Creased garment product and adjustable belt therefor

The present invention relates to a pleated strap for attaching a garment.

The present invention relates to a pleated belt for attaching various types of apparel products worn in the crotch area, namely disposable absorbent products, underwear, bathing suits, sports loops, prostheses or other personal or health care products. As far as disposable absorbent articles are concerned, such are underwear for persons unable to suppress excretion, disposable diapers, cartridges, gym pants or the like. Disposable products intended for the absorption and retention of urine and other body fluids are generally uniform, suitably shaped or composite, and contain a fluid-permeable body facing layer, a fluid-impermeable pad and absorbent material sandwiched between the body-facing layer and pad. In general, these products are provided with a certain type of component intended to attach the garment to the user's body.

Many different types of fasteners for disposable absorbent articles are known. In some embodiments, the front and back waist portions are connected directly by means of a suitable connector, while in others, the front and rear waist portions are connected by a tape or strap. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,315,508 discloses a garment suspension system having two elastic bands with buttons or other fasteners of this type. From US Patent No. 4,617,022, a garment is known which has a removable strap that can be attached to clothing by means of hook and loop fasteners (so-called Velcro).

The condition for effective absorption and retention of urine and other body fluids by disposable absorbent products is a close fit to the user's body. For economic reasons, absorbent products are not manufactured in all possible dimensions, but regulated products of this type are known. In known disposable absorbent articles, the adjustment consists in orienting the front and rear waist sections relative to each other by means of a number of elements arranged in different places. From US Patent No. 4,728,326 a diaper with straps is known, at the ends of which there are elements with hooks. The hook elements engage with the loop elements located on the entire rear section of the waist diaper. A diaper is known from U.S. Patent No. 4,801,298, which uses a hook and loop fastener with a loop strip extending along the front of the diaper, and U.S. Patent No. 4,315,508 discloses elastic bands with buttons that can be fastened with one of several holes. Similar solutions are also known from US Patent Nos. 2,515,951, 2,566,094 and 2,566,139.

Known regulated clothing products have a significant disadvantage: matching a given clothing product to a particular user requires changing the location of the attachment straps to the product. For example, you may need to attach these straps where they are far from the corners or the longitudinal ends of the clothing article. Unfortunately, fixing the straps in these places may interfere with the proper orientation or position of the product on the user. This factor is important especially for single-use absorbent products, because a poorly fitted or incorrectly adjusted product can leak.

An accordion fastening strap for attaching a garment, having a first end opposite the second end thereof, fastening elements for attaching a fastening strap to the garment, adjacent to the first end, fastening elements for fastening a fastening strap to the garment, adjacent to the second end, according to the invention characterized by , between the first end and the second end of the fastening strap there is a flexible area and an accordion area, where the first Z-type tab is kept in the accordion area, which is folded with a detachable bond.

It is preferred that the fastening elements of the attachment strap adjacent its first and second ends are hook and loop fasteners.

It is preferred that in the accordion area there is a second Z-fold, kept in a folded state with a detachable bond.

It is preferred that the working lengths of the Z tabs are different.

Another accordion belt for attaching a garment having a first end opposite the other end, fastening means for attaching a fastening strap to the garment located adjacent to the first end, fastening elements for fastening a fastening strap to the garment situated next to the second end, according to the invention is characterized by that between the first end and the second end of the fastening strap there is an elastic and harmonica area, the accordion area is essentially inelastic and in its area there is the first Z-type tab maintained in a folded state with a detachable bond.

It is advantageous that in the folding zone there is a second Z-type tab maintained in a folded state with a detachable bond, whereby the working lengths of the Z-type tabs are different.

The fastening strip according to the invention allows for proper orientation and matching of the garment on the wearer. Adjustment was achieved without having to change the strap attachment point for the garment.

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The strength of the detachable bond is selected in such a way that it is resistant to stress acting on the strap under normal conditions of use of the product, but it is so small that it allows the user to easily break the bond in the event of the need to increase the length of the strap. The user can increase the length of the fastening strap by gripping it on both sides of the Z-tab and pulling to break the detachable seam.

The subject of the invention is shown in the embodiments in the drawing, in which fig.

shows an absorbent disposable clothing product in the form of diapers for adults unable to suppress excretion with a pleated strap, in a partially unfolded view, in perspective view, Fig. 2- the coating of an absorbent disposable clothing product in partial top view with a breakout, Fig. 3 - pleated strap in top view, fig. 4 - pleated belt in side view.

The single-use absorbent garment 20 consists of a coating 22 adapted to be used together with the attachment system. Coating 22 consists of a substantially fluid-impermeable pad 24, a substantially fluid-permeable body-facing layer 25, and an absorbent body 26 (Fig. 2) sandwiched between washer 24 and body-facing 25. Preferably, the pad 24 and the body facing layer 25 are longer and wider than the absorbent body 26, whereby their periphery is periphery that can be bonded together by means of ultrasound, adhesives or other suitable methods.

The shell 22 is substantially rectangular and can be distinguished in the first or front end 28, the opposite second or rear end 29 and the longitudinal sides 30 extending between both ends, the front 28 and rear 29. The corners of the shell 22 are at the intersection of the ends 28 and 29 with longitudinal sides 30. The shell 22 also includes a first or front waist section 33 adjacent to the front end 28 and an opposite, second or rear waist section 34 adjacent to the rear end 29. There is a crotch section 36 between the front 33 and rear 34 waist section. After the coating 22 has been applied to the wearer, the front waist section 33 is generally the part of the garment that is located in front of the wearer's crotch portion, while the rear waist section is generally the part of the garment that is located behind the wearer's crotch portion. Shell 22 has a rectangular shape 25-86 cm long and 5-5,6 cm wide. Of course, optionally, the coating 22 may be T-shaped, I-shaped, hourglasses or may be irregular.

The fastening system consists of a pair of 40 accordion fastening straps, a pair of first or front fastening patches 42 and a pair of second or rear fastening patches 44. Fastening patches, front 42 and rear 44, provided with a loop component of the hook and loop fastening system, may have the same shape and be made of the same loop material. The term loop material is understood to mean a fabric consisting of a base and a plurality of loops extending upward from at least one of its surfaces. The loop material can be made in the form of standing loops, structured by curling and thermosetting in such a way that individual loops protrude from the base. The material can be made of any suitable material, e.g. made of acrylic, polyamide or polyester, such techniques as warp knitting, needle welding or needling. Front 42 and rear 44 fastening swabs can also be made of any suitable material with loops made by techniques other than weaving.

In the preferred embodiment, the front 42 and rear 44 fastening patches have a warp made of polyester yarn with a double-strand structure with a density of about 8-16 weaves per cm and about 10-18 stripes per cm. Preferably, 15-35% of the yarn is a yarn composed of 1-30 monofilaments and a thickness of about 15-30 d (denier). In another embodiment, 65-85% of the yarn may be a yarn composed of 1-30 monofilaments and a thickness of about 20-55 d. The height of the loops is about 2-2.5 mm, while the thickness is about 0.25 -1 mm, and the weight is about 34-102 grams per square meter.

The front attachment patches 42 are located in the front waist 33 and are attached to the surface of the washer 24 located on the other side relative to the body layer 25. The front attachment patches 42 are separate elements and preferably, although not necessarily, are located some distance from the front end 28 and longitudinal sides 30 of at least 6.5 mm. Accordingly, the rear attachment patches 44 are located in the rear waist section 34 and are attached to that surface of the washer 24 which is further away from the facing layer 25. The rear attachment patches 44 are at a distance from each other and, preferably, although not necessarily , are at a distance from both the second end 29 and the longitudinal sides 30 of the coating 22 of at least 6.5 mm.

The geometric shapes of fixing patches 42 and 44 can be different, e.g. square, rectangular, irregular, oval, round, etc. The dimensions of the mounting patches 42 and 44 should be large enough to be easily seen and felt by touch. Preferably, the dimensions of each patch are at least 25x25 mm, which gives an area of ​​at least 6.25 cm². In the exemplary embodiment, the front waist section 33 has rectangular fastening patches with dimensions of about 30x90 mm, while the rear waist section 34 has rectangular patches with dimensions of about 38x51 mm.

The attachment patches 42 and 44 are attached to the washer 24 by means of ultrasound, glues or other suitable techniques in such a way that the loops of the loop material run outwards from the surface of the washer 24. The attachment patches can run parallel to the longitudinal or transverse axis of a clothing product 20 or at certain angles to the longitudinal axis of the clothing product.

Alternatively, instead of four attachment patches 42 and 44, two in the front waist section 33 and rear waist section 34, the attachment system may be made with a single attachment patch (not shown) covering at least some parts of both waist sections, front and rear. A single fastening patch of this type is made of loop material, could be attached to washer 24 or could be an integral part thereof. In yet another optional solution, the attachment system could be made in the form of a pair of attachment patches (not shown), one running transversely through the front waist section 33 and the other transversely passing through the rear waist section 34.

In each fastening strip 40 one can distinguish the first end 46 and the opposite end, the second end 47. These ends determine the length or longitudinal dimension of the fastening strip. Between the first and second ends 47 and 47 of the fastening strip 40 there is a flexible area 48. This area is formed of a stretchable material that can stretch to at least 1.25 times the length compared to the rest length, and preferably at least 2.5 times compared to the rest length, after which it returns to its original length. Adjacent to the elastic area 48 is an accordion area 50, also lying between the ends of the fastening strap, first 46 and second 47. The accordion area 50 consists of two Z-folds, first 51 and second 52. Both Z-tabs, first 51 and second 52, are held folded with detachable splices 55.57 (Figs. 3 and 4). Each fastening strip 40 also has a hook patch 56 attached to or near each of the ends 46 and 47.

Preferably, the accordion area 50 is made of a soft, vapor-permeable and essentially inelastic material and has a rectangular shape with a width of about 1.3-7.6 cm and a total length of about 10.2-45.7 cm, but other shapes are also possible . The length of the pleated material and the dimensions of the Z 51 and 52 pleats depend on the type of application of the 40 fastening strap and the dimensions of the user.

The accordion area has an overall length and an effective length. The overall length is the length of the material before folding into a harmonica, while the effective length is the final length of the accordion 50 after folding into a harmonica. Both Z-tabs, first 51 and second 52, have a working length. As you can see, the sum of the working lengths of Z 51 and 52 tabs is the difference between the total and the effective length of the accordion area.

Both Z-type overlaps, first 51 and second 52, are made by folding the accordion material along two lines and fixing the resulting folds using detachable joints 55 and 57. The folding lines are located at a distance from each other and are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastening strip 40. The first Z-51 pleat is formed as a result of folding material along folding lines G1 and G2 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastening strip 40. The working length of the Z tab is approximately twice the distance between folding lines, so the working length of the first Z 51 tab is equal to double the distance between lines 61 and 62. Therefore, the effective length of the accordion area 50 is equal to the total length of the accordion material reduced by the working length of the first Z 51 tab and reduced by the working length of the second Z 52 tab.

In an exemplary embodiment, the overall length of the accordion material is about

38.1 cm and there are two Z-type tabs. The first Z-51 tab is folded along the fold lines approximately 5.1 cm apart, resulting in a working length of the first Z-type tab about 10.2 cm, while the second Z 52 pleat is folded along the fold lines approximately 3.2 cm apart, resulting in a working length of the second Z 52 pleat approximately 6.4 cm. Thus, the effective length of the accordion area 50 is about 21.5 cm.

Detachable seams 55 and 57 secure the accordion material to each other, resulting in the effective length of the attachment strip 40 (Figures 3 and 4). Therefore, detachable joints 55 and 57 should be located near at least one of the folding lines. Preferably, although not necessarily, detachable seams 55 and 57 are near both folding lines, as a result of which the cross-sectional appearance of the folds resembles the letter Z (Fig. 4). Both Z 51 and 52 tabs are supported by detachable point seams 55 and 57. It is also possible to use other types of detachable seams, such as lines, boxes, corrugated lines and the like.

The strength of detachable joints 55 and 57 is selected so that they are resistant to stresses acting on the fastening straps 40 during normal use of the clothing product 20. The strength of detachable joints 55 and 57 is also low enough that the user of the clothing product can break them if necessary lengthening the straps to better fit the product. The method for measuring the strength of detachable joints 55 and 57 is as follows. The fastener parts are attached on one side of the Z 51 or 52 fold to a solid surface, then the load is attached to the fastener parts on the other side of the Z 51 or 52 fold and the load is gently applied so that it hangs from the solid surface. For fastening straps 40 to absorbent articles 20 of the type shown in the embodiment, intended for adults, detachable joints 55 and 57 should not be broken, i.e. they should not break or break under the action of a load suspension below about 1361 g, but they should break, i.e. break or break under the action of a load suspension above about 10 886 g. More preferably, detachable joints 55 and 57 should remain intact under forces below about 6 350 g, while they should break under forces of about 8 165 g.

In use, detachable seams 55 and 57 can be torn or broken by gripping the securing strap 40 on opposite sides of the Z 51 or 52 tab and pulling or disconnecting or breaking them in another way, e.g., by cutting. The user may also assume such a position that sufficient force is created to break or break such joints. Detachable seams 55 and 57 may be adhesive, cohesive, ultrasonic welds, thermal welds, mechanical seams, e.g. If necessary, detachable seams in one Z-tab can be selected so that they break under less force than the seams in the other. In this case, only one Z-type tab folds out at a time, even after applying force to the entire length of the fastening strap 40.

One end of the accordion material in the accordion area 50 is attached to the hook patch 56, while the other end to the elastic area 48. Similarly, one end of the elastic material is attached to the accordion material and the other to the hook patch 56. The folding material is fastened with elastic material and both are fastened with hook patches by means of ultrasound, glue, thermal joints, they are stitched or can be connected by other similar method.

Hook patches 56 are made of one-sided hook material and form a hook element of the hook and loop fastening system. Hook patches 56 have a rectangular shape with dimensions of about 2.2 x 2.9 cm. Each hook patch 56 is rounded

174 186 free end 65 without hooks (Fig. 3). This end has a surface convenient to grip the patch and detach it from the loop material with which it is attached. The hook patches 56 are arranged so that they extend beyond the ends of the accordion and elastic material. In this case, the ends of the hook patches are considered to be the ends of the fastening strip, first 46 and second 47. Alternatively, the hook patches 56 may contact the entire surface with the fastening straps 40 (not shown), in which case the ends of the accordion and elastic material may be considered as the ends of the fastening strap, first 46 and second 47.

Suitable hook material may be molded or extruded from polyamide, polypropylene or other suitable material. Hook materials with suitable rigidity can be obtained from polymeric materials with a bending modulus of about

4.83 x 10⁸ - 8.27 x 10⁸ N / m² and Shore hardness around D '⁴⁰ - D '⁸⁰, for example D. Preferably, the hook patches 56 are provided with unidirectional hooks, the machine direction of the hooks being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fastening straps 40 and the hooks facing the opposite end 46 or 47 of the belt. One suitable one-sided hook material for hook patches is a material called Ultramate, which has unidirectional hooks No. 22.

The shape, density and composition of the polymer from which the hook elements are made are selected so that appropriate values ​​of the peel and shear forces between the hook patches 56 and the fixing patches 42 and 44 are obtained. Anyone skilled in the art knows that hook material with greater adhesion is a material in which the average height of the hooks is greater, a larger percentage of the hooks is oriented in one direction, and the shape of the hooks provides greater traction. For example, the density of hook elements may be above 8 hooks per cm³, more precisely, this density should be in the range of about 68-161 hooks per cm2, for example about 115 hooks per cm2. The number of rows can be about 8-24 per cm linear width, for example 16 rows per cm linear width. The hooks may have the shape of hooks, mushrooms, arrows or the like.

During use, the coating 22 is put on the user's body and fixed in place with fasteners. The front waist section 33 is located on the front side of the user's body, while the rear waist section 34, the second or rear, on the back of the user's body, and the crotch section 36 in a place that allows the absorption of body fluids. The user then couples one hook patch 56 on each fastening strip 40 to one of the rear fastening patches 44. After tensioning or releasing the straps 40 to achieve the desired tension, the user then engages the opposite hook patches 56 on each fastening strip 40 with one of the respective front fastening patches 42. The user can remove the attachment straps 40 by pulling a portion near the attachment patch 42 or 44 or by pulling the hook patch 56, for example at the free end 65, to disengage the hook and loop connection. Of course, the fastening straps 40 can also be attached to the garment coating 22 by means of other types of fasteners, for example, by buttons attached to the ends 46 and 47 of the fastening strap and holes formed in the front waist section 33 and the rear waist section 34 (not shown).

The user can slightly change the tension in the fastening straps 40 by moving the front hook patches 56 over the fastening patches 42 and 44. However, if the fastening strap 40 is far too short for the user, or the tension in the strap cannot be reduced by adjusting the position of the hook patches 56 on the fastening patches 42 and 44, the user can increase the effective length of the attachment strap by pulling one of the Z, 51 or 52 tabs. If the attachment strap 40 is still too short, the user can increase its effective length again by pulling the second Z-tab.

Preferably, the two Z-tabs, first 51 and second 52, have different working lengths. Thanks to this, the user has three options for choosing the length of each fastening strap 40. For example, if the working length of the first Z 51 tab is smaller than the second Z 52 tab, the user can only pull the first Z 51 tab, increasing the length of the strap by the first value . However, if a significant increase is needed

17-4186 length of the fastening strap 40, the user can pull only the second Z 52 pleat, which will increase the length of the fastening strap 40 by a greater value. And finally, if it is necessary to increase the length of the fastening strip 40 even further, the user can pull back both Z-tabs, first 51 and second 52.

As can be seen, the user can select a number of effective lengths of the fastening strap 40, which allows him to fit the garment 20 more accurately. Thanks to the elastic material in the m48 elastic area, at each length selected, the fastening straps 40 can still be elongated and can hold the garment 20 strongly user. From an economic point of view, the fastening straps 40 are very advantageous due to the relatively small amount of elastic material needed. These straps are also advantageous from a manufacturing and packaging point of view, since one type of strap is suitable for many users.

According to another embodiment, the elastic material of which the elastic area 48 is made is an elastomeric, stretchable composite web consisting of individual strands of elastomeric material attached to one or more nonwoven layers. A composite material of this type can, for example, be a melt-elastomeric blow molded material made in such a way that it consists of strands arranged according to a particular pattern, and then it is placed between two layers of spunbond nonwoven fabric. Alternatively, a composite material of this type may be in the form of a particular pattern of individual elastomeric strands attached in a suitable manner to the nonwoven layer, or sandwiched between two layers of nonwoven. Elastomer belts of this type can be made of a melt extruded thermoplastic material. Examples of suitable elastomeric materials of this type are polyether-polyamide block copolymers, polyurethanes, synthetic, linear block copolymers ABA and AB, blends of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer), EPDM rubbers (ethylene-propylene and diene terpolymer), EP rubbers bipolymer of ethylene with propylene), EPDM / EPM / EVA blends and the like. Still another alternative is an elastic material made of elastomeric threads or thin ribbons made of natural rubber bonded in a stretched state with two layers of nonwoven surrounding it, which can wrinkle, or made in the form of a fabric composed of polyester fibers and rubber with a fluffy polyamide material.

The accordion material from which the accordion area 50 is made is any soft and flexible material that can be folded and bound with itself. Preferably, the accordion material is substantially vapor-permeable and substantially inelastic. The accordion material may, for example, be a material made of the spunbond technique, blow-molded from a molten phase or carded and bonded, made of synthetic polymer fibers, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyesters or the like, or material of natural polymeric fibers, such as regenerated cellulose or cotton . One of the materials suitable for the accordion area 50 is polypropylene material formed by the spunbond technique with a weight of about 68 g / m². In another, although currently less recommended for economic reasons, the fastening strap of the accordion 50 is made of elastic material. In this embodiment, the elastic area 48 and the accordion 50 are simply different areas or zones of one or more flexible materials: the accordion area 50 is those parts in which the elastic material is folded and bonded together, while the elastic area 48 consists of these parts, in which the elastic material is not folded.

The illustrated embodiments of the pleated strap do not limit the nature and scope of the present invention. For example, certain solutions illustrated and described as elements of one embodiment can be used in yet another embodiment to provide another embodiment. In addition, the hook and loop fasteners described herein can be replaced with alternative fasteners, such as buttons and holes, latches, hooks, tapes, and the like. In addition, three, four or more Z-type pleats can be formed in the accordion area 50. Similarly, the accordion-fastening strap of the invention can be used in garments different from the disposable absorbent article described herein.

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FIG. 4

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FIG. 1

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