SIDE ELASTIC PANEL FOR WRAPPING A DIAPER FOR DISPOSAL

Abstract: A disposable pant for adults, toddlers and infants is provided. The pant has elastic side panels one of sufficient width to be ab le to wrap around the pant when loaded with bodily wastes so as to form a pouch for disposal.

Description: SIDE ELASTIC PANEL FOR WRAPPING A DIAPER FOR DISPOSAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of disposable apparel for holding bodily fluids, such as incontinence type products is well established. There are a wide variety of products in this field, which have many uses including uses for adults, children and women. Some of these product types include those disclosed in Van Gompel et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,940,464, Strohbeen et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,610,681 , Heran et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,646,362, and Enloe U.S. Patent No. 4,895,568. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an embodiment of this invention there is provided a pant comprising a chassis and an elastic panel; the pant having a front and back end; the chassis comprising an absorbent core, a backing member and a bodyside liner; the chassis having a length and a width and a front and a back end; the elastic panel having a width and a length; the elastic panel adjacent the chassis and toward the back end of the chassis; the width of an elastic panel being such that the panel when stretched can encircle the pant when used. This pant may have a panel wide enough to encircle the used pant at least 1 Vz times. In an alternative embodiment of the invention there is provided an incontinence product for adults comprising: refastenable elastic side panels; the side panels having a length and a width; the incontinence product having a length and a width, the width of an elastic side panel being at least long enough to surround the product when used and fasten to itself, thereby forming an elastic disposable pouch. This product can hold at least about 100 grams of bodily waste. This product may further hold at least about 400 grams of bodily waste. In yet a further embodiment there is provided a pant product for toddlers and infants comprising: refastenable elastic side panels; the side panels having a length and a width; the product having a length and a width, the width of an elastic side panel being at least long enough to fully surround the product when used and fasten to itself, thereby forming an elastic disposable pouch. This product when used may hold at least about 25 grams of bodily waste. This product when used may further hold at least about 100 grams of bodily waste. In still another embodiment there is provided a pant product comprising a chassis and one elastic back panel; where the back panel can be separated into a left side portion and a right side portion by the centerline of the product; and each side portion having a length and a width; the product having a length and a width; the width of one of the elastic side portions being at least long enough to encircle the product when used and fasten to itself, thereby forming an elastic disposable pouch. DRAWINGS Figure 1A is a plan view of a pant showing the bodyside of the pant. Figure 1B is a plan view of a pant showing the outside of the pant. Figure 2 is a drawing of a pant being worn. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A construction of one embodiment of the pant is generally shown in Figures 1A and 1B, with Figure 1A showing the bodyside or inside of the pant and Figure 1B showing the outside of the pant. Referring to these figures, the pant consists of a body 1 having a front end 2, a back end 3, and a crotch area 17. The body has a chassis 4, a front fastening panel 5, and two elastic side panels 6 and 7. On each of the elastic side panels there are positioned closure devices 8 and 9 respectively. In this Figure, three such devices are shown for each side panel. Fewer or more closure devices may also be used. In the chassis, there may be positioned crotch elastics 10 and 11 , an absorbent core or pad 12 and cuffs 13 and 14. On the bodyside of the chassis there may be a bodyside liner sheet 15, which may cover the absorbent pad. On the outside of the absorbent pad there may be a backing member 16, which may cover the absorbent pad. Further details of the construction and composition of such products are disclosed in co-pending United States patent applications filed on this date in the names of Datta et al., titled "Refastenable and Adjustable Pant" (lawyer docket no. 659/482) and in the names of Fell et al., titled "Stretchable Composite Material Having Continuous Gathers" (lawyer docket no. 659/489), which are assigned to Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and the disclosures of which are both incorporated herein by reference. In another example of the pant, the elastic side panels may be a single elastic panel that extends across the entire back of the product. In use, the pant is positioned on the user and fastened by securing the closure devices 8 and 9 to the front fastening panel 5, as is shown in Figure 2. When the pant has been soiled, it is removed from the user and it can be folded into a convenient pouch by folding or rolling the front side 2 towards the back and by also folding or rolling one of the elastic side panels in. The remaining elastic side panel is then wide enough and has sufficient elasticity to encircle the entire rolled up configuration and close onto itself creating a convenient pouch for disposal. Because of the width of the elastic panel, it will impart elastic properties to the pouch. Moreover, the use of a single elastic panel to encircle the product making a pouch increases the ease of handling the product for disposal purposes. It creates a discrete package for disposal. Also, if the elastic panel has pleats or other structure, it provides better grip making the pouch easier to handle. For an adult product, the pant may be able to retain about 100 to 1 ,500 grams of bodily waste (i.e., urine, fecal matter, etc.). For an infant or child, the pant may be able to retain from about 25 to about 250 grams of such material. Thus, the relationship of the size, and elasticity of the elastic panels, as well as the number and position of the closure devices, provides the ability to have a single panel wrap around a used adult or infant product. By used it is meant that the product has at least the minimum amount bodily waste it is capable of absorbing and holding while the user is wearing it. By fully loaded it is meant that the product has the maximum amount of bodily waste it is capable of absorbing and holding while the user is wearing it. Having the ability to have a single elastic panel wrap around the entire used product (as well as a fully loaded product) to form a disposal pouch greatly decreases the chances of leaks or spills. Additionally, when the panel wrapping a used product is elastic, it may retain some, if not a substantial amount, of its elastic properties when wrapped around the product. In this instance the pouch will also have elastic properties. These elastic properties of the pouch also help prevent leakage during disposal, for example by providing extra give, or resilience, if the pouch is dropped or crushed. Moreover, the elasticity of the panels provides a pouch that can better hold and retain solid bodily waste from shifting or falling from the pouch.

Claims: Claims 1. A pant comprising a chassis and an elastic panel; the pant having a front and back end; the chassis comprising an absorbent core, a backing member and a bodyside liner; the chassis having a length and a width and a front and a back end; the elastic panel having a width and a length; the elastic panel adjacent the chassis and toward the back end of the chassis; the width of an elastic panel being such that the panel when stretched can encircle the pant when used. 2. The pant of claim 1 wherein the panel is wide enough to encircle the used pant at least 1 Vx times. 3. An incontinence product for adults comprising: refastenable elastic side panels; the side panels having a length and a width; the incontinence product having a length and a width, the width of an elastic side panel being at least long enough to surround the product when used and fasten to itself, thereby forming an elastic disposable pouch. 4. The product of claim 3 wherein the used product can hold at least about 100 grams of bodily waste. 5. The product of claim 3 wherein the used product can hold at least about 400 grams of bodily waste. 6. A pant product for toddlers and infants comprising: refastenable elastic side panels; the side panels having a length and a width; the product having a length and a width, the width of an elastic side panel being at least long enough to fully surround the product when used and fasten to itself, thereby forming an elastic disposable pouch. 7. The product of claim 6 wherein the used product can hold at least about 25 grams of bodily fluid. 8. The product of claim 6 wherein the used product can hold at least about 100 grams of bodily fluid. 9. A pant product comprising a chassis and one elastic back panel; where the back panel can be separated into a left side portion and a right side portion by the centerline of the product; and each side portion having a length and a width; the product having a length and a width; the width of one of the elastic side portions being at least long enough to encircle the product when used and fasten to itself, thereby forming an elastic disposable pouch.

Inventors: DATTA PAUL JOSEPH, SCHMOKER SUZANNE MARIE, DATTA, PAUL, JOSEPH, SCHMOKER, SUZANNE, MARIE
Applicants: KIMBERLY CLARK CO, KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A61F13
IPC codes: A41B9, A61F5, A61F13