Disposable absorbent article having backsheet strips
First Claim
1. A disposable diaper having a front waist region having a front waist edge, a back waist region having a back waist edge, and a crotch region between the waist regions, a lateral axis, and a longitudinal axis, and comprising:
- an absorbent assembly having an interior surface, an exterior surface, laterally opposing longitudinally extending side edges, and laterally opposing longitudinally extending side flaps, each side flap having longitudinally opposing ends and a longitudinally extending proximal edge, each side flap being attached adjacent to its ends to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly and having a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge such that when allowed to relax, the elastic gathering member contracts and lifts the proximal edge away from the interior surface of the absorbent assembly, thereby raising the side flap to form a side barrier, the absorbent assembly comprising a lower covering sheet disposed exteriorly of an absorbent core, the lower covering sheet being attached in a cruciform attachment pattern having a longitudinally extending portion and a laterally extending portion intersecting in the crotch region, the longitudinally extending portion having a smaller lateral extent than the laterally extending portion and the laterally extending portion having a smaller longitudinal extent than the longitudinally extending portion, such that quadrantal portions of the lower covering sheet lying outside the cruciform attachment pattern are unrestrained by attachment to any other element of the absorbent assembly; and
two laterally opposing longitudinally extending backsheet strips attached to the exterior surface of the absorbent assembly and extending laterally beyond the side edges of the absorbent assembly, laterally opposing portions of the backsheet strips in the crotch region being folded laterally inward and overlapping the respective side flaps, the laterally inwardly folded portions extending longitudinally from the lateral axis toward the waist edges and ending longitudinally proximally of the waist edges, the disposable diaper thereby being laterally narrower in the crotch region than at the waist edges and having an overall shape of an hourglass.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable absorbent article includes two laterally opposing longitudinally extending backsheet strips attached to an exterior surface of an absorbent assembly in laterally opposing attachment zones. Each backsheet strip may include a water-impermeable layer and may be extensible. The absorbent assembly includes laterally opposing side flaps which may be formed by folding portions of the absorbent assembly laterally inward. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to each side flap adjacent to its proximal edge. When the article is worn, the elastic gathering members contract and raise the side flaps to form side barriers. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets. A portion of the absorbent assembly such as the portion that lies between the backsheet strip attachment zones may be extensible and may include a water-impermeable layer.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A disposable diaper having a front waist region having a front waist edge, a back waist region having a back waist edge, and a crotch region between the waist regions, a lateral axis, and a longitudinal axis, and comprising:
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an absorbent assembly having an interior surface, an exterior surface, laterally opposing longitudinally extending side edges, and laterally opposing longitudinally extending side flaps, each side flap having longitudinally opposing ends and a longitudinally extending proximal edge, each side flap being attached adjacent to its ends to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly and having a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge such that when allowed to relax, the elastic gathering member contracts and lifts the proximal edge away from the interior surface of the absorbent assembly, thereby raising the side flap to form a side barrier, the absorbent assembly comprising a lower covering sheet disposed exteriorly of an absorbent core, the lower covering sheet being attached in a cruciform attachment pattern having a longitudinally extending portion and a laterally extending portion intersecting in the crotch region, the longitudinally extending portion having a smaller lateral extent than the laterally extending portion and the laterally extending portion having a smaller longitudinal extent than the longitudinally extending portion, such that quadrantal portions of the lower covering sheet lying outside the cruciform attachment pattern are unrestrained by attachment to any other element of the absorbent assembly; and two laterally opposing longitudinally extending backsheet strips attached to the exterior surface of the absorbent assembly and extending laterally beyond the side edges of the absorbent assembly, laterally opposing portions of the backsheet strips in the crotch region being folded laterally inward and overlapping the respective side flaps, the laterally inwardly folded portions extending longitudinally from the lateral axis toward the waist edges and ending longitudinally proximally of the waist edges, the disposable diaper thereby being laterally narrower in the crotch region than at the waist edges and having an overall shape of an hourglass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification