Disposable diaper

• US 4,892,528 A
• Filed: 11/10/1988
• Issued: 01/09/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Migaku, Kudo, Takeshi, Ochi, Mitsuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Larry
• Application Number:
  US07/269,298
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.2, 604/385 R, 604/385 A, 604/357, 604/367, 604/370, 604/372, 604/373, 604/378, 604/366, 604/358
• US Class Current: 604/385.27
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4942 the barrier not being integral with the top- or back-sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51108 the top sheet having corrugations or embossments having one axis relatively longer than the other axis, e.g. forming channels or grooves in a longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations

Abstract

Here is disclosed a disposable diaper comprising an absorbent core of a desired thickness, a water-permeable topsheet covering at least an upper surface of said core, a water-proof or a water-impervious backsheet covering at least a bottom surface of said core, water-impervious side flaps extending outwardly of opposite sides of said core, first elastic bands adapted to form elastic gathers longitudinally of the respective flaps and leakage protecting baffles formed along opposite side edges of said core and contained second elastic bands to provide elastic gathers longitudinally thereof.

Claims

1. A disposable diaper comprising in combination

(a) a thick absorbent core (1) having a top surface, a bottom surface and two side surfaces,

(b) a top sheet (2) extending over both the top surface and the two side surfaces of said absorbent core (1), the portion of said top sheet (2) that extends over the top surface of said adsorbent core (1) being water-permeable,

(c) a water-impermeable backsheet (3) extending over the major portion of the bottom surface of said absorbent core (1) and having two lateral portions that extend laterally outwardly from the sides of said absorbent core (1),

(d) two sheets (7) resistant to the passage of water disposed adjacent to and at least partially outwardly from the two side surfaces of said absorbent core,

(i) the outer portion of each of said sheets (7) being joined to the portions of said water-impermeable backsheet (3) that extend laterally from the sides of said absorbent core (1) so that together they form side flaps (4),

(ii) the inner portion of each of said sheets (7) being formed into the general shape of an inverted "U" (8) that has the two ends of the "U" facing toward said backsheet (3) with one section of said inner portion being disposed in a parallel relationship to and in close proximity to the portion of said top sheet (2) that extends along the sides of said absorbent core (1), said inverted "U" portion (8) extending above said backsheet (3) to a point which is above the top surface of said absorbent core (1) so as to form a leakage-protecting baffle (6) that extends above the top surface of said absorbent core (1),

(e) a length of elastic material (9) disposed within the inverted "U" inner portion (8) of each of said sheets (7), and

(f) an elongated elastic band (5) joined to each side flap (4).

2. A diaper according to claim 1 wherein the side flaps (4) set forth in (d)(i) are deformed to form a second leakage protecting baffle (15).

3. A disposable diaper comprising:

(a) a water-permeable topsheet (2),

(b) a water-impermeable backsheet (3),

(c) an absorbent core (1) interposed between said topsheet (2) and backsheet (3),

(d) a side-flap (4) extending outwardly from an outer edge of said absorbent core (1),

(e) a first elasticized leakage protecting baffle (6) that extends above the top surface of said absorbent core (1) from said side-flap (4),

(f) a second elasticized leakage protecting baffle (14) disposed outwardly of said first baffle (6) and also projecting from said side-flap (4), and

(g) a sheet (7) resistant to the passage of water including an inner portion having elastic means (9), an outer portion having elastic means (5),

wherein said first and second elasticized leakage protecting baffles (6,

     14) respectively comprise the inner and outer portions of said sheet (7).

4. The diaper of claim 3 wherein the first elasticized leakage protecting baffle (6) includes an inner surface at least partially secured to said topsheet (2) adjacent to said core edge (1).

5. The diaper of claim 3 wherein said first elasticized protecting baffle (6) is folded inwardly and secured at its longitudinal ends to the diaper.

6. The diaper of claim 3 wherein said sheet (7) comprises an air-permeable nonwoven fabric.

7. The diaper of claim 6 wherein said sheet (7) comprises a spunbonded nonwoven fabric that is treated to be water-repellent.

8. A disposable diaper comprising:

(a) a water-permeable topsheet (2),

(b) a water-impermeable backsheet (3),

(c) an absorbent core (1) interposed between said topsheet (2) and backsheet (3),

(d) a side-flap (4) including at least a lateral portion of said backsheet (3) that extends laterally outwardly from a lateral edge of said absorbent core (1),

(e) a sheet (7) resistant to the passage of water, having inner and outer portions, the outer portion being joined to said side-flap (4) and the inner portion having first elastic means (9) for forming an elasticized leakage protecting baffle that projects upwardly from said side-flap (4), and

(f) second elastic means (5) secured between the outer portion of said sheet (7) and the lateral portion of said backsheet (3) to form an elastic line therethrough;

whereby a barrier against liquid flow is provided beneath said sheet (7).

9. The diaper of claim 8 wherein said sheet (7) comprises a nonwoven fabric that is treated to be water-repellent.