Sanitary diaper

Abstract

A folded disposable diaper having an inner absorbent layer and an outer impervious layer both of pliant material with an opening through the absorbent layer for the passage of excretion into a pouch formed by or affixed to the overlying impervious layer, the diaper to be worn by an infant as a garment and having straps that tighten the diaper around the leg openings and tied at the anterior of the infant so as to adjust the diaper as may be desired.

Description

Reference is made to Disclosure Document No. 005779 filed June 30, 1971, which describes and shows the concepts herein disclosed.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to disposable diapers for use in clothing infants, and for receiving and holding excretion in the form of fluid solids and liquids. Both male and female infants have the same general elimination habits and the absorption and/or collection of feces and urine is essentially the same for each. That is, the location of the anus and genitals is normally about the same, and generally speaking the feces is discharged from the body posteriorly while the urine is discharged anteriorly. A problem arises, however, with ordinary diapers or clothing, in that the secretion and often simultaneous discharge of feces and urine results in an obnoxious mixture, all as a result of lack of separation; also the two are most often inflamatory when left in contact with the infant's skin, and this too is aggrevated by the admixture of the two. Therefore, it is a general object of this invention to provide means in a diaper for the reception and timely discharge of feces separated from the reception and storage of urine, and to thereby remove the feces as much as possible from skin contact.

The reception and containment of feces within the confines of a diaper has been primitive in the past, to say the least, since there has been no provision for diverting the same away from the infant's body. It is the buttocks of the infant which extend posteriorly from the anal opening where the inner thighs come together at the crotch; and thus the discharge of feces under pressure from the infant's body is necessarily localized between the cheeks of the buttocks. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide diverting means to the exterior of the aforementioned absorbent layer of the diaper, whereby the feces excretion is removed from the infant's body to the greatest extent possible. Naturally, the excrement will remain to some extent between the cheeks of the buttocks, immediate to the anal opening, but in accordance with this invention and with a reasonable secure diaper, the excretion of feces will extrude through the diverting means which provides a course of least resistance.

It is also an object of this invention to provide for the timely storage of feces separate from urine in a diaper having diverting means for the former, and to this end we provide chamber means adapted to be filled with feces entered therein by means of the infant's body pressure which extrudes the feces excrement along the course of least resistance into said chamber means for timely storage. With the present invention the chamber means is inflatable and in the form of a pocket at the exterior of the absorbent layer of the diaper; and in practice, the impervious layer coacts with the absorbent layer to establish the chamber means.

It is another object of this invention to provide for the mounting of the diaper to the body of the infant as a garment, without the necessity of other fasteners such as safety pins and snaps etc. With the present invention we provide separate straps which tighten the diaper around the infant's two legs and waist, and which are trained around the midriff of the infant's body and tied together with the desired tension for a firm diaper.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved diaper in the form of a garment as hereinabove set forth and which is practical and inexpensive of manufacture. The diaper exterior is translucent and the accumulation of feces is externally visible without the usual partial removal and inspection. The usually expected discharge of feces around the leg openings is virtually eliminated by the least resistance flow to the exterior of the absorbent layer which then remains most effective for the collection and storage of urine.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This is an infant's diaper of the disposable type made of highly absorbent material and of an impervious overlying film. These two materials are related so that the absorbent material has interface contact with the body, or skin, of the infant and so that the impervious film is outside and away from the infant's body so as to form a cover. A typical combining of these two materials is shown, wherein the article is initially pleated with an accordion fold at each margin thereof, the absorbent material being at the inside and the imperforate film being at the outside or exterior. The said accordion folds touch together longitudinally at the center of the diaper and coextensively therewith; they are transversely secured together midway between the ends of the diaper so as to prevent unfolding at said center point; and they are unfoldable at the opposite end portions, the midpoint of the diaper remaining narrow where it is to pass through the crotch while the ends are expansible so as to extend around the infant's waist.

In accordance with the present invention, we have provided diverting means X preferably in the form of a slot through the absorbent inner layer of the diaper, chamber means Y preferably in the form of an inflatable pocket formed by the impervious film at the exterior of the diaper, and strap means Z that cooperatively tie so as to secure the diaper to the infant as a garment.

DRAWINGS

The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an infant wearing the sanitary diaper of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sanitary diaper partially opened and taken from the interior side thereof. FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the diaper before its expansion into form as a garment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sanitary diaper as it is initially prepared (before expansion) and taken from the exterior side thereof.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The diaper D is formed generally to two coextensive rectangular sheets of material, a layer of absorbent material 10, such as highly absorbent textile or paper fibers and a layer of impervious film 11 such as an imperforate sheet of pliant plastic, the latter having a marginal portion 13 folded under and free of the outermost folds of material 10, thereby to form an inwardly turned flap-shaped seal at the leg openings when the diaper is worn. However, this seal is often insufficient when the diaper is filled with fluid solids, and consequently it is not uncommon for the excrement to exude from the leg openings due to pressurization caused by confinement. The diaper that we will now describe relieves the pressure of these excreted fluid solids within the interior confines of the diaper by providing an exterior receptacle chamber into which the excrement is transferred and timely stored.

Referring now to the diverting means X, the mid-point of the layers 10 and 11 are joined together along a transverse line, as by means of adhesive applied continuously or at intervals. In practice, it is sufficient to tack the accordion folds 12 together at or near the center of the diaper, indicated at 15, thereby establishing a crotch area 14 that does not separate. It is this crotch area that overlies and which will be inherently positioned at or between the anus and genitals of the infant. In accordance with this invention, the diverting means X is an opening 20 through the absorbent layer 10 and which extends rearwardly into the rear portion or back section a of the diaper. As is best illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the opening 20 is preferably a slot or slit-shaped opening that extends from the crotch area 14 and along the center line of the absorbent layer a substantial distance toward the back edge 21 of the layer 10, and in practice the slot or slit-shaped opening 20 extends throughout about half of said distance. In this or any like manner, the interior of the diaper is open to the exterior thereof, and any lateral spreading forces that are applied as and when the diaper is expanded to surround the buttocks of the infant results in a tendancy or degree of separation of the opening which establishes a free passage for excrement issuing into the area of the slot or slit-shaped opening 20.

Referring now to the chamber means Y, an inflatable pocket 25 is formed at the exterior of the absorbent layer 10 for the reception of excrement delivered through the opening 20 as above described. The pocket 25 can be formed in various ways to coextensively overlie the opening 20, and in accordance with the preferred form of this invention involves the cooperative combination of the inner absorbent layer 10 and an outer impervious layer 11. As is best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the pocket 25 is a chamber formed by the impervious film 11 superimposed outside the absorbent layer 10, the former being secured to the latter by means of a continuous line of joinder 26 encircling the opening 20. The impervious film 11 of plastic is preferably of translucent material and the encircling line of joinder is indicated by shading in FIG. 4, it being understood that any suitable form or process of joinder can be employed as circumstances require. As shown in FIG. 2, the encircling line of joinder 26 is indicated by a cross-hatched layer of, for example, adhesive that can be applied to either part 10 or 11 and the two parts brought together for attachment. It will be apparent that the initial preparation of the pocket 25 establishes continuous layers of material 10 and 11, which are readily separable for inflation when excrement is forced through the opening 20 to the exterior of layer 10 to occupy and/or fill the chamber means Y.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the two aforementioned means pressures and Y are provided without additions to the elements 10 and 11 as they are commonly employed in the manufacture of disposable diapers. However, several distinct and novel features are employed as herein described to provide for the separation of feces and passage thereof to the exterior of the absorbent layer 10 to be stored within the impervious layer 11. The diverting means X takes form in the slot or slit-shaped opening which affords a course of least resistance and which tends to be self-closing when spreading strains are removed from the diaper. That is, the absorbent layer 10 is of substantial thickness and has opposite faces that re-seal when the diaper straightens as a result of removal from the infant. The chamber means Y takes form as a storage receptacle for fluid solids and is spacious as is indicated; the pressres remaining in substantial equilibrium at the interior and exterior of the distended impervious film 11, causing inward force which maintains body contact of the absorbent layer 10 with the skin of the infant. Therefore, a distensible film 11 is employed which stretches substantially for accomodation of excrement of variable volume while maintaining body contact of the absorbent layer 10.

Referring now to the strap means Z, a pair of like straps 30 are provided to project from the front end 22 of the diaper and each of which is adapted to be passed through an opening 31 at complementary opposite corners of the other back end 21 of the diaper. As is best illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the strap 30 at one side of the diaper is passed through the opening 31 at that side of the diaper; and subsequent to this process with each strap 30 the free ends thereof are brought together and tied at the front and adjustably tightened as may be desired.

In accordance with this invention, economy of manufacture is realized by preparing a single strap element as shown in FIG. 4, employing an elongated strip or ribbon 35 of said material or film and preferably the same material that is used for the film 11. As shown, the mid-portion 36 of the strip is disposed transversely and secured to the exterior front portion of the film 11 as by heat welding the plastic, or chemically with solvents or adhesives. The opposite ends of the ribbon are free so as to establish oppositely extending straps 30. The openings 31 are formed fo like strips or ribbons of plastic folded back and secured to itself to form loops entered into or between the confines of the folded margins 13, the margins being heat welded or tacked together by means of adhesive at 36 (indicated by shading) in order to retain the loops in working position.

With the sanitary diaper fabricated as hereinabove disclosed, economy of manufacture is realized by supplying the certain novel features to the commonly accepted major elements. These certain features reside in the diverting means X and chamber means Y by which the fluid solid excrement is channeled away from the infant's body while exposure of the absorbent inner layer is augmented for receiving and storing liquid discharges. The outer film 11 is impervious and translucently shows the presence of confined fluids entered into the pocket 25, and also closes off the odors. As and when the diaper is removed, substantially all or the greater portion of excrement will be contained within the pocket 25 and cleaning of the infant minimized. Facility of storage and removal is made with the soft pliable straps Z which are inexpensive additions to the structure which more than offset the cost of added elements such as hardward type fasteners.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art:

Claims

We claim:

1. A sanitary diaper having an inner absorbent layer and a contiguously overlying and impervious outer layer, and including a normally closed slit-shaped excrement diverting opening through the inner absorbent layer to be spread by and to pass fluid excrement from the interior to the exterior of the inner absorbent layer for containment within the confines of said impervious outer layer.

2. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said impervious outer layer is translucent for visibly showing the containment of excrement thereby.

3. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 1 wherein the opening through the inner absorbent layer is positioned at the discharge of excrement when the diaper is worm as a garment.

4. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 1 wherein the excrement diverting opening extends rearwardly from the crotch area when the diaper is worn as a garment.

5. A sanitary diaper having an inner absorbent layer and a contiguously overlying and impervious outer layer, and including; a normally closed slit-shaped excrement diverting opening through the inner absorbent layer to be spread by and to pass fluid excrement from the interior to the exterior of the inner absorbent layer, and a chamber means at the exterior of the inner absorbent layer for receiving and containing said fluid excrement passed through said excrement diverting opening.

6. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 5 wherein the chamber means is a pocket overlying the absorbent layer and the diverting opening therethrough.

7. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 5 wherein the chamber means is a pocket of said impervious layer overlying the absorbent layer and the excrement diverting opening therethrough.

8. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 5 wherein the chamber means is a pocket of said impervious layer overlying the absorbent layer and the excrement diverting opening therethrough, said impervious outer layer being translucent for visibly showing the containment of excrement thereby.

9. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 5 wherein the chamber means is a pocket attachment of said impervious layer to said absorbent layer and overlying the same and the excrement diverting opening therethrough.

10. the sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 5 wherein the chamber means is a pocket attachment of said impervious layer to said absorbent layer and encircling and overlying the same and the excrement diverting opening therethrough.

11. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 5 wherein the chamber means is a pocket encirclement attaching the impervious layer to said absorbent layer around the same and the excrement diverting opening therethrough.

12. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 5 wherein the chamber means is a pocket encirclement by a seam of joinder to the impervious layer surrounding the excrement diverting opening.

13. A sanitary diaper having an inner absorbent layer and a contiguously overlying and impervious outer layer and including; a normally closed slit-shaped excrement diverting opening through the inner absorbent layer to be spread by and to pass fluid excrement from the interior to the exterior thereof, and a chamber means overlying the excrement diverting opening at the exterior of the inner absorbent layer for receiving and containing said fluid excrement passed through said diverting means.

14. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 13, wherein the chamber means is a pocket of said impervious layer overlying the absorbent layer and the excrement diverting opening therethrough.

15. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 13 wherein the chamber means is a pocket attachment of said impervious layer to said absorbent layer and encircling the slit-shaped opening.

16. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 13 wherein the excrement diverting opening extends rearwardly from the crotch area when the diaper is worn as a garment, and wherein the chamber means is a pocket attachment of said impervious layer to said absorbent layer and encircling and overlying the absorbent layer and the excrement diverting opening therethrough.

17. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 13 wherein the excrement diverting opening extends rearwardly from the crotch area when the diaper is worn as a garment, and wherein the chamber means is a pocket encirclement attaching the impervious layer to said absorbent layer around the excrement diverting opening.

18. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 13, wherein the excrement diverting opening extends rearwardly from the crotch area when the diaper is worn as a garment, and wherein the chamber means is a pocket encirclement by a seam of joinder to the impervious layer surrounding the excrement diverting opening.

19. A sanitary diaper having initially pleated inner absorbent and contiguous outer impervious and normally detached layers, with opposite inwardly folded side margins outwardly refolded along the center of the diaper and each having edges at the opposite sides of the diaper respectively, and including; a normally closed slit-shaped excrement diverting opening in the center of the absorbent layer to be spread by and to pass fluid excrement from the interior to the exterior of the inner absorbent layer for containment within the confines of said impervious outer layer.

20. The sanitary diaper as set forth in claim 1 wherein the excrement diverting opening extends rearwardly from the crotch area when the diaper is worn as a garment.