Surgery – Means or method for facilitating removal of non therapeutic...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-19
2001-11-27
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means or method for facilitating removal of non therapeutic...
C604S391000, C604S392000, C604S394000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322552
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles which are adapted to contain body exudates. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles having belt loops and an adjustable belt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is desired that absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants or incontinence garments provide a dose, comfortable fit about the wearer and contain body exudates. Moreover, it is desirable that such absorbent articles, after being soiled, can be removed from the wearer in a convenient and clean manner without undesirably soiling the care giver or surrounding area such as the clothes of the wearer. In certain circumstances, it is also desirable that such absorbent anices are capable Qf being pulled up or down over the hips of the wearer to allow the wearer or caregiver to easily pull the article on and easily remove the article if it has not been soiled. For example, such absorbent articles can assist in the toilet training of children.
Conventional diapers have typically included a front waist portion and a back waist portion which are releasably connected about the hips of the wearer during use by conventional fasteners such as adhesive tape fasteners or hook and loop type fasteners. For example, the conventional fasteners have typically included a pair of fasteners, such as adhesive tape tabs, located on the outermost comers of the diaper in the back waist region of the diaper and a complimentary fastener, such as a taping panel, located on the outer surface of the outer cover of the diaper in the front waist portion of the diaper. In such a configuration, the diaper has been positioned between the legs of the wearer and the adhesive tape tabs have been releasably attached to the taping panel to secure the back waist portion to the front waist portion of the diaper to secure the diaper about the waist of the wearer. Such conventional diapers are easy to fasten about and remove from the wearer after use without undesirably soiling the care giver.
However, such conventional diapers are not provided in a prefastened configuration and thus are not configured to be pulled up or down over the hips of the wearer when the fasteners are attached. Moreover, such conventional diapers generally have one set of fasteners which must be disengaged and reattached to further conform the waist portions of the diaper to the wearer. Such disengagement and reattachment can be difficult to accomplish when the wearer is active.
Several attempts have been made to provide absorbent articles which fit the waist of the wearer to effectively contain body exudates, are capable of being pulled up or down over the hips of the wearer and provide ease of cleaning and removal after being soiled. For example, some conventional absorbent articles, such as conventional training pants, have included integral side panels which connect the front waist portion to the back waist portion of the absorbent article. The side panels have been made stretchable such that the waist opening of the absorbent article can expand to allow the absorbent article to be pulled up or down over the hips of the wearer if desired. Such side panels have also been designed such that they may be tom to remove the training pant from the wearer after it has been soiled.
However, many of such attempts have not been completely satisfactory. For example, absorbent articles such as training pants have not always been able to achieve a close conforming fit to the wearer while still being able to expand enough to be pulled up and down over the hips of the wearer. Often such training pants fit the waist of the wearer loosely which can undesirably result in leaks. As a result, many of such artides have not contained bodily exudates as effectively as conventional diaper-type articles which can be adjusted to achieve a more conforming fit to the wearer. Moreover, the removal of soiled absorbent articles which have integral side panels, such as conventional training pants, has not been completely satisfactory. For example, the side panels have been difficult to tear when attempting to remove the article from the waist of the wearer instead of pulling the article down over the hips of the wearer.
Accordingly, despite the attempts to develop improved absorbent articles, there remains a need for absorbent articles which can provide the benefits of both conventional training pants and conventional diapers. That is, there remains a need for absorbent articles which conform to the wearer to effectively contain bodily exudates, which are capable of being pulled up and down over the hips and buttocks of the wearer without opening, and which are readily secured about and removed from the wearer in a convenient and clean manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to the difficulties and problems discussed above, new disposable absorbent articles having belt loops and an adjustable belt have been discovered. In one aspect, the present invention concerns a disposable absorbent article which defines an absorbent, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region which extends between and connects the waist regions. The absorbent article includes an adjustable belt located in one of the waist regions of the absorbent article. The adjustable belt defines a pair of opposed end portions and a fastener on each of the opposed end portions. The absorbent also includes a belt loop located inward from and adjacent to each of the fasteners on the adjustable belt. Each of the belt loops define a pair of opposed longitudinal ends which are attached to the waist region of the absorbent article to slidably contain the adjustable belt between the belt loops. The fasteners on the adjustable belt are configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article.
In another aspect, the present invention concerns a disposable absorbent article which defines an absorbent, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region which extends between and connects the waist regions, a pair of opposed side edges and a pair of opposed waist edges. The absorbent article includes an outer cover and an adjustable belt which is attached to the outer cover using belt loops. The adjustable belt defines a pair of opposed end portions each of which has a secondary fasteners attached thereto. A belt loop is located inward from and adjacent to each of the secondary fasteners on the adjustable belt. Each of the belt loops defines a pair of longitudinally opposed ends which are attached to a bodyfacing surface of the outer cover in one waist region of the absorbent article to slidably contain the adjustable belt between the belt loops and the bodyfacing surface of the outer cover. The secondary fasteners on the adjustable belt are configured to releasably engage the garment facing surface of the outer cover in the opposite waist region of the absorbent article. In a particular embodiment, each of the belt loops includes a primary fastener on a bodyfacing surface thereof which is also configured to releasably engage the garment facing surface of the outer cover in the opposite waist region to provide a dual fastening system.
In yet another aspect, the present invention concerns a prefastened disposable absorbent article which defines an absorbent, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region which extends between and connects the waist regions, a pair of opposed side edges and a pair of opposed waist edges. The prefastened absorbent article includes an outer cover, an adjustable belt attached to the outer cover with belt loops, a pair of secondary fasteners and a pair of primary fasteners. The adjustable belt defines a pair of opposed end portions each of which includes a secondary fastener attached thereto. A belt loop is located inward from and adjacent to each of the secondary fasteners on the adjustable belt Each of the belt loops defines a pair of longitudinally opposed ends which are attached to the outer cover to slidably contain the adjustable belt between the belt lo
Blenke Timothy James
Elsberg Laura Linda
Pozniak Jennifer Elizabeth
Suprise Jody Dorothy
Curtin Jeffrey B.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Reichle K. M.
Weiss John G.
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