Abstract: An improved absorbent unit for a disposable diaper, or the like, wherein a fibrous batt is initially generally rectangularly shaped, and is cut so as to define side flaps which are folded over into overlapping relationship with one another in the central portion of the batt to define a multiple layer crotch region for increased liquid storage capacity. The batt is provided with a thickened densified skin at one side thereof for increased strength and stability, and for transporting liquid into remote areas of the batt. In a further embodiment, a quantity of highly liquid-sorbent superabsorbent material is provided in discrete spaced-apart regions between upper and lower fibrous webs of the diaper batt, with a network of densified wicking embossments and at least one integral densified wicking layer provided for promoting efficient wicking and transport of liquid within the absorbent structure.

Abstract: An improved absorbent unit for a disposable diaper, or the like, wherein a fibrous batt is initially generally rectangularly shaped, and is cut so as to define side flaps which are folded over into overlapping relationship with one another in the central portion of the batt to define a multiple layer crotch region for increased liquid storage capacity. The batt is provided with a thickened densified skin at one side thereof for increased strength and stability, and for transporting liquid into remote areas of the batt. In a further embodiment, a quantity of highly liquid-sorbent superabsorbent material is provided in discrete spaced-apart regions between upper and lower fibrous webs of the diaper batt, with a network of densified wicking embossments and at least one integral densified wicking layer provided for promoting efficient wicking and transport of liquid within the absorbent structure.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a gathering means adjacent at least one edge of the absorbent panel is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the gathering means is defined by an elastic member having a width dimension of at least 3/8" and a width-to-thickness ratio of at least 100, which provides improved body conformity without undue application of pressure upon the skin of the wearer. The inventive concept in its broadest sense relates to the distribution of the force of gathering means over larger areas to minimize skin irritation. In certain embodiments of the present invention, our improved diaper may have a pleasing ruffled effect at the diaper edge.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having an absorbent batt with an intermediate portion of reduced width and elastic means adjacent to each side of the batt and generally parallel therewith. The intermediate portion of the batt preferably is offset toward one end of the diaper, and may include relatively short rectilinear batt side segments. Further batt side segments extend outwardly at an angle from the ends of the rectilinear batt side segments, and still further rectilinear batt end segments extend outwardly from the ends of the inclined batt side segments.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having constringent means in the longitudinal side margins is disclosed. The constringent means foreshortens the side margins and acts on an absorbent batt contained within the diaper to bulge the side margins of the batt.

Abstract: A disposable undergarment particularly suitable for the toilet training of infants is provided. The undergarment is fabricated from a compressively shrunk non-woven fabric in a single layer or laminated to provide multiple layers. The undergarment is made from a single blank of substantially rectangular shape of which one longer side margin is adapted to become the waist encircling portion of the undergarment, and the other side margin is adapted to become the leg openings. Joining all layers of the fabric together in the crotch area provides leg apertures when the undergarment is formed from the blank.

Abstract: The invention provides an absorbent structure, such as a disposable diaper or a training panty, including a first outer layer in the form of a moisture-impervious backing sheet, a second outer layer in the form of a liquid barrier positioned in superposed relationship with respect to the backing sheet and an absorbent batt sandwiched between the first and second outer layers. The liquid barrier has a single opening situated so as to contact the perineal region of the wearer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article including a multilayer absorbent pad. The pad contains a first highly-porous, loosely-compacted cellulosic fibrous batt, a moisture-impervious film having a plurality of openings therein and on the other side of the film a second batt of greater density than the first batt.

Abstract: An absorbent fibrous structure having good stability and enhanced absorbency, flexibility and feel is provided comprising a loosely compacted cellulosic fibrous batt having a plurality of narrow, dense, compacted cellulosic fibrous lines formed by compacting the entire thickness of the batt. The fibrous areas of the batt adjacent the narrow dense lines extend over the lines, creating a fibrous region of lesser density than said batt above the lines, and a substantially fiber free region or tunnel immediately adjacent the lines.

Abstract: An absorbent open network has water-insoluble but water-swellable particles spaced from one another but integral with the network to provide an absorbent structure which is useful as an element in a disposable, body fluid-absorbing article, such as a disposable diaper, sanitary napkin, or the like. Also disclosed are methods for making the absorbent open network structure, and disposable diapers incorporating such absorbent structures.

Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided with adhesive tabs having gripping means to facilitate separation of the tab from release means preparatory to fastening the diaper about an infant. The adhesive tabs comprise a backing web which extends around and receives a marginal portion of the diaper, and a face web having continuous coating of adhesive on one face and a grippable adhesive-free region at one end. The face web comprises a fixed end permanently attached to one leg of the backing web, and an adhesive-coated free working portion situated between the fixed end and the grippable adhesive-free region. When the tab fastener is in a storage position, the free working portion is releasably attached to release means provided on the other leg of the backing web and the adhesive-free region extends inwardly from a lateral margin of the diaper and beyond the release means, so that it can be gripped for separating the free working portion from the release means when securing the diaper about an infant.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper or a sanitary napkin is made up of a facing sheet, an absorbent pad means, and a moisture-impervious backing sheet. The absorbent pad means comprises a fibrous structure having an intermediate densified layer and a layer of highly porous, loosely compacted batt on both sides of the densified layer. The batt layer between the densified fibrous layer and the moisture-impervious backing sheet contains distributed therein a particulate, water-insoluble but water-swellable polymeric absorbent.

Abstract: A method for preparing a non-woven fabric which is less wettable in its marginal portions than in its central portion. The fabric comprises a highly water-absorbent web of mixed long and short fibers that is through-bonded throughout its dimensions with a binder (adhesive) to retain the fibers in their assembled relationship. Since the binder, in its final set stage, is hydrophobic in character and renders the resulting fabric more or less water repellent, the invention involves treatment of the mid-portion of the bonded fabric with a wetting agent (surfactant) to minimize the water-repellent effect of the binder and to make the mid-portion of the fabric readily wettable. Marginal portions of the bonded fabric are not treated with a wetting agent, so that these portions of the fabric throughout their dimensions are more or less water repellent. By this is meant that the marginal portions of the bonded fabric are difficultly wettable as compared to the mid-portion of the fabric.

Abstract: An absorbent bed pad comprises a liquid-impervious sheet which is adhered to an absorbent fabric throughout the interface therebetween. The fabric is unitary and highly stable and is formed from a mixture of long and short fibers. The mixture of fibers varies throughout the depth of the fabric to produce a short fiber-enriched face to be adhered to the impervious sheet and a long fiber-enriched face at the outer face. The fabric is through-bonded and may be adhered by adhesive to the backing sheet to produce compaction of the short fiber-enriched face.In other embodiments the fabric may be treated to increase the wettability of selected portions and a highly compacted, densified layer may be formed integral with the short fiber-enriched face.

Abstract: A diaper is provided having a facing layer comprising a fibrous nonwoven web having an exceptionally low weight per unit area for its loft and stength characteristics. The facing layer is made from an air laid web of mixed long and short fibers by impregnating the web with a volatile liquid composition containing a binder, rapidly vaporizing the volatile portions of the composition to cause puffing of the web while setting the web in puffed condition by solidification of the binder and thereafter splitting the puffed web into portions of lesser thickness and utilizing at least one of said portions as said facing layer.

Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided with an adhesive closure means in which an elongated flexible strip extends transversely across the diaper along a marginal portion thereof. The strip has a mid-portion which is permanently attached to the diaper, and a pair of end portions. Each end portion has an inward section which has a release coating on the inside surface, and a free end section which has an adhesive coating on the inside surface. The free end section is adapted for folding over upon the inward section and releasably adhering thereto. In one embodiment, the inward section is positioned along a side margin of the diaper so that each free end section, when ready for use, extends beyond an adjacent edge of the diaper. In another embodiment, the entire length of each end portion extends beyond a side edge of the diaper.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having a moisture-impermeable backing sheet and a moisture-retaining layer on the backing sheet and forming a facing for direction toward an infant when the diaper is applied to that infant is provided with adhesive tab fasteners which are secured to the diaper backing sheet and which have a free working end removably attached to release regions on the diaper facing. The free working end of the tab fastener is provided with a pull string for separating the free working end from the surface of the release region.

Abstract: A method of producing a disposable diaper and the diaper produced thereby are disclosed. The disposable multi-layer diaper includes at one side a porous fibrous facing layer to be brought into contact with an infant's skin, and includes at the other side a water impervious backing sheet, with a double contoured cross-sectional batt being interposed between the facing layer and backing sheet. The batt is smoothly contoured by increased fiber content along the transverse and longitudinal medians from the edges to the center of the batt. The batt is positioned in face-to-face engagement with the backing sheet. The batt and lateral extremities of the facing layer which extend beyond the batt are each adhered to the backing sheet. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a paper-like, densified, highly compacted cellulosic layer is formed integrally with the batt and is positioned in face-to-face engagement with the backing sheet.

Abstract: A disposable multi-layer diaper of high absorptive capacity is provided which comprises as a first layer, a porous facing web to be brought into contact with an infant's skin. A second layer, in juxtaposition to the facing layer, is a highly porous, loosely compacted cellulosic batt having greater wettability than that of the facing web. The batt is slightly narrower than the facing layer to provide exposed side portions of the facing layer outwardly of the side edges of the batt. A third layer integral with the second is a continuous, paper-like, densified highly compacted layer of the same cellulosic material as the second layer but of substantially smaller average pore size. The densified layer is bounded by transverse linear areas near the ends of the batt in which areas the densified layer is thickened. The final layer is an impervious backing sheet that is substantially coextensive with the facing layer and which is adhered to the densified layer.

Abstract: A disposable diaper having constringent means in the longitudinal side margins is disclosed. The constringent means foreshortens the side margins and acts on an absorbent batt contained within the diaper to bulge the side margins of the batt.