Abstract:
A diaper with an integral feces receiver. This receiver is connected to the interior of the diaper by an oval opening. The walls of the receiver are undercut so that the cross-section expands as the fecal matter moves from the opening downward. A thickened supporting section is provided around the receiver so that the user&#39;s weight will not force the solid material out of the receiver and back into the interior of the diaper. The fecal matter is thereby contained within the receiver and away from the user. A layered version is shown, in which the diaper&#39;s structure is built from a series of stacked cross sections.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to the field of diapers. More specifically, the invention comprises a diaper including a segregated feces receiver.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Disposable diapers have been in common use for many years. These typically employ a layer of absorbent material enclosed within a moisture-proof barrier layer. The traditional solution to accommodating additional fluid and solid matter has been to increase the thickness of the absorbent layer. However, this approach does not work well for adult diapers.  
         [0005]     Feces containment is a significant concern in the field of adult diapers. Because such a large volume of solid may be produced, it is difficult to contain this mass within the diaper without also causing significant exposure to the user&#39;s skin. As those skilled in the art will know, significant exposure of the skin to fecal matter can cause problems. Thus, it is desirable to provide a diaper which can contain a significant quantity of fecal matter without exposing the wearer&#39;s skin to the fecal matter.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention comprises a diaper with an integral feces receiver. This receiver is connected to the interior of the diaper by an opening. The walls of the receiver are undercut so that the cross-section expands as the fecal matter moves from the opening downward. A thickened supporting section is provided around the receiver so that the user&#39;s weight will not force the solid material out of the receiver and back into the interior of the diaper. The fecal matter is thereby contained within the receiver and away from the user. A layered version is shown, in which the diaper&#39;s structure is built from a series of stacked cross sections. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view, showing the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view, showing the present invention as it would be worn by a user.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a section view, showing details of the receiver.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a section view, showing details of the receiver.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a section view, showing details of the receiver.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a section view, showing details of the receiver.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view, showing how the diaper can be made from multiple layers.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view, showing two layers of the diaper.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a section view, showing how the diaper can be made from multiple layers. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 diaper 
                 12 
                 leg relief 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 feces receiver 
                 18 
                 adhesive strip 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 front belt 
                 22 
                 rear belt 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 center portion 
                 26 
                 front wing 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 rear wing 
                 30 
                 hem 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 opening 
                 34 
                 undercut 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 bottom wall 
                 38 
                 support 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 laminated diaper 
                 42 
                 sealing layer 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 first absorbent layer 
                 46 
                 second absorbent layer 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 third absorbent layer 
                 50 
                 fourth absorbent layer 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 fifth absorbent layer 
                 54 
                 first opening 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 second opening 
                 57 
                 third opening 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 fourth opening 
                 60 
                 fifth opening 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 interior 
                 64 
                 side wall 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 lower layer 
                 68 
                 sixth opening 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 front edge 
                 72 
                 back edge 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows the present invention in its uninstalled state (lying flat). Diaper  10  is comprised of center portion  24  joined to rear belt  22  and front belt  20 . The combination of these three portions forms an hourglass shape. Two leg reliefs  12  are included. Two rear wings  28  are located on either end of rear belt  22 . Likewise, two front wings  26  are located on either end of front belt  20 . Closure means are typically provided proximate these front wings and rear wings. Commonly used closure means include hook and loop patches (VELCRO), adhesive stripes, snaps, and the like.  
         [0018]     Turning briefly to  FIG. 2 , diaper  10  is shown folded into its installed state (as it would typically be worn by a user). Each rear wing  28  is lapped over the corresponding front wing  26  and the closure means are used to attach the two. Those skilled in the art will know that the closure means are preferably made adjustable so that the overlap of the rear wing over the front wing can vary. This variance allows the adjustment of the waist size. The reader will observe how the two leg reliefs  12  form leg holes in the state shown in  FIG. 2 . The user will of course occupy interior  62 . The reader will thus understand that the diaper has an inward facing surface directed toward the user and an outward facing surface directed away from the user.  
         [0019]     Returning now to  FIG. 1 , additional features will be described. The outward facing surface of the diaper is covered by a sealing layer of moisture-proof material. This layer is preferably joined to the rest of the diaper by lapping a hem  30  over the inward facing surface and adhering the hem in place (typically using an adhesive). Hem  30  can extend around the entire perimeter. The boundary of the leg relief portions preferably includes an elastic cuff in order to seal against the user&#39;s legs.  
         [0020]     These previously-described features are conventional in the art. Numerous variations are possible on the general design of these conventional features. As they do not comprise the novel aspects of the present invention, such variations are not of great significance.  
         [0021]     The present invention primarily seeks to more effectively handle solid materials. Diaper  10  contains an integral feces receiver  14  for this purpose. Feces receiver  14  is positioned to receive solid waste and contain it so that contact with the user is minimized.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a section through the diaper&#39;s long axis. Feces receiver  14  is connected to the inward facing surface of the diaper by opening  32 . The volume of the feces receiver actually lies proximate the outward facing surface, however. The volume is defined by a continuous side wall  64  and bottom wall  36 .  
         [0023]     Side wall  64  and bottom wall  36  are formed of absorbent material. Of course, beneath bottom wall  36  and outside of side wall  64  lies the sealing layer which covers the entire outside of the diaper. The reader will observe that side wall  64  includes an undercut  34 . This undercut extends around substantially all (if not all) of feces receiver  14 . The result is that the cross section of the feces receiver increases proceeding from opening  32  toward bottom wall  36 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows the same section in an elevation view. The presence of undercut  34  is easy to see in this view. The reader will also observe that the side wall is substantially thickened around the receiver. This added thickness is denoted as support  38 .  
         [0025]     The diaper is intended to deal with incontinence issues. Those skilled in the art will know that most users suffering from this condition are bedridden most of the time. The user will be wearing the diaper, and a portion of the user&#39;s weight will bear upon the lower portions of the diaper. Most such patients will be lying flat in bed, or lying in an inclined bed with the torso being inclined upward between about 10 and 30 degrees. Such an inclined bed may also elevate the legs. The position of the patient may be similar to that of a person sitting in a recliner chair with the chair fully reclined. Such a position puts a portion of the user&#39;s weight directly on the tail bone. Feces receiver  14  typically lies just beneath the tail bone when the diaper is worn. Thus, the user&#39;s weight may tend to collapse the feces receiver and force any accumulated solids back against the user&#39;s skin.  
         [0026]     Support  38  is a thickness of material which is sufficient to resist the collapse of the feces receiver.  FIG. 5  shows a transverse section through feces receiver  14 . The reader will observe that undercut  34  continues down the side portions of side wall  64 .  FIG. 6  shows the same section in an elevation view. Support  38  is present around the perimeter of the feces receiver in order to prevent collapse under the user&#39;s weight.  
         [0027]     The undercut nature of the side wall helps retain the solid waste in the feces receiver. Returning to  FIG. 4 , those skilled in the art will realize that when the diaper is worn by a patient in bed, the rear portion of the receiver (toward the right in the view) will be lower than the forward portion. The large undercut toward the rear (toward the right in the view) will thereby tend to entrap the solids when they flow downward. In addition, the undercut nature of the side wall means that when the receiver is compressed under the user&#39;s weight, the opening tends to close. These features tend to isolate the solid waste from contact with the user&#39;s skin.  
         [0028]     The version shown in  FIGS. 1-6  contemplates the use of an absorbent material having a varying thickness. The absorbent material can be molded into this shape, then covered by the sealing layer. Alternatively, the diaper can be made as a lamination of multiple layers having approximately the same thickness.  FIG. 7  shows the laminated embodiment in an exploded view.  
         [0029]     The uppermost component (which will be the portion actually contacting the user when the diaper is worn) is first absorbent layer  44 . It is made of absorbent material. It includes first opening  54 , which corresponds to opening  32  in the non-laminated embodiment.  
         [0030]     The next component is second absorbent layer  46 . Second opening  56  forms the upper portion of the side wall defining the feces receiver. Third absorbent layer  48  is next, including third opening  57 . This is followed by fourth absorbent layer  50 , with fourth opening  58 , fifth absorbent layer  52  with fifth opening  60 , and lower layer  66  with sixth opening  68 . Sealing layer  42  forms the bottom of the diaper. It preferably includes an absorbent layer on its upper surface with a moisture barrier on the bottom.  
         [0031]     The layers are stacked together and optionally bonded in place using adhesives or mechanical fastening such as stitching. Although the entire perimeter of each layer can be bonded, this is not strictly necessary for the stability of the stack. Second absorbent layer  46  should be well bonded over most of its surface area to first absorbent layer  44 . This need not be the case for all the layers, however.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7B  shows third absorbent layer  48  over fourth absorbent layer  50 . These may be bonded together only along front edge  70  and rear edge  72 . This same front and back bonding can be used on each of the layers descending in the stack until fifth absorbent layer  52  is reached. Fifth absorbent layer  52  should be bonded around the perimeter of fifth opening  60  to lower layer  66 . Likewise, lower layer  66  should be bonded around the perimeter of sixth opening  68  to sealing layer  42 . This bonding scheme is sufficient to ensure the stability of the stack. Of course, more bonding can be used if desired.  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows a cross section through the feces receiver in the laminated version, once the layers are bonded together. The reader will observe that the general configuration of the feces receiver is the same, even though the side walls (including the undercut) assume the form of a series of steps rather than a smooth wall. Of course, the holes through the layers can be cut at an angle to avoid the staircase effect if desired. However, there is little if any loss of functionality by the inclusion of the steps.  
         [0034]     The use of the sealing layer  42  allows another function of the present invention. The diaper may well entrap a substantial quantity of fecal matter. Disposal of such a used diaper raises concerns. It is desirable, therefore, to expel the fecal matter from the diaper prior to throwing the diaper away.  
         [0035]     In order to accomplish this objective, sealing layer  42  can be made detachable from the rest of the diaper. This can be done in a variety of ways, including the use of tearable perforations or a peelable adhesive.  
         [0036]     Once the diaper is removed from the wearer, it can be placed over a toilet. The user can then peel sealing layer  42  away, which allows the contents of the feces receiver to spill into the toilet. The emptied diaper can then be thrown away, incinerated, etc.  
         [0037]     The size of the diaper has not been specified in this disclosure, since it can be varied to accommodate many different classes of users. As an example, a relatively small version can be made for use with infants. A version of moderate size can be made for use with adolescents or small adults. A large size can be made for use with adults. All these sizes would incorporate the same features.  
         [0038]     Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be viewed as limiting the invention but rather as providing examples of the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims rather than by any examples given.