GB2326343A

GB2326343A - Disposable nappies

Info

Publication number: GB2326343A
Application number: GB9712660A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claude Gubbay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-06-16
Filing date: 1997-06-16
Publication date: 1998-12-23
Also published as: GB9712660D0

Abstract

A disposable nappy (1) has a nappy sack which may be integrally formed with the nappy (1) or which may be contained in a container which is integral with the nappy (1). The nappy sack (10) may be pulled out for use by pulling a lift tab (13) of a covering flap (13). A baby wipe (21) may be provided in a container which is integrally formed with the nappy (1).

Description

NAPPIES The present invention relates to a nappy (diaper).

Disposable nappies are well known and are commonly used. The key advantage of a disposable nappy is that it is not necessary to wash the soiled nappy. On the contrary, the disposable nappy is merely thrown away after it has been soiled. It is usual to wrap the soiled nappy in a bag or "nappy sack" so as to allow for hygienic disposal of the soiled nappy. This means that, when travelling with a baby, it is necessary not only to carry a supply of clean disposable nappies, but it is also necessary to carry a supply of nappy sacks in which soiled nappies can be stored ready for disposal. This is troublesome, especially as numerous items already have to be carried for a baby when travelling out of the home.

Amongst the items which are often carried when travelling are so-called baby wipes. A baby wipe is a disposable cloth, usually impregnated with a soap or other detergent and sometimes a perfume also, which is used to clean a baby when a nappy is changed. Again, it is inconvenient to have to carry, and remember to carry, a supply of baby wipes when travelling.

An object of the present invention is to provide a disposable nappy which is more convenient to use.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disposable nappy, the nappy having a nappy sack, the nappy sack being integral with the nappy.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disposable nappy, the nappy having an integral container for a nappy sack.

The nappy may include a nappy sack contained in the container.

Whether the nappy sack is integral with the nappy or is contained in a container (such as a pouch) which is integral with the nappy, the nappy sack is very conveniently stored and will always be to hand. The nappy sack can be quickly opened out and used to contain the soiled nappy. This is particularly convenient in situations where disposal of the soiled nappy can otherwise be difficult, for example when a baby is being changed out of the home.

The nappy sack (whether integral with the nappy or contained in a container which is integral with the nappy) may be held in a folded configuration by a closure which is attached to both the nappy and the nappy sack such that the nappy sack is opened on lifting said closure. This makes use of the nappy sack even more straightforward as the nappy sack will be ready for use when the closure is lifted.

The nappy sack is preferably mounted or contained on the outside of the back of the nappy. (It will be understood that the "front" of the nappy is the part which in use is generally on the front of the baby and that the "rear" of the nappy is the part which in use is generally at the rear of the baby. The "inside" of the nappy is the part which faces the baby's skin in use, the outside of the nappy being the other side.) In the preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that the person changing the nappy can remove the soiled nappy, and the fold the nappy as usual by folding the front of the nappy over the soiled part of the nappy and then folding the rear of the nappy over the folded front portion, using the resealable tabs conventionally provided on the nappy to hold the nappy in its folded configuration. The closure is then lifted to pull out and open the nappy sack and the sack can then be wrapped around the folded soiled nappy in a hygienic and convenient manner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disposable nappy, the nappy having an integral baby wipe container for a baby wipe.

The nappy may include a baby wipe contained in the baby wipe container.

The baby wipe container is preferably mounted on the inside of the front of the nappy. In this manner, the nappy on the baby can be undone and the front of the nappy pulled down to allow the baby to be cleaned, at the same time allowing the person changing the nappy ready access to a wipe in the wipe container.

The present invention also comprises, in another aspect, a disposable nappy, the nappy having a nappy sack, the nappy sack being integral with the nappy, the nappy further having an integral baby wipe container for containing a baby wipe.

The present invention also comprises, in yet another aspect, a disposable nappy, the nappy having an integral container for a nappy sack, the nappy further having an integral baby wipe container for a baby wipe. The nappy may include a nappy sack contained in the container.

The nappy sack (whether integral with the nappy or contained in a container which is integral with the nappy) may be held in a folded configuration by a closure which is attached to both the nappy and the nappy sack such that the nappy sack is opened on lifting said closure.

The nappy sack is preferably mounted or contained on the outside of the back of the nappy.

The nappy may include a baby wipe contained in the baby wipe container.

The baby wipe container is preferably mounted on the inside of the front of the nappy.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the outside of an example of a nappy according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view from one end of the example of Figure 1 showing a deployed nappy sack; and, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the inside of a second example of a nappy according to the present invention.

In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a nappy 1 of the disposable type. The outside 2 of the nappy 1 is shown in Figure 1, with the inside 3 of the nappy being shown in Figure 2. The nappy 1 has resealable tabs 4 provided on either side of the nappy 1 at the rear portion 5 of the nappy 1. The resealable tabs 4 fix to a sealing portion 6 on the outside 2 of the front 7 of the nappy 1 to hold the nappy 1 in position on a baby. The resealable tabs 4 may be any of the known types, for example of the hook and loop type or of the resealable adhesive type.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, on the outside 2 of the nappy 1, at the rear portion 5 of the nappy 1, there is provided a nappy sack 10 which is shown in its deployed configuration in Figure 2. The base 11 of the nappy sack 10 is integral with the outside 2 of the nappy 1. The nappy sack 10 may for example be fixed to the nappy 1 by any suitable means such as welding, adhesive, etc, or may be formed integrally with the outside layer of the nappy 1 during manufacture of the nappy 1.

The nappy 1 having the nappy sack 10 is supplied to the consumer with the nappy sack 10 folded and contained by a closure such as a covering flap 12. The covering flap 12 is fixed to both the nappy 1 and the nappy sack 10 by, for example, welding or adhesive. A lift tab 13 of the covering flap 12 can be pulled to allow the covering flap 12 to be detached from the nappy 1. Because the covering flap 12 is attached to the nappy sack 10 (and, in the example shown, is in fact attached to handles 14 of the nappy sack 10), lifting the covering flap 12 causes the nappy sack 10 to be pulled up and therefore opened out.

In use, the person changing the nappy 1 removes the soiled nappy 1 from the baby as usual. In particular, the nappy 1 is folded in the usual manner by folding the front 7 of the nappy 1 over the soiled part of the inside 3 of the nappy 1 and the rear 5 of the nappy 1 is then folded over the folded front 7. The resealable tabs 4 are then used to hold the nappy 1 in its folded configuration. The covering flap 12 is then lifted to pull out and open the nappy sack 10. The nappy sack can then be turned inside out" from the configuration shown in Figure 2 to wrap around the folded soiled nappy 1 in a hygienic and convenient manner. It will be appreciated that providing the nappy sack 10 on the outside of the rear 5 of the nappy 1 is the most convenient location as the covering flap 12 and nappy sack 10 will immediately fall to hand when the soiled nappy 1 is folded.

In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the nappy sack 10 is shown as being integral with the nappy 1. The nappy sack 10 could instead be contained in a container formed for example by the covering flap 12 fixed to the nappy 1. In this example, as the covering flap 12 is lifted, access to the nappy sack 10 is allowed and the nappy sack 10 can then be withdrawn and opened out for use.

In Figure 3, there is shown a further example of a nappy according to the present invention. The nappy 1 of this example is similar to the nappy 1 of the example of Figures 1 and 2 and like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts.

In the example shown in Figure 3, there is provided a tubular container 20 on the inside 3 of the front 7 of the nappy 1. The tubular container 20 contains a rolled baby wipe 21 (shown in dashed lines in Figure 3). The wipe container 20 is preferably located around the waist band portion 8 of the nappy 1 so as to ensure that the wipe container 20 including the baby wipe 21 does not cause any discomfort to the baby in use. It will be appreciated that the baby wipe 21 can be folded up to be very thin and should cause no discomfort at all.

Positioning the baby wipe container 20 on the inside 3 of the front 7 of the nappy 1 is believed to be the most convenient place as, when the nappy 1 is being changed, it is usual to pull down the front 7 of the nappy 1 first. If the nappy 1 is opened in this manner, the baby wipe container 20 will fall immediately to hand and the baby wipe 21 can be withdrawn and used to clean the baby.

However, other positions for the baby wipe container 20 are within the scope of the present invention.

The wipe container 20 may have a closure which is pulled to open the wipe container 20. The pulling of the closure may draw out the wipe 21, for example by being attached to the wipe 21.

It will be appreciated that a nappy 1 can include both an integral nappy sack 10 or nappy sack container together with a baby wipe container 20, as indicated in Figure 1 with the baby wipe 21 being shown in dashed lines in Figure 1.

The nappies 1 according to the present invention greatly facilitate travelling with a baby as it makes it unnecessary to carry baby wipes and/or nappy sacks separately as one or both of these may be provided with the nappy 1. Whilst the nappies 1 of the present invention could be used as the usual nappy for the baby, the nappies 1 of the present invention could be used as "travel nappies" for travel outside of the home as there will often be nappy sacks and wipes or other means to dispose of the nappy and clean the baby at home.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the examples described within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A disposable nappy, the nappy having a nappy sack, the nappy sack being integral with the nappy.

2. A disposable nappy, the nappy having an integral container for a nappy sack.

3. A nappy according to claim 2, including a nappy sack contained in the container.

4. A nappy according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the nappy sack is held in a folded configuration by a closure which is attached to both the nappy and the nappy sack such that the nappy sack is opened on lifting said closure.

5. A nappy according to any of claims 1, 3 or 4, wherein the nappy sack is mounted or contained on the outside of the back of the nappy.

6. A disposable nappy, the nappy having an integral baby wipe container for a baby wipe.

7. A nappy according to claim 6, including a baby wipe contained in the baby wipe container.

8. A nappy according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the baby wipe container is mounted on the inside of the front of the nappy.

9. A disposable nappy, the nappy having a nappy sack, the nappy sack being integral with the nappy, the nappy further having an integral baby wipe container for containing a baby wipe.

10. A disposable nappy, the nappy having an integral container for a nappy sack, the nappy further having an integral baby wipe container for a baby wipe.

11. A nappy according to claim 10, including a nappy sack contained in the container.

12. A nappy according to claim 9 or claim 11, wherein the nappy sack is held in a folded configuration by a closure which is attached to both the nappy and the nappy sack such that the nappy sack is opened on lifting said closure.

13. A nappy according to any of claims 9, 11 or 12, wherein the nappy sack is mounted or contained on the outside of the back of the nappy.

14. A nappy according to any of claims 9 to 13, including a baby wipe contained in the baby wipe container.

15. A nappy according to any of claims 9 to 14, wherein the baby wipe container is mounted on the inside of the front of the nappy.

16. A disposable nappy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.