Abstract:
A combination of an absorbent article and a waist belt for supporting the article has coacting hook and loop fabric tape elements thereon by which the absorbent article and the waist belt are releasably secured to each other. The hook fabric tape elements are provided on one of the waist belt and the absorbent article, and the loop fabric tape elements are provided on the other of the waist belt and the absorbent article.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 08/425,253 filed Apr. 17, 1995, which is a file wrapper continuation of Ser. No. 08/069,680 filed on Jun. 1, 1993, which is a file wrapper continuation of Ser. No. 07/653,521 filed Jan. 30, 1991, which is a file wrapper continuation of Ser. No. 07/399,495 filed Sept. 6, 1989, all now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for supporting an absorbent article such as an incontinence protector, a diaper or the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Numerous types of devices are previously known. For example, elastic textile pants are often utilized to hold diapers or the like fixed in position during use. An alternative to such pants is the so-called all-in-one diaper which is composed of a plastic backing forming together with a diaper an integral unit. In its unused state, the most common type of all-in-one diapers is principally shaped as a pair of underpants with open side seams which are joined together with adhesive tape when using the diaper so as to make it seal like a pant around the user&#39;s abdomen. 
     By being both easily handled and readily replaceable, the all-in-one diapers are certainly most useful in practice. Among adults suffering from incontinence however, the wide range of individual variations as to degree of incontinence and to bodily shape and size makes it almost impossible for economic and manufacturing reasons to satisfy all demands with only a limited number of diaper variants available. 
     Therefore, a diaper fixed in position with the aid of a separate pant would be more useful for incontinent adults. By being able to chose the appropriate size of pant independent of the type of diaper required with regard to degree of incontinence, there is provided for the user a large selection of combination possibilities from only a restricted number of pant and diaper sizes. 
     There is however a drawback associated with complete diaper pants in that they are difficult to put on and replace on users of a specific category such as those incontinent, institutionalized patients who are heavy, immobile and incapable of standing on their legs, and bed-ridden or contractured patients. The use of complete pants, which have to be wrenched over the user&#39;s legs to be properly applied, naturally complicates diaper changes making it a time-consuming procedure for the nursing staff and awkward for the incontinent patient. 
     The application of pants which have to be threaded on over the feet may even cause trouble to disabled persons or those with coordination problems but otherwise capable of managing on their own at home. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims to eliminate the problem associated with previously known items of this type. 
     This aim is accomplished by in combination, an absorbent article, such as an incontinence protector, a diaper or the like, having a transverse forward end, a transverse rear end, a longitudinal first side extremity, a longitudinal second side extremity, two forward corners and two rear corners joining the forward end and the rear end to the first side extremity and second side extremity, respectively, and a waist belt for supporting said absorbent article, said waist belt and said absorbent article having coacting hook and loop fabric tape elements thereon by which the diaper and the waist belt are releasably secured to each other. A forward and a rear portion of the diaper overlaps in the applied state of the article a forward and rear portion, respectively, of the waist belt, hook members or apertures being provided at least on the forward and rear ends of the article, the hook members and apertures being constituted by hook and loop fabric tape elements. 
     The combination including a waist strap or belt which is readily connectible with a diaper affords the possibility of selecting waist belt and diaper independently of one another. Moreover, application of the waist band, especially if openable, onto the user&#39;s body is a most simple procedure. An additional advantage is gained in that even those with restricted ability of turning or bending down may easily manage to change on their own a diaper attached to a waist belt according to the present invention. The manner of performing such a diaper change will be described in the following. 
     In contrast to complete pants, a waist belt according to the present invention will generally remain unsoiled when worn and may be used several times before it needs washing. Of course, waist belts intended to be discarded when soiled are also conceivable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A combination according to the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which 
     FIGS. 1A-1H show different embodiments of a diaper provided with the inventive attachment means; 
     FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  show various embodiments of the inventive waist belt intended for use in combination with the diapers illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1H; 
     FIGS. 5A-5G show other embodiments of a diaper provided with the inventive attachment means; and 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show different embodiments of waist belts intended for use in combination with the diaper illustrated in FIGS.  5 A- 5 G. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The diaper shown in FIGS. 1A-1H is of a conventional type, comprising a liquid permeable inner layer  2 , a liquid impermeable outer layer  3 , and enclosed there between an absorbent body  4 . 
     Bands  8 ,  9  provided with hooks or loops elements of tape type such as VELCRO are disposed at either transverse end  6 ,  7  of the diaper, which bands  8 ,  9  can be made of plastics or textile. The bands  8 ,  9  shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are plastic bands provided with hooks or loops tape elements  10  extending along the whole length of the bands. 
     Bands  8  are provided at each side extremity of the forward transverse end  6  of the diaper. At the rear transverse end  7  bands  9  are provided. In the embodiment shown on FIG. 1A each band extends from a side extremity. The band has a greater extension in the transverse than in the longitudinal direction of the diaper. Only a part of each transverse end is covered with the hooks or loops tape elements-band. Preferably hook elements (male elements) are used on the bands on the diaper. 
     In FIG. 1B a further band element is used on each of the transverse ends of the diaper. In this case only one band element  8   a ,  9   a  is shown. However, it is possible to use several band elements spaced apart along each transverse end, as long as they are spaced apart enough to maintain the transverse ends relatively flexible and compliant to the user&#39;s belly and back side. In FIG. 1C band elements have a larger extension in the longitudinal direction of the diaper than the band elements shown in FIGS. 1A,  1 B. In this way a better adjustability in the longitudinal direction of the diaper is obtained when fastening the diaper to the belt. In this case no extra fastening means in the middle of the transverse ends are shown. However, it is possible to use such further tape elements here also. 
     A further possible embodiment, which is not shown in any drawing, is to use only a band element  8   a  in the middle of the forward transverse end and tow or more band elements at the rear end of the diaper. 
     In FIG. 1D the diaper comprises end flaps as extensions of each transverse end of the diaper. On the forward side flaps  31  band elements  8  are arranged. On the rear side flaps  32  band elements  9  are arranged. The diaper also comprises extra fastening means consisting of a band element  8   a  at the middle of the forward transverse end and a band element  9   a  at the middle of the rear transverse end. In FIG. 1E an embodiment similar to that in FIG. 1D is shown. In FIG. 1E the side flaps are of a general triangular or trapezoidal form. In other respects this embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 1D, however, without the band elements  8   a  and  9   a . It is of course possible to use such further band elements also in this embodiment. 
     The embodiment shown in FIG. 1F comprises band elements  8  and  9  at the forward and rear transverse ends of the diaper. Each band element is extended, in the direction of the transverse end, outside the side extension as a side flap. 
     FIG. 1G shows an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 1A, comprising an extra fastening element in the form of an end flap  8   b  extending from the middle part of the front end of the diaper, in the longitudinal direction thereof. Such an element may also be arranged at the rear transverse end as shown in FIG.  1 H. 
     The diaper  1  shown in FIGS. 1A-1H is intended for use together with a waist belt having cooperating hooks or loops tape elements for engagement with the elements  10  provided on the bands  8 ,  9 . Such waist belts are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The waist belt  24  of FIG. 2 is made of plastics or textile and comprises a hooks or loops tape element  25  along its inside whereas the waist belt  13  of FIG. 3 is made in the form of an elastic netting and comprises on its inside a row of hooks or loops tape elements  26  spaced from each other along the circumference of the belt. In order to facilitate application, the waist belts can be opened and closed with the aid of fastening means  14 ,  15  which in the exemplary embodiment also are hooks or loops type closures. 
     A waist belt  16  can be made wide enough, as in FIG. 4, to overlap the diaper  1  during use for holding it tightly pressed against the wearer&#39;s body. In this manner the diaper will remain more securely in position reducing thereby the risk of leakage past the diaper edges. With a wider waist belt  16 , however, additional points of attachment  17 ,  18  may be required between the diaper and the waist belt. In the exemplary embodiment, such points of attachment  17 ,  18  are arranged at the groin region of the wearer. 
     In FIGS. 5A-5G, a diaper  19  is shown which is identical to the diaper shown in FIGS. 1A-1G, except that the bands  20 ,  20   a ,  20   b  and  21 ,  21   a , respectively, provided with hooks or loops tape elements are attached to the ends of diaper  19  on the side which in use faces the wearer, i.e. the side containing the liquid permeable inner layer  2 . In such a case the cooperating tape elements on the waist belt must of course be placed on the outer side thereof. FIGS. 6 and 7 disclose such waist belts  11  and  12 , respectively, having tape elements  22  and  23 , respectively, of different lengths extending spaced from each other along the circumference of the waist belt. The tape elements  22  and  23  extend substantially over the whole width of the belt. For belts of inelastic material, a continuous tape element can be used but in order not to impair in a too great extent the elasticity of a belt of elastic material a row of mutually spaced tape elements is preferred for such belts. 
     Advantageously, the application of a diaper and the inventive waist belt onto a user&#39;s body takes place in the following manner: The waist belt is applied around the user&#39;s waist where after the rear end of the diaper is affixed to the forward portion of the waist belt. The belt is then rotated around the user&#39;s waist until the diaper has moved halfway around and is left suspended behind the user&#39;s back. 
     The forward free end of the diaper is finally brought up from between the user&#39;s legs and is attached to the waist belt across the user&#39;s belly. Since all twisting or bending movements of the body can be avoided throughout the procedure even persons with disabled backs and legs would be able to put on and change diapers without help. 
     The diaper and waist belts described in the foregoing can be considered as merely exemplifying some embodiments of the inventive concept. A plurality of modifications are conceivable within the scope of the patent claims.