Disposable diaper

Abstract

A disposable multi-layer diaper of high absorptive capacity is provided which comprises as a first layer, a porous facing web to be brought into contact with an infant's skin. A second layer, in juxtaposition to the facing layer, is a highly porous, loosely compacted cellulosic batt having greater wettability than that of the facing web. The batt is slightly narrower than the facing layer to provide exposed side portions of the facing layer outwardly of the side edges of the batt. A third layer, integral with the second, is a continuous, paper-like, densified, higly compacted layer of the same cellulosic material as the second layer but of substantially smaller average pore size. The third layer is thickened in selected areas to provide an increased volumetric flow capacity for rapidly drawing fluid away from an initially wetted area and directing it to areas of the densified layer remote from the wetted area. The thickened areas may be coherent and unitary, or may include substantially fiber-free voids surrounded by fibrous strata. The final layer is an impervious backing sheet that is substantially coextensive with the facing layer, and which is adhered to the densified layer over a widely distributed area of adhesion and to the side portions of the facing layer beyond the edges of the batt. Opposite sides of the diaper are folded inwardly about first fold lines inwardly of the side edges of the batt, and the folded side portions are folded outwardly about second fold lines outwardly of said first fold lines, but inwardly of the side edges of the batt, to thereby provide thickened zones at opposite sides of the batt that include three thicknesses of batt material.