Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-16
2001-09-18
Lewis, Aaron J. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S386000, C604S390000, C604S385010, C024S614000, C024S618000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290687
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to fastener means for fastening together opposing front and rear side-parts of an absorbent article, such as a diaper or like article, so as to form an encircling waistband, said article comprising a central part which includes an absorbent body, and front and rear flexible side-parts which extend from both sides of the central part, wherein the fastener means comprise two mutually coacting first and second parts of which the first part is attached to a front side-part and the second fastener element is attached to the rear side-part of the article, on the same side of the central part as the associated first fastener element.
The side-parts of diapers are normally fastened together with the aid of fastener tabs which are firmly anchored to one side-part of the diaper and which when donning the diaper are fastened to the other side-part of the diaper with the aid of a releasable and refastenable type of adhesive. The side-part onto which the fastener tab is fastened when putting on the diaper may be reinforced in different ways, to enable the fastener means to be released and refastened repeatedly without damaging the diaper casing sheet. One problem with the use of adhesive tape is that contaminants, such as baby talcum, are liable to stick to the adhesive and therewith impair its adhesiveness. Furthermore, many users lack a clear indication as to where the fastener tabs shall be fastened in order to obtain a suitable tight fit around the waist of the wearer. There is therefore a need for mechanical fasteners for fastening the side-parts of diapers together. One such mechanical fastener means is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,170, which describes a diaper whose side-parts are fastened together with the aid of mutually coacting resilient hock devices.
The object of the present invention is to provide mechanical fastener means which will satisfy the aforesaid need and which can be easily opened and closed.
In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved with fastener means of the kind defined in the introduction which are characterized in that the first or the second part of the fastener means includes a fastener portion which projects out in the circumferential direction of the waist-band and which can be inserted into an opening in its associated second or first fastener element, and in that one of the first and the second fastener elements includes at least one locking member which extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction in which the fastener portion is inserted and coacts with a locking aperture in the second fastener element in the inserted position of the fastener portion. A mechanical fastener of this kind can be released and fastened very easily.
In the case of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking member and the locking aperture coacting therewith are configured so that the first and the second fastener elements can only be fastened, or locked, together in one single relative position. The locking member projects out at right angles to the plane of the waistband and the insertion aperture is defined by the space between two mutually divergent walls on that part of the fastener means which includes the locking aperture. The locking member is comprised of a raised portion which projects out from a flat undersurface and which has on its outermost part a bead which extends at least around the rear edge of the raised portion as seen in the insertion direction.
In the case of one variant, the locking member projects out at right angles to the insertion direction and in the plane of the waistband or waist opening.
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Jonbrink Anna Karin
Skog Terje
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Kidwell Michele
Lewis Aaron J.
SCA Hygiene Products AB
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