Diaper tape fastener

Claim 2

A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having an absorbent pad, opposed first and second surfaces, at least one side edge, and opening means extending through the pad assembly including said pad, said opening means being spaced from said side edge; and a tape fastener comprising. a pressure-sensitive tape strip having a first end section secured to the first surface of the pad assembly with adhesive on the first end section being exposed through said opening means of the pad assembly, and a second securement section extending past said side edge of the pad assembly, and a sheet having a first surface and a second surface facing the second surface of the pad assembly, with said adhesive exposed through the opening means being fixedly attached to the sheet.

Claim 3

The diaper of claim 1 wherein said first surface of said sheet has a relatively low affinity for adhesive on the tape strip, and the second section of the tape strip is releasably attached to the first surface of the sheet.

Claim 4

The diaper of claim 2 wherein said second section of the tape strip has tab means adjacent its outer end to facilitate removal of the second section from the sheet.

Claim 5

The diaper of claim 1 wherein said sheet extends from said opening means toward the side edge of the pad assembly.

Claim 6

The diaper of claim 4 wherein said sheet has one end extending past the side edge of the pad assembly, with said one end of the sheet being attached to adhesive on the second section of the tape strip adjacent said side edge.

Claim 7

The diaper of claim 5 wherein the sheet is releasably attached to the tape strip.

Claim 8

The diaper of claim 4 wherein said pad assembly includes aperture means intermediate said opening means and the side edge of the pad assembly, with adhesive on the first end section of the tape strip being exposed through said aperture means and being attached to the sheet.

Claim 9

The diaper of claim 7 wherein one end of said sheet is located intermediate the aperture means and the side edge of the pad assembly.

Claim 10

The diaper of claim 7 wherein said aperture means is located adjacent the side edge of the pad assembly.

Claim 11

The diaper of claim 7 wherein said aperture means extends through said absorbent pad.

Claim 12

The diaper of claim 1 wherein an end edge of the sheet is located adjacent said opening means and remote the opening means relative the side edge of the pad assembly.

Claim 13

The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pad assembly includes a fluid impervious backing sheet defining at least a portion of the first surface of the pad assembly, in which said first end section of the tape strip is secured to said backing sheet, and in which said backing sheet includes lateral side margins folded over the front of the pad assembly and covering side margins of the absorbent pad.

Claim 14

The diaper of claim 1 wherein said absorbent pad includes at least one side edge located adjacent the side edge of the pad assembly.

Claim 15

The diaper of claim 1 wherein said sheet has an adhesive free second surface having at least a moderate affinity for adhesive on said tape strip, and in which the adhesive exposed through the opening means contacts the second surface on the sheet and retains at least a portion of the sheet against the pad assembly.

Claim 16

The diaper of claim 14 wherein the second surface of the sheet has a relatively high affinity for adhesive on the tape strip.

Claim 17

The diaper of claim 1 wherein said opening means comprises a pair of spaced openings spaced laterally across the first end section of the tape strip.

Claim 18

The diaper of claim 1 including a release sheet releasably attached to the adhesive on the second section of the tape strip.

Claim 19

The diaper of claim 1 wherein said sheet has an adhesive-bearing second surface secured to the second surface of the pad assembly, and in which the adhesive of the tape strip exposed through the opening means contacts the adhesive defining the second surface of the sheet to anchor the first end section of the tape strip to said sheet.

Claim 20

The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pad has a region of reduced thickness around said opening means to facilitate attachment of the tape strip to said sheet through the opening means.

Claim 21

The diaper of claim 19 wherein said region comprises a compressed portion of said pad.

Claim 22

The diaper of claim 19 wherein said pad has a reduced amount of material in said region.

Claim 23

The diaper of claim 19 wherein said pad has a side edge and an end edge connecting said side edge, and in which the region is located adjacent the juncture of said side and end edge of the pad.

Claim 24

The diaper of claim 19 wherein said region includes a binder.

Claim 25

A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a back surface, a front surface, at least one side edge, an absorbent pad having an area of a first thickness and a region of reduced thickness adjacent a side edge of the pad, and opening means extending through the pad assembly and said region of the pad, said opening means being spaced from the side edges of the pad assembly and said pad; and a tape fastener comprising, a pressure-sensitive tape strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the pad assembly with adhesive on the first end section being exposed through said opening means of the pad assembly, and a second securement end section extending past the side edge of the pad assembly, and a release sheet having a first surface providing a relatively low affinity for adhesive on said tape strip and a second surface facing the front surface of the pad assembly, with said adhesive exposed through the opening means being attached to the release sheet adjacent one end of the release sheet, said release sheet extending past the side edge of the pad assembly with the other end of the release sheet being attached to adhesive on the second end section of the tape strip adjacent the side edge of the pad assembly, said second end section of the tape strip being folded over and releasably attached to the first surface of the release sheet.

Claim 26

A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a back surface, a front surface, at least one side edge, an absorbent pad having an area of a first thickness and a region of reduced thickness adjacent a side edge of the pad, and opening means extending through the pad assembly and said region of the pad, said opening means being spaced from the side edges of the pad assembly and said pad; and a tape fastener comprising, a pressure-sensitive tape strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the pad assembly with adhesive on the first end section being exposed through said opening means of the pad assembly, and a second securement end section extending past the side edge of the pad assembly, and a release sheet having a first surface providing a relatively low affinity for adhesive on said tape strip and a second surface facing the front surface of the pad assembly, with said adhesive exposed through the opening means being attached to the release sheet adjacent one end of the release sheet, said release sheet extending past the side edge of the pad assembly with the other end of the release sheet being attached to adhesive on the second end section of the tape strip adjacent the side edge of the pad assembly, said second end section of the tape strip being folded over and releasably attached to the first surface of the release sheet.

Claim 27

A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a back surface, a front surface, at least one side edge, an absorbent pad having an area of a first thickness and a region of reduced thickness adjacent a side edge of the pad, first opening means extending through the pad assembly and said region of the pad, with the first opening means being spaced from the side edge of the pad assembly and said pad, and second opening means extending through the pad assembly and said region of the pad, with the second opening means being located intermediate the first opening means and the side edge of said pad; and a tape fastener comprising, a pressure-sensitive tape strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the pad assembly with adhesive on the first end section being exposed through the first and second opening means of the pad assembly, and a second securement end section extending past the side edge of the pad assembly, and a release sheet having a first surface providing a relatively low affinity for adhesive on said tape strip and a second surface facing the front surface of the pad assembly, with said adhesive exposed through the first and second opening means being attached to the release sheet, said second end section of the tape strip being folded over and releasably attached to the first surface of the release sheet.

Claim 28

A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a back surface, a front surface, at least one side edge, an absorbent pad having an area of a first thickness and a region of reduced thickness adjacent a side edge of the pad, first opening means extending through the pad assembly and said region of the pad, with the first opening means being spaced from the side edge of the pad assembly and said pad, and second opening means extending through the pad assembly and said region of the pad, with the second opening means being located intermediate the first opening means and the side edge of said pad; and a tape fastener comprising, a pressure-sensitive tape strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the pad assembly with adhesive on the first end section being exposed through the first and second opening means of the pad assembly, and a second securement end section extending past the side edge of the pad assembly, and a release sheet having a first surface providing a relatively low affinity for adhesive on said tape strip and a second surface facing the front surface of the pad assembly, with said adhesive exposed through the first and second opening means being attached to the release sheet, said second end section of the tape strip being folded over and releasably attached to the first surface of the release sheet.

Claim 29

A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having opposed surfaces and opening means extending through an absorbent pad of the diaper, comprising: a pressure-sensitive tape strip having a first portion secured to one of the surfaces of the diaper with adhesive on the first portion being exposed through the opening means, and a securement portion spaced from the opening means for securing the diaper about an infant; and a release sheet having at least a portion fixedly attached to the first portion of the tape strip by the adhesive exposed through said opening means, said securement portion being releasably attached to said release sheet.

Claim 30

A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having opposed surfaces and opening means extending through an absorbent pad of the diaper, comprising: a pressure-sensitive tape strip having a first portion secured to one of the surfaces of the diaper with adhesive on the first portion being exposed through the opening means, and a securement portion spaced from the opening means for securing the diaper about an infant; and a release sheet having at least a portion fixedly attached to the first portion of the tape strip by the adhesive exposed through said opening means, said securement portion being releasably attached to said release sheet.