Diaper with absorbent flap

Abstract

A diaper insert has a liquid impermeable external surface, an inner surface, and an absorbency area adjacent the inner surface. The absorbency area has at least one absorbent layer. The diaper insert has a distal end, an attachment end, and a midsection between the distal end and attachment end. The midsection has opposing sides that are in general mirror images to one another about a vertical line. A width of the midsection is less than or equal to a width of the attachment end, and a width of the midsection is less than or equal to a width of the distal end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A diaper system operable to be removably worn by a wearer, said diaper comprising:
 a diaper including opposite front and rear waist portions and a central portion located between the front and rear waist portions,   said diaper presenting an interior surface that generally defines a diaper interior when the diaper is worn; and   an absorbent flap including an absorbent flap layer and presenting an inner surface,   said absorbent flap and a respective waist portion being formed with one another to cooperatively define at least part of a single, unitary construction,   said absorbent flap being folded relative to the respective waist portion so that the unitary construction defines an upper fold extending along the respective waist portion, with the flap extending downwardly from the upper fold along the interior surface of the diaper such that the absorbent flap layer is positioned at least partly below the upper fold and within the diaper interior and at least part of said inner surface of the flap faces the interior surface of the diaper.   
     
     
         2 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said flap presenting a proximal end fixed to the respective waist portion and a midsection projecting from the proximal end.   
     
     
         3 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 2 , said absorbent flap layer extending along the midsection. 
     
     
         4 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said absorbent flap presenting an external surface opposite the inner surface, with at least part of the absorbent flap layer being located between the surfaces,   said external surface at least along the upper fold being liquid impermeable to restrict fluid leakage out of the diaper interior.   
     
     
         5 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said flap projecting from said respective waist portion to a location spaced therefrom,   said location including the absorbent flap layer so as to form a barrier operable to block fluid flow out of the diaper interior along the respective waist portion.   
     
     
         6 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 said flap presenting proximal and distal ends and including a midsection extending between the proximal and distal ends,   said absorbent flap layer extending along at least part of the midsection,   said flap being folded at the location to form a midsection fold, with the barrier being defined by the midsection fold.   
     
     
         7 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 said inner surface of the flap presenting oppositely facing first and second portions extending from the midsection fold, with the first portion facing the interior surface of the diaper and the second portion facing the wearer when the system is worn,   said first and second portions of the inner surface being liquid permeable adjacent the midsection fold.   
     
     
         8 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 said absorbent flap presenting an external surface opposite the inner surface, with at least part of the absorbent flap layer being located between the surfaces,   said external surface presenting opposed first and second portions extending from the midsection fold,   said first and second portions of the external surface being attached to one another to maintain the midsection fold.   
     
     
         9 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 8 ,
 said absorbent flap including an adhesion area between the first and second portions of the external surface.   
     
     
         10 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 said flap presenting a width that varies between the proximal and distal ends, with the width of the midsection being relatively smaller than the width of at least one of the ends.   
     
     
         11 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 10 ,
 said proximal and distal ends presenting a substantially similar width,   said proximal and distal ends being adjacent one another.   
     
     
         12 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 said flap presenting a proximal end adjacent said respective waist portion,   said flap including a midsection projecting from the proximal end, with the width of the flap adjacent the proximal end being greater than the width of the midsection.   
     
     
         13 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 said absorbent flap presenting an external surface opposite the inner surface, with at least part of the absorbent flap layer being located between the surfaces,   said external surface at least along the upper fold being liquid impermeable to restrict fluid leakage out of the diaper interior.   
     
     
         14 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said flap presenting a proximal end adjacent said respective waist portion,   said flap including a midsection projecting from the proximal end, with the width of the flap adjacent the proximal end being greater than the width of the midsection.   
     
     
         15 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 14 ,
 said flap presenting a distal end, with the midsection extending between the proximal and distal ends,   said flap being folded along the midsection to form a midsection fold,   said proximal and distal ends presenting a substantially similar width.   
     
     
         16 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 said proximal and distal ends being adjacent one another.   
     
     
         17 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 14 ,
 said width of the midsection being substantially constant between the proximal and distal ends.   
     
     
         18 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said absorbent flap layer being positioned entirely below the upper fold and within the diaper interior.   
     
     
         19 . The diaper system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said diaper and said flap cooperatively defining the unitary construction.