# US 8,771,249 B2 · Absorbent incontinence article with improved closure system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,249 B2 - Document ID: US8771249B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/798,242 - Filed: 2013-03-13 - Published: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-27 - Assignees: Paul Hartmann AG - Applicants: Paul Hartmann AG - Inventors: Susanne Beckert; Ruediger Kesselmeier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771249B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/5644: {having more than one pair of fasteners} - A61F 13/51401: {characterised by the material} - A61F 13/5148: {having an impervious inner layer and a cloth-like outer layer} - A61F 13/5633: {open type diaper} - A61F 13/622: {Fabric strip fastener elements, e.g. hook and loop} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An absorbent incontinence diaper (2) has a rear area (8), a front area (6) and an intermediate crotch area (12), first and second side edges (5), and with a main part (4) having an inner face directed towards the body and an outer face directed away from the body. Side parts (16,17) are joined to the first and second side edges (5), the side parts (16,17) having an inner face and an outer face, the side parts (17) in the rear area having closure means (32) with mechanical closure aids (31). The retaining forces between the mechanical closure means (31) and the outer face of the main part are lower than the retaining forces between the mechanical closure means (31) and the outer face of the side parts (16) in the front area (6). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user, comprising: a chassis having an inner face which, when in use, is directed toward a user body and an outer face which, when in use, is directed away from the user body, said chassis having an absorbent body and a backsheet on a side of said absorbent body which, when in use, is directed away from the user body, said absorbent body having a smaller width than said backsheet, said chassis also having a rear area, a front area, and a crotch area lying between said rear area and said front area, said chassis further defining first and second side edges; a first ear attached as a separate component to said first side edge in said front area; a second ear attached as a separate component to said second edge in said front area; a third ear attached as a separate component to said first side edge in said rear area; a fourth ear attached as a separate component to said second side edge in said rear area; said third and fourth ears having a closure component including mechanical closure aids which, when in use, hold the diaper on the user body when said closure component is selectively fastened to either said outer face of said chassis or to said outer face of said first and second ears; wherein retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said chassis are lower than retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein said retaining forces are determined as over-abdomen retaining forces. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 2, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said chassis, are 57-20 N/25 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 3, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears, are 90-58 N/25 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 3, wherein said mechanical closure aids comprise hooks of a hook-and-loop fastener. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 5, wherein said closure component comprises an adhesive closure aid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said outer face of said chassis is constituted by a chassis nonwoven material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 7, wherein said chassis nonwoven material has a mass per unit area of 10-30 g/m2. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 7, wherein said chassis nonwoven material is subjected to temperature treatment above 60° C. to improve said over-abdomen retaining forces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 7, wherein said chassis nonwoven material is subjected to ring-rolling to improve said over-abdomen retaining forces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 7, wherein said first nonwoven material has a mass per unit area of 18-22 g/m2. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 3, further comprising: said outer faces of said first and second ears are constituted by an ear nonwoven material; at least a portion of said outer face of said chassis is constituted by a chassis nonwoven material; a mass per unit area of said ear nonwoven material is greater than a mass per unit area of said chassis nonwoven material; and a thickness of said ear nonwoven material is greater than a thickness of said chassis nonwoven, the thickness being determined under a test pressure of 0.5 kPa. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 2, wherein said over-abdomen retaining forces are determined using a pull-off angle tangential to a curved surface and kept constant, said curved surface having a radius of curvature of 400 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 2, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said chassis, are 50-25 N/25 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 2, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears, are 80-60 N/25 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said chassis, are 57-20 N/25 mm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 16, wherein said backsheet is constituted by a nonwoven-foil laminate, wherein outside nonwoven material and inside foils seat facing said absorbent body, wherein said outside nonwoven material constitutes an outer face of said chassis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 17, wherein said foil is constituted by a breathable foil that is impermeable to liquids, said foil having at least one layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 16, wherein said outer faces of said first and second ears are constituted by an ear nonwoven material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 19, wherein at least portions of said outer face of said chassis are constituted by chassis nonwoven material and a mass per unit area of said ear nonwoven material is greater than a mass per unit area of said chassis nonwoven material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 20, wherein a thickness of said ear nonwoven material is greater than a thickness of said chassis nonwoven, the thickness being determined under a test pressure of 0.5 kPa. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 16, wherein said first and second ears are constituted by an ear nonwoven material that is permeable to air and water vapor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 16, wherein a mass per unit area of said first and second ears is 18-60 g/m2. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 16, wherein a breathability of said ears in said front and/or said rear area is greater than a breathability of said backsheet. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears, are 90-58 N/25 mm. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein said ears in said front and/or said rear area are folded upon themselves at least about one folding line extending in a longitudinal direction. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein partial sections of said ears are folded upon each other and lie against one another over an area, said partial sections being detachably fixed to each other in folded configuration at joining regions. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein said ears in said front and/or said rear area have a reinforcing material which, when viewed in a transverse direction, is narrower than each side part, said reinforcing material being provided in at least a region overlapping said side edge of said chassis, thereby overlapping both a lateral side edge region of said chassis and part of said ear in said transverse direction. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein an extent of said ears attached to the chassis beyond the side edge of the chassis in a transverse direction in an unfolded state is between 15 cm and 35 cm. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein said ears attached to the chassis have an extent in a longitudinal direction of the incontinence diaper in the area of attaching to the chassis of at least 14 cm. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said mechanical closure aids and said outer face of said chassis, are 50-25 N/25 mm. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears, are 80-60 N/25 mm. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 1, wherein a mass per unit area of said first and second ears is 27-40 g/m2. ### Claim 34 An absorbent incontinence diaper, comprising: a chassis having an inner face which, when in use, is directed toward a user body and an outer face which, when in use, is directed away from the user body, said chassis having an absorbent body and a backsheet on a side of said absorbent body which, when in use, is directed away from the user body, said absorbent body having a smaller width than said backsheet, said chassis also having a rear area, a front area, and a crotch area lying between said rear area and said front area, said chassis further defining first and second side edges; a first ear attached as a separate component to said first side edge in said front area; a second ear attached as a separate component to said second edge in said front area; a third ear attached as a separate component to said first side edge in said rear area; a fourth ear attached as a separate component to said second side edge in said rear area; said first, second, third, and fourth ears having an inner face and an outer face; wherein said crotch area has no ears; and said third and fourth ears having a closure component including mechanical closure aids which, when in use, hold the diaper on a the user body when said closure component is selectively fastened to either said outer face of said chassis or to said outer face of said first and second ears; wherein retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said chassis are lower than retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The absorbent incontinence article of claim 34, wherein said retaining forces are determined as over-abdomen retaining forces. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 35, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said chassis, are 57-20 N/25 mm. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 36, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears, are 90-58 N/25 mm. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The absorbent incontinence diaper for an adult user of claim 36, further comprising: said outer faces of said first and second ears are constituted by an ear nonwoven material; at least a portion of said outer face of said chassis is constituted by a chassis nonwoven material; a mass per unit area of said ear nonwoven material is greater than a mass per unit area of said chassis nonwoven material; and a thickness of said ear nonwoven material is greater than a thickness of said chassis nonwoven, the thickness being determined under a test pressure of 0.5 kPa. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 35, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said chassis, are 50-25 N/25 mm. ### Claim 40 (depends on 35) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 35, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears, are 80-60 N/25 mm. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 35, wherein said over-abdomen retaining forces are determined using a pull-off angle tangential to a curved surface and kept constant, said curved surface having a radius of curvature of 400 mm. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 35, wherein said mechanical closure aids comprise hooks of a hook-and-loop fastener and wherein said closure component further comprises an adhesive closure aid. ### Claim 43 (depends on 34) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 34, wherein said ears in said front and/or said rear area are folded upon themselves at least about one folding line extending in a longitudinal direction. ### Claim 44 (depends on 34) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 34, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said chassis, are 57-20 N/25 mm. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 44, wherein said outer faces of said ears in said front and/or said rear area are constituted by an ear nonwoven material. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 45, wherein at least a portion of said outer face of said chassis is constituted by a chassis nonwoven material and a mass per unit area of said ear nonwoven material is greater than a mass per unit area of said chassis nonwoven material. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 46, wherein a mass per unit area of said ears in said front and/or said rear area is 18-60 g/m2. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 46, wherein a thickness of said ear nonwoven material is greater than a thickness of said chassis nonwoven material, the thickness being determined under a test pressure of 0.5 kPa. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 46, wherein a mass per unit area of said first and second ears is 28-35 g/m2. ### Claim 50 (depends on 44) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 44, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said closure component and said outer face of said first and second ears, are 90-58 N/25 mm. ### Claim 51 (depends on 34) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 34, wherein an extent of an ear in the front area and the rear area attached to the chassis beyond the side edge of the chassis in a transverse direction in an unfolded state is at least 15 cm and no more than 35 cm. ### Claim 52 (depends on 34) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 34, wherein the ears in the front area and the rear area attached to the chassis have an extent in a longitudinal direction of the incontinence diaper in an area of attachment to the chassis of at least 14 cm. ### Claim 53 (depends on 34) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 34, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said mechanical closure aids and said outer face of said chassis, are 50-25 N/25 mm. ### Claim 54 (depends on 34) The absorbent incontinence diaper of claim 34, wherein said retaining forces, determined as over-abdomen retaining forces between said-closure component and said outer face of said ears in said front area, are 80-60 N/25 mm.