Disposable diaper holder

May 21, 1940.

2,201,255

E. T. WILSON. JR DISPOSABLE DIAPER HOLDER

Filed Dec. 8, 1939

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ORNEY.

Patented May 21,1940

2,201,255

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,201,255 DISPOSABLE DIAPER HOWER Edward T. Wilson, Jr., Highland Park, N. J. Application December 8, 1939, Serial No. 308,116 2 Claims. (CL 128—284/

This invention relates to diaper holders.

One object of the invention is to provide a diaper holder having improved means for retaining a disposable diaper in such a maimer as to S prevent the diaper from slipping within the pocket of the holder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved diaper holder of the pocket type which shall avoid the use of pins for holding the 10 diaper in place within the pocket, and which shall not require projections or fasteners for engagement with the diaper, whereby any conventional diaper may be directly used and reliably positioned against slipping downward in the 1* pocket.

Another object of the invention is to furnish such an improved diaper holder, whose pocket shall be fully and freely accessible for washing and rinsing to thoroughly clean all corners and 20 sections of the pocket, and with the diaper holder so retaining the diaper as to assure complete protection and safety.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved elastically mounted diaper 25 holder which shall not cause uncomfortable tension on the body of the child nor leave marks on its body due to such tension.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a diaper holder which shall cover the 30 abdomen or stomach of the child to furnish a device which may serve as a garment, controlled by form fit elements for tension distribution over the abdomen, with such tension preferably arranged to hold up the adjacent end of the 35 diaper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diaper holder wherein a single elastic element is coordinated with a belly-band section to assure a normally greater tension at the waist line than 4Q across the abdomen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a diaper holder of simple, inexpensive construction, and which is durable, reliable, convenient and efficient in use, and which may be based 45 on a single sheet of material; and the invention provides also an improved blank for this purpose.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and . arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed 55 drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an upper pla-τ view of the diaper holder with the elastic portion fully stretched to 5 show the true shape of the garment.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the diaper holder with the elastic portion in normal contracted condition.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3—3 of 10 Hg. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the diaper holder as applied to a child.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the diaper 1* holder applied to a child having a larger abdomen.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and 20 the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different con- 25 structions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a diaper holder embodying the invention. The 30 same may be made of any suitable material, preferably of moisture resistant character, for example, composition treated silk. The device 10 may have a lower or outer wall i 1 and an upper Or inner wall 12 providing therebetween a pocket 35 13 for a disposable diaper 14. Formed in the inner wall 12 is a large opening 15, through which the diaper 14 is inserted and removed and engaged in operative relation to the body of the child by the pocket i3. The latter may be coex- 45 tensive in size with the diaper holder, and may be continuously marginally closed in a substantially liquid-tight manner so that any dripping is avoided. The construction may now be described advantageously by reference to my new 45 blank shown in Fig. 4.

Desirably the diaper holder 10 is made mainly of a single sheet of material, such as the blank 16. The latter is adapted to be longitudinally folded along the dot-dash lines 17 which are convexed 50 toward each other. These fold lines 17 define a central symmetrical section which forms the outer wall 13, and identical side sections 12α which are joined together by seams 18 to provide the upper wall 12. Each side section 12α may 55

8,301,905 have a lateral cut-out 19, these cut-outs diverging with respect to each other toward the bottom edge 20 of the blank. The arrangement is such that the mouths of the cut-outs, defined by the 5 dot-dash lines 21 are similarly divergent with each other. From the upper edges of the cutouts extend the side edges 22 in divergent relation to each other toward the top edge 23 of the blank. From the lower edges of the cut-outs 19, io extend the side edges 24 which are in divergent relation to each other toward the bottom edge 20. Due to the divergence of the mouths 21, the width across the blank at the edges 24 is greater than that at the edges 22. It is noted that the top 15 edge 23 is curved and interrupted to provide the curved edges 23α, adapted to register with the edge 23 when the blank is folded on the lines IT. Similarly adapted to register with the concaved bottom edge 20, are the downwardly convergent, 20 concaved side edges 25 which tend to shorten the inner wall. At the ends of the lower edge 20 of the blank, there are angular cut-outs 26; these in cooperation with the concave form of the bottom edge 20, serve to provide end projection or 25 tab-like portions 27, the purpose of which will be later described.

In manufacture, the blank 16 may be folded along the lines 17, and the edges £2 and 24 seamed together as at 18, with the mouths 21 of 30 the cut-outs falling along the center line of the diaper holder. Then the edges 23α may be seamed to the edge 23, and edges 25 seamed to the edge 20, with the seaming also interconnecting the respective edges of the cut-outs 26. The 35 edge of the opening 15 may be finished or reenforced by a strip element 15α.

Referring again to the diaper holder 10, it will be seen that the same comprises an abdominal section A, and a back or rear section R, substan40 tially greater in width according to Fig. 1, than the section A. Between these sections is the narrowed generally tapered part which passes between the legs of the child. Any diaper, properly folded or fitted, and inserted into the pock45 et 13 may extend fully into the sections A and R, with the diaper holder affording an overlapping wall portion 28 for the diaper at the sides of the opening 15. To comfortably hold the diaper, the blank 16 is so constructed and folded that 50 the outer wall II is greater in length than the inner wall 12, as evidenced by the joinder of the edges 20 and 25, for affording fullness.

Defining a belly-band section B for distribution of tension over the abdomen of the child is a 55 reenforcing strip element 29 to avoid stretch in the section B. With the top edge lying along the waist line, the band element 29 may be approximately half way down the abdomen or at some other suitable point. At the ends of the band 60 element 29, are fastening elements such as pocketed heads 30 which may extend through the front and rear walls 11 and 12. Cooperative fastening elements for the belly-band may be connected to the ends thereof at the waist line, 65 such as the ribbon portions 31.

Along the waist line of the back or rear section R there may be connected a single elastic strip member 32 which in its normally contracted position serves to gather the adjacent 70 part of the section R as indicated in Fig. 2. Companion headed elements 33 for the female fastener elements 30 may be secured to the garment at or near the ends of the elastic 32 and may extend through both walls I and 12.

Connected to the diaper holder at points spaced inward of the fasteners 13, as at 34, are elements or ribbons 35 which can be tied to the respective ribbons 31 as at 36, preferably with the knots beingdose to the points of securements of the different ribbons so that the position of ¹the knots is thus predetermined. However, adjustability may be obtained by differently locating the knots 36.

Desirably the points of securement 34 of the ribons 35 are spaced somewhat outwardly of the 1 elastic 32, as for example, on the tabs 27, in order that the fabric between the elastic and the points 34 may be capable of shifting laterally for increased adjustment to stomachs of different sizes. 1

The advantages of the garment with reference to its mounting means will be more clearly perceived by considering the manner of use thereof. After inserting the diaper 14 in the pocket 13, the garment is placed between the legs of the child, ²and the fasteners 30 and 33 interengaged so that the garment assumes the general position shown in Fig. 5. Then the ribbons 31 and 35 are tied together to form the knots 36. The natural line of tension is from the “small of the back” front- 2 ward and downward as indicated by the alinement of the elastic 32 and the reenforcement 29. This line is thus below the waist line, at the front of the garment. Along this line, the full range of elasticity of the elastic element 32 is available. S

The belly-band B is secured at the waist line by the ribbons 31 and 35 with a lesser degree of elasticity, the reason being that there is less length of elastic between the points 34. Hence the belly-band B is reliably supported and se- * cures the adjacent end portions D of the diaper 14, where the greatest trouble is otherwise encountered in the falling down of the diaper unless the latter is pinned into the pocket. If the garment were to end at the reenforcement 4 29 such a problem would remain. This bellyband B also covers the abdomen where it is usually exposed by the very short shirts that are worn by small children.

Nevertheless the tension for supporting the 4 diaper is diminished at the reenforcement 29, due to the full length of elastic 32 available, to thus avoid discomfort to the child and marking of the fatty part of its abdomen.

While the garments may pe made in different 5&lt; sizes for large and small children, adjustment is desirable for large and small abdomens of children of the same size. This is obtained in a maimer best seen by comparing Figs. 5 and 6. In the latter, the abdomen is larger and hence ® the fasteners 30, 33 have shifted frontward, with the part of the elastic 32 between the points 34 and the fasteners 33 subjected to a greater elongation. The part of the elastic between the points 34 may also have more elongation, but · the entire action will be in proportion for uniform distribution of tension over the bellyband B.

The tabs 27 serve to increase the comfort of _Mthe garment and its convenience in use. *