CA1057456A

CA1057456A - Absorbent article and method

Info

Publication number: CA1057456A
Application number: CA233,404A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Hamzeh Karami
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1974-08-29
Filing date: 1975-08-13
Publication date: 1979-07-03
Also published as: JPS5146245A; ZA754892B; JPS5924201B2; US3929134A; IE41454B1; DK141803C; IT1041144B; NL180378B; SE7508619L; ES219711U; CH595787A5; NL180378C; ATA605375A; DK367775A; AU507754B2; FR2282819B1; AU8370775A; IE41454L; BE832658A; PH11644A

Abstract

ABSTRACT
An article having an absorbent pad assembly. The pad assembly has a pair of side edges, a longitudinally extending central panel, a pair of doubled longitudinally extending back panels underlying the central panel, and a pair of longitudinally extending top panels extending from the back panels and overlying the central panel.

Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to absorbent articles, and more particularly to disposable diapers.
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In the recent past, a various assortment of dispos~
able diapers have been proposed for use on infants. Although a number of such diapers are in everyday use, a few factors have created problems which prevent a totally satisfactory diaper. First, the shape of the infant's thigh in the crotch region presents an irregular surface with which it is difficult to achieve a close fit of the diaper; secondj it has been ~1 difficult to attain a proper fluid barrier to prevent diaper leakage in the crotch region; and third, it has been difficult ~ ~
to place sufficient absorbent material in the crotch region `
of the diaper, where absorbency is most needed, without adding significantly to the bulk of the diaper and resultant discomfort to the infant.
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A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of an absorbent article of simplified construction and improved fit According to one aspect o the present invention there is provided an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of side edges, a longi-tudinally extending central panel, a pair of doubled longitudinally extending back panels folded against the central panel, and a pair of longitudinally extending top panels extending from the back panels and folded against the central panel.
According to another aspect of the invention, a disposable diaper comprises an absorbent pad assembly having a front surface, a back surface, a pair of side edges, a first fold of said pad assembly along a first pair of longitudinally extending fold lines defining a pair of side panels extending between said side edges and the first paid of fold lines, -said side panels being folded against the front surface of the pad assembly, and a second fold of the pad assembly along a second pair of longitudinally extending fold lines intermediate said side edges and first fold lines, the second fold lines defining doubled edge sections remote said side edges being folded against the back surface of the pad assembly.
Means are preferably provided for securing the top panels and the back panels to the central panel in the crotch region of the diaper. ~ `
A feature of the present invention is that the diaper provides a contoured fit in the crotch region. I
Another feature of the invention is that the doubled back panels define pocket means for receiving and retaining fluid runoff from the central panel.
Yet another feature o the invention is that the back panels increase the amount of diaper absorbency in the crotch region without adding significantly to the bulk of the diaper.
Still another feature of the invention is that the multiple layers of the pad assembly in the crotch region provide an improved gasket-ing effect about the infant's legs.
The diaper preferably has a fluid impervious backing sheet cover-,~ ....

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ing the outer surface of the top panels relative the central panel and at least a portion of the inner surface of the top panels ;ntermediate the top panels and the central panel. ~-Thus, another feature of the present invention is that the fluid impervious outer surEace of the top panels prevents leakage of the daiper in the crotch region.
Still another feature of the invention is that the top panels have a fluid impervious barrier adjacent the side edges to prevent leakage in the crotch region of the diaper.
Yet another feature of the invention is that the top panels ~
direct fluid to the back panels for retention therein. ~ ;-According to one aspect, the method of the invention consists of a method of making a disposable diaper comprising the steps of: folding longitudinally extending side panels of an absorbent pad assembly against a front surface of the assembly to define a doubled portion of the pad assembly; and folding longitudinally extending edge sections of said doubled portion against a back surface of a longitudinally extending central panel in the assembly.
According to another aspect, there is provided a method of making a disposable diaper, comprising the steps of: folding longitudinally extending side panels of an absorbent pad assembly against a back surface -~ .:
of a longitudinally extending central panel in the assembly; and folding longitudinally extending edge panels of the side panels against a front sur-face of the pad assembly. ?
Further features will become more fully apparent in the follow-ing description of the embodiments of this invention.
In the drawings~
Figure 1 is a fragmentary front plan view of the diaper of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary back plan view of the diaper of Figure ;~

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F;gure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 3-3 of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a pad assembly prior to folding into a configuration defining the diaper ' ~, ",:

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E'S g . 5 ~ ~ a fr~ entary ~ectlona3~ how~ ng ~ha pad a~6emb~ o~ F~ig ~ 4 partially olded ~i nto ~e s:on~Elg~ tl~n o~ the d~ aper o~ the pre~nt ~nve~ntlon s Fig. 6 ~ a persp~c~lve ~e~ o~ ~he d1apsr of Flg.
1 ~howlng t:hQ dlap~r as partly un~ol~ed i~or plaoo~nent o~ an Infank;
P'~gs. ~ and 8 are ~r~gmentary ~3c~t'l onal vlew~ o~
o~er embod1mQrlt~ o~ a pad a~ ly l~or ~ dlaper o~ Fig., 1 ~nd Fl~. 9 ~5 a ~rag3nen~ry ~ec:tlon~l v~e~r o~ o'che~r.
- embod~ment o~ the d~ap~r o ' . . DESCRIPTIO~ OF q~IE PRE~E~R~5D l~MBODIlqENTS
Re~errlng n~w to P~g~9 . 1- an~ 4, th0r~ h~
1~ ~spoia~le diap.~r g~nerally de~;lgna~ 20 h~lns ~ orbent pad aE~sembiy 22. ~he pad a~sémbly 22 has a pa~Y o ~a~ ea~e~ :
24a a~nd 2~ l a pair o~ end edge~ ~6a and 26b conn~ting the 8~d~ edge6 2~a an~ b. As sho~n ~n ~lg. 4, ~he pad als8embly 22 ha~ a f~ld p~rvlou8` top sh~et 28 d ~$nlng ~ al por~lon o tha front E~urfa~:e 30 o~ the paa as~einblr t a ~lu~d ~snp~r~JiOUs ~acklng ~he~ 32 dePlnin5~ a back ~urXa~g~ 34 o~
the pa~l a~enibly, and an absor~ t pad 36 positioned in~ermQ~ial~
the top an~l back~ng ~heets 28 ~n~ 32,. ~ w~dth o~ ba~ nç
heet 32 ~ great~r ~an the ~Ldth ~ thç~l abgor~t pad 36, ;~
and end 8ec:tlon8 38~ 38b of ~he ba~ he~é ar~ golaea . ~:
ovar the ftont ~urfac~ 30 o~ e p~d ~s~nbly 22 a~d P,ecure~
in plac~ r t;h~ orb~t paa 36. Slmll~rl~, as ~howr~ ~n ~ -~
g. 1, th~ gth o~ the back4ng ~heet 32 ~ay ~ gr~ater th~ 1tha ~.ength o~ th~ orberlt ~a~, ~uch that andl ~ectlon0 ', ', ~.

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1~57456 40~ and 40b may b~ folaed over the ~ront 6urface o~ the pad 36 to deflne fluld barrl~r~ at the longltudlnal ~nds o~ the pad a~sembly 22.
~he diaper o~ tl~e present inventlon may be ~ormed from the pad .as~embly o~ ~ g . 4 according to a meth~ of the ln~rerltlon as followa. Tha pad a~erribly i~ ~ir~t ~ olded along a pair of longîtudinally extending fold l~ne~ 42~ and 42b, as shown ln Fig. 5, wll:h the ~old line~ 42a and b defln~ng a pàir o~ ~lde panel~ 44a ~a 44b ex~ending b~tween ~ s~d~
edqes 24a and b and the ~ir t ~old l~nes 4~a and b, th~ slde panels 44a and b ~eing olded against the front surfac~ 30 : of tlhe pad as~e;nbly 22. ~he ~id~ pal~el6 ~4a and b are ~ecured to the ~ront s~rface 3~ of the paa a~se~ly 22 ln the crotch r*gion of t~e d~aper, a~d ln one embc~liment adjàce~t the ~lde ,;
Qdge~ 24~ ~d b by ~ultabl~ mean~ 46a andl 4~b, ~uch as adhe~ve.
~h~ ~ecurlng mean~ 46a and ~ prefera~iy ofî~et 1-2 inches rom~ the longitud~nal ~d-point o~ 'che diap~r toward the end - ~ ~dge- 26a at the ~ront o~ the diaperO ~ ~ i : . , Next, th~ folded pad a~sembl5~ o~ Fig~ S lg folaed `20 ~long a E~eco~d pair o longitudlnally exllcend~ng fold l~n~ 48a and 48b whlch arR intermediat~ thQ ~d~ ed~es 24a ~d b and t~
~1 rst fold ilnes 42a and b, a~ sho~n ln F~g . 3 ,, w~1:h the ~econd ~ol~ es ~8a and b d~lnlng a palr o~ edge ~ections ~Oa an~ .
: ~ ` . 50b wh~ch are ~olded agalns'c the bas:lc ~ur~ace 34 o~ the pa~
a~s-n~iy 22. q~ dg~ sact$c~ns 50a an~ b ara ~ecured agaln~t th~ baclr. ~ur~aae~ of t~a pad as~er~b~y ln the crotcll reg~on of :: :
~h~ dllap~r by ~u~t~ n~ana 52a ana 52b, suc~ as adhQslv~.

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The diaper 20 thus cons-tructed is illustrated in Figs.
1-3. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the diaper has a longitucllnally extending top panels 54a and a pair of longitudinally extending top panels 54a and 54b overlying the central panel 56. The top panels 54a and b have a fluid impervious outer surface relative the central panel 56, due to their covering by the backing sheet 32, and fluid imper-vious inner surface portions adjacent the side edges 24a and b, due to the end sections 38a and b of the backing sheet extending past the side edges. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the diaper 20 has a pair of doubled longitudinally extend-ing back panels 58a and 58b underlying the central panel 56 The diaper 20 may have a pair of tape strips 60a and 60b adjacent the side edges 24a and b and adjacent the end edge 26b for securing the diaper about the infant. `
During placement of the diaper, the waistband portions of the diaper adjacent the end edges 26a and b are unfold~d as illustrated in Fig. 6, while the securing means 46a and b and 52a and b retains the top panels 54a and b and back ;-~
panels 58a and b in place against the central panel 56.
Accordingly, when the diaper is unfolded for placement, the top panels become contoured to the shape of the infan-t's .. .
legs to provlde an improved fit of the diaper in the crotch and : . .,:
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thigh region. The backing sheet 32 provide~ a lula impervious ; outer surface for the top ;anel~ 54a and b and a ~luld barr~er ad~acent the side edge~ 24a and b ~o prevent lea~age and wicklng of the diaper in the crotch reglon. The doubled back panels 58a and b un~erlying the central panel 56 serve a~ pocket means to receive an~ ret~ln ~luid runoff from the central panel 56, whlle the fluld impervious top panel~ direct ~luid to the po~ket MoreQver, an increased amount~ of absorbent pad is provided ln the crotch reglon of the d~aper ~or greater fluld ~etention wlthout increasing the bulk of the d~aper in the crotch reg~on, ~ine the top and back panela ar~ retained in place by the securing me~nn. Tha $our plleQ o~' the absorbent.
pad ln the crotch r~lon al~o provide:greater tenslon of th~ .
diap~r against the infant'~ ~kln for a better gask~ting ~ction ~to prevent leakage about the ln~ant's legfi~ ~
If desire~, the diaper may be ~olded 4n a ~l~ghtly s1fferent manner,~accord~ng to a method of the invention, as~d~s~ribed b~low. First, referring to Fig. 3, ~e pad ~gsem~ly ;:
of Fig. 4 may be folde~ along a palr of longitud~nally exten~-

2~ ~ng fold line~ 62a and 62~, ~uch that ~he fold l1ne~ defin~
the central panel S6 and the pair of ~ide panels 44a and b wh~ ch are folded against the ~ack ~urface 34 o~ the central ~:
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panel. The ~e p~nel~ ~re then ~old~d along the longltud~nal ~old l$ne~ 42a and b ~n~ermed~ate the fixst fvld l~nes 62 ~Z5 and b and the ~ide edge~ 24a an~ b, with ~he fold l~nes 42a : and b ~fining ~ pair of edge panels whlch are ~olde~ aroun~
~, th~ fold 1~ nes 62a ~nd b and overl.le tha front ~ur~acQ 30 , ' , ' - ' ~
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of 'che centr~l panel 56. The top panel portlons 54a and b of t~e ~dge pans3-ls are secured to tl~ front surface o~ the <: entr~l pane~ ~6 and the back panel portion~ S8~ and 3:~ o~
~be ~lde panel~ are 6ecured 'co th~ bac~ surfac~ !OE 1:he cerltral 5 . panel, 8~ previou~ly d~scribed.
~ddLtlonal e~od~ment~ o~ the pad as~Tnbly 22 ~re .
illustrated ~n F~g4. 7 and ~, 1n whl~h like rQferenc~ ~umeral~
des~gnat~ 1~3CQ part~. The absorbent pad 36 l~ ~e pad a~se~ly of Plg. 7 ha~ a plura~lty of longitua~. nal3y ext~ndlng em~o~
1~ m~ntn 70a, 70~, and. 700 on each: sldQ o~ the longltudlnal center l~ne o~ he~d~ap~r,~suc~ hat t~e thic~cn~ss oiE~ a~paa i~
reduced ln ~e eml:)o9~ed area~. The ~ribo sm~nt~ 70a, ~
cc~rrespon~l witll the ~old lines 4Ba7 42a~ l 62a,~ resp-~t~ve~y, on one ~i~e o~ t~e ~iaper, as shown, ana .48b, 42b, and 62b on tl~e o~her 8ide of .the dlaper, and fa~illtate; ~o~d~ng 9~ th-pad ass~m~ly along th~ fold l~nes .~ur$ng ~manu~acture du~ to ~e ; :~
r~duced thlc~2~e~ $n ~l9 ~rea~ o~ ~e fola ~1nes~ . 81T~larly t1e ab~or~en t pa~l 36 o~ Fig. 8 ha~ a plurallty o~ spacedl 1OD~
tudlnally ex~nalng pad segm~nto 37a~,. 37b,.37~::, anq 3~7d de~$~
lng separated area3 39a, 3gb, and 39c osl eac:h ~ide of 'che aiaper ~n ~e area3 o~ the ~old lines to ~ llitat~ foldlng o~ tho dlaper. . -.
tn ~ pre~rred eird~odiment, 1~ ~curl~g mean~ 4~a and b ~1 spacea ro2~ the s~d~ e~ge~ 24a an~ b o~ the~ tcp p~el~
54~ and b, a~ shown 1~, F~g. ~ uch that ~ ~ecuri.ng m~ns . ', . ...

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reta~ ns 'che e!~d s2ction~ 3ûa and b o~ acking sheet aga~nst the front surface c7f the central panel nt a loc~t~ on ~pac~d from th~ ~iide edge~ 24a and b. A~ter plac~ent o~ t~se dlap~r, ~tress is appl~d to the top panels aaiacen~ e 81ae~ e~g4~ 24a and b, and ~he spaced securlng m~an~ p~rmits Isdge portlon~ 67 o~ the to~ panelæ adjac~nt the ~ide e~dge~ to ri~ ~rom t~e . ~ :~
ront surface of.th~ c~n~ral panel. :Thu~, the edg~ portlon~ -67 are pos~t~on~d ~n the juncturc o~ the ~nfant'~ cro'ccb and tAigh duril ng UIE~Q, andl a fluid ~mpervi~su~ ~sal 1- . ~ormet5 by io edge ~or~lon~i ~galn6t.ff~e ~nfan~'3- ~:~in 'co pr~ven;t l~alcag~
Thu~, ther~ ha~i been des~r~b~ a~d~per ~ h pro~
: v~des ~ 3nproved flt~ ln the crotch r~g~on ~ out ad~
signi1cantly to t~e :bulk of~ aiap~r. A~ ~the ~ame t~ma, the diapes m~nimi2e~ ~lu~ leakage i~nd provld~s ~or greiater .5 ~lu~a retent1on`.~n t:3~e crotch regic~ eth~d ha~ al~o ~eer~
aescribed ~or rr.ak~ng tlle alaper: o~ t:he p~e~ent ~nYerlt~o~ from l;
the pad assembly ~ P'lg.. 4 The ~oregoing a~ta~ le~cr~ pt~ 1~ g~ fo~
clearne~s . of under~tand1ng onl~, iand no juT~e~cesca~y l~mlt~
O tion6 should be ~mder~tood therefrom, as ~od$~ atio~s.wl~l ;
'. be ohrlous t~ t:hose ~killsd ~n 'chc ~rt~

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Claims

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

1. A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a front surface, a back surface, a pair of side edges, a first fold of said pad assembly along a first pair of longitudinally extending fold lines defining a pair of side panels extending between said side edges and the first pair of fold lines, said side panels being folded against the front surface of the pad assembly, and a second fold of the pad assembly along a second pair of longitudinally extending fold lines intermediate said side edges and first fold lines, the second fold lines defining doubled edge sections remote said side edges being folded against the back surface of the pad assembly.

2. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said side panels are secured to the front surface of the pad assembly in the longitudinal central region of the diaper.

3. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said edge sections are secured to the back surface of the pad assembly in the longitudinal central region of the diaper.

4. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pad assembly is enbossed in the region of at least a part of said fold lines to facilitate folding of said pad assembly.

5. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pad assembly has a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending pad segments defining separated areas in the region of at least a part of said fold lines to facilitate folding of said pad assembly.

6. The diaper of claim 1 including a fluid impervious backing sheet defining the back surface of the pad assembly.

7. The diaper of claim 6 wherein said backing sheet covers a portion of the front surface of the side panels adjacent said side edges.

8. An absorbent article comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of side edges, a longitudinally extending central panel, a pair of doubled longitudinally extending back panels folded against the central panel, and a pair of longitudinally extending top panels extending from the back panels and folded against the central panel.

9. The diaper of claim 8 including means for securing the top panels to the central panel in the longitudinal central region of the diaper.

10. The diaper of claim 9 wherein said securing means is located adjacent said side edges.

11. The diaper of claim 9 wherein said securing means is spaced from said side edges.

12. The diaper of claim 11 wherein said pad assembly includes a fluid impervious backing sheet having end sections covering at least a portion of the inner surface of the top panels intermediate the top panels and the central panel, and said securing means secures said end sections to the central panel.

13. The diaper of claim 8 including means for securing the back panels to the central panel in the longitudinal central region of the diaper.

14. The diaper of claim 13 wherein each of said back panels includes a longitudinally extending fold line underlying the central panel, and said securing means are located adjacent said fold lines.

15. The diaper of claim 8 wherein said pad assembly includes a fluid impervious backing sheet covering the outer surface of the top panels rela-tive the central panel and at least a portion of the inner surface of the top panels intermediate the top panels and the central panel.

16. A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of side edges, a substantially fluid pervious front surface, a fluid impervious backing sheet defining a back surface of the pad assembly, said backing sheet extending past said side edges and covering a portion of the front surface of the pad assembly, longitudinally extending edge portions of the pad assembly being folded over and secured to the front surface of the pad assembly, the longitudinally extending edge portions of the folded pad assembly being folded under and secured to the back surface of the pad assembly.

17. A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a longitudinally extending central panel having a front surface and a back surface, a pair of longitudinally extending top panels overlying the front surface of the central panel and having a pair of inwardly directed side edges, a fluid impervious outer surface, and a fluid impervious inner surface portion adjacent the side edges and facing the central panel, and fluid pocket means underlying the back surface of the central panel to receive fluid runoff from the front surface of the central panel.

18. A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of side edges, a front surface, a back surface, a first fold of the pad assembly along a first pair of longitudinally extending fold lines defining a central panel and a pair of side panels, said side panels being folded against the back surface of the central panel, a second fold of the side panels along a second pair of longitudinally extending fold lines inter-mediate the first fold lines and said side edges, said second fold lines defining a pair of edge panels being folded around the first fold lines and overlying the front surface of the central panel.

19. A method of making a disposable diaper comprising the steps of:
folding longitudinally extending side panels of an absorbent pad assembly against a front surface of the assembly to define a doubled portion of the pad assembly; and folding longitudinally extending edge sections of said doubled portion against a back surface of a longitudinally extending central panel in the assembly.

20. The method of claim 19 including the step after the first folding step of securing the side panels against the front surface of the pad assem-bly in the longitudinal central region of the diaper.

21. The method of claim 19 including the step after the second folding step of securing the edge sections against the back surface of the pad assem-bly in the longitudinal central region of the diaper.

22. A method of making a disposable diaper, comprising the steps of:
folding longitudinally extending side panels of an absorbent pad assembly against a back surface of a longitudinally extending central panel in the assembly; and folding longitudinally extending edge panels of the side panels against a front surface of the pad assembly.

23. The method of claim 22 including the step after the first folding step of securing a portion of the side panels to the back surface of the pad assembly in the longitudinal central region of the diaper.

24. The method of claim 22 including the step after the second fold-ing step of securing the edge panels to the front surface of the pad assembly in the longitudinal central region of the diaper.