Disposable diaper

• US 5,114,420 A
• Filed: 02/20/1990
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Tanji, Hiroyuki, Kitaoka, Hideaki, Igaue, Takamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US07/481,288
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.2, 604/385.1
• US Class Current: 604/385.26
• 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 13/4942 the barrier not being integral with the top- or back-sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4948 the edge leakage prevention means being elastic

Abstract

A disposable diaper includes a semi-rigid absorbent body and high flexible side flaps disposed on laterally opposite the thereof. Each of said side flaps includes a first flap disposed outside the absorbent body and a second flap diverged from the first side flap. Each of the second flaps has the associated one of an elastic band incorporated therein and turned up under an elastic effect of the associated elastic band at least along a line of the divergence.

Claims

1. A disposable diaper, comprising:

a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent body interposed between said topsheet and said backsheet; and

a pair of generally upstanding elastic leg gathers extending longitudinally of said diaper on respective lateral sides of said absorbent body,

each said leg gather including an inner elastic element, and an outer covering sleeve including a portion which extends outwardly from a respective side edge of said absorbent and which is secured to at least one of said topsheet and said backsheet, said inner elastic element of each said elastic leg gather being provided in a crotch area of said disposable diaper between a front area thereof and a rear area thereof,

wherein the transverse distance between said inner elastic elements of said pair of elastic leg gathers is larger in the rear area of said disposable diaper than the transverse distance between said inner elastic elements in the front area of said disposable diaper.

2. A disposable diaper in accordance with claim 1, wherein

each of said elastic leg gathers includes a folded portion which is turned or folded upwardly and securely joined to itself in said rear area of said disposable diaper, the transverse distance between said folded portions of said pair of elastic leg gathers being larger in said rear area of said disposable diaper than in said front area thereof.

3. A disposable diaper in accordance with claim 1, wherein

each of said elastic leg gathers includes a folded portion which is turned or folded upwardly and securely joined to itself in said front area of said disposable diaper.

4. A disposable diaper in accordance with claim 1, including

a pair of tape fasteners having pressure sensitive adhesive thereon provided at respective opposite sides of said rear area of said disposable diaper.

5. A disposable diaper comprising a water-permeable topsheet, a water impermeable backsheet, an absorbent body interposed between said topsheet and backsheet, water impermeable flexible side flaps extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides of said absorbent body, at least one elastic element extending longitudinally of each of said side flaps and fasteners disposed on opposite sides of one end of said diaper, characterized in that each of said side flaps comprises a first side flap and a second side flap, said first side flap extending laterally outwardly from said absorbent body and said second side flap extending from said first side flap in a laterally divergent manner and in that said elastic elements are associated with each of said second side flaps and act thereon to cause at least an edge portion thereof to be held over at least a central portion of the length thereof in a substantially upstanding position relative to the first side flap from which it extends, side second flap having a longitudinal first side joined onto an upper side of said first flap and a second side folded back outwards of which longitudinally opposite ends are fixed onto a front side area and a rear side area of the diaper and thereby prevents said second flap being turned inwardly when the diaper is worn.

6. A disposable diaper comprising a water-permeable topsheet, a water impermeable backsheet, an absorbent body interposed between said topsheet and backsheet, water impermeable flexible side flaps extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides of said absorbent body, at least one elastic element extending longitudinally of each of said side flaps and fasteners disposed on opposite sides of one end of said diaper, characterized in that each of said side flaps comprises a first side flap and a second side flap, said first side flap extending laterally outwardly from said absorbent body and said second side flap extending from said first side flap in a laterally divergent manner and in that said elastic elements are associated with each of said second side flaps and act thereon to cause at least an edge portion thereof to be held over at least a central portion of the length thereof in a substantially upstanding position relative to the first side flap from which it extends, said second flap having a longitudinal, outer side joined onto an upper side of said first flap at a rear side area of the diaper and thereby prevents said second flap being turned inwardly when the diaper is worn, said elastic elements being spaced apart by a transverse distance at a rear area of said diaper which is greater than the traverse distance between said elastic elements at a front area of said diaper.

7. A disposable diaper in accordance with claim 6, wherein

said longitudinal outer side of each said second flap is joined onto the upper side of said first flap at said front area of said diaper.