Abstract:
A diaper insert has specifically configured contours on an inside surface to trap and contain bowel movements delivered within the diaper. An upper rear portion of the insert provides a protruding section of absorbent padding being contoured to match a lower lumbar region of the wearer. An upper front portion of the insert is provided with an additional absorbent pad to abut the abdominal area of the wearer. When a user, wearing a diaper equipped with the insert experiences a bowel movement, the padding sections contain the bowel movement within the diaper, and prevent the bowel movement from being secreted from a waist area of the diaper. In at least one (1) embodiment the insert is manufactured to be an integral portion of a diaper. In at least one (1) embodiment unitary rear and front barriers are removably added to a diaper.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/897,539, filed Oct. 30, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a diaper with an insert having specifically configured contours on an inside surface to trap and contain bowel movements delivered within the diaper. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Diapers have been a lifesaver to parents and care providers of young children as well as adults suffering from incontinence. They provide a handy and sanitary means of controlling feces and urine for both the user and care provider alike. However, even the best diaper is no match for containing a bowel movement when the user is in a seated position. Such a position places pressure on the diaper forcing the bowel movement to exit through the waistband area. Such leakage can easily ruin clothes, but also other items that are more difficult to clean such as carpeting, furniture, car seats, and the like. Additionally, such leakage is extremely messy, and time-consuming to clean up. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which diaper leakage from a bowel movement can be easily contained, in order to address the problems as described above. 
     The invention is also very useful for infants up to adults while lying in bed if they have very loose bowel movements or diarrhea. It is also helpful in use in hospitals and daycare centers to aid in containing an outbreak. The use of the present invention reduces/eliminates the occurrences of diaper leakage in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a diaper insert that has specifically configured contours on an inside surface to trap and contain bowel movements delivered within the diaper. An upper rear portion of the insert provides a protruding section of absorbent padding being contoured to match a lower lumbar region of the wearer. An upper front portion of the insert is provided with an additional absorbent pad to abut the abdominal area of the wearer. When a user, wearing a diaper equipped with the insert experiences a bowel movement, the padding sections contain the bowel movement within the diaper, and prevent the bowel movement from being secreted from a waist area of the diaper. An alternate embodiment incorporates the containing features of the insert into the diaper assembly during manufacturing. In this manner, the use of the present invention provides a means preventing the problems relating to the prior art. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment the insert is manufactured to be an integral portion of a diaper. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment unitary rear and front barriers are removably added to a diaper. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a containment insert for a diaper  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the containment insert for a diaper  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 a    is a sectional view of the containment insert for a diaper  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 b    is another sectional view of the containment insert for a diaper  10  taken along section line B-B (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 c    is yet another sectional view of the containment insert for a diaper  10  taken along section line C-C (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a first alternate embodiment  100  of the present invention depicting integration of the present invention into a conventional diaper assembly  200 ; 
         FIG. 5 a    is a top view of a second alternate embodiment  300  of the invention; 
         FIG. 5 b    is a bottom view of a unitary rear barrier portion  310  of the second alternate embodiment  300  of the invention; and, 
         FIG. 5 c    is a bottom view of a unitary front barrier portion  320  of the second alternate embodiment  300  of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  containment insert 
               20  rear barrier 
               22  center protrusion 
               24   a  first adhesive strip 
               24   b  second adhesive strip 
               24   c  third adhesive strip 
               26  wax paper 
               30  front barrier 
               40  insert panel 
               50  torso 
               52  lumbar region 
               53  abdominal region 
               100  first alternate embodiment 
               200  diaper assembly 
               202  rear waistband 
               204  front waistband 
               205  rear wing 
               206  front wing 
               208  elastic leg opening 
               210  tape fastener 
               220  alternate rear barrier 
               230  alternate front barrier 
               240  alternate insert panel 
               300  second alternate embodiment 
               310  unitary rear barrier 
               320  unitary front barrier 
               330  unitary adhesive strip 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3   c  and in terms of alternate embodiments, herein depicted in  FIGS. 4 through 5   c . A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. While only one particular configuration is shown and described that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The present invention describes a containment insert for a diaper (herein described as the “device”)  10 , to be installed within an existing diaper assembly  200  prior to use upon a wearer. The device  10  provides features to aid in the retention of a bowel movement, by preventing migration of said bowel movement beyond waistband areas  202 ,  204  and out of the diaper assembly  200 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , top and bottom views of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  comprises an hour-glass-shaped insert panel  40  having integral rear bather  20  and front barrier  30  portions positioned at respective end portions of an inwardly-facing surface of said insert panel  40 . The barriers  20 ,  30  provide outwardly protruding forms capable of absorbing body fluids as well as acting as mechanical appendages to prevent migration of a bowel movement out of an existing diaper assembly  200 . 
     The rear barrier  20  comprises an elevated and generally inverted “V”-shaped form which extends laterally across a wearer&#39;s lower back lumbar region  52 . The rear barrier  20  is designed to provide an elevated center protrusion  22  configured to correspond to a recessed contour of a lumbar region  52  of a wearer&#39;s torso  50 . The containment insert  10  further comprises a front barrier  30  which extends laterally across a wearers abdominal region  53  to provide additional containment of the bowel movement. The barriers  20 ,  30  are to be made of soft absorbent natural and synthetic materials such as polypropylene, cotton batt, sodium polyacrylate, and the like, being affixed to a joining insert panel  40  which in turn extends down and around a buttock portion of the wearer being adhesively affixed to, and parallel to, the existing diaper assembly  200 . Alternately, the barriers  20 ,  30  can be affixed to the insert panel  40  via other fastening means, such as Velcro®. 
     The insert panel  40  includes a fabric panel having an hour-glass perimeter shape when lying flat, made of similar materials as the barriers  20 ,  30  to provide additional absorbency to supplement that of the subjacent diaper assembly  200 . The insert panel  40  retains and positions the barriers  20 ,  30  as well as providing a means to attach the device  10  to the diaper assembly  200  via three (3) equally-spaced lateral adhesive strips  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  located upon an outward-facing surface of the insert panel  40 . A first adhesive strip  24   a  is located behind the rear bather  20 , a second adhesive strip  24   b  is positioned behind the front barrier  30 , and a third adhesive strip  24   c  is located approximately half way between the first  24   a  and second  24   b  adhesive strips. The adhesive strips  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  are envisioned to be covered by wax paper  26  which is pulled off at time of use. Alternately, the insert panel  40  can be affixed to the diaper assembly  200  via other fastening means, such as Velcro®. 
     It is envisioned that the device  10  would be introduced in various sizes for use with small children up to large adults, thereby providing proportionally sized barrier portions  20 ,  30  and insert panel  40  features. It is envisioned that as the diaper assembly  200  and device  10  sizes increase, the outer end and center portions of the rear barrier  20  would increase at approximately a one to two (1:2) ratio, respectively. It is further envisioned that the curved shape of the diaper assembly  200  along with the positioning of the barriers  20 ,  30 , would form a pocket-shaped recessed area which would hold a bowel movement in lieu of having it move upwards, and out of a waistband  202 ,  204 . The device  10  is envisioned to be ideal for use with infants that spend a great deal of time in a stroller, car seat, infant swing, or similar apparatus. The device  10  is also ideal for incontinent adults who spend a long time in a seated position, or in a wheelchair. The device  10  is envisioned to greatly reduce cleanup duties for the wearer and/or a care provider. It is envisioned that the device  10  be introduced for sale being packaged as single units as well as in various convenient quantities in a similar manner as common diapers  200 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , and 3 c   , sectional views of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The rear barrier  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 a    having a profile which conforms to a recessed contour of a lumbar region  52  of a wearer&#39;s torso  50 . The rear barrier  20  is permanently affixed to the insert panel  40  using common methods such as sewing, adhesive bonding, radio frequency (RF) welding, or the like. The insert panel  40  is in turn affixed to the existing diaper assembly  200  via the first adhesive strips  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c.    
     The front barrier  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 b    having a flat profile, conforming to a forward abdominal region  53  of a wearer&#39;s torso  50 . The front barrier  30  comprises similar construction as the rear barrier  20  and is affixed to the diaper assembly  200  in a like manner. The insert panel  40  is adhesively affixed to the existing diaper assembly  200  via the adhesive strips  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  (as seen in  FIG. 3 c   ). The insert panel portion  40  of the device  10  conforms to the curvature of the diaper assembly  200  when installed and affixed to the wearer. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top view of a first alternate embodiment  100  of the present invention depicting integration of the present invention into a conventional diaper assembly  200 , is disclosed. The first alternate embodiment  100  depicts the present invention  10  being integrated into the construction of the diaper assembly  200  using common methods such as sewing, adhesive bonding, RF welding, or the like during initial manufacturing of the diaper assembly  200 . The diaper assembly  200  is illustrated here including a rear waistband  202 , a front waistband  204 , a pair of rear wings  205 , a pair of front wings  206 , a pair of elastic leg openings  208 , and a plurality of tape fasteners  210 . The first alternate embodiment  100  is further envisioned to include similar portions as the preferred embodiment  10  including an alternate rear barrier  220 , an alternate front barrier  230 , and an alternate insert panel  240 . Said alternate portions  220 ,  230 ,  240  are to provide similar absorbency and mechanical containment functions as the respective counterparts of the previously described preferred embodiment  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 a , 5 b , and 5 c   , top and bottom views of unitary rear barrier  310  and unitary front barrier  320  portions of a second alternate embodiment  300  of the invention, are disclosed. The second alternate embodiment  300  provides unitary rear barrier  310  and unitary front barrier  320  portions being similar in shape and profile as the previously described preferred rear barrier  20  and front barrier  30  portions, respectively. Each unitary barrier  310 ,  320  provides a means of individual positioning and adhesive attachment to an existing diaper  200  via corresponding unitary adhesive strip  330  and wax paper  26  portions along a rear surface. Alternately, the unitary barriers  310 ,  320  can be affixed to an existing diaper  200  via other fastening means, such as Velcro®. The unitary barriers  310 ,  320  are intended to allow a user to accurately position each unitary barrier  310 ,  320  individually to a desired position, as well as provide a possible cost savings resulting from using only a single unitary barrier  310 ,  320  if so inclined. It is envisioned that the unitary barriers  310 ,  320  would be introduced being packaged and sold in combined and separate formats in various quantities based upon a user&#39;s preference and need. The unitary barriers  310 ,  320  can be integrated into the diaper  200  during manufacturing similar to the embodiment  100  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 3   c . The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a single unit or a package of the devices  10  being of an appropriate size with regards to a prospective wearer; attaching the device  10  to an existing diaper  200  by removing the wax paper portions  26  from the adhesive strips  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ; aligning the device  10  along an inner surface of said diaper  200  such that the rear barrier  20  is positioned slightly below a rear waistline portion  202  and the front barrier  30  is positioned slightly below the front waistline portion  204 ; affixing the device  10  to the diaper  200  by pressing upon an inner surface area being aligned with the adhesive strips  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ; installing the diaper  200  with the device  10  upon the wearer; fastening the diaper  200  around a waist area portion of the wearer using the tape fasteners  210 ; and, benefiting from improved containment of a bowel movement afforded a wearer of the device  10  even though the wearer may have occupied a seated position for a period of time. 
     The first alternate embodiment  100  of the present invention incorporates the insert  10  into the construction of the diaper assembly  200 . The method of installing, utilizing, and benefiting from the first alternate embodiment  100  may be achieved in a similar manner as the preferred embodiment  10  by performing the steps described above which follow the installation of the device  10  within the diaper  200 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the second alternate embodiment  300  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a quantity of unitary rear bathers  310  and/or a quantity of unitary front barriers  320 ; removing the wax paper layer  26  from the unitary adhesive strips  330 ; placing the unitary barriers  310 ,  320  upon an existing diaper assembly  200  at specific desired locations. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.