MX2007015948A - Diaper fastener. - Google Patents

Abstract

A fastener (10) comprising an attachment section (30) for permanent attachment to an anchoring area, a target section (60) for permanent attachment to a landing area, and a fastening section (40) for selective attachment and detachment from the target section (60). A breakable connection (70) initially connects the fastening section (40) and the target section (60), and this connection (70) is broken to disconnect the fastening section (40) from the target section (60) when fastener (10) is converted from a closed condition to an opened condition. A single fingerlift (80) can be gripped both when converting the fastener (10) from an installed condition to the closed condition, and when converting the fastener (10) from the closed condition to the opened condition.

Description

DIAPER CLAMP FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a diaper fastener including a desired section that a user permanently attaches to a placement area in the diaper and a fastening section that is releasably attached to the desired section. so that the user can reopen and re-close the fastener. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A disposable diaper can include a laminate having a liquid absorbing pad enclosed within a liquid-permeable inner shell and an outer liquid-impervious shell. The diaper has a back portion and a front portion. There may be attached fasteners to edges of the back portion and arranged to perform a closure around the user upon engagement with respective positioning areas in the front portion of the diaper. Each diaper fastener can be converted from an installed state to an expanded state and to a closed state. If the diaper fasteners are to be reopened, they can also be converted from the closed state to an open state, and subsequently between a closed state again and an open state again.

A reusable diaper fastener can include an outer joining section, an inner joining section, a desired section, and a fastening section. The attachment sections are intended to be permanently joined, by the diaper manufacturer, to the outer and inner surfaces, respectively, of the edge of the back portion of the diaper. The desired section is intended for permanent connection, by a user, to the placement area in the front portion of the diaper. The fastening section is initially releasably attached to the desired section and is intended to be released and reattached, by a user, to open, close and re-open the fastener. A diaper fastener will also typically include a first flange attached to the desired section and a second different weight attached to the fastening section. The first tab is grasped by the user when converting the fastener from the installed state to the closed state. The second different tab is grasped by the user when opening, reclosing, and reopening the fastener. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a fastener wherein the fastening section is initially connected to the desired section and disconnected from the desired section when the fastener moves from the closed state to the open state. This connection / disconnection allows, among other things, a fastener design where a single flange can be grasped by a user by converting the fastener from the installed state to the closed state, and by converting the fastener from the closed state to the open state (and between the states closed again and open again). It can be indicated that with the conventional design of two tabs, the user can accidentally grab and pull the wrong tab when trying to carry out a desired conversion. For example, if the user accidentally grabs and pulls the tab of the desired section when attempting to open (or reopen) the fastener, the desired section may tear from the diaper making the additional use of the fastener unfeasible and / or impossible. With the unique tab design that allows the present invention, the user is not confused about which tab should be grasped when initially closing the fastener and / or which tab should be grasped when opening (and reclosing and reopening) the Bra. More particularly, the present invention provides a convertible fastener from an installed state to an unfolded state and subsequently to a closed state, and, once in the closed state, convertible to an open state and, once in the open state, convertible between a closed state again and an open state again. The fastener includes a joining section, a desired section, and a fastening section. The joining section is for permanent connection to a surface of a fixing area when the fastener is in the installed state and the following states. The desired section is for permanent connection to a laying area when the fastener is in the closed state and the following states. The clamping section is connected to the desired section when the clamp is in the states prior to the open state; disconnected from the desired section when the fastener passes from the closed state to the open state, and can be attached and released from the desired section when the fastener passes between the closed state again and the open state again. The connection / disconnection of the clamping section to the desired section can be done by a breakable connection between them. The breakable connection may include, for example, a designed weak zone (e.g., a perforated line) in the desired section. By pulling the fastening section to convert the fastener from the closed position to the open position, the designed weak zone allows a controlled break and the separation of the desired section. A small section of the desired section can be broken with the clamping section during this conversion. The connection, and the selective disconnection, of the fastening section and the desired section allows the fastener to have a single flange. The tab can be grasped by conveying the fastener from the installed state to the closed state, and by passing the fastener from the closed state to the open state. This same tab can also be grasped for the conversion of the fastener between the closed state again and the open state again. The flange may occupy a distal grip area so that it remains accessible and graspable throughout the use of the fastener. These and other features of the invention are fully described and pointed out in particular in the claims. The following description and drawings set forth in detail some illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative of only a few diverse forms in which the principles of the invention may be employed. DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper with a pair of fasteners according to the present invention. Figures 2A-2H are side views of the fastener in a pre-installation state, a partially installed state, a fully installed state, a deployed state, a closed state, an open state, a newly opened state, and a closed state again . Figure 21 is a perspective view of a roll that can be cut laterally at intervals corresponding to the desired width of the fasteners to obtain a plurality of fasteners.

Figures 3A-3H are side views of the fastener in a pre-installation state, a partially installed state, a fully installed state, a deployed state, a closed state, an open state, a newly opened state, and a closed state again .

Figure 31 is a perspective view of a roll that can be cut laterally at intervals corresponding to the desired width of the fasteners to obtain a plurality of fasteners.

Figures 4A-4H are side views of the fastener in a pre-installation state, a partially installed state, a fully installed state, an unfolded state, a closed state, an open state, a reopened state, and a closed state again. Figure 41 is a perspective view of a roll that can be cut laterally at intervals corresponding to the desired width of the fasteners to obtain a plurality of fasteners. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, and initially to Figure 1, a pair of fasteners 10 according to the present invention are shown installed, and in an unfolded state, in a disposable diaper 12. The illustrated disposable diaper 12 includes a laminate that it has a liquid absorption pad enclosed within a liquid-permeable inner shell and an outer shell impervious to liquids. The diaper 12 has a back portion 16 intended to cover the back of the user and a front portion 18 intended to cover the front of the user. The fasteners 10 are respectively attached to edges 20 of the rear portion 16 and are arranged to provide a closure around the user to engagement with respective positioning zones 22 on the front portion 18 of the diaper. It can be seen that the edges 20 have an outer surface 24 and an inner surface 26. Referring now to Figures 2A-2H, the fastener 10 is shown in a pre-installation state, a partially installed state, a fully installed state, a unfolded state, a closed state, an open state, an open state again, and a closed state again, respectively. The fastener 10 includes a joining section 30, a fastening section 40, another joining section 50, and a desired section 60. The fastener 10 also includes a breakable connection 70 between the fastening section 40 and the desired section 60. As discussed in more detail below, this breakable connection 70 allows the fastener 10 to have a single flange 80 that can be gripped to convert the fastener 10 from the installed state to an expanded state and to convert the fastener 10 from a closed state to an open state again. In the illustrated embodiment, a first strip of tape 400 (sometimes called the fastening tape) forms the joining section 30 and the fastening section 40, a second strip of tape 500 (sometimes called the release tape) forms the section 50, and a third strip of tape 600 (sometimes called the desired tape) forms the desired section 60. However, other constructions of sections 30/40/50/60 are certainly possible and contemplated by the present invention. For example, the joining section 30 and the holding section 40 could include separate separate strips. Additionally or alternatively, the joining section 50 and / or the desired section 60 could have strip constructions in multiple pieces. It should be noted that the thicknesses of sections 30/40/50/60 and tapes 400/500/600 have been greatly exaggerated for ease of explanation. The thicknesses of these sections / tapes will generally be in the range, for example, from about 5 to about 100 microns. If these thicknesses were represented to scale with the illustrated lengths of the sections 30/40/50/60 and the tapes 400/500/600, it would be more difficult to decipher and / or number the various sections / tapes of the fastener 10. Thus, the Exaggerated thicknesses in the drawings are offered in order to more clearly show the arrangement of these sections / tapes when the fastener 10 is in the various states. In the pre-installation state (figure 2A) and the illustrated orientation, the joining section 30 includes a substrate 32 having an adhesive layer 34 on its bottom surface, the fastening section 40 includes a substrate 42 having an adhesive layer 44 on its bottom surface, the joining section 50 includes a substrate 52 having an adhesive layer 54 on its bottom surface, and the desired section 60 includes a substrate 62 and an adhesive layer 64 on its bottom surface. The connecting section 30 and the holding section 40 are coextensive with one another. The main portions of the joining section 50 and the desired section 60 are placed parallel to the coextensive sections 30/40, the desired section 60 being placed between the clamping section 40 and the joining section 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the junction section 30 and fastening section 40 are formed from the first strip of tape 400. Accordingly, substrates 32 and 42 are actually a continuous substrate and adhesive layers 34 and 44 may look (or actually be) a layer continuous adhesive Sections 30 and 40 define the overall length of the fastener 10 which, for applications of disposable diapers, is generally in the range of 40 mm to 100 mm. The substrate 52 of the joining section 50 has a strip of generally rectangular shape and is folded correspondingly to the elongated J shape shown in the drawings in an exaggerated manner. The upper surface of the tail 56 of the J-shape is connected to the first tape 400 (by the adhesive layer 44 and the adhesive layer 54) and defines the division between the joint section 30 and the fastening section 40. This geometry of the joining section 50 results in a Y-shaped joint forming around the diaper edge 20 (which is often referred to in the Y-joining industry) when the fastener 10 is in its deployed state (Figure 4D) and the following states (Figures 4E-4H). The substrate 62 of the desired section 60 has a generally rectangular shape in plan with an outer end folded forming a tab 66 which, as explained in more detail below, is a tear-off tab. The upper surface of the other end of the substrate 62 is positioned adjacent to (but not connected to) the bottom surface of the tail 56 of the substrate 52. The breakable connection 70 is placed between the tab 66 and the remainder of the desired section 60, and in the illustrated embodiment, includes perforations in the substrate 62. The flange 80 is placed on the lower distal surface of the substrate 42 of the fastening section 40 and fills a space aligned between the edge of the desired section 60 and the edge of the section 40. The fastener 10 can be supplied to the manufacturer of diapers in the "flat" state of pre-installation (FIG. 2A). As best seen with reference briefly to Figure 21, a plurality of fasteners 10 can be cut in the pre-installation state of a roll of material 100, preferably in high-speed efficient manufacturing. The width of the roll 100 corresponds to the desired length of the fasteners 10 and the distance of the cut line 102 corresponds to its desired width. Although not specifically depicted in the drawings, the joining section 30 and / or the fastening section 40 may include a release liner on the upper surface of its substrates 30 and 40 to prevent "blocking" when the fastener material is in place. This roll form. The diaper manufacturer can install the fastener 10 on the trailing edge 20 of the diaper 12 and the user can receive the diaper 12 with fasteners in the installed condition. In order to install the fastener 10, the connecting section 30 is permanently fixed to the outer surface 24 of the diaper edge 20 with the adhesive 34 (FIG. 2B). The clamping section 40, the joining section 50, and the desired section 60 are then pivoted in the clockwise direction and the joining section 50 is permanently bonded (via its adhesive layer 54) to the inner surface 26 of the diaper edge 20 (Figure 2C). In the installed state (figure 2C), the desired tape 60 is temporarily bonded (via its adhesive layer 64) to the non-adhesive surface of the substrate 52 of the joining section 50. The fastening section 40 is connected to the desired section 60 by the breakable connection 70 ( and also temporarily bonded, via its adhesive layer 44, to the non-adhesive surface of the desired substrate 62). The flange 80 extends beyond the joining section 50 and the desired section 60 for convenient grip. The fastener 10 can be converted from the installed state (FIG. 2C) to the unfolded state (FIG. 2D) and subsequently to the closed state (FIG. 2E). To unfold the fastener 10, the flange 80 is gripped and the fastening section 40 (with the desired section 60 connected to it by the breakable connection 70) is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2D). The desired section 60 is permanently attached, via its adhesive layer 64, to the positioning area 22 of the front portion of the diaper 12 (which had previously been mounted on the wearer) (Figure 2E). The fastening section 40 is still connected to the desired section 60 by the frangible connection 70 (and is also temporarily bonded, via its adhesive layer 44, to the non-adhesive surface of the desired substrate 62). The flange 80 extends beyond the desired section 60 for convenient grip. Once the fastener 10 is in the closed state (Figure 2E), it can be converted to the open state (Figure 2F). To convert it to the open state, the tab 80 is gripped and the clamping section 40 is pivoted to the left towards the joining section 30. This movement causes the connection 70 to break and the clamping section 40 to be disconnected from the section. desired 60, which is permanently attached to the positioning zone 22. The tear tab 66 of the desired section 60 can remain with the fastening section 40 after this disconnection. Once the fastener 10 is in the open state (FIG. 2F), it can be converted between the closed state again (FIG. 2G) and the open state again (FIG. 2H) by simply pivoting the fastening section 40 (now disconnected). of the desired section 60) towards and away from the desired section 60. In the closed state again (Figure 2G), the adhesive layer 44 detachably attaches the fastening section 40 to the desired section 60. Accordingly, the connecting section 30 it is permanently attached to a surface (e.g., the outer surface 24) of a fixing area (e.g., the trailing edge of the diaper 20) when the fastener 10 is in the installed state and the following states. The fastening section 40 is connected to the desired section 60 when the fastener is in the states prior to the open state, is disconnected from the desired section 60 when the fastener 10 goes from the closed state to the open state. Additionally, the fastening section 40 can be attached and released from the detent section 60 when the fastener 10 passes between the closed state again and the open state again. The connecting section 50 is permanently attached to another surface (for example, the inner surface 26) of the fastening zone 20 when the fastener 10 is in the installed state and the following states. The desired section 60 is releasably attached to the joining section 50 when the fastener 10 is in the installed state, is removed from the joining section 50 when the fastener 10 is in the unfolded state and the following states, and is attached permanently to a placement zone 22 when the fastener 10 is in the closed state and the following states. As with respect to the breakable connection 70, it is intact when the fastener 10 is in the states up to and including the closed state. The connection 70 breaks during the conversion of the fastener 10 between the closed state and the open state, and breaks when the fastener 10 is in the closed state again and the open state again. Significantly, the single flange 80 can be grasped by converting the fastener 10 from the installed state (Figure 2D) to the closed state (Figure 2F) and by converting the fastener 10 from the closed state (Figure 2F) to the open state (Figure 2G). (The tab 80 can also be grasped by converting the fastener 10 between the closed state again and the open state again). Thus, the user is not confused as to which tab should be grasped when initially closing the fastener 10 (ie, converting the fastener 10 of the installed state to the closed state) and / or on which flange it should be grasped when opening the fastener 10. (ie, converting the fastener 10 from the closed state to the open or open state again). In the installed state (figure 2D), the closed state (figure 2F), the open state again (figure 2G), and the closed state again (figure 2H), the tab 80 occupies the distal portion of the grip area of the fastener 10, so that it remains accessible and graspable throughout the use of the fastener. Referring now to Figures 3A-3H, a modified form of the fastener 10 is shown, this fastener 10 having a hook section 90. The hook section 90 includes a substrate 92 and hooks 94 extending outward from its bottom surface . (The thickness of the substrate 92 and / or the height of the hooks 94 are somewhat exaggerated in the drawings to facilitate explanation and / or to accommodate the exaggerated thicknesses of the fastener sections 30/40/50/60). As shown in Figure 31, a plurality of fasteners 10 can be cut in the pre-installation state (Figure 3A) of a roll of material 100. In the fastener 10 shown in Figures 3A-3H, the hook section 90 is attached to the holding section 40 (by the adhesive 44) and placed between the edge of the flange 80 and the edge of the desired section 60. Thus, in this embodiment, the flange 80 and the hook section 90 fill a space aligned between the edge of the desired section 60 and the edge of the fastening section 40. The hooks 94 are releasably attached to the inner surface of the diaper 24 when the fastener 10 is in the installed condition (FIG. 3C), releasably attached to the front portion of the diaper 18 when the fastener 10 is in the closed or closed state again (Figure 3E and Figure 3G), and remain attached to the fastening section 40 after breaking the connection 70 (Figures 3F-3H). Referring now to Figures 4A-4H, another modified form of the fastener 10 is shown, this fastener 10 also having a hook section 90. In this embodiment, the break tab 66 of the desired section 60 is not folded and the connection breakable 70 defines its inner edge. The hook section 90 is attached to the desired section 60 (by the adhesive 44) outwardly of the frangible connection 70, and is aligned so as to be inward of the inner edge of the flange 80. The hooks 94 are releasably joined together. To the inner surface of the diaper 24 when the fastener 10 is in the installed state (Figure 4C), it is releasably attached to the front portion of the diaper 18 when the fastener 10 is in the closed or closed state again (Figure 4E). and Figure 4G), and again remain attached to the clamping section 40 after breaking the connection 70 (Figures 4F-Figure 4H). As shown in Figure 41, a plurality of fasteners 10 can be cut in the pre-installation state (Figure 4A) of a roll of material 100. The substrates 32, 42, 52, and 62 can be made of fabric, kraft paper , cellophane film, non-woven sheets, polymer films (for example, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene) or other suitable materials or laminates. The flange 80 can be made from the same substrate materials or the like. Adhesive layers 34, 44, 54, 64 can be any conventional adhesive, including pressure sensitive adhesives and non-sensitive adhesives to the pressure. Suitable pressure sensitive adhesives include adhesives based on acrylic resin and natural or synthetic rubber. Layers 34 and 54 may include permanent adhesives as used to permanently attach the junction sections 30 and 50 to the diaper edge 20. The layer 44 may include a releasable adhesive for selective attachment to and detachment of the fastening section 40 to the section. 60. The layer 64 may include an adhesive that can permanently affix the desired section 60 to the placement zone 22 and also temporarily attach the desired section to the joint section 50. (A release coating may be used on the non-adhesive surface. adhesive of the bonding substrate 52 to perform this permanent / temporary function). It can be indicated, however, that non-adhesive means (e.g., thermal links, magnetic connections, sonic links, mechanical connectors, etc.) could be used instead of some or all of the bonding / fixing adhesives for sections 30, 40, 50 and 60. The release coatings may be a silicone coating, a carbamate coating, or any other coating that promotes release of the relevant adjacent section by unwinding the roll of material 100 and / or converting the fastener 10 between states. The hook substrate 92 and the hooks 94 can be formed separately and subsequently joined (by, for example, in-crustation, adhesives, etc.) or can be integrally formed (for example, by stamping, molding, etc.). The hooks 94 can have any form of "hook" such as, for example, a J-shaped geometry, a mushroom-shaped geometry, an arrow-shaped geometry, a burr geometry, a bulbous geometry, etc. (see , for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,748,701 and 4,169,303). If the hook section 90 is used, the positioning zone 22 and / or the inner surface of the diaper 26 can have complementary loops that do not interfere with the adhesive (or other) bond of the desired section 60 to the positioning area 22 and / or the attachment section 50 to the surface of the diaper 26. Often, however, the fibrous nature of the diaper material will allow a single function as a hook engaging surface 94. It can now be appreciated that the present invention provides a fastener 10 wherein the fastening section 40 is initially connected to the desired section 60 and disengaged from it when the fastener 10 passes from the closed state to the open state. This connection / disconnection allows a fastener design where a single flange 80 can be grasped by a user by converting the fastener 10 from the installed state to the closed state, and by converting the fastener 10 from the closed state to the open state. Unlike conventional designs with two tabs, the user is not confused about which tab should be grasped when initially closing the clip 10 and / or on which tab it should be grasped when opening (or reopening) the clip 10. Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to some preferred embodiments, it is obvious that other experts in the art will think about alterations and equivalent and obvious modifications after reading and understanding this specification. For example, although the invention is depicted in connection with a disposable diaper for a wearer, the fastener 10 may be employed with non-disposable diapers and / or absorbent articles other than diapers. In fact, the bra 10 could have application in situations that do not remotely involve absorbent articles. The present invention includes all such alterations and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims (17)

1. CLAIMS 1. A convertible fastener (10) from a state installed in an article (12), to an unfolded state, and subsequently to a closed state, and, once in the closed state, convertible to an open state and, once in the open state, convertible between a closed state again and an open state again; said fastener (10) including: a joining section (30) for permanent attachment to a surface (24) of a fastening area (20) in a first portion (16) of the article (12), when the fastener (10) is in the installed state and the following states, a desired section (60) for permanent attachment to a positioning zone (22) in another portion (18) of the article (12), when the fastener (10) is in the closed state and the following states, a fastening section (40) connected to the desired section (60) when the fastener (10) is in the states prior to the open state; disconnected from the desired section (60) when the fastener (10) passes from the closed state to the open state, and uncoupling and disengaging from the desired section (60) when the fastener (10) passes between the closed state again and the open state of nine - a breakable connection (70) between the fastening section (40) and the desired section (60) that is broken to disconnect the fastening section (40) from the desired section (60) when the fastener (10) ) goes from the closed state to the open state; and a single tab (80) that can be grasped when going from the installed state to the closed state, and when going from the closed state to the open state.
2. 2. A fastener (10) as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the breakable connection (70) includes perf orations in the desired section (60).
3. 3. A fastener (10) as set forth in any of the preceding two claims, wherein the desired section (60) includes a rupture tab (66) that remains with the fastening section (40) when the fastener (10) passes from the closed state to the open state.
4. A fastener (10) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the flange (80) occupies a distal grasping area whereby it remains accessible and graspable throughout the use of the fastener.
5. A fastener (10) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the flange (80) is placed in a space aligned between an edge of the fastening section (40) and an edge of the desired section (60) .
6. 6. A fastener (10) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the joining section (30) and the fastening section (40) are coextensive with one another.
7. 7. A fastener (10) as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the joining section (30) and the fastening section (40) are formed from a single strip of tape (400). A fastener (10) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the combined length of the attachment section (30) and the fastening section (40) defines the length of the fastener (10) in a pre-installed condition. -tion A fastener (10) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, further including another joining section (50) for permanent attachment to another surface (26) of the fastening zone (20) in the first portion (16) of the article (12), when the fastener (10) is in the installed state and the following states. A fastener (10) as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein, when the fastener (10) is in a pre-staging condition, main portions of the attachment section (50) and the desired section (60) are placed parallel to the coextensive sections (30/40), the desired section (60) being positioned between the fastening section (40) and the joining section (50). A fastener (10) as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the joining section (50) has a geometry such that a Y-shaped joint is formed around an edge of the fastening zone (20) when the fastener (10) is in the closed state and the following states. 12. A fastener (10) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, the desired section (60) is releasably attached to the joining section (50) in the installed state, with the fastening section (40) still connected to the desired section (60). 13. A fastener (10) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, further including a hook section (90) connected to the fastening section (40) or the desired section (60). A method of converting the fastener (10) set forth in any of the preceding claims from an installed state to a closed state, and from the closed state to the open state, said method including the steps of: moving the desired section (60), with the fastening section (40) connected to it, towards the laying area (22); permanently joining the desired section (60), with the fastening section (40) still connected thereto, to the laying area (22); disconnecting the fastening section (40) from the desired section (60) by breaking the breakable connection (70); and moving the fastening section (40) away from the desired section (60); wherein said step of moving the desired section (60) includes grasping the flange (80) and wherein said step of moving the fastening section (40) includes grasping the same flange (80). 15. A roll of material (100) including a substantially long strip of material which, when cut laterally, provides a plurality of fasteners (10) set forth in any of claims 1-13 in a pre-installation state. 16. An absorbent article (12) incorporating a pair of the fasteners (10) set forth in any of claims 1-13, wherein the absorbent article (12) has a back portion (16) intended to cover the back of the wearer and a front portion (18) intended to cover the front of the user; where the fixing area (20) is located in the rear portion (16) and the positioning area (22) is located in the front portion (18). 17. An absorbent article (12) as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the fastening zones (20) are located on edges of the rear portion (16).