U.S. patent application number 10/566660 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-02 for disposable diaper with girdle.
Invention is credited to Wolfgang Roehrl, Hans-Peter Stupperich.
Application Number | 20060247598 10/566660 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34089164 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060247598 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roehrl; Wolfgang ; et
al. |
November 2, 2006 |
Disposable diaper with girdle
Abstract
The invention relates to a disposable diaper (2), in particular
for incontinence use, with a hip belt (4), forming a waist opening
of the diaper, sealed in the peripheral direction, which may be
opened and closed in at least one position and which has a main
diaper section (6) with a front region (8), a back region (12) and
an intermediate a crotch region (10), comprising an impermeable
layer (14) (back sheet), facing away from the body and a permeable
layer (top sheet), facing the body, and with an absorption body for
bodily fluids. The main diaper section (6) may be detachably fixed
to the hip belt (4), by means of first closing elements (20) at the
longitudinal end (18) of the front region (8) or the back region
(12), such that a user can bring the main diaper section (6)
through the legs, with a hip belt fitted, and detachably fit the
still free longitudinal end of the main diaper section (6) to the
hip belt (4). According to the invention, the applicability of such
a diaper may be extended, wherein said diaper is embodied with
second closing elements (26), in addition to the first closing
means (20), acting between the hip belt (4) and the longitudinal
ends (18) of the main diaper section (6), which can form a fitting
connection between the hip belt (4) at one end and the front region
(8) or crotch region (10) of the main diaper section (6) at the
other end and which can be arranged such that, after detaching the
first closing means (20), the front region (8) of the main diaper
section (6) can be turned or folded away from the hip belt (4).
Inventors: |
Roehrl; Wolfgang;
(Herbrechtingen, DE) ; Stupperich; Hans-Peter;
(Heidenheim, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DREISS, FUHLENDORF, STEIMLE & BECKER
POSTFACH 10 37 62
D-70032 STUTTGART
DE
|
Family ID: |
34089164 |
Appl. No.: |
10/566660 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
July 26, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/08335 |
371 Date: |
February 1, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/392 ;
604/395 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/5638 20130101;
A61F 13/64 20130101; A61F 13/5622 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/392 ;
604/395 |
International
Class: |
A61F 13/15 20060101
A61F013/15 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 6, 2003 |
DE |
10337537.6 |
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. A disposal diaper for user incontinent care, the diaper
comprising: a hip belt forming a peripherally closed hip opening of
the diaper with means for opening and closing the hip belt at a
least one location; a main diaper portion having a front region, a
rear region, an intermediate crotch region, a back sheet layer
facing away from the patient which is impermeable to liquids, a top
sheet layer facing the user which is permeable to liquids, and an
absorptive body for body fluids, wherein said main diaper portion
also has means for attachment to said hip belt in a detachable
fashion at a longitudinal end of said front region or of said rear
region via first closing means in such a fashion that the user,
with said hip belt applied, raises said main diaper portion between
the legs and attaches a free longitudinal end of said main diaper
portion to said hip belt in a detachable fashion, wherein said
first closing means are disposed between said hip belt and said
longitudinal end of said main diaper portion; and longitudinally
extended second closing means for effecting a holding connection
between said hip belt and said front region or said crotch region
of said main diaper portion, said second holding means being
structured, dimensioned and disposed such that the user, after
loosening said first closing means, folds or opens said front
region of the said main diaper portion away from said hip belt.
21. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means have a length of 10 to 50 cm, of 10 to 40 cm, or of 15 to 35
cm.
22. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means have a width transverse to a longitudinal extent thereof of
between 0.5 and 8 cm, between 0.5 and 6 cm, between 0.5 and 5 cm,
between 0.5 and 4 cm, or between 0.5 and 3 cm.
23. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein, in an applied state
of the diaper, said second closing means extend in an approximately
V-shaped manner with respect to each other.
24. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means are elastically stretchable.
25. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein, during proper use,
said second closing means are permanently connected at one end to
said hip belt and are detachably connected to said main diaper
portion at an other end.
26. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein, during proper use,
said second closing means are permanently connected at one end to
said main diaper portion and are detachably connected to said hip
belt at an other end.
27. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means have ends which are attached, or which are attached in a
permanent manner, to said hip belt and to said main diaper portion,
said second closing means also having a closeable, detachable
connection along their longitudinal extent.
28. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said first and/or
said second closing means have mechanically acting closing elements
or glued regions.
29. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means cooperate for closing with pre-positioned, opposing closing
elements or regions on said main diaper portion or on said hip
belt.
30. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means, when presented to the user or customer in particular in a
packaged state prior to use, are folded in a pleated manner.
31. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means, upon presentation to the customer in particular in a
packaged state prior to use, are disposed or extended along said
hip belt.
32. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means, upon presentation to a customer in particular in a packaged
state prior to use, are disposed on said liquid impermeable
layer.
33. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said second closing
means, upon presentation to the customer in particular in a
packaged state and prior to use, are associated with said hip belt
or said main diaper portion to remain in an unused state, without
interference.
34. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said the second
closing means, upon presentation to a customer in particular in a
package state prior to use, are covered.
35. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said hip belt is
permanently mounted to said rear region of said main diaper
portion.
36. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said hip belt is
integral with said rear region of said main diaper portion.
37. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said hip belt is
attached in a permanent fashion to said liquid impermeable layer of
said main diaper portion.
38. The disposable diaper of claim 20, wherein said hip belt is
configured in a peripheral direction as one, continuous piece.
Description
[0001] True Translation of PCT/EP2004/008335 as filed on Jul. 26,
2004
[0002] The invention concerns a disposable diaper, in particular
for incontinent care, having a hip belt closed about a hip opening
of the diaper and extending in peripheral direction which can be
opened and closed at at least one location and with a main diaper
portion having a front region, a rear region and an intermediate
crotch region as well as a back sheet layer which is impermeable to
liquids and which faces away from the body, and with a top sheet
layer which is permeable to liquids and faces the body as well as
an absorption body for body fluids, wherein the main diaper portion
can be attached in a detachable fashion to the hip belt at its
longitudinal end of the front region or of its rear region by means
of first closing elements in such a fashion that a user, with the
hip belt attached, can raise the main diaper portion between the
legs and attach the free longitudinal end of the main diaper
portion to the hip belt in a detachable fashion.
[0003] Disposable diapers of this kind have been disclosed many
times in prior art. They have the advantage of allowing the user to
initially apply the hip belt about the hips that usually
conventionally closes in the stomach region. The diaper portion,
whose rear region is normally attached to the belt of the
disposable diaper, then hangs loosely in the downward direction.
After the hip belt is closed, the user grasps the freely hanging
end of the main diaper portion and guides the end from the rear
between the legs in the forward direction to attach the free
longitudinal edge to the hip belt at an inward or outward location
and in a detachable manner using the first closing means provided
therefor. Clearly, the disposable diaper can also be applied in
such a fashion that, after application and closing of the hip belt,
the free downwardly hanging main diaper portion can be guided from
the front region towards the rear region between the legs of the
user and attached, in a detachable fashion, to the rear region of
the hip belt. In some conventional disposable diapers, the main
diaper portion can be completely detached from the hip belt to
allow great flexibility with respect to handling of the disposable
diaper, in particular for users in need of intense nursing care as
well as immobile users.
[0004] Departing therefrom, it is the purpose of the present
invention to further expand the ranges of application of a
disposable diaper of this kind.
[0005] This purpose is achieved in accordance with the invention
with a disposable diaper of the above mentioned kind in that, in
addition to the main diaper portion and the first closing elements
disposed between the hip belt and the longitudinal end thereof,
additional longitudinally extending second closing elements are
provided which facilitate, in particular, detachable connection
between the hip belt and the front region of the main diaper
portion and which are disposed in such a fashion that the user,
after loosening the first closing element, can fold or flap open
the front region of the main diaper portion away from the hip
belt.
[0006] The invention therefore proposes a disposable diaper, in
particular for incontinent adult care and for use by incontinent
adults, with which the user or the nursing personnel can open the
disposable diaper for purposes of inspection. Towards this end, the
second closing means preferentially remain in place. Only the first
closing means are opened between the main diaper portion and the
hip belt and the main diaper portion is then folded or flapped open
away from the hip belt for visual inspection of the interior of the
diaper. One can thereby determine whether or not the diaper is in
need of changing or can be further used for the retention of fluids
or solid body discharges. Towards this end, it has turned out to be
particularly advantageous when the diaper must only be partially
opened through release of the first closing means but otherwise
remains on the body in the appropriate position for use. By means
of the supporting function effected by the second closing elements,
the disposable diaper remains in the chosen optimal position.
Inspection of the diaper is therefore very rapid and can be carried
out without inconvenience to the user.
[0007] The diaper in accordance with the invention also offers an
additional advantage, since it must not only be used as a proper
incontinence article rather, if appropriate, can also
preferentially be used by male users as an undergarment with which
the forward region can be partially opened while the disposable
diaper otherwise remains seated on the closed hip belt, to allow
the user to urinate. The user thereby folds over the main diaper
portion sufficiently far from the hip belt such that, in the
otherwise applied state of the diaper with the second closing
elements in place, urination is possible without wetting the
diaper. This feature has turned out to be particular useful for
disposable diapers in accordance with the invention used by
individuals with only partially impaired urination control who
normally sense the urge to urinate and can accordingly search for
an appropriate toilet facility. In this case, the user, with the
hip belt applied, can loosen the first closing element to then fold
or flap open the front region of the main diaper portion away from
the hip belt so that, in particular for males, the user can urinate
outwardly in the usual fashion, without the disposable diaper being
wet by body fluids.
[0008] This possible use of the disposable diaper is extremely
important with respect to the psychology of the user. The user
thereby looses the sense of having to use a typical incontinent
article, even if this is partially or substantially the case. In
particular, communication between the patient and nursing care
personnel is improved and acceptance of the inventive incontinence
article increased.
[0009] The terminology "longitudinally extending second closing
element" defines a preferentially strip or band-shape for the
second closing element, with which the width is not necessarily
exceedingly narrow, although the greatest possible handling
flexibility should be guaranteed. The second closing element
advantageously has a length of between 10 to 50 cm, in particular
between 10 to 40 cm and most particularly between 15 and 35 cm. In
certain cases, e.g. for use in disposable diapers for particularly
corpulent individuals, they can even be longer. The width of the
second closing element transverse to the longitudinal extent
advantageously lies between 0.5 and 8 cm, wherein a region of 0.5
to 6 cm, in particular up to 5 cm, in particular up to 4 cm and
preferentially up to 3 cm is preferred.
[0010] Two such longitudinally extended second closing elements are
preferentially provided which extend from the sides of the hips
towards a lower portion of the front region facing away from the
belt or even into the crotch region of the user. The front region
of the main diaper portion of the disposable diaper can be detached
from the hip belt and folded away or folded over between the two
sideward closing means in a forward direction, in a lower direction
or even in an inward direction, but in any event away from the hip
belt. The second closing means, in the applied state of the diaper,
advantageously thereby have an approximately V-shaped extension
with respect to each other. They must, however, not necessarily
cross in the region of their ends. The angle with respect to a
longitudinal middle axis of the disposable diaper can
advantageously lie between 5 and 60 degrees, in particular between
5 and 50 degrees and most particularly between 10 and 50 degrees.
Clearly, two separate, longitudinally extending closing means are
not absolutely necessary. It would also be conceivable and even
advantageous in certain applications, configurations and uses in
the event that the two closing elements are formed from a single
V-shaped or curved element.
[0011] The second closing means can be manufactured from a
substantially non-elastic material or can include such a material.
In this event, in the configuration of the disposable diaper in
accordance with the invention, one should take care during proper
use of the disposable diaper that the second closing means remain
closed and attached in a direction towards the crotch of the user
on the main diaper portion in such a manner that the main diaper
portion can be sufficiently folded away from the hip belt to permit
inspection or viewing and/or such that the user can urinate in the
manner described above. In contrast thereto, it has turned out to
be extremely advantageous in the event that the second closing
means are stretchable and preferentially elastically stretchable.
In this event, the second closing means are not necessarily
displaced further in the downward direction i.e. in the direction
of the crotch region of the main diaper portion rather, with a
suitable configuration of the closing means, can also be stretched
during folding over of the front region of the main diaper portion
for purposes of urination.
[0012] Designation of the second closing means as "stretchable"
means that their initial length in the unstretched state can be
increased by at least 10% and preferentially by at least 50%
through introduction of corresponding tensile forces. The term
"elastic stretchability" describes a stretchable material which
returns to its original length after removal of the stretching
forces. "Elastic stretchability" defines a situation in which the
material is stretched to at least 130%, preferentially to at least
150% of its original length and can reset the increase in length by
at least 50% and preferentially immediately and certainly within
about 3 minutes. Expressing this situation in terms of numbers, a
material having a 10 cm initial length can be stretched to 15 cm
initial length and return to a length of at most 12.5 cm.
[0013] When the first closing means are opened, the second closing
means maintain the diaper on the body of the user in the proper
position even if the disposable diaper or its absorption body has
absorbed or contains significant amounts of fluid which attempt to
draw the main diaper portion of the diaper in a downward direction.
Independent thereof, the longitudinally extended second closing
means support a precise positioning of the diaper on the body of
the user. The second closing means can, in particular, be applied
in such a fashion that they exercise a pre-tension on the
neighboring main diaper portion of the disposable diaper and urge
same into close seating on the body, without causing uncomfortable
cutting. In particular, for the case of mobile users with otherwise
relatively little physical impairments and with a healthy mental
state, the second closing means can also serve for occasional use,
which leads to significant psychological advantages.
[0014] As mentioned above, the longitudinally extended second
closing means can, in particular, comprise two strips or
band-shaped closing means having two oppositely lying free ends. In
accordance with an embodiment of the invention, each free end of
the closing means is permanently attached to the hip belt during
proper use. The other opposite lying end is free and, when applying
the diaper to the body, is preferentially attached to the outer
side of the main diaper portion, preferentially in the lower front
region or in the crotch region of the main diaper portion and in a
detachable fashion. In accordance with another embodiment, the
longitudinally extended second closing means can be permanently
attached to the main diaper portion, in particular to the front
region or the crotch region of the main diaper portion during
proper use, and the detachable holding connection is fashioned in
the region of its opposite end to cooperate for attachment to and
release from the hip belt.
[0015] In a further embodiment, both ends the second closing means
are attached, preferentially in a permanent fashion, to the hip
belt and to the main diaper portion and have a detachable closable
connection along their longitudinal extent. This connection can be,
for example, a previously adjustable buckle, a buckle whose
position along a longitudinal extent can be adjusted, a gluing
connection, or a mechanically acting closing element.
[0016] Both the first as well as the second closing elements can
comprise conventional mechanically closing elements, in particular
hooks or loops of material, but also gluing regions. Gluing and
mechanically acting closing elements are conventional and well
known in the art so that a detailed description thereof is not
necessary. One would simply like to mention that the first closing
means, the second closing means, as well as the opposing closing
elements on the main diaper portion or on the hip belt which
cooperate therewith are disposed in such a fashion that the user
can decide where to effect the holding connection and with which
adjustable tension the holding connection should be formed.
Moreover, it is also possibility to close the first and or the
second closing means by means of pre-positioned closing elements or
opposing element regions on the main diaper portion or on the hip
belt. In this manner, the user can effect as correct a positioning
of the closing means as possible. In this case, an elastic
stretching configuration of the material, in particular of the
closing materials, has turned out to be advantageous to accommodate
different body sizes and shapes of the user.
[0017] In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of
the present invention, the second closing means, when presented to
the consumer in particular in a packaged state prior to use, are
folded onto each other in a pleated manner.
[0018] In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration
of the invention, the second closing means, when presented to the
consumer in particular in a packaged state prior to use, extend
along the hip belt. They can thereby be attached at one end to the
hip belt, wherein the second closing means thereby constitute an
augmentation of the hip belt or can be integral therewith. For
example, the hip belt can have a separation location in the
peripheral direction at which the second closing elements can be
formed as a longitudinally extending band-shaped section of the hip
belt. In a particularly advantageous improvement of this concept in
accordance with the invention, the second closing means formed by
the section of the hip belt can be disposed on the hip belt via
intended breaking locations.
[0019] In accordance with another configuration of the invention,
the second closing means, when presented to the consumer in
particular in a packaged state prior to use, are disposed on the
liquid impermeable layer. In this case as well, the second closing
means can be configured thereon in an arbitrary fashion and in a
detachable manner.
[0020] A still further configuration of the invention proposes that
the second closing means, when presented to the user, in particular
in the packaged state prior to use, are associated with the hip
belt or with the main diaper portion in such a fashion that they
can be left in this configuration and not used, without interfering
with diaper usage. They can also be contained in a package which is
separate from the hip belt and from the main diaper portion, in
particular, if a disposable diaper in accordance with the invention
is only to be used as a pure incontinence article or if, within a
certain nursing care situation, one desires rapid application or
removable of the hygiene article, in particular, by the user
himself. The configuration or association of a second closing means
as described has thereby turned out to be advantageous.
[0021] In an improvement of this concept in accordance with the
invention, the closing means are configured on the hip belt or the
main diaper portion in such a fashion that, upon presentation to
the user in particular in a packaged state prior to use, they are
covered. This can be effected through overlap by additional
covering elements, or covering layers. Pocket-like receptacles can
also be provided at appropriate locations of the hip belt or of the
main diaper portion or a second closing means, in particular ones
which are folded in a pleat like fashion onto themselves, can be
held or coved with a removable tape strip.
[0022] In accordance with an additional independently inventive
concept, which can be used with a disposable diaper of the above
mentioned kind, the sections of the hip belt that extend transverse
to the main diaper portion can be folded in a pleated fashion
(Z-shaped) onto themselves and/or in the direction towards the
middle axis of the disposable diaper. In a further configuration of
this concept which is inventive in and of its own right, the
sections of the hip belt which extend on both sides away from the
main body portion can be folded onto each other in an overlapping
portion towards the longitudinal middle axis of the diaper, when
presented to the consumer in particular in a package stated prior
to use. Towards this end, the free ends preferentially extend in
the outward direction, away from the longitudinal axis of the
diaper so that the user of the diaper can easily grasp them such
that the hip belt unfolds upon grasping.
[0023] In a further configuration of this concept in accordance
with the invention, the hip belt is made from a single material
section that extends in a peripheral direction. In another
configuration of the concept in accordance with the invention, the
hip belt is preferentially made from a single piece and folded in
such a fashion in the inward direction onto the main diaper portion
that one fold of one belt section penetrates into a fold of another
belt section.
[0024] Further features, details and advantages on the invention
can be extracted from the associated claims and the representation
in the figures as well as the subsequent description of preferred
embodiments of the disposable diaper in accordance with the
invention.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows the disposable diaper in accordance with the
invention in the applied state;
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the disposable diaper of FIG. 1
in the flat state;
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a plan view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a
further embodiment of the disposable diaper in accordance with the
invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a
disposable diaper in accordance with the invention in the applied
state;
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the disposable diaper in
accordance with FIG. 4 in the flat state;
[0030] FIG. 5b shows a plan view corresponding to FIG. 5 of a
disposable diaper having associated second closing means;
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation for folding the hip
belt;
[0032] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a further disposable diaper
in accordance with the invention in the applied state; and
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a further
embodiment of a disposable diaper in accordance with the invention
in the applied state.
[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a disposable diaper
2 in accordance with the invention in the applied and in the flat
states. The disposable diaper includes a hip belt 4 and a main
diaper portion 6 which is attached thereto in a detachable or
permanent fashion and having a front region 8, a crotch region 10,
and a rear region 12, wherein the rear region 12 overlaps the hip
belt 4 and is preferentially permanently attached to the hip belt 4
at that location. FIG. 2 shows a layer 14 that is liquid
impermeable and which is disposed on a side facing away from the
body i.e. on the back sheet of the disposable diaper. In addition
to the back sheet, the main diaper portion 6 includes an absorption
body (not shown) and a top sheet that is permeable to liquid, which
faces the body (not shown), and which is either made from a layer
of the absorption body or from a separate, top sheet layer.
[0035] The hip belt 4 has sufficient length in a transverse
direction of the disposable diaper such that (as shown
schematically in FIG. 1) it can be closed onto itself about the
entire hip of a user to form a peripherally closed hip opening.
Towards this end, the hip belt includes closing tabs 16 or other
arbitrary closing elements that can function in a glued or
mechanical fashion. In accordance with a preferred embodiment,
conventional mechanical closing elements in the form of hook and
loop materials can be used. In a preferred embodiment, the closing
elements include a textile or textile-like outer and/or inner
layer, in particular, a fleece (non-woven), which forms the loop
material. This outer and/or inner side can serve as an interaction
region for a component having hooks and disposed on the free ends
of the hip belt 4.
[0036] First closing means 20, in the form of closing lashes or
tabs, are provided on the free longitudinal ends 18 of the front
region 8 of the main diaper portion 6 at both the left and right
sides. These closing elements also have arbitrary conventional
closing elements. Mechanical closing elements are preferred, in
particular in the form of hook-building components of a hook and
loop material, in which case, the outer side 22 of the hip belt 4
has components that constitute the loop materials, at least in the
interaction region. Clearly, the first closing elements 20 must not
be provided in the form of protruding closing tabs. It is also
conceivable as well as advantageous in the event that the
longitudinal ends 18 in the front region 8 are provided with
closing elements on their inner or outer sides in the cross hatched
regions 24 or continuously so that the main diaper portion can be
internally or externally attached to the hip belt 4 in a detachable
fashion.
[0037] The figures also show elongated strip or band-shaped second
closing means 26 which extend, in the representation according to
FIG. 2, as the hip belt 4, in the peripheral direction, transverse
to the longitudinal middle axis 27 of the disposable diaper 2. In
the embodiment shown, the second longitudinally extending closing
means 26 are attached to the hip belt 4 in a detachable or
preferentially permanent fashion at one end 28 approximately in the
region of the side edge 30 of the main diaper portion 6. In the
example shown, their width 32 is less than the width 34 of the hip
belt 4 and they extend in a peripheral direction beyond the free
ends of the hip belt 4. It would also be conceivable for the second
closing means 26 to end, in the peripheral direction, before the
free ends of the hip belt. On their ends 36 disposed opposite to
the ends 28, the second closing means 26 have arbitrary
conventional mechanical or glue closing elements 38 which, in the
case shown, are in the form of protruding tabs.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a plan view, corresponding to FIG. 2, of an
additional embodiment of a disposable diaper in accordance with the
invention. In this disposable diaper, the second closing elements
26 are positioned in the middle on the hip belt 4. Their attached
ends 28 are disposed inside of the main diaper portion and their
free ends 36 are attached to the hip belt 4 in a detachable fashion
by means of arbitrary closing elements 38.
[0039] FIG. 1 shows the disposable diaper 2 in accordance with the
invention in the applied state. The diaper is usually applied in
such a fashion that a user initially directs the hip belt 4 about
his hips so that it forms a closed loop, and then closes the hip
belt in the stomach region using the closing elements 16 provided
therefor. The user then takes the main diaper portion 6, which is
hanging freely over his bottom, and grasps between the legs in a
forward direction to dispose the free longitudinal end 18 of the
front region 8 of the main diaper portion 16 inwardly or outwardly
on the hip belt 4 and thereby close the disposable diaper by means
of the above described first closing elements 20. This corresponds
to the primary closing function of the disposable diaper. In this
state, the disposable diaper 2 is particular useful for incontinent
care. It would also be conceivable if the longitudinally extended
second closing elements 26 remain unused in their configuration
seen in FIG. 2, remaining on the hip belt. In contrast thereto,
FIG. 1 shows the second closing elements 26 in an activated closing
function. The free ends 36 of both closing elements 26 are attached
in a detachable fashion to the outer side of the disposable diaper
2 in the lower portion of the front region 8 or in the crotch
region 10. In this fashion, a user can adjust an arbitrary tension
when closing the second closing elements 26 to thereby achieve an
additional support function for the main diaper portion 6 of the
disposable diaper. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the second
closing elements 26 extend in the applied state sideward from the
hip of the user at an angle between 30 to 50 degrees relative to
the longitudinal central axis 27 and in the inward direction. They
therefore travel in a substantially V-shaped manner. This permits
the user to open the first closing means 20 to thereby free the
front region 8 of the main diaper portion 6 from the hip belt 4 and
to move it away the hip belt in an inward or outward direction, in
a folded or flapped manner. In the event that the second
longitudinally extended closing elements 26 are configured in an
elastic fashion, they may be stretched during the course of the
above action. This new application of the disposable diaper in
accordance with the invention allows the user to urinate without
having the disposable diaper exposed to fluid. Subsequent thereto,
the user can once more attach the main diaper portion 6 to the hip
belt 4, as described above.
[0040] The embodiments according to FIGS. 4 and 5 show
configurations of the second closing means 26 on the outer side of
the layer 14 (back sheet) which is liquid impermeable and which
faces away from the body. They are disposed to extend in the
direction of the longitudinal middle axis 27. Towards this end, the
longitudinal extended second closing elements 26 are attached at
one end 28 to the crotch region 10, in a detachable or permanent
fashion. Their other free end 36 is attached in a detachable
fashion by arbitrary closing elements 38. It is, however, noted
that the second closing element 26 of the disposable diaper can
also be provided as a separate piece. In this case, the back sheet
of the main diaper portion, as for example shown in FIG. 5b, can
have arbitrary, in particular, mechanical or glued complimentary
closing elements disposed in the region designated with reference
symbol 70 which cooperate with corresponding closing elements 38 of
the second closing means 26 to effect a holding engagement. It is
also conceivable and advantageous in the event that the overall
outer side of the back sheet is created in such a fashion that it
can engage in holding connection with the closing elements 38 of
the second closing means 26. In this case, it would be advantageous
in the event that the preferred engagement areas 70 for the closing
elements 38 of the second closing means 26 are visually indicated
on the back sheet in order to simplify positioning by the user of
the second closing elements.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows the disposable diaper in the applied state. One
notices the applied ends 28 in the crotch region and the free ends
36 attached to the hip belt 4 in a detachable fashion.
[0042] FIG. 6 schematically shows a preferred folding of the hip
belt 4 on the main diaper portion 6 as seen in the direction of
arrow VI in the representation of FIG. 5. (In FIG. 5, the hip belt
is shown in the unfolded state). The hip belt 4 is made from a
single piece material section. It includes a hip belt section 40
protruding from one side and a hip belt section 42 that protrudes
from the other side. The hip belt section 40 is initially folded in
the inward direction about an axis 44 parallel to the longitudinal
middle axis in the region of a longitudinal side edge 46 of the
main diaper portion 6. The section 40 is then folded onto itself
about a second folding axis and in the outer direction. As an
independently inventive concept, the position of a second folding
axis 48 in the transverse direction 50 is disposed such that a free
end section 52 of the hip belt 4 can be easily grasped by the user
in a manual fashion in a vicinity of the longitudinal side edge 46
of the main diaper portion. The free end 52 can thereby be disposed
slightly outside of the longitudinal side edge 46 or slightly
inward from the longitudinal side edge 46 (not shown).
[0043] The other section 42 of the hip belt 4 is likewise folded
about a first folding axis 54 and about a second folding axis 56.
Towards this end, the position of the second folding axis 56 in a
transverse direction 50 is preferentially chosen in such a fashion
that, as previously described in connection with the free end 52 of
the first section 40, the free end 58 of a second section 42 seats
in a easily grasped fashion and in the vicinity of the other
longitudinal side edge 60. The folded sections 40, 42 overlap each
other over a region 61.
[0044] The top sheet 62 and the back sheet 64 are also shown in
FIG. 6. The hip belt is folded on the outer side of the disposable
diaper.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a disposable diaper in
accordance with the invention, wherein the second closing element
26 is configured as a single elastically stretchable band that
extends in the peripheral direction. As can be seen in FIG. 7, this
band can be disposed in the direction towards the crotch region of
the disposable diaper 6 to thereby form a V-shaped detachable
connection.
[0046] In accordance with the further embodiment of FIG. 8, the
second closing elements 26 are permanently attached to the main
diaper portion or to the hip belt 4 in particular on both ends 28
and 36. However, they have a detachable connection 66 disposed
approximately in the middle section. The closing elements 26 can be
separated at this location and can be attached to each other in a
detachable fashion using conventional closing elements, possibly
through hooks or hooks and eyelet configurations.
* * * * *