CA1057455A - Selectively positionable diaper assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A B S T R A C T
Improved diaper assembly comprising a main pad assembly having an outer backing sheet, and an inner sheet with an absorbent material therebetween, and a selectively positionable auxiliary pad assembly movably secured to, or retained by, the main pad assembly. The auxiliary pad is selectively positionable depending on the age, activity or sex of the infant, e.g., between an active/day position and a nap or night/sleeping position, regardless of the child's sex, between a boy position and a girl position regardless of activity, and between an older and a younger infant position regardless of sex. The selectively positionable pad results in placing the absorbent material at the point of need, while permitting reduction in the amount of absorbent material in the main pad. This permits a better fit in the main pad with overall improved fluid retention.

Description

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This application relates to improved diaper assemblies, particularly diapers that permit selective posi-tioning of absorbent material to the point of need depending on the activity and/or sex of the infant.
Currently available diaper constructions generally have a single pad area extending from the crotch area to the waist of an infant. These diapers m~y be contoured for better fit in the crotch area around the legs. ~lowever~

this results in the disadvantage of removing absorbent pad from the point of greatest need. As a result, padding in ~ -~

that area may wad because of low strength under conditions ;
of excess wetness. Also, having a large volume of absorbent pad in the waist area means that the wet area of the pad is extended upward toward the waist~
There is therefore a substantial need for a universal diaper that is simple to manufacture, and yet i9 completely adaptable to sex and/or activity of the infant. There is also a need for a diaper that provides additional absorbent padding ~.
at the point of need without the discomfort or malfit of a non-contoured diaper.
This invention attempts to provide a universal diaper with means for providing selectively added absorbent capacity in relation to the age, sex and/or activity of the infant Furthermore7 the improved diaper assembly has a main pad and an auxiliary absorben~ pad selectively position-` able to the point of need.
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According to one aspect, the improved diaper construc-tion of the invention comprises in operative combination: a main pad assembly having an absorbent pad and outer fluid impervious backing sheet adapted to be removably secured to an infant, means defining an auxiliary pad assembly movably secured in association with said main pad assembly, said auxiliary pad means being selec-tively positionable between a first, frontal position and a second, rear position depending on one or more of the age, sex, activity or health of the infant, to dispose at the point of need additional absorbent material.
According to another aspect, the disposable diaper of the invention comprises an absorbent pad assembly having a front surface ` and a back surface, auxiliary absorbent pad means having one end secured adjacent the crotch region of the diaper on the front sur- -face of said pad assembly and having a free second end, said pad means being movable between positions on opposite sides of said .
crotch region and overlying the front surface of said pad assembly.
The auxiliary pad results in reducing the amount of absor-bent material in the main pad while placing the absorbent material at the point of need. This permits a better fit in the main pad with overall improved fluid retention capacity and no increase ;
in cost.
The auxiliary pad assembly may be positioned in the front ~ ~-for a boy, for daytime activity of a young infant regardless of sex, or for sleeping or napping regardless of the age or sex of the infant ~where the infant sleeps on its stomach). Conversely, the pad may be positioned in the rear for a girl, or for daytime activity of an older infant regardless of sex. For certain ;~
conditions of incontinency or ;

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74S5 ~ -diarrhea the pad may be positioned as needed.
The auxiliary pad may be movably secured as by adhesive to, or retained ~y, the main pad. The main pad may be of any desired configuration, contoured or non-contoured, rectangular, triangular, box pleat-type, and the like.
A particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: ; ~
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment `~ - -of the diapers of this invention in a folded, as received conditiGn; '`~
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the diaper of Figure 1 showing the auxiliary pad in a first (boy/sleep-nap) position, and a second position in phantom (girl/day), and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the diaper of ;~
Figure 2 in use.

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Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, diaper assembly 1, comprises a main pad assembly 2, and an auxiliary pad assembly 3. The diaper may be generally rectangular, with a front (F) to back '(B) long axis as shown best in Fig. 2, ~'or any other convenient shape such as contoured, triangular polygonal or having one or more'arcuate margins. The diaper may be folded at generally righ~ angles to the long axis for packaging, storing or shipping as best seen in FigO 1. The '~diaper embodiment of Figs. 1-3'is shown with side margin box pleats 4f 5 formed by a Z-shaped fold along lines'6,7 and '8,9 respectively spaced inwardly from, and generally paraliel ~'to side margins 10,11. '~ ~' - ~ The box pleats'may be'sec'ured in one or more places, preferably adjacent the transverse foId axis T-T', or'in ' the crotch region of the diaper. Fig. 2 shows adheslve areas ~ ~ ;
~ 12,13'disposed be~ween fold lines 6,7 and'8,9 respectively '-'~
' to secure the pleat in the crotch'area. This effectively ' contours the diaper, permitting good fit in the crotch area, yet the unsecured box pleat ends 14, 15,16,17 can be sprea to insure it around the circumferenae'of the infant's waist. -This is best shown in Fig. 3.' Tape strips 18,19 axe adhesive aced, and covered by release'sheets 20,2I. The release sheèts are removed and the strips secured to the outer face 22 of the outer backing shee~ 23.
The main pad assemb~y comprises an outer backing sheet 23 of a generaLly water repellant or impervious material, `
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such as plastic, an absorbent pad material 24, and an inner fluid pervious sheet 25. The'absorbent pad material may '' be any suitable material, such as pulverized wood pulp, absor~
bent cellulose wadding, synthetic or natural, woven, non- ' :, .. .
woven, felted-or intertangled fibers, non-fibrous (such as open or closed cellular foam or sponge material, continuous filament or chopped fibers, or the like.' The inner and outer sheets 25,23'may be the same or different', and there may be additional intennediate OI' external sheets. Preferably, the innermost sheet is a woven or nonwoven fllamentous she t ~; that has good fluid permeability properties yet has a smooth, soft feel or "hand" to protect the'infantis skin. The inner '.~ I
sheet may be'treated with medicaments,' chemical agentsr deodor- '~
ants, emollients, powders (e.g., baby powder), surfactants, - '~
wetting agents, salves, perfumes, bactericides, germicides, -'~' and the like, as desired. The~'outer'sheet may be any thermoplas- '' ' tic or thermosetting plastic,~such as a polyolefin (polyethylene,^''- '~ -polypropyIene~, a polystyrene,'~a polyvlnyl~plastic, such' as polyvinylchloride,' and the like, or'may be any other ~luid ''~
~i~ 20 ~ imp~rvious material. Mixed polymers, laminates, co- and ~ ter-polymers may aiso be used. Thi's sheet- may be' made by '~ ~ a continuous extrusion, casting, or other~operation, and j~ is preferably a homogenous web. ~' The auxiliary pad 3'comprises g~nerally an absorbent pad 26 of the same or similar characteristics as pad 24 in '~
' the main assembly 2. One or both of these pads may be impreg~
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nated, saturated or loaded with'deodorants, medicaments and the like as above described with respec~ to the inner sheet 25. The absorbent pad, in one'emhodiment may be disposed within a fluid permeable'envel'ope'21 which'is-sealed at each S end 28,29. As best.shown in Fig. 2.'corner areas 30,31 of . the auxiliary pad assembly 3'are'movably .secured to the main pad assembly 2,. in this embodiment by adhesive'l2,13; The' securin~ means'may b~ of any suitable type, such'as adhesive, ~
heat or so1vent sealing-or'thb'like.' In production, both' . ~ '.
faces of the'corners 3~,31'may be''dipped into adhesive and inserted into the'box-pleat along axis T-T ' ~, thereby simultan-eously securing the auxiliary pad and box pleat. .
A~ shown in Fig.'2'and 3,' the auxiliary pad has a : first position 32, and a second position 33'~in phantom in : Fig. 2)'. The fir:st-position is general}y useful for a male infant, when'the'diaper: is pIaced as shown in Fig. 3.' This posltion~is also the preferred position for a napping or sleeping~infant regardless of sex, or for a young or chron~
ically incontinent inant whose'activity is-primarily crawling '.
~`-20 . or lying on the'stomach. In the'flipped~ or second, position . .
' 33,' the~auxiliary pad is generally preferred for female infants, , . . .
or infants of upright activity, as for older, walking or feed- ~ :'.' ~ :~ ing activities. It likewise is useful for infants~ regardless . ; '' ' ': of sex affliated with'diarrhea or other such bowel conditions.
~ 25 Thus, ~he auxiliary pad may be flip-flopped from one position :'i to another depending on the infant:age, sex, activity or health : condition.

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~os7455 The auxiliary pad is not restricted to being a separate envelope as shown in Figs. 1-3, but may be any selectively positionable absorbent pad means. For example, the auxiliary pad may be a looped or pleat-~ype extension of the maln pad, an extension of the box pleat or the like. ~`
; It should be understood that various modifications within the ;~
scope of this invention can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit thereof.
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Claims (12)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An improved diaper construction comprising in operative combination:
a main pad assembly having an absorbent pad and outer fluid impervious backing sheet adapted to be removably secured to an infant, means defining an auxiliary pad assembly movably secured in association with said main pad assembly, said auxiliary pad means being selectively positionable between a first, frontal position and a second, rear position depending on one or more of the age, sex, activity or health of the infant, to dispose at the point of need additional absorbent material.

2. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary pad means comprises absorbent padding disposed in fluid permeable sheet material.

3. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 2 wherein said auxiliary pad means is in the form of an envelope, portions of one end of which are movably retained generally adjacent the crotch area of said diaper.

4. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said main pad assembly is generally rectangular, having generally parallel side margins, each of said side margins having a pair of generally parallel fold lines spaced inwardly therefrom to define a box pleat.

5. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 4 wherein said auxiliary pad assembly is generally rectangular in shape, the corners of one end of which are movably secured in the box pleat of main pad assembly in the general area of the crotch.

6. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 5 wherein said securing comprises adhesive means retaining both said box pleat and said auxiliary pad in the crotch area.

7. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary pad assembly is formed as an extension of said main pad.

8. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 7 wherein said extension is a pleat in a central longitudinal section of said main pad.

9. An improved diaper as in claim 1 which includes an inner sheet over said absorbent pad of said main pad assembly.

10. An improved diaper as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said inner sheet, said main absorbent pad, and said auxiliary pad assembly are treated with materials selected from deodorants, medicaments, emollients, powders, salves, or mixture thereof.

11. A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a front surface and a back surface, auxiliary absorbent pad means having one end secured adjacent the crotch region of the diaper on the front surface of said pad assembly and having a free second end, said pad means being movable between positions on opposite sides of said crotch region and overlying the front surface of said pad assembly.

12. The diaper as in claim 11 including a plurality of longitudinal folds defining a box-pleat configuration of the diaper.