disposed between said first and second layers in the crotch portion thereof, means securing peri-pheral portions of said first and second layers to one another: gathering means associated with the ends of said front and rear portions for providing a self-fitting body aperture, and means securing the front and rear portions of said layers to one another on opposite sides of said crotch portion to complete the undergarment.
33. The disposable undergarment of claim 32 wherein said non woven fabric has between 8 and 20 rows of micro-pleats per inch.
34. The disposable undergarment of claim 33 wherein the front portion of said first layer is narrower than the rear portion thereof, whereby said means securing the front and rear portions of said layers to one another on opposite sides of the crotch portion defines seams that are disposed in the front of the undergarment when it is worn.
35. The disposable undergarment of claim 34 wherein said first and second layers are shaped generally in the form of a trapezoid, with the side edges thereof converging from the end of said rear portion to the end of said front portion.
36. The disposable undergarment of claim 35 wherein said reduced width crotch portion is defined by side edges of said layers, which converge from an arcuate junction with said rear portion toward an arcuate junction with said front portion.
37. A disposable undergarment including a waist en-circling portion and leg openings and comprising: a moisture permeable first layer adapted to be positioned adjacent the wearer's skin, a second layer adapted to be disposed out-wardly when the undergarment is worn, said second layer being dimensionally similar to said first layer and positioned in superimposed relationship with respect to said first layer, said second layer being more moisture repellent than said first layer, one of said layers being a non-woven fabric having throughout its area discontinuous micropleats extend-ing generally parallel to a longitudinal center line extending generally perpendicular to said waist encircling portion so as to provide an extensibility to failure of at least about 30 percent, said micropleats defining a ribbed surface on one side of said non-woven fabric and a puffed surface on the opposite side of the non-woven fabric: the other of said layers having stretch characteristics similar to those of said one layer, means securing said layers to one another to provide said waist encircling portion and said leg openings, and gathering means associated with the waist encircling portion and leg openings of said undergarment for providing self-fitting apertures.
38. The disposable undergarment of claim 37 wherein both of said layers are non-woven fabrics.
39. The disposable undergarment of claim 37 wherein said moisture permeable first layer is said non-woven fabric, and said second layer is disposed in superimposed relation-ship with respect to the puffed surface of said non-woven fabric.
40. The disposable undergarment of claim 37 wherein each of said layers includes a front portion, a rear por-tion, and a crotch portion connecting said front and rear portions, both side margins of said front portions being joined to respective side margins of said rear portions so as to define said self-fitting waist encircling portion and said self-fitting leg openings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US70797276A | 1976-07-23 | 1976-07-23 | |
| US707,972 | 1976-07-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1109202A true CA1109202A (en) | 1981-09-22 |
Family
ID=24843894
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA283,264A Expired CA1109202A (en) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-07-21 | Disposable undergarments |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5319246A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU512895B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7704844A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1109202A (en) |
| ES (1) | ES238909Y (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ184646A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA774456B (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5382400A (en) | 1992-08-21 | 1995-01-17 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Nonwoven multicomponent polymeric fabric and method for making same |
| US5405682A (en) | 1992-08-26 | 1995-04-11 | Kimberly Clark Corporation | Nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material |
| US5643662A (en) | 1992-11-12 | 1997-07-01 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Hydrophilic, multicomponent polymeric strands and nonwoven fabrics made therewith |
| US6500538B1 (en) | 1992-12-28 | 2002-12-31 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Polymeric strands including a propylene polymer composition and nonwoven fabric and articles made therewith |
Families Citing this family (18)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS55111907U (en) * | 1979-02-02 | 1980-08-06 | ||
| NZ194293A (en) * | 1979-07-25 | 1983-05-10 | Johnson & Johnson Baby Prod | Laminated fabric structure disposable diaper |
| US4355425A (en) * | 1980-02-01 | 1982-10-26 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Panty with a built-in elastic system to minimize gathering and provide a comfortable, conforming fit and method to assemble a panty |
| AU546928B2 (en) * | 1981-03-18 | 1985-09-26 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Disposable diaper |
| US4641381A (en) * | 1985-01-10 | 1987-02-10 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Disposable underpants, such as infant's training pants and the like |
| JPS62231005A (en) * | 1986-03-31 | 1987-10-09 | ユニ・チヤ−ム株式会社 | Disposable absorbing panty |
| JPS62243807A (en) * | 1986-04-15 | 1987-10-24 | ユニ・チヤ−ム株式会社 | Disposable absorbing panty |
| JPH0637722B2 (en) * | 1986-04-15 | 1994-05-18 | ユニ・チヤ−ム株式会社 | Disposable absorbent pants |
| US4747846A (en) * | 1987-04-03 | 1988-05-31 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Stretchable disposable absorbent undergarment |
| MY103655A (en) * | 1987-12-16 | 1993-08-28 | Kimberly Clark Co | Method and appratus for making a disposable incontinence garment or training pant |
| JPH01129204U (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1989-09-04 | ||
| JP2711166B2 (en) * | 1990-01-30 | 1998-02-10 | ユニ・チャーム株式会社 | Disposable wearing articles |
| JPH0742421Y2 (en) * | 1990-03-28 | 1995-10-04 | ユニ・チャーム株式会社 | Disposable diapers |
| JPH087850Y2 (en) * | 1990-04-26 | 1996-03-06 | ユニ・チャーム株式会社 | Disposable pants-type wearing article |
| JPH08321Y2 (en) * | 1990-11-30 | 1996-01-10 | 株式会社瑞光 | Training briefs |
| JPH0743075U (en) * | 1993-06-22 | 1995-08-18 | ユニ・チャーム株式会社 | Disposable undergarment |
| JP3784131B2 (en) * | 1997-04-11 | 2006-06-07 | ユニ・チャーム株式会社 | Disposable wearing items |
| JP4735796B2 (en) * | 2004-03-15 | 2011-07-27 | オムロン株式会社 | Electronic device case panel mounting structure |
-
1977
- 1977-07-14 NZ NZ18464677A patent/NZ184646A/en unknown
- 1977-07-21 CA CA283,264A patent/CA1109202A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-07-21 ES ES1977238909U patent/ES238909Y/en not_active Expired
- 1977-07-22 AU AU27247/77A patent/AU512895B2/en not_active Expired
- 1977-07-22 BR BR7704844A patent/BR7704844A/en unknown
- 1977-07-22 ZA ZA00774456A patent/ZA774456B/en unknown
- 1977-07-22 JP JP8747777A patent/JPS5319246A/en active Pending
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5382400A (en) | 1992-08-21 | 1995-01-17 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Nonwoven multicomponent polymeric fabric and method for making same |
| US5418045A (en) | 1992-08-21 | 1995-05-23 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Nonwoven multicomponent polymeric fabric |
| US5405682A (en) | 1992-08-26 | 1995-04-11 | Kimberly Clark Corporation | Nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material |
| US5425987A (en) | 1992-08-26 | 1995-06-20 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material |
| US5643662A (en) | 1992-11-12 | 1997-07-01 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Hydrophilic, multicomponent polymeric strands and nonwoven fabrics made therewith |
| US6500538B1 (en) | 1992-12-28 | 2002-12-31 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Polymeric strands including a propylene polymer composition and nonwoven fabric and articles made therewith |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ZA774456B (en) | 1979-02-28 |
| ES238909U (en) | 1979-05-16 |
| JPS5319246A (en) | 1978-02-22 |
| BR7704844A (en) | 1978-04-25 |
| ES238909Y (en) | 1979-11-01 |
| AU512895B2 (en) | 1980-11-06 |
| AU2724777A (en) | 1979-01-25 |
| NZ184646A (en) | 1980-05-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |