(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,302,871 Bi
Nakao et al. (45) Date of Patent: Oct. 16,2001
(54) DISPOSABLE PULL-ON GARMENT HAVING IMPROVED DISPOSAL HANDLING AFTER SOIL
(75) Inventors: Chikayo Nakao, Kobe; Craig Andrew Hawkins, Ashiya, both of (JP)
(73) Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company,
Cincinnati, OH (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/424,133
(22) PCT Filed: May 30, 1997
(86) PCT No.: PCT/US97/09262 § 371 Date: Nov. 18, 1999
§ 102(e) Date: Nov. 18, 1999
(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO98/53780 PCT Pub. Date: Dec. 3, 1998
(51) Int. C I. A61F 13 15
(52) U.S. CI 604/385.13; 604/391; 604/389
(58) Field of Search 604/385.13, 389;
428/343
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,747,846 5/1988 Boland et al 604/38 A
5,246,433 * 9/1993 Hasse et al 604/396
5,531,732 * 7/1996 Wood 604/391
5,575,784 * 11/1996 Ames-Ooten et al 604/385.1
The disposable pull-on garment of the present invention comprises a chassis having a front region, a back region and a crotch region between the front region and the back region. The chassis comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet associated with the topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The disposable pull-on garment of the present invention further comprises front side panels extending laterally outwardly from each side of the chassis in the front region; back side panels extending laterally outwardly from each side of the chassis in the back region; seam panels (66) each extending laterally outwardly from each of the front and back side panels; seams each joining the corresponding seam panels in an overlap manner to make an overlapped seam structure (32), thereby forming two leg openings and a waist opening; and a disposable means (31) joined to the at least one of the front and back side panels for allowing the pull-on garment to be secured in a configuration that provides a convenient disposal.
10 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
