US5306266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible spacers for use in disposable absorbent articles
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1992-12-21
•
Granted: 1994-04-26
•
Expires: 2012-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A spacer for use in a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The spacer has an outer cover and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed by the outer cover. The discrete elements can move relative to one another within the outer cover. Relative movement of the discrete elements permits the spacer to plastically deform in response to flexural loading, while maintaining a fecal void space in the absorbent article under compressive loading.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary E. Freeland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/45; A61F13/49; A61F13/495; A61F13/49007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A spacer for maintaining a fecal void space in a disposable diaper, the spacer comprising: a flexible outer cover; and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed in the outer cover, each discreate element relatively movable with respect to other discrete elements within the outer cover; the spacer being a generally closed figure having an opening therethrough, whereby fecal material may pass through the opening into the void space of the diaper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A spacer for maintaining a fecal void space in a disposable diaper, the spacer comprising: a flexible outer cover; and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed in the outer cover, each discreate element relatively movable with respect to other discrete elements within the outer cover; the spacer being a generally closed figure having an opening therethrough, whereby fecal material may pass through the opening into the void space of the diaper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacer recited in claim 1 wherein the discrete elements have a generally rounded surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacer recited in claim 2 wherein the discrete elements have a generally spherical shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spacer recited in claim 3 wherein the discrete elements comprise expanded polystyrene beads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spacer recited in claim 1 wherein the spacer has a packing density of less than 60 percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spacer recited in claim 5 wherein the spacer has a packing density of between 20 and 50 percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spacer recited in claim 6 wherein the spacer has a packing density of of between 20 and 30 percent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacer recited in claim 1 wherein the spacer comprises an elastically extensible outer cover.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A disposable diaper comprising: a liquid impervious backsheet; a liquid previous topsheet joined to the backsheet; an absorbent core intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and a spacer joined to the disposable diaper for maintaining a Z direction fecal void space under compressive loading, the spacer comprising: a flexible outer cover; and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed in the outer cover, each discrete element relatively movable with respect to other discrete elements within the outer cover.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A disposable diaper comprising: a liquid impervious backsheet; a liquid previous topsheet joined to the backsheet; an absorbent core intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and a spacer joined to the disposable diaper for maintaining a Z direction fecal void space under compressive loading, the spacer comprising: a flexible outer cover; and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed in the outer cover, each discrete element relatively movable with respect to other discrete elements within the outer cover.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
A disposable diaper comprising: a liquid impervious backsheet; a liquid previous topsheet joined to the backsheet to form a fecal void space intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet for receiving fecal matter, the topsheet having an aperture therethrough for communicating fecal matter to the void space; an absorbent core intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and a spacer for maintaining the fecal void space under compressive loading, the spacer joined to the disposable diaper intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, the spacer comprising: a flexible outer cover; and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed in the outer cover, each discrete element relatively movable with respect to other discrete elements within the outer cover.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A disposable diaper comprising: a liquid impervious backsheet; a liquid previous topsheet joined to the backsheet to form a fecal void space intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet for receiving fecal matter, the topsheet having an aperture therethrough for communicating fecal matter to the void space; an absorbent core intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and a spacer for maintaining the fecal void space under compressive loading, the spacer joined to the disposable diaper intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, the spacer comprising: a flexible outer cover; and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed in the outer cover, each discrete element relatively movable with respect to other discrete elements within the outer cover.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
A disposable diaper comprising: a front waist margin; a rear waist margin; a liquid impervious backsheet; a liquid previous topsheet joined to the backsheet to form a fecal void space for receiving fecal matter, intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet the topsheet having an aperture therethrough for communicating fecal matter into the void space; an absorbent core intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and a spacer for maintaining the fecal void space under compressive loading, the spacer joined to the disposable diaper intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, the spacer registered with the aperture in the topsheet and comprising: a flexible outer cover; and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed in the outer cover, each discrete element relatively movable with respect to other discrete elements within the outer cover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
A disposable diaper comprising: a front waist margin; a rear waist margin; a liquid impervious backsheet; a liquid previous topsheet joined to the backsheet to form a fecal void space for receiving fecal matter, intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet the topsheet having an aperture therethrough for communicating fecal matter into the void space; an absorbent core intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and a spacer for maintaining the fecal void space under compressive loading, the spacer joined to the disposable diaper intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, the spacer registered with the aperture in the topsheet and comprising: a flexible outer cover; and a plurality of discrete elements enclosed in the outer cover, each discrete element relatively movable with respect to other discrete elements within the outer cover.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 11 wherein the spacer comprises a generally closed figure having an opening registered with the aperture in the topsheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 11, wherein the discrete elements have a generally rounded surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 13 wherein the discrete elements have a generally spherical shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 14 wherein the plurality of discrete elements comprise generally spherical expanded polystyrene beads.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 11 wherein the spacer is positioned between the topsheet and the absorbent core.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 11 wherein the absorbent core comprises an upper layer and a lower layer, and wherein the spacer is positioned between the upper and lower layers of the absorbent core.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 11 wherein the spacer has a packing density of less than 60 percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 18 wherein the spacer has a packing density of between 20 and 50 percent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 19 wherein the spacer has a packing density of between 20 and 30 percent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 11 wherein the spacer comprises a plurality of separate compartments.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 21 wherein at least one of the separate compartments has a substantially different packing density than another of the separate compartments.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 22 wherein the spacer has a first compartment with a first relatively high packing density, and a second compartment with a second relatively low packing density, wherein at least a portion of the second compartment is positioned intermediate the aperture through the topsheet and the front waist margin.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 11 wherein the spacer comprises an elastically extensible outer cover.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The disposable diaper recited in claim 11 wherein the spacer maintains a Z-direction thickness of at least 0.64 centimeters under a compressive Z-direction load of at least 350 kilograms per square meter having a circular footprint of no more than 6.45 square centimeters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |