Mechanical fastening systems with disposal means for disposable absorbent articles

• US 4,963,140 A
• Filed: 12/17/1987
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Robertson, Anthony J., Scripps, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US07/134,275
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 128/DIG. 15, 128/DIG. 26, 604/386, 604/389, 604/390, 604/391, 604/387, 604/392, 604/385.1, 604/385.2
• US Class Current: 604/389
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5512 after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/581 Tab fastener elements combining adhesive and mechanical fastening fabric strip fastener elements A61F13/62

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article with a mechanical fastening system having disposal members so as to provide convenient disposal of the absorbent article. The mechanical fastening system preferably comprises a tape tab having a first fastening element, a landing member comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with the first fastening element, and a disposal member for allowing the absorbent article to be secured in a configuration that provides convenient disposal of the absorbent article. The disposal member preferably comprises a second fastening element affixed to the backing surface of at least one of the tape tabs so that the first fastening element of the opposite tape tab will mechanically engage the second fastening element of the disposal member so as to secure the absorbent article in its disposal configuration.

Claims

1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:

a body portion having an inside surface, an outside surface opposite of said inside surface, longitudinal edges, and edges, a first end region, and a second end region opposite of said first end region, said body portion comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet; and

a mechanical fastening system positioned on said body portion and comprising

a closure member disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of said body portion in said first end region, each of said closure members comprising a first mechanical fastening means for forming a closure for the absorbent article, said first mechanical fastening means comprising a first fastening element;

a landing member disposed on said body portion in said second and region, said landing member comprising a second mechanical fastening means for forming a closure with said first mechanical fastening means for the absorbent article, said second mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element; and

disposal means joined to the absorbent article for allowing the absorbent article to be secured in a configuration that provides convenient disposal of the absorbent article, said disposal means comprising a third mechanical fastening means for securing to said first mechanical fastening means, said third mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said disposal means is positioned in said first end region.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said disposal means is positioned on said inside surface of said body portion.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein said disposal means is positioned adjacent each of said longitudinal edges of said body portion.

5. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said disposal means is positioned on said outside surface of said body portion.

6. The absorbent article of claim 5 wherein said disposal means is positioned adjacent each of said longitudinal edges of said body portion.

7. The absorbent article of claims 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said disposal means is unitary with said body portion.

8. The absorbent article of claims 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said disposal means is a separate element joined to said body portion.

9. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein said first fastening elements and said second fastening elements are identical complementary elements.

10. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein said first fastening elements and said second fastening elements are distinct complementary elements.

11. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said first fastening element comprises a hook fastening material and said second fastening element comprises a loop fastening material.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said closure member comprises an inner fastening member.

13. A disposable absorbent article comprising:

a body portion having an inside surface, an outside surface opposite of said inside surface, longitudinal edges, end edges, a first end region, and a second end region opposite of said first end region, said body portion comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet; and

a mechanical fastening system positioned on said body portion and comprising

a tape tab disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of said body portion in said first and region, each of said tape tabs comprising a fixed portion attached to said body portion, a connective portion joined to said fixed portion and having a distal edge, a fastening surface, a backing surface opposed to said fastening surface, and a first mechanical fastening means for forming a closure for the absorbent article, said first mechanical fastening means comprising a first fastening element joined on at least a portion of said fastening surface of said connective portion of said tape tab;

a landing member disposed on said outside surface in said second end region, said landing member comprising a second mechanical fastening means for forming a closure with said first mechanical fastening means for the absorbent article, said second mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element; and

disposal means positioned on said body portion for allowing the absorbent article to be secured in a configuration that provides convenient disposal of the absorbent article, said disposal means comprising a third mechanical fastening means for securing to said first mechanical fastening means, said third mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13 wherein said disposal means is positioned in said first end region.

15. The absorbent article of claim 14 wherein said disposal means is positioned on said outside surface of said body portion.

16. The absorbent article of claims 13, 14 or 15 wherein said disposal means is unitary with said body portion.

17. The absorbent article of claims 13, 14 or 15 wherein said disposal means is a separate element joined to said body portion.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said first fastening elements and said second fastening elements are identical complementary elements.

19. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said first fastening elements and said second fastening elements are distinct complementary elements.

20. The absorbent article of claim 19 wherein said first fastening element comprises a hook fastening material and said second fastening element comprises a loop fastening material.

21. A disposable absorbent article comprising:

a body portion having an inside surface, an outside surface opposite of said inside surface, longitudinal edges, and edges, a first end region, and a second end region opposite of said first end region, said body portion comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet; and

a mechanical fastening system positioned on said body portion and comprising

a tape tab disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of said body portion in said first end region, each of said tape tabs comprising a fixed portion attached to said body portion, a connective portion joined to said fixed portion and having a distal edge, a fastening surface, a backing surface opposed to said fastening surface, and a first mechanical fastening means for forming a closure for the absorbent article, said first mechanical fastening means comprising a first fastening element joined on at least a portion of said fastening surface of said connective portion of said tape tab;

at least one landing member disposed on said outside surface in said second end region, said landing member comprising a second mechanical fastening means for forming a closure with said first mechanical fastening means for the absorbent article, said second mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element; and

disposal means associated with at least one of said tape tabs for allowing said tape tabs to secure the absorbent article in a configuration that provides convenient disposal of the absorbent article, said disposal means comprising a third mechanical fastening means for securing to said first mechanical fastening means, said third mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element.

22. The absorbent article of claim 21 wherein said second fastening element of said disposal means is a separate element joined on said fastening surface of said tape tab.

23. The absorbent article of claim 21 wherein said second fastening element of said disposal means is a separate element joined on said backing surface of said tape tab.

24. The absorbent article of claims 22 or 23 wherein said first fastening elements and said second fastening elements are identical complementary elements.

25. The absorbent article of claim 22 or 23 wherein said first fastening elements and said second fastening elements are distinct complementary elements.

26. The absorbent article of claim 25 wherein said first fastening element comprises a hook fastening material and said second fastening element comprises a loop fastening material.

27. The absorbent article of claim 26 wherein said disposal means are disposed adjacent said distal edge of said tape tab.

28. The absorbent article of claim 27 wherein said disposal means is positioned on each of said tape tabs.

29. A disposable absorbent article comprising:

a body portion having an inside surface, an outside surface opposite of said inside surface, longitudinal edges, and edges, a first end region, and a second end region opposite of said first end region, said body portion comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet; and

a mechanical fastening system positioned on said body portion and comprising;

a tape tab disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge in said first end region, each of said tape tabs comprising

a first fixed portion attached to said body portion,

first tab attachment means associated with said first fixed portion and said inside surface of said body portion for attaching said first fixed portion to said inside surface,

a second fixed portion attached to said body portion,

second tab attachment means associated with said second fixed portion and said outside surface of said body portion for attaching said second fixed portion to said outside surface,

a connective portion joined to said first fixed portion and said second fixed portion and having a distal edge, a fastening surface, and a backing surface opposed to said fastening surface,

a hook fastening material joined on at least a portion of said fastening surface of said connective portion for attaching said connective portion to said body portion, and

said first fixed portion, said second fixed portion, and said connective portion attached in an area of joinder adjacent said longitudinal edge of said body portion;

at least one landing member disposed on said outside surface in said second end region, said landing member comprising a loop fastening material mechanically engageable with said hook fastening material disposed on said tape tabs; and

disposal means joined on said backing surface of said connective portion of at least one of said tape tabs for allowing said tape tabs to be attached together so as to secure the absorbent article in a configuration that provides convenient disposal of the absorbent article, said disposal means comprising a loop fastening material mechanically engageable with said hook fastening material disposed on said fastening surface of said connective portion.

30. A method for securing a disposable absorbent article in a configuration for disposal, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a disposable absorbent article having (a) body portion, said body portion having an inside surface, an outside surface opposite of said inside surface, longitudinal edges, end edges, a first end region, and a second end region opposite of said first end region, said body portion comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said body portion having panels positioned in said first end region and in said second end region and (b) a mechanical fastening system comprising (i) a tape tab disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of said body portion in said first end region, said tape tabs comprising a first fixed portion attached to said body portion, a connective portion joined to said fixed portion, a fastening surface, a backing surface opposed to said fastening surface, a first mechanical fastening means for forming a closure for the absorbent article, said first mechanical fastening means comprising a first fastening element joined on at least a portion of said fastening surface, (ii) a landing member comprising a second mechanical fastening means for forming a closure with said first mechanical fastening means for the absorbent article, said second mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element, and (iii) disposal means for allowing the absorbent article to be secured in a configuration that provides convenient disposal of the absorbent article, said disposal means comprising a third mechanical fastening means for securing to said first mechanical fastening means, said third mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element positioned on at least one of said tape tabs;

configuring said disposable absorbent article for disposal; and

securing the second fastening element of said disposal means positioned on one of said tape tabs to the first fastening element of the other tape tab.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said disposal means is positioned on said backing surface of said tape tab.

32. The method of claims 30 or 31 wherein said first fastening element comprises a hook fastening material and said second fastening element comprises a loop fastening material.

33. The method of claims 30 or 31 wherein said disposable absorbent article is configured for disposal by unfolding the panels of said body portion in the second end region;

and rolling said disposable absorbent article into its disposal configuration with said tape tabs extending outwardly from the rolled-up disposable absorbent article.