US4938757A — Disposable training pant or incontinence garment

Claim 1

Independent Claim 152 words

A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, stretchable side panels and said absorbent assembly being joined to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, said absorbent assembly end edges being generally adjacent said waist opening, and a narrow intermediate portion of each said stretchable side panel being arranged generally adjacent a portion of a respective one of said leg openings, whereby said stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against a wearer to maintain said garment snugly against the wearer's body and said absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge, and said stretchable side panels provide elasticity about said leg openings to prevent leakage thereat.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 152 words

A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, stretchable side panels and said absorbent assembly being joined to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, said absorbent assembly end edges being generally adjacent said waist opening, and a narrow intermediate portion of each said stretchable side panel being arranged generally adjacent a portion of a respective one of said leg openings, whereby said stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against a wearer to maintain said garment snugly against the wearer's body and said absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge, and said stretchable side panels provide elasticity about said leg openings to prevent leakage thereat.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 130 words

A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, and stretchable side panels being joined to said side edges of said absorbent assembly to form with said absorbent assembly end edges a waist opening, stretchable side panels forming a pair of leg openings, whereby said stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against a wearer to maintain said garment snugly against the wearer's body and said absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge, and said stretchable side panels provide elasticity about said leg openings to prevent leakage thereat.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 130 words

A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, and stretchable side panels being joined to said side edges of said absorbent assembly to form with said absorbent assembly end edges a waist opening, stretchable side panels forming a pair of leg openings, whereby said stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against a wearer to maintain said garment snugly against the wearer's body and said absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge, and said stretchable side panels provide elasticity about said leg openings to prevent leakage thereat.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 89 words

A disposable plant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, stretchable side panels being joined to said side edges to form with said absorbent assembly a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and a narrow intermediate portion of said stretchable side panels being arranged generally adjacent a portion of a respective one of said leg openings.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 89 words

A disposable plant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, stretchable side panels being joined to said side edges to form with said absorbent assembly a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and a narrow intermediate portion of said stretchable side panels being arranged generally adjacent a portion of a respective one of said leg openings.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 83 words

A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising an outer cover and an absorbent medium, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, stretchable side panels being joined to said side edges to form with said absorbent assembly a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and a narrow intermediate portion of said stretchable side panels being arranged generally adjacent a crotch portion of a respective one of said leg openings.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 83 words

A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising an outer cover and an absorbent medium, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, stretchable side panels being joined to said side edges to form with said absorbent assembly a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and a narrow intermediate portion of said stretchable side panels being arranged generally adjacent a crotch portion of a respective one of said leg openings.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 79 words

A disposable child's training pant comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising an outer cover and an absorbent medium, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges. stretchable side panels being joined to said side edges to form with said absorbent assembly a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and a narrow intermediate portion of said stretchable side panels being arranged generally adjacent a portion of a respective one of said leg openings

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 79 words

A disposable child's training pant comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising an outer cover and an absorbent medium, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges. stretchable side panels being joined to said side edges to form with said absorbent assembly a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and a narrow intermediate portion of said stretchable side panels being arranged generally adjacent a portion of a respective one of said leg openings

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The garment of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein an edge portion of each said side panel is joined between respective side portions of said outer cover and said liner.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The garment of claim 1, 3, 4, 5 wherein edge portions of said stretchable side panels directly abut against respective sides of said absorbent medium.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The garment of Claim 6 wherein said edge portions are spaced apart from respective sides of said absorbent medium from about 0 inches to about 2 inches.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The garment of Claim 8 wherein said edge portions are spaced apart from said sides from about 0 inches to about 1 inch.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The garment of Claim 9 wherein said edge portions are spaced apart from said sides from about 0 inches to about 1/2inch.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The garment of Claim 1 wherein each said side panel extends over a respective side of said absorbent medium a distance of about 0% to about 50% of the maximum width of said absorbent medium.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

The garment of claim 11 wherein each said side panel extends over a respective said side a distance of about 3% to about 20% of the maximum width of said absorbent medium.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

The garment of claim 12 wherein each said side panel extends over a respective said side a distance of about 6% to about 12% of the maximum width of said absorbent medium.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The garment of claim 1 wherein said outer cover comprises at least two layers, the outermost one of said layers being made of a cloth-like material and the innermost one of said layers being made of a liquid-impervious material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The garment of claim 14 wherein said outermost layer is a spunbonded thermoplastic material.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The garment of claim 14 wherein said outermost layer is a bonded carded web of thermoplastic material.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 16 words

The garment of claim 14 wherein said innermost layer is a liquid impervious meltblown thermoplastic material.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

The garment of claim 14 wherein said innermost layer is an extruded film of thermoplastic material.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 35 words

The garment of claim 1 or 55 wherein each said side panel is stretch-bonded laminate comprising a stretchable layer stretch-bonded to a gatherable layer, whereby upon relaxing said stretch-bonded layers, said gatherable layer is gathered.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

The garment of claim 19 wherein said stretch-bonded laminate comprises a second gatherable layer, said stretchable layer being stretch-bonded to said second gatherable layer, whereby upon relaxing said stretch-bonded layers, said second gatherable layer is gathered.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The garment of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein at least one seam is manually tearable.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

The garment of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein each said side panel has a tension range per inch of about 50 grams to about 1,000 grams.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The garment of claim 22 wherein each said side panel has a tension range per inch of about 200 grams to about 500 grams.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The garment of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein each said side panel has an elasticity of about 10% to about 500%.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The garment of claim 24 wherein each said side panel has an elasticity of about 50% to about 300%.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

The garment of claim 25 wherein each said side panel has an elasticity of about 75% to about 200%.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

The garment of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 further comprising a waist elastic at each end portion of said absorbent assembly.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 15 words

The garment of claim 27 wherein said waist elastic is an energy activatable elastic material.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 16 words

The garment of claim 27 wherein each said waist elastic comprises a plurality of elastic members.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 27 words

The garment of claim 1, 3, 4 or 5 further comprising an elongate stretchable member disposed with a respective said intermediate portion to increase the elasticity thereof.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 179 words

A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, stretchable side panels and said absorbent assembly being joined to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, said absorbent assembly end edges being generally adjacent said waist opening, an intermediate portion of said stretchable side panels being arranged generally adjacent a portion of a respective one of said leg openings, and an upper end segment portion of said stretchable side panels tapering inwardly and upwardly toward said waist opening, thereby to provide a better fit at the waist of the wearer, whereby said stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against the wearer to maintain said garment snugly against the wearer and said absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge, and said stretchable side panels provide elasticity about said leg opening to prevent leakage thereat.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 179 words

A disposable pant-like garment for absorbing human discharge, comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid impervious outer cover, a liquid pervious liner, and an absorbent medium therebetween, said absorbent assembly further comprising generally opposite side edges and generally opposite end edges, stretchable side panels and said absorbent assembly being joined to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, said absorbent assembly end edges being generally adjacent said waist opening, an intermediate portion of said stretchable side panels being arranged generally adjacent a portion of a respective one of said leg openings, and an upper end segment portion of said stretchable side panels tapering inwardly and upwardly toward said waist opening, thereby to provide a better fit at the waist of the wearer, whereby said stretchable side panels provide generally inwardly directed force vectors against the wearer to maintain said garment snugly against the wearer and said absorbent assembly snugly in place against the crotch area both before and after a discharge, and said stretchable side panels provide elasticity about said leg opening to prevent leakage thereat.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 27 words

The garment of claim 31 wherein the length of each said end segment portion is about 3% to about 40% of the total length of said garment.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 27 words

The garment of claim 32 wherein the length of each said end segment portion is about 5% to about 25% of the total length of said garment.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 27 words

The garment of claim 33 wherein the length of each said end segment portion is about 10% to about 15% of the total length of said garment.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 26 words

The garment of claim 31 wherein each said end segment portion angles inwardly toward said waist opening at an angle between about 5° to about 55°.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 23 words

The garment of claim 35 wherein each said end segment portion angles inwardly toward said waist opening between about 10° to about 40°.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 23 words

The garment of claim 36 wherein each said end segment portion angles inwardly toward said waist opening between about 15° to about 30°.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 26 words

The garment of claim 31 wherein the front edge portion of each said leg opening is nearer to said waist opening than the back edge portion.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 30 words

The garment of claim 1, 31, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein said side panels comprise between about 20% to about 80% of the total surface area of said garment.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 24 words

The garment of claim 39 wherein said side panels comprise between about 25% to about 50% of the total surface area of said garment.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 24 words

The garment of claim 40 wherein said side panels comprise between about 35% to about 45% of the total surface area of said garment.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 32 words

The garment of claim 31 or 2 wherein the width of each said intermediate portion is between about 5% to about 100% of the maximum width of its respective said side panel.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 30 words

The garment of claim 42 wherein the width of each said intermediate portion is between about 20% to about 80% of the maximum width of its respective said side panel.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 30 words

The garment of claim 43 herein the width of each said intermediate portion is between about 30% to about 50% of the maximum width of its respective said side panel.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 25 words

The garment of claim 31 or 2 wherein an edge portion of each said side panel is joined between said outer cover and said liner.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 20 words

The garment of claim 45 wherein said edge portion of each said side panel directly abuts against said absorbent medium.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 29 words

The garment of claim 45 wherein said edge portion of each said side panel is spaced apart from said absorbent medium from about 0 inches to about 2 inches.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 24 words

The garment of claim 47 wherein said edge portions are spaced apart from said absorbent medium from about 0 inches to about 1 inch.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 24 words

The garment of claim 48 wherein said edge portions are spaced apart from said absorbent medium from about 0 inches to about 1/2 inch.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 33 words

The garment of claim 31 or 2 wherein each said side panel extends over said absorbent medium a distance of about 0% to about 50% of the maximum width of said absorbent medium.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 31 words

The garment of claim 50 wherein each said side panel extends over said absorbent medium a distance of about 3% to about 20% of the maximum width of said absorbent medium.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 31 words

The garment of claim 51 wherein each said side panel extends over said absorbent medium a distance of about 6% to about 12% of the maximum width of said absorbent medium.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 37 words

The garment of claim 31 or 2 wherein each said side panel is a stretch-bonded laminate comprising a stretchable layer stretch-bonded to a gatherable layer, whereby upon relaxing said stretch bonded layers, said gatherable layer is gathered.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 36 words

The garment of claim 53 wherein said stretch-bonded laminate comprises a second gatherable layer, said stretchable layer being stretch-bonded to said second gatherable layer, whereby upon relaxing said stretch-bonded layers, said second gatherable layer is gathered.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 30 words

The garment of claim 1 wherein the width of each said intermediate potion is between about 5% to about 100% of the maximum width of its respective said side panel.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 30 words

The garment of claim 2 wherein the width of each said intermediate portion is between about 20% to about 80% of the maximum width of its respective said side panel.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 30 words

The garment of claim 56 wherein the width of each said intermediate portion is between about 30% to about 50% of the maximum width of its respective said side panel.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 16 words

The garment of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portions form respective gussets at said leg openings.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-07-02	1994-01-01	1994-07-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-07-02	1998-01-01	1998-07-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-07-02	2002-01-01	2002-07-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Disposable training pant or incontinence garment

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