Disposable diaper with cover means

Abstract

A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a fluid impervious backing sheet at least partially defining a back surface of the pad assembly, a front surface, a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the side edges, and a pair of waistline portions. The diaper has a disposable cover adjacent an edge of the pad assembly, the cover comprising a sheet of flexible material being transversely folded to a configuration of reduced dimensions. The sheet has a sufficient width and length to pass over remote portions of the pad assembly and provide a cover for the soiled pad assembly after use of the diaper. The diaper has means for securing side regions of the folded sheet together and retaining the secured sheet to a surface of the pad assembly to provide access to a sufficient area of the sheet for covering the diaper.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to absorbent articles, and more particularly to disposable diapers.

During recent years diapers of the disposable type have come into widespread use. Such diapers are generally constructed having a fluid impervious backing sheet, a fluid pervious top sheet and an absorbent pad located between the top and backing sheets. Although disposable diapers have attained a high degree of popularity with parents since they are discarded after a single use and need not be laundered, proper disposal of the used diapers may pose difficulty for parents. At certain times, for example during travel in an automobile, immediate disposal of the soiled diaper may not be possible. At other times, for example at one's residence, disposal of the diapers may prove troublesome or unsanitary. It has been suggested that the backing sheet could be removed from the soiled diaper, and the remainder of the diaper may be disposed of in a flush toilet. However, conventional top sheets have sufficient wet strength to prevent their disintegration under use, and the wet strength properties may result in difficulties in sewage disposal systems, such as septic tank systems, after flushing the diapers. Thus, more commonly the soiled diapers are discarded into trash containers until they may be permanently disposed of through other refuse disposal systems. Although stored only temporarily in a trash container, the unsanitary aspect in this manner of disposal is apparent. Moreover, many parents feel that handling of soiled disposable diapers is objectionable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a disposable diaper of simplified construction which may be handled and discarded after use in a sanitary and convenient manner.

The diaper of the present invention comprises, an absorbent pad assembly having a fluid impervious backing sheet at least partially defining a back surface of the pad assembly, a front surface, a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the side edges, and a pair of waistline portions. The diaper has a disposal cover adjacent an edge of the pad assembly, the cover comprising a sheet of flexible material being transversely folded to a configuration of reduced dimensions. The sheet has sufficient width and length to pass over remote portions of the pad assembly. The diaper has means for securing side regions of the folded sheet together and retaining the secured sheet to a surface of the pad assembly.

A feature of the present invention is that the folded sheet may be utilized to cover portions of the diaper when soiled.

Thus, a feature of the present invention is that the user may pass the folded sheet over a remote portion of the diaper to cover soiled portions of the diaper.

Another feature of the invention is that the soiled diaper may be covered in a sanitary manner without contacting the soiled surface of the diaper with the user's hands.

Yet another feature of the invention is that the covered diaper may be disposed of in a sanitary manner.

Still another feature is that in an embodiment of the invention tape strips, which are utilized to secure the diaper about an infant, may secure the folded sheet to a surface of the pad assembly.

A further feature is that in an embodiment of the invention a surface of the folded sheet is utilized as a release surface for securement portions of the tape strips.

Another feature is that in an embodiment of the invention the folded sheet comprises an extension of the backing sheet.

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 fragmentary section view of the diaper of the present invention having a cover sheet in a partially folded configuration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary back plan view of the diaper of FIG. 1 showing the folded cover sheet secured to the diaper;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front plan view of the diaper of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view illustrating the cover sheet being partially unfolded to cover the diaper after use;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing the soiled diaper as covered by the cover sheet;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front plan view of the diaper of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a back plan view of another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front plan view showing the diaper of FIG. 10 as folded into a box-pleat configuration;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 12--12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary back plan view of another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary front plan view of the diaper of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 15--15 of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a disposable diaper generally designated 20 having an absorbent pad assembly 22. The pad assembly 22 has a fluid impervious backing sheet 24 defining at least a portion of the back surface 26 of the pad assembly, a fluid pervious cover or top sheet 28 defining at least a portion of a front surface 30 of the pad assembly, an absorbent pad 32 located intermediate the backing and cover sheets 24 and 28, respectively, a pair of side edges 34a and b, and a pair of end edges 36a and b connecting the side edges 34a and b. The diaper or pad assembly has a pair of waistline portions 38a and 38b, and a crotch portion 40 intermediate the waistline portions 38a and b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the diaper 20 has a disposal cover generally designated 42 in the waistline portion 38a of the pad assembly. The cover 42 is preferably made from a sheet 44 of flexible fluid impervious material, such as polyethylene. The sheet 44 may be transversely fan or accordion folded along a plurality of lateral fold lines 46 to modify the length of the sheet 44 to a reduced configuration and position the outer layer 48 of the folded sheet 44 somewhat proximal the back surface 26 of the pad assembly.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the laterally folded sheet 44 extends substantially the width of the pad assembly 22, such that side edges 50a and 50b of the sheet 44 are located adjacent the side edges 34a and b of the pad assembly. As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, side regions 52a and 52b may be secured together and retained to the back surface 26 of the pad assembly by a pair of tape strips 54a and 54b. The tape strips 54a and b have first portions 56a and 56b secured to an outer surface 58 of the side regions 52a and b, and second securement portions 60a and 60b extending past the side edges 50a and b of the sheet 44. The securement portions 60a and b may be secured to an outer surface of the backing sheet 24, and may extend past the side edges 34a and b of the pad assembly, such that adhesive on outer ends of the securement portions are releasably attached to a pair of release sheets 62a and 62b on the front surface of the pad assembly. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the securement portions 60a and b of the tape strips 54a and b may have turned over ends 64a and 64b to facilitate removal of the securement portions from the release sheets 62a and b. Thus, the tape strips 54a and b may be utilized to secure the side regions 52a and b of the folded sheet 44 together and retain the folded sheet 44 against the back surface 26 of the pad assembly. However, if desired, the inner layer 66 of the folded sheet 44 may be retained to the back surface 26 of the pad assembly 22 by suitable means 68, such as a line of adhesive 70, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As thus constructed, the folded sheet 44 or cover 42 is secured to the back surface of the pad assembly in a reduced configuration. During placement of the diaper, the securement portions 60a and b of the tape strips 54a and b may be removed from the release sheets 62a and b for securement of the diaper about the infant. After use of the diaper, the soiled diaper is removed from the infant, and the diaper may be covered for disposal in a manner described as follows. As shown in FIG. 5, the user, such as the parent, may place one hand in the laterally folded sheet 44 while drawing the other waistline portion 38b toward the folded sheet 44. The user then unfolds the sheet 44, and passes the sheet over remote regions of the diaper until the sheet encompasses and covers a sufficient portion of the diaper to close and cover the soiled front surface of the pad assembly, as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the covered pad assembly may then be discarded in a convenient and sanitary fashion with all the soiled portions of the diaper being covered, and without contact of the user's hands against the soiled surface of the pad assembly.

Although the diaper has been described as having the folded sheet 44 located in the waistline region 38a of the pad assembly, it will be understood that the sheet may be located at other areas of the diaper such as the other waistline region 38b. Additionally, it is contemplated that the sheet may be folded longitudinally adjacent a side edge of the pad assembly, such that the longitudinally folded sheet is brought around the opposing side edge of the pad assembly for disposal of the diaper, in a manner similar to that described above. Further, it will be understood that the cover may be used on other absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins.

Another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, in which like reference numerals designate like parts. As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment the folded sheet 44 comprises an extension of the backing sheet 24, with the inner layer 66 of the sheet 44 being joined to the backing sheet 24 along a fold line 72 adjacent the end edge 36a of the pad assembly. Thus, the folded sheet 44 is retained to the backing sheet 24 by the juncture of the sheet 44 and the backing sheet, with the folded sheet underlying the back surface 26 of the backing sheet 24.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the backing sheet 24 may have lateral side margins 74a and 74b extending past the side edges 34a and b of the pad assembly 22 and being secured to the front surface 30 of the pad assembly. Thus, the side regions 52a and b of the folded sheet 44 extend around the side edges 34a and b of the pad assembly over the front surface 30 of the pad assembly, and may be secured in place by suitable means, such as by heat sealing. If the side regions 52a and b of the folded sheet 44 are heat sealed together, the outer surfaces 76a and 76b provide a suitably smooth surface for release of the securement portions 60a and b of the tape strips 54a and b. Thus, the securement portions of the tape strips may be releasably attached to the outer treated surfaces 76a and b of the side regions 52a and b, eliminating the necessity for separate release sheets. The securement portions 60a and b of the tape strips 54a and b are removed from the surfaces 76a and b for securement of the diaper about the infant during placement, as previously described, and the folded sheet 44 is utilized to cover the soiled diaper in a manner similar to that described in connection with the diaper of FIGS. 1-6.

Another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10-12, in which like reference numerals designate like parts. In this embodiment, the side regions 52a and b of the folded sheet 44 extend past the side edges 34a and b of the pad assembly 22. The side regions 52a and b of the sheet 44 may be secured together by suitable means, such as by heat sealing of the regions. The first portions 56a and b of the tape strips 54a and b may be secured to back surfaces 26a' and b' of the regions 52a and b, and the securement portions 60a and b may extend around the side edges 50a and b of the sheet 44, with the securement portions being releasably attached to the outer front surfaces 76a and b of the regions 52a and b. Thus, the securement portions 60a and b are releasably attached to the heat treated surfaces 76a and b of the side regions 52a and b. The inner layer 66 of the folded sheet 44 may be retained to the back surface 26 of the pad assembly by suitable means 68, such as a line of adhesive 70. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the pad assembly 22 may be folded along a plurality of longitudinally extending fold lines 78a, 78b, 78c, and 78d to define a box-pleat configuration, with the pleat having a longitudinally extending central panel C, a pair of first panels B and D extending from and overlying the front surface of the central panel C, and a pair of outermost panels A and E extending from and overlying the first panels B and D.

During use, the securement portions 60a and b of the tape strips 54a and b are removed from the outer surfaces 76a and b of the side regions 52a and b to secure the diaper about the infant, as previously described. The laterally folded sheet 44 or cover 42 is utilized in a manner described above to cover the soiled diaper for disposal.

Another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11-15, in which like reference numerals designate like parts. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the laterally folded sheet comprises an extension of the backing sheet 24. The sheet 44 may have a plurality of lateral pleats 80, as shown, and a longitudinal end section 82 which is folded over and secured to the front surface 30 of the pad assembly 22. As shown in FIG. 14, the lateral side margins 74a and b of the backing sheet 24 and the side regions 52a and b of the folded sheet 44 or cover 42 may be folded around the side edges 34a and b of the pad assembly and secured to the front surface of the pad assembly by suitable means, such as adhesive or by heat sealing. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the first portions 56a and b of the tape strips 54a and b may be secured to the outer surface of the disposal cover 42, with the securement portions 60a and b of the strips extending past the side edges 34a and b of the pad assembly. As shown in FIG. 14, a pair of release sheets 62a' and 62b' releasably cover adhesive on the securement portions 60a and b of the strips 54a and b. The release sheets 62a' and b' are removed from the securement portions of the tape strips during placement of the diaper on an infant, and the securement portions of the tape strips are utilized to secure the diaper about the infant. After use of the diaper, the diaper is removed from the infant, and the pleated sheet 44 is unfolded sufficiently to pass the sheet over remote regions of the diaper, and cover the soiled diaper in a manner similar to that described in connection with the diapers of FIGS. 1-12.

Thus, there has been described a diaper having a disposal cover which may utilized to cover the soiled diaper after use. The diaper may be covered in a sanitary manner without contact of the user's hands against a soiled surface of the diaper, and the covered diaper may be subsequently discarded in a sanitary manner.

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.

Claims

I claim:

1. A disposable diaper, comprising:

an absorbent pad assembly having a fluid impervious backing sheet at least partially defining a back surface of the pad assembly, a front surface, a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the side edges, and a pair of waistline portions;

a disposal cover adjacent an edge of the pad assembly, said cover comprising a sheet of flexible material being transversely folded to a configuration of reduced dimensions, said sheet having a sufficient width and length to pass over remote portions of the pad assembly and provide a cover for the soiled pad assembly after use of the diaper; and

means for securing side regions of the folded sheet together and retaining the secured sheet to a surface of the pad assembly to provide access to a sufficient area of the sheet for covering the diaper.

2. The diaper of claim 1 wherein at least a substantial portion of the folded sheet underlies the back surface of the pad assembly.

3. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said folded sheet at least substantially extends between opposing edges of the pad assembly.

4. The diaper of claim 3 wherein opposing side edges of the sheet are located adjacent opposing edges of the pad assembly.

5. The diaper of claim 3 wherein side margins of the folded sheet extend around the opposing edges of the pad assembly and are secured to the front surface of the pad assembly.

6. The diaper of claim 5 wherein a portion of the folded sheet extends between the side edges of the pad, and the outer surface of said side margins overlying the front surface of the pad assembly includes a release surface for adhesive on a pair of tape strips.

7. The diaper of claim 5 wherein said securing means and retaining means comprises areas of the side margins being heat sealed to the front surface of the pad assembly.

8. The diaper of claim 3 wherein side margins of the folded sheet extend past side edges of the pad assembly.

9. The diaper of claim 8 wherein a front surface of the side margins includes a release surface for adhesive on a pair of tape strips.

10. The diaper of claim 9 wherein said tape strips have a first portion anchored to a back surface of said side margins, and a securement portion releasably attached to a front surface of the side margins.

11. The diaper of claim 8 wherein the securing means comprises regions of said side margins being heat sealed together.

12. The diaper of claim 1 wherein the folded sheet is separate from the said backing sheet.

13. The diaper of claim 12 wherein the retaining means includes means for attaching an inner layer of the folded sheet to the back surface of the pad assembly intermediate the securing means.

14. The diaper of claim 13 wherein the attaching means extends between the securing means.

15. The diaper of claim 1 wherein the retaining means is located adjacent the securing means.

16. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said folded sheet comprises a sheet of fluid impervious material.

17. The diaper of claim 16 wherein said folded sheet comprises an extension of said backing sheet.

18. The diaper of claim 17 wherein the retaining means comprises a juncture between the folded sheet and said extension of the backing sheet.

19. The diaper of claim 17 wherein the folded sheet joins the backing sheet adjacent an edge of the pad assembly.

20. The diaper of claim 17 wherein an end edge of the folded sheet is secured to a surface of the pad assembly.

21. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said folded sheet is fan folded.

22. The diaper of claim 1 wherein the folded sheet is pleated.

23. The diaper of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a pair of tape strips having a first portion secured to an outer surface of the folded sheet adjacent side edges of the sheet, and a second portion extending past the side edges of the sheet and secured to a surface on the pad assembly.

24. The diaper of claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises a pair of tape strips having a first portion secured to an outer surface of the folded sheet adjacent side edges of the sheet, and a second portion extending past the side edges of the sheet and secured to a surface of the pad assembly.

25. The diaper of claim 1 including a pair of tape strips having a first portion attached to an outer surface of the folded sheet adjacent side edges of the sheet, said strips having a second portion extending around the side edges of the pad assembly and being releasably secured to a front surface portion of the pad assembly.

26. The diaper of claim 1 in which said pad assembly is longitudinally folded into a pleated configuration.

27. The diaper of claim 1 in which said cover is located in one waistline region of the pad assembly, said sheet is folded laterally relative the diaper to said reduced configuration, and said folded sheet passes over the other waistline portion of the pad assembly for covering of the soiled diaper.

28. A disposable diaper, comprising:

an absorbent pad assembly having a fluid impervious backing sheet at least partially defining a back surface of the pad assembly, a front surface, a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the side edges, and a pair of waistline portions;

a disposal cover in at least one waistline portion of the pad assembly, said cover comprising a sheet of flexible material being laterally folded to a configuration of reduced dimensions, said sheet having a sufficient width and length to pass over the other waistline portion of the pad assembly and cover at least a portion of the soiled pad assembly after use of the diaper; and

means for securing lateral side regions of the folded sheet together and retaining the secured sheet to a back surface of the pad assembly to provide access to a sufficient area of the sheet for covering the diaper.

29. An absorbent article, comprising:

an absorbent pad assembly having a back surface, a front surface, and marginal edges;

a disposal cover extending across a surface on the pad assembly, said cover comprising a sheet of flexible material being transversely folded to a configuration fo reduced dimensions, said sheet having a sufficient width and length to pass over remote portions of the pad assembly and provide a cover for the soiled pad assembly after use; and

means for securing side regions of the folded sheet together and to a surface of the pad assembly to provide access to a sufficient area of the sheet for covering the pad assembly.