Removable diaper topsheet portion for disposal of solid wastes

Claim 2

A disposable diaper having sides aligned substantially parallel to its longest dimension and ends aligned substantially parallel to its shortest dimension, said diaper being suitable for securement about the wearer''s waist by the application of tension in a direction substantially parallel to said shortest dimension at the ends of said diaper, said diaper comprising a liquid-absorbent pad and a liquid-pervious topsheet secured along its entire periphery in superposed relation to said liquidabsorbent pad, a centrally-located Portion of said topsheet defining a liquid pervious feces-receiving sheet portion separable from said topsheet, said feces-receiving sheet portion being defined by means of a continuous line of weakness in said topsheet, the periphery of said feces-receiving sheet portion being completely located within the perphery of said topsheet so as to provide an imperforate border, whereby the portions of said topsheet located at the ends of said diaper which are subjected to in use tension in a direction substantially parallel to said shorter dimension are not weakened by said continuous line of weakness, said feces-receiving sheet portion being adapted for separation and removal from the remainder of said diaper to permit separate disposal thereof.

Claim 3

A disposable diaper having sides aligned substantially parallel to its longest dimension and ends aligned substantially parallel to its shortest dimension, said diaper being suitable for securement about the wearer''s waist by the application of tension in a direction substantially parallel to said shortest dimension at the ends of said diaper, said diaper comprising a liquid-absorbent pad, a liquid-impervious backsheet underlying said liquid-absorbent pad and a liquid-pervious topsheet superposed on said liquid-absorbent pad and secured along its entire periphery to said liquid-impervious backsheet, a centrally-located portion of said topsheet defining a liquid-pervious feces-receiving sheet portion separable from said topsheet, said feces-receiving sheet portion being defined by means of a continuous line of weakness in said topsheet, the periphery of said feces-receiving sheet being completely located within the periphery of said topsheet so as to provide an imperforate border, whereby the portions of said topsheet located at the ends of said diaper which are subjected to in use tension in a direction substantially parallel to said shortest dimension are not weakened by said continuous line of weakness, said feces-receiving sheet portion being adapted for separation and removal from the remainder of said diaper to permit separate disposal thereof.

Claim 4

A disposable diaper having sides aligned substantially parallel to its longest dimension and ends aligned substantially parallel to its shortest dimension, said diaper being suitable for securement about the wearer''s waist by the application of tension in a direction substantially parallel to said shortest dimension at the ends of said diaper, said diaper comprising a liquid-absorbent pad, a liquid-impervious backsheet underlying said liquid-absorbent pad and a liquid-pervious topsheet superposed on said liquid-absorbent pad and secured along its entire periphery to said liquid-impervious backsheet, a centrally-located portion of said topsheet defining a liquid-pervious feces-receiving sheet portion separable from said topsheet, said feces-receiving sheet portion being defined by means of a continuous line of weakness in said topsheet, the periphery of said feces-receiving sheet being completely located within the periphery of said topsheet so as to provide an imperforate border, whereby the portions of said topsheet located at the ends of said diaper which are subjected to in use tension in a direction substantially parallel to said shortest dimension are not weakened by said continuous line of weakness, said feces-receiving sheet portion being adapted for separation and removal from the remainder of said diaper to permit separate disposal thereof.

Claim 5

The disposable diaper of claim 2, wherein said liquid-pervious topsheet has a grain and wherein said continuous line of weakness is comprised of two substantially parallel cuts of substantially equal length, said cuts being oriented transverse to the direction of said grain, and lines of said grain connecting the ends of one of said cuts to the corresponding ends of the other of said cuts, said cuts providing access for grasping both sides of said feces-receiving sheet portion in order to initiate separation and removal thereof from the remainder of said diaper.

Claim 6

The disposable diaper of claim 2, wherein said continuous line of weakness in said topsheet is comprised of a continuous line of perforations and at least one cut, said cut being of sufficient size to provide access for manually grasping both sides of said feces-receiving sheet portion in order to initiate separation and removal thereof from the remainder of said diaper.

Claim 7

The disposable diaper of claim 2, wherein said continuous line of weakness in said topsheet is comprised of a continuous line of perforations and at least two intersecting cuts, said intersecting cuts forming a tab of sufficient size to permit manually grasping both sides of said feces-receiving sheet portion in order to initiate separation and removal thereof from the remainder of said diaper.

Claim 8

The disposable diaper of claim 5, wherein said intersecting cuts form a substantially right-angle tab.

Claim 9

The disposable diaper of claim 6, wherein said feces-receiving sheet portion has a substantially rectangular outline, and a substantially right-angle tab is formed at least at two corners of said feces-receiving sheet portion.

Claim 10

In a disposable diaper having a liquid-absorbent pad enveloped by paper sheeting having moderate wet strength, the improvement comprising a centrally-located, liquid-pervious feces-receiving sheet separabLy attached near its periphery to the face of said liquid-absorbent pad, said feces-receiving sheet having its periphery within the periphery of said liquid absorbent pad and being readily separable and removable from the remainder of said diaper to permit separate disposal thereof.

Claim 11

In a disposable diaper having a liquid-absorbent pad enveloped by paper sheeting having moderate wet strength, the improvement comprising a centrally-located, liquid-pervious feces-receiving sheet separabLy attached near its periphery to the face of said liquid-absorbent pad, said feces-receiving sheet having its periphery within the periphery of said liquid absorbent pad and being readily separable and removable from the remainder of said diaper to permit separate disposal thereof.

Claim 12

The disposable diaper of claim 8, wherein at least one corner of said feces-receiving sheet is not attached to the surface of said liquid-absorbent pad, thereby providing a tab to permit grasping both sides of said feces-receiving sheet in order to initiate separation and removal thereof from the remainder of said diaper.

Claim 13

A disposable diaper, comprising a liquid-absorbent pad, and a liquid-pervious feces-receiving sheet superposed on and separably attached to the face of said liquid-absorbent pad by centrally located attachment means having low peel strength, the width of said feces-receiving sheet being less than the width of said liquid absorbent pad, said feces-receiving sheet thereby being adapted to permit removal from the remainder of the diaper and separate disposal thereof.

Claim 14

A disposable diaper, comprising a liquid-absorbent pad, and a liquid-pervious feces-receiving sheet superposed on and separably attached to the face of said liquid-absorbent pad by centrally located attachment means having low peel strength, the width of said feces-receiving sheet being less than the width of said liquid absorbent pad, said feces-receiving sheet thereby being adapted to permit removal from the remainder of the diaper and separate disposal thereof.

Claim 15

The disposable diaper of claim 10, wherein said centrally located attachment means is comprised of pressure-sensitive adhesive.