Method of integrating an absorbent insert into an elastomeric outer cover of a diaper garment

Claim 1

A method of integrating a fluid-absorbing component into a holding component of an anatomically form-fitting and generally self-adjusting diaper garment, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a flexible, resiliently stretchable positioning means for holding and positioning the absorbing component during use, delimiting a shape having front and rear waist sections, an intermediate crotch section, a pair of leg openings along opposed marginal edges of said crotch section and front and rear panels separated from one another by said crotch section; b. providing a relatively inelastic insert means containing said fluid-absorbing component for absorbing and containing bodily fluids and other wastes, delimiting a shape, superposable on an inner, body-facing surface of said positioning means, with opposed longitudinal ends and a pair of sides extending between and interconnecting said ends; c. providing cooperable retaining means on said insert means and said positioning means, respectively, for retaining said insert means, including fastening means and slot-forming means adapted for receiving said fastening means therethrough while allowing substantially unrestricted functional elongation and retraction of said positioning means relative to said insert means; d. providing a flexible shape-retaining means disposed with said inelastic insert means for maintaining said inelastic insert means in a generally body-conforming orientation; e. superposing said insert means on said inner surface of said positioning means; and f. fastening said fastening means together through said slot-forming means, integrating said insert means with said outer cover means and forming said diaper garment.

Claim 2

A method of integrating a fluid-absorbing component into a holding component of an anatomically form-fitting and generally self-adjusting diaper garment, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a flexible, resiliently stretchable positioning means for holding and positioning the absorbing component during use, delimiting a shape having front and rear waist sections, an intermediate crotch section, a pair of leg openings along opposed marginal edges of said crotch section and front and rear panels separated from one another by said crotch section; b. providing a relatively inelastic insert means containing said fluid-absorbing component for absorbing and containing bodily fluids and other wastes, delimiting a shape, superposable on an inner, body-facing surface of said positioning means, with opposed longitudinal ends and a pair of sides extending between and interconnecting said ends; c. providing cooperable retaining means on said insert means and said positioning means, respectively, for retaining said insert means, including fastening means and slot-forming means adapted for receiving said fastening means therethrough while allowing substantially unrestricted functional elongation and retraction of said positioning means relative to said insert means; d. providing a flexible shape-retaining means disposed with said inelastic insert means for maintaining said inelastic insert means in a generally body-conforming orientation; e. superposing said insert means on said inner surface of said positioning means; and f. fastening said fastening means together through said slot-forming means, integrating said insert means with said outer cover means and forming said diaper garment.

Claim 25

A method of integrating a disposable fluid-absorbing component into a reusable holding component of an anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting diaper garment, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a flexible, elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover for holding and positioning the absorbing component during use, including front and rear waist sections each resiliently stretchable in a cross-body direction essentially transverse to a line centered on the longitudinal axis of said garment, an intermediate crotch section, a pair of leg openings elastically contractible or expansible along opposed marginal side edges of the crotch section and front and rear panels separated by the crotch section; b. providing a relatively inelastic absorbent insert structure adapted for containing the absorbing component for absorbing and containing bodily fluids and other wastes, the insert delimiting a shape superposable on the outer cover and having opposed longitudinal ends with a pair of sides extending between and interconnecting the ends; c. providing a slidable retaining mechanism for retention of the insert within the outer cover, including fastening closures fastenable and refastenable with one another and one or more corresponding fenestrations adapted for receiving the cooperating closures therethrough, allowing removal and replacement of the insert while allowing substantially unrestricted elongation and retraction of the outer cover relative to the insert; d. providing a flexible shape-retaining means disposed with said inelastic absorbent insert structure for maintaining said inelastic absorbent insert structure in a generally body-conforming orientation; e. superposing the insert on an inner, body-facing surface of the outer cover; and f. registering and engaging the fastener closures together through the one or more fenestrations, integrating the insert with the outer cover to form the absorbent garment.

Claim 26

A method of integrating a disposable fluid-absorbing component into a reusable holding component of an anatomically form-fitting, generally self-adjusting diaper garment, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a flexible, elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover for holding and positioning the absorbing component during use, including front and rear waist sections each resiliently stretchable in a cross-body direction essentially transverse to a line centered on the longitudinal axis of said garment, an intermediate crotch section, a pair of leg openings elastically contractible or expansible along opposed marginal side edges of the crotch section and front and rear panels separated by the crotch section; b. providing a relatively inelastic absorbent insert structure adapted for containing the absorbing component for absorbing and containing bodily fluids and other wastes, the insert delimiting a shape superposable on the outer cover and having opposed longitudinal ends with a pair of sides extending between and interconnecting the ends; c. providing a slidable retaining mechanism for retention of the insert within the outer cover, including fastening closures fastenable and refastenable with one another and one or more corresponding fenestrations adapted for receiving the cooperating closures therethrough, allowing removal and replacement of the insert while allowing substantially unrestricted elongation and retraction of the outer cover relative to the insert; d. providing a flexible shape-retaining means disposed with said inelastic absorbent insert structure for maintaining said inelastic absorbent insert structure in a generally body-conforming orientation; e. superposing the insert on an inner, body-facing surface of the outer cover; and f. registering and engaging the fastener closures together through the one or more fenestrations, integrating the insert with the outer cover to form the absorbent garment.