U.S. patent number 3,776,232 [Application Number 05/155,008] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-04 for diaper with thigh-opening closure means.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Colgate-Palmolive Company. Invention is credited to Charles H. Schaar.
United States Patent |
3,776,232 |
Schaar |
December 4, 1973 |
DIAPER WITH THIGH-OPENING CLOSURE MEANS
Abstract
A diaper having a pair of end edges and a pair of sides
connecting the end edges, and including, front and back waistband
portions at the end edges with a crotch portion therebetween. The
diaper has adhering means positioned below the waistband portion
but above the bottom of the crotch section of the diaper and
adjacent both of the connecting sides to tighten the diaper about
an infant's legs after placement of the diaper about the
infant.
Inventors: |
Schaar; Charles H. (Lake
Zurich, IL) |
Assignee: |
Colgate-Palmolive Company (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22553757 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/155,008 |
Filed: |
June 21, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/385.01;
604/390 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/49001 (20130101); A61F 13/58 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/56 (20060101); A61F 13/15 (20060101); A61F
13/58 (20060101); A61f 013/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/284,286,287 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; Charles F.
Claims
I claim:
1. A folded diaper having:
a pair of end edges;
a pair of lateral edges extending between said end edges, said end
edges comprising front and back waistband portions of the
diaper;
a crotch portion located substantially midway between said
waistband portions;
front and back body-covering sections intermediate said crotch and
waistband portions;
a first pair of inward folds of the lateral diaper edges, with the
first folds defining a pair of first fold lines extending from
adjacent the juncture of one end edge and the lateral edges to the
other end edge, with the juncture of the first fold lines and the
other end edge being spaced from said lateral edges, and with the
first fold lines defining at least a major portion of sides
connecting the front and back waistband portions of the diaper;
adhering means located adjacent each of said connecting sides
intermediate at least one of said waistband portions and the center
of the diaper, whereby said diaper may be tightened about an
infant's legs by the adhering means after placement of the diaper
about the infant to secure a snug fit;
a second pair of inward folds of the connecting sides, with the
second folds defining a second pair of fold lines generally aligned
with the longitudinal axis of the diaper and extending from the one
end edge to the connecting sides adjacent the center of the diaper;
and
a third fold about the lateral center axis of the diaper, thereby
defining a substantially rectangular configuration of the folded
diaper.
2. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said diaper is a disposable diaper
having an absorbent pad and a water impervious backing sheet
overlying the back of the absorbent pad, and said adhering means
comprises tape secured to said sheet.
3. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said adhering means is located on
at least one of said body-covering sections and positioned
intermediate one of said waistband portions and the crotch portion
of the diaper, whereby said adhering means may be adhered to the
other body-covering portion intermediate the waistband and crotch
portions after placement of the diaper.
4. The diaper of claim 3 wherein said adhering means extend beyond
said connecting sides.
5. The diaper of claim 4 wherein said adhering means is secured to
the back body-covering section and is adhered to the front
body-covering section after placement of the diaper.
6. The diaper of claim 4 wherein said adhering means are spaced a
distance from the center of the diaper approximately equal to
one-half the circumference around the thighs of an average-sized
infant.
7. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said adhering means are generally
aligned with the connecting sides, whereby the adhering means may
secure a tuck in the diaper adjacent the infant's legs.
8. The diaper of claim 7 wherein said adhering means is positioned
intermediate said waistband portions and the crotch region of the
diaper.
9. The diaper of claim 7 wherein said adhering means is positioned
adjacent the infant's legs after placement of the diaper.
10. The diaper of claim 7 including additional adhering means
located adjacent each of said connecting sides on at least one of
said body-covering sections and positioned intermediate one of said
waistband portions and the crotch portion of the diaper, with the
additional adhering means extending beyond said connecting sides,
whereby said additional adhering means may be adhered to the other
body-covering portion intermediate the waistband and crotch
portions after placement of the diaper to tighten the diaper about
the infant's legs.
11. A diaper having:
a pair of end edges;
a pair of sides connecting said end edges, said end edges
comprising front and back waistband portions of the diaper;
a crotch portion located substantially midway between said
waistband portions;
front and back body-covering sections intermediate said crotch and
waistband portions; and
a pair of tape strips, with each of said strips being generally
aligned with a connecting side and spaced from the side after
placement of the diaper, said strips being located in the region of
the diaper which surrounds the infant's legs after placement of the
diaper to secure a tuck in the diaper adjacent the infant's
legs.
12. The diaper of claim 11 wherein said diaper includes lateral
edges extending between said end edges, said lateral edges being
folded inwardly in at least said crotch portion with the folds
defining at least a portion of said connecting sides.
13. The diaper of claim 11 including lateral edges extending
between said end edges, with said lateral edges defining the
connecting sides.
14. A diaper of claim 11 folded into a generally rectangular shape
and having a central trapezoidal region of multiple thickness and a
pair of generally right-triangular regions of multiple thickness
each having a hypotenuse in close proximity to and generally
aligned with a non-parallel side of said trapezoidal region.
15. The diaper of claim 11 wherein said diaper is a disposable
diaper having an absorbent pad and a water imprevious backing sheet
overlying the back of the absorbent pad.
16. The diaper of claim 11 including adhering means located on at
least one of siad body-covering sections and positioned
intermediate one of said waistband portions and the crotch portion
of the diaper, whereby said adhering means may be adhered to the
other body-covering portion intermediate the waistband and crotch
portions after placement of the diaper.
17. The diaper of claim 16 wherein said adhering means extend
beyond said connecting sides.
18. The diaper of claim 17 wherein said adhering means is secured
to the back body-covering section and is adhered to the front
body-covering section after placement of the diaper.
19. The diaper of claim 17 wherein said adhering means are spaced a
distance from the center of the diaper approximately equal to
one-half the circumference around the thighs of an average-sized
infant.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to diapers.
Although an assortment of diapers, both disposable and
non-disposable, have been proposed for the diapering of infants,
problems have been encountered in achieving a close fit of the
diaper to certain parts of the infant's body. In particular, there
has been difficulty in obtaining a snug fit of the diaper about the
legs of the infant, and such diapers generally develop gaps
adjacent the legs, thus permitting the escape of body fluids
through these openings. Moreover, if a close fit about the legs has
been achieved upon the initial diapering of the infant, later
movement of the legs frequently develops such gaps in the
diaper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal feature of the present invention is the provision of
a diaper which closely conforms to the contour of the body about an
infant's legs to prevent the escape of waste from the diaper.
The diaper of this invention comprises an absorbent pad having a
pair of end edges and a pair of sides connecting the end edges, and
includes front and back waistband portions at the end edges, a
crotch portion located substantially midway between the waistband
portions, and front and back body-covering sections between the
crotch and waistband portions. The diaper has adhering means
adjacent both of the connecting sides located in the body-covering
sections intermediate the waistband and crotch portions.
A feature of the present invention is that the adhering means
extend beyond the connecting sides intermediate one of the
waistband portions of the diaper and its center, such that the
adhering means may be adhered to the corresponding diaper portion
between the other waistband portion and the center after placement
of the diaper to secure a snug fit about the infant's legs.
Another feature of the invention is that the adhering means are
generally aligned with the connecting sides, permitting the
adhering means to secure a tuck in the diaper adjacent the infant's
legs to tighten the diaper.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the diaper
includes lateral edges extending between the end edges, and the
lateral edges are folded at least inwardly in the crotch portion of
the diaper.
A further feature of the resent invention is that the folds of the
diaper define at least a portion of the connecting sides, with the
folds providing an improved fit of the diaper about the infant's
legs.
The diaper may be folded for packaging into a generally rectangular
shape having a central trapezoidal region of multiple thickness and
a pair of generally right-triangular regions of multiple thickness.
Each of the right-triangular regions has a hypotenuse generally
aligned with one of the non-parallel sides of the trapezoidal
region.
Another feature of the invention is that the sides of the
right-triangular and trapedzoidal regions are in close proximity
without overlap, thus providing a generally flat folded diaper
which is desirable for packaging.
Further features will become more fully apparent in the following
description of the embodiments of this invention and from the
appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a diaper illustrating the
location of the adhering means in one embodiment of the invention,
the diaper being prefolded preparatory to diapering an infant;
FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 are diagrammatic plan views of the diaper of FIG.
1, further folded for packaging;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 1
illustrating a configuration of the diaper after application to an
infant;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view from the backside of a diaper
partially folded as in FIG. 1, illustrating another embodiment of
the adhering means;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 5
in its configuration after application to the infant;
FIG. 7 is a plan view from the backside of a generally flat diaper
having the adhering means of the present invention; and
FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating
configurations of the diaper of FIG. 1 during placement on the
infant.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following detailed description will be directed to a disposable
diaper. However, it will be apparent that the invention
additionally relates to conventional cloth diapers.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a disposable diaper, generally designated
10, is shown having a customary absorbent pad 12 and a
water-impervious backing sheet 14 having marginal portions thereof
folded over to the front or absorbent side of the diaper along the
periphery thereof. The diaper 10 has top and bottom edges 20 and
22, respectively, and lateral edges 24 and 26 which extend between
the end edges 20 and 22. The longitudinal and center axes of
symmetry of the diaper are respectively designated by the lines
X--X and Y--Y.
In one embodiment of the invention the lateral diaper edges 24 and
26 are folded inwardly, with the fold lines 16 and 18 defining a
major portion of the sides of the diaper 17 and 19 which connect
the end edges 20 and 22. The fold lines 16 and 18 may be
conveniently defined by the location of their end points, and one
end (21,23) of each fold line 16 and 18 lies on the top diaper edge
20 intermediate the axis X and the respective lateral edge 24 and
26. The second ends (25,27) of the fold lines 16 and 18 lie
respectively on the lateral edges 24 and 26 near the end diaper
edge 22.
Strips of adhesive tape 28, which serve as adhering means, are
secured to the water-impervious sheet 14 at the unfolded backside
of the diaper adjacent both of the connecting sides 17 and 19.
These strips are secured to the diaper in the body-covering section
thereof intermediate the waistband portion of the diaper at one end
edge 22 and the center of the crotch portion of the diaper which
may be coincident with the center axis of symmetry Y--Y. The strips
are spaced away from the waistband portion towards the center axis
of the crotch portion and located at a distance from the axis
approximately equal to one-half the dimension of the circumference
of the infant's upper thigh which is to be located in this region
of the diaper when the diaper is in place upon the infant. Since
diapers, and particularly disposable diapers, are made in a variety
of sizes in which the sizes are related to weight ranges of
infants, it is possible to determine the average location of these
strips for the various sizes of the diapers. Furthermore, these
strips can be placed in a variety of positions when adhered to the
corresponding part of the diaper to secure the diapers snugly in
place about the thigh of the infant when the diaper is placed upon
the infant, thereby being able to serve its function with infants
having thigh sizes which are different from the average of infants
within the size range for which the diaper is designed. The tape
strips 28 extend beyond the connecting sides 17 and 19, and may
include facing strips 30 to cover the adhesive on the protruding
portions of the tape strips 28 until those portions are utilized
during application of the diaper 10 to an infant.
The diaper of FIG. 1 may be further folded for convenience of
packaging and for compact storage, as described below. As
illustrated in FIG. 2, the diaper 10 is folded inwardly along the
fold lines 32 and 34, which may be defined by the location of their
end points. Thus, one end (31,33) of each fold line 32 and 34 lies
on the corresponding first fold line 16 and 18 intermediate the
axis Y and the tape tabs 30. The other end (35,37) of each second
fold line (32,34) lies on the diaper end edge 22 directly in line
with the first end of that fold line, with the fold lines 32 and 34
being generally aligned with the longitudinal axis X.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the diaper 10 has a final fold generally
along the center axis Y, thus providing a final configuration which
is substantially rectangular for convenient packaging of the
diaper. The folded diaper has a central trapezoidal region A of
multiple thickness and a pair of right-triangular regions B and C
of multiple thickness, with the fold line portions 25-31 and 27-33
defining hypotenuses of the regions B and C, respectively, and the
fold line portions 31-21 and 33-23 defining non-parallel sides of
the region A. Accordingly, each of the regions B and C has a
hypotenuse in close proximity to and generally aligned with a
non-parallel side of the region A without overlap of the regions,
providing a folded diaper of uniform thickness which is ready for
packaging.
The packaged diaper is applied to the infant as described below.
The diaper 10 of FIG. 4 is first removed from the package and
unfolded along the fold line coincident with the center axis Y--Y
to provide the diaper in its configuration shown in FIG. 2. The
second set of folds in the diaper of FIG. 2 are then unfolded along
the fold lines 32 and 34 providing the folded diaper of FIG. 1, and
the infant is positioned on the diaper with the edge 22 of the
diaper located at the back of the baby at the waistline thereof.
Next, the first set of folds in the diaper of FIG. 1 are at least
partially unfolded along the fold lines 16 and 18 either before or
after the diaper edge 20 is brought up forward between the baby's
thighs.
Since the baby's thighs rest on the first set of folds in the
crotch portion of the diaper, they remain folded in this diaper
portion when the first diaper folds are unfolded, and an additional
pair of fold lines 38 and 39 are formed extending generally from
the baby's thighs to the end edge 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and
9. For purposes of clarity in further describing the fold lines 38
and 39, the left and right second diaper folds, as viewed in FIGS.
8 and 9, are shown in the folded and unfolded configuration,
respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, if the baby's legs are in a
raised position when the first set of folds are unfolded, the
diaper edges 24 and 26 may be folded over to bring these edges
adjacent the end points 31 and 33, respectively, and the fold lines
38 and 39 extend from the crotch region in the diaper portion which
will be located adjacent the lower surface of the infant's thighs
to the end edge 20. However, if the baby's legs are stretched out
in a straight, lay flat condition, the fold lines 38 and 39
intersect the edges 24 and 26 closer to the end edge 20, and the
fold lines 38 and 39 extend from the upper or front part of the
thighs to the edge 20, as shown in FIG. 9.
After bringing the diaper edge 20 forward between the thighs, the
portions of the diaper at the waist can then be held together
around the waist of the infant in any customary fashion, for
example, by pinning as shown in FIG. 3. After placement of the
diaper about the infant by unfolding and pinning as directed, the
strips of adhesive tape 28 will project from the back portion of
the diaper immediately above the infant's legs. The facing strips
30 may then be removed and the protruding portions of the tape
strips 28 may be adhered to the corresponding front body-covering
portion of the diaper intermediate the waistband portion at the
other end edge 20 and the center of the diaper.
Thus, the adhering means 28 are utilized to tighten the diaper
about the infant's legs to secure a snug fit and reduce any
openings in the diaper through which waste may pass. Moreover, the
diaper portion which remains in a folded condition provides a
narrowing of the diaper in the crotch region, in order that the
diaper may conform to the body contour about the infant's legs for
an improved fit, and the bulk of the diaper material in the thigh
region is brought closer against the side of the thighs. Further,
the "bulk" of the diaper in the crotch area is reduced due to
retention of the pleated or folded diaper material firmly against
the infant's thighs by the thigh-opening closure tabs 28.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the diaper of FIG. 1 is shown in an
inverted position and having another embodiment of the adhering
means. The diaper 10 includes a pair of adhesive tape strips or
adhering means 40 having one end 42 secured to the backside of the
sheet 14. The tape strips 40 are positioned adjacent the connecting
sides 17 and 19 and are generally aligned with the sides 17 and 19.
The free ends of the tape strips 40 may have removable facing
strips 44 to cover the adhesive, as previously discussed. As
illustrated in FIG. 6, after placement of the diaper about the
infant by unfolding and pinning, as described in connection with
FIG. 3, a tuck or fold 46 is made in the diaper adjacent the
infant's legs, the facing strips 44 are removed, and the free ends
of the tape strips 40 are secured to the diaper 10 across the tucks
46. In this manner, the tucks or pleats 46 are secured by the
adhering means 40 to eliminate gaps in the diaper about the
infant's legs and secure a snug fit.
It is contemplated that the tape strips 40 may be positioned
anywhere along the connecting sides 17 and 19, but preferably they
are located in the region of the diaper which surrounds the
infant's leg after placement, which includes the front portion of
the diaper. The adhering means of the present invention may also
include a plurality of the tape strips 40 along each of the
connecting sides, which may be utilized to reduce larger gaps in
the diaper or may be strategically placed to eliminate certain
configurations of openings. Also, the free ends of the strips may
be directed toward either of the end edges 20 or 22.
In another embodiment of the invention, the adhering means is
secured to a generally flat diaper 10, as illustrated in FIG. 7,
which is similar to the diaper of FIGS. 1 and 5 in an unfolded
configuration. The diaper 10 has a pair of end edges 20 and 22 and
a pair of lateral edges 24 and 26 which extend between the end
edges 20 and 22, with the lateral edges 24 and 26 defining sides 17
and 19 connecting the end edges 20 and 22.
A pair of adhesive tape strips 50 are secured to the backside of
the sheet 14 adjacent the connecting sides 17 and 19 and
intermediate the waistband portion of the diaper at one end edge 22
and the center of the crotch portion of the diaper. The tape strips
50 extend beyond the connecting sides 17 and 19 and may include
facing strips 52, as previously described. A pair of tape strips 60
are secured to the sheet 14 adjacent to and generally aligned with
the connecting sides 17 and 19, and may include facing strips 62.
The strips 60 are preferably positioned along the sides 17 and 19
in the region of the diaper which surrounds the infant's legs after
placement. The diaper 10 of FIG. 7 is placed about the infant
without folding, and the portions of the diaper at the waist are
fastened in the customary fashion, such as by pinning. After
placement, the tape strips 50 are utilized to secure the
body-covering sections of the diaper above the infant's legs, as
discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-3, while the tape strips 60
are used to secure tucks in the diaper adjacent the infant's legs,
as described in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, the adhering
means of FIG. 7 combines both types of adhering means previously
discussed to obtain a close fit about the infant's legs, but is is
understood that the flat diaper of FIG. 7 may utilize either of the
strips 50 or 60 alone. Similarly, it is contemplated that the two
types of adhering means may be combined in a single folded diaper,
such as by including the tape strips 40 in the diaper 10 of FIG. 1,
along with the tape strips 28.
The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those
skilled in the art.
* * * * *