USRE34920EExpiredUtility

Disposable absorbent article having elasticized flaps provided with leakage resistant portions

Assignee: PROCTER & GAMBLEPriority: Oct 5, 1981Filed: Oct 23, 1991Granted: Apr 25, 1995

Est. expiryOct 5, 2001(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:Mohammed I. Aziz Ted L. Blaney

A61F 13/51A61F 13/514A61F 13/49446A61F 13/49413A61F 13/49001A61F 13/53

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References

Claims

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article for absorbing liquids, particularly body fluids such as urine. An absorbent core is encased in an outer covering layer to which flaps are connected long the longitudinal sides at a proximal edge. The flaps also have a distal edge which is displaced from the absorbent core means. The flaps are elasticized to render the distal edge elastically contractible so that the flap is gathered.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

We claim:

1. .[.A.]. .Iadd.An integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.having a front waist portion, a back waist portion, and a crotch portion positioned between said front waist portion and said back waist portion, the .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.comprising: an outer covering layer; an absorbent core means for absorbing liquid, said absorbent core means being encased in said outer covering layer; a multiplicity of flaps, each of said flaps having a fixed edge, a distal edge in spaced relation to said fixed edge, and a liquid contacting surface, the sides of which are bounded by said fixed and said distal edges, each of said flaps having said fixed edge connected to said outer covering layer, said flaps being a separate element affixed to said outer covering layer, said distal edge being displaced from said absorbent core means, each of said flaps having a leakage resistant portion interposed on said liquid contacting surface between said fixed edge and said distal edge, said leakage resistant portion being liquid impermeable; and an elastic element, said elastic element being operatively associated with said distal edge of said flaps and secured in an elastically contractible condition to said flap adjacent at least two ends to render said distal edge of said flaps elastically contractible so that said elastic element effectively contracts or gathers the flap material .Iadd.causing said distal edge of said flap to be spaced upwardly about said fixed edge and upwardly away from said absorbent core.Iaddend..

2. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 1 wherein said distal edge is curvilinear.

3. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 2 wherein said fixed edge and said distal edge are non-parallel to each other.

4. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 1 wherein said distal edge is rectilinear.

5. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 4 wherein said fixed edge and said distal edge are parallel to each other.

6. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 4 wherein said fixed edge and said distal edge are non-parallel to each other.

7. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 1 wherein said outer covering layer comprises a topsheet portion and a backsheet portion, said topsheet portion being joined together with said backsheet portion.

8. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 7 wherein said flaps are affixed to said backsheet.

9. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 7 wherein said flaps are affixed to said topsheet.

10. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 9 wherein said absorbent core means is of an hourglass shape.

11. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 10 wherein said absorbent core means has longitudinal side edges, said fixed edge being connected to said topsheet adjacent said longitudinal side edge of said absorbent core in at least said crotch portion.

12. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 11 wherein said distal edge is rectilinear.

13. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 12 wherein said distal edge and said fixed edge are parallel to each other.

14. .[.A.]. .Iadd.An integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.comprising: an outer covering layer comprising a backsheet portion and a topsheet portion; an absorbent core means for absorbing liquid, said absorbent core means being encased in said outer covering layer; a multiplicity of flaps, each of said flaps having a fixed edge, a distal edge in spaced relation to said fixed edge, and a liquid contacting surface bounded by said fixed and said distal edges, each of said flaps having said fixed edge connected to said outer covering layer, said distal edge being displaced from said absorbent core means, each of said flaps having a leakage resistant portion interposed on said liquid contacting surface between said fixed edge and said distal edge, said leakage resistant portion being liquid impermeable, and said flaps being manufactured from an elastic material to render such flaps elastically contractible so that the flap material is contracted or gathered .Iadd.causing said distal edge of said flap to be spaced upwardly about said fixed edge and upwardly away from said absorbent core.Iaddend..

15. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 14 wherein each of said flaps is unitary with said outer covering layer.

16. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 15 wherein each of said flaps is unitary with said topsheet portion.

17. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 14 wherein each of said flaps is a separate element affixed to said outer covering layer.

18. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 17 wherein each of said flaps if affixed to said topsheet portion.

19. .[.A.]. .Iadd.An integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.having a front waist portion, a back waist portion, and a crotch portion positioned between said front waist portion and said back waist portion, the disposable diaper comprising: an outer covering layer; an absorbent core means for absorbing liquid, said absorbent core means being encased in said outer covering layer; a multiplicity of flaps, each of said flaps having a fixed edge, a distal edge in spaced relation to said fixed edge, and a liquid contacting surface, the sides of which are bounded by said fixed and said distal edges, each of said flaps having said fixed edge connected to said outer covering layer, said distal edge being displaced from said absorbent core means; and an elastic element, said elastic element being operatively associated with said distal edge of said flaps and secured in an elastically contractible condition to said flap adjacent at least two ends to render said distal edge of said flaps elastically contractible so that said elastic element effectively contracts or gathers the flap material .Iadd.causing said distal edge of said flap to be spaced upwardly about said fixed edge and upwardly away from said absorbent core.Iaddend..

20. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 19 wherein each of said flaps is unitary with said outer covering layer.

21. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 19 wherein each of said flaps is a separate element affixed to said outer covering layer.

22. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 19 wherein said outer covering layer comprises a topsheet portion and a backsheet portion, said topsheet portion being joined with said backsheet portion.

23. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 22 wherein said flaps are connected to said backsheet.

24. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 23 wherein each of said flaps is unitary with said backsheet.

25. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 23 wherein each of said flaps is a separate element affixed to said backsheet.

26. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 22 wherein said flaps are connected to said topsheet.

27. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 26 wherein each of said flaps is unitary with said topsheet.

28. The .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.disposable .[.diaper.]. .Iadd.absorbent article .Iaddend.of claim 26 wherein each of said flaps is a separate element affixed to said topsheet. .Iadd.29. The integral disposable absorbent article according to claims 1, 14 or 19, wherein the article is a diaper. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The integral disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, 14 or 19, wherein the article is a catamenial pad. .Iaddend.

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