GB2452052A - Washable diaper and toilet training pants - Google Patents

Abstract

Washable diaper and toilet training pant that has a lining with a mesh window (3, fig 2), the lining forms a pocket that accommodates a removable absorbent material 7 e.g. an absorbent pad. Preferably the absorbent insert 7 is made from more than one material, one should be highly absorbent and feels wet to the wearer's skin, and the other should wick moisture away and feel dry on contact with the skin of the wearer depending upon which way round the insert is placed inside the pocket. Preferably the insert 7 is formed from a piece of fabric with a pocket attached whereby the fabric folds into the pocket (fig 7.1). Alternatively an insert made from disposable material e.g. a sanitary towel may be used. The diaper/pants may have side openings with releasable fasteners (5, 6, fig 2). The diaper/pants may be pulled up and down without the need to open the side fasteners. Preferably the lining forms a pocket that extends almost to the waistband at the front and may have an opening at both ends.

Description

WASHABLE COMBINATION DLPER

Background

This invention relates to a product which can be used both as a lightweight washable pull-up diaper or as a pair of toilet training pants, by varying the amount of absorbency. It is particularly useful when practicing Natural Infant Hygiene or Early Start Potty Training.

The Washable Combination Diaper is designed to overcome the following problems: Problem 1: Existing washable diapers are not designed to be pulled up and down to offer the baby a chance to use the potty or toilet. Existing toilet training pants are designed for this but usually only hold, at the most, one elimination of urine. The principle behind Natural Infant Hygiene is that the baby is never left wet, so usually a product which holds only one elimination is adequate.

However, there are occasional situations in which a baby may miss an opportunity to use the toilet or be promptly changed due to practicalities, such as at night or while travelling, so more absorbency is needed in a pull-up product.

While disposable pull-up diapers are available, many parents prefer not to use disposables. Also the level of absorbency in a disposable pull-up diaper is significantly surplus to requirement since these are designed to be worn for many hours, or to be worn by older children who urinate larger amounts at any one time. The amount of bulk in these is undesirable and unnecessary when using Natural Infant Hygiene and as there is a possibility the baby will not wet or soil the diaper at all when using this approach, using a disposable product for this purpose is not advantageous and would probably be considered wasteful.

Problem 2: Existing washable training pants either lack effective absorbency (and therefore leak) or the absorbency is effective but because it is stitched into the lining or is comprised of a multi-layer insert, they take a long time to dry once washed.

Problem 3: Some existing diapers and training pants contain a feel-dry' layer of fabric inside to wick the urine away from the babies skin, reducing the risk of skin irritation or rashes. The disadvantage of this is that the baby does not get adequate feedback about their body waste or experience discomfort when wetting itself, potentially making toilet training more difficult. Some existing diapers and training pants have a lining which feels wet to the baby when they urinate but the area of wetness is unnecessarily large, often the whole of the inside of the nappy, maximising the area of skin at risk of rashes.

Q

Statement of Invention

To overcome Problem 1: The Washable Combination Diaper is elasticized front and back (i.e. all around the waistband), and all the way around the leg openings, making it very easy and comfortable to pull up and down for toileting (see Figure 1). It is also machine washable.

To overcome Problem 2: The Washable Combination Diaper is also a pocket diaper, meaning that the absorbent fabric is removable and slots in and out of a pocket within the diaper lining (see Figure 3). When removed, the absorbent fabric can be unfolded, maximising speed of drying (see Figures 6 and 7.1).

To overcome Problem 3: The Washable Combination Diaper is lined with a feel-dry' fabric but with a window of mesh fabric (such as Airmesh) in the gusset (see Figure 2). This enables the baby to feel the wetness through the mesh but minimises the area at risk of rash if the diaper can not be changed immediately.

Advantages The elasticized waistband ensures that regular potty/toilet use is easy for the parent and comfortable for the baby with the minimum of disruption. This is particularly useful when toileting at night.

The pocket section of the diaper lining has an opening at both ends (see Figure 2), making it easier to fit the absorbent insert than if there was just one opening.

The diaper has snaps fastenings at both sides (see Figure 1) to facilitate easy changing without having to remove other items of the baby's clothing (such as shoes and trousers).

The diaper has more than one adjustment on the snap-fastened sides (see Figure 1, label 6) so that it can be used from newborn upwards, making it more economical.

Preferably the diaper is made from lightweight fabrics to allow comfort and freedom of movement for the baby, and so that spares are very compact for carrying when out of the home. Likely fabric include polyester polyurythane laminated (PUL) outer and polyester suedecloth lining, (or microfleece outer with polyester PUL section sandwiched in between layers -this option has not been shown in the drawings).

Preferably the elastic used should be waterproof to prevent wetness travelling into the leg openings or waistband.

Preferably the insert should be comprised of two types of fabric: one should highly absorbent without being too bulky (such as bamboo towelling) and which feels wet to the baby's skin; one should be a fabric which wicks moisture away and feels dryer on contact with skin (such as polyester suedecloth)(see Figure 6).

Depending on which way up the insert is placed into the pocket, the carer has the option to place feel wet' fabric or a feel dry' fabric in contact with the baby's skin.

The feel dry option may be useful at times when it is more likely that the carer will not be able to change immediately after wetting (such as at night or when travelling), and risk of skin irritation is greater.

Preferably the insert should be made up in a way that the layer of feel dry' fabric forms a pocket into which the absorbent fabric can be folded (see Figure 7.1, label 10), and the fold should be reinforced by a row of overlocking stitching (see Figure 7.1, label 9). This would give the insert more rigidity along its length to reduce the amount that it bunches down into the lowest part of the diaper gusset.

A variation would be to use a disposable material for the insert, similar to (or even using) a chemical-free sanitary towel.

The Washable Combination Diaper has room for more than one insert so that level of absorbency can be varied according to need. This prevents the baby from wearing more bulk than necessary, and also minimises laundering.

However, the Washable Combination Diaper is relatively slim and does not allow for the levels of absorbency of many of the diapers commercially available. This is because we believe a highly absorbent diaper encourages carers to leave the diaper on for prolonged periods of time. The Washable Combination Diaper is designed for carers whose aim it is to keep the baby as dry as possible, in accordance with the principles of Natural Infant Hygiene, thereby minimising the risk of diaper rash.

Preferably all the fabrics used should be breathable for comfort and to protect the baby's skin.

Preferable all the fabrics used should be very soft and flexible for comfort and freedom of movement.

Preferably the absorbent core should be a naturally antibacterial fabric such as bamboo towelling or hemp, although faster-drying microfibre fabric could also be used as an alternative.

Introduction to Drawings

An example of the invention wilt now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * Figure 1 shows the appearance of the Washable Combination Diaper from the front.

* Figure 2 shows the inside of the Washable Combination Diaper when opened out.

* Figure 3 shows how the absorbent insert is fitted.

* Figure 4 shows how the approximate shape of the fabric templates.

* Figure 5 is an exploded diagram showing how the pieces fit together; 5.1 Shows this without the insert; and 5.2 shows this with the insert.

* Figure 6 shows the insert opened out.

* Figures 7.1 and 7.2 show how the insert can be folded.

Detailed description

A section of waterproof fabric such as polyester PUL (A) is used to form the outer layer of the diaper. This is lined with a wicking fabric such as polyester suedecloth or microfleece, with a window of mesh fabric (D) such as airmesh in the gusset. The diaper lining is comprised of three sections(B,C,E), folded and sewn in a way which creates a simple pocket in the gusset section with an opening at both ends (see Figures 2 and 3, label 4). The fabric at each end of the pocket section is folded under on itself using the same principle as a pillowcase (see Figures 5.1 and 5.2, label 8), to hold the absorbent insert (see Figure 3, label 7) in place once it is fitted. The pocket should reach almost to the diaper waistband at the front making it suitable for both boys and girls.

Waterproof elastic (such as Lastin) is fitted in the front and back seams which will form the waistband (see Figure 1, label 1), and in the side seams which will form the leg opening (see Figure 1, label 2). Snap fasteners (such as resin or polyacetyl snaps) are fitted to close the diaper at each side. Probably this will require 2 snaps on each side, with at least 2 extra size adjustment to make the diaper smaller (see Figure 1). The diaper can then be easily pulled up and down for toileting, but if the baby soils it, the sides of the diaper un-snap and it can be changed for a clean one without removing any other items of the baby's clothing.

An insert is made using absorbent fabric such as bamboo towelling(F) and a strip of feel dry' fabric such as polyester suedecloth(G)(see figure 6). The feel dry' fabric will form a pocket which the absorbent fabric is attached to, and can fold into (see Figure 7.1). The point at which the absorbent fabric will fold is reinforced by a row of stitching (see Figure 7.1, label 9) for ease of folding and to give the assembled insert more rigidity. This can then be folded by hand and inserted into the pocket in the diaper lining, either absorbent side up or feel dry' side up, depending on the requirements of the situation (see Figure 3).

Claims (1)

1. CE

   Claim I A washable diaper/toilet training pants combination that is very stretchy at the waist and can be easily pulled up and down whilst worn by a baby, and that has a lining with a mesh window, which holds vanable amount of removable absorbent material.

   Dependent Claims Claim 2 A washable diaper/toilet training pants combination according to claim 1, in which the absorbent insert is comprised of more that one material, offering a feel wet' or feel dry' option for the baby depending which way round the material is inserted.

   Claim 3 A washable diaper/toilet training pants combination according to claim 1, in which the absorbent insert is a pocket with attached fabric which folds into the pocket.

   Claim 4 A washable diaper/toilet training pants combination according to claim 1, which has side openings and fastenings, allowing the diaper to be changed without removing other items of the baby's clothing.

   Claim 5 A washable diaper/toilet training pants combination according to claim 1, in which the section for inserting absorbent material is a pocket with an opening at both ends.