WO2004069121A1

WO2004069121A1 - Means for quick and correct positioning and fastening of a diaper

Info

Publication number: WO2004069121A1
Application number: PCT/IL2003/001118
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shunia Rosental
Original assignee: Shunia Rosental
Priority date: 2002-12-30
Filing date: 2003-12-30
Publication date: 2004-08-19
Also published as: AU2003290392A1; WO2004069121A8; IL153749A; IL153749A0

Abstract

There are proposed means for fixing some sector(s) of the diaper on right place(s) of wearer's body before sticking diaper's panels to one another. In one implementation it is used an external elastic strap (or cord) with hooks on both ends (not shown), whereas to the diaper (during its manufacturing) there are added only two loops (12) on both sides of upper edge of frontal panel. Firstly front panel is correctly positioned and fixed with the help of said strap, then the rear panel is raised and stuck to the front one. In another implementation the front panel is fixed with the help of a strap (8) attached to the diaper during manufacturing at one end and on the free end having adhesive tab (10). In other implementations the inner part of rear panel is fixed with the help of either two straps (9) or two loops (12) and external elastic strap with hooks (not shown). The external straps are removed after diaper dressing and reused; they are individual: adjusted to wearer’s sizes.

Description

MEANS FOR QUICK AND CORRECT POSITIONING AND FASTENING OF

A DIAPER. FIELD OF INVENTION:

The field is diapers, especially for adults, especially for dressing when the wearer stands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

In fig. 1 there are shown details of existing diaper [2 - 7] and the invented means [8 - 12].

BACKGROUND. Now [and apparently several last decades also] most of the diapers comprise such basic elements: (A) a first central portion having two sides that consists of

(a) a front area (2), a back area (4) and a crotch area (3) that connects said front and back areas,

(b) an internal liquid-permeable topcoat covering one side of said first central portion and which is adapted to be placed against the body of the wearer,

(c) an external liquid-impermeable backsheet covering the other side of said first central portion

(d) a liquid absorbent core sandwiched between said topsheet and said backsheet,

(B) back wings: two spaced apart wing portions (5) extending from sides of the back area; back wings and back area compose back panel.

(C) optionally - front wings [6]; front wings and front area compose front panel.

As described in patent US5069678, there were diapers of two types. In the first one the back wings are placed and fastened onto front area; in the second front area - onto back wings. The last is easier to dress, but leakage from it is very high. Attempts to reduce said leakage [including attempt shown in said patent] apparently were not successful and now practically only diapers of the 1^st type are in use. They prevent satisfactorily the leakage when properly dressed but the dressing is difficult as decades ago. In many cases two attendants dress a diaper on standing wearer. If attendant is alone - the help of wearer is needed. And if the last does not help but even impede - the situation is catastrophic: "channels" for leakage, detachment of tabs, etc. The attendant's problem is that two goals should be achieved simultaneously: holding sector[s] of the diaper at certain placefs] of the body and fastening the panels one to another.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The proposal for solving said problem is: firstly to fix said sector[s] on the right placefs] by special [new] means and then use the existing fastening means for joining the panels.

A. One of possible fixing means is 8 in Fig. 1 : to the existing diaper it is added only a strap extending from the edge one of the frontal wings. On the free end of the strap there is an adhesive tape used for securing to the other frontal wing. The procedure for securing and applying the improved diaper then is as follows:

I. The frontal panel is fixed securely against the body using the strap. As result of this preliminary fixing operation, the upper part of the frontal panel became stretched and smoothed, i,e. ready for good sticking. π. The back panel is raised up and its upper adhesive tabs are stuck down simultaneously on both sides of the frontal panel. The tension of the back panel will be symmetrical and moderate (because the frontal panel is already fixed on the body), i.e. tearing force is weak - that [together with said good sticking] makes detachment of said tabs unlikely to occur.

El. Now both panels are fixed - so the final adjustments and sticking down of remaining tabs can be accomplished with ease.

B. A similar arrangement may be used for preliminary fixing of the back panel but in this case the strap is extending from the edge one of the back wings and the procedure is as follows:

I. The back panel is fixed in its place using the strap.

II. The front panel is raised and put in its place: between the body and back wings with the strap. It is kept at this place by tension of the strap.

III. So the only strap fixes both panels - and that remains is to stick them together: a very simple task even for clumsy hands.

C. About two above arrangements it should be made the following remarks: a. The strap [8] with adhesive tab [10], which secure a panel in overlapping relationship, is cheap and may be pretty good for fixing a panel. But for attendants preferring considerable tension [e.g. in step B,H] an elastic strap [or cord] and more strong fastening means [e.g. hook and loop] is proposed. If the extra tension, useful for fixation, is not desirable for prolonged wearing - then fixing strap [after fulfilling its mission] is released [e.g. hook is put into closer loop] immediately after sticking the panels. b. In another modification the strap/cord is not only released but even removed and used repeatedly. It is manufactured as a separate part with a hook at each end; and to the diaper [during its manufacturing] only loops are added at the points where the strap is to be joined. Said removal is performed immediately after diaper is dressed [if presence of the strap is not desirable during the wearing] or when diaper is replaced [if said presence is desirable: the strap may fulfil a function additional to fixation]. c. In step B,II putting the front panel under back wings is not an easy task. Therefore it is proposed modification wherein the fixing strap is joined not to ends of back panel but to its inner points. So a considerable portion of back wings is not fixed, the wearer's belly is not covered and in such circumstances it is easy to put the upper edge of front panel under the fixing strap. Then the front panel and most of the back one are fixed - so to stick them together is not a problem. d. Additional modification of fixing means is two straps [9] - instead of single one in the above descriptions. One end of each strap is joined to the diaper permanently and the free ends have means [11] for joining one to another. Such construction will be more convenient [than single strap] in some cases.

D. Generalization of said above is: composing of a belt around wearer's body from some strap[s] and a section of diaper that lay between points, which said strap[s] are joined to. When said belt is tightened - said section is fixed, allowing easy and correct sticking panels [of the diaper] to one another. Another approach is creation a belt from said strapfs] only and using it as basis for attaching parts of diaper before said fastening. After the fastening said strap[s] are released/ removed [if maintaining of the belt during wearing the diaper is undesirable] or the belt remains - for fulfillment a function additional to said fixing.

E. Above there are described means for easing dressing a diaper of the most wide spread types. Similar means will be useful for diapers of other types with one common feature: satisfactory functioning when properly dressed but difficulties during the dressing. And certainly it will be useful for them the proposed method of dressing: firstly to fix certain diaper's sector[s] on the right place[s] on wearer's body by special fixing means and then use the fastening means for joining the diaper's parts. MY PREFER EMBODIMENT:

Strap from elastic material with a hook at each end, whereas to the diaper are added only 2 loops [12] at said joining points of one of the panels

- the strap can be removed: immediately after wings are stuck or at the time of replacing the diaper - so it may be used many times.

Several remarks to the above description and to the claims:

- instead of straps may be used cords or pieces of other forms suitable to fulfil the fixing function

- junctions/points of straps joining to a panel are not determined strictly when overlapping connection is used

- fixing a diaper's sector means only that it will not move from the chosen place if moderate forces will be applied in the following steps of dressing; the diaper certainly can be removed from the place of initial fixing deliberately: e.g. for correcting the sector's position

The great advantage of the proposal is that if imtial fixation is wrong - it can be easily corrected. But for some attendants it is difficult to estimate whether the position of the fixed part is right. For easing their problem it is proposed to mark the upper edge of the external sheet and the fixing means by numerous different marks - so creating a great probability that in optimal position of the diaper some of the mark will correlate with some natural signs on the body of the wearer. An experienced attendant should record such correlation - and afterwards the other should endeavor to achieve said correlation when they are dressing the wearer. If there are no natural signs - it can be used artificial marking of wearer's body.

Marking of other areas of external sheet may be useful. E. g. of the areas where the tabs are applied. E.g. horizontal and vertical lines of different colors are drawn at these areas at both sides symmetrically according axis of the diaper. When applying correlate adhesive tabs at small and right side each tab should be put at same junction at its side: e.g. both should be at the cross of black horizontal line with the red vertical one.

Marking of said areas may be useful also for diapers not using fixing means.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method for dressing a diaper, wherein firstly certain diaper's sector[s] is/are fixed at the right place[s] on wearer's body by special fixing means and then the fastening means for joining the diaper's parts are used and/or wherein for correct and quick dressing there are used special marks on the diaper.

2. Diaper of some known construction with addition of said fixing means for implementation of method as in claim 1; some of said means represent separate parts, some - integrated ones: joined to the diaper during its manufacturing.

3. A diaper as in claim 2 that comprises:

(B) a first central portion having two sides that consists of

(C) back wings: two spaced apart wing portions (5) extending from sides of the back area; back wings and back area compose back panel.

(D) optionally - front wings [6]; front wings and front area compose front panel. (D) final fastening means (7) associated with said back wings (5) so that when the back wings are folded toward each other they can be fastened to each other or to said front panel in an overlapping relationship.

- above are shown common parts of most diapers now in use; to these known parts our proposal adds: E] means for preliminary fixing some of diaper's sector [s], which comprise strap[s] connected or having means for connection to junctions at borders of said sector[s]. [F] marks on the said external sheet and/or said fixing means in order to make more correct the positioning of the diaper before said preliminary fixation and/or before the said final fastening.

4. Diaper as in claim 3, with two said junctions: at both ends of upper part of said front panel- so said part is fixed and stretched at its full length when connection of said straps is completed; that allows easy and strong sticking of said back wings.

5. Diaper as in claim 3, with two said junctions: at inner points of upper part of said back panel - so only sector of said part is fixed, the belly of the wearer remains open and then the front panel is put on the belly under the strap fixing said sector; in such manner the front panel also become fixed by the same strap.

6. Following variety of straps for joining to two said junctions of claims 4 or 5: a. only one strap [8] connected permanently to one of said j unctions and having at the free end fastening means [10] for connection to the second junction, b. two straps [9]; one of them connected permanently to one of junction and the second to another and on free ends of them there are fastening means for connection one to another [11], c. only one strap supplied as separate part, having on both free ends fastening means for connection to said junction.

7. Strap as claim 6,c from elastic material with a hook at each end, whereas to the diaper are added only 2 loops [12] at said junctions

8. Marks as in claim 3,F disposed on fixing straps and/or at upper edges of the panels and/or at areas where adhesive tabs are applied