Disposable diaper with padded waistband and legholes

A disposable diaper having a front section, rear section, crotch portion, and a waist band. A soft padding is provided on the waist band. Padding is also provided on the edge portions surrounding the leg holes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to a disposable diaper and more specifically, to a disposable diaper having a padded waistband and legholes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Disposable diapers have largely replaced the common cloth diaper to be worn by infants and toddlers. Disposable diapers not only can be easily discarded, but are adjustable and convenient to attach and remove. Known diapers of the disposable variety are typically capable of effective retention of liquid and solid material without having to resort to protective covers as was required by cloth diapers. Although known disposable diaper designs are generally satisfactory, several problems haven arisen in their use. The waist band and border around the legholes of prior art disposable diapers are commonly an unprotected plastic band and the like. Such bands are uncomfortable when worn and often such material is stiff, and scratches and abrades an infant's skin. In addition, known waist bands and leg bands in disposable diapers do not provide an optimum barrier against leakage and seepage, which is so desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a disposable diaper having padded waist and leg areas. The padding as herein disclosed covers the the plastic waistline band from inside to outside of the diaper when worn by the baby. The padding may be in the form of strips of soft pliable material, such as cotton and the like, and extends substantially around the waist. The soft padding protects the infant and toddler from scratches, irritations, and abrasions commonly inflicted by known diaper designs. The strip of padding further performs the added function of inhibiting leakage from within the diaper. The protection provided by the padding not only exists within the waist line portion of the diaper, but is also present at the top and outside of the diaper where the skin may overlap when worn.

The disposable diaper herein disclosed further includes strips of soft material, such as cotton and the like, at the edge portions of the diaper that surround the legs of the wearer to accomplish similar functions as the padding at the waist areas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now toFIGS. 1-4, this is illustrated the disposable diaper with padded waistline and legholes of the invention, generally designated by reference numeral2. In its closed configuration as it is worn in the form ofFIG. 1, the diaper2is formed with a typical front section4, a back section6, a crotch area8, and a top portion10forming an adjustable waistline construction. Leg holes12are defined by edge portions14of disposable diaper2. The diaper2is formed in multiple superimposed sheets of material in front section4, back section6and crotch area8, including an outer liquid impervious outer sheet16aand an inner liquid permeable sheet16bas is well known. One or more layers18(FIGS. 3 and 4) of a liquid absorbent material, such as cotton, pulp and the like, is imposed between the outer sheet16aand the inner sheet15bas is conventional. The thickness of inner material18may be thickened in the crotch area8and elsewhere for greater liquid absorption.

The diaper2in its flat configuration as shown inFIG. 2is formed as a single body20having enlarged end portions22which terminate at edges24that form the top waist band portion10shown in FIG.1. The intermediate section26of body20includes tapered edges28and a central section. having opposed edges32that form the edge potions14of the leg holes12. A pair of plastic adhesive strips34and the like having a detachable free end36are affixed on one enlarged end portion22of the body20to permit the diaper2to be adjustably affixed to the opposite end portion22to secure the diaper to the infant as in the configuration shown in FIG.1.

Referring now to FIGS.1,2, and4, the waistline portion10is formed by border sections40,42of the inner and outer sheets16aand16bwhich are affixed together. The border sections40,42are fabricated from a plastic material or similar material. A outer strip50of soft material in the form of a strip of cotton or other non-abrasive material is bent lengthwise over the border sections40,42of a plastic material and the like located on each of the enlarged sections22inFIG. 2in affixed relationship by an suitable technique of attachment. The strip50forms surfaces50a,50b,and50cthat are respectively positioned from inside to outside of the diaper2so as to provide a soft cushion or pad substantially over the exposed surfaces of border sections40,42to protect the skin of the infant or toddler and provide an additional absorbent barrier to alleviate leakage. The strip50may be formed as a pair of strips to generally extend 360 degrees at the waist in the configuration ofFIG. 1(one of the strips50being cut away inFIG. 1for illustrative purposes).

Referring again to FIGS.1,2and4, the edge portions12for leg holes14are similarly constructed as the waist band as previously described. The plastic borders60,62are affixed together (FIG. 3) and are covered in affixed relationship by strips64,66of a soft material, such as cotton, to cover the exposed surfaces of borders60,62to serve the same function at leg holes14as soft strips60at the waist band.