US 5,843,068 AGranted

Disposable diaper having elastic side panels

AssigneeJ&M Laboratories, Inc.

InventorsMartin A. Allen, John T. Fetcko

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Abstract

A form fitting diaper comprises a backsheet having a front section, a back section, and a crotch section, and has bonded thereto an absorbent layer. The diaper further comprises a pair of elastic side panels bonded between the front and back sections of the backsheet and define therewith a circumferentially continuous and elastic waist, and further defining leg openings. The side panels having substantially unidirectional elasticity whereby the panels are elastic in the circumferential direction and substantially inelastic in the direction perpendicular thereto. The side panels being of composite construction comprising an elastomeric layer with a unidirectionally elastic nonwoven layer bonded thereto. The composite combines the barrier and strength properties of the elastomeric layer with the unidirectional elasticity and fabric-like properties of the nonwoven layer. The unidirectional elasticity of the composite is useful for putting on and taking off the diaper. The elastic nonwoven layer being formed by heat drawing substantially nonelastic meltblown or spunbond fibers.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A form fitting diaper for a human body, which comprises:

(a) a backsheet having
(i) a front section having spaced apart lateral edges,
(ii) a back section having spaced apart lateral edges, and
(iii) a crotch section interconnecting the front and back sections;
(b) a nonwoven inner layer having its outer periphery bonded to the backsheet;
(c) an absorbent layer positioned between the backsheet and the nonwoven inner layer;
(d) a first side panel interconnecting one lateral edge of the front of the backsheet section to one lateral edge of the back section of the backsheet;
and
(e) a second side panel interconnecting the other lateral edge of the front section of the backsheet with the other lateral edge of the back section of the backsheet, the side panels and the front and back sections of the backsheet defining a circumferentially continuous waist adapted to fit around the body, each side panel being composed of a composite comprising
(i) a first layer of a stretchable, elastic nonwoven composed of nonelastic fibers;
(ii) a second layer of a stretchable elastic nonwoven composed of nonelastic fibers, and
(iii) an elastomeric layer positioned between the first and second layers and having one surface bonded to the first layer and a second surface bonded to the second layer;
whereby the composite is stretchable without requiring ruffles in any of the layers.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.