Stretch ear diaper having perforated backsheet

(54) STRETCH EAR DIAPER HAVING PERFORATED BACKSHEET

(75) Inventors: Andrew Waksmundzki, Jackson, NJ (US); Lanying Wu, Devon, PA (US); Joan Rodgers, Brookhaven, PA (US)

(73) Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Retail Services AG

(CH)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/108,223

(22) Filed: Mar. 27, 2002

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/091,014, filed on Mar. 5, 2002.

(51) Int. C I. A61F 13/15

(52) U.S. CI 604/385.11; 604/389; 604/391

(58) Field of Search 604/389, 391,

604/385.01, 385.11, 385.22, 385.23, 385.24

4,735,622 A 4/1988 Acuff et al.

4,826,499 A 5/1989 Ahr

5,137,525 A * 8/1992 Glassman 604/385.11

5,236,430 A 8/1993 Bridges

5,242,436 A * 9/1993 Weil et al 604/385.29

5,246,433 A * 9/1993 Hasse et al 604/396

5,496,298 A 3/1996 Kuepper et al.

5,618,280 A * 4/1997 Glackin et al 604/385.08

5,624,420 A 4/1997 Bridges et al.

6,022,430 A 2/2000 Blenke et al.

6,049,023 A * 4/2000 Blenke et al 604/365

6,120,489 A 9/2000 Johnson et al.

6,316,687 Bl * 11/2001 Davis et al 604/372

6,450,996 Bl * 9/2002 Otsubo 604/385.01

6,508,797 Bl * 1/2003 Pozniak et al 604/385.11

2002/0032427 Al * 3/2002 Schmitz et al 604/385.11

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—-Weilun Lo

Assistant Examiner—Michael Bogart

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein,

Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.

A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion, a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core, and a pair ol ear portions integral to the backsheet. Each ear portion has proximal, distal, first connecting and second connecting edges. The first and second connecting edges connect the distal to the proximal edges. The proximal edge is integral to the topsheet. Each ear portion has an elastic layer having first and second edges where the first edge and second edge are secured to the backsheet. The elastic layer has a central portion not secured to the backsheet. The ear portion has a tearable portion extending from the first to the second connecting edges and extends along the central portion ol the elastic layer. A lastener joined to each ol the elastic layers secures the disposable absorbent article.

17 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

1

STRETCH EAR DIAPER HAVING
PERFORATED BACKSHEET

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/091,014, filed Mar. 5, 2002, entitled Perforated Stretch Ear Diaper, the complete specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to disposable absorbent articles. Specifically, the present invention relates to ears on disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, that utilize an elastomeric feature.

Disposable absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, training pants, adult incontinence garments, and the like are known. In the past, particularly in the case of infant diapers, such absorbent articles were generally formed with an hourglass configuration. The narrower portion of the article was adapted to be placed between the legs of the wearer with the wider portions of the article being adapted to encircle the waist of a wearer so that the front and rear portions overlapped and could be easily attached to one another. Recently, it has become desirable to produce absorbent articles, such as infant diapers, which fit more closely to the body of a wearer. Accordingly, it has become desirable to make such articles smaller and less conspicuous in use while still maintaining a high level of absorbent protection.

Specifically, it has become desirable to produce disposable absorbent articles which have a relatively narrow crotch portion and a narrower overall width when compared to typical disposable absorbent articles. Leg openings are defined, in part, on traditional infant diapers by the overlapped front and rear portions of the diaper. Such leg openings are generally perceived as providing good absorbent protection. If the front and rear portions of the diaper do not completely encircle the waist of a wearer and overlap with one another, there is a perception of decreased leakage performance.

Known fastening devices for absorbent articles which do not completely encircle the waist of a wearer have generally consisted of relatively narrow rectangular means or beltlike means to hold the article in place around the waist of a wearer. Such known means do not generally correct for the perceived decrease in absorbent performance. Further, known means of fastening such articles about the waist of a wearer can lead to undesirable red marking of the skin of a wearer.

The major function of absorbent garments, such as disposable diapers, is to absorb and contain body exudates. Such articles are thus intended to prevent body exudates from soiling, wetting, or otherwise contaminating clothing or other articles, such as bedding, that come in contact with the wearer. In general, disposable diapers all have the same basic structure which comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a means for fastening the diaper about the wearer's waist.

The prior art teaches numerous variations of fastening systems. In order to try to improve the fit of the diaper, a number of ways have been attempted to provide elastic fastening systems in the diaper. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,796 (Jacob) teaches an elastic strip fastener tab which provides a diaper with an elastically extensible side waist

2

band. Other techniques for providing elastic characteristics in tape tabs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,209,016, (Schaar); U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,363 (Schaar); U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,516 (Schaar); U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,716 (Schaar); U.S.

5 Pat. No. 4,006,081 (Schaar); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,212 (Tritsch). A technique for providing a diaper with a stretchable waistband so as to improve fit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,233 (Kozak) and which teaches a diaper fabricated from a stretchable material which is bonded to a

10 non-stretchable material, wherein openings are provided in the waistband area of the non-stretchable material to permit stretching of the stretchable material. Fastening tapes are then attached to the stretchable waistband. Still another technique for providing a diaper with a stretchable waist

15 band so as to improve fit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,338 (Schaar) and which teaches a pleated diaper having an elastic member in a waistline portion thereof, to which fastening means are attached.

Typical elastic fastening systems include a full stretch ear.

20 A full stretch ear is expensive in materials and processes to construct. Alternatively, a stretchable tape is used. However, the stretchable tape offers limited stretch in the location of the ear.

Other prior art include the following. U.S. Pat. No.

25 4,619,649 (Roberts) discloses a disposable toddler training panty having a thin plastic outer layer and an elastic waistband and leg bands. Perforations extend down the sides of the panty to accommodate removal of the panty once used.

3Q U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,622 (Acuff, et al.) discloses a disposable training panty having an elastic waistband and elastic legs. Perforation lines extend down the side of the panty to accommodate removal.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,499 (Ahr) discloses a disposable

35 absorbent garment such as a disposable diaper which includes a fastening system that comprises laterally displaceable elastic members affixed to the chassis of the diaper. The fastening means, rather than being affixed to the garment in a fixed relation, are laterally displaceable in

40 relation to the balance of the garment. That is, the fastening means is capable of moving in a direction parallel to the lateral center line of the diaper when the diaper is in its flat out, uncontracted state, as shown in FIG. 1 of this patent. The remaining part of the diaper, the chassis, remains fixed.

45 U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,298 (Kuepper et al.) discloses elastomeric ears for disposable absorbent articles. No perforations or similar separatable means are disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,420 (Bridges et al.) discloses portable training pants having a non-perforated tear line through the

50 elastic. This tear line is for removal of the training pants. While the fastening systems discussed above do provide some measure of improvement over non-elastic fastening systems, the devices fail to adequately address the need for a cost-effective fastening system which provides the gar

55 ment with a better fit, improved adjustability and substantial stretch in the area of the ear.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

60 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disposable absorbent article arranged to be worn by a living being to trap and collect loose waste of the being is provided which includes a main chassis configured to be 65 worn between the legs of the being, the chassis having a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting the front portion and the rear portion. The chassis includes