Disposable diaper

Feb. 28, 1967

H. L. MARDER ETAL-

DI SPOSABLE DIAPER

3,306,293

Filed July 31,

1963

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US3306293A_D0001.tif" />

BY

INVENTORS

Herman L. Marder Werner O. Tundermann George D. Grippe

ATTORNEY

Feb. 28, 1967

Filed July 31, 1963

H. L. MARDER ETAL

DISPOSABLE DIAPER

3,306,293

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3306293A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US3306293A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US3306293A_D0004.tif" />

INVENTORS

Herman L. Marder Werner O. Tundermann George D. Grippe

ATTORNEY

H. L. MARDER ETAL

DISPOSABLE DIAPER

3,306,293

Feb. 28, 1967

Filed July 31, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US3306293A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US3306293A_D0006.tif" />

INVENTORS

Herman L. Marder Werner O. Tundermonn

George D. Grippo

ATTORNEY

H. L. MARDER ETAL

DISPOSABLE DIAPER

Feb. 28, 1967

Filed July 31, .1963

3,306,293

Sheets-Sheet 4

<img file="US3306293A_D0007.tif" />

<img file="US3306293A_D0008.tif" />

INVENTORS'

Herman L. Marder Werner L. Tundermonn George D. Grippe

BY

ATTORNEY

3,306,293

Patented Feb. 28, 1967

United States Patent Office

3,306,293 DISPOSABLE DIAPER Herman L. Marder, Plainfield, Werner O. Tundermann, Colonia, and George D. Grippo, New Brunswick, N.J., assignors to Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware

Filed July 31, 1963, Ser. No. 298,904

Claims. (Cl. 128—284)

Although there are a number of disposable-type diapers known in the art, heretofore such diapers have not met with general consumer acceptance. It is apparent that a great need exists for disposable diapers which do not have the handicaps of those heretofore available and this need will establish a ready market for an acceptable diaper. It appears that the major factors limiting the use of disposable diapers are their high relative cost as well as the fact that the soiled articles do not lend themselves to convenient and sanitary disposal in quantity. Although the diapers in the prior art have had disposability in mind as an objective, they have not been satisfactory in that, either they do not have good mechanical strength in use, or they do not have the characteristic of rapid disintegrability and flushability in toilets. Generally, the prior art diapers have taken the form of a tube or pocket filled with an absorbent after which the pockets have been sealed along the ends. It has been found that the absorbent core as thus utilized has been either prone to come out of the ends of the pockets at inopportune times and results in deposition in part thereof on the wearer, or is so completely sealed within the tube so as not to be readily disintegratable and hence not flushable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive diaper which is adaptable for use with a plastic panty so that the latter provides a barrier to leakage of liquid waste while retaining the diaper in place.

Another object is the provision of a disposable diaper embodying an absorbent core having no wet strength which core is placed in an envelope of permeable material which has considerable mechanical strength when in a wet or dry state.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary diaper which includes an absorbent core of fibrous material of high absorbency and no wet strength so that when placed in a volume of water it will, with slight agitation, disintegrate into a slurry of fibers.

This invention also contemplates the provision of a novel disposable diaper which is shaped and formed so as to make it adaptable to snugly fit the wearer; and in which the envelope is very thin and limp, and is, therefore, readily disposable after separation from the no wet strength core, when flushed in a conventional toilet bowl along with the separated core.

Another object is to provide a disposable diaper which includes a relatively soft, smooth and non-abrasive envelope so as not to irritate wearer’s skin, and which will also be permeable to liquids.

Another object is the provision of a novel disposable diaper embodying an envelope which is so overlapped that, when arranged on a child and wetted by the child’s waste, surface tension of the liquid film therebetween will cause the overlapped edges of the envelope to stick together without the use of adhesive, and wherein the bond strength so developed adequately preserves the structural integrity of the diaper until deposited in the toilet. When so deposited, the non-adhesively adhered overlapped edges of the envelope tend to float apart and are further separated by the peeling forces developed by any slight agitation, such as the dipping of the diaper in the toilet bowl.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a diaper wherein the disposal may be accomplished without the necessity for touching the soiled portion thereof when agitating the same in a toilet bowl.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be manifest from a consideration of the following specification and its accompanying drawings, wherein

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in one stage of its assembly:

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 in which another step in the assembly of the article is illustrated:

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 showing the diaper in its final assembled condition:

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view, partly broken away, taken substantially along line 4—4 of FIGURE 3:

FIGURE 5 is a front view illustrating the manner of positioning the diaper upon the body of a 'baby:

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a modified embodiment of a disposable diaper formed in accordance with this invention:

FIGURE 7 is a plan view illustrating still another embodiment of a disposable diaper:

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of using the diaper illustrated in FIGURE 7:

FIGURES 9 and 10 are perspective views illustrating 25 still further modifications which the invention may assume:

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment, wherein the envelope parts are folded differently:

and

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view, taken along the line 12—12 of FIGURE 11.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, FIGURES 1 to 5, inclusive, illus35 trate a disposable diaper comprising a rectangular envelope member 10 which is thin and limp so that it may pass through the small orifice of the toilet bowl when suspended in water. It is also a material which is soft, smooth, and non-abrasive so that it will not irritate a 40 child’s skin and yet have a high wet strength. It should also be permeable to liquids and have a high wicking rate. An example of such a material from which the envelope member 10 may be formed is a high wet strength plasticized and bacteriostat impregnated paper commonly sold 45 as “diaper liner” of 19 lbs. basis weight. Although the “diaper liner” paper is presently preferred, other materials, such as, lightweight, non-woven fabrics, or knitted meshes may be used.

Superposed on the envelope member 10 and centrally fib and longitudinally arranged thereon is a core generally indicated at 11. This core is formed of a fibrous material having high absorbency and no wet strength. For example, water leaf multi-ply crepe wadding or sulfite cellulose fluff, or a defibered flock of bleached, softwood fifi Kraft fibers, or degreased cotton linters, or combinations thereof may be used. When the core is composed of tissue paper, in order to assist in the disintegration thereof upon being immersed in water, the core is preferably sub-divided into a plurality of lower sections 12 and plurality of overlying upper sections 13. The sections 12 and 13 are positioned in edge-to-edge relationship and extend transversely across the envelope member 10, as clearly shown in FIGURE 1, and the upper sections 13 are spaced inwardly of the ends of and overlie the abutting ⁶³ edges of the lower sections 12. On the other hand, if the core is formed of cellulose fluff, a solid core structure may be utilized, in an obvious manner, not shown. In other words, it may not be necessary to subdivide the core into sections.

‘° It will be noted that the ends of the stacked sections 12 and 13 are spaced from the adjacent side edges of

3,306,293 the envelope member 10, as shown in FIGURE 1, and that the marginal portions 14 of the envelope member 10 are folded inwardly and over the core 11, as indicated in the overlapped position of FIGURE 2. The marginal portions 14 are then spot glued, as at 15, to the sections 12 and 13. The device is completed by positioning thereover another envelope member 16, of a material similar to, but not necessarily the same as, that of the envelope member 10, which sheet is of the same width as the folded envelope member 10 and substantially longer than the core, but terminates short of the ends of the envelope member 10. Sheet 16 is adhered to the exposed surfaces of the sections 12-13 of the core 11 by spot gluing, as at 17. The glue 15 and 17 may be either of the water resistant or water soluble variety but, it is to be noted that 15 the envelope member 16 is not glued directly to the envelope member 10, as this would prevent, or at least restrict, the separation of the core 11 from the envelope, while disposing of the used diaper in a toilet bowl.

While the use of “spot” gluing has been described, it 20 may be desirable to utilize lines, or other patterns of adhesive in lieu thereof. However, in either event, it is to be noted that the glue area should be located adjacent to the inturned marginal portions 14 of envelope member 10. It is also feasible to utilize embossing 25 wherein the envelope members 16 and 10 are respectively caused to adhere to the core by the application of suitable pressure. It will, of course, be understood that stitching, needle punching, or any other common fastening media, not shown, may be utilized in lieu of glue, 30 bearing in mind that members 10 and 16 of the envelope are fastened to the core, but are never secured to each other.

In the use of the aforesaid preferred form of the invention, it will be apparent that the diaper may be placed ³⁵in customary position upon the body of a child, as indicated in FIGURE 5, whereupon the end portions of the envelope member 10 may be secured to adjacent clothing of the child, or the entire device held in position by plastic pants or the like. The ends of the envelope pro- 40 vide tabs which may be tucked over the child’s plastic pants, as shown in FIGURE 5, and thereby act to retain the diaper in position on the child. It will be apparent that the composite envelope will act to retain the mechanical integrity of the diaper when soiled and when wet 45 with urine and while being subjected to the disruptive action of the child’s body movement.

When the diaper is worn and supported by the panty and thereby pressed against the wearer’s body, the core is restricted from coming out of the envelope, because ⁵⁰the overlapped edges of envelope members 10 and 16, when wet, are held together by the surface tension of the liquid therebetween. This force of the surface tension acts to preclude sliding or relative movement between the overlapping edges. When it is desired to dis- ⁵⁵pose of the used diaper, it is only necessary to grasp one extended end thereof and place the diaper within the confines of a toilet bowl. Before flushing, the diaper is dipped in the water in the customary manner, commonly used by mothers to remove the bulk soil from ⁶⁰cloth diapers. As the envelope members are respectively secured to the stacked core sections 12-13 only, and not to each other, the action of the water, and the weight of the wet core, causes envelope member 16 to float away and peel downwardly off and to separate from the en- ⁶⁵velope member 10. As a result, the soil will be washed into the bowl with envelope member 16 and the core 11 will fall into the toilet and disintegrate into a slurry of fibers or small segments. Thereupon, the envelope member 10 may be allowed to drop into the bowl and the entire diaper may be flushed therethrough. Thus, the diaper and its contents is completely disposed of without soiling the hands of the person handling the same.

In FIGURE 6, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the diaper illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5, in4 elusive, wherein the difference lies in the envelope member 16A being wider than the envelope member 10 and its inturned marginal portions 14. In this case, the envelope member 16A may be folded under the envelope 5 member 10. It will be apparent that the use and disposal of this form of diaper will be identical with the previously described preferred form.

Another embodiment of disposable diaper is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. In this case, the diaper corresponds to that illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5, except that attached to each end portion thereof is a transversely extending strap member 18. It will be apparent that when this form of diaper is placed upon a baby’s body, it may be held in position by tying the end portions of each of the strap members 18, as at 19, to maintain the same in position upon the child’s body without utilizing any other supporting means.

Referring to FIGURES 9 and 10, it will be noted that the diaper embodies a shaped core to provide a more comfortable fit. In FIGURE 9, the core consists of two spaced, transverse end sections 21 having three superposed elongated core strips 21' bridging the core sections 21 to effect a generally I-shape configuration. Another modified form of core structure is illustrated in FIGURE 10, wherein a three thickness core is employed, which includes only a single end section 21 and elongated top and bottom strips 21' and an intermediate two-part strip 21 interposed threbetween, generally approximating a T-shape configuration. In both the forms of FIGURES 9 and 10, it will be understood that the cores have been narrowed and shaped so as to provide a better fit in the crotch area. Thus, as the thin, limp, envelope will be caused to easily conform to the spatial confinement between the child’s legs.

A modified form of envelope is illustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12, which differs from the preferred form shown in FIGURE 3 in that the envelope member 10A has only one marginal edge portion folded upwardly and inwardly, as at 14A, and the opposing marginal edge portion of envelope member 16A is folded inwardly, so as to overlie the other or unfolded side edge of member 10A as at 16B. Thus, the respective single folded marginal edges of members 10A and 16A oppose one another and, as shown in FIGURE 12, the envelope members 10A and 16A are, respectively, spot glued, as at 17A, to the core sections, and not to each other, in the same general manner as previously described. In this embodiment, it will be noted that the core sections 11 are arranged within what can generally be considered a tube constituted by the envelope members 10A and 16A. The member 16A is preferably of shorter length than member 10A so as to be spaced from the ends of the latter to provide handling and grasping tabs or portions on member 10A.

While a preferred embodiment and several modifications thereof have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that various other modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.