Breathable disposable diapers

Claim 1

A breathable unitary disposable diaper adapted when worn to engage the waist and stomach areas of the wearer comprising in order: (1) a back sheet having opposed side edges and opposed end edges connecting the side edges, the back sheet defining the shape and dimensions of the diaper, the diaper having a crotch portion adapted to engage the crotch of the wearer to capture and retain body waste material when the diaper is folded medially and worn engaging the waist and stomach areas, the back sheet having peripheral portions defining an opening in the crotch area, at least the major surface area of the back sheet surrounding the opening being liquid permeable and further being characterized as being breathable for the comfort of the wearer; (2) a liquid-impermeable sheet material having opposed side edges and opposed end edges connecting the side edges, the sheet material being of substantially the same dimensions as the crotch portion, the liquid-impermeable sheet material being of slightly larger dimensions than the opening in the back sheet and being sealed around its periphery in fluid-tight relationship to peripheral edges of the back sheet surrounding the opening in the back sheet; and (3) an absorbent pad adapted for receiving body waste material seated on the free surface of the liquid-impermeable sheet material opposed from the back sheet, the absorbent pad having opposed side and end edges and being of substantially the same dimensions as the sheet material, the sheet material extending around and over the side edges of the pad, whereby the liquid-impermeable sheet material provides a barrier preventing body waste material from escaping through the back of the diaper or through the side edges of the pad.