EP0388681A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable diaper with refastenable mechanical fastening system
Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands LLC
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Filing: 1990-03-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A disposable absorbent garment (20) includes a moisture impervious outer layer (22), a nonwoven moisture pervious inner layer (24), an absorbent layer (26) sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer layers (24, 27), with the sandwiched layers having opposed first (30) and second (32) waist edges and two opposed side margins (34, 36). The garment further includes a fastener or closure system (48) comprising a pair of gripping strips (50) or extensions from each of the side margins along the second waist edge (32), each gripping strip having a plurality of first resiliently deformable connectors integrally formed therein. The fastener system further includes a pair of targets (52) located on the outer layer (22) along the first waist edge adjacent each side margin (34, 36), each target (52) having a plurality of second connectors (56) integrally formed thereon which are adapted to engage the first connectors (54) of the gripping strips. The first and second connectors (54, 56) comprise interlocking means of the fastener system and include a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles. The projections and receptacles may be circular or of any polygonal shape or they may comprise interlocking ridges and grooves. In one embodiment, each of the first connectors is a receptacle comprising a throat which extends through the gripping strip, and each of the second connectors comprise a projection which projects through and interlocks with a gripping strip throat.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter E. Lancaster
- 👤 Richard H. Young
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:38
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B18/00; A44B18/0046; A44B18/0053; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/56; A61F13/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A disposable absorbent garment comprising: a liquid impervious outer layer; a nonwoven liquid pervious inner layer; an absorbent layer sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer layers, the sandwiched layers having opposed first and second waist edges and two opposed side margins; and fastener means for securing the garment on a wearer of the garment, including gripping means extending from each of the side margins along the second waist edge, each gripping means having a plurality of first resiliently deformable connectors integrally formed therein, and target means located on the outer layer along the first waist edge for engaging and securing the gripping means, the target means having a plurality of second connectors integrally formed thereon, adapted to engage said first connectors, second connectors projecting outwardly from the outer layer and adapted each to receive a first connector by pressing the first connectors substantially perpendicularly toward the outer layer to interengage the first and second connectors, said first and second connectors being sized such that upon interengagement said first connectors are deformed and said first and second connectors resiliently grip one another to maintain interconnection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A disposable absorbent garment comprising: a liquid impervious outer layer; a nonwoven liquid pervious inner layer; an absorbent layer sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer layers, the sandwiched layers having opposed first and second waist edges and two opposed side margins; and fastener means for securing the garment on a wearer of the garment, including gripping means extending from each of the side margins along the second waist edge, each gripping means having a plurality of first resiliently deformable connectors integrally formed therein, and target means located on the outer layer along the first waist edge for engaging and securing the gripping means, the target means having a plurality of second connectors integrally formed thereon, adapted to engage said first connectors, second connectors projecting outwardly from the outer layer and adapted each to receive a first connector by pressing the first connectors substantially perpendicularly toward the outer layer to interengage the first and second connectors, said first and second connectors being sized such that upon interengagement said first connectors are deformed and said first and second connectors resiliently grip one another to maintain interconnection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 1 wherein each of the first connectors of the gripping means comprises a throat having a first cross-sectional dimension; and each of the second connectors of the target means comprising a projection having a second cross-sectional dimension, the second cross-sectional dimension being slightly larger than said first cross-sectional dimension, the target means and gripping means being alignable such that the first and second cross-sectional dimensions substantially coincide upon interengagement of the first and second connectors, whereby upon interconnection of a first and second connector said throat deforms by expansion of the first cross-sectional dimension to admit the second connector, and thereafter the first connector throat contracts resiliently to grip the admitted second connector and secure the interconnection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 1 wherein the gripping means is of an embossable material having the first connectors embossed thereon; and wherein the target means is of an embossable material having the second connectors embossed thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A disposable garment according to claim 1, wherein the target means is of a moisture impervious material and extends along the length of the first waist edge substantially between each of the opposed side margins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 4 wherein the target means includes a moisture barrier flap which extends along the length of the first waist edge, the flap also extending from the outer surface over the first waist edge and over the inner layer, the flap being attached to the inner layer to form a moisture proof barrier along the first waist edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 1 further including: a first moisture barrier strip along the first waist edge of the of the garment; a second moisture barrier strip along the second waist edge of the garment and extending beyond each of the opposed side margins to form respective left and right tabs; the first and second moisture barrier strips being of a moisture impervious and embossable material; and the gripping means comprising first connectors embossed upon the left and right tabs of the second moisture barrier strip, and the second connectors of the target means being embossed upon the first moisture barrier strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 2 wherein the throat of each of the first connectors of the gripping means has a substantially circular cross section, and wherein the projection of each of the second connectors of the target means also has a substantially circular cross section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 2 wherein the gripping means is a strip of a first thickness and the throat of each of the first connectors extends through the gripping means strip; and wherein the projection of each of the second connectors has a distal end portion and a middle portion spaced inwardly from the distal end portion, the distal end portion having said second cross-sectional dimension and the middle portion having a cross-sectional dimension substantially equal to said first cross-sectional dimension, the length of the middle portion being substantially equal to said first thickness whereby when said target means and gripping means are coupled together said distal end portion of the target means is positioned beyond the throat of the gripping means releasably to secure the garment upon the wearer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 8 wherein the first connectors are arranged in at least two rows, with each row parallel to the second waist edge, the first connector rows spaced a first distance apart, the first connectors within each row spaced a second distance apart; and wherein the second connectors are arranged in at least two rows, with each row substantially parallel to the first waist edge, the second connector rows being spaced said first distance apart, the second connectors within each row being spaced said second distance apart, whereby the first and second connectors of the gripping means and target means are easily aligned for interconnection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 1 wherein the outer impervious layer extends outwardly from each of the opposed side margins along the first and second waist edges to form a pair of first waist extensions extending from the first waist edge and a pair of second waist extensions extending from the second waist edge; wherein the gripping means comprise the second waist extensions and the first connectors are embossed on each of the second waist extensions; and wherein the target means comprise the pair of first waist extensions and the second connectors are embossed on each of the first waist extensions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 1 wherein the gripping means are bonded to the garment along the second waist edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A disposable garment according to claim 1 wherein the target means are bonded to the outer layer of the garment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A disposable garment according to claim 1 wherein the target means comprise a pair of targets, one of each of the pair of targets located along one of each of the opposed side margins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 1 wherein the first and second connectors comprise interlocking ridges and grooves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
A disposable garment according to claim 14 wherein the gripping means is a strip having opposed first and second sides, said first connectors comprising a plurality of substantially parallel grooves formed in said strip first side, a portion of the gripping means strip being bonded along the second waist edge of the garment with the grooves substantially perpendicular to the second waist edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A disposable garment according to claim 15 wherein the target means is a strip having opposed first and second sides, the second connectors being on the first side of the target means strip, the second connectors comprising a plurality of substantially parallel ridges thereon, at least a portion of the second side of the target means strip bonded to the outer layer of the garment, whereby the ridges are alignable with the grooves to secure the garment on a wearer by releasable interengagement of the ridges and grooves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A disposable garment according to claim 15 wherein the target means is of an embossable material, and wherein the second connectors comprise a plurality of ridges embossed thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 1 wherein the sandwiched layers generally have an hourglass shape, with the top and bottom of the hourglass shape forming the first and second waist portions of the garment, and with the opposed sides of the hourglass shape forming the opposed side margins, and with a crotch portion of the garment central to the hourglass shape having a narrower width than the waist portions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
A closure system for a disposable garment having a moisture impervious outer sheet, a nonwoven moisture pervious inner sheet and an absorbent core sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer sheets, the sandwiched core and sheets having opposed first and second waist edges and opposed side margins, the closure system comprising: gripping means extending from the second waist edge laterally of each of the side margins for securing the garment on a wearer of the garment; target means located on the outer layer along the first waist edge for engaging and securing the gripping means; and interlocking means integrally formed on the gripping means and the target means comprising a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles for releasably interconnecting the gripping means with the target means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
A closure system for a disposable garment having a moisture impervious outer sheet, a nonwoven moisture pervious inner sheet and an absorbent core sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer sheets, the sandwiched core and sheets having opposed first and second waist edges and opposed side margins, the closure system comprising: gripping means extending from the second waist edge laterally of each of the side margins for securing the garment on a wearer of the garment; target means located on the outer layer along the first waist edge for engaging and securing the gripping means; and interlocking means integrally formed on the gripping means and the target means comprising a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles for releasably interconnecting the gripping means with the target means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
134 words
A disposable absorbent garment comprising: a liquid impervious outer sheet; a nonwoven liquid pervious inner sheet; an absorbent core encased between the inner and outer sheets, the encasing inner and outer sheets joined along an outer boundary comprising opposed first and second waist edges and two opposed side margins; and fastener means for securing the garment on a wearer of the garment including gripping means of a resilient material adjacent each side margin along the second waist edge, target means of a resilient material adjacent each side margin along the first waist edge for engaging and releasably securing the gripping means, and interlocking means integrally formed on the gripping means and the target means for interconnecting the gripping means with the target means, the interlocking means comprising a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
134 words
A disposable absorbent garment comprising: a liquid impervious outer sheet; a nonwoven liquid pervious inner sheet; an absorbent core encased between the inner and outer sheets, the encasing inner and outer sheets joined along an outer boundary comprising opposed first and second waist edges and two opposed side margins; and fastener means for securing the garment on a wearer of the garment including gripping means of a resilient material adjacent each side margin along the second waist edge, target means of a resilient material adjacent each side margin along the first waist edge for engaging and releasably securing the gripping means, and interlocking means integrally formed on the gripping means and the target means for interconnecting the gripping means with the target means, the interlocking means comprising a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 20 for a disposable garment having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first and second waist edges and substantially centered between the opposed side margins, wherein the interlocking means comprises a plurality of ridges and grooves, with the ridges being interlockable with the grooves.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 21 wherein the gripping means comprises the plurality of parallel ridges, and the target means comprises the plurality of parallel grooves.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 21 wherein the gripping means comprises the plurality of interlockable grooves, each of the grooves aligned substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the garment; and the target means comprising the plurality of interlockable ridges, each of the ridges aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the garment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
67 words
A closure system according to claim 21 wherein the target means comprises: a pair of targets, each one of the pair of targets located along one of the opposed side margins; and each of the pair of targets having the plurality of interlockable grooves lying in a substantially concentric arcuate pattern, the arcuate groove pattern on each target aligned substantially convex toward the center of the garment.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
57 words
A disposable absorbent garment according to claim 24 wherein the gripping means includes the plurality of interlockable ridges, each ridge being segmented into a plurality of ridge segments, the ridge segments aligned end-to-end and separated by a small space therebetween, whereby the ridge segments engage portions of the arcuate grooves to secure the garment upon the wearer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
64 words
A disposable garment according to claim 20 wherein the target means and the gripping means are at least partially located in the outer boundary of the garment, where the encasing inner and outer sheets are joined; and wherein the projections and receptacles are formed by deformation of the inner sheet and outer sheet at the locations of the target means and the gripping means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
A disposable garment according to claim 26 wherein each of the projections project outwardly from the outer sheet, with the deformation of the joined inner and outer sheets forming a receptacle recessed inwardly from the inner sheet, each receptacle corresponding to one of the projections and having a first cross-sectional dimension, each projection having a cross-sectional dimension slightly greater than the first cross-sectional dimension and which substantially coincides with the first cross-sectional dimension of an interengaged receptacle upon interengagement, whereby the projections are interlockable with the receptacles to interconnect the gripping means with the target means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
164 words
A disposable garment according to claim 20 wherein the target means comprises projections which project outwardly from the outer sheet and the gripping means comprises projections which project outwardly from the inner sheet, the projections on each target means and each gripping means arranged in substantially parallel rows, the rows on the target means alignable with the rows on the gripping means when the garment is worn, each projection having at least two opposed walls substantially perpendicular to the sheet from which the projections project; the receptacles lying between adjacent projections and bordered by one of the opposed walls of each adjacent projection, each receptacle having a first cross-sectional dimension between the bordering walls of the adjacent projections; and each projection having a cross-sectional dimension at the opposed sidewalls that is slightly larger than the receptacle first cross-sectional dimension, whereby upon interengagement of the target means and the gripping means the projections resiliently interlock with the receptacles to secure the garment on the wearer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
70 words
A closure system according to claim 26 wherein each of the projections are substantially circular, the projections being arranged in rows and columns on the gripping means and the target means, the rows having substantially equal spacings between adjacent rows and the columns having substantially equal spacing between adjacent columns, the rows and columns on the gripping means alignable with the rows and columns on the target means for interengagement.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
201 words
A disposable garment according to claim 20 wherein each of the receptacles includes an entrance to the receptacle, the entrance defining a throat having a first cross-sectional dimension, the receptacle including a bottom surface and at least two opposed walls extending between the entrance and the bottom surface, the opposed walls defining an interwall cross-sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension; each of the projections including a distal end portion and a middle portion spaced inwardly from the distal end portion, the distal end portion having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the throat first cross-sectional dimension and substantially equal to the interwall cross-sectional dimension, the projection middle portion having a cross-sectional dimension substantially equal to the throat first cross-sectional dimension; and upon interengagement of the projections and receptacles, the distal end portion cross-sectional dimension of the projections substantially coinciding with the interwall cross-sectional dimension of an interengaged receptacle, and the projection middle portion cross-sectional dimension substantially coinciding with the interengaged throat first cross-sectional dimension, whereby when the gripping means is releasably interconnected with the target means, a projection distal end portion is interlocked between the opposed walls of a receptacle by the receptacle throat resiliently gripping the projection middle portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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