US3145394A

US3145394A - Invalid diaper

Info

Publication number: US3145394A
Application number: US161712A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gladys A Melton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-12-22
Filing date: 1961-12-22
Publication date: 1964-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-08-25

Description

Aug. 25, 1964 s. A. MELTQN INVALID DIAPER Original Filed Dec. 14, 1959 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

GL DYS A. neuron Wfi FIG.2

United States Patent 3,145,394 INVALID DIAPER Gladys Melton, Melton Rest Home, Hamburg, Iowa Continuation of application Ser. No. 859,400, Dec. 14, 1959. This application Dec. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 161,712 2 Claims. (1. 2-224) This invention relates to pants and diapers and it is an ob ect to provide these with vertical and lateral adustability for the fitting and shape required by adults in nursing homes and hospitals.

I am aware of a patent to I. Lehr titled, Mans Brief, filed November 25, 1947, Patent No. 2,431,571. My concept differs from this in having a plurality of sets of vertically substantialy spaced mutually cooperative fastenmg means on front overlapping edges of the side panels for the more firm and complete closure needed when my pants are used on an invalid with another soaker diaper beneath. My purpose is much to be distinguished from underpants for the non-invalid.

Each of my fastener sets has a plurality of horizontally spaced portions, each set having one part on one side panel and one on the other for lateral adjustment to the size of the patient. In this Way, a lateral adjustment permits the same pants to be used on diiferent invalid patients at the end of each laundering, eliminatmg sorting, special marking, etc., so hard in hospitals.

I am aware of a patent to B. S. Goodwin et al., issued May 8, 1951, titled, Diaper for Infants, Patent No. 2,551,667. This patent achieves adjustment simply and is excellent for an infant where shape is not such a factor. However, adults require shape for appearance and comfort. It is, therefore, an object to provide an adjustable pants principle which permits the full fitting of the adult need for desirable shape.

Another object is to provide pants which cannot only be laterally adjusted at the side, but also can be vertically adjusted through the crotch.

These adjustable features are very important in hospital use and in the care of the aged because it makes it unnecessary to keep diapers separate in washing as the same diaper can be made to fit different patients. The time and labor involved in keeping washable items separate is very expensive.

The adjustable feature would be also of advantage in the use of the same diaper for babies since it could be adjusted to increased size as the baby grows.

This application is a continuation of my parent copending application, titled, Invalid Diaper, Serial #859,460, filed December 14, 1959, now abandoned.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

FIGURE 1 is a view showing the diaper in an open or flat position.

FIGURE 2 is a view showing the adult invalid diaper in a folded or closed position.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention ice may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a rear panel,

numerals

14 and 16 side panels, numeral 18 a crotch panel.

The upper edges of the rear and side panels are provided with a continuous hem 32 and reinforcing rows of

stitching

34 and 36 are provided at the meeting edges of the side and rear panels. The rear panel may also be provided with tucks or pleats, such as the pleats 38 at the upper edges and 40 in the lower portion.

The rows of stitching between the rear and side panels are in diverging relation extending from

points

42 and 44 at the upper edge to

points

46 and 48 at the lower edge, and the crotch panel or tongue 18 is provided with arcuate

concave edges

50 and 52. The end of the tongue is V- shaped having

edges

54 and 56 inclined upwardly from a point 58.

In use, the diaper is placed against the back of the patient and the crotch panel 18 is brought between the legs of the patient and is caused to extend upwardly in front of the patient in lapping relationship with the

side panels

14 and 16. The

side panels

14 and 16 are refolded around the respective sides of the patient in position of overlapping each other and overlapping the crotch panel 18 in positions lapping each other and overlapping the crotch panel respectively.

There are upper and lower sets of side panel first pairs (20, 22 and 22 and 20 in the upper sets, and 22b, 22a, 20a and 20b in the lower sets) which are mutually cooperative fasteners and disposed on the overlaping edges of the

side panels

14 and 16.

The fastener 26' cooperates with the fastener 22', the fastener 22 cooperates with the fastener 20, the fastener 20a cooperates with the fastener 22a, the fastener 22b cooperates with the fastener 26b.

The upper set of pairs 20' and 22a, and likewise 22' and 20, being spaced apart horizontally and aligned in a horizontally straight row and the lower set of pairs 22a and 22b, also 22a and 20b, being horizontally spaced an equal horizontal distance to the spacing of the upper pair of

fasteners

20' and 22 or 22 and 20, the lower pair of fasteners also being aligned in a horizontal straight row. The fasteners are so arranged that a

fastener

20 or 22, for example, on one of the overlapping

side panels

14 or 16 and in one of the sets, can be connected with either one of those fasteners 22' or 20 (in the example) of the same set which are on the other panel, whereby the horizontal size of the pants is adjustable.

Fasteners along the upper hem 32 are also provided and can be four in number on each side panel with two on each side panel (20 22d and 22 20d) above and two on each side panel below (20 22d, and 22 20d). The fasteners 20 are spaced horizontally with respect to the fasteners 22:! on the panel 14. The fasteners 22 are horizontally spaced with respect to the fasteners 20d on the panel 16, the horizontal distances referred to being the same.

Likewise, the

fasteners

20 and 22d on panel 14 are vertically spaced an equal distance from the lower hem fasteners Ztlf and 22d on the panel 14 as the upper fasteners 22 and 20d on the panel 16 are spaced above 3 the lower fasteners 22 and 20d on the panel 16. The hem fasteners 20 are disposed in an approximate vertical row as are also the

hem fasteners

22d, 22 and 29d. The

upper fasteners

22 and 22d are disposed in the same horizontal row as the upper hem fasteners 22 and 20d.

When the

side panels

14 and 16 are overlapped at maximum, it will be found that any fastener having the designation after it of ;f, d, a, and b, will be found to fasten with a fastener on the opposite panel having a like designation after it.

The crotch panel 18 is provided with attachment fasteners on the right hand side thereof, including upper and lower crotch panel fasteners 24a and 24b, and the left hand side of the crotch panel 18 is provided with upper and lower crotch panel fasteners 26a and 30b.

Those parts of the remainder of the pants, as best seen in FIGURE 2 (remainder meaning that part which is lapped by the crotch panel 18 in use position), are provided with cooperative remainder portion fasteners 28a and 24b on the right hand side (the right hand side referring to the wearers right hand side) of the lower side of the pants, and 26a and 3017 on the left hand side of the lower side of the pants (referring to the wearers left hand side), the various crotch and remainder fasteners being in a plurality of positions respectively corresponding to the horizontal size adjustment of the pants as established by a selected amount of overlapping of the

side panels

14 and 16.

At full overlap of the side panels, as seen in FIGURE 2, the fastener 28b will be attached to the fastener 24b, and the fastener 24a will be attached to the fastener 28a. Likewise, the fastener 30b will be attached to the fastener 26b and the fastener 260 will be attached to the fastener 300.

However, it will be seen that when the

side panels

14 and 16 are overlapping to a lesser amount, then the fastener 2822 will be connected to the fastener 28a, the fasteners 24a and 2412 will not be connected, and likewise, on the other side, the fastener 3% will be connected to the fastener 30a and the fasteners 26a and 26b will not be connected.

With the double rows of snaps the size of a diaper is adjustable. However, the diapers may be provided in different sizes.

The diaper may be made of rubberized double-textured fiannelette or other suitable material, and the material should be such that can be washed, boiled, and bleached.

From the foregoing specification it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical maner, and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device considering what it will accomplish, and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings.

Changes in shape, size, and arrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. Adjustable pants comprising: a rear panel, side panels, and a crotch panel attached to said rear panel and when in use extending through the crotch of the wearer and having a forward end which extends upwardly in front of the user in lapping relationship with said side panels, said side panels having forward edges which overlap one another in use, upper and lower sets of side panel first pairs of mutually cooperative fasteners on said overlapping edges of said side panels, said upper set of pairs being spaced apart horizontally and aligned in a horizontal straight row and said lower set of pairs being horizontally spaced an equal horizontal distance to said upper pair and being also aligned in a horizontal straight row, said fasteners being so arranged that a fastener on one of said overlapping side panels and in one of said sets can be connected with either one of those fasteners of the same set which are on the other panel whereby the horizontal size of the pants is adjustable, upper and lower crotch panel attachment fasteners, said crotch panel attachment fasteners being arranged on the crotch panel and also on those parts of the remainder of said pants which are lapped by said crotch panel in positions for fixing said crotch panel to those parts of the remainder of said pants which lap said crotch panel in a plurality of positions corresponding to the horizontal size adjustment of said pants established by a selected amount of overlapping of said side panels.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said crotch panel is specifically underlapped with respect to said side panels for best water retention.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,195,618 Smallwood Aug. 22, 1916 2,431,571 Lehr Nov. 25, 1947 2,828,745 Deutz Apr. 1, 1958

Claims

1. ADJUSTABLE PANTS COMPRISING: A REAR PANEL, SIDE PANELS, AND A CROTCH PANEL ATTACHED TO SAID REAR PANEL AND WHEN IN USE EXTENDING THROUGH THE CROTCH OF THE WEARER AND HAVING A FORWARD END WHICH EXTENDS UPWARDLY IN FRONT OF THE USER IN LAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SIDE PANELS, SAID SIDE PANELS HAVING FORWARD EDGES WHICH OVERLAP ONE ANOTHER IN USE, UPPER AND LOWER SETS OF SIDE PANEL FIRST PAIRS OF MUTUALLY COOPERATIVE FASTENERS ON SAID OVERLAPPING EDGES OF SAID SIDE PANELS, SAID UPPER SET OF PAIRS BEING SPACED APART HORIZONTALLY AND ALIGNED IN A HORIZONTAL STRAIGHT ROW AND SAID LOWER SET OF PAIRS BEING HORIZONTALLY SPACED AN EQUAL HORIZONTAL DISTANCE TO SAID UPPER PAIR AND BEING ALSO ALIGNED IN A HORIZONTAL STRAIGHT ROW, SAID FASTENERS BEING SO ARRANGED THAT A FASTENER ON ONE OF SAID OVERLAPPING SIDE PANELS AND IN ONE OF SAID SETS CAN BE CONNECTED WITH EITHER ONE OF THOSE FASTENERS OF THE SAME SET WHICH ARE ON THE OTHER PANEL WHEREBY THE HORIZONTAL SIZE OF THE PANTS IS ADJUSTABLE, UPPER AND LOWER CROTCH PANEL ATTACHMENT FASTENERS, SAID CROTCH PANEL ATTACHMENT FASTENERS BEING ARRANGED ON THE CROTCH PANEL AND ALSO ON THOSE PARTS OF THE REMAINDER OF SAID PANTS WHICH ARE LAPPED BY SAID CROTCH PANEL IN POSITIONS FOR FIXING SAID CROTCH PANEL TO THOSE PARTS OF THE REMAINDER OF SAID PANTS WHICH LP SAID CROTCH PANEL IN A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE HORIZONTAL SIZE ADJUSTMENT OF SAID PANTS ESTABLISHED BY A SELECTED AMOUNT OF OVERLAPPING OF SAID SIDE PANELS.