<P> During the 1950s, companies such as Johnson and Johnson, Kendall, Parke - Davis, Playtex, and Molnlycke entered the disposable diaper market, and in 1956, Procter & Gamble began researching disposable diapers . Victor Mills, along with his project group including William Dehaas (both men who worked for the company) invented what would be trademarked "Pampers". Although Pampers were conceptualized in 1959, the diapers themselves were not launched into the market until 1961 . Pampers now accounts for more than $10 billion in annual revenue at Procter & Gamble . </P> <P> Over the next few decades, the disposable diaper industry boomed and the competition between Procter & Gamble's Pampers and Kimberly Clark's Huggies resulted in lower prices and drastic changes to diaper design . Several improvements were made, such as the use of double gussets to improve diaper fit and containment . As stated in Procter & Gamble's initial 1973 patent for the use of double gussets in a diaper, "The double gusset folded areas tend to readily conform to the thigh portions of the leg of the infant . This allows quick and easy fitting and provides a snug and comfortable diaper fit that will neither bind nor wad on the infant...as a result of this snugger fit obtained because of this fold configuration, the diaper is less likely to leak or, in other words, its containment characteristics are greatly enhanced ." Further developments in diaper design were made, such as the introduction of refastenable tapes, the "hourglass shape" so as to reduce bulk at the crotch area, and the 1984 introduction of super-absorbent material from polymers known as sodium polyacrylate that were originally developed in 1966 . </P> <P> The first disposable diaper was invented in 1946 by Marion Donovan, a professional - turned - housewife who wanted to ensure her children's cloth diapers remained dry while they slept . Donovan patented her design (called' Boaters') in 1951 . She also invented the first paper diapers, but executives did not invest in this idea and it was consequently scrapped for over ten years, until Procter & Gamble used Donovan's design ideas to create Pampers . </P> <P> Another diaper design was created by Valerie Hunter Gordon (née de Ferranti), and patented in 1948 by Valerie Hunter Gordon (née de Ferranti), granddaughter of inventor Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti . </P>

When did they come out with disposable diapers