GB2183991A

GB2183991A - Improvements in or relating to waterproof attire for babies

Info

Publication number: GB2183991A
Application number: GB08531041A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Charles Richards; Maurice Stanley Williams
Original assignee: Process Improvements Ltd
Current assignee: Process Improvements Ltd
Priority date: 1985-12-17
Filing date: 1985-12-17
Publication date: 1987-06-17
Also published as: GB8531041D0

Abstract

Attire, consisting of baby pants (1) and a diaper (2) substantially coextensive with the baby pants, is arranged for the diaper to be replaced repetitively without the pants becoming soiled. The diaper comprises an impervious membrane (8) adjacent the pants sealed round its edge to a pervious sheet (9) providing a flange (10) round interposed absorbent material (7). Arcuate pads (12) in the pants and corresponding arcuate parts of the diaper are secured round the legs by press studs and sockets (15), (16). The ends of the diaper are secured round the child's waist by a press stud (14), (17). The flange (10) can be tucked in over the pervious material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to waterproof attire for babies This invention relates to waterproof attire, particularly for babies, consisting of waterproof pants and a diaper.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a particularly economical and simple assembly of this kind that enables the diaper to be replaced repetitively without involving the necessity for rinsing the pants.

According to the invention there is provided attire consisting of waterproof pants and a diaper, in which the pants comprise a sheet of waterproof material for extending between the legs of the wearer and having arcuate padded side edge portions to extend round the legs of the wearer in secure engagement therewith and the ends of the sheet being arranged to provide a girdle including an elastic element for holding the pants in position when they are being worn, and in which the diaper is a disposable diaper shaped so as to be substantially coextensive with the whole area of the pants, being formed with arcuate edges that register substantially with outer arcuate edges of the padded side edge portions of the pants, the diaper comprising an impervious membrane bearing against the pants and sealed round its edge to a pervious sheet with a mass of absorbent material interposed between the membrane and pervious sheet and having a portion shaped to lie between the arcuate side edge portions of the pants, whereby the diaper can be replaced frequently without any necessity arising for rinsing the pants.

As an extra security against any soiling of the pants, the membrane and pervious sheet are so sealed together as to provide a flange round the mass of absorbent material, which flange can be at least along the ends of the diaper adjacent the girdle portions of the pants be tucked inwards between the wearer and pervious sheet to provide impervious channels along the diaper.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect one assembly in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is a plan showing baby pants spread on a flat surface beneath an infant's napkin or diaper shaped to the baby pants, and Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il in Figure 1 of the diaper shown therein.

Figure 1 shows baby pants 1 as particularly described and claimed in patent specification No.

2066051, over which pants is laid a diaper 2 that is substantially coextensive with the pants, a minor difference being that the ends 3, 4 of the diaper are somewhat short of the ends 5, 6 of the pants.

The diaper 2 is a disposable unit containing a mass 7 of absorbent pulp, such as wood pulp, held between a non-woven membrane 8 (Figure 2) of plastics material, such as polythene, and a nonwoven porous sheet 9 such as is well known for disposable units of this kind. The membrane 8 and sheet 9 are sealed together all round the absorbent mass 7 to form a peripheral flange 10. The diaper is shaped on each side to provide arcuate edges that register with opposed arcuate edges 11 on the pants. The membrane 8 is disposed adjacent the pants 11 which are also made of impervious plastics material, so that the porous sheet 9 is adjacent the infant's body. The diaper 2 may be held to the pants 1 by readily detachable adhesive tape located between the diaper and pants but this is not essential.The impervious membrane 8 is sealed by hot or cold gluing to the pervious sheet 9 at the flange 10 as well as to the absorbent mass 7.

The baby pants 1 are formed with padded arcuate portions 12 which border their edges 11 and are formed as described in the aforesaid patent specification. These arcuate portions contain elastic theremoplasticfoam material. Also as described in the said specification the end of the pants intended to lie against the back of the child is formed with a tunnel (shown extended to its full width in Figure 1) containing an endless elastic band 13 anchored between locations containing press studs 14. In practice, this elastication causes the end of the pants to gather considerably before fitting and to remain gathered slightly round the child's back when fitted.

When the pants 1 with the diaper 2 in situ are fitted, the arcuate portions of these are secured round each of the child's legs by engaging a press stud 15 with a selected one of three press sockets 16. This causes the padded arcuate portion 12 to stretch slightly around the leg. The garment is made secure round the child's waist by engaging each press stud 14 with a selected one of a pair of associated press sockets 17. As a further security against any soiling of the pants 1, the flange 10 of the diaper 2 can be tucked in over the edge of the pervious sheet 9 at least along the ends 3, 4 as shown by broken lines in Figure 2 to provide impervious channels along the diaper which prevent the passage of liquid beyond the diaper when the child is lying down.

Advantages of the above described assembly may be summarized as follows:~ a) The diaper is cheap to manufacture compared with somewhat similarly shaped diapers intended to be worn alone, because the diaper requires no incorporated elastication, sticky tapes for securing the ends of the diaper together round the body are unnecessary and the thickness of the impervious membrane can be considerably reduced because it is supported by the pants, this alone involving a very considerable cost reduction in mass production; b) All leakage beyond the diaper into the pants is avoided, enabling the diaper to be replaced frequently while any necessity for rinsing the pants is avoided; c) The outer pants support the disposable diaper from breaking up into lumps when wet; ; d) The diaper does not have to be provided with a self-adjusting elastic waist because this function is provided by the padded arcuate portions 12 of the pants; e) The use of grease or talc on the child cannot in any way affect the mode of securing the assembly to the child, as would be the case if sticky tapes were used; f) The membraned shaped diaper shields the outer pants from acid and so forth thus increasing the length of life of the pants.

Claims

1. Attire consisting of a waterproof pants and a diaper, in which the pants comprise a sheet of waterproof material for extending between the legs of the wearer and having arcuate padded side edge portions to extend round the legs of the wearer in secure engagement therewith and the ends of the sheet being arranged to provide a girdle including an elastic element for holding the pants in position when they are being worn, and in which the diaper is a disposable diaper shaped so as to be substantially coextensive with the whole area of the pants, being formed with arcuate edges that register substantially with outer arcuate edges of the padded side edge portions of the pants, the diaper comprising an impervious membrane bearing against the pants and sealed round its edge to a pervious sheet with a mass of absorbent material interposed between the membrane and pervious sheet and having a portion shaped to lie between the arcuate side edge portions of the pants, whereby the diaper can be replaced frequently without any necessity arising for rinsing the pants.

2. Attire according to Claim 1, in which the membrane and pervious sheet are so sealed together as to provide a flange round the mass of absorbent material, which flange can at least along the ends of the diaper adjacent the girdle portions of the pants be tucked inwards between the wearer and pervious sheet to provide impervious channels along the diaper.

3. Attire consisting of waterproof pants and a diaper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.