US 4,205,679 A · Disposable undergarment

Abstract

A unitary, multi-layer disposable undergarment such as a panty adapted for use in training infants or for use by incontinent adults or children is provided. The undergarment is constructed from a non-woven, stretchable fabric and comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion, a self-fitting waist portion and self-fitting leg apertures. The preferred undergarment has an inner ply of stretchable fabric adapted to contact an infant's skin, a moisture-impervious or mositure retardant outer ply and an intermediate liquid-absorbent layer or panel disposed therebetween. The inner and outer plies preferably are constructed from a non-woven fabric which has been mechanically compressed to provide small pleats (micropleats) perpendicular to the machine direction and which has first been compacted in the cross direction to provide the desired stretch characteristics. The inner and outer plies are formed from substantially hour-glass shaped blanks having longitudinally oblong side cut-outs which blanks are cut from the micropleated, cross-compacted web so that the micropleats are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the blank to provide the desired stretch in the leg and crotch area.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A stretchable, integral blank of non-woven fabric suitable for forming a disposable undergarment, said blank being cut to define a front panel, a rear panel, and a crotch portion therebetween having first and second longitudinally oblong opposed cut-outs symmetrically situated on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said blank;

each of said cut-outs extending from said front panel to said back panel along each longitudinal side margin of said blank;
the radius of curvature of each said cut-out near the front panel being smaller than the radius of curvature of said cut-out near the back panels;
said blank having an extensibility to failure of at least about 40 percent along the longitudinal center line of said blank and at least about 30 percent in the direction substantially normal to said longitudinal center line;
said blank having a ribbed surface on one face thereof and a puffed surface on the other face thereof;
and said front panel and said rear panel being asymmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal center line of said blank.

2 more elements

A disposable undergarment comprising a first layer adapted to be positioned adjacent the wearer's skin, said first layer being a moisture-permeable non-woven fabric formed from a blank having a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion of reduced width between said front and rear portions, said moisture permeable non-woven fabric being compacted in a direction normal to a longitudinal center line extending between said front and rear portions so as to provide an extensibility to failure of at least about 30 percent, said first layer being micropleated throughout its area with the micropleats running generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of said front and rear portions, said first layer including a puffed surface and a ribbed surface with the ribbed surface being adapted to contact the wearer's skin;

a second layer adapted to be disposed outwardly when the undergarment is worn, said second layer being dimensionally similar to said first layer and positioned in superimposed relationship with respect thereto, said second layer having stretch characteristics similar to those of said first layer and said second layer being more moisture repellent than said first layer;
means securing peripheral portions of said first and second layers to one another;
and means securing the front and rear portions of said layers to one another on opposite sides of said crotch portion to complete the undergarment.

A disposable undergarment comprising a first layer adapted to be positioned adjacent the wearer's skin, said first layer being a moisture permeable non-woven fabric formed from a blank having a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion of reduced width between said front and rear portions, said moisture permeable non-woven fabric having discontinuous micropleats extending generally parallel to a longitudinal center line extending between said front and rear portions so as to provide an extensibility to failure of at least about 30 percent, said micropleats defining a ribbed surface on one side of said non-woven fabric and a puffed surface on the opposite side of the non-woven fabric;

a second layer adapted to be disposed outwardly when the undergarment is worn, said second layer being dimensionally similar to said first layer and positioned in superimposed relationship with respect to the puffed surface of said non-woven fabric, said second layer having stretch characteristics similar to those of said first layer and said second layer being more moisture repellent than said first layer;
an absorbent panel disposed between said first and second layers in the crotch portion thereof;
means securing peripheral portions of said first and second layers to one another;
gathering means associated with the ends of said front and rear portions for providing a self-fitting body aperture;
and means securing the front and rear portions of said layers to one another on opposite sides of said crotch portion to complete the undergarment.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Disposable undergarment

Life of this patent

Disposable undergarment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40