US2575165A - Diaper cover - Google Patents

Description

M. DONOVAN DIAPER COVER Nov. 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1950 INVENTOR Nov. 13, 1951 M. DONOVAN 2,575,165

DIAPER COVER Filed June 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet INVI- INTOR MAR 0N D0 VAN ATTORNEY M. DONOVAN DIAPER COVER Nov. 13, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 22, 1950 INVENTOR MA 101v Dawn @4 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATS OFFICE DIAPER COVER Application June 22, 1950, Serial No. 169,602

(or. 12s 2s7) 11 Claims. I

The present invention relates to a new and improved waterproof and leakproof diaper cover.

The new diaper cover is an improvement over the inventions disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 71,580, filed January 19, 1949 and now Patent No. 2,556,800, No. 91,536, filed May 5, 1949 and Serial No. 99,096, filed June 14, 1949.

The present invention provides a diaper cover which will prevent moisture from leaking from the diaper and soiling the babys clothes or bedding and will not bind about the babys legs or restrict circulation of the blood or proper ventila tion. Also, without the use of pins to retain the diaper in position, the new diaper cover will prevent the diaper from wadding into a mass or bunching or from becoming disarranged in any way within the diaper cover. The diaper may be retained in the correct and. more comfortable position with less likelihood that the babys skin will be chafed or the baby made fretful by the discomfort of a wadded, bulky mass of diaper, yet this is accomplished in a simple fashion without the effort of pinning the diaper to the cover and without the risk that such pins may become undone and hurt the baby. The new cover with a diaper inserted may be easily and rapidly applied to the baby and may be thoroughly cleansed in a very simple fashion. All of these features are presented by the new diaper cover, and yet it may be manufactured in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the new diaper cover with both end portions folded in.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank forming the inner sheet of the diaper cover as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank forming the outer sheet of the diaper cover as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank forming a side wall of the diaper cover as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the assembled diaper cover shown in Fig. 1 but with only one end folded in.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 9-5 of Fig. 5, showing the diaper inserted.

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 7-! of Fig. 8, showing the diaper inserted.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the form of diaper cover shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of an alternative form of blank forming the inner sheet of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 illustrates a plan view of an alternative form of blank forming the outer sheet of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 5 and further illus trates another modification thereof.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a modified form of diaper cover with both ends folded in.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of an alternative form of an assembled diaper cover with one end folded in.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 12 with one end folded in.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a blank forming the inner sheet of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a blank forming the outer sheet of the diaper cover shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional View along the lines I 6---! 6 of Fig. 12, showing the diaper inserted.

Fig. 1'7 is a cross-sectional view along the lines ll-Il of Fig. 13, showing the diaper inserted.

Fig. 18 is a plan 'view of a portion of a modified form of an assembled diaper cover.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the general outline of the diaper cover may be that of a modified hour glass, as shown in Fig. 12, or of a tabbed rectangle, as shown in Fig. 5, or any modification of such forms, as, for example, the modification shown in Fig. 18. The cover may be of any soft pliable waterproof material, such as rubber, waterproof cloth or plastic, although I prefer to use a plastic material of a vinyl resin type.

The diaper cover has two basic parts. One is an inner sheet which is shown in various alternative forms as 2|, 2m and Zlb in Figs. 2, 9 and 14, respectively. The other basic part is a backing or outer sheet shown as 22, 22a and 22b in Figs. 3, 10 and 15, respectively. As can be seen from the drawings, all alternative forms of the inner sheet have a cut-out central portion generally indicated as 23. The inner and outer sheets are joined together by stitching or sealing along at least their side portions to form a pocket to retain a diaper 24 placed between said inner and outer sheets. A portion of diaper 24 is exposed to the baby by means of this cut-out area 23 for the absorption of moisture.

It has been found that if two pieces of material co-extensive in size and shape are joined together along their side edges with a cut-out central portion, such as 23 in the inner sheet 2 I, there is a tendency for the structure to gap open at its midpoints shown at 25 in Fig. 5, when a diaper is inserted and the structure is curved in the operating position shown in Fig. 1 which it are shown as separate pieces, and the cover is.

shown as being formed of four pieces of materia instead of the preferred two pieces.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate this four-piececonstruction which utilizes an inner sheet it, an outer sheet 22 and two side walls 25. I-nnensheet 2| may be shaped as shown in Fig. 2 ior'use-with. outer sheet 22 shown in Fig. 3 and two side walls 25 shown in Fig. 4. The length of--the straight side edge of sheet 2| at about its middle portion is indicated as a in Fig. 2. This length a is less than the length of the-similar middle portion of outer'sheet 22 which is indicated as b in'Fig. 3, but the remaining portions of sheets 2! and 22 maybe of the same sizeand shape. The side walls 2,6.are formed as shown: in Fig. 4 with one straight edge and one convexly curved edge. The lengthof the'straight edge of each side wall 26, indicated as a is the same as the straight edge mid-portion of inner sheet 2i which is-also indicated as a. The length. of the curved edge of 26, which is indicated as b, is the same as the length of the straight edge midportzion of outer. sheet 22, which isalso indicated A side wall piece 25 is affixed by any usual meanssuch as stitching or sealing to each side edge-of the inner and outer sheets 21 and 22. respectivelv, at their midportions, with straight edge a being afiixed to straight edge a. of inner sheet 2| and curved edge 1) being affixed to straight edge b of said outer sheet 22. This providesa side elevation as is shown in Fig. 8- with the outer or backing sheet 22 being convexly curved away from said inner sheet 2| at this mid-portion area. The inner and outer sheets may now be joined along the remaining portion of their side ed es by similar means, for it. will: be noted that the excess length of outer sheet 22;

over inner sheet 2| has been taken no bv the convex curve or pocket formed in said outer sheet 22 by side panels 26, and the other portions of sheet 22 mav be co-extensive in size and shape withother ortions of sheet 2|. I also prefer to jo n said inner and outer sheets together along strai ht lines 21 and 28 runningacross the tab. portions 29 as shown in Figs. 1 and.5'.

The tab portions indicated as 29 on said inner sheet 2| and on said outer sheet 22 are provided with snans 3!! or buttons and button holes or ot er fastening means by which the diaper cover with a diaper inserted mav be secured abo t the waist of an infant. .Snans so are shown in Fig. and it' mav be noted that these snaps also urovide an adiustable waist size. If desired these. tab ortions 29 may be left blank and pins may be used through these tabs to so secure the diaper: cover without endan ering its waterproofintegrity, or this is maintained by the seams or lines of uncture 2! and 2B.

The foregoingfour-niece construction illustrates clearly the desired form that the central portion of the dia er should take. Of course, side' walls 26 need not be of the precise sha e shown in Figs. 4 ands but maybe somewhat deeper or shallower or may be longer or shorter if desired. Also, they might be angular rather than smoothly curved; the cover will be satisfactory as long as the length of edge a of 26, which is to be attached to inner sheet. 21, is of less length than the overal length of edge b, or edges if b is made angular rather than curved, which is or are to be attached to outer sheet 22. The principal thing is to obtain a structure having an outer sheet curved convexly either arcuately or angularly, in relation to the inner sheet at about its middle portion. Although illustrative, this fourpiece construction is not as simple or economical as the; followingalternative two-piece constructions which achieve the same desired result.

An alternative form of inner sheet is shown in Eig. 9. as am, which is designed for use with backing sheet 22, shown in Fig. 3, but without the need for any separate pieces to form the arcuate side walls. Again, the middle portion of 21a is somewhat shorter in length than that of 22. The length shown as a at the mid-portion of sheet Zia is less than the length shown as b of the mid-portion of sheet 22, but the length of the are or curved edge shown as b in sheet 210, is the sameas the length of the straight edge shown as b in sheet 22. Therefore when the curved edge b of sheet2 l a is joined to the straight edge!) of sheet 22, the length by which sheet 22 exceeds 2i is taken up, and the desired convex curve is obtained similar to that obtained when a separate side panel 26 was used. The inner and outer sheets 2 la and 22 are then joined to gether-- in the same fashion as disclosed earlier. It will be readily seen that these particular portions of sheet 21a, which are generally indicated as 26a, serve the same purpose as the separateside panels 26. However, forming these side walls as'an integral part of the inner sheet makes thediaper covermore economical to manufacture in that there is less cutting and so less waste of material and less stitching or joining of pieces oi'material required.

Again, it may be noted that this side-wall forming extension 230, need not be smooth]; curved but may be angular with an outer edge generally parallel to the long axis of sheet 21a and sideedges diverging toward the main portion of sheet Zia.

Another alternative form of construction provides the same desirable structure and is illus trated in Fig. 10, which shows a plan view of a backing sheet 22a designed for use with inner sheet 2!. It will be noted in passing that sheet 22a does not have the extended portions 31 at each end of the sheet which are shown in other plan views and the purpose of this will be discussed later. The middle portion of sheet 22a indicated as "b is of the same length as the middle portion of sheet 22. Formed integrally with sheet 22a. and extending at each side of its middle portion is a side wall forming extension 262) roughly similar to side panel 26. This piece of material 262) has an exterior straight edge a andarcuate edges indicated as b. Each piece of material 261) might be described as a truncated section of a circle being joined to sheet 2205 along the line of truncation, and having two sides which are segments of the arc of the. circle. and having one straight side at opposite to and substantially parallel with said line of truncation. Again, it may be noted that the side edges of 26b need not be segments of the same arc but may be any curves or even straight lines as long as they converge toward the main ortion of said backing sheet 22a.

The length of straight edge a of 26b is the same length as the straight edge a of the inner sheet 2|. The side edges, whether curved or straightly converging, of side wall forming extensions 26b are secured to the adjacent straight edges of the middle portion of 22a, thus taking up the excess of length by which this middle portion of 22a exceeds the middle portion of 2| and forming the backing sheet into a convex curve or angular pocket at this middle portion. Straight edge a of 26b is itself aiiixed to straight edge a of 2i and the two sheets are then secured together as before. It will be noted that again the side elevation of the structure will be like that shown in Fig. 8.

Another, and the preferred form of obtaining the desired structure, is illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15. In this alternative form an inner sheet of the general shape of 2 lb at its mid-portion is used. The other portions of 2 lb are merely illustrative of a form of diaper cover slightly different in outline from that previously shown. Outer sheet 22b is used with inner sheet 2lb. Again, outer sheet 22b is longer in its middle portion than is inner sheet 2 lb at its middle portion. Also the two sheets are of different shape at their middle portions. The long sides of sheet 22b at their middle portions are generally in the form of concave curves providing outer sheet 22b with a narrower middle portion than end portions. Inner sheet Zlb also has its long side edges of this same general concave curve for parts of their length but at their middle portion these concave curves are interrupted by two convex curves so that at its middle portion 2lb is wider than outer sheet 221) at this point. On both sides of the central aperture 23 of sheet Zlb, inward of the side edges of said sheet Zlb at its convexlv curved middle portion, there is a seam or tuck 32 formed by stitching or sealing. These seams 32 may be straight or slightly curved and roughly parallel with the convexly curved edges of the middle portion of sheet Zlb. The area of sheet Zlb on each side outside of these tucks 32 is indicated as 26c. It will be seen that when inner sheet Zlb with said seams 32 is attached to outer sheet 22b along the side edges of each sheet, a structure having the side elevation shown in Fig. 13 will be obtained and that this structure has an outer sheet which is convexly curved with relation to the inner sheet at its middle portion, the areas 260 of said inner sheet 2 lb forming the side walls creating such convex curve, which curve takes up the excess length of the middle portion of outer sheet 22b. Again, side-wall forming extension 250 may be angular instead of smoothly curved and the same advantages will be obtained.

Straight stitch or seam lines 210 and 280 may be added as before to provide this alternative form of diaper cover with tab portions which may be pierced by pins or other fastening means without destroying the waterproof integrity of the diaper cover.

A cross-sectional viw of this preferred form is shown in Fig. 17, which is taken along lines l'lll of Fig. 13. It will be noted that this Fig. 17 is generally similar to Fig. 7, which shows a similar cross-sectional view of a diaper cover con structed of four pieces of material. However, Fig. 17 difiers from Fig. 7 in one important respect as is shown graphically in accordance with the conventional draftsmens symbols of the United States Patent Office. In Fig. 7 three separate pieces of material are shown joined to-- gether, i. e. an inner sheet 2|, a sidewall 26 and an outer sheet 22; these three separate pieces are secured together by ordinary stitches or seams. In Fig. 17 the same construction is achieved by only two pieces of material. Inner sheet 2 lb and side panel area 26c are one piece of material and seam 32 does not secure two pieces of material together, but merely provides a small tuck in inner sheet 2lb. Outer sheet 22b is a separate piece of material and is secured by ordinary stitches or seams to the edge of sidewall forming extension 250 of sheet 2 lb.

The ends of all the foregoing alternative forms of diaper cover may be sealed by stitching or sealing lines, or they may be left open in order that the diaper cover may be more readily cleaned. However, the particular form given to the end portions of these diaper covers, which end portions are generally denoted as 3i, has its own particular advantage which will now be shown.

If the baby is particularly active, the inserted diaper has a tendency to slip away from the end portions of the diaper cover and to bunch or wad in a mass in the central portion of the cover. Such a wadded diaper increases the likelihood of chafing and fretfulness because it is generally uncomfortable to the baby. Furthermore, when the diaper is so wadded into a mass in the central portion of the diaper cover and so in the vicinity of the cut-out area 23, the diaper has a tendency to project through this cut-out area and create leak-age. This problem has been recognized in the prior art and an attempt has been made to overcome it by pinning the diaper at both ends of the diaper cover. Such a procedure is not satisfactory for it entails additional operations in both insertin and removing the diaper from the cover and it subjects the baby to possible injury should the pins become undone. Also, unless additional material is used to provide tabs, the diaper must be pinned through the diaper cover and in a very short time the waterproof integrity of the cover may be lost. In my improved diaper cover I overcome all of these difil-culties without requiring any extra operations, or endangering the baby or destroying the waterproof integrity of the cover.

I provide extensions 3| at each end of my diaper cover which extensions project beyond the length of the cover necessary to reach the babys waist in front and back when its central portion is passed between the babys legs. A diaper 24 is used which is long enough to extend into these extended areas 3| for at least a distance far enough so that when these extended portions 3| of the diaper cover are folded back at each end, the ends of the diaper 24 are folded back as well, and the diaper is securely held in place. This is clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 16. The grip obtained on the diaper by these folded end portions will prevent the diaper from slipping down and bunching or wadding in the central portion of the cover, or from otherwise becoming disarranged within the cover. Since the cover is of thin pliable material, even with the diaper inserted it is still subject to folding over without becoming particularly bulky or objectionable. Moreover, it has been found that the baby is not annoyed by such folds which are positioned about his waist when the diaper cover is in use and so are out of his Way.

If desired, snaps or hooks and eyes 34 can be provided on the inner sheet at each end thereof in order to retain the extended end. portions 3l when they .are :fOldBd iback'iupon themselves. Such .hooks and eyes are shown in :-Fig., 12.:in both. an engaged and disengaged position and this is clearly illustratedin-the crcssesectional viewof Fig, 1.6. Such hooks :andeyes 34 arevalso shown in Fig. .18, which illustrates .a further alternative outline for a diaper cover byshowing one-half of such cover, the other half being similar thereto.

As can be seen, thenew diaper cover can be used without the presence of these extended areas 13! and without utilizing folds at each end to grip the diaper, in which caseboth the inner and :outer sheets will have the length generally indicated in Fig. 10 for the outer sheet. Also, the extended diaper cover featuring only the gripping end folds 3| can be used without the presence of the convex curve in the backing sheet as is shown in 11. A more satisfactory diaper cover is obtained if both of these features are present, but either can be used to advantage without the :other.

While I have illustrated'and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the 'precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications com- :ing within the scope of the .inventionas defined inthe appended claims.

Having thus describedumy invention, :what I I :claim as new and desire .to secure by United :StatesLetters Patentris:

l. A;. diaper cover "of soft waterproof :material -.comprising aninner sheet provided with a'central aperture and an outer sheet, said sheets being joined together along at least two opposing side edges of one of said sheets to provide a pocket for the retention of a diaper, said outer sheet having end portions and bein longer than the length required to reach a babys waist in front joined together along the long side edges of at least one of said sheets to provide a space for the retention of a diaper inserted between said sheets, said sheets each having a middle portion, body portions andend portions, said inners'heet being provided with a central aperture at its middle portion and said end portions of said sheets extending beyond a babys waist in front and in back when the middle portion of the diaper cover with a diaper inserted is passed between a babys legs, whereby said end portions may be folded back to grip the end portions of an inserteddiaper projecting into said end portions of said diaper cover and to retain said diaper from displacement within said diaper cover.

3. A diaper cover of soft waterproof material comprising an inner sheet, side panels and a backing sheet, said inner sheet being provided with a central aperture and having a middle portion shorter than the middle portion of said backing sheet, said side panels having one straight edgeand one convexly curved edge, a said side panel being joined along its straight edge to each side of the middle portion of said inner sheet at the side edges thereof and along its curved edge to each side of themiddle portion of, said backing-sheet along the side edges thereof and .said inner and backing sheets being joined together at. least along the remaining portions of their long sides.

4. ,A diaper cover'of soft waterproof material comprising an inner sheet and a longer backing sheet joined together to provide a space for the retention of a diaper inserted between said sheets, said inner sheet being provided with a central aperture and with a side-wall forming extension at each side of its middle portion whereby when said inner sheet and said backing sheet are joined together along the side edges of said inner sheet said backing sheet will be convexly curvedatits middle portion in relation to said inner sheet.

5. A diaper cover of soft waterproof 'material comprising an inner sheet and a backing sheet, said inner sheet having acentral aperture-and being-of less length than said backing sheet and having a side-wall formingextension at each'side of its'middle 'portion'whereby said inner sheet is wider at said middle portion than said backing sheet at its middle portion, said inner sheet and said backing sheet'being joined together along atleast the sideedgesof said inner sheet whereby arcuate'side-walls are formed -on-each side of said diaper cover at its middle portion and at said middle portion 'said backing sheetis convexly shaped'in relation to said inner sheet.

6. A diaper cover ofsoft waterproof material comprising an inner sheet and a backing sheet joined together along the side edges of said inner sheet, said inner sheet being provided with a central aperture and aside-wall forming extension at each side of its middle portion and being wider at said portion than said backing sheet at its middle portion, said side-wall forming extensions being convexly curved in outline, said inner sheet having a shortermiddle portion than said backing sheet, whereby when said sheets'are so joined together said backing "sheet is convexly curved about an axis transverse of its length at its middle portion in relation to said inner sheet, said backing sheet having end portions extending beyond the babys waist when said diaper cover with a diaper inserted betweensaid sheets is passed between a babys legs, whereby said end portions may be folded back to grip the end vportions of a diaper so inserted and extending a substantial distance into said end portion areas and to maintain said diaper from displacement within said diaper cover.

7. A diaper cover of soft waterproof material comprising an inner sheet and a backing sheet joined together along the sideedges of said inner sheet, said inner sheet being-provided with a central aperture and a side-wall forming extension at each side of its middle portion and being wider at said portion than said backing sheet at its middle portion, said side-wall forming extensions shaped to have a side edge and end edges converging away from the main body of said inner sheet, said inner sheet having a shorter middle portion than said backing sheet, whereby when said sheets are so joined together said backing sheet is convexly curved about an axis transverse of its length at its middle portion in relation to said inner sheet, said backing sheet having end portions extending beyond the babys waist when said diaper cover with a diaper inserted between said sheets is passed between a babys legs, whereby said end portions may be folded back to grip the end portions of a diaper so inserted and extending a substantial distance into said end portion areas and to maintainsaid .9 diaper from displacement within said diaper cover.

8. A diaper cover of soft waterproof material comprising an inner sheet and a backing sheet joined together to retain a diaper inserted therebetween, said inner sheet having a central aperture and having a middle portion shorter and narrower than the middle portion of said backing sheet, said backing sheet being integrally provided at each side of its middle portion with a side-wall forming extension and being wider at said middle portion than said inner sheet at its middle portion by the width of said extensions, each of said extensions having a side edge substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said backing sheet and end edges converging toward the main body of said backing sheet, said end edges of said extensions being joined to the main body of said backing sheet along the adja cent side edges thereof, said backing sheet being joined to said inner sheet along the side edges of said extensions and the remaining side edges of said backing sheet whereby said backing sheet is convexly curved at its middle portion in rela tion to said inner sheet.

9. A diaper cover of soft waterproof material comprising an inner sheet and a backing sheet joined together to provide a space for the retention of a diaper inserted therebetween, said inner sheet having a central aperture and a middle portion shorter and narrower than the middle portion of said backing sheet, said backing sheet being integrally provided at each side of its middle portion with a side-wall forming extension, and being wider at said middle portion than said inner sheet at its middle portion by the width of said extensions, each of said extensions formed substantially in the shape of a truncated section of a circle and being integrally joined to said backing sheet along the line of truncation and having curved end edges and a side edge substantially parallel with said line of truncation, the two sheets being secured together by joining the said curved end edges of said extensions to the adjacent side edges of said backing sheet, and the side edge of each of said extensions and the remaining side edges of said backing sheet to said inner sheet, whereby said backing sheet is convexly curved at its middle portion in relation to said inner sheet, and said sheets being provided with end portions of a length sufficient to extend beyond a babys waist in front and in back when the diaper cover with a diaper inserted is passed between the legs of a baby, whereby said end portions and the ends of a diaper inserted therein may be folded back to retain said diaper from displacement within said diaper cover.

10. A diaper cover comprising an inner sheet and a backing sheet, both of soft waterproof material, said inner sheet being shorter than said backing sheet and provided with a central aperture and with side-wall forming extensions on each side thereof and having a narrow tuck positioned on each side of said inner sheet between said central aperture and the edge of each of said side-wall forming extensions and extending for substantially the length of said extensions, said inner sheet being joined along its side edges to said backing sheet, whereby said backing sheet is convexly curved at its middle portion in relation to said inner sheet.

11. A diaper cover comprising an inner sheet and a backing sheet, both of soft waterproof material, each of said sheets having end portions, body portions and a middle portion, said body and end portions being of substantially the same size and shape, the middle portion of said inner sheet being generally convex in outline and wider and shorter than the middle portion of said backing sheet and having a central aperture and a narrow tuck on each side of said aperture inwardly of said convex edges, said tuck extending substantially the length of said middle portion, said inner sheet and said backing sheet being joined together along the side edges thereof, whereby said backing sheet is convexly curved at its middle portion in relation to said inner sheet, the said end portions of said sheets being of a length to extend beyond a babys waist in front and in back when said diaper cover with a diaper inserted is passed between the legs of a baby; whereby said end portions may be folded back to grip the end portions of a diaper inserted and retain said diaper from displacement within said diaper cover.

MARION DONOVAN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Brickmont Jan. 23, 1951 Number

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