Diapers

Abstract

A diaper, such as a baby diaper or incontinence diaper, comprising at least an outer shell (10) and an absorbent core connected to the shell (10) is characterized in that the absorbent core can be separated from the shell (10) by a mechanical closure system acting between the outer shell (10) and the absorbent core (10).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a diaper, such as a baby diaper or an incontinence diaper, comprising at least one outer shell having an absorbent body connected to the shell. [Background technology]

[0002] Such diapers, as used on the world market, are regularly designed as disposable diapers, which result in a considerable amount of waste, the environmentally friendly disposal of which must be considered problematic. Although it is true that disposable diapers are offered on the market today as so-called environmentally friendly variants of eco-diapers, which have a higher proportion of biodegradable components and which are at least partly derived from sustainable resources, these eco-diapers are not disposed of via organic waste but via residual waste, which is usually intended for incineration in cogeneration plants, which cannot be called environmentally friendly.

[0003] If (reusable) cloth diapers are used, they must be washed before they can be reused, so their ecological footprint is, according to current research, not necessarily better than that of disposable diapers.

[0004] In fact, it has already been suggested to recycle disposable diapers, with the superabsorbent cellulose as an absorbent being used as cat litter after being separated from the other components by dissolving the glued layers and washing them (source: Sueddeutsche.de Wirtschaft, 5 January 2019), but it has also been found that this type of recycling alone is problematic for environmental reasons with regard to the separate collection of used diapers and their transportation to central recycling and treatment facilities. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Written by Sueddeutsche.de Wirtschaft, January 5, 2019 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Based on this prior art, the present invention therefore addresses the problem of improving the life cycle assessment of disposable diapers of the type mentioned above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A diaper having the features of claim 1 solves this problem as a whole.

[0008] According to the characterizing part of claim 1, the absorbent body can be separated from the shell by a mechanical fastener system acting between the outer shell and the absorbent body, so that the used absorbent body, especially if made of ecologically degradable cellulose material, can be mechanically separated from other components such as the outer shell of the diaper and disposed of in the organic waste, while the outer shell, especially if made of conventional degradable plastic material, can be returned to the recycling cycle represented in Germany by the "yellow bag" or any other recycling within the framework of the "Green Dot". The focus is on the mechanical separation, which can be carried out in a hygienically appropriate manner also by the end user, quickly and using low actuation forces, so that loosening of adhesive joints can be dispensed with, and the adhesives used must be classified as more problematic than the mechanical joining solutions proposed here for reasons of environmental protection.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment of the diaper according to the invention, said fastening system is provided which comprises a hook-and-loop fastener with hooks and / or truss heads on one side and loops or fibres or further truss heads which can be removably hooked thereto on the other side. A fastening system of this type and a method for producing it are known from the proprietor's DE 196 46 318 A1. Fastening systems in which truss heads on both sides of the fastening material are removably locked are known in the art as hermaphroditic fasteners.

[0010] In particular, in an advantageous embodiment of the diaper according to the invention, it is further provided that the loops or fibers of the hook-and-loop fastener are formed of at least one interlaced fabric, knitted fabric, woven fabric, gauze, fleece, nonwoven fabric or velour. A backing of this type, made of warp and weft threads and having functional elements in the form of loops protruding from the front part of the backing, is described by way of example as a flame-retardant fastener part in the proprietor's DE 10 2013 022 112 A1.

[0011] As an alternative to the aforementioned hook-and-loop fasteners, the fastener system may comprise a film with a plurality of protruding attachment heads, the end head surfaces of which are removably attached to the outer shell and / or the absorbent body by means of adhesion. The proprietor markets the fastener system in question under its trademark "Gecko" as the so-called Gecko tape, which is recognized as extremely pleasant and comfortable for each wearer of such diapers due to its thin-layer design and its flexibility in all directions. Examples of such adhesive solutions are disclosed in the proprietor's DE 102010044660 A1 and DE 102010032855 A1.

[0012] In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment, an absorbent body of a diaper is provided, which has an suction body, in particular in the form of cellulose flakes, housed in a closed, fluid-permeable absorbent shell, in particular made of a particularly preferably biodegradable fleece material, said fleece material of the absorbent shell in this respect being able to form part of a hook-and-loop fastener, which can be releasably connected, in particular hooked, to another part in the form of a hook material.

[0013] Additionally, in an advantageous embodiment, the entire surface of the absorbent shell facing the inside of the outer shell is provided to be removably hooked on one side with a hook and loop fastener hook or truss head. Alternatively, it is possible to similarly design the absorbent shell with Gecko tape.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the diaper according to the invention, an outer shell is provided which is made of a film fastener material (Gecko tape) with its hooks or truss heads facing the absorbent body. In this way, the outer shell of the diaper can be designed using only one layer of film, which increases comfort and allows for disposal with improved eco-balance.

[0015] Preferably, separation and singulation of the hook or truss heads of the hook-and-loop film as an outer shell that stretches in one direction, and optionally in both directions, is provided with a thinner film material, while at the same time maintaining tear strength, which in turn reduces the amount of residual diaper that is disposed of or recycled after removal of the absorbent body, and the thinner film after separation and singulation of the fastener elements again increases comfort for the user.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a method for improving the ecological footprint using a diaper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein after use of the diaper a fastening system is used to separate at least the absorbent body from the reusable or recyclable outer shell for disposal of the absorbent body.

[0017] The diaper according to the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to two exemplary embodiments: In the drawings, the figures are generally not to scale. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a first exemplary embodiment of a diaper. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1 and shows a view of a second exemplary embodiment of the diaper. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B show two different fastening system parts for an absorbent body as can be used in the diaper according to FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] 3A and 3B show two different fastening system parts for an absorbent body as can be used in the diaper according to FIGS. 1 and 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an outer shell 10 of a disposable diaper in the form of a baby diaper or an adult incontinence diaper. The outer shell 10 is tapered along its two longitudinal ends 12 facing each other, so that leg openings for the user of the diaper are formed. The two longitudinal parts 13, which form a kind of cuff, are made of an elastic material common to diapers, which increases the comfort for the user. At the upper end, seen in the direction of FIG. 1, the outer shell 10 is conventionally fitted with two fasteners 14, by means of which the diaper can be fixed to the user and closed and rolled up after use. For this, the two fasteners have, in the direction of their two free ends, adhesive or hook-and-loop parts (both not shown), by means of which the fasteners 14 on the front part of the diaper in the so-called target area allow the diaper to be permanently attached.

[0020] Along the two longitudinal ends 12, the two cover strips 16 extend continuously from left to right and from top to bottom of the center of the shell 10, as viewed in the direction of FIG. 1, and the hook-and-loop fastener section 20 is arranged between said two cover strips 16, leaving the two ends 18 blank. The cover strips 16 are firmly connected to the shell 10 in the direction of the two longitudinal ends 12 and can thus be raised in the form of a pocket in the direction of their two adjacent ends, which can hold the absorbent body 22, and in this respect can overlap and cover at the ends. In this exemplary embodiment, the section 20 is made of a loop material that is inserted as a continuous strip under the two free ends of the cover strips 16 facing each other and is firmly connected to the outer shell 10, for example firmly glued. However, instead of a separate loop material, the textile material of the outer shell 10 may also be directly provided for the hooking process, which will be described further below.

[0021] As an example of the configuration of the absorbent body 22, a suitable absorbent material is shown in FIG. 3, which has a fluid-permeable gauze shell that encapsulates cellulose flakes within the absorbent body 22, which are used to absorb fluids that typically consist of waste products from diaper users.

[0022] On the underside of the strip- or block-shaped absorbent body 22, a fastener material in the form of hooks 26 projecting downwards as viewed in the direction of FIG. 3 is provided in a planar manner on a backing tape 24. When the absorbent body 22 thus equipped is placed on the plan view of the shell 10 according to FIG. 1, the hooks 26 on one side of the proposed hook-and-loop fastener interlock with the loops on the other side of the hook-and-loop fastener, to such an extent forming a re-detachable mechanical fastener. In a commercially available state, the diaper is delivered with the absorbent body 22 thus connected via a mechanical fastening system and thus ready for use. After wearing the diaper and subsequent use, the absorbent body 22 is suitably soiled and the mechanical fastening system comprising the hooks 26 and loops of the part 20 can be separated from the remaining outer shell 10 of the diaper. The absorbent body 22, made of biodegradable material, can then be placed separately from the outer shell 10, for example as part of the organic waste. The outer shell 10 can then likewise be placed in a supply circuit separated therefrom, with a view to obtaining reusable raw materials. For example, a clinic or care facility may deliver only one outer shell 10 in a package along with multiple absorbent bodies 22, which may then be replaced after use with a new absorbent body 22 while retaining the individual outer shells 10 for a particular predetermined period of use.

[0023] If the velour or textile material of the diaper in the form of the outer shell 10 is used directly as the donning and doffing area, then the separate portion of hook-and-loop fastener 20 in the form of a loop material is not required, and therefore there is no need to provide an adhesive connection between the outer shell 10 and the separate portion of hook-and-loop fastener 20, which in turn helps to reduce manufacturing costs and promotes an environmentally friendly design of the diaper.

[0024] As explained above, the aid, called disposable diaper or diaper pants, has the presented outer shell 10, regularly made of polyethylene material and containing an absorbent body. Recent developments have made it possible to produce this polyethylene at least in part from sugar cane, which can be classified as a renewable raw material and thus as a biobased production material, very environmentally friendly. If necessary, the diaper can also be made of a biobased polymer material or polypropylene.

[0025] As explained above, the absorbent body 22 is made of cellulose material, especially in flake form, which in modern diapers is often reinforced with additional superabsorbency and specific polymer salts to bind the large amount of liquid in the absorbent volume of the absorbent body 22. In particular under wearing pressure, the liquid once absorbed is not released again, as is the case with sponges. The inner or outer layer of the shell 10 is provided with adhesive or Velcro® tabs as fasteners 14, by means of which the diaper can be worn and in particular adapted to the waist circumference of the user. They may be covered with a plastic film to prevent liquid from seeping out of the diaper. Further diaper ingredients may include petrolatum, stearyl alcohol, thin paraffin, and extracts of aloe vera. In the case where natural materials are used here, such additional materials and additives do not impair the environmentally friendly recycling and reuse of the diaper according to the invention.

[0026] It is still within the scope of the invention to replace the hooks 26 of the absorbent body 22 by loops and the loop tape as part 20 of the outer shell 10 by a matching hook fastener material. In addition to the above-mentioned hook-and-loop fastener system, the hooks 26 can also be replaced in the usual way by truss heads as one fastener part, which can be removably connected to a matching truss head material on the side of the outer shell 10, while forming a so-called hermaphroditic fastener. In particular, when the absorbent body 22 is directly connected to the fiber or fleece material of the outer shell 10, it can be recommended to use the so-called Gecko tape 28, as shown by way of example in FIG. 4. The aforementioned Gecko tape 28 has on its underside a fastener element in the form of a truss head, the geometric dimensions of which are so small that they are made using micro-replication techniques and are almost invisible to the naked eye on their backing film. The free end faces of the micro-truss heads allow the adhesion of the diaper to the outer shell 10, mainly by applying adhesive forces between the outer shell 10 and the Gecko film 28. If the absorbent body 22 is made of a planar absorbent material, the cellulose shell for the absorbent body 22 can be omitted if desired, and then each hook-and-loop fastener section provided can form a case for the absorbent body directly connected to the absorbent body, and each fastener section should be designed to be fluid permeable by inserting perforations. In such an embodiment, it is also contemplated that the backing tape 24 shown in Figure 3 can be provided with corresponding fastener material, hooks or truss heads on both sides, so that one side of the fastener material can be used to connect to the absorbent body material and the other free side can be used to connect to the diaper outer shell 10 or part 20.

[0027] The outer shell 10 of the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 2 essentially comprises a flat cut sheet of plastic material. On the inside of the outer shell 10 facing the viewer, a fastener material in the form of truss heads 29 arranged in rows and columns relative to one another is arranged in a continuous manner. In order to increase comfort and to keep the amount of material to be arranged small, the outer shell 10 is stretched in one direction in the front-to-rear direction, as indicated by the arrow 30. However, if necessary, it is also possible to stretch transversely to the stretching direction of both arrows 30, i.e. according to the arrow 32, or to stretch or extend the film material of the outer shell 10 in both the longitudinal direction 30 and the transverse direction 32. Exemplary stretching methods are disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,001,366 and DE 69421025025 A1.

[0028] In this embodiment, the fibrous absorbent material of the absorbent body 22 is directly connected to the outer shell 10 on its inside. It is also possible to use the absorbent body 22 shown in FIG. 3, except that the backing tape 24 does not have the hook fastener material 26 on its underside, but rather has a loop-shaped connector (not shown) as part of the hook-and-loop system. Also, a truss head design can be used instead of the hook as the detachment element for the loop. Considering the fact that billions of disposable diapers have to be disposed of worldwide every year, the present invention is very important from an obvious waste prevention point of view. The absorbent body can also be made of compostable materials.

Claims

1. A diaper, such as a baby diaper or an incontinence diaper, comprising at least one outer shell (10) and having an absorbent body (22) connected to said shell (10), said absorbent body (22) being separable from said shell (10) by a mechanical fastening system acting between said outer shell (10) and said absorbent body (22), the absorbent (22) has a fluid-permeable absorbent shell, the entire surface of the absorbent shell facing the inside of the outer shell (10) being removably attached to the outer shell (10); The diaper, wherein the outer shell (10) comprises a film (28) having a plurality of protruding attachment heads, the end head surfaces of which are adhered to the absorbent body (22), the attachment heads of the film (28) facing the absorbent body.

2. 2. The diaper according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical fastening system comprises a hook-and-loop fastener with hooks (26) and / or truss heads (29) on one side and releasably hookable loops (20) or fibers or further truss heads on the other side.

3. 3. The diaper of claim 2, wherein the loops or fibers on the other side are formed from at least one of an interlaced fabric, a knit, a woven fabric, a gauze, a fleece, a nonwoven fabric, or a velour.

4. A diaper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the absorbent body (22) is housed in a closed, fluid-permeable absorbent shell made of fleece material.

5. 3. A diaper according to claim 2, characterized in that the outer shell (10) is formed of a film-like hook-and-loop fastener, the hooks (26) or truss heads (29) of which face the absorbent body (22).

6. A method for improving the ecological footprint using a diaper according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that after use of the diaper, at least the absorbent body (22) is separated from the reusable or recyclable outer shell (10) via a mechanically actuable fastener system for disposal of the absorbent body (22).

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