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US4437860A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Disposable diaper with elasticized leg openings

Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
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Filing: 1981-08-21
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Granted: 1984-03-20
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Expires: 2001-08-21
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Abstract

Abstract A disposable diaper with uniformly stretched elastic bands adhesively bonded along the entire length of both edges of the diaper with heavier concentrations of adhesive in the waistband portions than in the crotch portion to reduce gathering and creep of the elastic in the waistband portions. Preferably the diaper is of hour glass shape with the elastic outboard of the absorbent batt in the crotch portion and extending across the laterally extending ears of the absorbent batt in the waistband portions to further improve the stability thereof.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wayne C. Sigl
  • 👤 Richard H. Frick

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 17:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/45; A61F13/49; A61F13/49007; A61F13/49009; A61F13/49017; A61F13/49019

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 172 words
In a disposable diaper having an absorbent batt interposed between a fluid permeable facing sheet and a fluid impervious backing sheet and having a generally hour glass shape with a narrow centrally disposed crotch portion and wider waistband portions at the ends thereof, the improvement comprising, prestretched elastic means extending along the length of the diaper at each side, said elastic disposed outboard of the absorbent batt in the crotch portion and across the laterally extending ears of the absorbent batt in the waistband portions of the diaper, adhesive means for securing said elastic to at least one of said facing sheet and backing sheet substantially along the entire length of said diaper, said adhesive being applied in the form of longitudinally spaced apart concentrations, said concentrations in the waistband portion being substantially larger and more closely spaced than said concentrations in the crotch portions of the diaper to substantially decrease the retractive force of the stretched elastic in the waistband portions to thereby reduce gathering thereof and diminish undesirable elastic creep.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 172 words
In a disposable diaper having an absorbent batt interposed between a fluid permeable facing sheet and a fluid impervious backing sheet and having a generally hour glass shape with a narrow centrally disposed crotch portion and wider waistband portions at the ends thereof, the improvement comprising, prestretched elastic means extending along the length of the diaper at each side, said elastic disposed outboard of the absorbent batt in the crotch portion and across the laterally extending ears of the absorbent batt in the waistband portions of the diaper, adhesive means for securing said elastic to at least one of said facing sheet and backing sheet substantially along the entire length of said diaper, said adhesive being applied in the form of longitudinally spaced apart concentrations, said concentrations in the waistband portion being substantially larger and more closely spaced than said concentrations in the crotch portions of the diaper to substantially decrease the retractive force of the stretched elastic in the waistband portions to thereby reduce gathering thereof and diminish undesirable elastic creep.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A disposable diaper as defined in claim 1 wherein said adhesive is applied in the form of a multiplicity of laterally extending bars.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A disposable diaper as defined in claim 2 wherein said adhesive is applied to said prestretched elastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A disposable diaper as defined in claim 2 wherein said adhesive is applied to said backing sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
A disposable diaper as defined in claim 2 wherein said adhesive is applied to said facing sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A disposable diaper as defined in claim 2 wherein the bars in the waistband portion are about four times as wide as the bars in the crotch portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 43 words
A disposable diaper as defined in claim 2 wherein said laterally extending bars are substantially rectangular in shape and the length of the bar exceeds the width of the elastic so as to ensure the adherence of the elastic over its entire width.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4205679A Cited
US4259958A Cited
US4325372A Cited
US4333782A Cited
US4326528A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-03-20 1987-09-19 1988-03-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-03-20 1991-09-19 1992-03-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-03-20 1995-09-19 1996-03-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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