Rectangular disposable diaper having a contoured absorbent pad

Claim 1

A disposable diaper comprising in combination, a liquid impervious backing sheet having rectangular dimensions, a liquid pervious cover sheet, substantially coextensive in length with said backing sheet and at least as wide as said backing sheet, disposed in superposed relation to said backing sheet and covering said backing sheet to isolate said backing sheet from the skin of a person to whom the diaper is applied, a continuous absorbent pad of generally hour-glass profile having a midsection and opposite end portions disposed between said backing sheet and said cover sheet, said pad in its end portions extending laterally substantially to the side margins of said backing sheet, whereby said pad at its ends substantially encompasses the waist of a person to whom the diaper is applied but is more narrow than said backing sheet, portions of said cover sheet overlying said backing sheet in the crotch region of said diaper and laterally of said pad midsection to define a span of diaper that is substantially free of said pad on each side of said diaper, continuous bond line means joining said backing sheet to said cover sheet along lines disposed on opposite sides of said pad immediately adjacent to and aligned with the respective contours of said side margins, said lines being substantially coextensive in length with the longitudinal dimension of said pad and defining a substantially liquid impervious barrier against lateral migration of liquid exudate from said pad, said diaper being folded with a plurality of longitudinal folds along each side edge thereof, said folds incorporating said spans therein whereby when said diaper is applied with said narrow midsection of said pad disposed in the crotch of said person, said spans at least partially encircle the legs of said person to securely position said diaper about said legs and maintain said pad positioned within said crotch.