IE41873B1

IE41873B1 - Diapers

Info

Publication number: IE41873B1
Application number: IE2364/75A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1974-10-31
Filing date: 1975-10-30
Publication date: 1980-04-09
Also published as: US3920018A; IT1047736B; GB1526757A; ZA756202B; AU8569775A; DK456875A; ES228945U; GR58283B; AT363418B; DE2547452A1; BE835099A; JPS5168345A; DK149383B; CH594377A5; NL181621B; SE7510991L; NL181621C; AU504512B2; ES227564U; NL7512576A

Abstract

1526757 Diapers COLGATE-PALMOLIVE CO 27 Oct 1975 [31 Oct 1974] 44114/75 Heading A3V A disposable diaper 20 has a fluid-impervious backing sheet 24, an absorbent pad 32 and a fluid-pervious cover sheet 28. The diaper may be box-pleated as shown. The diaper is placed on the infant. Release sheets 68a, 68b are removed from tape strips 64a, 64b and the latter secured to back surface (26) of waistline portion (38b). Elastic rubber loop 50 or a strip is secured to waistline portion 38a adjacent side edge 34b by a tape strap 54. Release sheet 62 is removed from tape strip 58, loop 50 is stretched around the back of waistline portion (38b) and strip 58 is passed through loop 50 and attached to itself or the diaper. In Figure 3 (not shown) tape strips 64a, 64b are omitted. In Figure 4, loop 50' is attached adjacent edge 34a by tape strip 54' and joined by tape strip 72 to loop 50.

Description

The present invention relates to disposable diapers.’ During recent years diapers of the disposable type have come into widespread use. Although dis5. posable diapers have attained popularity with parents due to convenience, unfavourable comments have been made about leakage from the diapers during use and their fit on the infant. In particular, the ends of the diaper are normally susceptible to . leakage due, in part, to a loose fit of the diaper about the infant.

Many of the present disposable diapers have tape strips located adjacent one end of the diaper. The diapers are normally placed on the infant by laying . the infant on the diaper with the strip-bearing part of the diaper located beneath the back waistline of the infant. After removal of release sheets from the tape strips, attachment portions of the strips are brought around the infant’s body and secured to the . front portion of the diaper. In order to obtain a tight fit of the diaper and prevent leakage about the infant's legs, the attachment portions of the strips are frequently secured at a location on the front portion of the diaper which is spaced somewhat below . the front end edge or front waistline portion of the diaper.

Since the permanently fixed portions of the tape strips are usually located adjacent the back end edge of the diaper, after placement of the diaper the tape . strips apply tension to the back waistline portion of - 2 41873 the diaper and thus may maintain a relatively close fit of the diaper against the back waistline of the infant. In contrast, when the attachment portions of the strips are spaced below the front waistline . portion of the diaper, significant tension is not applied by the strips to the diaper in the front waistline portion. The front waistline portion of the diaper is thus permitted to gap away from the infant, increasing the possibility of urine leakage . in this locality, especially as the front waistline portion of the diaper is normally more susceptible to urine leakage than the back waistline portion since it is closer to the site of urine deposition on the diaper. Also, Infants often lie on their . stomachs, causing gravity to drive urine in the diaper towards the front waistline portion. Thus, diapers are normally susceptible to leakage in this locality where it should most be prevented.

The present invention provides a disposable . diaper which will fit well and minimize leakage at the waistline portion, and which can be of simple construction.

A disposable diaper according to the present invention comprises an absorbent pad assembly having . a front surface, a back surface and a pair of waistline portions; and elastic means extending from opposite sides of one waistline portion around the back surface of the other waistline portion.

The elastic means applies tension to the waist30. line portions and provides a snug and comfortable fit - 3 41873 of the diaper around the waistline of the infant.

The elastically constrained waistline portions reduce leakage from these portions of the diaper.

In one form of the invention the elastic means . is attached to one side edge of the said one waistline portion and is capable of being passed around the back surface of the other waistline portion and connected to the other side edge of the said one waistline portion.

. In another form of the invention the elastic means comprises a part attached to one side edge of the said one waistline portion, another part attached to the other side edge of the same waistline portion, and means for connecting the parts together adjacent the . back surface of the other waistline portion.

The means of attachment or connection of the elastic means may be adjustable to provide a desired amount of tension to the waistline portions of the diaper.

The elastic means may be in the form of an elastic . loop.

For fastening the elastic means, there may be a tape device having one end portion which is releasably attachable to a surface of another end portion.

The invention may be performed in various ways, . and some embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a fragmentary front plan view of one embodiment of the invention; . Figure 2 is a perspective view of the diaper of - 4 41873 Figure 1 with elastic means in the diaper secured after placement of the diaper; Figure 3 is a fragmentary front plan view of another embodiment; . Figure 4 is a fragmentary front plan view of a further embodiment; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the elastic means of the diaper of Figure 4 as it is being secured together.

. In the illustrations of the various embodiments, like reference numerals are used to designate equivalent parts.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a disposable diaper 20 has an absorbent pad assembly 22. The pad assembly . has a fluid-impervious backing sheet 24 defining a back surface 26 of the pad assembly, a fluid-pervious cover sheet 28 defining a substantial portion of a front surface 30 of the pad assembly, an absorbent pad 32 between the backing sheet 24 and the cover . sheet 28, a pair of side edges 34a and 34b, and a pair of end edges 36a and 36b connecting the side edges 34a and 34b, The diaper has a pair of waistline portions 38a and 38b adjacent the end edges 36a and 36b respectively, and a crotch portion 40 between . the waistline portions 38a and 38b. As shown in Figure 1, the pad assembly 22 may be folded into a box-pleat configuration, if desired, along a plurality of longitudinal folds, the pleated pad assembly defining a longitudinally extending central panel 42, a pair of . first panels 44a and 44b extending from and overlying the front surface 30 of the central __ - 41873 panel 42, and a pair of outermost panels 46a and 46b extending from and overlying the first panels 44a and 44b.

The diaper of Figures 1 and 2 has elastic means · 48 constituted by an elastic loop 50, which may be made of any suitable material, such as rubber.

Although the elastic means 48 will be described primarily as an elastic loop, any other suitable form of elastic means may be used, such as an . elastic tape or strip.

The loop 50 has one end 52 secured to the waistline portion 38a. adjacent the side edge 34b by a tape strip 54 which passes through this end 52 of the loop 50, the tape strip 54 being secured to the · surfaces of the diaper adjacent the side edge to retain the end of the loop in place. The loop 50 also has a remote free end 56, and if desired courses of the loop may be secured together intermediate the ends of the loop by any suitable means, such as . a knot. A tape strip 58 is attached to the waistline portion 38a adjacent the other side edge 34a, the tape strip 58 having a securement portion 60 projecting beyond the side edge 34a and which is releasably covered by a release sheet 62. Separate . tape strips 64a and 64b may also be secured to the waistline portion 38a adjacent the side edges 34a respectively, and 34b/. the securement portions 66a and 66b projecting beyond the side edges 34a and 34b, respectively and being releasably covered by release sheets 68a respectively. ~ . and 68b/ The tape strips 64a and 64b are preferably - 6 41873 located adjacent the tape strips 58 and 54, respectively.

In use, the diaper 20 is unfolded and placed on the infant, the diaper generally forming the oon5. figuration illustrated in Figure 2. The release sheets 68a and 68b are removed from the securement portions 66a and 66b of the tape strips 64a and 64b, and the securement portions 66a and 66b are then secured to the back surface 26 of the waistline . portion 38b to retain the diaper in place on the infant. Next, the release sheet 62 ls removed from the securement portion 60 of the tape strip 5θ> the elastic loop 50 is stretched around the back surface of the waistline portion 38b, and the securement . portion 60 is passed through the free end 56 of the loop 50. The securement portion 60 may then be attached to inner portions of the tape strip 58 or to the diaper itself, so that the free end 56 of the loop is captured by the securement portion 60 of . the tape strip 58. Thus, the stretched elastic loop 50 is retained in place by the strips 54 and 58 around the back surface 26 of the waistline portion 38b, and applies tension to the waistline portions of the diaper. The amount of tension applied by the . elastic loop 50 may be controlled hy suitable adjustment of the securement portion 60 of the tape strip 58 when it is passed through the free end 56 of the elastic loop and secured in place. Moreover, the length of the elastic loop 50 may be selected accord30. ing to the general size of infants who will wear the - 7 41873 particular diaper.

The tension applied by the elastic loop 50 provides a snug and comfortable fit of the waistline portions against the infant's skin. Additionally, . the elastic means 48 prevents gapping away of the waistline portion 38b from the infant's skin and minimizes leakage from the end of the diaper.

Another embodiment is illustrated in Figure 3· In this embodiment, which is similar in most respects . to the diaper described in connection with Figures and 2, the tape strips 64a and 64b are omitted, and the elastic means 48 itself is utilized to retain the diaper in place on the infant by securement of the tape strip 58 through the free end 56 of the . elastic loop 50, as previously described. Thus, the stretched elastic means 48 in the placed diaper retains the waistline portions of the diaper in their proper location on the infant. As shown, the tape strips 54 and 58 may be wider than the side-by-side . tape strips illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, if desired.

Another embodiment is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5· As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment one end 52 of the elastic loop 50 is secured to the . waistline portion 3Sa adjacent the side edge 34b by a tape strip 54, as previously described. However in this embodiment the elastic means 48 has a second loop 50', one end 52' of which is secured to the waistline portion 38a adjacent the other side edge . 34a by a tape strip 54', the loop 50' having a remote - 8 41873 free end 56'. The first loop'50 has means 70 for securing its free end 56 to the free end 56' of the loop 50'. The securing means 70 may be any suitable device, such as the tape strip 72 shown. The tape . strip 72 has one end 74 secured to the free end 56 of the loop 50, and an attachment end 76 bearing an adhesive releasably covered by a release sheet 78. Alternatively, the release sheet 78 may be omitted, and the attachment end 76 may be brought . around the back surface of the attachment end 76 through the free end 56 of the loop 50, such that the attachment end 76 may be releasably attached to the back surface of the tape strip 72 itself.

During placement of the diaper, the release . sheet 78 is removed from the attachment end 76 of the tape strip 72, and the attachment end 76 is passed through the free end 56’ of the loop 50', as shown in Figure 5. The outer end 79 of the attachment end 76 may be secured to inner portions of the tape . strip 72 in order to secure the free ends 56 and 56' together and retain the loops 50 and 50' around the back surface 26 of the waistline portion 38b. The elastic loops 50 and 50' operate as previously described to apply tension to the waistline portions . of the diaper, and retain the diaper in place.

Additional tape strips, previously described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, may be added to the diaper of Figures 4 and 5 to assist in retaining the diaper in place on the infant, if desired. The . tension applied by the loops 50 and 50' may be adjusted - 9 41873 by the tape strip 72 as the free ends 56 and 56' are secured together, since the free end 56' may be brought into the desired proximity of the free end 56' by the tape strip.

Claims

1. A disposable diaper comprising an absorbent pad assembly having a front surface, a back surface and a pair of waistline portions; and elastic means extending from opposite sides of one waistline portion around the back surface of the other waistline portion.

2. A disposable diaper as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the elastic means is attached to one side edge of the said one waistline portion and is capable of being passed around the back surface of the other waistline portion and connected to the other side edge of the said one waistline portion.

3. A diaper as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the elastic means comprises a part attached to one side edge of the said one waistline portion, another part attached to the other side edge of the same waistline portion, and means for connecting the parts together adjacent the back surface of the other waistline portion

4. A diaper as claimed in any of the preceding Claims including tape means for securing the said one waistline portion to the other waistline portion.

5. A diaper as claimed in Claims 2 and 4 wherein a tape means adjacent a side edge of the absorbent pad assembly serves to attach the elastic means to the said one side edge of the said one waistline portion.

6. A diaper as claimed in Claim 5 wherein a 5. tape means adjacent an opposite side edge of the absorbent pad assembly serves to connect the elastic means to the said other side edge of the said one waistline portion.

7. A diaper as claimed in Claims 3 and 4 10. wherein tape means adjacent opposite side edges of the absorbent pad assembly serve to attach a part of the elastic means to the respective side edge of the said one waistline portion.

8. A diaper as claimed in any of the preceding lg Claims wherein the elastic means comprises at least one elastic loop.

9. A diaper as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 7 and in Claim 8 wherein the (or each) elastic loop is attached or connected to the said one waistline por2Q tion by tape means passing through the loop.

10. A diaper as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 7 or in any of Claims 4, 8 and 9 when appendant to Claim 3, wherein the means for connecting together the two parts of the elastic means comprises tape 25. means secured to a free end of the first part and attachable to a free end of the second part.

11. A diaper as claimed in Claim'10 wherein the first and second parts comprise first and second elastic loops, and the tape means has one end passing through and secured to the free end of the first loop, 5. and an attachment end passable through the free end of the second loop to secure the loops together.

12. A disposable diaper substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.