Kimberly-clark Corporation

Rebecca J Weber

Joyce Ann Damico

Theodore B Lang

James J O'Connor

Martha E Bolick

The invention provides a generally narrow rectangular garment having elasticized portions centered on the long edges of the rectangle. The pad is elasticized such that shrinkage of the relaxed elastic results in a pouched formation that is well suited for use in absorption of body excretions, particularly those from incontinent adults. The pad generally has an elasticized area of between about 25 to about 60 percent of the total garment length. The elasticized edge of the pad is such that shortening of the pad amounts to between about 15 and about 37 percent of the original extended length, and the width of the pad generally ranges between about 20 and 35 percent of the total pad length.

Incontinent garment with elasticized pouch

The pad of the invention is composed of impervious backing sheet and a pervious body-side liner with an absorbent material there between. The pad is elasticized along its edges from points at substantially one end extending along the longer edges of the rectangular pad for at least two-thirds of the length of the pad. In a preferred form of the invention the pad has as its absorbent material a coform structure of air-formed meltblown polymers combined with air-formed cellulose fibers that have been formed onto a pervious spunbonded material that serves as the pervious body-side liner. In the preferred form the backing sheet is formed of an extrusion-coated spunbonded material that has the spunbonded material on the outer surface with the backing sheet folded over to overlap on the body side of the garment with the fabric toward the body. The folded portion forms the pad's baffles. Further, the preferred pad has length of between about 8 and 14 inches, and the width is preferably about 30 percent of the length.

Bowed, trough-like absorbent pad

Improved one-piece bib construction having a neck opening in the form of a triangle with one side generally parallel to the shoulders of the wearer when in use. The opening is formed by severing along the sides of the triangle not parallel to the wearer's shoulders and preferably folding inward along the other side so that a double layer of absorbent material is located in the front neck and chest area of the wearer. The result is a bib that tends to conform closely to the wearer thus reducing gaps and unprotected areas. Embodiments include those wherein the angle opposite the side parallel the shoulders is about 30.degree. to 120.degree. and the longest side comprises 30% to 95% of the total bib width and is centrally located. Materials include absorbent fibrous webs such as cellulose tissue which may be combined with a film backing as well as sheets of impervious films.

Growing community of inventors

Winnebago County, WI, United States of America

Rebecca J Weber