United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 4,968,313
Sabee [45] Date of Patent: * Not. 6,1990
[54] DIAPER WITH WAIST BAND ELASTIC
[76] Inventor: Reinhardt N. Sabee, 728 S. Summit St., Appleton, Wis. 54911
[ * ] Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to May 30, 2006 has been disclaimed.
[21] Appl. No.: 286,136
[22] Filed: Dec. 19,1988
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 43,255, Apr. 27, 1987, Pat. No. 4,834,741.
[51] Int CI.5 B32B 31/08; A61F 13/16
[52] U.S. a 604/385.2; 604/384;
156/164
[58] Field of Search 604/385.2, 364, 365,
604/366, 384; 156/160-165, 229
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,949,130 10/1976 Sabee et al 428/192
4,013,816 4/1977 Sabee et al 428/288
4,036,233 7/1977 Kozak 604/370
4,239,578 12/1980 Gore 156/164
4,417,935 11/1983 Spencer 156/164
4,543,099 9/1985 Brunnelle et al 604/385.2
4,556,596 12/1985 Meuli 604/385.2
4,563,185 1/1986 Reiter 604/385.2
4,578,133 3/1986 Oshefsky 156/164
4,585,447 4/1986 Karami 604/385.2
4,834,741 5/1989 Sabee 604/385.2
Primary Examiner—C. Fred Rosenbaum
Assistant Examiner—Sharon Rose
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fuller, Ryan & Hohenfeldt
[57] ABSTRACT
Disposable garments such as disposable diapers are disclosed that possess improved elastic characteristics. At least one garment outer sheet is composed of a drawable fabric, such as melt blown polymeric fibers or melt spun filaments. An elastic element is affixed in the relaxed condition to a web of outer sheet fabric. The elastic web is then stretched, and simultaneously the web in the area of elastic element attachment is drawn to impart a molecular orientation to the web fibers. As a result, the web fibers are permanently elongated. Upon relaxation of the stretched elastic element, shirrs or gathers are formed in the web fibers that permit subsequent stretching of the elastic element when the garment is worn. One of the outside sheet webs need not be drawable or drawn if it is performed with corrugations or pleats in the region of elastic element attachment. The present invention also includes apparatus for manufacturing the garment. The apparatus includes novel rolls for pre-corrugating one garment sheet and for simultaneously stretching the elastic element and drawing web in the region of elastic element attachment. Alternately, the entire web may be drawn, rather than just in the region of elastic element attachment.
39 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
