U.S. patent number 3,693,621 [Application Number 05/101,292] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-26 for holding device and diaper system utilizing such device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Scott Paper Company. Invention is credited to Paul Jarusik, Alexander Pociluyko.
United States Patent |
3,693,621 |
Jarusik , et al. |
September 26, 1972 |
HOLDING DEVICE AND DIAPER SYSTEM UTILIZING SUCH DEVICE
Abstract
A holding device for retaining an elongated absorbent pad to a
supporting garment, the absorbent pad having elongated side regions
folded over an elongated center region and secured to the center
region by securing tacks. The holding device has a securing section
which is secured to a forward marginal edge of the supporting
garment. A stem portion is integrally formed with the securing
section and extends in a rearward direction toward a rearward
marginal edge of the supporting garment. The stem portion
terminates in laterally extending members which are adapted to be
positioned between the side regions and the center region of the
absorbent pad, and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with
the securing tacks.
Inventors: |
Jarusik; Paul (Wilmington,
DE), Pociluyko; Alexander (Glen Mills, PA) |
Assignee: |
Scott Paper Company (Delaware
County, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
22283885 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/101,292 |
Filed: |
December 24, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/321.89;
604/401; 604/397; 604/398 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/68 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61f 013/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/287-291 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; Charles F.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a diaper system:
a. an elongated supporting garment terminating in opposed forward
and rearward marginal edges;
b. a holding device connected to said supporting garment adjacent
said forward marginal edge and adapted to retain, in a desired
position relative to said supporting garment, an elongated
absorbent pad having elongated side regions folded over an
elongated center region and secured to said center region by
pad-securing tack means;
c. said holding device comprising a stem portion extending
rearwardly of said forward marginal edge and terminating in
laterally extending pad-retaining members, said pad-retaining
members being adapted to be positioned between the side regions and
the center region of the pad and rearwardly of and in overlying
relationship with the pad-securing tack means whereby said
pad-retaining members can engage said tack means to retain said pad
in a desired position relative to said garment.
2. The diaper system according to claim 1, in combination with said
absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device
being disposed between the side regions and center region of said
pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said tack
means for retaining said pad in a desired position relative to aid
supporting garment.
3. The diaper system according to claim 1, wherein said
pad-retaining members terminate in forwardly directed flange means
which are adapted to partially encircle the pad-securing tack means
of the absorbent pad.
4. The diaper system according to claim 3, in combination with said
absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device
being disposed between the side regions and center region of said
pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said
pad-securing tack means, the forwardly directed flange means
partially encircling said tack means for retaining said pad in the
desired position relative to said garment.
5. The diaper system according to claim 1, wherein said stem
portion has a forward section adjacent said forward marginal edge
of the supporting garment and a rearward section extending from
said forward section toward the rearward marginal edge of said
garment and terminating in said pad-retaining members, the rearward
section of said stem portion and said pad-retaining members being
thicker than the forward section of said stem portion for providing
sufficient longitudinal and transverse rigidity to the holding
device in the region thereof which is adapted to be positioned
between the side regions and center region of the absorbent pad for
retaining the pad in the desired position relative to said
supporting garment during use, the forward section of said stem
being sufficiently flexible for permitting flexing of the stem
portion to easily assemble the pad with said supporting
garment.
6. The diaper system according to claim 5, in combination with said
absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device
being disposed between the side regions and center region of said
pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said tack
means for retaining said pad in a desired position relative to said
garment.
7. The diaper system according to claim 5, wherein a rigidifying
rib section is integrally formed adjacent marginal edges of the
rearward section of said stem and said pad-retaining members.
8. The diaper system according to claim 7, in combination with said
absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding means
being disposed between the side regions and center region of said
pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said
securing tack means for retaining said pad in a desired position
relative to said garments.
9. The diaper system according to claim 5, wherein said
pad-retaining members terminate in forwardly directed flange
portions which are adapted to partially encircle the tack means of
the absorbent pad.
10. The diaper system according to claim 9, wherein a rigidifying
rib section is integrally formed adjacent marginal edges of the
rearward section of said stem, said pad-retaining members and said
flange portions.
11. The diaper system according to claim 10, in combination with
said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding
device being disposed between the side regions and center region of
said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said
tack means, the forwardly directed flange portions partially
encircling said tack means for retaining said pad in the desired
position relative to said garment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Diaper systems which have a fluid impervious supporting garment and
an absorbent pad attached thereto are well known. The supporting
garment usually has fastening means associated with it for
permitting the supporting garment to be fastened in proper position
on a baby without the use of pins. An absorbent pad is positioned
on the supporting garment and provides a disposable absorbent
element which can be removed from the supporting garment after use
and thrown away.
Several prior art constructions exist for retaining a disposable
absorbent pad in a fluid impervious supporting garment. In one
system, a pocket made from a suitable plastic material, such as
polypropylene, is stitched to the supporting garment along a
forward marginal edge and longitudinally extending side edges to
define an opening into the pocket from the rearward direction. An
end of an absorbent pad is inserted into the pocket, and the pocket
is relied upon to hold the pad in the proper relationship with
respect to the garment during use. In this system the end of the
pad often slips out of the pocket during attachment of the diaper
system to a child, which results in the pad being improperly
positioned on the supporting garment during use. The improper
positioning of the pad on the supporting garment results in an
undesirable leakage problem. To prevent the end of the absorbent
pad from slipping out of the pocket, the pocket of the panty and
the end of the pad extending into the pocket must be grasped during
the positioning of the panty in its proper location on a child. If
the person diapering a child releases the grip on the pocket and
absorbent panty too soon the pad may slip out of the pocket and
thereby become improperly located, whereby urine and fecal matter
will tend to leak from the diaper system. Even when the pad is in
proper position within the pocket when the diaper system is
fastened to a baby, the pad may slip out of the pocket during use
to thereby create a leakage problem. The slippage during use can
result from nominal movements of a child or as a result of weight
added to the pad from urine and fecal matter. An additional
disadvantage of the pocket retention system is that the absorbent
pad tends to ball up, i.e. "rope" or "clump", during use and
thereby create an uncomfortable, bulky structure for a child to
wear. In addition, clumping causes a break up of fluff in an
absorbent pad to thereby decrease the effectiveness of the pad.
An additional prior art holding device for retaining a disposable
absorbent pad to a supporting garment is suggested in U.S. Pat. No.
Re. 23,853. This holding device consists of a tab of flexible
material secured to one end of the supporting garment, and this tab
has a die-cut therethrough to form a flap which is relatively
movable with respect to the remaining portion of the tab to clamp
the disposable absorbent pad in its proper position within the
supporting garment. This holding device is deficient because the
flap may become weakened after repeated usage, and therefore fail
to perform its desired clamping function. In addition, this type of
holding device, i.e., one having relatively movable clamping
elements, is difficult to manipulate to clamp the pad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a holding device which is adapted to be
attached to the forward marginal edge of a supporting garment to
cooperate with an elongated absorbent pad having elongated side
regions folded over an elongated center region and secured to the
center region by pad-securing means, such as adhesive tacks. The
holding device has a stem portion terminating at a forward end in a
section which is adapted to be secured to the supporting garment,
and terminating at a rearward end in a cross member. The cross
member has laterally extending pad-retaining members which
terminate in forwardly directed, marginal flanges. The
pad-retaining members are adapted to be positioned between the side
regions and the center region of the pad, and rearwardly of and in
overlying relationship with the pad-securing tack means, whereby
the pad-retaining members will engage the pad-securing tack means
to prevent dislodgement of the absorbent pad from the supporting
garment. The forwardly directed marginal flanges partially encircle
the tack means for engaging the tack means when transverse forces
are transmitted to the pad during use to prevent separation of the
absorbent pad from the supporting garment. A forward section of the
stem portion is thinner than a rearward section of the stem
portion, the pad-retaining members and the marginal flanges. The
thicker portions of the holding device have sufficient longitudinal
and transverse rigidity to retain the absorbent pad within the
supporting garment during use of the diaper system. The thinner
forward section of the stem portion defines a flexure region in
which the holding device can be twisted to easily insert the cross
member in operative position with respect to the absorbent pad. To
further stabilize, or rigidify the holding device, a thickened rib
section is formed adjacent to the marginal edges of the rearward
section of the stem portion and the marginal edges of the laterally
extending members. This thickened rib section also defines a smooth
rounded marginal edge to insure that any contact of this edge with
a child will not cut, or otherwise injure the child. Furthermore,
the rearward edge of the holding device has a concave curvature to
insure that the holding device will not come in contact with the
penis of a baby boy.
The holding device of this invention is free of relatively movable
clamping elements which could weaken after repreated usage. In
addition, the device of this invention has been found to be easier
to manipulate than holding devices having relatively movable
clamping elements.
The holding device of this invention is extremely reliable in
operation, and does not require a person diapering a child to
maintain a grip on the absorbent pad to insure that the pad is
retained in proper position on the supporting garment. Therefore,
the diaper system does not have to be held in any specific manner
during the diapering operation,which gives a greater degree of
flexibility to the person who is diapering the child.
This invention also relates to the combination of the
above-described holding device with a supporting garment for a
disposable, absorbent pad.
This invention further relates to the combination of a complete
diapering system including: (1) a supporting garment for a
disposable absorbent pad; (2) a disposable absorbent pad having
side regions folded over, and secured to a center region through
suitable pad securing means such as adhesive tacks; and (3) the
above-described holding device secured to the supporting garment
and disposed in operative, pad-retaining position between the side
regions and the center region of the absorbent pad.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
from the following detailed description thereof, when read with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of
example a presently preferred form of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a supporting garment for a disposable
absorbent pad with the holding device secured to the supporting
garment;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the diaper system of this invention with
an elongated absorbent pad disposed in operative position on a
supporting garment;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded plan view of the region designated
as 3 in FIG. 2 with a portion of the pad removed to show details of
construction;
FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the holding device of this invention
showing details of the front surface of the holding device; and
FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing details of the back surface of
the holding device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 2, a diaper system 10 is shown which utilizes the
unique holding device of this invention. The diaper system 10 is
comprised of a supporting garment 12 and an elongated disposable
absorbent pad 14.
The supporting garment 12 preferably is made from a fluid
impervious, flexible sheet material, such as polyethylene,
polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride. The garment 12 has a forward
marginal edge 16 adapted to be positioned around the front area of
a child, and a rearward marginal edge 18 adapted to be positioned
around the rear area of a child (FIG. 1). A forward region 20 of
the supporting garment 12 is interconnected to a rearward region 22
through an intermediate region 24. The intermediate region 24 has a
reduced transverse dimension defining the crotch and thigh
encircling region of the supporting garment 12. Opposite transverse
edges of the forward region 20 are provided with male snap elements
26, 28, which are adapted to cooperate with opposed female snaps
30, 32, respectfully, which are disposed adjacent opposite
transverse edges of the rearward region 22 to fasten the garment 12
on a child (FIGS. 1 and 2). Any suitable fastening means can be
utilized in place of the snap fastening means; the particular
fastening means not forming a part of this invention. To insure
that the impervious supporting garment 12 closely conforms to the
legs and waist regions of a child, elastic material is fastened
adjacent the forward marginal edge 16, the rearward marginal edge
18 and opposed longitudinal edges 34, 36 defining the intermediate
region 24 of the supporting garment.
Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the details of construction of the
elongated disposable absorbent pad 14 will be described. The
absorbent pad 14 is substantially rectangular, and can be made from
well-known absorbent materials. For example, the absorbent pad 14
can be made form a fiberized wood pulp lap, in the form of an
absorbent fluff center section, which is wrapped in a suitable
cover sheet to provide structural integrity to the pad system.
Nonwoven cover sheets, or cover sheets of cellulosic webs have been
successfully utilized. Also, the absorbent pad 14 can be
constructed of a plurality of plies of creped cellulosic webs
instead of a fluff center section. The specific elements making up
the absorbent pad 14 do not form a part of the present
invention.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2-4, the absorbent pad 14 is substantially
rectangular in configuration, and is defined by elongated side
regions 40, 42 which are folded over an elongated center region 44
along longitudinal fold lines 46, 48, respectively. The side
regions are maintained in their folded relationship by suitable
pad-securing tack means 50, 52 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which in the
preferred arrangement are provided by any suitable adhesive such as
polyvinyl acetate, latex emulsions, and the like. The adhesive
tacks 50, 52, bond together adjacent facing surfaces of the center
region and the side regions a short distance rearwardly of forward
edge 51 (FIGS. 2 and 3). These pads are commercially available and
are manufactured by Scott Paper Company, under its trademark
"babyScott." In use, the rear portion of the pad is manually flared
open, as is shown in FIG. 2, to provide a wide confining region for
feces. This wide region is desirable to prevent soiling of the
supporting garment and to prevent the feces from escaping from the
diaper. The wide confining structure of the absorbent pad is not
required in the forward portion of the diaper into which urine is
initially directed, and this portion remains folded during use to
provide a high absorptive capacity for urine. Applicants' unique
holding device can be utilized with the absorbent pad described
above, with the distinct advantage that no modifications to such
absorbent pad are required.
Applicants' unique holding device 60 is fastened by any suitable
means, such as stitching 62 (FIGS. 3 and 5), thermo-bonding, or the
like, to the forward marginal edge 16 of the supporting garment to
cooperate with the folded and tacked absorbent pad 14. The holding
device 60 preferably is made as a single molded unit from any
suitable material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or
polyvinyl chloride. In addition to the above plastics, other
materials having sufficient rigidity to retain the pad in proper
position within the supporting garment can be utilized.
The holding device 60 is of a unitary construction having a forward
elongated securing section 63, a stem portion 66 extending
rearwardly in a substantially perpendicular direction from said
securing section and terminating in a cross member 68. The cross
member 68 is comprised of laterally extending pad-retaining members
70, 72 terminating in forwardly directed circular flanges 80, 82.
The securing section 63 is sufficiently thin to permit its
attachment to the forward marginal edge 16 of the supporting
garment by stitching 62 (FIGS. 3 and 5) provided by a standard
sewing operation.
The stem portion 66 has a forward section 88 which is integrally
formed with the securing section 63, and a rearward section 90
which is integrally formed with the laterally extending
pad-retaining members 70, 72 of the cross member 68. As can be seen
in FIGS. 5-7, the rearward section 90 of the stem portion, the
pad-retaining members 70, 72, and the flanges 80, 82 are thicker
than the forward section 88 of the stem portion and the securing
section 63. In addition, the back surface 91 of the holding device,
i.e., that surface which is disposed in facing relationship to the
supporting garment 12, is formed with a rigidifying rib section 92
formed along the marginal edges of the cross member 68 and the
rearward section 90 of the stem portion. The thickened and ribbed
sections of the holding device are sufficiently rigid so as not to
excessively flex under loads encountered during use of the diaper
system. Excessive flexure would result in a separation of the
holding device from the securing tack means of the absorbent pad
14. The rib section 92 defines a smooth rounded edge surface 96
(FIG. 5) to insure that any contact of this edge surface 96 with a
child will not cause any injuries. The rear portion 98 of the edge
surface 96 is formed in a concave configuration (FIGS. 6 and 7) to
insure that the holding device will not engage the penis of a boy
baby during use. The forward section 88 of the stem portion is
sufficiently thin to provide a flexure area about which the lower
stem section and cross member can be twisted to dispose the cross
member in its pad-retaining position which will be described
hereinafter.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the operation of the holding device of this
invention will now be described. The elongated absorbent pad 14 is
initially inserted between the holding device 60 and the supporting
garment 12 with the forward edge 51 of the pad adjacent to the
forward edge 16 of the supporting garment. The absorbent pad 14 can
be shifted in transverse and longitudinal directions, and the
holding device 60 can be flexed in the forward stem section 88 to
insert the pad-retaining members 70, 72 of the cross member 68
between the center region 44 of the absorbent pad and the elongated
side regions 40, 42 respectively. The cross member is disposed
rearwardly of the adhesive tacks 50, 52, such that the
pad-retaining members 70, 72 overlie such adhesive tacks. The
forwardly directed circular flanges 80, 82 partially encircle the
adhesive tacks to prevent the separation of the absorbent pad from
the holding device under transverse load conditions. As can be
clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the absorbent pad 14 is confined
against movement in a rearward direction by the engagement of the
adhesive tacks with the pad-retaining members 70, 72.
* * * * *