Abstract:
The invention features a diaper apparatus that may be adaptable for use by users of different sizes, weights etc. where the apparatus may, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention include the use of flaps (ties) and/or chords for, among other things, fastening and adjustment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of, and is related to, the following provisional patent applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/195,849 &amp; 62/195,882 both titled “Adult Diaper Apparatus” filed Jul. 23, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates, in general, to an adult diaper and in particular, an adult diaper that would fit most users. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Different kinds of diapers exist on the market today. Some are worn by adults and have different attachments methods or configurations. However, most attachment configurations either are not meant for use by all users because they do not fit them well or they are not properly suited for use by people who do not fall into a certain size category. 
         [0004]    As such, there is a need for a diaper that would fit most, if not all of adult diaper users. There is also a need for a diaper that would be able to maintain its size, function and position once worn. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates an adult diaper apparatus which may include: an absorbent material section, flap(s) extending from a first edge of the absorbent material section, where each flap(s) is structurally configured to be tied with another flap which extends from a second edge of the absorbent material section, and where the first edge is opposite the second edge and an elastic band each along, surrounding the outer edges of the absorbent material section. In this disclosure, the term “flap” may be used interchangeably with the term “tie”. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates an adult diaper apparatus which may include a front section and a rear section, where each section may include a number of corners, an absorbent material section located between and connecting both front and rear sections, tie(s) at the end of each corner, and an elastic band each along, surrounding and/or within the outer edges of both front and rear sections. 
         [0007]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent material section may include absorbent material affixed onto an impermeable substrate. 
         [0008]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent material section may be rectangular in shape. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, each corner of the absorbent section may extend into a triangular section. 
         [0009]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, two ties extend from each corner of the rectangular absorbent section. 
         [0010]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, one of the front section corner ties may be configured/structurally designed to extend to a rear section corner tie which is linearly aligned with the front section corner tie. 
         [0011]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the diaper apparatus may be held in place by the tying arrangement between the corner ties and the rear ties which are linearly aligned in relation to the corner ties and the tying arrangement between the remaining front and rear ties. 
         [0012]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, each of the front and rear sections may include one or more sets of ties. 
         [0013]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the diaper apparatus may be held in place by the tying arrangement between a first tie of the first set of ties of the front section and a first tie of the first set of ties of the rear section, a tie between the second tie of the first set of ties of the front section, a tie between the second tie of the first set of ties of the front section and the first tie of the second set of ties of the front section, a tie between a second tie of the second set of ties of the front section and a second ties of the second set of ties of the rear section, a tie between a first tie of the second set of ties of the rear section and a second tie of the first set of ties of the rear section. 
         [0014]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, both first set of ties of the front section and the first set of ties of the rear section may be linearly aligned with each other. 
         [0015]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, both second set of ties of the front section and the second set of ties of the rear section may be linearly aligned with each other. 
         [0016]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, none of the fastening ties are between any sets of ties that are diagonally across from each other. 
         [0017]    Another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates an adult diaper apparatus which may include a front section and a rear section, where each section may include a number of corners, an absorbent material section located between, and connecting both front and rear sections, at least one tie at the end of each corner, an elastic band each along/surrounding/within the outer edges of both front and rear sections, and channel(s) extending across each of the front section and the rear section. 
         [0018]    In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the diaper apparatus may include a chord running within each of the channel(s) of the front and rear sections, where each chord has a first and a second end and each end extends out of each channel by way of a slit/opening. 
         [0019]    In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may be fastened, held in place and/or tightened by a combination of ties between, at the very least, the first chord end of the front section chord and the first chord end of the rear section chord, a tie between the second chord end of the front section and the second chord end of the rear section chord. 
         [0020]    A further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates an adult diaper apparatus which may include a front section and a rear section, where each section may include a number of corners, an absorbent material section located between and connecting both front and rear sections, at least one tie at the end of each corner, an elastic band each along/surrounding/within the outer edges of both front and rear sections, and channel(s) extending across each of the front section and the rear section. 
         [0021]    In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the diaper apparatus may include at least two chords running within each of the channel(s) of the front and rear sections, where each chord has a first and a second end for the first chord within the channel and a first and a second end for a second chord within the channel and each end extends out of each channel by way of a slit/opening. 
         [0022]    In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may be held in place and tightened by a combination of ties between, at the very least, a first chord end of a second chord of the front section and a first chord end of a first chord of the rear section, a tie between the second chord end of the second chord of the front section and the second chord end of the first chord of the rear section, a tie between the first and second chord ends of the first chord of the front section and a tie between the first and second chord ends of the second chord of the rear section. 
         [0023]    In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the first chord end of a second chord of the front section and the first chord end of a first chord of the rear section are linearly aligned with each other. 
         [0024]    In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the second chord end of the second chord of the front section and the second chord end of the first chord of the rear section are linearly aligned with each other. 
         [0025]    In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, none of the ties may be between any sets of chord ends that are diagonally across from each other. 
         [0026]    A yet further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates an adult diaper apparatus which may include a first layer of material, an absorbent material section superimposedly mounted onto a section of the first layer of material and elastic bands each along/surrounding outer edge sections of the absorbent material section. 
         [0027]    In a yet further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent material section may be rectangular in shape. 
         [0028]    In yet a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the first layer of material upon which the absorbent material section is superimposedly mounted may also be rectangular in shape. In this aspect, the first layer of material may be bordered by four tie ends at its ends/corners which may be used to secure the apparatus onto a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an exemplary diaper apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 1B  illustrates the diaper apparatus with an illustration of a tie between flaps according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates another exemplary diaper apparatus showing its elements according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates a further exemplary diaper apparatus showing its elements according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an exemplary diaper apparatus  100  is shown according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Diaper apparatus  100  may include a front section  102  and rear section  104 , where each section may include a number of corners  110 A through  110 D. Diaper apparatus  100  may also include absorbent material section  106  located between and, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, connecting both front ( 102 ) and rear ( 104 ) sections. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, absorbent material section  106  may include absorbent material affixed onto an impermeable substrate which prevents leakage. 
         [0034]    Diaper apparatus  100  may also include tie(s)  108 A through  108 D each at the end of each corners  110 A through  110 D, and elastic band  112  each along/surrounding or, in another aspect, within the outer edges of both front  102  and rear  104  sections. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, elastic band  112  may extend along the periphery of one or more sides of absorbent material section  106 . 
         [0035]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, absorbent material section  106  may be rectangular in shape. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, each corner  110 A through  110 D of rectangular absorbent section  106  may extend into a triangular section. 
         [0036]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, two ties  108 A and  108 B of front section  102 , may respectively extend from corners  110 A and  110 B of absorbent section  106 . Ties  108 A and  108 B may be configured/structurally designed to respectively extend to ties  108 C and  108 D, respectively, of rear section  104  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, diaper apparatus  100  when worn by a user, may be held in place by the tying arrangement between corner ties  108 A &amp;  108 C and ties  108 B &amp;  108 D where ties  108 A and  108 C are linearly aligned in relation to each other and ties  108 B and  108 D are also linearly aligned with each other. 
         [0037]    In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, each of front ( 102 ) and rear ( 104 ) sections of diaper apparatus  100  may include multiple sets of ties—for instance two or more sets of ties in front section  2102  and the same for rear section  104 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a diaper apparatus  200  is shown according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Here, diaper apparatus  200  may include front section  202  and rear section  204 , where each section may include corners  202 A,  202 B,  204 A and  204 B, where corners  202 A and  202 B represent the corners for front section  202  and corners  204 A and  204 B represent the corners for rear section  204 . Diaper apparatus  200  may include absorbent material section  206  located between and connecting both front ( 202 ) and rear ( 204 ) sections of diaper apparatus  200 . In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention and extending from each corner is or more ties which may be used to fasten diaper apparatus  200  when in use. In one aspect, tie  208 A may extend from corner  202 A, tie  208 B may extend from corner  202 B, tie  208 C may extend from corner  204 A and tie  208 D may extend from corner  204 B. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, diaper apparatus  200  may include elastic band  210  which may extend along or surrounding the outer edges of both front ( 202 ) and rear ( 204 ) sections. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, elastic band  210  may extend along the periphery of one or more sides of absorbent material section  206 . Diaper apparatus  200  may additionally include channels  212 A and  212 B respectively extending across each of front section  202  and rear section  204 . Channels  212 A and  212 B may each respectively include chords  214 A and  214 B running within each of the channels of the front and rear sections, where each chord has a first and a second end and each end extends out of each channel by way of a slit/opening. For instance, front section  202  may have channel  212 A which in turn may include chord  214 A which extends through channel  212 A out through slits/openings  216 A and  216 B. 
         [0039]    In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, diaper apparatus  200  may be held in place and tightened by a combination of ties between, at the very least, chords which are linearly aligned with each other—for instance, a tie between the end of chord  214 A which extends from opening  216 A and its ties with chord  214 B which extends from opening  216 C. The same goes for a tie between the end of chord  214 A which extends from opening  216 B and its tie with the end of chord  214 B which extends from opening  216 D. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , another diaper apparatus  300  is shown according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Here, diaper apparatus  300  may include front section  302  and rear section  304 , where each section may include corners  302 A,  302 B,  304 A and  304 B, where corners  302 A and  302 B represent the corners for front section  302  and corners  304 A and  304 B represent the corners for rear section  304 . Diaper apparatus  300  may include absorbent material section  306  located between and connecting both front ( 302 ) and rear ( 304 ) sections of diaper apparatus  300 . In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention and extending from each corner is one or more ties which may be used to fasten diaper apparatus  300  when in use. In one aspect, tie  308 A may extend from corner  302 A, tie  308 B may extend from corner  302 B, tie  308 C may extend from corner  304 A and tie  308 D may extend from corner  304 B. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, diaper apparatus  300  may include elastic band  310  which may extend along or surrounding the outer edges of both front ( 302 ) and rear ( 304 ) sections. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, elastic band  310  may extend along the periphery of one or more sides of absorbent material section  306 . Diaper apparatus  300  may additionally include channels  312 A and  312 B respectively extending across each of front section  302  and rear section  304 . Channel  312 A may include chords  314 A and  314 B running through it while channel  312 B may include chords  314 C and  314 D running through it. Channels  312 A and  312 B may each have a set of openings  316 A through  316 D through which chords  314 A and  314 B (for front section  302 ) and chords  314 C and  314 D (for rear section  304 ) exit. For front section  302 , channel  312 A may have openings  316 A and  316 B while channel  312 B of rear section  304  may have openings  316 C and  316 D. 
         [0041]    Chords  314 A through  314 D may be used to fasten diaper apparatus  300  in place when in use. For instance, one end of chord  314 A (exiting opening  316 A) may be tied with the second end of chord  314 A (exiting opening  316 B) to fasten the front section of apparatus  300 , while one end of chord  314 B (exiting opening  316 A) may be tied with one end of end of chord  314 C (exiting opening  316 C). In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, similar ties complete the fastening of diaper apparatus  300  i.e. having the second end of chord  314 C (exiting opening  316 D) tied with the second end of chord  314 B (exiting opening  316 B) and having the first end of chord  314 D (exiting opening  316 C) tied with its second end (exiting opening  316 D) to secure the rear section  304  of apparatus  300 . 
         [0042]    In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, diaper apparatus  300  may have ties  308 A through  308 D in addition to chords  314 A through  314 D. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, diaper apparatus  300  may have either set of ties  308 A through  308 D or chords  314   a  through  314 D for the fastening of diaper apparatus  300 . 
         [0043]    In a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, none of the ties may be between any sets of chord ends that are diagonally across from each other. 
         [0044]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.