WO1995017151A1

WO1995017151A1 - Absorbent product

Info

Publication number: WO1995017151A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1995/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kathryn Louise Andrus
Original assignee: Kathryn Louise Andrus
Priority date: 1993-12-23
Filing date: 1995-01-05
Publication date: 1995-06-29
Also published as: AU1329095A

Abstract

A disposable product in the form of a diaper having a body facing side (4) and a body-fluid pervious non-body facing side (5). The diaper is of a generally hour glass shape. The diaper has an absorbent batt of a generally rectangular shape which is comprised of a crotch portion (3a) and a wing (3b). Both transverse ends (20, 21) and one longitudinal edge (22) of the crotch portion (3a) of the batt are attached to the body facing side of the diaper. The wing (3b) of the absorbent batt forms an extension to the longitudinal edge (24a) of the crotch portion (3a) of the absorbent batt.

Description

ABSORBENT PRODUCT

The invention relates to an absorbent product and in particular to an improved diaper.

Technical Field

Numerous types of disposable and non-disposable diapers are known. The disposable diaper is well known in the marketplace, however, in recent times there has been an increased awareness of the environmental problems which result from the use of this type of diaper. There is therefore an increased demand for the more traditional reusable diaper. The traditional reusable diaper has a number of inherent disadvantages such as being bulky and needing to fold the material into a diaper form prior to use. Further, the traditional reusable diaper requires an additional water-impervious outer pant in order to prevent body fluids from soaking through the diaper to the outer garments. Reusable diapers in general rely on the diaper component material as a whole to be absorbent which results in the spread of body fluids around the wearer's body causing considerable discomfort. These problems have resulted in consumer resistance to such a product.

Background Art

A commonly recognised problem with prior known diapers in which the absorbent material forms a permanent part of the diaper is that because of the bulk, of the material, the diaper is difficult to wash satisfactorily and is also difficult to dry after laundering. New Zealand Patent Specification 235229 (Little Rippers Ltd) discloses a diaper having a pad of fibrous material which is sewn into the body of the diaper and thus is subject to this problem.

Attempts to alleviate this problem by having the absorbent pad partly detached from the body of the napkins have been made. For instance New Zealand Patent Specification (Illston) discloses a diaper which has a length of absorbent material which extends longitudinally between a front and a rear portion of the napkin which contacts the front and rear of the body respectively. The absorbent material has two side parts which are longer than two end parts. One end only of the absorbent material is fastened to the back portion of the diaper and the material can be of a length that it can be folded lengthwise on itself to provide a double thickness. The specification states that substantially all of the side parts of the absorbent material is unattached to the body of the diaper. Illston therefore partly overcomes that problem because the woven material forming the absorbent pad can be unfolded into a number of single layers. However Illston suffers a further disadvantage in that because of the method of attaching the absorbent material to the body of the diaper, during the washing or drying process, the absorbent material is very liable to become entangled with other articles in the washing or the drying machine and thus become parted from the body of the diaper.

New Zealand Patent Specification 216053 (Vella) discloses a napkin which has an absorbent portion which is no wider that the crotch region of the napkin but which must be at least twice the length of the distance from the front to the rear of the napkin. The absorbent portion can be either separate strips of absorbent material or a continuous strip of absorbent material. The specification further teaches that the strip of absorbent material is folded into layers which are placed in the crotch region of the napkin.

Re-usable diapers which are essentially of an hour glass shape generally include a simple form of fastening means, such as domes, buttons or hook and loop fasteners which enable the diaper to be simply adjusted to fit the body of the wearer. The range of adjustment is comparatively limited and the need obviously exists for a re-usable diaper that has the ability to be readily applied to a child from the size of a small baby to a child.

Object of this invention

It is an object of this invention to go at least some way to overcome these problems and disadvantages and to meet the required desiderata or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Disclosure of the Invention

In one form the invention comprises a diaper having: (a) a substantially rectangular body portion having first and second ends and having a non-body facing side and a body facing side, a flap extending transversely from each side of said first end, and a crotch part between the first and second ends, and wherein the non-body facing side is substantially body-fluid impervious; and

(b) a body fluid absorbent substantially rectangular batt comprising a crotch portion and a wing portion, the crotch portion of the absorbent batt having a width which is defined by two longitudinal sides and having a length defined by two transverse ends with the distance between the two transverse ends being no greater than the distance between said first end and said second end of the body portion, and wherein substantially all of the said transverse ends and longitudinal sides of the crotch portion of the absorbent batt are attached to the body portion of the diaper and wherein the wing portion of the absorbent batt forms an extension from one of the longitudinal side of the crotch portion of the absorbent batt and has a length which is substantially the same as the distance between the transverse ends of the crotch portion of the absorbent batt.

Preferably the diaper includes integral fastening means.

Preferably the integral fastening means is located on at least the body facing side of each of said flaps and on the non body facing side adjacent said second end.

Preferably the fastening means is located on the body facing side of both of said flaps and on the non body facing side of one of said flaps and is also located on the non body facing side adjacent said second end.

Preferably the fastening means comprises a hook and loop fastening system.

Preferably the wing portion of the absorbent batt is of a multi layer thickness.

Preferably a portion of the crotch part of the body portion is elasticised.

Preferably the said ends of the crotch portion of the absorbent batt are attached to the body facing side of the body portion of the diaper at a position inset from each of the said ends of the body portion of the diaper.

Preferably the wing portion of the absorbent batt is foldable to a width substantially the same as the width of the crotch part of the absorbent batt.

Preferably the substantially body-fluid impervious non-body facing side of the diaper comprises a body-fluid impervious layer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig 1 is a perspective view of the body facing side of the diaper with the absorbent batt folded into a position ready for application of the diaper.

Fig 2 is a similar perspective view of the body facing side of the diaper with the absorbent batt in a typical folded out condition.

Fig 3 is a perspective view of the non-body facing side of the diaper, and

Fig 4 is a perspective view of the diaper according to this invention in the process of being folded for use.

Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention

As shown in the drawings, the diaper has a body portion 2 and an absorbent batt 3, with the body portion 2 having a body facing side 4 and a non-body facing side 5 (obscured in Fig 1). The absorbent batt 3 has a crotch portion 3a which extends between the front end 6 and the rear end 7 of the diaper and has a wing portion 3b which extends outwardly from the crotch portion. The crotch portion 3a of the absorbent batt is of a width that is preferably no greater than the width of the crotch portion 8 of the diaper. It will of course be understood that while it is preferred the crotch portion 3a of the absorbent batt be of a general rectangular shape, it can be of any desired shape, but in a highly preferred form the centre part of the crotch portion 3a will be no wider than the distance between the longitudinal edges of the part of the diaper that forms the crotch portion. Flaps 9, 10 which extend transversely from the rear end 7 of the diaper. The flaps 9, 10 include fastening means 11, 12 on the distal ends 13, 14 of the flaps 9, 10. The fastening means 11, 12, as shown in Figure 1, are situated on the body facing side 4 of the flaps 9, 10.

As seen in Figure 2, the crotch portion 3a of the absorbent batt 3 of the preferred form of the diaper has transverse ends 20 and 21 which are attached to the body facing side 4 of the diaper such as by sewing. Preferably the distance between transverse ends 20 and 21 is less then the distance between the ends 6 and 7 of the body portion so the point of attachment of the transverse ends is inset from the ends 6 and 7 of the body portion. Both longitudinal edges 22 and 24a of the crotch portion 3a of the absorbent batt are attached to the body portion of the diaper such as by sewing. The wing 3b of the absorbent batt extends from the crotch portion 3a and is a foldable sheet of absorbent material having a distal longitudinal side 23. Preferably the width of the wing portion 3b is approximately four times the width of the crotch portion 3a but this can be varied to suit particular circumstances and the wing portion can be as many times greater than the width of the crotch portion as desired. Preferably however the wing portion will be of a size that it can be folded to adopt the formation indicated in Fig 1. One method of folding the wing portion 3b is indicated by the broken lines 24 in Fig 2 with the wing portion folding about the sewing line 24a.

As shown in Figs 2, 3 and 4 fastening means 30, 31 are situated on the non-body facing side 5 of the diaper. The fastening means indicated at 30 is located at the distal end 14 of the flap 10 and the fastening means indicated at 31 is located at the front end 6 of the diaper. The fastening means are adapted to be able to releasably connect to each other to hold the diaper to the body of the wearer.

As is shown in all the Figures, the sides 33, 34 of the crotch part 8 of the diaper are preferably elasticised as will be known in the art, so that in use the crotch part 8 and the sides 33, 34 are held securely to the wearer.

The composition of the various components of the diaper may be of any suitable materials as will be known in the art. It is however preferred that the crotch portion 3a of the absorbent batt 3 is made of a sheet of absorbent cotton or similar material while the body facing side 4 of the diaper is preferably a substantially non-absorbent material which is preferably a synthetic material such as polypropylene, polarfleece or other similar material as will be known in the art. The non-absorbent material should preferably be soft to enhance the comfort of the wearer.

As best seen in Figs 3 and 4, the non-body facing side 5 of the diaper comprises a body-fluid impervious layer of material which is suitably attached to the body portion 2 of the diaper. The impervious layer of material may be of any suitable material as will be known in the art, such as a plastics material for example, and is attached to the diaper about the periphery of the body portion 2.

The fastening means as shown in the Figures are preferably comprised of hook and loop fasteners, such as that sold under the trade mark VELCRO, however many other suitable releasable fastening means as will be known in the art can be utilised.

Although not shown in the drawings it will be readily apparent that the diaper may include flaps at both the front and rear ends 6, 7 of the body portion 2. Such a diaper would have a substantially hourglass shape.

In use, the diaper is first placed in the open position as shown in Figs 1 and 2. If the wing 3b of the absorbent batt 3 is in the extended position as shown in Fig 2, the wing 3b may be folded about the fold lines 24 until it lies in the folded position shown in Fig 1. The diaper is then placed about the body of the wearer with the crotch part 8 lying beneath the crotch of the wearer. The rear end 7 of the diaper is placed against the lower back of the wearer, with the flaps 9, 10 folding around the waist, and the front end 6 of the diaper is folded up to lie against the stomach of the wearer. As can best be seen in Fig 4 the front end 6 will lie between the stomach of the wearer and the flaps 9, 10 of the diaper as they fold around the waist of the wearer. The diaper is fastened about the body of the wearer by placing the fastening means 11, 12 located on the body facing side 4 of the diaper against the fastening means 31 located at the front end 6 of the diaper on the non -body facing side 5. This position is reached as is indicated by arrow A and results in a diaper with a large waist size. The alternative positioning is as shown by arrow B where the fastening means 11 located on the flap 9 on the body facing side 4 of the diaper is placed against the fastening means 30 located on the non-body facing side 5 of the flap 10. This position results in a diaper having a narrower waist size. It is in this way that the same diaper may be used on babies having different waist sizes.

The combination of the absorbent batt 3, the non-absorbent body-facing side 4 and the body fluid impervious non-body facing side 5 of the diaper, results in body fluids being directed toward the absorbent batt 3 without the fluid being able to soak through the diaper to the surrounding area. The preferred synthetic material on the body facing side 4 acts as a wicking layer directing the fluid toward the absorbent batt 3. The provision of the elasticised sides 33, 34 on the crotch part 8 further assists the retention of the body fluids within the diaper.

When the diaper is to be washed the absorbent batt 3 is unfolded into the extended position as shown in Fig 2 to allow the absorbent batt 3 to be efficiently and easily washed. This ability to unfold the absorbent batt 3 also results in fast and efficient drying of the diaper prior to further use.

The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An absorbent product in the form of a diaper having:

(a) a substantially rectangular body portion having first and second ends and having a non-body facing side and a body facing side, a flap extending transversely from each side of said first end, and a crotch part between the first and second ends, and wherein the non-body facing side is substantially body-fluid impervious; and

2. The absorbent product of claim 1, including integral fastening means.

3. The absorbent product of claim 2, wherein the integral fastening means are located on at least the non body facing side of each of said flaps and on the said non body facing side adjacent said second end.

4. The absorbent product of claim 2, wherein the integral fastening means is located on the body facing side of both of said flaps and on the non body facing side of one of said flaps and is also located on the non body facing side adjacent said second end.

5. The absorbent product of claim 2, wherein the integral fastening means comprises a hook and loop fastening system.

6. The absorbent product of claim 1, wherein the wing portion of the absorbent batt is multi-layered.

7. The absorbent product of claim 1 wherein a portion of the crotch part of the body portion is elasticised.

8. The absorbent product of claim 1, wherein the said ends of the crotch portion of the absorbent batt are attached to the body facing side of the body portion of the diaper at a position inset from each of the said ends of the body portion of the diaper.

9. The absorbent product of claim 1, wherein the wing portion of the absorbent batt is foldable to a width substantially the same as the width of the crotch part of the absorbent batt.

10. The absorbent product of claim 1 , wherein the substantially body-fluid impervious non-body facing side of the diaper comprises a body-fluid impervious layer.