Selectively positionable diaper assembly

Abstract

Improved diaper assembly comprising a main pad assembly having an outer backing sheet, and an inner sheet with an absorbent material therebetween, and a selectively positionable auxiliary pad assembly movably secured to, or retained by, the main pad assembly. The auxiliary pad is selectively positionable depending on the age, activity or sex of the infant, e.g., between an active/day position and a nap or night/sleeping position, regardless of the child's sex, between a boy position and a girl position regardless of activity, and between an older and younger infant position regardless of sex. The selectively positionable pad results in placing the absorbent material at the point of need, while permitting reduction in the amount of absorbent material in the main pad. This permits a better fit in the main pad with overall improved fluid retention.

Description

FIELD

This application relates to improved diaper assemblies, particularly diapers that permit selective positioning of absorbent material to the point of need depending on the activity and/or sex of the infant.

BACKGROUND

Currently available diaper constructions generally have a single pad area extending from the crotch area to the waist of an infant. These diapers may be contoured for better fit in the crotch area around the legs. However, this results in the disadvantage of removing absorbent pad from the point of greatest need. As a result, padding in that area may wad because of low strength under conditions of excess wetness. Also, having a large volume of absorbent pad in the waist area means that the wet area of the pad is extended upward toward the waist.

There is therefore a substantial need for a universal diaper that is simple to manufacture, and yet is completely adaptable to sex and/or activity of the infant. There is also a need for a diaper that provides additional absorbent padding at the point of need without the discomfort or malfit of a non-contoured diaper.

THE INVENTION

Objects

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a universal diaper with means for providing selectively added absorbent capacity in relation to the age, sex and/or activity of the infant.

It is another object to provide an improved diaper assembly with an auxiliary absorbent pad selectively positionable to the point of need.

It is another object to provide an improved diaper assembly having a main pad, and an auxiliary pad that is selectively positionable to the point of need without the disadvantages of prior constructions.

Still further objects will be evident from the description which follows.

FIGURES

The description below has reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the diapers of this invention in a folded, as received condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 1 showing the auxiliary pad in a first (boy/sleep-nap) position, and a second position in phantom (girl/day);

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 2 in use; and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a diaper of the present invention.

SUMMARY

The improved diaper assemblies of this invention comprise a main pad assembly having an outer backing sheet, and an inner top sheet having an absorbent material disposed therebetween, and a selectively positionable auxiliary pad assembly movably secured to, or retained by, the main pad assembly. Depending on the age, sex and/or activity of the infant, the auxiliary pad assembly may be selectively positioned between a first, rear position and a second, front position.

The auxiliary pad results in reducing the amount of absorbent material in the main pad while placing the absorbent material at the point of need. This permits a better fit in the main pad with overall improved fluid retention capacity and no increase in cost.

The auxiliary pad assembly may be positioned in the front for a boy, for daytime activity of a young infant regardless of sex, or for sleeping or napping regardless of the age or sex of the infant (where the infant sleeps on its stomach). Conversely, the pad may be positioned in the rear for a girl, or for daytime activity of an older infant regardless of sex. For certain conditions of incontinency or diarrhea the pad may be positioned as needed.

The auxiliary pad may be movably secured as by adhesive to, or retained by, the main pad. The main pad may be of any desired configuration, contoured or non-contoured, rectangular, triangular, box pleat-type, and the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description having particular reference to the drawings is by way of example and not by way of limitation of the principles of the inventions of this application.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, diaper assembly 1, comprises a main pad assembly 2, and an auxiliary pad assembly 3. The diaper may be generally rectangular, with a front (F) to back (B) long axis as shown best in FIG. 2, or any other convenient shape such as contoured, triangular polygonal or having one or more arcuate margins. The diaper may be folded at generally right angles to the long axis for packaging, storing or shipping as best seen in FIG. 1. The diaper embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 is shown with side margin box pleats 4,5 formed by a Z-shaped fold along lines 6,7 and 8,9 respectively spaced inwardly from, and generally parallel to side margins 10,11.

The box pleats may be secured in one or more places, preferably adjacent the transverse fold axis T-T', or in the crotch region of the diaper. FIG. 2 shows adhesive areas 12,13 disposed between fold lines 6,7 and 8,9 respectively to secure the pleat in the crotch area. This effectively contours the diaper, permitting good fit in the crotch area, yet the unsecured box pleat ends 14,15,16,17 can be spread to insure fit around the circumference of the infant's waist. This is best shown in FIG. 3. Tape strips 18,19 are adhesive faced, and covered by release sheets 20,21. The release sheets are removed and the strips secured to the outer face 22 of the outer backing sheet 23.

The main pad assembly comprises an outer backing sheet 23 of a generally water repellant or impervious material, such as plastic, an absorbent pad material 24, and an inner fluid pervious sheet 25. The absorbent pad material may be any suitable material, such as pulverized wood pulp, absorbent cellulose wadding, synthetic or natural, woven, nonwoven, felted or intertangled fibers, non-fibrous (such as open or closed cellular foam or sponge material, continuous filament or chopped fibers, or the like. The inner and outer sheets 25,23 may be the same or different, and there may be additional intermediate or external sheets. Preferably, the innermost sheet is a woven or nonwoven filamentous sheet that has good fluid permeability properties yet has a smooth, soft feel or "hand" to protect the infant's skin. The inner sheet may be treated with medicaments, chemical agents, deodorants, emollients, powders (e.g., baby powder), surfactants, wetting agents, salves, perfumes, bactericides, germicides, and the like, as desired. The outer backing sheet may be any thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic, such as a polyolefin (polyethylene, polypropylene), a polystyrene, a polyvinyl plastic, such as polyvinylchloride, and the like, or may be any other fluid impervious material. Mixed polymers, laminates, co- and ter-polymers may also be used. This sheet may be made by a continuous extrusion, casting, or other operation, and is preferably a homogenous web.

The auxiliary pad 3 comprises generally an absorbent pad 26 of the same or similar characteristics as pad 24 in the main assembly 2. One or both of these pads may be impregnated, saturated or loaded with deodorants, medicaments and the like as above described with respect to the inner sheet 25. The absorbent pad 26, in one embodiment may be disposed within a fluid permeable envelope 27 which is sealed at each end 28,29. As best shown in FIG. 2 corner areas 30,31 of the auxiliary pad assembly 3 are movably secured to the main pad assembly 2, in this embodiment by adhesive 12,13. The securing means may be of any suitable type, such as adhesive, heat or solvent sealing or the like. In production, both faces of the corners 30,31 may be dipped into adhesive and inserted into the box-pleat along axis T-T', thereby simultaneously securing the auxiliary pad and box pleat.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the auxiliary pad 3 has a first position 32, and a second position 33 (in phantom in FIG. 2). The first position is generally useful for a male infant, when the diaper is placed as shown in FIG. 3. This position is also the preferred position for a napping or sleeping infant regardless of sex, or for a young or chronically incontinent infant whose activity is primarily crawling or lying on the stomach. In the flipped, or second, position 33, the auxiliary pad is generally preferred for female infants, or infants of upright activity, as for older, walking or feeding activities. It likewise is useful for infants regardless of sex afflicted with diarrhea or other such bowel conditions. Thus, the auxiliary pad may be flip-flopped about T-T' as an axis from one position to another depending on the infant age, sex, activity or health condition.

The auxiliary pad is not restricted to being a separate envelope as shown in FIGS. 1-3, but may be any selectively positionable absorbent pad means. For example, the auxiliary pad may be a looped or pleat-type extension of the main pad shown in FIG. 4, an extension of the box pleat or the like. As shown in FIG. 4, main pad 24 is pleated along the transverse fold axis T-T' to form upwardly extending auxiliary pad assembly 3. Adhesive 12',13' may be employed to secure the inner surfaces of the auxiliary padding 26 to form the pleat. The top sheet 25 may also be pleated to form the envelope 27. The construction of the balance of the diaper assembly 1 is as above described for FIGS. 1-3. Arcuate arrows C and D show the ability to selectively position the auxiliary pad assembly from the first position 32 to the second position 33.

It should be understood that various modifications within the scope of this invention can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore wish my invention to be defined by the scope of the appended claims as broadly as the prior art will permit, and in view of this specification if need be.

Claims

I claim:

1. An improved diaper construction comprising in operative combination:

a. a main pad assembly having an absorbent pad and outer fluid impervious backing sheet adapted to be removably secured to an infant,

b. means defining an auxiliary pad assembly movably secured in association with said main pad assembly,

c. said auxiliary pad means being selectively positionable between a first, frontal position and a second, rear position depending on one or more of the age, sex, activity or health of the infant, to dispose at the point of need additional absorbent material.

2. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary pad means comprises absorbent padding disposed in fluid permeable sheet material.

3. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 2 wherein said auxiliary pad means is in the form of an envelope, portions of one end of which are movably retained generally adjacent the crotch area of said diaper.

4. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said main pad assembly is generally rectangular, having generally parallel side margins, each of said side margins having a pair of generally parallel fold lines spaced inwardly therefrom to define a box pleat.

5. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 4 wherein said auxiliary pad assembly is generally rectangular in shape, the corners of one end of which are movably secured in the box pleat of main pad assembly in the general area of the crotch.

6. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 5 wherein said securing comprises adhesive means retaining both said box pleat and said auxiliary pad in the crotch area.

7. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary pad assembly is formed as an extension of said main pad.

8. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 7 wherein said extension is a pleat in a central longitudinal section of said main pad.

9. An improved diaper as in claim 1 which includes an inner sheet over said absorbent pad of said main pad assembly.

10. An improved diaper as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said inner sheet, said main absorbent pad, and said auxiliary pad assembly are treated with materials selected from deodorants, medicaments, emollients, powders, salves, or mixtures thereof.

11. A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a front surface and a back surface, auxiliary absorbent pad means having one end secured adjacent the crotch region of the diaper on the front surface of said pad assembly and having a free second end, said pad means being movable between positions on opposite sides of said crotch region and overlying the front surface of said pad assembly.

12. The diaper as in claim 11 including a plurality of longitudinal folds defining a box-pleat configuration of the diaper.