Fastening system for disposable diaper with disposability feature

• US 5,403,302 A
• Filed: 09/30/1992
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Fallen, Charles R., Popp, Robert L., Siebers, Bruce M., Roessler, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARKE, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US07/954,094
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1, 604/386, 604/389, 604/390, 604/391
• US Class Current: 604/391
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5512 after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/622 Fabric strip fastener elements, e.g. hook and loop
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/4878 Diapers, napkins

Abstract

There is disclosed a disposable diaper in which the waistband is closed by a mechanical fastener. A second fastener means is included and positioned on the article to enable rolling or folding the garment after use and thereby secure it in a neat bundle for disposal. In the disclosed embodiments, the mechanical fastener is comprised of hook tabs at the rear waistband which engage a patch of loop material adhesively bonded on the front waistband. The second fastener means of the disclosed embodiments utilizes the tabs which engage a compatible component on the garment placed in the same half portion with the tabs. The disclosed species of the second (disposability) fastener means include: (1) tabs comprised of a hook component on one surface and loop component on the opposite surface thereof; or (2) tabs comprised of a hook component and a loop component on the outer surface in the same (rear) half of the garment; or (3) tabs comprised of a hook component and a loop component on the outer surface at the rear half of the cover in the region of the ears which is comprised of either the loop material mounted on the garment outer surface or is a non-woven material portion configured to function with the hook component and perform the secondary fastening function; or (4) tabs comprised of a hook component area and a pressure-sensitive adhesive area, the latter adhesively fastening the tabs to the rear half of the outer polymer cover sheet of the garment; or (5) tabs comprised of a hook component and transverse interlocking slots in the tabs, which link the ends of the rear waistband around the rolled garment to secure it for disposal.

Claims

1. A disposable diaper article, comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet which is permeable to liquids and is superposed on said backsheet and connected thereto to form a sheet composite, said sheet composite having first and second longitudinal ends, and said longitudinal ends providing waistband portions for encircling a wearer'"'"'s body;

an absorbent body of selected shape connected between said backsheet and topsheet;

tabs fixedly connected to lateral margins of said sheet composite near its first longitudinal end;

a first fastening means which includes a hook and loop fastener having a first component and a second component, said first component attached to each of said tabs and said second component attached to said second longitudinal end of said sheet composite, said first and second components constructed to releasably secure said waistband portions about said wearer'"'"'s body; and

a second fastening means for securing the article in a rolled or folded condition after use, said second fastening means including a part of each of said tabs with each of said tab parts having a transverse slit means which extends transversely over a width of said tab, the slit means being interlockingly engageable to fasten the article in condition for disposal.

2. A disposable diaper article as recited in claim 1, wherein said backsheet is substantially liquid impermeable.

3. A disposable diaper article, comprising:

superposed backsheet, absorbent body and topsheet elements formed to a composite, said composite having opposite longitudinal ends thereof which provide front and rear waistband portions configured to overlap each other upon encircling a wearer'"'"'s body;

a primary fastening means located on said front and rear waistbands for releasably fastening the front and rear waistband portions to each other to encircle said wearer'"'"'s body; and

a separate secondary fastening means attached to said composite for fastening the article in a rolled or folded condition for disposal after use;

said secondary fastening means including a first tab and a second tab, said tabs projecting outwardly at lateral ends of the rear waistband, each of said tabs having a transverse slit across a portion thereof, said transverse slit in said first tab extending opposite said transverse slit in said second tab, said slits thereby providing for an interengagement of said first and second tabs which can fasten the article in said condition for disposal.

4. A disposable diaper article as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said transverse slits extends across a major portion of its respective tab, and wherein each slit branches to a Y-shaped configuration which extends inwardly of each respective tab.