Diaper having plural upstanding leg cuffs

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article such as a diaper. The diaper has dual upstanding inner and outer barrier leg cuffs, and preferably gasket cuffs. The inner barrier leg cuffs are liquid pervious, while the outer barrier leg cuffs are liquid impermeable. The inner barrier leg cuffs are preferably spaced apart from one another sufficient to allow urine and fecal material to be deposited therebetween. Each outer barrier leg cuff is preferably spaced properly from the inner barrier leg cuff so as to allow the leg cuffs to function independently, yet maintain a proper target area for the deposition of urine and fecal material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A diaper having a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline orthogonal thereto, and a Z-direction perpendicular to said longitudinal centerline and said lateral centerline said diaper comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet;   a liquid imperious backsheet at least partially peripherally joined to said topsheet;   an absorbent core intermediate said topsheet and said backsheet;   two generally longitudinally oriented outer barrier leg cuffs, upstanding from the plane of said topsheet, one of said outer barrier leg cuffs being disposed on each side of said longitudinal centerline;   two generally longitudinally oriented inner barrier leg cuffs upstanding from the plane of said topsheet, one of said inner barrier leg cuffs being disposed on each side of said longitudinal centerline, so that each said inner barrier leg cuff is disposed on the same side of said longitudinal centerline as one of said outer barrier leg cuffs corresponding thereto, each said corresponding outer barrier leg cuff and said corresponding inner barrier leg cliff being spaced apart 0.5 inches to 2.0 inches, said outer barrier leg cuffs having a greater extent in the Z-direction than said inner barrier leg cuffs; and   two gasket cuffs lying within the plane of said diaper, one said gasket cuff being disposed on each side of said longitudinal centerline.   
     
     
       2. A diaper according to claim 1 wherein said inner barrier leg cuffs are spaced apart 2.0 to 3.5 inches. 
     
     
       3. A diaper according to claim 1 wherein each said gasket cuff is disposed outboard of said inner barrier leg cuff disposed on the same side of said longitudinal centerline as said gasket cuff. 
     
     
       4. A diaper according to claim 3 wherein each said gasket leg cuff is disposed outboard of said outer barrier leg cuff disposed on the same side of said longitudinal centerline as said gasket cuff. 
     
     
       5. A diaper according to claim 4 wherein said inner barrier leg cuffs have an elastic force at 85 percent elongation of 15 to 25 grams. 
     
     
       6. A diaper according to claim 4 wherein said outer barrier leg cuffs have an elastic force at 85 percent elongation of 40 to 50 grams. 
     
     
       7. A diaper having a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline orthogonal thereto, and a Z-direction perpendicular to said longitudinal centerline and said lateral centerline said diaper comprising; a liquid pervious topsheet;   a liquid impervious backsheet at least partially peripherally joined to said topsheet;   an absorbent core intermediate said topsheet and said backsheet;   two generally longitudinally oriented liquid impervious outer barrier leg cuffs, upstanding from the plane of said topsheet, one of said outer barrier leg cuffs being disposed on each side of said longitudinal centerline;   two generally longitudinally oriented liquid pervious inner barrier leg cuffs upstanding from the plane of said topsheet, one of said inner barrier leg cuffs being disposed on each side of said longitudinal centerline, so that each said inner barrier leg cuff is disposed on the same side of said longitudinal centerline as one of said outer barrier leg cuffs corresponding thereto, said .outer barrier leg cuffs having a greater extent in the Z-direction than said inner barrier leg cuffs; and   two gasket cuffs lying within the plane of said diaper, one said gasket cuff being ..disposed on each side of said longitudinal centerline.   
     
     
       8. A diaper according to claim 7 wherein said inner barrier leg cuffs are spaced apart 2.0 to 3.5 inches. 
     
     
       9. A diaper according to claim 8 whrein said outer barrier leg cuffs are hydrophobic. 
     
     
       10. A diaper according to claim 9 wherein said inner barrier leg cuffs have an elastic force at 85 percent elongation of 15 to 25 grams. 
     
     
       11. A diaper according to claim 10 wherein said outer barrier leg cuffs have an elastic force at 85 percent elongation of 40 to 50 grams. 
     
     
       12. A diaper according to claim 8 wherein said inner barrier leg cuffs are hydophilic. 
     
     
       13. A diaper according to claim 7 wherein each said gasket leg cuff is disposed outboard of said inner barrier leg cuff disposed on the same side of said longitudinal centerline as said gasket cuff.