Diaper cover

Nov. 13, 1951 μ. donovan 2,575,165

DIAPER COVER

Filed June 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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ATTORNEY

Nov. 13, 1951 μ. donovan 2,575,165

DIAPER COVER

Filed June 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Nov. 13, 1951

2,575,165

M. DONOVAN

DIAPER COVER

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ATTORNEY

Patented Nov. 13, 1951

2,575,165

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,575,165

DIAPER COVER

Marion Donovan, Saugatuck, Conn., assignor to Kennedy Car Liner &amp; Bag Co., Inc., Shelbyville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana

Application June 22,1950, Serial No. 169,602

Claims.

The present invention relates to a new and improved waterproof and leakproof diaper cover.

The new diaper cover is an improvement over the inventions disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 71,580, filed January 19, 1949 and now Patent No. 2,556,800, No. 91,536, filed May 5, 1949 and Serial No. 99,096, filed June 14,1949.

The present invention provides a diaper cover which will prevent moisture from leaking from the diaper and soiling the baby’s clothes or bedding and will not bind about the baby’s legs or restrict circulation of the blood or proper ventilation. Also, without the use of pins to retain the diaper in position, the new diaper cover will prevent the diaper from wadding into a mass or bunching oi- from becoming disarranged in any way within the diaper cover. The diaper may be retained in the correct and more comfortable position with less likelihood that the baby’s skin will be chafed or the baby made fretful by the discomfort of a wadded, bulky mass of diaper, yet this is accomplished in a simple fashion without the effort of pinning the diaper to the cover and without the risk that such pins may become undone and hurt the baby. The new cover with a diaper inserted may be easily and rapidly applied to the baby and may be thoroughly cleansed in a very simple fashion. All of these features are presented by the new diaper cover, and yet it may be manufactured in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the new diaper cover vzith both end portions folded in.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank forming the inner sheet of the diaper cover as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank forming the outer sheet of the diaper cover as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank forming a side wall of the diaper cover as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the assembled diaper cover shown in Fig. 1 but with only one end folded in.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines δ—6 of Fig. 5, showing the diaper inserted.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 7—Ί of Fig. 8, showing the diaper inserted.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the form of diaper cover shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of an alternative form of (Cl. 128—287) blank forming the inner sheet of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 illustrates a plan view of an alternative form of blank forming the outer sheet of the ⁵ diaper cover shown in Fig. 5 and further illustrates another modification thereof.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a modified form of diaper cover with both ends folded in.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of an alternative form of I i' an assembled diaper cover with one end folded in.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 12 with one end folded in.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a blank forming the inner sheet of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 12.

¹⁵ Fig. 15 is a plan view of a blank forming the outer sheet of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 16—16 of Fig. 12, showing the diaper inserted.

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 20 (7—17 of Fig. 13, showing the diaper inserted.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a portion of a modified form of an assembled diaper cover.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the general outline of the diaper cover may be 25 that of a modified hour glass, as shown in Fig. 12, or of a tabbed rectangle, as shown in Fig. 5, or any modification of such forms, as, for example, the modification shown in Fig. 18. The cover may be of any soft pliable waterproof material, such ₃₀ as rubber, waterproof cloth or plastic, although I prefer to use a plastic material of a vinyl resin type.

The diaper cover has two basic parts. One is an inner sheet which is shown in various alterna₃₅ tive forms as 21, 21 a and 2 lb in Figs. 2, 9 and 14, respectively. The other basic part is a backing or outer sheet shown as 22, 22a and 22b in Figs. 3, 10 and 15, respectively. As can be seen from the drawings, all alternative forms of the inner 40 sheet have a cut-out central portion generally indicated as 23. The inner and outer sheets are joined together by stitching or sealing along at least their side portions to form a pocket to retain a diaper 24 placed between said inner and 45 outer sheets. A portion of diaper 24 is exposed to the baby by means of this cut-out area 23 for the absorption of moisture.

It has been found that if two pieces of material co-extensive in size and shape are joined 50 together along their side edges with a cut-out central portion, such as 23 in the inner sheet 2i, there is a tendency for the structure to gap open ‘at its midpoints shown at 25 in Fig. 5, when a diaper is inserted and the structure is curved in 65 the operating position shown in Fig. 1 which it

3,675,165 will asume when the central portion is passed between the baby’s legs and the end portions are secured about the baby’s waist. However, I have discovered that this objectionable gaping, with its resulting leakage in the case of diaper covers, is overcome when the structure is provided with arcuate side walls. My inner sheets and outer sheets are so shaped and joined together to provide such side walls. However, the construction is better understood initially if these side walls are shown as separate pieces, and the cover is. shown as being formed of four pieces of material instead of the preferred two pieces.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate this four-piece, construction which utilizes an inner sheet 2i, an outer sheet 22 and two side walls 2S. Inner-sheet 21 may be shaped as shown in Fig. 2 for use-with, outer sheet 22 shown in Fig. 3 and two side walls 26 shown in Fig. 4. The length of the straight side edge of sheet 21 at about its middle portion is indicated as “a” in Fig. 2. This length “a” is less than the length of the similar middle portion of outer sheet 22 which is indicated as “b” in Fig. 3, but the remaining portions of sheets 21 and 22 may be of the same size.and shape. The side walls 2.6. are formed as shown:in Fig. 4 with one straight edge and one convexly curved edge. The length of the straight edge of each side wall 26, indicated as “a” is the same as the straight edge mid-portion of inner sheet 21 which is also indicated as “a.” The length, of the curved edge of 26, which is indicated as “b,” is the same as the length of the straight edge midportion of outer sheet 22, which is also indicated as “b.”

A side wall piece 26 is affixed by any usual means,, such as stitching or sealing to each side edge of the inner and outer sheets 21 and 22, respectively, at their mid-portions, with straight edge a being affixed to straight edge a of inner sheet 21 and curved edge “b” being affixed to straight edge b of said outer sheet 22. This provides, a side elevation as is shown in Fig. 8 with the outer or backing sheet 22 being convexly curved away from said inner sheet 21 at this mid-portion area. The inner and outer sheets may now be joined along the remaining portion of their side edges by similar means, for it will: be noted that the excess length of outer sheet 22: over inner sheet 21 has been taken un by the convex curve or pocket formed in said outer sheet 22 by side panels 26, and the other portions of sheet 22 mav be co-extensive in size and shape with- other portions of sheet 21. I also prefer to jo’n said inner and outer sheets together-along straight lines 27 and 28 running, across the tab. portions 29 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The tab portions indicated as 29 on said inner sheet 21 and on said outer sheet 22 are provided with snans 38 or buttons and button holes or ot'-'er fastening means by which the diaper cover with a diaper inserted mav be secured about, the waist of an infant. Snans 3Π are shown in Fig. 5 and it¹ may be noted that these snaps also provide an adjustable waist size. If desired these: tab portions 29 may be left blank and pins may be used through these tabs to so secure the diaper, cover without endangering its waterproof integrity, or this is maintained by the seams or lines of iuncture 27 and 28.

The foregoing four-niece construction illustrates clearly the desired form that the central portion of:the dianer should take. Of course, sidewalls 26 need not be of the precise shane shown in Figs. 4 and 8 but may be somewhat deeper or shallower or may be longer or shorter if desired. Also, they might be angular rather than smoothly curved; the cover will be satisfactory as long as the length of edge “a” of 26, which is to be attached to inner sheet 21, is of less length than the overal length of edge b, or edges if b is made angular rather than curved, which is or are to be attached to outer sheet 22. The principal thing is to obtain a structure having an outer sheet curved convexly either arcuately or angularly, in relation to the inner sheet at about its middle portion. Although illustrative, this fourpiece construction is not as simple or economical as the: following alternative two-piece constructions which achieve·, the same desired result.

An alternative; form of inner sheet is shown in Fig. 9. as 21a, which is designed for use with backing sheet 22, shown in Fig. 3, but without the need for any separate pieces to form the arcuate side walls. Again, the middle portion of 2la is somewhat shorter in length than that of 22. The length shown as “a” at the mid-portion of sheet 21a is less than the length shown as “b” of the mid-portion of sheet 22, but the length of the arc or curved edge shown as “b” in sheet 2la is the same, as the length of the straight edge shown as “b” in sheet 22. Therefore when the curved edge b of sheet 2 la is joined to the straight edge b of sheet 22, the length by which sheet 22 exceeds 21 is taken up, and the desired convex curve is obtained similar to that obtained when a separate side panel 26 was used. The inner and outer sheets 2 la and 22 are then joined together- in the same fashion as disclosed earlier. It will be readily seen that these particular portions of sheet 21 a, which are generally indicated as 26a, serve the same purpose as the separate side panels 26. However, forming these side walls as an integral part of the inner sheet makes the diaper cover more economical to manufacture in that there is less cutting and so less waste of material and less stitching or joining of pieces of material required.

Again, it may be noted that this side-wall forming extension 2 Sa need not be smoothly curved but may be angular with an outer edge generally parallel to the long axis of sheet 21a and side edges diverging toward the main portion of sheet 21a.

Another alternative form of construction provides the same desirable structure and is illustrated in Fig. 10, which shows a plan view of a backing sheet 22a designed for use with inner sheet 21. It will be noted in passing that sheet 22a does not have the extended portions 31 at each end of the sheet which are shown in other plan views and the purpose of this will be discussed later. The middle portion of sheet 22a indicated as “b” is of the same length as the middle portion of sheet 22. Formed integrally with sheet 22a and extending at each side of its middle portion is a side wall forming extension 26b roughly similar to side panel 26. This piece of material 26b has an exterior straight edge “a” and. arcuate edges indicated as “b.” Each piece of material 26b might be described as a truncated section of a circle being joined to sheet 22a along the line of truncation, and having two sides which are segments of the arc of the circle, and having one straight side a opposite to and substantially parallel with said line of truncation. Again, it may be noted that the side edges of 26b need not be segments of the same arc but may be any curves or even straight lines as long

2,575,165 as they converge toward the main portion of said backing sheet 22a.

The length of straight edge a of 26b is the same length as the straight edge a of the inner sheet 21. The side edges, whether curved or straightly converging, of side wall forming extensions 26b are secured to the adjacent straight edges of the middle portion of 22a, thus taking up the excess of length by which this middle portion of 22a exceeds the middle portion of 21 and forming the backing sheet into a convex curve or angular pocket at this middle portion. Straight edge a of 26b is itself affixed to straight edge a of 21 and the two sheets are then secured together as before. It will be noted that again the side elevation of the structure will be like that shown in Fig. 8.

Another, and the preferred form of obtaining the desired structure, is illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15. In this alternative form an inner sheet of the general shape of 21b at its mid-portion is used. The other portions of 21 b are merely illustrative of a form of diaper cover slightly different in outline from that previously shown. Outer sheet 22b is used with inner sheet 21b. Again, outer sheet 22b is longer in its middle portion than is inner sheet 2 i b at its middle portion. Also the two sheets are of different shape at their middle portions. The long sides of sheet 22b at their middle portions are generally in the form of concave curves providing outer sheet 22b with a narrower middle portion than end portions. Inner sheet 21b also has its long side edges of this same general concave curve for parts of their length but at their middle portion these concave 3 curves are interrupted by two convex curves so that at its middle portion 21 b is wider than outer sheet 22b at this point. On both sides of the central aperture 23 of sheet 21b, inward of the side edges of said sheet 21b at its convexly curved ^!middle portion, there is a seam or tuck 32 formed by stitching or sealing. These seams 32 may be straight or slightly curved and roughly parallel with the convexly curved edges of the middle portion of sheet 2ib. The area of sheet 2ib on ., each side outside of these tucks 32 is indicated as 26c. It will be seen that when inner sheet 2lb with said seams 32 is attached to outer sheet 22b along the side edges of each sheet, a structure having the side elevation shown in Fig. 13 will θ be obtained and that this structure has an outer sheet which is convexly curved with relation to the inner sheet at its middle portion, the areas 26c of said inner sheet 21b forming the side walls creating such convex curve, which curve takes up the j excess length of the middle portion of outer sheet 22b, Again, side-wall forming extension 26c may be angular instead of smoothly curved and the same advantages will be obtained.

Straight stitch or seam lines 27c and 28c may be added as before to provide this alternative form of diaper cover with tab portions which may be pierced by pins or other fastening means without destroying the waterproof integrity of the diaper cover.

A cross-sectional viw of this preferred form is shown in Fig. 17, which is taken along lines 17—17 of Fig. 13. It will be noted that this Fig. 17 is generally similar to Fig. 7, which shows a similar cross-sectional view of a diaper cover constructed of four pieces of material. However, Fig. 17 differs from Fig. 7 in one important respect as is shown graphically in accordance with the conventional draftsmen’s symbols of the United States Patent Office. In Fig. 7 three sep6 arate pieces of material are shown joined together, i. e. an inner sheet 21, a sidewall 26 and an outer sheet 22; these three separate pieces are secured together by ordinary stitches or seams.

&gt; In Fig. 17 the same construction is achieved by only two pieces of material. Inner sheet 21b and side panel area 26c are one piece of material and seam 32 does not secure two pieces of material together, but merely provides a small tuck in 0 inner sheet 2 lb. Outer sheet 22b is a separate piece of material and is secured by ordinary stitches or seams to the edge of sidewall forming extension 26c of sheet 21b.

The ends of all the foregoing alternative forms 5 of diaper cover may be sealed by stitching or sealing lines, or they may be left open in order that the diaper cover may be more readily cleaned. However, the particular form given to the end portions of these diaper covers, which end portions are generally denoted as 3i, has its own particular advantage which will now be shown.

If the baby is particularly active, the inserted diaper has a tendency to slip away from the end portions of the diaper cover and to bunch or wad in a mass in the central portion of the cover. Such a wadded diaper increases the likelihood of chafing and fretfulness because it is generally uncomfortable to the baby. Furthermore, when the diaper is so wadded into a mass in the central portion of the diaper cover and so in the vicinity of the cut-out area 23, the diaper has a tendency to project through this cut-out area and create leakage. This problem has been recognized in the prior art and an attempt has 5 been made to overcome it by pinning the diaper at both ends of the diaper cover. Such a procedure is not satisfactory for it entails additional operations in both inserting and removing the diaper from the cover and it subjects the baby ’ to possible injury should the pins become undone. Also, unless additional material is used to provide tabs, the diaper must be pinned through the diaper cover and in a very short time the waterproof integrity of the cover may be lost. In my r improved diaper cover I overcome all of these difficulties without requiring any extra operations, or endangering the baby or destroying the waterproof integrity of the cover.

I provide extensions 3t at each end of my o diaper cover which extensions project beyond the length of the cover necessary to reach the baby’s waist in front and back when its central portion is passed between the baby’s legs. A diaper 24 is used which is long enough to extend into these ,_δ extended areas 3i for at least a distance far enough so that when these extended portions 31 of the diaper cover are folded back at each end, the ends of the diaper 24 are folded back as well, and the diaper is securely held in place. ;0 This is clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 16. The grip obtained on the diaper by these folded end portions will prevent the diaper from slipping down and bunching or wadding in the central portion of the cover, or from otherwise becoming dis55 arranged within the cover. Since the cover is of thin pliable material, even with the diaper inserted it is still subject to folding over without becoming particularly bulky or objectionable. Moreover, it has been found that the baby is not Ό annoyed by such folds which are positioned about his waist when the diaper cover is in use and so are out of his way.

If desired, snaps or hooks and eyes 34 can be provided on the inner sheet at each end thereof in order to retain the extended end portions 31

3,575,165 when they are 'folded baek upon Themselves. Such fiooks and eyes are shown in Nig, 12 in .both, an engaged and disengaged position :and .this is clearly illustrated: in the cross-sectional view.of Fig. 1.6. Such hooks and. eyes 34 arealso I shown in Fig. .18, which illustrates a further alternative outline for a diaper cover by showing one-half of such cover, the other half being similar thereto.

As can be seen, the new diaper cover can be 1 used without the presence of these extended areas .3! and without ..utilizing folds at each end to grip the diaper, in which ease both the inner and outer sheets will have the length generally indicated in Fig. 10 for the outer sheet. Also, the extended I diaper cover featuring only the gripping end folds 31 can be used without the presence of the convex curve in the backing sheet as is shown in Fig. 11. A more satisfactory diaper cover is obtained if both of these features are present, but 2 either can be used to advantage without the •other.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the pre- 2 cise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the .invention .as defined in the appended claims.