Disposable diaper inner facing

An improved inner facing for use with disposable diapers containing adhesive tape tabs. The improved inner facing includes a porous nonwoven fabric having at least one entire surface treated with an adhesive release agent so that the treated surface may be a releasable surface for the adhesive tape tabs. The treated fabric is pervious to fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to improvements in disposable diapers which utilize 
adhesive tape tabs for closure purposes. More particularly, this invention 
pertains to the inner facing of a disposable diaper which acts as a 
releasable protective surface for the adhesive tape tabs before use. 
Disposable diapers with adhesive tape tabs for fastening purposes are well 
known and have been favorably accepted due to their beneficial features. 
The advantages of adhesively-treated tape tabs as replacements for pins 
are easily perceived, and have been put to good use on the known diapers. 
Though disposable diapers have been improved with the introduction of 
adhesive tape tab fasteners, a number of problems exist in those tape tab 
diapers which leave room for further improvement. 
A number of the prior art diapers contain adhesive tape tabs which carry 
individual, removable release or cover sheets. These sheets protect the 
adhesive surface on the tape tabs during manufacture, storage and before 
use on the diaper. When the diaper is ready for use the release sheets are 
completely removed from the tape tab and from the diaper to expose the 
layer of adhesive beneath. The discardal of the small sheets of release 
paper poses the problem. Because the person preparing the diaper 
application, usually around an active infant, has that piece of release 
sheet in hand, it often becomes awkward to rid oneself of the release 
paper, hold the infant in position and fasten the tape properly and 
securely. Also, once the release sheet is discarded it must be done so 
properly so that the infant does not reach it and place it in his or her 
mouth, creating further problems. 
Other prior art tape tab diapers do not have the discardal problem as above 
because these diapers contain a protective release sheet which remains 
fastened to the diaper. To expose the adhesive surface the tape tab is 
peeled from the release sheet, one surface of which is permanently 
attached to the diaper. Thus, no discardal of the release paper is 
required, thereby eliminating those problems associated therewith. 
However, since the release sheet stays permanently attached to the diaper, 
usually on the inside surface thereof, it may be an irritant to the wearer 
of the diaper if the diaper is not applied properly or if the diaper does 
not fit neatly. Besides this functional problem there are also economic 
problems inherent in these latter diapers. It adds more expense to not 
only include a protective paper over the adhesive tape tabs but to 
permanently fasten one surface of the protective paper to the diaper. The 
equipment for producing this arrangement to assure proper alignment and 
registration is also a factor in the economic evaluation of these diapers, 
especially when considering the high volume manufacture of these products. 
Recent attempts have been made to overcome some of the problems associated 
with releasable protective sheets. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,566 there is 
disclosed an improved disposable diaper in which a water permeable facing 
sheet comprises areas of water-sensitive or water-soluble adhesive areas 
underlying the adhesive tape strips such that the adhesive portions of the 
strips rest releasably against the abhesively treated areas. By this 
technique no protective release sheets are required because the adhesive 
sections of the tape strips rest against the releasable sections of the 
facing material in storage and before use. 
Concededly, the technique in U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,566 of eliminating the 
protective release sheets is one way of accomplishing such a result. 
However, the narrow scope of this technique, namely providing only 
water-sensitive or water-soluble abhesive areas, on the facing material, 
leaves room for use of abhesive agents which are not water-sensitive or 
water-soluble. Many known and standardly used release agents are 
water-insoluble and water-insensitive. In this respect, though, it is 
recognized that there have been attempts prior to the above-mentioned 
patent to treat portions of disposable diapers with water-insoluble 
release agents. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,651 a disposable diaper is disclosed having 
water-insoluble release agents located on portions of the diaper inner 
facing to protect adhesive sections during storage in cartons and when 
folded. It is significant to note in the many different embodiments of 
this patent that the areas or portions of the diaper which contain the 
release agent are the corners or ends of the diaper. In no instance is it 
taught or suggested that the release agent be deposited in the portion of 
the diaper inner facing which covers the delicate body areas of the wearer 
and which of necessity, must be the most fluid pervious. 
One explicable reason why only the ends or corners of this prior art patent 
are treated, and not the middle highly pervious section of the facing 
material, lies in the disadvantageous properties associated with the known 
release agents taught by the reference. While providing release properties 
to the associated sections of the facing upon which the adhesive tape tabs 
rest, these water-insoluble agents are known to act as water or fluid 
repellents while imparting stiffness and boardiness to the coated 
material. These latter characteristics are the antithesis of the desirable 
features expected of a disposable diaper; a water-repellent facing 
material will not allow the secreted fluid to penetrate through the facing 
material into the highly absorbent inner filling of the diaper; and a 
stiff, boardy surface in contact with the skin of the wearer readily 
causes irritation, discomfort and displeasure. 
Although it appears logical and practical to treat the facing sheet only in 
the areas against which the adhesive tape tab will rest, as taught in the 
two above-mentioned patents, this selective treating raises havoc with 
volumetric production causing economic deficiencies. Alignment and 
registration of the release areas coordinated with the tabs must be done 
precisely with the accompanying costs inherent in achieving such 
precision; furthermore, selective applicators for the release agent, and 
curing and drying equipment must be provided in line during the diaper 
production process, all detracting from the economic advantages to be 
expected from the final product. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has now been discovered that disposable diapers using adhesive tape tabs 
can be made economically and practically with no protective release sheets 
while overcoming the problems associated with the prior art's attempt to 
achieve such a product. This new invention primarily eliminates the need 
for protective release sheets used in conjunction with adhesive tape tabs, 
whether such release sheets be removable or permanently affixed to the 
diaper. This elimination of release sheets provides economic savings in 
the production of disposable diapers, while also solving the discardal 
problem of release sheets which is both an environmental and a practical 
compensation. 
Another advantage achieved by this new invention lies in the elimination of 
selective registration of abhesive and release areas under the adhesive 
tapes or sections of the diaper. Selective registration of adhesive 
release areas is a cost factor which adds to the expense of the final 
product, especially in the high volume rates of production expected of 
disposable diapers. By incorporating an inner facing material having a 
completely release-agent treated surface in this new invention there is no 
need for costly selective registration and associated equipment. While 
release-agent treating the entire surface of the inner facing material 
produces economic advantages, the new inner facing of the diaper is highly 
pervious to fluids thereby also providing functionality benefits to this 
new invention. 
Along this line and as a further advantage the design and structure of the 
preferred embodiment of the new diaper inner facing allows for greater 
efficiency of the absorbent core of the diaper which in turn provides a 
drier surface against the delicate portions of the wearer's body. 
Furthermore, the inner facing remains soft and flexible to provide comfort 
to the wearer. 
In accordance with this new invention a new inner facing for use with 
disposable diapers containing adhesive tape tabs has been developed. The 
new inner facing is a porous nonwoven fabric having at least one entire 
surface treated with an adhesive release agent. Due to that treatment, the 
treated surface is capable of being a releasable surface for the adhesive 
tape tabs. The treated fabric remains pervious to fluids. To assure fluid 
perviousness and an equal distribution of fluid passing through the inner 
facing it is desirable to have a multiplicity of openings in the fabric 
substatially uniformly arranged and sufficiently large to allow fluid to 
pass through after said fabric has been treated with the adhesive release 
agent. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention which makes the most efficient 
use of the absorbent core inside the diaper the new inner facing is a 
nonwoven fabric having a fluid pervious center portion and fluid 
impervious outer edge portions. Fibers of both fluid pervious and 
impervious portions extend substantially in the plane of the fabric from 
one portion to the other so that the portions are integral and connected 
to each other. Defining the fluid pervious center portion are fibers 
rearranged to form a multiplicity of openings and groups of fiber segments 
between the openings. Defining the fluid impervious outer edge portions 
are fibers flatly assembled in overlapping crossing relation with one 
another forming irregular, randomly arranged interstices between the 
fibers. In the fabric of the inner facing the interstices of the outer 
portions are smaller than the openings in the center portion. At least the 
outer edge portions are treated with a fluid repellent to render the edge 
portions fluid impervious, whereas at least one entire surface of the 
fabric of the inner facing is treated with an adhesive release agent. When 
the inner facing is used fluid is capable of passing through only the 
pervious center portion while any portion of the treated surface is 
capable of being a releasable surface for the adhesive tape tabs. 
To employ its most advantageous features the new, improved inner facing is 
used in a disposable diaper having a fluid impervious outer facing, a 
fluid pervious inner facing, an absorbent core between the facings and 
adhesive tape tabs for fastening the diaper around the wearer. The inner 
facing of the present invention acts as a release surface against which a 
portion of the adhesive tape tabs lies before the diaper is ready for use. 
By resting against the releasable surface of the inner facing there is no 
need to include additional adhesive release sheets with the adhesive tape 
tabs as is known in the art. 
One further aspect of the inner facing of the preferred embodiment of this 
invention is the treatment of the entire fabric of the inner facing with 
one agent. This agent contains both fluid repellency and adhesive 
releasability properties and imparts those properties to the fabric being 
treated; however, due to the openings in the center portion of the fabric, 
that portion, while being treated, remains fluid pervious.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred 
embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the 
invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all 
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the 
spirit and scope of the described invention. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Turning to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment is illustrated, a 
disposable diaper 10 is shown. Diaper 10 is composed of a fluid impervious 
outer facing 11, such as a thin film, flexible plastic material, a fluid 
pervious inner facing 12, an absorbent core 14, such as a layer of fluffed 
woodpulp, layers of creped cellulose, and the like, and adhesive tape tabs 
15 and 17 for fastening the diaper around the wearer. While this 
combination of diaper components, in general, is well known, the 
advantages mentioned above are achieved by the inclusion of the improved 
inner facing 12, about which this invention is most directly concerned. 
As seen more clearly in FIGS. 1-3 the inner facing 12 is shown in its 
position on the disposable diaper 10. It is the purpose of the inner 
facing 12 to provide a surface which contacts the skin of the wearer while 
acting as a medium to convey body fluids to the absorbent core 14 in the 
internal portion of the diaper. As the inner facing 12 touches the 
wearer's skin it is very desirable to provide such a facing which will 
remain as dry as possible during use while remaining soft and confortable 
so as to eliminate irritation. The inner facing 12 shown is a nonwoven 
fabric which is soft, smooth, and stable and contains fibers disposed in 
two distinctly different arrangements. In the center portion 18 of the 
inner facing 12 the fibers are arranged so as to provide a fluid pervious 
portion; in the outer edge portions 20 and 22 the fibers are so arranged 
so as to provide portions which are fluid impervious. The center portion 
18 and outer edge portions 20 and 22 are integral in nature with each 
other, i.e., the fabric is one continuous sheet or structure comprised of 
portions having different fiber arrangements. Portions 18, 20 and 22 are 
connected by fibers extending substantially in the plane of the fabric 
from one of said portions to the other; the fibers are joined together by 
fibers which enter into the structure of and are integral with both of the 
different portions. 
In the center portion 18 of the inner facing the fibers are arranged to 
form a multiplicity of openings 23 preferably substantially uniformly 
arranged, and groups 24 of fiber segments between the openings. 
Preferably, the openings 23 are substantially uniformly regular and 
arranged in a predetermined pattern. The configuration of the openings 23 
may be varied into whatever geometrical shape is desired or which is 
practicably attainable. As a result of the openings 23, this portion of 
the facing is very fluid pervious and readily allows fluid to pass through 
into the absorbent core 14 which is positioned directly beneath the center 
portion 18 of the facing. The uniform disposition of the openings 23 also 
distributes the passing fluid more evenly and consistently into the 
absorbent core 14. In order to assure the fluid pervious characteristic of 
this center portion, especially in view of the subsequent fluid repellent 
and adhesive release treatments, as hereinafter described, it has been 
found that the openings 23 should be defined according to that end. For 
instance, in the inner facing fabric being described the openings 23 must 
be large enough to let fluid pass through the fabric after it has been 
fluid repellent and adhesive release treated, but must not be so large 
that fibers from the absorbent fluff or pulp core 14 beneath the inner 
facing may be readily pulled through those openings 23. Also in this 
respect the larger the opening the more rough the fabric since the fibers 
become bunched closer together between holes thereby tending to raise 
those fiber areas. It has been found that individual openings 23 having an 
area between 0.00126 and 0.0276 square inches (0.00813 and 0.178 sq. cm.) 
in the inner facing provide the requirements explained above. In those 
instances where the absorbent core 14 of fluff or pulp has been wrapped 
with tissue or the like the maximum hole size may be increased to any 
practicable size since the tissue-wrap eliminates the problem of fiber 
pull-out. 
To provide for uniform disposition of the passing fluid through the inner 
facing inaccordance with the opening size requirements, inner fabrics 
having between 29 and 250 openings per square inch (about five and 39 
openings per sq. cm.) give the most satisfactory results of this 
invention. 
Bordering and separating the openings 23 are groups 24 of fiber segments. 
These groups 24 are preferably in substantial parallelism with 
corresponding portions of the perimeters of the holes and provide a 
substantially continuous fibrous border for each opening 23. As a result 
of the parallelism and compacted nature of the fiber segments of the 
groups 24 the cross-section of the groups is often yarn-like in 
appearance. When fluid strikes the center portion 18 of the inner facing, 
the capillary effect of the parallel fiber segments in the groups 24 also 
assists in uniformly distributing the fluid into the underlying absorbent 
core 14. The main purpose of the groups 24, while assisting in the 
distribution of passing fluid is, however, to distinctly define the 
openings 23 through which the fluid must pass to be absorbed in the core 
14. 
Outer edge portions 20 and 22 of the inner facing consist of fibers 26 
flatly assembled in overlapping crossing relation with one another forming 
irregular, randomly arranged interstices 27 between the fibers 26. The 
interstices 27 are very small, smaller than the openings 23 in the center 
portion, and are sufficiently closely spaced so that a subsequent fluid 
repellent treatment renders the outer portions 20 and 22 fluid impervious. 
Consequently, due to the impervious nature of the outer portions 20 and 22 
fluid striking the inner facing will only penetrate through the openings 
23 in the fluid pervious center section 18. Furthermore, the impervious 
nature of the outer edge sections 20 and 22 assists in retaining fluid 
within the absorbent core 14 thereby increasing the efficiency of the 
absorbent core. 
Specifically, as seen more clearly in FIG. 2, fluid striking the inner 
facing 12 penetrates through the openings 23 into the absorbent core 14 
below. Should any excess fluid flow to the sides of the core 14 the fluid 
is prevented from flowing out due to the trap 28 provided at the edge of 
the diaper. The trap 28 is a folded edge of the fluid impervious outer 
film 11 of the diaper and is sealed, such as by adhesive means, to the 
outer edge 22 of the inner facing. Since the outer edge 22 of the inner 
facing is also fluid impervious an effective barrier is created at the 
edges of the diaper to prevent the fluid from running out. As a result the 
fluid will tend to be absorbed by the absorbent core which will retain the 
fluid, although in a saturated condition, thereby making more efficient 
and effective use of the absorbent core. While the outer edges 20 and 22 
of the inner facing assist in creating a fluid pervious barrier, the 
fibrous content of the outer edges allows those portions to remain soft 
and comfortable against the delicate body areas of the diaper wearer. 
Fibers of which the inner facing fabric may be made include many natural 
fibers such as cotton, wool, woodpulp and the like, and synthetic fibers 
such as viscose rayon, nylon, cellulose acetate, and other fibers either 
above or blended in various combinations. 
The fabric comprising the inner facing of this invention may be made in 
accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,406 and U.S. Pat. No. 
2,862,251, which patents are specifically incorporated herein by 
reference. Methods and apparatuses for producing the fabric of the inner 
facing are explained thoroughly in those patents. 
Having provided a fabric with center and edge portions as described above, 
before that fabric is incorporated in its respective position in the 
disposable diaper it is subjected to a finishing treatment. Where 
practical, at least the outer edge portions are treated with a fluid 
repellent. By such treatment and due to the closely spaced interstices 
between the fibers in the outer portions, those portions are rendered 
fluid impervious. Of course, if it is not practical to treat only the 
outer edge portions of the inner facing fabric, the entire fabric may be 
treated with a fluid repellent. As a matter of fact the most direct, 
simple and economical way to fluid repellent treat the fabric is by 
treating the entire fabric. Since the openings in the central portion of 
the fabric are much larger than the interstices in the outer edge 
portions, the fluid repellency treatment does not clog the openings 
thereby preserving the pervious nature of the center portion. Furthermore, 
due to the significant amount of open area in the center portion the 
overall treatment does not detract from the softness of the fabric in that 
area which is in contact with the skin of the wearer. 
Not only is the fabric of the inner facing treated so that the outer edge 
portions become fluid impervious, but it is also treated with an agent so 
that the overall fabric has adhesive release characteristics; i.e., 
treated so that adhesive materials will not adhere to the surface of the 
fabric of the inner facing. While the treatment of fluid repellency and 
adhesive releasability may be done in two steps or with two separate 
agents, it is preferable to treat the entire surface of the fabric or the 
entire fabric itself with one agent containing both fluid repellency and 
adhesive releasability properties. In this way the outer edge portions of 
the inner facing fabric will become fluid repellent while any surface of 
the inner facing is capable of being a releasable surface for the adhesive 
tape tabs before the tabs are used for fastening purposes. 
Techniques of treating the inner facing fabric with an agent to impart the 
above described properties include fabric impregnation; saturation; 
gravure application, e.g., rotogravure; spraying; kiss-coating, etc. 
Due to the release agent treatment of the inner facing fabric there is no 
need to include additional release sheets for the adhesive tape tabs in 
order to protect the adhesive material on the tabs before the diaper is to 
be used. For instance, as seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 a portion 30 of an 
adhesive tape tab 17 is attached to the outside film 11 of the diaper. A 
layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive material 31 coats one surface of the 
tape tab 17 providing the means for fastening the portion 30 to the 
diaper. The remaining adhesive portion 32 is extendable beyond the edge of 
the diaper as best seen in FIG. 5. When in the packaged or storage 
condition, before the diaper is ready to be used, the extendable portion 
32 of the tab is wrapped around the edge of the diaper in a direction 
generally back over itself as depicted in FIG. 4. In the preferred 
embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the inner facing 12 has its outer 
edges 20 and 22 extend to the outer edge of the diaper itself. Of course, 
the entire inner facing, including the outer edges, has been treated so as 
to readily release adhesive materials. These release properties allow the 
extendable portion 32 of the tape tab to overlie and rest upon or be 
pressed against the outer edge 22 of the inner facing. By resting upon the 
releasable outer edge 22 the adhesive material 31 on the extendable 
portion 32 is protected from accidental sticking or from oxidation in that 
period before the diaper is ready to be placed on the wearer. 
When the diaper is to be used the extendable portion 32 of tape is merely 
lifted from the releasable surface 22 of the inner facing, and is then in 
position to perform its fastening function. The release treated inner 
facing allows the tape tab to be separated from the inner facing with 
little or no fibers from the facing adhering to the adhesive material. 
Even if a small amount of stray fibers should adhere to the adhesive 
material on the tape it is not a significant amount that would diminsih 
the fastening strength of the tape tab that secures the diaper around the 
wearer. 
While the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are related to 
the preferred inner facing which makes maximum use of the absorbent inner 
core, rendering the core more efficient, modifications and adaptions of 
that embodiment may be readily accomplished which are within the purview 
of this invention. For instance, when maximum efficiency of the absorbent 
core is neither desired nor necessary, and when it is only the elimination 
of the protective release sheets which is sought, the inner facing does 
not have to include the bifurcated limitations of the preferred 
embodiment. In its broadest sense this latter embodiment of an inner 
facing merely to eliminate protective release sheets is satisfied by use 
in a disposable diaper of the type described above of a porous nonwoven 
fabric having at least one entire surface treated with an adhesive release 
agent; in some cases it may be more feasible to treat the entire fabric. 
By such a treatment no selective deposition of release agent is required 
thereby eliminating the expense and problems associated therewith. This 
treated surface becomes the surface against which the adhesive tape tabs 
lie so that the adhesive coatings are protected before use of the diaper. 
It is necessary, however, to have a nonwoven fabric for an inner facing 
with sufficient porosity to render the treated fabric fluid pervious after 
the fabric has been adhesive-released treated. One manner of assuring such 
porosity is to include a multiplicity of openings through the nonwoven 
fabric. A fabric with openings substantially uniformly arranged allows for 
even distribution of the fluid as it passes through the inner facing to 
the absorbent core. 
Any of the well known agents which impart adhesive release properties to a 
surface may be employed in treating the fabric. Silicone containing agents 
and compounds are suitably adaptable for use in this invention. Since many 
of the known adhesive release agents also impart fluid repellency 
properties to the surface on which they are applied these agents are 
preferably used in this invention especially when attempting to gain 
maximum efficiency of the absorbent core in the diaper. In this regard one 
agent with both adhesive release and fluid repellency preperties is 
applied to the inner facing fabric; at least the center portion of any 
inner facing used in this invention always remains pervious to fluid even 
after coated with the agent due to the size of the openings through the 
fabric. By the presence of these openings the selection of adhesive 
release agent is broadened to include many classes of materials with 
release properties, including, but not limited to, those inherently or 
otherwise having fluid repellency properties. Furthermore, the fact that 
the structure of the pervious portion of the inner facing allows fluid to 
pass through after the treatment allows the adhesive agent to be applied 
on the entire surface of the inner facing rather than being selectively 
deposited and aligned in small, specifically defined areas. 
Classes of adhesive release agents which also have fluid repellent 
properties for treatment of the inner facing include non-ionic water 
emulsions of reactive silicones such as ESTRASIZE S-4 (Crown Metro); 
reactive non-ionic heterocyclic condensates such as SUNSIZE 133 (Sun 
Chemical); reactive water-soluble Werner-type complexes such as QUILON M 
(Du Pont); fluoro-carbon type repellents such as SCOTCHBAN (Minnesota 
Mining and Manufacturing); steratochromic chloride such as KROMYL-S (Crown 
Metro); and water-soluble or water-dispersable waxes such as ESTRASIZE N 
zirconium wax (Crown Metro). These classes of agents may be used 
individually or in various mixtures or blends. Also, these agents are only 
representative of the types and varieties of release agents which may be 
selected in accordance with this invention. 
The invention will be further illustrated in greater detail by the 
following specific examples. It should be understood, however, that 
although these examples may describe in particular detail some of the more 
specific features of this invention, they are given primarily for purposes 
of illustration, and the invention in its broader aspects is not to be 
construed as limited thereto. 
EXAMPLE I 
An inner facing for a disposable diaper is produced as shown particularly 
in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The processes and apparatuses as 
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,056,406 and 2,862,251 are employed to 
produce the inner facing which is comprised of rayon fibers, generally 
having a length of 2 inches (5.08 cm.) and having a 1.5 denier, the fabric 
weighing about 250 grains/sq. yd. (19.4 g./sq. in.). The inner facing 
contains a fluid pervious center portion and fluid impervious edge 
portions, the fibers of the edge and center portions being interconnected 
to form an integral fabric. In the center portion there are 95 openings 
per square inch (approx. 15 openings/sq. cm.), substantially uniformly 
distributed, each opening having an area of 0.00385 square inches (0.0248 
sq. cm.). One entire surface of this inner facing is sprayed with SUNSIZE 
133 release agent-fluid repellent so that that entire surface is rendered 
adhesively releasable, and the edge portions are also rendered fluid 
repellent while the center portion remains fluid pervious due to the 
openings therein. This treated inner facing is included in a disposable 
diaper also comprised of a fluid impervious outer facing, an absorbent 
core between facings and adhesive tape tabs for fastening purposes. The 
outer edges of the inner facing extend to the outer edges of the diaper 
itself, so that the fastening portions of the adhesive tape tabs rest 
against the treated surface of the outer edges of the inner facing while 
in storage and before diaper use. No additional protective release sheets 
are required for the adhesive tape tabs, and, in use, the diaper 
effeciently contains fluid within the absorbent core particularly due to 
the specific construction of the new inner facing. 
EXAMPLE II 
An inner facing is produced and is incorporated in a disposable diaper as 
in Example I, except that in the center portion there are 225 openings per 
square inch (approx. 35 openings/sq. cm.), each opening having an area of 
0.00159 square inches (0.0103 sq. cm.). One entire surface of this inner 
facing is gravure-treated with SCOTCHBAN FC813 release agent-fluid 
repellent so that that entire surface is rendered adhesively releasable, 
and the edge portions are also rendered fluid repellent while the center 
portion remains fluid pervious due to the openings therein. When this 
inner facing is used in the disposable diaper no additional protective 
release sheets are required for the adhesive tape tabs, and, in use, the 
diaper efficiently contains fluid within the absorbent core particularly 
due to the specific construction of the new inner facing. 
EXAMPLE III 
An inner facing for a disposable diaper is produced according to the 
processes and apparatuses described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,862,251. The inner 
facing is comprised of polyvinylalcohol fibers, generally having a length 
of 1.73 inches (4.4 cm.) and having a 1.4 denier, the fabric weighing 
about 240 grains per square yard (18.6 g./sq. in.). Distributed 
substantially uniformly throughout the entire inner facing are openings 
numbering 49 openings per square inch (approx. eight openings/sq. cm.), 
each opening having an area of 0.00785 square inches (0.0506 sq. cm.). One 
entire surface of this inner facing is saturation treated with a 50:50 
blend of ESTRASIZE S-4 and KROMYL-S release agent-fluid repellent so that 
that entire surface is rendered adhesively releasable, but the fabric 
remains fluid pervious due to the openings therein. This treated inner 
facing is included in a disposable diaper also comprised of a fluid 
impervious outer facing, an absorbent core between facings and adhesive 
tape tabs for fastening purposes. The diaper is constructed and folded so 
that, while in storage and before use, the fastening portions of the 
adhesive tape tabs rest against the treated surface of the inner facing. 
No additional protective release sheets are required for the adhesive tape 
tabs, and, in use, fluid readily passes through the openings in the inner 
facing into the absorbent core. 
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the 
invention, an improved inner facing for use with disposable diapers that 
fully satisfies the aims, advantages and aspects set forth above. While 
the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments 
thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and 
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the 
foregoing description. Accordingly, the plenary invention is intended to 
embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within 
the spirit and broad scope of the described invention.