Simple disposable absorbent article

• US 7,931,636 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: LaVon, Gary Dean, Lodge, Richard Worthington, Smith, Kevin Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US11/197,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 604/386, 604/387, 604/385.04, 604/385.201, 604/385.26, 604/385.28
• US Class Current: 604/385.28
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49 Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
• 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 13/565 pants type diaper

Abstract

A simple disposable pant-like garment includes a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis, which can be extensible, includes a water-impermeable sheet folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to the interior surface of the chassis adjacent to its end edges. Each side flap has a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge. The absorbent assembly is smaller in width and in length than the chassis. The side edges and end edges of the absorbent assembly can be disposed proximally relative to the respective side edges and end edges of the chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that can contain superabsorbent particles contained inside pockets. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern to the chassis to allow portions of the chassis to extend laterally.

Claims

1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:

a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region between the waist regions, a front waist side edge, a back waist side edge, a front waist end edge, and a back waist end edge;

a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front waist edge through the crotch region to a midpoint of the longitudinally opposed back waist edge;

a web comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface;

an absorbent assembly comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface;

wherein the web is folded over at a first fold line and attached to itself forming a first hem;

wherein the web is folded over at a second fold line and attached to itself forming a second hem;

wherein the web is folded over at a third fold line and attached in the front and back waist regions forming a first side flap, the third fold line forming a first side edge of the absorbent article;

wherein the web is folded over at a fourth fold line and attached in the front and back waist regions forming a second side flap, the fourth fold line forming a second side edge of the absorbent article;

wherein the first side flap comprises the first hem and wherein the second side flap comprises the second hem;

wherein each of the first and second hems comprise a longitudinally extending gathering member;

wherein the first fold line forms a proximal edge of the first side flap and the second fold line forms a proximal edge of the second side flap;

wherein the first and second proximal edges are disposed laterally inward of the first and second side edges;

wherein the first and second proximal edges of the first and second side flaps are disposed between the longitudinal centerline and the first and second side edges, respectively;

a closure member disposed in at least one of the front and back waist regions; and

wherein the closure member maintains waist and leg openings of the absorbent article in a closed configuration to form a pant.

2. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the side flaps are attached to at least one of the interior surface of the web and the interior surface of the absorbent assembly.

3. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the side flaps are attached adjacent the longitunally opposing waist end edges.

4. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the closure member is a refastenable closure member.

5. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the closure member is a permanent closure member.

6. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein a seam is formed by attaching a portion of the first side flap disposed in one of the front or back waist regions to a portion of the backsheet disposed in the longitudinally opposing front or back waist regions, respectively.

7. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein a seam is formed by attaching a portion of the first side flap disposed in the front waist region to a portion of the first side flap disposed in the back waist region.

8. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 7, wherein a seam is formed by attaching a portion of the second side flap disposed in the front waist region to a portion of the second side flap disposed in the back waist region.

9. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein a seam is formed by attaching a portion of the backsheet disposed in the front waist region to a portion of the backsheet disposed in the back waist region.

10. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the web in one of the waist regions is laterally extensible to a maximum extensibility greater than a maximum extensibility of at least a portion of the web in the crotch region.

11. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the absorbent assembly comprises a first and second covering sheet and an absorbent core, and wherein the first covering sheet is disposed on an interior face of the absorbent core and the second covering sheet is disposed on an exterior face of the absorbent core.

12. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the waist opening is configured to apply a contractive force within the range of 100 grams to 2000 grams.

13. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the waist opening is configured to apply a contractive force within the range of 300 grams to 1000 grams.

14. The disposable absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the absorbent assembly is attached to the backsheet via an attachment pattern comprising a longitudinally extending portion disposed along the longitudinal axis and at least one discontiguous laterally distal portion.