US 5,019,073 A · Disposable diaper with improved mechanical fastening system

Abstract

An article, such as a disposable diaper, which includes a refastenable mechanical fastener system for closing and opening the waistband. The fastener comprises a hook and loop system, such as a Velcro.RTM. fastener system, developed for superior performance in fastening the waistband. The hook material of the fastener is molded of a copolymer of polypropylene which has flexural modulus of 70,00-120,00 psi; shore hardness D-40 to D-80 and the hooks are tapered base to tip, alternating hook design, of 0.04-0.05 inch caliper. The hook density in the material is about 740 hooks per inch on 40 rows to the inch on base film of 0.008-0.010 inch thickness. The loop material is a raised loop fabric of polyester fiber, two bar warp knit construction, with napped surface. The fabric is polyethylene terephthalate of basis weight in the range 1.0-3.0 ounce per square yard. The hook material is preferably mounted on the ears of the garment at the rear waistband which attaches to loop material. The loop material is mounted on the front waistband in one form of construction; or is adhesively backed and carried with the hook tabs to the front waistband where is adheres, the hook material being releasable and refastenable. The hook and loop fastener has peel force in the range of about 200-1200 gram per inch of width of fastener and shear of 6.60-20.0 pounds per square inch. In another form of the invention, a separate rear waistband is bonded to the rear margin of the diaper and such waistband has lateral ear portions with tabs of hook material attached. The waistband may be of elastomeric material for snug fit about the waist of the user. There are several other embodiments of diaper construction in the disclosure.

Claims38

Dependent claims

An absorbent article comprising:

superposed backsheet, absorbent body and topsheet elements formed into a composite having a selected shape,
opposite, longitudinal end portions of said composite providing front and rear waistband portions, respectively, adapted to encircle the body of a wearer,
means attached to said composite for fastening the front and rear waistband portions to each other comprising:
a hook and loop fastener comprising two interlocking materials, one being a hook material and the other being a loop material,
one of said two materials being attached to each of the lateral end portions of one of said waistband portions, and the other of said two materials being attached to said other of the waistband portions, the said materials being engageable to attach the front and rear waistband portions to each other upon encircling the body of the user,
said hook material comprising a polymeric base material of about 0.008-0.01 inch thickness having a flexural modulus of about 70,000 to 120,000 psi, a Shore hardness of about D-40-D-80, and the hook configurations thereof being tapered base to tip, and having a caliper in the range of about 0.035 to 0.050 inch, and
said loop material comprising a knit fabric having a raised and stabilized loop construction and a basis weight in the range of about 1.0-14 3.0 oz per square yard, said fabric including fabric yarns in which about 15%-35% of the fabric yarns are yarns having 1-15 filaments per yarn and having a yarn denier within the range of about 15-30 d, and in which about 65%-85% of the fabric yarns are yarns having about 10-30 filaments per yarn and a yarn denier within the range of about 30-50 d;
said hook and loop fastener having properties of shear of about 6.6 to 20 psi and peel of about 200-1200 grams per inch of width.

5 more elements

An absorbent article, comprising an outer cover having waistband portions at each longitudinal end thereof, an intermediate portion interconnecting the waistband portions and marginal portions along each lateral side of the outer cover delimiting a pair of leg openings and delimiting ear portions at each corner area of said outer cover, said waistband portions being engageable with each other about the body of a wearer,

fastening means attached to said outer cover member comprising
a hook material molded of a polymeric material having a flexural modulus of about 70,000-120,000 psi and Shore hardness of about D-40 to D-80, said material including hooks of a configuration that is tapered from base to tip and caliper of about 0.035-14 0.050 inch on a base film that is about 0.008-0.01 in thickness,
means for attaching said hook material to opposite ear portions proximate to one of said waistband portions,
a loop material comprising a knit fabric of polyethylene terephthalate and of raised and stabilized loop construction, the fabric having a total, composite caliper of about 0.02-0.06 inch and a basis weight in the range of about 1.0-3.0 oz per square yard, said fabric including fabric yarns in which about 15%-35% of the fabric yarns are yarns having 1-15 filaments per yarn and a yarn denier within the range of about 15-30d and in which about 65%-85% of the fabric yarns are yarns of about 10-30 filaments per yarn and having a yarn denier within the range of about 30-50d, and
means for attaching said loop material to said cover proximate to the other of said waistband portions,
the hook and loop materials adapted to engage one another and secure the said waistband portions to each other.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Disposable diaper with improved mechanical fastening system

Life of this patent

Disposable diaper with improved mechanical fastening system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38