Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of waistline portions, a crotch region intermediate the waistline portions, a fluid impervious backing sheet, a fluid pervious cover sheet, an absorbent pad intermediate the backing and cover sheets, a plurality of longitudinally extending folds defining a pleated configuration of the pad assembly having a longitudinally extending central panel, and a pair of outermost panels overlying the central panel, and lateral fold means of the pleated pad assembly in said crotch region; and means for securing a sufficient portion of the outermost panels together in said lateral fold means to maintain the pad assembly in its laterally folded configuration, whereby the diaper assumes a contoured configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the central panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of waistline portions, a crotch region intermediate the waistline portions, a fluid impervious backing sheet, a fluid pervious cover sheet, an absorbent pad intermediate the backing and cover sheets, a plurality of longitudinally extending folds defining a pleated configuration of the pad assembly having a longitudinally extending central panel, and a pair of outermost panels overlying the central panel, and lateral fold means of the pleated pad assembly in said crotch region; and means for securing a sufficient portion of the outermost panels together in said lateral fold means to maintain the pad assembly in its laterally folded configuration, whereby the diaper assumes a contoured configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the central panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The diaper of claim 1 wherein the securing means extends substantially laterally across the outermost panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The diaper of claim 1 wherein the longitudinally extending folds define a box-pleat configuration of the pad assembly having a pair of first panels extending from and overlying the central panel, and the outermost panels extending from and overlying the first panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The diaper of claim wherein said lateral fold means comprises a lateral tuck in the pad assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The diaper of claim 4 wherein said lateral tuck includes a lateral fold line, and first and second longitudinal sections of the pad assembly extending from the lateral fold line toward opposite waistline portions of the pad assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The diaper of claim 5 wherein the longitudinal length of each of the longitudinal sections is approximately 1/2 inch (1.27 cms.) to 2 inches (5.08 cms.).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The diaper of claim 5 wherein said lateral fold line is located adjacent the longitudinal mid-point of the pad assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The diaper of claim 1 wherein said absorbent pad extends through a substantial portion of said lateral fold means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The diaper of claim 1 wherein said absorbent pad includes cut-out portions in the outermost panels located in said lateral fold means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The diaper of claim 1 wherein said absorbent pad includes a cut-out portion in said lateral fold means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The diaper of claim 1 wherein at least a part of the securing means retains inner portions of the outermost panels together adjacent its inner edges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The diaper of claim 1 wherein said lateral fold means comprises a lateral pleat in the pad assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The diaper of claim 12 wherein said pleat has a pair of lower fold lines and an upper fold line defining a plurality of contiguous longitudinal sections in the pad assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The diaper of claim 13 wherein the securing means retains said sections together.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of side edges, a pair of waistline portions, a crotch portion intermediate the waistline portions, a fluid impervious backing sheet, a fluid pervious cover sheet, and a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the backing and cover sheets, said pads being separated in the crotch region of the diaper defining a laterally extending area of reduced thickness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of side edges, a pair of waistline portions, a crotch portion intermediate the waistline portions, a fluid impervious backing sheet, a fluid pervious cover sheet, and a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the backing and cover sheets, said pads being separated in the crotch region of the diaper defining a laterally extending area of reduced thickness.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The diaper of claim 15 wherein the pad assembly is folded laterally in the area of reduced thickness, said area facilitating folding of the pad assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The diaper of claim 15 including means for securing folded portions of the pad assembly in said area of reduced thickness.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
The diaper of claim 15 wherein the pad assembly has a plurality of longitudinally extending folds defining a box-pleat configuration of the diaper having a longitudinally extending central panel, a pair of first panels extending from and overlying the central panel, and a pair of outermost panels extending from and overlying the first panels, and including means for securing overlapped portions of the outermost panels together in said area of reduced thickness.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The diaper of claim 18 wherein at least a part of the securing means retains inner portions of the outermost panels together adjacent the first panels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The diaper of claim 18 wherein the securing means extends laterally across the outermost panels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The diaper of claim 18 wherein said pads are spaced approximately the same distance from the longitudinal mid-point of the pad assembly, and said pad assembly is laterally tucked adjacent the longitudinal mid-point of the diaper to overlap said outermost panels.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The diaper of claim 18 wherein said pads are spaced approximately the same distance from the longitudinal mid-point of the pad assembly, and said pad assembly is laterally pleated adjacent the longitudinal mid-point of the diaper to overlap said outermost panels.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having front and back waistline portions, a fluid impervious backing sheet, a crotch region intermediate the waistline portions, and securing means for retaining spaced areas of said backing sheet in a close relationship to define pocket means of said backing sheet in the crotch region depending from the pad assembly in the crotch region to receive body exudate from an infant.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having front and back waistline portions, a fluid impervious backing sheet, a crotch region intermediate the waistline portions, and securing means for retaining spaced areas of said backing sheet in a close relationship to define pocket means of said backing sheet in the crotch region depending from the pad assembly in the crotch region to receive body exudate from an infant.