Disposable training pants having a non-perforated tear line through elastic

[54] DISPOSABLE TRAINING PANTS HAVING A NON-PERFORATED TEAR LINE THROUGH ELASTIC

[75] Inventors: Russell P. Bridges, Cincinnati; James R. Golan, Ginti; Stephen J. Lange. Cincinnati; Michael J. Madill. Wyoming; Robert H. Siegfried,

Cincinnati, all of Ohio

[73] Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company,
Cincinnati, Ohio

[21] Appl. No.: 503^30
[22] Filed: Jul. 17,1995

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 83,069, Jun. 25, 1993, abandoned.

[51] Int. CI.6 A61F 13/15; A41B 9/00;

B29C 65/06; B32B 31/20

[52] U.S. CI 604/365; 604/366; 604/385.2;

604/396; 2/401; 156/73.5; 156/290; 156/308.4

[58] Field of Search 604/385.1,385.2,

604/392, 393, 394, 396. 366, 365; 156/73.5, 290, 308.4; 2/400-406

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3,563,822 2/1971 Fesh.

4.205.679 6/1980 Repkeetal 604/394

4,280,230 7/1981 LaFleur.

4,581,772 4/1986 Smith.

4.610.680 9/1986 LaFleur .
4,619,649 10/1986 Roberts .

4,641,381 2/1987 Heran et al 604/392

4,646,362 3/1987 Heran et al 604/392

4,671,793 6/1987 Hults et al. .
4,735,622 4/1988 Acuffetal. .

4,743,239 5/1988 Cole.

4,747,846 5/1988 Bolandetal 604/385.2

4,854,984 8/1989 Ball et al. .

4,909,804 3/1990 Douglas, Sr. .

4,919,738 4/1990 Ball et al. .

5,074,854 12/1991 Davis.

5,163,932 11/1992 Nomura etal 604/396

5,236,430 8/1993 Bridges 604/396

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

2267024 11/1993 United Kingdom 604/396

Primary Examiner—Robert A. Clarke
Assistant Examiner—K. M. Reichle
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dinsmore & Shohl

[57] ABSTRACT

Non-perforated tear lines for removal and evacuation of contents of disposable undergarments such as training pants. Non-perforated tear lines include a series of bond sites which are shaped, sized, spaced and arranged to provide a zone of weakness to permit severance of nonelasticized portions as well as elastic disposed in the waistband, the body of the pant, and the elastic leg bands for complete removal. Bond sites are formed by displacing a portion of material such that a thickened outer edge defines a weakened area of reduced thickness. Thus, elastic in the waistband may be disposed continuously 360 degrees around the wearer's waist, and elastic in the leg bands may be disposed continuously 360 degrees around the wearer's legs. In addition, improved pants having elasticized ear flaps in the body of the pants can be conveniently removed from the wearer. The shape, size, spacing and arrangement of the individual bond sites is determined for each material used in order to permit severance of the particular material while preventing premature removal. Because the tear lines of this invention are capable of separating elastic, location of the tear lines is not limited to side seams, but may be placed on the front of the pants for convenience.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets