An article such as a diaper or bed pad which includes a pad, an absorbent ply and a polymeric cover ply of extruded synthetic resin, may advantageously be made in various forms having, if desired, a synthetic resin cover ply light in weight and selectively given variable pin or tape retention strength by varying extrusion according to the strength needed to make the film stronger or weaker or softer or more flexible.
CROSS REFERENCE
This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 17,714, filed Mar. 9, 1970, entitled Sanitary Article and Ply with Selectively Thickened Areas and Method of Manufacture and now abandoned.
Novel thermoplastic sheet materials, absorbant articles formed therewith and method of producing such sheet materials are disclosed. The novel thermoplastic sheet materials are soft and pliable having a high modulus, high impact resistance and tear strengths and enhanced tape adhesion. The novel thermoplastic sheet materials are formed directly during a coextrusion process which may thereafter include an embossing step. The novel, coextruded thermoplastic sheet materials comprise a plurality of coextruded layers having high modulus outer layers for permitting pressure-sensitive adhesive tape-tab fasteners to be positioned and repositioned thereon without losing substantial tape adhesion therebetween or tearing the sheet materials following their original attachments. The outer layers are formed with a first thermoplastic polymer, such as a polypropylene, having an effective modulus to resist tearing, yielding and deformation upon detaching tape-tab fasteners therefrom, and further having an effective bonding affinity to maintain tape adhesion after initial attachment. The other layer of the thermoplastic sheet materials is an inner layer(s) being formed with a second thermoplastic polymer, such as a polyethylene, to impart softness or low stiffness and effective impact resistance and tear strengths to the sheet materials. The novel thermoplastic sheet materials of the instant invention are suitable for use with articles which, for example, absorb body fluids, and are especially suitable for use as backsheet films in disposable diapers.
A reinforced waistband and tape attachment means for disposable diapers particularly applicable to diapers comprised of an absorbent filler disposed between a fluid permeable cover sheet and a thermoplastic plastic film backing and having a thin thermoplastic film strip internally placed in the waistband area at each end. In this invention, the absorbent filler component of the diaper does not extend completely into the waistband area. This permits the facing sheet, backing sheet and supplemental plastic strip to be heat-sealed together at the diaper edge adjacent the end of the filler to provide a reinforced area at the edges of the waistband where the pressure-sensitive fastening tape is attached, as well as to provide a thinner, more flexible and better fitting waistband.
An improved disposable diaper of the type having a relatively high elongation to tensile force property, an absorbent pad, and tape-tab fasteners coated with a peelable adhesive. The backsheet is reinforced by coating the mother's bond region thereof with a material having high tensile strength and a low elongation to tensile force property relative to the backsheet material. The coating may be continuous or patterned and may be disposed on either the outwardly facing surface or the inwardly facing surface of the mother's bond region of the backsheet. When applied to the inwardly facing surface, the coating material may be adhesive material and may secure the backsheet to the pad assembly of the diaper. The reinforcement of the backsheet improves the resistance of the backsheet to stretching and tearing when subjected to tensile forces during fastening and wearing, and to peeling forces when the tape-tab fasteners are being peeled open. Thus, the fasteners are refastenable.
A disposable diaper having improved fit about the legs and/or waist of the wearer and having reinforced corners for enhanced securement of the diaper about the wearer is disclosed. Improved fit and reinforcement are obtained by an elongated, inherently elastic ribbon member positioned along at least one margin of the diaper. The ribbon member is secured to the diaper so as to provide an elastic region at a central portion of the margin and a unitary, relatively inelastic reinforced region in a corner portion of the diaper.
