with continuing reference to the accompanying drawing , wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views , reference numeral 10 generally designates an elasticized and contoured disposable diaper constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention . the diaper is of an hour - glass configuration having a crotch area 12 and four portions of greater width defining ears 14 , 16 , 18 , and 20 . the diaper includes a backing sheet 22 of an impervious material such as polyethylene or polypropylene film . a top sheet 24 , preferably of a typical non - woven bonded ( e . g . by resin latex ) rayon or rayon - polyester fiber sheet or a spunbonded sheet of polyethylene or polypropylene fibers , is sealed preferably by hot melt lines to the backing sheet along the peripheral edges of the diaper . an absorbent pad 26 is disposed between the top sheet 24 and the backing sheet 22 and may be conventional wood fluff ( e . g . from chemical , semi - chemical or thermo - mechanical pulp ) or the like . an upper wadding sheet 28 and a lower wadding sheet 30 are provided , the pad and the wadding sheets conforming generally in contours to the hour - glass shape . a pair of elasticized strips 34 and 36 which may be provided with adhesive on at least the bottom end surfaces thereof are disposed wholly within the wood fluff of the pad 26 and may be bonded at the ends as at 38 , fig3 with the adhesive to the lower wadding sheet 30 or backing sheet 22 outwardly of the edges of pad 26 . the adhesive may be any conventional hot melt or pressure - sensitive adhesive and , preferably , one that , at ambient temperatures is flexible and extensible ( i . e . elastic - like in nature ). the backing sheet 22 may have adhesive lines 25 applied there to cover which the strips 34 and 36 are mounted and adhesively secured . the strips 34 and 36 extend the entire length of the diaper 10 and beyond the pad inwardly of the ears 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 so that the tension provided by the elasticized strips is such that the pad 26 itself cushions the leg hold edges to form especially tight fluid seals without causing marks or idents to be formed on an infant &# 39 ; s skin . the top and bottom wadding sheets may be conventional paper or tissue heretofore used in the art ( i . e . cellulosic fibers ) or may be formed of hydrophobic fibers ( e . g . polyester , polyethylene or polypropylene ) or rendered hydrophobic by suitable and conventional treatments ( e . g . by resins ). in fig4 there is shown a variation wherein the entire elasticized strip 60 is bonded to either the lower wadding sheet 30 , the backing sheet 22 or both below the pad 26 between the pad 26 and the backing sheet 22 so that the strips 60 cause the pad 26 to cushion the leg hold edges . the elastic strips 34 and 36 and 60 may be varied in widths but generally from about 3 to 12 mm with a range of about strips may be somewhat greater or lesser than that of the elastic strips and typically , for a 6 mm elastic strip , would range from about 4 to 12 mm . typical thicknesses of strips 34 and 36 range from a few mils ( e . g . 1 to 5 ) to 15 or 20 mm . with the higher ranges more general for foams . the elastic strips 34 and 36 may be of any suitable construction and materials such as the conventional rubberized ( or otherwise elastomerized ) fibers or may be simply a strip of elastomeric resin or foamed resin which may or may not be provided with adhesive . such strips are generally available as double - sided transfer tapes ( e . g . 3m co ., st . paul . minn ., tape no . 456 high tack pressure - sensitive tape ). the top sheet 24 may be fully elasticized and provided with a waist band if desired .
a disposable diaper having cushioned elasticized leg hold edges formed from elastic members secured between the backing sheet and the absorbent pad or mounted directly in the absorbent pad and adapted to overcome leakage through the leg hold edges while cushioning so as not to make indentations or marks on the infant &# 39 ; s skin .