Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company

Donald L Plaschko

Roland R Midgley

Leigh E Wood

Susan K Nestegard

William L Melbye

Douglas A Swenson

John A Miller

Anthony J Zoia

Diaper fastening tab closure

A method for applying loops formed from a supply length of elongate strip material in spaced relationship along a substrate. Lengths are cut from the supply length, and have their ends supported on peripheral surfaces of two circular disks mounted with their axes oriented to position portions of the peripheral surfaces of the disks on which the lengths are positioned at a wide spacing at a first location and to position portions of the peripheral surfaces of the disks at a close spacing significantly closer than the wide spacing at a second location generally diametrically across the disks from the first location and along a path for the substrate. Spaced portions of the lengths are held along the peripheral surfaces of the disks during rotation of the disks to move the predetermined lengths from the first location to the second location thereby forming the lengths into generally U-shaped loops, and those U-shaped loops are transferred and attached to the substrate at the second location.

Loop applying assembly

A disposable garment or diaper including a laminate and a hook and loop fastener for fastening together portions of the laminate to secure the diaper to an individual. The fastener includes a loop fastener portion adjacent a first end of the laminate comprising a multiplicity of loops, a pair of flexible elongate polymeric tab assemblies having first end portions attached at opposite sides to the laminate adjacent a second end of the laminate and having distal end portions unattached to the laminate, and hook fastener portions at the distal end portions of the tab assemblies comprising a plurality of projecting hook members adapted to make releasable engagement with the loops. The tab assemblies include a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on the distal end portions adjacent the hook fastener portion which can, after the diaper has been soiled and removed from the individual, be used for securing the soiled diaper in a rolled or folded condition surrounding the soiled portion of the diaper to facilitate its disposal by engagement of the layer of pressure sensitive adhesive with the laminate.

Disposable diaper with improved hook and loop fastener system

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Donald L Plaschko