Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-12
2001-05-22
Dawson, Glenn K. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S372000, C604S378000, C604S385270, C604S385280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06235011
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of the absorbent garments in general, and more particularly to a fastening system for absorbent garments with cloth-like nonwoven outer layers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Disposable absorbent garments are well known in the art. Such garments typically include a moisture-impervious backing sheet, an absorbent pad, and a liner sheet that contacts the body of a person wearing the garment. In addition, elasticized regions are provided around the edges of the garment for securing it about the waist and legs of a wearer. Diapers typically further comprise opposed front and rear waist portions defining a waist opening, a crotch portion disposed therebetween, and a pair of elastically contractible leg openings along the side edges of the crotch portion. Disposable diapers having elasticized margins for placement about the legs of a wearer are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,462 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,861. An absorbent article having elasticized side margins and waist band margins is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,562.
Despite previous advancements in the field of absorbent garments, persons skilled in the art continue their efforts to produce more comfortable garments which are better able to contain urinary and fecal excretions. For instance, problems with prior diaper designs include leakage of urinary or fecal material from the garment. Prolonged contact of liquid or semi-solid excreta with the skin of the wearer is also a continuing problem in the art. The problem of leaking excreta may be further compounded by ineffective securing devices which hold the diaper around the child's waist.
Diapers may be secured around the body of the wearer by any of several known fastening systems. One such fastening system involves the use of adhesive tape tabs to secure the garment around the body of the wearer. The adhesive tape tabs are typically affixed to the rear waist portion of the backsheet. Corresponding tape landing zones (TLZ) are typically affixed to the front waist portion of the backsheet. The tape tabs adhere to the TLZ to secure the diaper or absorbent garment around the body of the wearer.
TLZs are typically affixed to the upper front waist portion of the backsheet of a diaper to provide a surface for secure fastening and reinforcement. TLZ surfaces allow the fastening tape tabs to be adjusted and refastened without tearing or otherwise damaging the backsheet. This feature is particularly convenient for inspecting the a contents of a diaper for waste. If no waste is found, the tape tabs may be refastened and use of the unsoiled diaper resumed.
Single-piece TLZs are known such as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,024,672 and 5,236,429, which are hereby incorporated by reference. In these prior art designs, the TLZ extends substantially across the entire upper front waist portion of the diaper. The fastening tape tabs adhere anywhere along the surface of the single TLZ strip. Consequently, the tape tabs might not be properly positioned along the TLZ strip, resulting in a poor fit.
Two-piece TLZs are also known. In this construction, two TLZ pieces form landing strips on the diaper where fastening tape tabs are attached. The backsheet of the diaper occupies the space between the respective pieces of the two-piece TLZ. Two-piece TLZ strips improve the fit of the diaper by reducing improper attachment of tape tabs to the TLZ. Two-piece TLZ strips also reduce the amount of material used in manufacturing the TLZ for a diaper and, thus, incrementally reduce the costs associated therewith.
In practice however, fastening tape tabs sometimes attach to the diaper backsheet in the space between the respective TLZ pieces. In such cases, removal of the tape tabs (for checking the contents of the diaper, readjusting or refastening) either tears the backsheet in this area or tears the TLZ piece(s) from the backsheet. Attempts to increase the tear strength or bond strength of the nonwoven backsheet laminate or the bond between the TLZ piece(s) and the nonwoven backsheet are either not economically practical or have not resolved this problem. This problem is exacerbated when the backsheet is fabricated from a cloth-like nonwoven material. These and other disadvantages of the prior art are sought to be overcome by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a three-piece TLZ in which the center TLZ piece has different release characteristics than the two outer TLZ pieces.
It is another object of this invention to provide a three-piece TLZ which may be used with cloth-like nonwoven backsheets in diapers.
It is another object of the invention to facilitate correct alignment of the adhesive tape tabs on a three-piece TLZ.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a TLZ on which tape tabs may be repeatedly adjusted without tearing the backsheet of a diaper.
It is yet another object of the preferred embodiments to provide an absorbent garment comprising:
front and rear waist portions cooperating to form a waist opening;
a crotch region formed between said front and rear waist portions;
a pair of leg openings on opposed sides of the crotch region;
a permeable topsheet, a substantially impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
leg elastics extending at least through the crotch region and positioned between said topsheet and backsheet;
tape tabs attached to said backsheet at opposite sides of said rear waist portion; and
a three-piece tape landing zone positioned on said backsheet adjacent said front waist portion, said three-piece tape landing zone comprising:
a central piece of plastic film substantially centrally secured to said backsheet at said front waist portion, said central piece of plastic film having two side edges; and
two outer pieces of plastic film secured to said backsheet at respective sides of said first piece of plastic film; wherein
said central piece of plastic film has different release characteristics than the two outer pieces of plastic film.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a three-piece TLZ comprising two outer TLZ pieces, which serve as fastening or landing zones for the tape tabs, and a third TLZ piece which has material and adhesive properties and characteristics different from those of the outer two TLZ pieces. The third or center TLZ piece is positioned between and overlaps the outer two TLZ pieces. Alternatively, the third or center TLZ piece is positioned between and underlaps the outer two TLZ pieces. In yet another preferred embodiment, the side edges of the third or center TLZ piece substantially align with respective edges of the outer TLZ pieces without underlap or overlap. The third piece thus prevents the tape tabs from attaching to the portion of the nonwoven backsheet located between the outer two TLZ pieces. The adhesive tape tabs can adhere securely to the outer two TLZ pieces, and can be repeatedly fastened and unfastened thereto. The third piece, having different release characteristics, prevents the adhesive tape tabs from securely fastening on its surface. Therefore, in order to achieve proper fastening, the tape tabs must be placed on the outer two TLZ pieces. The tape tabs are thus aligned correctly on the diaper, which in turn facilitates a better overall fit of the diaper.
In addition to the foregoing objects, the invention is further directed to a method of manufacturing a disposable absorbent garment including a three-piece TLZ. The three-piece TLZ is positioned on the upper front edge of the diaper during the manufacturing process and serves as fastening or landing zones for the tape tabs when the garment is worn. During manufacture, in the event that the third or center TLZ is positioned between and overlaps the outer two TLZ pieces, the outer TLZ pieces are first applied to the diaper backsheet, and then the center TLZ piece is applied to the diaper backsheet to overlap the corresponding inner e
Dawson Glenn K.
Hunton & Williams
Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.
Reichle K. M.
LandOfFree
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