US3881491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-inflating structure
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1974-03-29
•
Granted: 1975-05-06
•
Expires: 1994-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A self-inflating structure wherein some gas evolving material or reagent is sealed. The structure comprises a wall of semipermeable material which is substantially pervious to molecules of an activator material and substantially impervious to free molecules of an evolved or product-of-reaction gas. Such free molecules of gas are provided when molecules of activator material interact or react with the gas evolving material. Upon exposing the outside of the semipermeable wall of the structure to molecules of activator material, activator molecules permeate the structure wherein such activator molecules interact with the gas evolving material to provide free molecules of evolved gas or a product-of-reaction gas whereby the structure becomes inflated by the evolved gas. Such self-inflating structures are also disclosed in combination with absorbent materials to provide absorbent products having low pre-inflation bulk. Such absorbent products include disposable diapers having substantially higher ratios of absorption capacity to weight of absorbent material than otherwise.
Inventors
- 👤 David Denzil Whyte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/45; A61F13/49; A61F13/42; A61F13/84; A61F15/00; A61F15/008; A61F13/53; A61F13/534; A61F13/537; A61F13/56; A61F13/58; A61F2013/15008; A61F2013/15048; A61F2013/49068; A61F2013/49076; A61F13/51; A61F13/514; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51409; A61F13/51474; A61F2013/51486; A61F2013/51492; A61F2013/53445; A61F13/53708; A61F2013/53721; A61F13/539; A61F2013/5395; A61F2013/586; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24661
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A disposable diaper comprising a self-inflating pillow structured laminated backsheet, an absorbent pad, a wicking sheet of hydrophilic material, and a topsheet of porous hydrophobic material, said absorbent pad being disposed intermediate said backsheet and said wicking sheet, and said wicking sheet being disposed intermediate said absorbent pad and said top sheet, said laminated backsheet comprising a plain lamina of substantially water impermeable thermoplastic film, an embossed lamina of semipermeable thermoplastic film which is substantially water permeable, and a predetermined amount of water-reactive gasevolving reagent, said embossed lamina having a plurality of pillow forming embossments formed therein which are spaced by unembossed areas of said embossed lamina, said pillows being formed by sealingly securing said unembossed areas of said embossed lamina to adjacent portions of said plain lamina while said embossments are substantially collapsed and with a predetermined quantity of said reagent disposed within each said embossment, said absorbent pad having a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough which are so spaced and configured to accommodate said pillows, said absorbent pad being secured to said embossed lamina of said laminated backsheet with said pillows in registration with said apertures whereby portions of said absorbent pad surround each said pillow and said pillows extend through said apertures when inflated by gas evolved by said reagent when water permeates said embossments of said embossed portions of said pillows formed from said embossed lamina and when said water reacts with said reagent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A disposable diaper comprising a self-inflating pillow structured laminated backsheet, an absorbent pad, a wicking sheet of hydrophilic material, and a topsheet of porous hydrophobic material, said absorbent pad being disposed intermediate said backsheet and said wicking sheet, and said wicking sheet being disposed intermediate said absorbent pad and said top sheet, said laminated backsheet comprising a plain lamina of substantially water impermeable thermoplastic film, an embossed lamina of semipermeable thermoplastic film which is substantially water permeable, and a predetermined amount of water-reactive gasevolving reagent, said embossed lamina having a plurality of pillow forming embossments formed therein which are spaced by unembossed areas of said embossed lamina, said pillows being formed by sealingly securing said unembossed areas of said embossed lamina to adjacent portions of said plain lamina while said embossments are substantially collapsed and with a predetermined quantity of said reagent disposed within each said embossment, said absorbent pad having a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough which are so spaced and configured to accommodate said pillows, said absorbent pad being secured to said embossed lamina of said laminated backsheet with said pillows in registration with said apertures whereby portions of said absorbent pad surround each said pillow and said pillows extend through said apertures when inflated by gas evolved by said reagent when water permeates said embossments of said embossed portions of said pillows formed from said embossed lamina and when said water reacts with said reagent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein sAid semipermeable thermoplastic film is substantially impermeable to carbon dioxide and said reagent comprises material which will react with water to evolve carbon dioxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The disposable diaper of claim 2 wherein said reagent comprises a predetermined quantity of a powdered acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, terephthalic acid, salicylic acid, polymaleic acid, and ethylenediamin tetra acetic acid in combination with a predetermined amount of bicarbonate selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The disposable diaper of claim 2 wherein said reagent comprises predetermined weights of potassium bicarbonate and citric acid powders.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |