US4872871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable absorbent garment having elastic outer cover and integrated absorbent insert structure
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1988-07-14
•
Granted: 1989-10-10
•
Expires: 2008-07-14
Abstract
Abstract An anatomically form-fitting generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment and methods of integrating and using the garment. The garment comprises a breathable elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover resiliently stretchable in cross-body direction, including a pair of leg openings, front and rear waist sections fastenable with one another defining a waist opening, a crotch section situated between the leg openings and opposing front and rear panels separated by the crotch section. An absorbent insert structure is substantially superposable on the front and rear panels and the crotch section, including a liquid impermeable barrier, a liquid permeable body side liner and an absorbent composite disposed therebetween. The absorbent insert has opposed longitudinal ends which are attached to the outer cover by bonds or snaps at selected waist attachment zones, defining one or more free-span zones of the outer cover underlying the insert and having substantially unrestricted functional stretchability therein. The insert may also be attached along the leg openings.
Inventors
- 👤 Deborah L. Proxmire
- 👤 Dan D. Endres
- 👤 John C. Wilson
- 👤 Lynn A. Johnson
- 👤 Georgia L. Zehner
- 👤 Leona G. Boland
- 👤 Robert A. Stevens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/51; A61F13/514; A61F13/51456; A61F13/51464; A61F13/45; A61F13/49; A61F13/49007; A61F13/49009; A61F13/49011; A61F13/494; A61F13/49406; A61F13/49446; A61F13/505; A61F13/51458; A61F13/53; A61F13/539; A61F13/56; A61F13/5622; A61F13/5633
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment comprising: a breathable elastomeric nonwoven outer cover, including a pair of leg openings, front and rear waist sections together defining a waist opening, a crotch section situated between said leg openings and opposed front and rear panels separated by said crotch section; an absorbent insert structure having opposed longitudinal ends and substantially superposable on said front and rear panels and said crotch section, including a liquid impermeable barrier and a liquid permeable bodyside liner with an absorbent composite disposed therebetween; attachment means for attaching and integrating said longitudinal ends of said insert to said outer cover, at selected front and rear waist attachment zones, defining one or more free-span zones underlying said insert wherein the functional stretchability of said outer cover in said free-span zone is substantially unrestricted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment comprising: a breathable elastomeric nonwoven outer cover, including a pair of leg openings, front and rear waist sections together defining a waist opening, a crotch section situated between said leg openings and opposed front and rear panels separated by said crotch section; an absorbent insert structure having opposed longitudinal ends and substantially superposable on said front and rear panels and said crotch section, including a liquid impermeable barrier and a liquid permeable bodyside liner with an absorbent composite disposed therebetween; attachment means for attaching and integrating said longitudinal ends of said insert to said outer cover, at selected front and rear waist attachment zones, defining one or more free-span zones underlying said insert wherein the functional stretchability of said outer cover in said free-span zone is substantially unrestricted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein, said free-span zone is in either of said front and rear panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said outer cover is resiliently stretchable in an essentially cross-body direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said outer cover is stretchable more than about 20%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said outer cover is resiliently stretchable from about 20% to about 200%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 3 further comprising a waist attachment flap extending from at least one of said opposed longitudinal ends of said insert and attached to a associated one of said waist sections at said waist attachment zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said front and rear waist sections have hems and further comprising front and rear waist attachment flaps entrapped and attached within said hems at said waist attachment zones.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein said waist hems comprise inwardly folded-over edges of outermost portions of said waist sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention of claim 3 further comprising one or more pairs of side attachment flaps extending laterally from opposed marginal sides of said absorbent composite and attached to either of said front and rear panels, said side attachment flaps deflecting laterally when said outer cover is stretched in said essentially cross-body direction, thereby functionally maintaining said free-span zone while supporting said insert in registration with the body of a wearer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein a pair of said side attachment flaps are attached to said rear panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claims 9 or 10 wherein a pair of said side attachment flaps are attached to said front panel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said liner and barrier are attached to one another substantially about their entire peripheries with said absorbent composite disposed therebetween, preventing leakage of fluid therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 6 or 9 wherein either of said waist and side attachment flaps comprise extensions of either of said barrier and liner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein at least one of said waist attachment flaps includes expansion means in said waist attachment zone for allowing cross-body expansion of said waist flap when said outer cover is stretched in said essentially cross-body direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein said expansion means comprises one or more longitudinally extending expansible pleats.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein said expansion means comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending slits expansible in said cross-body direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein said expansion means comprises a plurality of notches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 16 or 17 wherein said expansion means are retracted inwardly together and bonded to said outer cover in said inwardly retracted position, allowing further expansion thereof when said outer cover is stretched in said cross-body direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 6 further comprising a pair of crotch flaps extending laterally from opposed marginal sides of an intermediate portion of said absorbent composite and attached to said crotch section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein said crotch flaps are attached along said leg openings in selected crotch attachment zones.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein said crotch flaps have longitudinally extending crotch elastic members situated thereon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein said crotch elastic members are spaced outwardly from said intermediate portion of said composite a distance of at least 0.75 inches, defining an elasticized contractible crotch flap.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said crotch flaps comprise outward extensions of either of said liner and barrier.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claims 6, 9 or 19 wherein said leg openings have leg hems.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 24 wherein said crotch flaps are entrapped within said leg hems and bonded at said crotch attachment zones.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claims 6, 9 or 22 further comprising leg elastic members extending along outermost portions of said leg openings for gathering said leg openings about the body of a wearer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein said leg elastic members are contained within said leg hems.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 1 further comprising waist elastic members extending along either of said front and rear waist sections for gathering said waist opening about the body of a wearer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein said barrier surrounds the bottom and sides of said absorbent composite with said liner extending across and contacting a top surface thereof, defining a generally rectangular, boat-shaped insert configuration.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 23 wherein said barrier closely conforms to the sides of said absorbent composite and has one or more relaxed localized areas therein adjacent said bottom to accommodate swelling thereof during use.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said liner and barrier are secured together in an undulatory pattern extending substantially about at least said intermediate portion of said absorbent composite.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 31 wherein said undulatory pattern extends essentially continuously about the periphery of said absorbent composite.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein said crotch attachment zone comprises at least one bond point.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said waist attachment zone comprises at least one bond point.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein said leg elastic members are applied to said outer cover in a relatively tensioned condition to gather said leg openings about the legs of a wearer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 27 wherein said leg elastic members are tensioned relative to said outer cover to gather said leg openings about the legs of a wearer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claims 1, 6, 9, 14, 16, 17 or 19 wherein said absorbent insert structure is attached at either of said waist and crotch attachment zones while said outer cover is stretched in an essentially cross-body direction.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the longitudinal length of said free-span zone is at least about 2.5 inches.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein said crotch attachment zone comprises a linear distance of less than about 4 inches.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 39 wherein said crotch attachment zone comprises at least three discrete bonds at spaced apart locations within a total linear distance less than about 3.5 inches.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 34 wherein said waist attachment zone comprises at least three discrete bonds at spaced apart locations within a total linear distance of less than about one inch.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 28 wherein a waist elastic member is disposed within each of said waist hems in an operatively tensioned condition relative to said outer cover to gather said waist opening about a wearer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 28 or 42 wherein the distance between the outermost edges of said waist elastic member and said absorbent composite is at least 0.75 inches at any given point.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 1, 6, 9, 14 or 19 wherein said absorbent structure includes a pair of tensioned longitudinally extending crotch elastic members for causing said absorbent structure to conform to the area between the thighs of a wearer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 44 wherein said crotch elastic members are attached to said liner.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 44 wherein said crotch elastic members are attached to said barrier.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 46 wherein said crotch elastic members are spaced at least 0.75 inches from opposed marginal sides of said intermediate portion of said absorbent composite overlying said crotch section.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 44 further comprising leg elastic members along outermost portions of said leg openings.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claims 1, 7, 9, 12 ,14 or 19 wherein said attachment means comprise autogenous bonds generated thermally or ultrasonically or by adhesive bonds.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claims 1, 6, 9, 14 or 19 wherein said attachment means comprise manually fastenable closures.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 50 wherein said closures comprise refastenable closures.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
147 words
An anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment comprising: an elastomeric nonwoven outer cover comprising an elastic nonwoven web joined to one or more gatherable nonwoven webs, including a pair of leg openings, front and rear waist sections together defining a waist opening, a crotch section situated between said leg openings and opposed front and rear panels separated by said crotch section; an absorbent insert structure substantially superposable on said front and rear panels and said crotch section, including a liquid impermeable barrier, a liquid permeable bodyside liner and an absorbent composite disposed therebetween; and attachment means for attaching and integrating said longitudinal ends of said insert into said outer cover at selected front and rear waist attachment zones, defining one or more free span zones underlying said insert wherein the functional stretchability of said outer cover in said one or more free-span zones is substantially unrestricted.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
147 words
An anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting disposable absorbent garment comprising: an elastomeric nonwoven outer cover comprising an elastic nonwoven web joined to one or more gatherable nonwoven webs, including a pair of leg openings, front and rear waist sections together defining a waist opening, a crotch section situated between said leg openings and opposed front and rear panels separated by said crotch section; an absorbent insert structure substantially superposable on said front and rear panels and said crotch section, including a liquid impermeable barrier, a liquid permeable bodyside liner and an absorbent composite disposed therebetween; and attachment means for attaching and integrating said longitudinal ends of said insert into said outer cover at selected front and rear waist attachment zones, defining one or more free span zones underlying said insert wherein the functional stretchability of said outer cover in said one or more free-span zones is substantially unrestricted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3370590A
Cited
US3509881A
Cited
US3599640A
Cited
US4022210A
Cited
US4166464A
Cited
US4036233A
Cited
US4338939A
Cited
US4615695A
Cited
EP0155515A1
Cited
AU4521785A
Cited
US4642110A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-09 | 1993-04-10 | 1993-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-09 | 1997-04-10 | 1997-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-09 | 2001-04-10 | 2001-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |