Title:
DISPOSABLE DIAPER HAVING PRESSURE-SENSITIVE TAPE FASTENER AND BUILT-IN DISPOSAL FASTENER
United States Patent 3620217
Abstract:
An improved fastening device for securing the corners of a disposable diaper incorporates a built-in device which is useful in disposing of the diaper after it has been soiled. The fastener itself comprises a strip of pressure-sensitive tape held in superposed relationship with respect to a corner of the diaper backing sheet prior to use. One end of the tape is directly adhered to the backing Sheet. A treated release liner is interposed between the backing sheet and the other end of the tape which is releasably held in contact with said release liner. The releasable end of the tape is peeled from the release liner when the tape fastener is placed in use in the course of diapering a baby. After the diaper is soiled, it is rolled or folded up whereupon means associated with the release liner are used for securing the rolled or folded diaper. The means may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive area remaining on the backing sheet when the release liner is removed, or the liner itself can be provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive that remains adhered to the release liner when it is peeled off.
US Patent References:
Disposable prefolded diaper
Hrubecky - July 1965 - 3196874
Diaper
Chambers - August 1955 - 2714889
Disposable diaper
Miller - February 1953 - 2627858
NAPKIN FOR BABIES
Barnes - January 1971 - 3554195
PLEATED DIAPER
Jones, Jr. - February 1971 - 3561446
Disposable prefolded diaper
Hrubecky - July 1965 - 3196874
Diaper
Chambers - August 1955 - 2714889
Disposable diaper
Miller - February 1953 - 2627858
NAPKIN FOR BABIES
Barnes - January 1971 - 3554195
PLEATED DIAPER
Jones, Jr. - February 1971 - 3561446
Application Number:
05/020679
Publication Date:
11/16/1971
Filing Date:
03/18/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A61F13/15; A61F13/58; A61F13/56
Field of Search:
128/284,286,287,290,296
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Charles, Rosenbaum F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Fredrick V, Braun John Gorman H.
Claims:
1. In a disposable diaper having a backing sheet, the improvement comprising the combination of, a. a pressure-sensitive tape fastener having an attached end and a releasable end, said attached end being secured to said backing sheet, b. a release liner secured to said backing sheet, said release liner being interposed between said backing sheet and the releasable end of said tape fastener, said release liner having its upper surface treated to give it minimal adhesive attachment to said releasable end of said tape fastener, c. said releasable end being removable from said release liner to permit its use as a fastening device for said diaper by adhering said releasable end to a corner area of said diaper, and d. means associated with said release liner to provide a built-in disposal fastener for said diaper for securing the soiled diaper after it is rolled up for disposal.
2. A pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said built-in disposal fastener comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed between said release liner and said backing sheet, said adhesive remaining adhered to said backing sheet on removal of said release liner to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive area for use in holding said soiled diaper after it has been rolled.
3. A pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said built-in disposal fastener comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive on said release liner whereby the release liner is adhered to said backing sheet, said adhesive remaining adhered to said release liner on removal thereof to convert said release liner into a separate pressure-sensitive fastening device for use in holding said soiled diaper after it has been rolled.
4. A pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper as claimed in claim 2 including securement means contacting a limited area of the releasable end of said tape fastener to adhesively secure it in superposed relation to the release liner.
5. A pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper as claimed in claim 3 including securement means contacting a limited area of the releasable end of said tape fastener to adhesively secure it in superposed relation to the release liner.
2. A pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said built-in disposal fastener comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed between said release liner and said backing sheet, said adhesive remaining adhered to said backing sheet on removal of said release liner to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive area for use in holding said soiled diaper after it has been rolled.
3. A pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said built-in disposal fastener comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive on said release liner whereby the release liner is adhered to said backing sheet, said adhesive remaining adhered to said release liner on removal thereof to convert said release liner into a separate pressure-sensitive fastening device for use in holding said soiled diaper after it has been rolled.
4. A pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper as claimed in claim 2 including securement means contacting a limited area of the releasable end of said tape fastener to adhesively secure it in superposed relation to the release liner.
5. A pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper as claimed in claim 3 including securement means contacting a limited area of the releasable end of said tape fastener to adhesively secure it in superposed relation to the release liner.
Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The subject matter of the present application is in some ways related to the inventive concept described and claimed in the copending application of Dale A. Gellert entitled IMPROVED PRESSURE SENSITIVE TAPE FASTENER FOR DISPOSABLE DIAPERS, Ser. No. 12,656, filed on Feb. 19, 1970. Said Gellert application discloses and claims a pressure-sensitive tape fastener having an improved securement means for the releasable end of the tape which may, if desired, be used in association with the subject matter of the inventive concept of the present application. Whenever reference is made to said Gellert application, herein, it will be understood to refer to the above-cited application.
The use of pressure-sensitive tape fasteners for securing the corners of a diaper is a well-known expedient in the art. In fact, an example of this type of device is described in U.S. Pat. Re. No. 26,151 entitled DISPOSABLE DIAPER which issued to Robert C. Duncan et al. on Jan. 31, 1967. The Duncan et al. patent is commonly owned by the assignee of both the present application and said Gellert application.
Previous pressure-sensitive tape fasteners, however, have been limited to the sole utility of providing a means for fastening the corners of the diaper when in use. After the diaper was soiled, the prior known tape fasteners were removed either by peeling or tearing and the problem of disposing of the soiled diaper remained. In some cases, the diaper could be disposed of by merely removing the plastic backing sheet and thereafter disposing of the diaper by flushing it down the water closet. While it has been shown that this means of disposal is not detrimental to the sanitary sewer system, it has led to a certain amount of apprehension on the part of some users who are reluctant to dispose of diapers in this fashion.
Another means of disposal merely contemplates the folding, rolling or wadding of the soiled diaper for placement in a suitable container for eventual disposal. However, the disposal of diapers in this fashion is somewhat more convenient and less noxious if the soiled diaper can be maintained in its folded or rolled condition prior to and during its placement in the disposal container. The use of separate external devices has been proposed but to date no suitably satisfactory integral device has been devised for accomplishing this function as an aid in the disposal of soiled diapers.
The nature and substance of the invention will be more readily appreciated after giving consideration to its major aims and purposes. The principal objects of the invention are recited in the ensuing paragraphs in order to provide a better appreciation of its important aspects prior to describing the details of a preferred embodiment in later portions of this description.
A major object of the invention is the provision of an improved pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper which can be used to hold the corners of the diaper during normal usage and which incorporates a built-in disposal device which can be used for securing the soiled diaper after it has been rolled or folded up.
Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved fastener of the above character which is provided with a release liner that can be conveniently removed after the diaper has been soiled in order to provide a securing means either by the use of an adhesive area beneath the release liner or by the use of the release liner itself.
A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper which provides a straightforward and simple device for sealing a soiled diaper after it has been rolled or folded up and one that can be readily manufactured on a production basis at commercially feasible speeds.
These and other objects are achieved by providing a diaper having a pressure-sensitive tape fastener attached to one corner of the backing sheet. One end of the fastener is directly attached to the backing sheet there being a release liner interposed between the backing sheet and the other end of the tape fastener to provide a releasable end. The releasable end is readily peeled from the release liner to permit the use of the pressure-sensitive tape as a conventional fastening device for securing opposed corners of a diaper. After the diaper has been soiled, it can be rolled or folded up whereupon the release liner is removed from the backing sheet, there being means associated with said release liner to secure the ends of the soiled diaper after it has been rolled or folded into a suitably disposable form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner of a disposable diaper to which the invention has been applied in one form.
FIG. 2 is a cross section in elevation of the corner of the diaper taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the pressure-sensitive tape fastener when in use for holding adjoining diaper corners.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing one embodiment of the invention wherein the release liner is being removed by peeling to expose an adhesive area for use after the diaper is rolled or folded up.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the rolled diaper and showing the manner in which the adhesive areas of FIG. 4 may be used to secure the ends of the rolled diaper prior to disposal.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner of a disposable diaper to which a modified form of the invention has been applied.
FIG. 7 is a cross section in elevation of the corner of the diaper taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the fastener of FIG. 6 illustrating the manner in which the release liner is removed preparatory to using it to seal the soiled diaper after it is rolled or folded.
FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a rolled diaper that has been secured by the release liner removed as in the manner of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Pressure-sensitive tape fasteners with the built-in disposal fastener of the invention are useful and beneficial when applied to conventional disposable diapers, particularly of the kind that have a plastic backing sheet. As an illustration of the type of diaper to which the invention is very readily adapted, reference is again made to the above cited U.S. Pat. Re. No. 26,151 of Duncan et al. issued Jan. 31, 1967. It will be apparent from the following description that the disposal fastener illustrated and described herein may be applied to the corner of a diaper of that particular design and configuration. On the other hand, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific diaper structure or configuration and that the Duncan et al. patent is incorporated herein by reference merely for the sake of illustrating a typical example of the kind of diaper to which the present invention can be usefully applied.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be noted that these views represent the upper corner of a portion of a diaper 10 which may comprise an absorbent core 11 selected from any well-known material having good fluid-absorbing characteristics such as absorbent wadding, cellulosic fluff or the like. A water-impervious plastic (e.g., polyethylene film) backing sheet 12 is used for the back surface of the diaper itself. It will be understood, however, that the backing sheet 12 may be any suitable material such as a nonwoven fabric and need not be plastic, particularly when the diaper is to be covered with plastic panties or the like. The backing sheet 12 has a narrow margin 13 folded over at 14 to cover the top edge of the absorbent core 11 to the inner edge 15 of the backing sheet 12.
A pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16 is provided which has one end, i.e., an attached end 17, that is directly secured and strongly adhered to the lower surface of the backing sheet 12 as shown in FIG. 2 (for simplicity of illustration, only one tape 16 is shown but it will be understood that normally two tapes 16 are provided on two diaper corners in a complete structure). The other end of the tape 16, i.e., the releasable end 18, is initially held down but is not directly adhered to the backing sheet 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and will be hereinafter described in greater detail. The pressure-sensitive tape 16 is preferably a paperbacked tape but it can also be any one of several well-known commercial types including the type having a polyethylene backing. In either case, it can be used with or without reinforcing. The pressure-sensitive adhesive on the tape 16 is preferably selected so that it will be least irritating to a tender baby's skin.
A release liner 19 is provided as shown in the drawings. The release liner 19 is interposed between the backing sheet 12 and the releasable end 18 of the tape 16. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the release liner 19 is affixed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive area 20 by which it is adhered to the backing sheet 12 (the adhesive area 20 is of exaggerated thickness in the drawing merely for the sake of illustration). The pressure-sensitive adhesive area 20 has sufficient bond strength to retain the release liner 19 in position when the tape 16 is assembled and used in its intended manner. The adhesive area 20 may originally be adhered to the release liner 19 and transferred therefrom to the backing sheet 12 or it may be applied directly to the backing sheet 12 prior to affixing the release liner 19 thereto. The upper surface 21 of the release liner 19 is silicone treated so that it has minimal adhesive attachment, if any, with respect to the superposed surface of the releasable end 18 of the tape fastener 16. The release liner 19 may be polyethylene or paper or any suitable equivalent thereof that will achieve the objects of the invention.
Securement means may be provided in order to hold down the releasable end 18 of the fastener 16 at a predetermined limited area and to maintain it in superposition with respect to said release liner 19 prior to use. The securement means may take any one of several forms as illustrated and described in said Gellert application. By way of example, a particular securement means is illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 which comprises a pair of apertures 22 formed through the release liner 19 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive area 20 so that the pressure-sensitive adhesive on the releasable end 18 is directly adhered to the backing sheet 12 in the area of the apertures 22. The advantages and benefits of this type of securement means will be understood by making reference to said Gellert application wherein other forms of that concept are also described and claimed.
The pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16 is used in the present invention by merely lifting and peeling the releasable end 18 from the release liner 19 whereupon it can be attached to a corner 23 to hold it in juxtaposition with the corner 24 as illustrated in FIG. 3. This is a well-known and conventional manner of using a pressure-sensitive tape 16 for securing adjoining corners of a diaper.
After the diaper has been soiled, it may be rolled up for disposal (while the soiled diaper will hereafter be referred to as being rolled up for disposal, it will be understood that the invention in any form can also be practiced on the soiled diaper by folding, wadding or otherwise concentrating its bulk into a compact form). Means are provided in the present diaper 19 for securing and maintaining the rolled up diaper in such condition and these will now be described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5.
It will be noted that the spent fastener 16 is preferably removed from the diaper corners 23 and 24 by tearing intermediate its ends although it could also be removed by peeling or otherwise. The release liner 19 is then lifted and peeled leaving an exposed area 20 coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive which is used as a built-in disposal fastener. On rolling up the diaper to obtain the compact form 25 as shown in FIG. 5, the areas 20 of pressure-sensitive adhesive are used to secure the corners to the underlying area of the rolled up diaper 25 in order to maintain it in that condition. The resultant structure is compact and readily disposable. It also has the advantage of being enclosed by the backing sheet 12 which is of assistance in minimizing odors that may emanate from the soiled diaper.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 in which a modified form of release liner is used to provide essentially similar benefits and results. Identical reference numerals will be used throughout the following description to represent any elements that are identical to those previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16 is secured in a very similar manner to that illustrated and described in connection with FIG. 2 of the drawing. As in the previous embodiment, the release liner 26 is directly secured to the backing sheet 12 such that it is interposed between the backing sheet 12 and the releasable end 18 of the pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16. However, the material of the release liner 26 and the adhesive 27 (FIG. 8) are each selected so that the adhesive 27 will adhere to the liner 26 when it is later peeled from a soiled diaper.
The application of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 for securing a diaper at its corners is similar to that previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The releasable end 18 is merely peeled from the liner 26 whereupon it can be secured in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.
The soiled diaper may be disposed of in much the same manner as the previously described embodiment using the liner 26 as a built-in disposal fastener. When ready for disposal, the release liner 26 is peeled from the backing sheet 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. However, the liner 26 is preserved as the pressure-sensitive adhesive 27 adhering to the release liner 26 makes it possible to reuse the liner 26 as a built-in disposal fastener. After rolling up the soiled diaper into the compact form 28 shown in FIG. 9, the removed release liners 26 are reused in the manner illustrated to secure the edge 29 thereby maintaining the diaper in rolled form. The resultant rolled-up diaper 28 is readily disposable while being provided in a compact and protected form for that purpose.
From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that numerous modifications can be made without affecting the concept of the invention. For example, while in each illustrated embodiment, the pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16 is shown in a form wherein it is folded around an edge, the built-in disposable fastener concept is equally effective when the entire tape 16 is mounted on a continuous substantially planar surface. Similarly, the tape 16 could be mounted at an angle with respect to the side edges of the diaper or it could even, if desired, have the release liner under the opposite end from that illustrated in the drawing although this may be less practical in the particular form of diaper to which it has been applied in the foregoing description.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
The subject matter of the present application is in some ways related to the inventive concept described and claimed in the copending application of Dale A. Gellert entitled IMPROVED PRESSURE SENSITIVE TAPE FASTENER FOR DISPOSABLE DIAPERS, Ser. No. 12,656, filed on Feb. 19, 1970. Said Gellert application discloses and claims a pressure-sensitive tape fastener having an improved securement means for the releasable end of the tape which may, if desired, be used in association with the subject matter of the inventive concept of the present application. Whenever reference is made to said Gellert application, herein, it will be understood to refer to the above-cited application.
The use of pressure-sensitive tape fasteners for securing the corners of a diaper is a well-known expedient in the art. In fact, an example of this type of device is described in U.S. Pat. Re. No. 26,151 entitled DISPOSABLE DIAPER which issued to Robert C. Duncan et al. on Jan. 31, 1967. The Duncan et al. patent is commonly owned by the assignee of both the present application and said Gellert application.
Previous pressure-sensitive tape fasteners, however, have been limited to the sole utility of providing a means for fastening the corners of the diaper when in use. After the diaper was soiled, the prior known tape fasteners were removed either by peeling or tearing and the problem of disposing of the soiled diaper remained. In some cases, the diaper could be disposed of by merely removing the plastic backing sheet and thereafter disposing of the diaper by flushing it down the water closet. While it has been shown that this means of disposal is not detrimental to the sanitary sewer system, it has led to a certain amount of apprehension on the part of some users who are reluctant to dispose of diapers in this fashion.
Another means of disposal merely contemplates the folding, rolling or wadding of the soiled diaper for placement in a suitable container for eventual disposal. However, the disposal of diapers in this fashion is somewhat more convenient and less noxious if the soiled diaper can be maintained in its folded or rolled condition prior to and during its placement in the disposal container. The use of separate external devices has been proposed but to date no suitably satisfactory integral device has been devised for accomplishing this function as an aid in the disposal of soiled diapers.
The nature and substance of the invention will be more readily appreciated after giving consideration to its major aims and purposes. The principal objects of the invention are recited in the ensuing paragraphs in order to provide a better appreciation of its important aspects prior to describing the details of a preferred embodiment in later portions of this description.
A major object of the invention is the provision of an improved pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper which can be used to hold the corners of the diaper during normal usage and which incorporates a built-in disposal device which can be used for securing the soiled diaper after it has been rolled or folded up.
Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved fastener of the above character which is provided with a release liner that can be conveniently removed after the diaper has been soiled in order to provide a securing means either by the use of an adhesive area beneath the release liner or by the use of the release liner itself.
A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved pressure-sensitive tape fastener for a disposable diaper which provides a straightforward and simple device for sealing a soiled diaper after it has been rolled or folded up and one that can be readily manufactured on a production basis at commercially feasible speeds.
These and other objects are achieved by providing a diaper having a pressure-sensitive tape fastener attached to one corner of the backing sheet. One end of the fastener is directly attached to the backing sheet there being a release liner interposed between the backing sheet and the other end of the tape fastener to provide a releasable end. The releasable end is readily peeled from the release liner to permit the use of the pressure-sensitive tape as a conventional fastening device for securing opposed corners of a diaper. After the diaper has been soiled, it can be rolled or folded up whereupon the release liner is removed from the backing sheet, there being means associated with said release liner to secure the ends of the soiled diaper after it has been rolled or folded into a suitably disposable form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner of a disposable diaper to which the invention has been applied in one form.
FIG. 2 is a cross section in elevation of the corner of the diaper taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the pressure-sensitive tape fastener when in use for holding adjoining diaper corners.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing one embodiment of the invention wherein the release liner is being removed by peeling to expose an adhesive area for use after the diaper is rolled or folded up.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the rolled diaper and showing the manner in which the adhesive areas of FIG. 4 may be used to secure the ends of the rolled diaper prior to disposal.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner of a disposable diaper to which a modified form of the invention has been applied.
FIG. 7 is a cross section in elevation of the corner of the diaper taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the fastener of FIG. 6 illustrating the manner in which the release liner is removed preparatory to using it to seal the soiled diaper after it is rolled or folded.
FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a rolled diaper that has been secured by the release liner removed as in the manner of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Pressure-sensitive tape fasteners with the built-in disposal fastener of the invention are useful and beneficial when applied to conventional disposable diapers, particularly of the kind that have a plastic backing sheet. As an illustration of the type of diaper to which the invention is very readily adapted, reference is again made to the above cited U.S. Pat. Re. No. 26,151 of Duncan et al. issued Jan. 31, 1967. It will be apparent from the following description that the disposal fastener illustrated and described herein may be applied to the corner of a diaper of that particular design and configuration. On the other hand, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific diaper structure or configuration and that the Duncan et al. patent is incorporated herein by reference merely for the sake of illustrating a typical example of the kind of diaper to which the present invention can be usefully applied.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be noted that these views represent the upper corner of a portion of a diaper 10 which may comprise an absorbent core 11 selected from any well-known material having good fluid-absorbing characteristics such as absorbent wadding, cellulosic fluff or the like. A water-impervious plastic (e.g., polyethylene film) backing sheet 12 is used for the back surface of the diaper itself. It will be understood, however, that the backing sheet 12 may be any suitable material such as a nonwoven fabric and need not be plastic, particularly when the diaper is to be covered with plastic panties or the like. The backing sheet 12 has a narrow margin 13 folded over at 14 to cover the top edge of the absorbent core 11 to the inner edge 15 of the backing sheet 12.
A pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16 is provided which has one end, i.e., an attached end 17, that is directly secured and strongly adhered to the lower surface of the backing sheet 12 as shown in FIG. 2 (for simplicity of illustration, only one tape 16 is shown but it will be understood that normally two tapes 16 are provided on two diaper corners in a complete structure). The other end of the tape 16, i.e., the releasable end 18, is initially held down but is not directly adhered to the backing sheet 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and will be hereinafter described in greater detail. The pressure-sensitive tape 16 is preferably a paperbacked tape but it can also be any one of several well-known commercial types including the type having a polyethylene backing. In either case, it can be used with or without reinforcing. The pressure-sensitive adhesive on the tape 16 is preferably selected so that it will be least irritating to a tender baby's skin.
A release liner 19 is provided as shown in the drawings. The release liner 19 is interposed between the backing sheet 12 and the releasable end 18 of the tape 16. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the release liner 19 is affixed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive area 20 by which it is adhered to the backing sheet 12 (the adhesive area 20 is of exaggerated thickness in the drawing merely for the sake of illustration). The pressure-sensitive adhesive area 20 has sufficient bond strength to retain the release liner 19 in position when the tape 16 is assembled and used in its intended manner. The adhesive area 20 may originally be adhered to the release liner 19 and transferred therefrom to the backing sheet 12 or it may be applied directly to the backing sheet 12 prior to affixing the release liner 19 thereto. The upper surface 21 of the release liner 19 is silicone treated so that it has minimal adhesive attachment, if any, with respect to the superposed surface of the releasable end 18 of the tape fastener 16. The release liner 19 may be polyethylene or paper or any suitable equivalent thereof that will achieve the objects of the invention.
Securement means may be provided in order to hold down the releasable end 18 of the fastener 16 at a predetermined limited area and to maintain it in superposition with respect to said release liner 19 prior to use. The securement means may take any one of several forms as illustrated and described in said Gellert application. By way of example, a particular securement means is illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 which comprises a pair of apertures 22 formed through the release liner 19 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive area 20 so that the pressure-sensitive adhesive on the releasable end 18 is directly adhered to the backing sheet 12 in the area of the apertures 22. The advantages and benefits of this type of securement means will be understood by making reference to said Gellert application wherein other forms of that concept are also described and claimed.
The pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16 is used in the present invention by merely lifting and peeling the releasable end 18 from the release liner 19 whereupon it can be attached to a corner 23 to hold it in juxtaposition with the corner 24 as illustrated in FIG. 3. This is a well-known and conventional manner of using a pressure-sensitive tape 16 for securing adjoining corners of a diaper.
After the diaper has been soiled, it may be rolled up for disposal (while the soiled diaper will hereafter be referred to as being rolled up for disposal, it will be understood that the invention in any form can also be practiced on the soiled diaper by folding, wadding or otherwise concentrating its bulk into a compact form). Means are provided in the present diaper 19 for securing and maintaining the rolled up diaper in such condition and these will now be described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5.
It will be noted that the spent fastener 16 is preferably removed from the diaper corners 23 and 24 by tearing intermediate its ends although it could also be removed by peeling or otherwise. The release liner 19 is then lifted and peeled leaving an exposed area 20 coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive which is used as a built-in disposal fastener. On rolling up the diaper to obtain the compact form 25 as shown in FIG. 5, the areas 20 of pressure-sensitive adhesive are used to secure the corners to the underlying area of the rolled up diaper 25 in order to maintain it in that condition. The resultant structure is compact and readily disposable. It also has the advantage of being enclosed by the backing sheet 12 which is of assistance in minimizing odors that may emanate from the soiled diaper.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 in which a modified form of release liner is used to provide essentially similar benefits and results. Identical reference numerals will be used throughout the following description to represent any elements that are identical to those previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16 is secured in a very similar manner to that illustrated and described in connection with FIG. 2 of the drawing. As in the previous embodiment, the release liner 26 is directly secured to the backing sheet 12 such that it is interposed between the backing sheet 12 and the releasable end 18 of the pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16. However, the material of the release liner 26 and the adhesive 27 (FIG. 8) are each selected so that the adhesive 27 will adhere to the liner 26 when it is later peeled from a soiled diaper.
The application of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 for securing a diaper at its corners is similar to that previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The releasable end 18 is merely peeled from the liner 26 whereupon it can be secured in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.
The soiled diaper may be disposed of in much the same manner as the previously described embodiment using the liner 26 as a built-in disposal fastener. When ready for disposal, the release liner 26 is peeled from the backing sheet 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. However, the liner 26 is preserved as the pressure-sensitive adhesive 27 adhering to the release liner 26 makes it possible to reuse the liner 26 as a built-in disposal fastener. After rolling up the soiled diaper into the compact form 28 shown in FIG. 9, the removed release liners 26 are reused in the manner illustrated to secure the edge 29 thereby maintaining the diaper in rolled form. The resultant rolled-up diaper 28 is readily disposable while being provided in a compact and protected form for that purpose.
From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that numerous modifications can be made without affecting the concept of the invention. For example, while in each illustrated embodiment, the pressure-sensitive tape fastener 16 is shown in a form wherein it is folded around an edge, the built-in disposable fastener concept is equally effective when the entire tape 16 is mounted on a continuous substantially planar surface. Similarly, the tape 16 could be mounted at an angle with respect to the side edges of the diaper or it could even, if desired, have the release liner under the opposite end from that illustrated in the drawing although this may be less practical in the particular form of diaper to which it has been applied in the foregoing description.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.