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US4636207A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Disposable garment with breathable leg cuffs

Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1983-08-11
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Granted: 1987-01-13
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Expires: 2003-08-11
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Abstract

Abstract Disposable diapers provided with breathable leg cuffs. Disposable diapers comprise a topsheet, an absorbent element, and a backsheet. The leg cuff of a disposable diaper is that part of the diaper which fits about the wearer's leg. Extensions of the backsheet can be used to form cuffs which are frequently elasticized. In the present invention the cuffs are formed of a material which allows passage of vapor ("breathes") while tending to retard the passage of liquid. Apertured thermoplastic films are examples of such materials. Certain advantages accrue in cuffs which are permeable to vapor in their distal portions and impermeable in the portions adjacent the absorbent element. If the disposable diaper has a breathable backsheet, the cuffs are constructed to be more permeable to vapor per unit area in their breathable portions than is the backsheet.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenneth B. Buell

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 06:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/45; A61F13/49; A61F13/494; A61F13/49406; A61F13/49413; A61F13/4942

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 220 words
A disposable diaper comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent element interposed therebetween; said diaper having two lateral end margins and two longitudinal side margins; said longitudinal side margins being contoured in that said side margins are non-linear over at least a portion of their respective lengths; said diaper further having two longitudinally extending cuffs adapted to contact the legs of a wearer when said diaper is in use; each of said cuffs comprising at least a portion of one of said longitudinal side margins; each of said cuffs having been rendered elastically contractable by the association therewith of elastic means affixed to said diaper; wherein each of said cuffs is permeable to vapor over at least a portion of its extent, each of said cuffs comprises at least one separate element affixed to said diaper, each of said cuffs comprises at least one portion permeable to vapor and at least one portion impermeable to vapor; and wherein in each cuff at least one portion permeable to vapor is intermediate the distal edge of said cuff and said adsorbent element and at least one portion impermeable to vapor is intermediate said portion permeable to vapor and said absorbent element, and the portion permeable to vapor comprises from about 5% to about 75% of said cuff.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 220 words
A disposable diaper comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent element interposed therebetween; said diaper having two lateral end margins and two longitudinal side margins; said longitudinal side margins being contoured in that said side margins are non-linear over at least a portion of their respective lengths; said diaper further having two longitudinally extending cuffs adapted to contact the legs of a wearer when said diaper is in use; each of said cuffs comprising at least a portion of one of said longitudinal side margins; each of said cuffs having been rendered elastically contractable by the association therewith of elastic means affixed to said diaper; wherein each of said cuffs is permeable to vapor over at least a portion of its extent, each of said cuffs comprises at least one separate element affixed to said diaper, each of said cuffs comprises at least one portion permeable to vapor and at least one portion impermeable to vapor; and wherein in each cuff at least one portion permeable to vapor is intermediate the distal edge of said cuff and said adsorbent element and at least one portion impermeable to vapor is intermediate said portion permeable to vapor and said absorbent element, and the portion permeable to vapor comprises from about 5% to about 75% of said cuff.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein said separate element comprises thermoplastic film provided with apertures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
The disposable diaper of claim 1 wherein said separate element comprises non-woven fabric.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3295526A Cited
US3881488A Cited
US3989867A Cited
GB1428572A Cited
US3881489A Cited
US4306559A Cited
US4327730A Cited
US4341216A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-01-12 1990-07-14 1991-01-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-01-12 1994-07-14 1995-01-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-01-12 1998-07-14 1999-01-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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