GB2185176A

GB2185176A - Disposable diapers

Info

Publication number: GB2185176A
Application number: GB08627642A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruno Landesberg
Original assignee: SANO BRUNOS ETS
Current assignee: SANO BRUNOS ETS
Priority date: 1986-01-09
Filing date: 1986-11-19
Publication date: 1987-07-15
Also published as: GB8627642D0; ES2003748A6; FR2592556A1; IT8667858A0; DE3639948A1

Abstract

A disposable diaper has at least two adhesive fasteners (22) affixed to the sides at one end (20) of the diaper, and reinforcing fastening means (26) affixed adjacent the other end (24) of the diaper during manufacture. Preferably, the reinforcing fastening means comprises at least two patches of larger dimensions than the adhesive fasteners. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Disposable Diapers The present invention relates to disposable diapers in general and, in particular, to disposable diapers with refastenable fasteners.

Diapers and fasteners therefor have been known and used throughout the ages. Traditionally, diapers consisted of spa length of fabric or cloth tied or pinned in place. These diapers were washed between usings and used until the fabric wore out.

With the advent of plastics and synthetic materials, it became possible to produce disposable diapers, diapers which are used once only and then thrown away. These generally comprise an inner layer of material which is placed adjacent the skin, a middle layer of absorbent material, and an outer, water impermeable layer to prevent leakage.

Conventional diapers on the market today include an inner layer of non-woven material and an outer layer of thin polyethylene.

Conventional fabric diapers were closed by tying or with large pins. Disposable diapers, on the other hand, are generally provided with fasteners comprising strips of adhesive tape on one end of the diaper which are arranged to engage the other end of the diaper when the diaper is in place. These tape fasteners suffer from the major disadvantage that when one attempts to unfasten them, the thin polyethylene outer layer of the diaper invariably tears. Thus, it is impossible to readjust an improperly fastened diaperorto refasten a diaper which is still clean once it has been unfastened.

One solution to this problem has been to provide tape fasteners comprising a plurality of laminated layers. The innermost such layer comprises a traditional adhesive tape patch. Coupled to this is a second adhesive tape layer, this second layer being selected to adhere both to the first adhesive tape layer and to the diaper itself. Upon fastening the diaper initially, the first, innermost adhesive layer is fastened to the diaper. Thereafter, if it is desired to unfasten the diaper, pressure must be applied to the first layer, i.e., on the baby, while the second layer is carefully peeled from the first, which remains affixed to the diaper.The diaper can then be refastened if care is taken to replace the second layer precisely over the first layer. (If the second adhesive layer is refastened to the diaper, the diaper will tear, as in conventional disposable diapers, upon further unfastening).

This multilayer tape fastener suffers from a number of disadvantages. First, it is expensive to manufacture the laminated tape required. Second, care is required to refasten the second layer precisely over the first, if further refastening is desired. Thus, adjustment of improper fastening is impossible if further unfastening and refastening is desired. And third, care must be taken when unfastening the tape that only the upper layer is removed and that the lower adhesive layer is not torn from the diaper.

Another solution which has been proposed is to provide an outer diaper layer consisting of a thicker layer of polyethylene of a special texture which permits unfastening and refastening. This method is expensive both in terms of material used in each diaper and in the manufacturing process.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disposable diaper including refastenable fasteners which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

There is thus provided in accordance with the present invention a disposable diaper including at least two adhesive fasteners and reinforcing fastening means affixed to the diaper during manufacture.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing fastening means includes at least one strip of material to which the adhesive fasteners are arranged to be fastened, the strip being of larger dimensions than the fasteners.

According to another embodiment, the reinforcing fastening means includes at least two patches to each of which one of the adhesive fasteners is arranged to be fastened, the patches being of larger dimensions than the fasteners.

The present invention will be further understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view illustration of a disposable diaper constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the diaper of Fig. 1 in use; and Figure 3 is a plan view illustration of a disposable diaper constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to Fig. 1 there is shown in plan view a disposable diaper generally indicated at 10 constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention. Diaper 10 includes an outer, polyethylene layer 12, an inner non-woven material layer 14, and absorbent material 16 indicated by broken lines between outer layer 12 and inner layer 14. Inner layer 14 and absorbent material 16 may comprise any conventional diaper and absorbent material. Outer layer 12 comprises a thin layer of polyethylene which may be thinner than in conventional disposable diapers, i.e., approximately 15 to 20 microns.

The diaper illustrated in Fig. 1 is of the cut-leg type, an indentation 18 being provided in each side thereof to accommodate the leg of the person who will wear the diaper and to define the crotch therebetween. Alternatively, any other style of disposable diaper can be employed.

The rear portion 20 of the diaper is provided at either side thereof with a strip of adhesive fastening tape 22. Adhesive fasteners 22 may comprise any conventional adhesive tape for diapers and are affixed at one end thereof to rear portion 20 of the diaper. The other end of fasteners 22 is temporarily fastened to that end of the strip which is affixed to the diaper, as known.

The front portion 24 of diaper 10 is provided with two strips 26 of reinforcing fastening tape aligned generally parallel to the front edge of the diaper and disposed adjacent either side edge thereof. Strips 26 are permanently affixed to the diaper 10 at the time of manufacture and serve several purposes. First, they serve to reinforce that portion of the diaper to which the adhesive fastening strips will be fastened.

Second, they provide a large surface to which adhesive strips 22 are arranged to adhere and from which they can be easily removed. And third, they indicate the appropriate area for fastening the diaper.

Reinforcing strips 26 may comprise any suitable material to which adhesive strips 22 will adhere.

Preferably, they comprise tape of polyester or polypropylene.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the dimensions of reinforcing strips or tape 26 are significantly larger than those of adhesive fasteners 22. This permits fastening and refastening of the diapers in a wide range of locations on the diaper, allowing for easy adjustment of the fastening. It also provides a margin of error so that the adhesive fasteners need not be replaced in the identical spot each time.

Operation of the diaper of the present invention is illustrated schematically in Fig. 2. The diaper is disposed with the polyethylene layer 12 facing outward and the inner layer 14 adjacent the skin and is arranged with the legs in the two cut-outs 18. Rear portion 20 is folded up to enclose the buttocks while the front portion 24 is folded to enclose the stomach. Adhesive strips 22 are readied for use and are fastened in place along the length of reinforcing strips or tape 26. Should it be necessary to readjust the closure of the diaper, or should one wish to check whether the diaper is still clean, the adhesive strips 22 are removed from reinforcing strips 26. The diaper can then be refastened in any desired location, whether the identical location or a different location along reinforcing strips 26. Unfastening and refastening of the diaper of the present invention can be accomplished as many times as desired or required.

Referring now to Fig. 3 there is shown a disposable diaper constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Like elements in Figs. 1 and 3 have been indicated with like reference numerals and will not be described again. The embodiment of Fig. 3 is characterised by a single long reinforcing strip 28 disposed essentially parallel to the front edge of the diaper and extending virtually from side to side.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to what has been shown and described hereinabove by way of example. Rather, the scope of the invention is limited solely by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A disposable diaper comprising: at least two adhesive fasteners affixed to the sides of one edge of the diaper; and reinforcing fastening means affixed adjacent the other edge of the diaper during manufacture.

2. A disposable diaper according to claim 1 and wherein said reinforcing fastening means comprises at least one strip of material to which the adhesive fasteners are arranged to be fastened, the strip being of larger dimensions than the fasteners.

3. A disposable diaper according to claim 1 or claim 2 and wherein said reinforcing fastening means comprises at least two patches to each of which one of said adhesive fasteners is arranged to be fastened, the patches being of larger dimensions than the fasteners.

4. A disposable diaper according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said reinforcing fastening means is affixed generally parallel to one edge of the diaper and adjacent the sides thereof.

5. A disposable diaper comprising: an inner, non-woven layer; an outer polyethylene layer; an intermediate absorbent layer; at least two adhesive fasteners fastened to the sides adjacent one edge of the diaper; and reinforcing fastening means affixed to said outer layer during manufacture and disposed generally parallel to the other edge of the diaper; said reinforcing fastening means comprising at least one strip of material to which said fasteners are arranged to be fastened.

6. A disposable diaper according to claim 5 and wherein said reinforcing fastening means comprises at least one strip of material to which the adhesive fasteners are arranged to be fastened, the strip being of larger dimensions than the fasteners.

7. A disposable diaper according to claim 5 or claim 6 and wherein said reinforcing fastening means comprises at least two patches to each of which one of said adhesive fasteners is arranged to be fastened, the patches being of larger dimensions than the fasteners.

8. A diaper substantially as shown and described hereinabove.

9. A diaper substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.