Disposable absorbent article having layered containment pockets

• US 20060264860A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Beck, Theodora, LaVon, Gary Dean
• Granted Patent: US 7,763,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/385.101
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49426 the barrier having an absorbent medium

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article including a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis is folded laterally inward and outward in a zigzag pattern to form laterally opposing layered containment pockets and laterally opposing side flaps interiorly of the layered containment pockets. Each side flap has a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its distal edge. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets.

Claims

1. A disposable diaper comprising:

an absorbent assembly comprising an absorbent core; and

a chassis having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region having a front waist edge, a back waist region having a back waist edge, a crotch region between the waist regions, laterally opposing side edges extending between the front waist edge and the back waist edge, and an interior surface, the chassis forming a waist opening and two laterally opposing leg openings when the front waist region and the back waist region are attached together,

the chassis comprising a water-impermeable backsheet and laterally opposing layered containment pockets including on each side of the longitudinal axis a lowermost containment pocket and at least one overlying containment pocket layered interiorly of the lowermost containment pocket, each containment pocket having a closed apex, a laterally inwardly facing open side having an upper edge disposed proximally relative to the apex, an upper wall connecting the apex and the upper edge, a lower wall, and a depth defined by the upper edge and the apex,

the chassis further comprising laterally outwardly extending side flaps disposed interiorly of the layered containment pockets,

wherein the absorbent assembly is disposed at least partially laterally between the lowermost containment pockets.

2. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the absorbent assembly extends into the upper wall of the lowermost containment pocket.

3. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the absorbent assembly extends into both the upper wall of the lowermost containment pocket and the lower wall of the overlying containment pocket.

4. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the proximal upper edge of the overlying containment pocket is disposed laterally equidistantly to the proximal upper edge of the lowermost containment pocket.

5. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the proximal upper edge of the overlying containment pocket is disposed laterally distally relative to the proximal upper edge of the lowermost containment pocket.

6. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the depth of the overlying containment pocket is substantially equal to the depth of the lowermost containment pocket.

7. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the depth of the overlying containment pocket is different from the depth of the lowermost containment pocket.

8. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the upper wall of the lowermost containment pocket is attached to the interior surface of the chassis in the crotch region in such a way as to prevent unfoldment of the lowermost containment pocket.

9. The disposable diaper of claim 8 wherein the upper wall and the lower wall of the overlying containment pocket are attached together in the crotch region in such a way as to prevent unfoldment of the overlying containment pocket.

10. The disposable diaper of claim 8 having a shape wherein the waist edges are convexly curved and the side edges are concavely curved such that the chassis has a bowtie shape.

11. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein a distal edge of each of the side flaps extends laterally distally beyond the apices of the respective layered containment pockets and thereby forms a respective one of the side edges of the chassis.

12. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein each of the side flaps includes a longitudinally extensible flap elastic member attached adjacent to a distal edge of the side flap.

13. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the backsheet comprises a laminate of a nonwoven and a film.

14. The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein the backsheet is water vapor-permeable.

15. A disposable diaper comprising:

an absorbent assembly comprising an absorbent core; and

a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region between the waist regions, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and an interior surface, the chassis forming a waist opening and two laterally opposing leg openings when the front waist region and the back waist region are attached together,

the chassis comprising a water-impermeable backsheet and laterally opposing layered containment pockets including on each side of the longitudinal axis a lowermost containment pocket and at least one overlying containment pocket layered interiorly of the lowermost containment pocket, each containment pocket having a closed apex, a laterally inwardly facing open side having an upper edge disposed proximally relative to the apex, an upper wall connecting the apex and the upper edge, a lower wall, and a depth defined by the upper edge and the apex,

the chassis further comprising laterally outwardly extending side flaps disposed interiorly of the layered containment pockets,

wherein at least a portion of the chassis is laterally extensible.

16. The disposable diaper of claim 15 wherein the portion of the chassis that is extensible includes at least two distinct laterally extending altered regions each containing a pattern of generally longitudinally oriented alternating ridges and valleys created by a deformation of the portion of the chassis and also containing an unaltered region located between the altered regions, such that the portion of the chassis can be laterally extended to a given extent with the application of relatively less force than that required to laterally extend the same portion of the chassis to the same given extent before the deformation.

17. The disposable diaper of claim 15 wherein the portion of the chassis that is extensible is disposed in one of the waist regions and is laterally extensible to a maximum extensibility greater than a maximum extensibility of another portion of the chassis in the crotch region such that a lateral extension of each of the portions to its maximum extensibility imparts an hourglass shape to the chassis.

18. A disposable diaper comprising:

an absorbent assembly comprising an absorbent core; and

a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region between the waist regions, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and an interior surface, the chassis forming a waist opening and two laterally opposing leg openings when the front waist region and the back waist region are attached together,

the chassis comprising a water-impermeable backsheet and laterally opposing layered containment pockets including on each side of the longitudinal axis a lowermost containment pocket and at least one overlying containment pocket layered interiorly of the lowermost containment pocket, each containment pocket having a closed apex, a laterally inwardly facing open side having an upper edge disposed proximally relative to the apex, an upper wall connecting the apex and the upper edge, a lower wall, and a depth defined by the upper edge and the apex,

the chassis further comprising laterally outwardly extending side flaps disposed interiorly of the layered containment pockets and fastening elements adapted to attach the front waist region and the back waist region together to form the waist opening and the leg openings.

19. The disposable diaper of claim 18 wherein the fastening elements include an adhesive tape.

20. The disposable diaper of claim 18 wherein the fastening elements include a cohesive material.