US2861573A

US2861573A - Diaper

Info

Publication number: US2861573A
Application number: US433427A
Authority: US
Inventors: Evelyn P Daley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-06-01
Filing date: 1954-06-01
Publication date: 1958-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-25

Description

E. P. DALEY Nbv. 25, 1958 DIAPER Filed June 1. 1954 INVENTOR.

EVELYN P. OALE) BY (8M4 M,M@w4,

A TTOR/VE Y8.

nited States Patent Ofiice 2,861,573 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 DIAPER Evelyn P. Daley, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 1, 1954, Serial N 0. 433,427

2 'Claims. (Cl. 128284) This invention relates to a new and useful diaper incorporating certain novel features of construction and providing certain advantages over conventional diaper constructions as will more clearly appear from the following.

One disadvantage commonly encountered with conventional diapers lies in the fact that they do not absorb and hold moisture to keep the infant comfortable when wet. As a result, immediately upon wetting the infant becomes uncomfortable and insists on being changed, and often it is either inconvenient or impossible to immediately change the infant, resulting in considerable distress. In addition, I feel that it is far better for the infant, even apart from the question of comfort, if this condition can be avoided.

It is a common practice to avoid this condition by using two diapers simultaneously to provide the desired moisture absorbing and retaining action, and it has been found that when sufiicient diaper material is provided the infant will stay relatively comfortable for a longer period of time; However, the simultaneous use of two or more diapers is cumbersome and awkward and of course doubles the number of diapers to be cleaned, which often is a severe inconvenience.

It has previously been proposed to provide diapers with pockets for receiving separate moisture absorbing material, and other similar arrangements, but this has generally proved to be impractical for one reason or another.

Also, it is often desired to prevent the moisture from passing through the diaper, and waterproof pants are frequently used for this purpose. However, such pants have the severe disadvantage of keeping the infant quite warm, and this disadvantage is accentuated when the diaper does not absorb and retain suflicient moisture.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of my invention to provide a diaper construction which is readily fabricated and relatively inexpensive, and therefore economically feasible, and which will provide a relatively large amount of diaper material suflicient to give the desired moisture absorbing and retaining action.

It is another object of my invention to provide a diaper construction as aforesaid which is readily adjustable to a wide variety of sizes without requiring special fastening devices or complicated features of construction.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a diaper having the aforesaid characteristics and which is adapted to readily receive a sheet of waterproof material to provide a waterproof diaper.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a diaper which is readily secured in place on the infant with a snug and comfortable fit.

The foregoing and other objects of a diaper construction according to my invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein like ref Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a diaper constructed in accord with my invention, the same being shown in a completely unfolded and fully extended position ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken about along line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the diaper of Fig. 1 showing a preliminary folding step preparatory to use;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing the manner of applying the folded diaper to the infant;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing a slightly different folding of the diaper to provide a slightly smaller size thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the folded diaper of Fig. 5 applied to the infant.

A diaper constructed in accord with my invention comprises an elongated main body member generally designated 1 and comprising a unitary piece of suitable diaper material, such as birds-eye or gauze material. Body member 1 is considerably longer than the usual diaper which is of a length just sufficient to cover the lower trunk of an infant, for reasons which will become apparent, and is formed byfolding the said piece of material over upon itself at its opposite side edge portions and stitching the opposite side edges together at the seam 2 which extends approximately centrally of body member 1 for the entire length thereof. This pro vides two separate layers 3 and 4 of diaper material with a single stitching operation on the folded material, and in addition provides a pocket between said layers extending the length of body member 1 for a purpose to be described.

A pair of arms, generally designated 5, are secured to opposite sides of the body member 1 approximately midway of the length thereof. Arms 5 are adapted to extend around the waist of the infant, and can comprise conventional diaper material which is folded over upon itself for greater strength and stitched together at 6. Arms 5 are secured to the body member 1 by the stitching 7. Of course, the arms 5 can comprise an unfolded piece of material whereby the stitching 6 can be dispensed with.

Also, for purposes of providing a snug fit about the waist of the infant I prefer to provide an elastic member 8 extending between the arms 5 and normally tending to draw them together, as illustrated in Fig. l. The elastic member 8 can be secured to arms 5 and body member 1 by the stitching 7 whereby arms 5 and elastic 8 can be secured to body member 1 by the same stitching operation.

Arms 5 divide body member 1 into an upper portion 9, and a lower portion 10, and lower portion 10 is of a length sutficient to encompass the lower trunk of the infant.

The operation of a diaper constructed in accord with my invention is as follows. The upper end portion 9 of body member 1 is folded over the elastic 8 to lie flat against the lower end portion 10 of body member 1 and it will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment the end of the portion 9 terminates short of the end of portion 10.

This will provide the largest size of the particular diaper illustrated herein, and the infant is then positioned on the folded over portion 9, and the

portions

10 and 9 are then drawn upwardly through the crotch in the usual manner as illustrated in Fig. 4. Arms 5 are then brought upwardly around the sides of the infant and are pinned to the extending end of the body member portion 10, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6.

Thus, the diaper is quickly and easily folded and applied to the infant, and it will be noted that my diaper construction provides four layers of diaper material around the crotch of the infant and these four layers will absorb and hold enough moisture to keep the infant relatively comfortable even though wet.

Should a slightly smaller diaper size be desired, the diaper is simply given a further folding operation as illustrated in Fig. '5 wherein the extending end of body member portion 16 is folded over the adjacent end of body member portion 9. This reduces the length of the folded diaper, and if desired a still shorter length can be provided by turning the folded portion 9 back upon itself with the end of portion 10 being folded thereover. The diaper is then fitted to the infant in the manner above described and illustrated in Fig. 6, and the elastic 8, which is covered by the folded portion 9, provides a yielding but snug fit.

Accordingly, it will be seen that a diaper construction according to my invention is readily and inexpensively fabricated. Body member 1 comprises a single piece of material, and is formed with a single seam, and arms 5 and elastic 8 are secured thereto by the two seams 7, assuming that the material of arms 5 is not folded over. At the same time, multiple layers of diaper material are provided for absorbing retaining moisture without requiring special pockets for receiving separate absorbing members, and the like, and the diaper is readily adjustable to different sizes.

In addition, the pocket between layers 3 and 4 of body member 1, and which extends the length thereof readily receives a sheet of waterproof material 11 therein. Thus, when it is desired to make the diaper waterproof a sheet of waterproof material such as a suitable plastic is slipped into the pocket, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and when the diaper is fitted on the infant the waterproof member 11 will be immediately beneath the outermost layer 3 of diaper material, leaving sufficient layers thereof for moisture absorbing and retaining purposes while preventing the passage of moisture completely through the diaper material.

This Waterproofing arrangement possesses certain distinct advantages. For example, the waterproof sheet is readily inserted when desired, and equally readily removed. Also, the sheet 11 does not completely surround the lower trunk of the infant, as do conventional rubber pants, whereby my waterproofing arrangement will be much cooler and more comfortable.

Also, the arms 5 extending around the sides of the infant provide a better and more comfortable fit, as distinguished, for example, from the conventional method of pinning the front and rear parts of the diaper together at the sides of the infant.

Accordingly, it will be seen that my invention fully accomplishes the aforesaid objects. While I have dis- 4 closed but one preferred embodiment, my invention does not necessarily require all the details of such embodiment and I intend that it be defined by the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, and its mode of operation, what I claim as new is:

l. A diaper comprising, an elongated body member of diaper material having a length approximately twice that required to fit around an infant through the crotch thereof, said body member being a unitary piece of material having its side edges folded over and secured to each other to provide two layers of diaper material defining a pocket therebetween for receiving a sheet of waterproof material, a pair of side members extending laterally from opposite sides of said body member for extending around opposite sides of an infant and secured to said body member adjacent the longitudinal mid-point thereof, and an elastic member extending between said side members across one side of said body member and normally urging said side members toward each other, whereby said body member can be folded endwise to cover said elastic material and double the thickness of diaper material passing through the crotch of the infant.

2. A diaper comprising, an elongated body member of diaper material, said body member comprising a single piece of diaper material having its opposite side edge portions folded over and secured together to provide two layers of diaper material defining therebetween a pocket extending lengthwise of said body member, and a pair of side members extending laterally from opposite sides of said body member and secured thereto intermediate the opposite ends thereof, the body member portion between said side members and one end of said body member being of sufficient length for fitting around an infant through the crotch thereof and the remainder of said body member being foldable over said portion to double the thickness of diaper material passing through the crotch of the infant, said side members fitting around the opposite sides of the infant for fastening to said one end of said body member, wherein said pocket extends substantially the entire width of said body member for receiving a sheet of waterproof material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,358,778 Sonnenberg Sept. 26, 1944 2,506,231 Meyer May 2, 1950 2,566,193 Grossman Aug. 28, 1951 2,620,798 OBrien Dec. 9, 1952