Simple disposable absorbent article

• US 20070032770A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Lodge, Richard, Smith, Kevin, LaVon, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/385.220
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49 Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49011 the elastic means is located at the waist region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49413 the edge leakage prevention means being an upstanding barrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/565 pants type diaper

Abstract

A simple disposable pant-like garment includes a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis, which can be extensible, includes a water-impermeable sheet folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to the interior surface of the chassis adjacent to its end edges. Each side flap has a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge. The absorbent assembly is smaller in width and in length than the chassis. The side edges and end edges of the absorbent assembly can be disposed proximally relative to the respective side edges and end edges of the chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that can contain superabsorbent particles contained inside pockets. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern to the chassis to allow portions of the chassis to extend laterally.

Claims

1. A disposable pant-like garment comprising:

a chassis having;

i. a front waist region;

ii., a back waist region;

iii. a crotch region between the waist regions;

iv. laterally opposing first and second side edges defining its width;

v. first and second side edge regions disposed adjacent, and including, the first and second side edges in the waist regions, wherein the first and second side edge regions include a pre-closed first and second interface, respectively;

vi. longitudinally opposing front and back waist end edges defining its length;

vii. an interior surface and an exterior surface;

viii. a water-impermeable backsheet; and

ix. laterally opposing side flaps attached to the interior surface adjacent to their longitudinally distal ends and each having a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge; and

an absorbent assembly attached to the chassis,

wherein at least a portion of the chassis underlying the absorbent assembly in one of the waist regions is laterally extensible.

2. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second interfaces are closed via closure members.

3. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 2, wherein the closure members each comprise a seam.

4. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 3, wherein one of the seams joins a selected side edge region at the front waist region to the selected side edge region at the back waist region.

5. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 4, wherein the seam joins a selected side edge corresponding to the selected side edge region at the front waist region to the selected side edge at the back waist region.

6. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 2, wherein the closure member is refastenable.

7. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 2, wherein the closure member is permanent.

8. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of the front waist region adjacent the first side edge is joined to a portion of the back waist region adjacent the first side edge, and wherein a portion of the front waist region adjacent the second side edge is joined to a portion of the back waist region adjacent the second side edge.

9. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the side edge regions is closed in an exterior-to-exterior surface configuration.

10. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the side edge regions is closed in an interior-to-exterior surface configuration.

11. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the side edge regions is closed in an interior-to-interior surface configuration.

12. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the chassis in one of the waist regions is laterally extensible to a maximum extensibility greater than a maximum extensibility of at least a 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.

13. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the side flaps are attached to the interior surface of the chassis in laterally opposing attachment zones and a laterally central portion of the chassis between the attachment zones is laterally extensible to a different degree under a given level of laterally opposing tensile forces than portions of the chassis in the attachment zones.

14. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the absorbent assembly includes a water-permeable covering sheet and an absorbent core.

15. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 14, wherein the covering sheet is disposed on an interior face of the absorbent core and the absorbent assembly also includes a second water-permeable covering sheet disposed on an exterior face of the absorbent core.

16. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the absorbent assembly is attached to the chassis in a cruciform pattern of attachment.

17. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the chassis is configured to apply a contractive force within the range of 100 grams and 2000 grams.

18. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the contractive force is within the range of 300 and 1000 grams.

19. A disposable pant-like garment comprising:

a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region between the waist regions, first and second laterally opposing side edges defining its width, wherein the side edges are closed at respective first and second side interfaces, the chassis further having longitudinally opposing front and back waist end edges defining its length, an interior surface and an exterior surface, a water-impermeable backsheet, and laterally opposing side flaps attached to the interior surface adjacent to their longitudinally distal ends and each having a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge, and

an absorbent assembly attached to the interior surface of the chassis and,

at least portions of the laterally opposing portions of the chassis located between the respective side edges of the chassis and the respective proximal edges of the side flaps being folded laterally inward to overlap the absorbent assembly and being attached to an interior surface of the absorbent assembly.

20. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, wherein the first and second interfaces are closed via respective closure members.

21. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 20, wherein each closure member comprises a seam joining a selected side edge region at the front waist region to the selected side edge region at the back waist region.

22. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 21, wherein each closure member comprises a seam joining a selected side edge at the front waist region to the selected side edge, respectively, at the back waist region.

23. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 20, wherein the closure member is refastenable.

24. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 20, wherein the closure member is permanent.

25. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, wherein the first and second interfaces are closed via a closure member joining a portion of the front waist region adjacent the first side edge to a portion of the back waist region adjacent the first side edge, and further joining a portion of the front waist region adjacent the second side edge to a portion of the back waist region adjacent the second side edge

26. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one of the side edge regions is closed in an exterior-to-exterior surface configuration.

27. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one of the side edge regions is closed in an interior-to-exterior surface configuration.

28. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one of the side edge regions is closed in an interior-to-interior surface configuration.

29. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, wherein the laterally opposing portions of the chassis are folded laterally inward over their entire longitudinal lengths and an hourglass shape is imparted to the chassis when the laterally opposing portions are laterally extended by unfolding at their longitudinally distal ends to prepare the disposable pant-like garment for use.

30. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the chassis is extensible.

31. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, further comprising first and second side edge regions disposed proximal the first and second side edges, respectively, wherein an front end of the first and second side edge region is attached to a back end of first and second side edge region, respectively, to define a pair of closed side interfaces.

32. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 31, wherein the first and second side edge regions are attached in an exterior-to-exterior surface configuration.

33. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 31, wherein the first and second side edge regions are attached in an interior-to-interior surface configuration.

34. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 31, wherein the first and second side edge regions are attached in an interior-to-exterior surface configuration.

35. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 19, wherein the chassis is configured to apply a contractive force within the range of 100 grams and 2000 grams.

36. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 35, wherein the contractive force is within the range of 300 grams and 1000 grams.

37. A disposable pant-like garment comprising:

a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region between the waist regions, laterally opposing side edges defining its width, longitudinally opposing front and back waist end edges defining its length, an interior surface and an exterior surface, a water-impermeable backsheet, and laterally opposing side flaps attached to the interior surface adjacent to their longitudinally distal ends and each having a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge, and

an absorbent assembly attached to the interior surface of the chassis and,

laterally opposing portions of the chassis in at least the crotch region being folded laterally inward to form the side flaps, and laterally opposing portions of the chassis in at least one of the waist regions remaining unfolded so as to project laterally outward beyond the inward-folded portions and form laterally opposing side panels.

38. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, further comprising a first side edge region disposed adjacent, and including, the first side edge, wherein the first side edge region disposed in the front waist region is attached to the first side edge region at the back waist region to define a closed side interface.

39. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, wherein laterally opposing portions of the chassis in only one of the waist regions remain unfolded so as to define laterally opposing side panels projecting laterally outward beyond the side flaps and thereby impart a “

T”

shape to the chassis.

40. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 39, wherein the side panels are formed adjacent the first and second side edges, respectively, and in one of the front and back waist regions, and wherein the side panels are attached to the chassis at the opposing waist region.

41. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, wherein laterally opposing portions of the chassis in both of the waist regions remain unfolded so as to define side panels projecting laterally outward beyond the side flaps and thereby impart an “

I”

shape to the chassis.

42. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, wherein the side panels are disposed in both the front and back waist regions, and wherein the side panels are attached to corresponding side panels at the opposing waist region.

43. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, wherein the first and second side edge regions are attached in an exterior-to-exterior surface configuration.

44. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, wherein the first and second side edge regions are attached in an interior-to-interior surface configuration.

45. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, wherein the first and second side edge regions are attached in an interior-to-exterior surface configuration.

46. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, wherein the chassis is configured to apply a contractive force within the range of 100 grams and 2000 grams.

47. The disposable pant-like garment as recited in claim 37, wherein the contractive force is within the range of 300 and 1000 grams.

48. A disposable pant-like garment comprising:

a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region between the waist regions, longitudinally opposing front and back waist end edges defining its length, laterally opposing side edges defining its width, and closed side edge regions disposed at the front and back waist regions; and

an absorbent assembly attached to the chassis, wherein a portion of the chassis in an overlapping relationship with the absorbent assembly is laterally extensible.