Fastener means for joining together opposing front and rear side-parts of an absorbent article

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fastener means for mutually fastening together the mutually opposing front and rear side-parts (2 and 3, respectively) of an absorbent article (1), wherein the fastener means (38) comprises two mutually coacting first and second fastener elements (39, 40). According to the invention the second element (40) includes a fastener portion which projects out in the direction of the perimeter of the waistband and which is insertable into an insertion opening (45) in its associated first fastener element (39); said insertion opening being defined by a bottom plate (41) having edges converging in the insertion direction of the fastener portion and two outstanding walls (42, 43) which extend along said converging edges perpendicular to the bottom plate. The second fastener element (40) has the shape of a substantially rectangular plate with two locking hooks (46,47) side-wise projecting out from its insertion end, and comprises at least one fold (48,49) which is extended in the insertion direction and has walls projecting out from the plane of the rectangular plate. The outstanding walls (42, 43) of the first fastener element (39) comprise locking apertures (44) coacting with the locking hooks (46, 47) of the second element.

Description: The present invention relates to fastener means for fastening together opposing front and rear side-parts of an absorbent article in the form of a diaper or a pants-type sanitary napkin, so as to bring the article to a pants-like form comprising an encircling waistband, said article comprising a central part which includes an absorbent body, and front and rear pliable side-parts which extend from both sides of the central part, wherein the fastener means comprise two mutually coacting first and second fastener elements of which the first element is attached to a front side-part and the second fastener element is attached to the rear side-part of the article on the same side of the central part as its associated first fastener element. The side-parts of diapers are normally fastened together with the aid of fastener tabs which are firmly anchored to one side-part of the diaper and which when donning the diaper are fastened to the other side-part of the diaper with the aid of a releasable and refastenable type of adhesive. The side-part onto which the fastener tab is fastened when putting on the diaper may be reinforced in different ways, to enable the fastener means to be released and refastened repeatedly without damaging the diaper casing sheet. One problem with the use of adhesive tape is that contaminants, such as baby talcum, are liable to stick to the adhesive and therewith impair its adhesiveness. Furthermore, many users lack a clear indication as to where the fastener tabs shall be fastened in order to obtain a suitable tight fit around the waist of the wearer. There is therefore a need for mechanical fasteners for fastening the side-parts of diapers together. One such mechanical fastener means is known from U.S. 4,701,170, which describes a diaper whose side-parts are fastened together with the aid of mutually coacting resilient hook devices. US 4,408,375 discloses a connector for key chains, jewelry chains or the like having a pair of bifurcated springy legs which can be inserted into a passageway upon compression of the legs together. The object of the present invention is to provide mechanical fastener means which will satisfy the aforesaid need and which can be easily opened and closed. In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved with an absorbent article comprising fastener means according to Claim 1. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a donned diaper provided with a first embodiment of inventive fastener means; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the fastener means on the diaper shown in Figure 1, and shows the fastener means in a separated state. Figure 1 illustrates a donned diaper 1, where the diaper has been brought to a pants-like form by closing the front and the rear side-parts 2, 3 of the diaper together with the aid of inventive fastener means 38. Figure 1 shows only the fastener means attached to the left side of the diaper. The diaper 1 is of typical construction and includes an inner, liquid-permeable casing sheet, an outer liquid-impermeable backing sheet and an absorbent body enclosed between said sheets. The diaper has conventionally a central part and front and rear side-parts which project out from both sides of the central part. The present invention can be understood without describing the construction of the diaper 1 in depth and the diaper will not therefore be described in detail in this document. Figure 2 illustrates the left-hand fastener means 38 shown in Figure 1 in larger scale and in a separated or released state. The fastener means 38 comprises a first fastener element 39 which is attached to the front side-part 2 of the diaper, and a second fastener element 40 which is attached to the rear side-part 3 of said diaper. The fastener means is comprised of a first fastener element 39 and a second fastener element 40. The first fastener element 39 includes a bottom plate 41 which has the shape of an isosceles parallel-trapezium, or parallel-trapezoid, and has two walls 42, 43 upstanding from the non-parallel edges of the plate. Each of the walls 42, 43 has provided therein a locking aperture 44, of which only one can be seen in the Figure, said apertures being opposite one another. The fastener element 39 also includes an insertion opening 45 which is delimited by the bottom plate and the two upstanding walls. When seen from above, the fastener element 40 has the shape of an arrow with a truncated point, this pointed part forming two outwardly projecting locking hooks 46, 47. Two upstanding folds 48, 49 extend in the longitudinal direction of the fastener element 40, along the full length of the arrowed part. The side edges of the locking hooks are inclined in the longitudinal direction at the same angles as the angles at which the equal sides of the parallel-trapezium are inclined to a line that extends at right angles to the parallel sides of said trapezium. When inserting the fastener element 40 through the insert opening 45, the side edges of the locking hooks will run against the walls 42, 43 while compressing the walls of the folds 48, 49 until the locking hooks snap into the locking apertures 44 in the side walls of the part 39, wherewith the fold walls separate from one another by virtue of their resiliency. The mutually fastened elements 39, 40 can be easily separated from one another, by simply pressing together the folds 48, 49. In the case of one variant, each wall 42, 43 of the Figure 2 embodiment may include two or more pairs of mutually opposing apertures so as to enable the fastener elements 39, 40 to be locked together in selected separate positions in the insertion direction. In this regard, the fastener element 40 may be provided with broader folds or with a larger number of folds, so as to achieve an effective degree of compression of the fastener element 40. The fastener means 38 may be manufactured from a thermoplastic material, such as a thermosetting resin, board or some other foldable material. The aforedescribed fastener means are fastened, locked, by inserting a part of one fastener element into an opening in the other fastener element, wherewith a locking member automatically snaps into a locking aperture. It is therefore extremely easy to fasten a fastener means that has been constructed in accordance with the invention. Furthermore, the fastener means described can be released by moving the locking member out of engagement with its locking aperture with a simple movement of the hand, wherein the tension force in the diaper to which the fastener means is attached will cause the two fastener elements to separate from one another. An inventive fastener means can thus be opened very easily. The illustrated and described fastener means may be produced from sheet material, suitably by vacuum-forming, which is favourable from a cost aspect. Naturally, other methods of manufacture are conceivable, such as moulding or injection-moulding processes, although when practicing these alternative methods the fastener means cannot be made as thin as when vacuum-forming sheet material. It is also possible to use other materials than plastic materials, provided that such materials are sufficiently flexible or pliable to conform to the body contours of the wearer of the diaper, and providing that the raised portion and/or the fastener element that contains the locking aperture will have resilient properties. It will be understood that the illustrated and described exemplifying embodiments can be modified within the scope of the invention. The invention can also be applied to openable and refastenable pants-type diapers and pants-type sanitary napkins and on pants which support a diaper insert. The invention is therefore limited solely by the content of the following Claim

Claims: An absorbent article (1) comprising a fastener means for mutually fastening together the mutually opposing front and rear side-parts (2 and 3, respectively) of the absorbent article (1) being in the form of a diaper or a pants-type sanitary napkin, so as to bring the article to a pants-like form comprising an encircling waistband, wherein the article comprises a central part which includes an absorbent body, and front and rear pliable side-parts that extend from both sides of the central part, and wherein the fastener means (38) comprises two mutually coacting first and second fastener elements (39, 40) of which the first element is attached to a front side-part and the second fastener element is attached to the rear side-part of the article on the same side of the central part as its associated first fastener element, characterised in that the second element (40) includes a fastener portion which projects out in the direction of the perimeter of the waistband and which is insertable into an insertion opening (45) in its associated first fastener element (39); said insertion opening being defined by a bottom plate (41) having edges converging in the insertion direction of the fastener portion and two outstanding walls (42, 43) which extend along said converging edges perpendicular to the bottom plate; and in that the second fastener element (40) has the shape of a substantially rectangular plate with two locking hooks (46,47) side-wise projecting out from its insertion end, and comprises at least one fold (48,49) which is extended in the insertion direction and has walls projecting out from the plane of the rectangular plate, and in that the outstanding walls (42, 43) of the first fastener element (39) comprise locking apertures (44) coacting with the locking hooks (46, 47) of the second element.

Inventors: JOENBRINK ANNA KARIN, SKOG TERJE, JOENBRINK, ANNA, KARIN, SKOG, TERJE, JÖNBRINK, Anna, Karin
Applicants: SCA HYGIENE PROD AB, SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61F13
IPC codes: A61F13