Patent Application
20170239103
The present invention relates to absorbent articles.
When absorbent articles become soiled with exudates and are changed from the wearer, it is common for the lower abdomen and/or crotch region of the wearer to become soiled by urine, fecal matter, and/or other bodily discharges. Prior to replacing the soiled absorbent article and replacing it with a new, clean absorbent article, the skin of the wearer is cleansed. This cleaning of the skin can be done in a variety of ways and using a variety of different materials, but caregivers commonly use wet wipes or cloths to clean the wearer's skin. In some circumstances, caregivers may choose to use a clean portion of an inner layer of the soiled absorbent article to provide a first wipe to cleanse the wearer's skin in the lower abdomen or crotch region prior to using wet wipes, cloths, or tissues.
To perform this initial wipe, a caregiver may attempt to pinch or gather the front waist region of the absorbent article to obtain a grip on the absorbent article to use the inner layer of the absorbent article in a wiping fashion. However, pinching or gathering the front waist region of the absorbent article can reduce the effective area of the inner layer of the absorbent article that is intended to wipe the wearer's skin in the soiled area as well as create an uneven inner surface of the absorbent article that is not as conducive to wiping as the initial flat surface. Pinching or gathering the front waist region of the absorbent article in this fashion may also expose a caregiver's fingers or hand to the exudates remaining on the wearer's skin, as the gathered material in the front waist region may fold over due to pinching or gathering of the absorbent article near the front waist edge of the absorbent article where the absorbent article may have less structural integrity and/or due to the wiping motion of the caregiver employs with the absorbent article. Additionally, gripping the front waist region of the absorbent article in such a fashion may prove to be difficult altogether as the outer cover materials may have a low coefficient of friction, resulting in the gathered or pinched area of the front waist region slipping out of the caregiver's hands while trying to wipe the soiled area.
A prior document has attempted to address these issues by the introduction of a pocket in the front waist region of the absorbent article to assist with cleaning the wearer. GB 2389300A discloses various embodiments of absorbent articles including such a pocket. However, past proposed embodiments including a pocket fail to appreciate the difficulties in a caregiver using and/or accessing such a pocket.
Thus, there remains a need for an absorbent article that can provide improved functionality for the caregiver to utilize the absorbent article as a first wipe to cleanse the wearer's skin. There also remains a need for an absorbent article that includes a pocket with improved accessibility that can be employed to utilize the absorbent article in a wiping fashion.
In one embodiment, an absorbent article can include a front waist region including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist edge, and a crotch region. The absorbent article can further include a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis defining a horizontal plane when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration. The absorbent article can also include an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover. The outer cover can include a body facing surface and a garment facing surface. The absorbent article can additionally include a pocket disposed in the front waist region. The pocket can include a pocket longitudinal axis, a first side edge, a second side edge opposite from the first side edge, an upper lateral edge, a lower lateral edge, and a bottom surface. The pocket can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at the first side edge, the second side edge, and the upper lateral edge. The pocket can be open with respect to the bottom surface at the lower lateral edge such that when the absorbent article is in the stretched, laid flat configuration, a vertical gap is provided between the lower lateral edge and the bottom surface of the pocket at the pocket longitudinal axis, the vertical gap providing access to the pocket.
In another embodiment, an absorbent article can include a front waist region including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist edge, and a crotch region. The absorbent article can further include a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis defining a horizontal plane when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration. The absorbent article can also include an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover. The outer cover can include a body facing surface and a garment facing surface. The absorbent article can additionally include a pocket disposed in the front waist region. The pocket can include a pocket longitudinal axis, a first side edge, a second side edge opposite from the first side edge, an upper lateral edge, and a lower lateral edge. The pocket can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at the first side edge, the second side edge, and the upper lateral edge. The pocket can be open with respect to the outer cover at the lower lateral edge, wherein a portion of the outer cover forms a bottom surface of the pocket. The bottom surface of the pocket can be elastic near the lower lateral edge of the pocket such that when the absorbent article changes from the stretched, laid flat configuration to a relaxed configuration, the bottom surface of the pocket elastically retracts to provide a separation between the lower lateral edge and the bottom surface of the pocket at the longitudinal axis of the pocket, the separation providing access to the pocket.
In yet another embodiment, an absorbent article can include a front waist region including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist edge, and a crotch region. The absorbent article can further include a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis defining a horizontal plane when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration. The absorbent article can also include an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover. The outer cover can include a body facing surface and a garment facing surface. The absorbent article can additionally include a pocket disposed in the front waist region. The pocket can be formed from a material. The pocket can include a first side edge, a second side edge opposite from the first side edge, an upper lateral edge, and a lower lateral edge. The pocket can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at least at the first side edge and the second side edge. The pocket can be open with respect to the absorbent assembly at the lower lateral edge. The pocket can include a projection in a central region of the pocket near the lower lateral edge. The projection can either be coupled to the material forming the pocket or can be integral to the material forming the pocket. The projection can provide access to the pocket.
In still yet another embodiment, an absorbent article can include a front waist region including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist edge, and a crotch region. The absorbent article can further include a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis defining a horizontal plane when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration. The absorbent article can also include an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover. The outer cover can include a body facing surface and a garment facing surface. The absorbent article can additionally include a pocket disposed in the front waist region. The pocket being can be formed from a material. The pocket including a first side edge, a second side edge opposite from the first side edge, an upper lateral edge, and a lower lateral edge. The pocket can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at least at the first side edge and the second side edge. The pocket can be open with respect to the absorbent assembly at the lower lateral edge. The pocket can include a projection coupled to the material forming the pocket. The projection can provide access to the pocket.
A full and enabling disclosure thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the disclosure.
In an embodiment, the present disclosure is generally directed towards an absorbent article having a pocket disposed on the outer surface in the front waist region of the absorbent article that provides improved accessibility for a caregiver. The pocket can aid a caregiver with providing an initial cleaning of the wearer after the article is soiled by the wearer and prior to changing the absorbent article. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment or figure can be used on another embodiment or figure to yield yet another embodiment. It is intended that the present disclosure include such modifications and variations.
When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments described above should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.
The term “absorbent article” refers herein to an article which may be placed against or in proximity to the body (i.e., contiguous with the body) of the wearer to absorb and contain various liquid, solid, and semi-solid exudates discharged from the body. Such absorbent articles, as described herein, are intended to be discarded after a limited period of use instead of being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is applicable to various disposable absorbent articles, including, but not limited to, diapers, training pants, youth pants, swim pants, feminine hygiene products, including, but not limited to, menstrual pads, incontinence products, medical garments, surgical pads and bandages, other personal care or health care garments, and the like without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The term “acquisition layer” refers herein to a layer capable of accepting and temporarily holding liquid body exudates to decelerate and diffuse a surge or gush of the liquid body exudates and to subsequently release the liquid body exudates therefrom into another layer or layers of the absorbent article.
The term “bonded” or “coupled” refers herein to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered bonded or coupled together when they are joined, adhered, connected, attached, or the like, directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directly bonded to intermediate elements. The bonding or coupling of one element to another can occur via continuous or intermittent bonds.
The term “carded web” refers herein to a web containing natural or synthetic staple length fibers typically having fiber lengths less than about 100 mm. Bales of staple fibers can undergo an opening process to separate the fibers which are then sent to a carding process which separates and combs the fibers to align them in the machine direction after which the fibers are deposited onto a moving wire for further processing. Such webs are usually subjected to some type of bonding process such as thermal bonding using heat and/or pressure. In addition to or in lieu thereof, the fibers may be subject to adhesive processes to bind the fibers together such as by the use of powder adhesives. The carded web may be subjected to fluid entangling, such as hydroentangling, to further intertwine the fibers and thereby improve the integrity of the carded web. Carded webs, due to the fiber alignment in the machine direction, once bonded, will typically have more machine direction strength than cross machine direction strength.
The term “film” refers herein to a thermoplastic film made using an extrusion and/or forming process, such as a cast film or blown film extrusion process. The term includes apertured films, slit films, and other porous films which constitute liquid transfer films, as well as films which do not transfer fluids, such as, but not limited to, barrier films, filled films, breathable films, and oriented films.
The term “gsm” refers herein to grams per square meter.
The term “hydrophilic” refers herein to fibers or the surfaces of fibers which are wetted by aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wetting of the materials can, in turn, be described in terms of the contact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids and materials involved. Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring the wettability of particular fiber materials or blends of fiber materials can be provided by Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System, or a substantially equivalent system. When measured with this system, fibers having contact angles less than 90 are designated “wettable” or hydrophilic, and fibers having contact angles greater than 90 are designated “nonwettable” or hydrophobic.
The term “liquid impermeable” refers herein to a layer or multi-layer laminate in which liquid body exudates, such as urine, will not pass through the layer or laminate, under ordinary use conditions, in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminate at the point of liquid contact.
The term “liquid permeable” refers herein to any material that is not liquid impermeable.
The term “meltblown” refers herein to fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging high velocity heated gas (e.g., air) streams which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which can be a microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Meltblown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, are generally smaller than about 0.6 denier, and may be tacky and self-bonding when deposited onto a collecting surface.
The term “nonwoven” refers herein to materials and webs of material which are formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knitting process. The materials and webs of materials can have a structure of individual fibers, filaments, or threads (collectively referred to as “fibers”) which can be interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. Nonwoven materials or webs can be formed from many processes such as, but not limited to, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, carded web processes, etc.
The term “pliable” refers herein to materials which are compliant and which will readily conform to the general shape and contours of the wearer's body.
The term “spunbond” refers herein to small diameter fibers which are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine capillaries of a spinnerette having a circular or other configuration, with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly reduced by a conventional process such as, for example, eductive drawing, and processes that are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartmann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,538 to Peterson, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al., each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and often have average deniers larger than about 0.3, and in an embodiment, between about 0.6, 5 and 10 and about 15, 20 and 40. Spunbond fibers are generally not tacky when they are deposited on a collecting surface.
The term “superabsorbent” refers herein to a water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic material capable, under the most favorable conditions, of absorbing at least about 15 times its weight and, in an embodiment, at least about 30 times its weight, in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride. The superabsorbent materials can be natural, synthetic and modified natural polymers and materials. In addition, the superabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such as cross-linked polymers.
The term “thermoplastic” refers herein to a material which softens and which can be shaped when exposed to heat and which substantially returns to a non-softened condition when cooled.
The term “user” or “caregiver” refers herein to one who fits an absorbent article, such as, but not limited to, a diaper, training pant, youth pant, incontinent product, or other absorbent article about the wearer of one of these absorbent articles. A user and a wearer can be one and the same person.
Absorbent Article:
Referring to
The absorbent article 10 illustrated in
The front waist region 12 can include the portion of the absorbent article 10 that, when worn (such as in a fastened configuration as depicted in
The absorbent article 10 can include an outer cover 26 and a bodyside liner 28, the bodyside liner 28 being depicted in the cut-away portion of
An absorbent body 34 can be disposed between the outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can have a length and width that are the same as or less than the length and width of the absorbent article 10. The bodyside liner 28, the outer cover 26, and the absorbent body 34 can form part of an absorbent assembly 36. The absorbent assembly 36 can also include other components not shown herein, such as a fluid transfer layer and a fluid acquisition layer, as are known in the art.
The absorbent article 10 can be configured to contain and/or absorb liquid, solid, and semi-solid body exudates discharged from the wearer. For example, containment flaps 38, 40 (shown in
The absorbent article 10 can also include a fastening system that can be used to put the article 10 in a fastened configuration, such as shown in
Additional details regarding each of these elements of the absorbent article 10 described herein can be found below and with reference to the
Outer Cover:
The outer cover 26 and/or portions thereof can be breathable and/or liquid impermeable. The outer cover 26 and/or portions thereof can be elastic, stretchable, or non-stretchable. The outer cover 26 may be constructed of a single layer, multiple layers, laminates, spunbond fabrics, films, meltblown fabrics, elastic netting, microporous webs, bonded-carded webs or foams provided by elastomeric or polymeric materials. In an embodiment, for example, the outer cover 26 can be constructed of a microporous polymeric film, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be a single layer of a liquid impermeable material, such as a polymeric film. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be suitably stretchable, and more suitably elastic, in at least the lateral direction 32 of the absorbent article 10. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be stretchable, and more suitably elastic, in both the lateral 32 and the longitudinal 30 directions. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be a multi-layered laminate in which at least one of the layers is liquid impermeable. In an embodiment, such as that illustrated in
The outer layer 48 of the outer cover 26 can be any suitable material and may be one that provides a generally cloth-like texture or appearance to the wearer. An example of such material can be a 100% polypropylene bonded-carded web with a diamond bond pattern available from Sandler A.G., Germany, such as 30 gsm Sawabond 4185® or equivalent. Another example of material suitable for use as an outer layer 48 of an outer cover 26 can be a 20 gsm spunbond polypropylene non-woven web. The outer layer 48 may also be constructed of the same materials from which the bodyside liner 28 can be constructed as described herein.
The liquid impermeable inner layer 50 of the outer cover 26 (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 26 where the outer cover 26 is of a single-layer construction) can be either vapor permeable (i.e., “breathable”) or vapor impermeable. The liquid impermeable inner layer 50 (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 26 where the outer cover 26 is of a single-layer construction) can be manufactured from a thin plastic film. The liquid impermeable inner layer 50 (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 26 where the outer cover 26 is of a single-layer construction) can inhibit liquid body exudates from leaking out of the absorbent article 10 and wetting articles, such as bed sheets and clothing, as well as the wearer and caregiver.
Where the outer cover 26 is of a single layer construction, it can be embossed and/or matte finished to provide a more cloth-like texture or appearance. The outer cover 26 can permit vapors to escape from the absorbent article 10 while preventing liquids from passing through. A suitable liquid impermeable, vapor permeable material can be composed of a microporous polymer film or a non-woven material which has been coated or otherwise treated to impart a desired level of liquid impermeability.
As shown in
The pocket 64 can include a first side edge 70 and a second side edge 72. The second side edge 72 can be opposite from the first side edge 70. The pocket 64 can also include an upper lateral edge 74 and a lower lateral edge 76. The pocket 64 can include a bottom surface 67. The pocket 64 can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly 36 at least at the first side edge 70 and the second side edge 72. In some embodiments, the pocket 64 can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly 36 at the upper lateral edge 74 as well. As shown in the embodiment depicted in
As illustrated in
The pocket 64 can be configured to provide improved accessibility for a caregiver to place their hand or a portion of their hand in the pocket 64. This can be achieved in several different configurations.
For example, with reference to
As shown in
In some embodiments, the vertical gap 81 can be created for the pocket 64 by having the length 82 along the lower lateral edge 76 of the pocket 64 from the first side edge 70 to the second side edge 72 be greater than the length 84 along the garment facing surface 27 of the outer cover 26 from the first side edge 70 to the second side edge 72, as illustrated in
Where the lower lateral edge 76 of the pocket 64 forms a linear segment, such as in the embodiment depicted in
It is to be noted that the length 87 (labeled in
As illustrated in the cross-sectional view in
In one embodiment, the vertical gap 81 in the pocket 64 can be created by gathering the material 66 that forms the pocket 64 prior to attaching the material 66 to the absorbent assembly 36. For example, the material 66 that forms the pocket 64 can be gathered in the lateral direction 32 prior to attaching the material 66 to the outer cover 26 of the absorbent article 10 with adhesive 68. In other words, the material 66 forming the pocket 64 is not extended to lay flat against the outer cover 26, or not extended to a stretch to stop configuration, before it is attached to the outer cover 26 of the absorbent article 10. In such a configuration, the length 82 along the lower lateral edge 76 of the pocket 64 from the first side edge 70 to the second side edge 72 can be made to be greater than a length 84 along the garment facing surface 27 of the outer cover 26 from the first side edge 70 to the second side edge 72.
Referring now to
After the back fasteners 56 engage the front fastener 58 in a fastened configuration, and then the back fasteners 56 are disengaged from the front fastener 58 to an unfastened configuration for the first time, an open area 183 can be created in the pocket 164 near the lower lateral edge 176, as depicted in
Embodiments such as those illustrated in
Thus, the embodiments of
Another embodiment of an absorbent article 10 with a pocket 264 having increased accessibility is shown in
The elastic nature of the bottom surface 267 of the pocket 264 can be provided in a variety of ways. For example, an elastic material 86 can be coupled to the portion of the outer cover 26 that forms the bottom surface 267 of the pocket 264 near the lower lateral edge 276 of the pocket 264. As illustrated in
By imparting retractive forces on the outer cover 26 near at least the lower lateral edge 276 of the pocket 264 can provide benefits, similar to those discussed above with respect to pockets 64, 164 in
Referring now to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The projection 488 can be coupled to the material 466 forming the pocket 464 in a variety of configurations. For example, as illustrated in
The projection 488 can be configured to be of various sizes and shapes. For example, in
The projections 388, 488 as depicted in
It is to be noted that the projections 388, 488 of pockets 364, 464 of
Absorbent Body:
The absorbent body 34 can be suitably constructed to be generally compressible, conformable, pliable, non-irritating to the wearer's skin and capable of absorbing and retaining liquid body exudates. The absorbent body 34 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (for example, rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shape, I-shape, hourglass shape, etc.) and from a wide variety of materials. For example,
The absorbent body 34 can also be further configured to help the caregiver maintain control of the pocket 64 of the absorbent article 10. For example, the absorbent body 34 and the pocket 64 can be disposed such that first end edge 35 of the absorbent body 34 can be closer to the lateral axis 31 than is the upper lateral edge 74 of the pocket 64. The space formed between the first end edge 35 of the absorbent body 34 and the upper lateral edge 74 of the pocket 64 can provide space for a caregiver's finger tips to rest when the caregiver is using the pocket 64 to wipe the wearer of the article 10.
In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be composed of a web material of hydrophilic fibers, cellulosic fibers (e.g., wood pulp fibers), natural fibers, synthetic fibers, woven or nonwoven sheets, scrim netting or other stabilizing structures, superabsorbent material, binder materials, surfactants, selected hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials, pigments, lotions, odor control agents or the like, as well as combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be a matrix of cellulosic fluff and superabsorbent material. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be constructed of a single layer of materials, or in the alternative, may be constructed of two or more layers of materials.
Various types of wettable, hydrophilic fibers can be used in the absorbent body 34. Examples of suitable fibers include natural fibers, cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as rayon fibers; inorganic fibers composed of an inherently wettable material, such as glass fibers; synthetic fibers made from inherently wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as particular polyester or polyamide fibers, or composed of nonwettable thermoplastic polymers, such as polyolefin fibers which have been hydrophilized by suitable means. The fibers may be hydrophilized, for example, by treatment with a surfactant, treatment with silica, treatment with a material which has a suitable hydrophilic moiety and is not readily removed from the fiber, or by sheathing the nonwettable, hydrophobic fiber with a hydrophilic polymer during or after formation of the fiber. Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. The superabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such as cross-linked polymers. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be free of superabsorbent material.
The absorbent body 34 can be superposed over the inner layer 50 of the outer cover 26 and can be bonded to the inner layer 50 of the outer cover 26, such as by being bonded thereto with adhesive. However, it is to be understood that the absorbent body 34 may be in contact with, and not bonded with, the outer cover 26 and remain within the scope of this disclosure. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be composed of a single layer and the absorbent body 34 can be in contact with the singer layer of the outer cover 26. In an embodiment, a layer, such as but not limited to, a fluid transfer layer (not shown), can be positioned between the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26.
Bodyside Liner:
The bodyside liner 28 of the absorbent article 10 can overlay the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26 and can isolate the wearer's skin from liquid waste retained by the absorbent body 34. In various embodiments, a fluid transfer layer (not shown) can be positioned between the bodyside liner 28 and the absorbent body 34. In various embodiments, an acquisition layer (not shown) can be positioned between the bodyside liner 28 and the absorbent body 34 or a fluid transfer layer, if present. In various embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 can be bonded to the acquisition layer, or to the fluid transfer layer if no acquisition layer is present, via adhesive and/or by a point fusion bonding. The point fusion bonding may be selected from ultrasonic, thermal, pressure bonding, and combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can extend beyond the absorbent body 34 and/or a fluid transfer layer, if present, and/or an acquisition layer, if present, to overlay a portion of the outer cover 26 and can be bonded thereto by any method deemed suitable, such as, for example, by being bonded thereto by adhesive, to substantially enclose the absorbent body 34 between the outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28. The bodyside liner 28 may be narrower than the outer cover 26, but it is to be understood that the bodyside liner 28 and the outer cover 26 may be of the same dimensions, or that the bodyside liner 28 may be of greater width than the outer cover 26. It is also contemplated that the bodyside liner 28 may not extend beyond the absorbent body 34 and/or may not be secured to the outer cover 26. It is further contemplated that the bodyside liner 28 may be composed of more than one segment of material. The bodyside liner 28 can be of different shapes, including rectangular, hourglass, or any other shape. The bodyside liner 28 can be suitably compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin and can be the same as or less hydrophilic than the absorbent body 34 to permit body exudates to readily penetrate through to the absorbent body 34 and provide a relatively dry surface to the wearer.
The bodyside liner 28 can be manufactured from a wide selection of materials, such as synthetic fibers (for example, polyester or polypropylene fibers), natural fibers (for example, wood or cotton fibers), a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foams, reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or the like. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to, rayon, wood, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat-bondable fibers, polyolefins, such as, but not limited to, copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, and aliphatic esters such as polylactic acid, finely perforated film webs, net materials, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.
Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used for the bodyside liner 28. The bodyside liner 28 can include a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a polymer film, a film-fabric laminate or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Examples of a nonwoven fabric can include spunbond fabric, meltblown fabric, coform fabric, carded web, bonded-carded web, bicomponent spunbond fabric, spunlace, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. The bodyside liner 28 need not be a unitary layer structure, and thus, can include more than one layer of fabrics, films, and/or webs, as well as combinations thereof. For example, the bodyside liner 28 can include a support layer and a projection layer that can be hydroentagled. The projection layer can include hollow projections, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0121623 invented by Kirby, Scott S. C. et al. In a preferred embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 includes a bodyfacing surface that provides an uneven surface at least in the front waist region 12, such as a bodyfacing surface that includes projections as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0121623 noted above. Such a bodyside liner 28 provides additional benefits in softness and assists in cleaning the wearer's skin when the caregiver uses the pocket 64 of the absorbent article 10 to wipe the wearer.
For example, the bodyside liner 28 can be composed of a meltblown or spunbond web of polyolefin fibers. Alternatively, the bodyside liner 28 can be a bonded-carded web composed of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The bodyside liner 28 can be composed of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material can, optionally, be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. The surfactant can be applied by any conventional means, such as spraying, printing, brush coating or the like. The surfactant can be applied to the entire bodyside liner 28 or it can be selectively applied to particular sections of the bodyside liner 28.
In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be constructed of a non-woven bicomponent web. The non-woven bicomponent web can be a spunbonded bicomponent web, or a bonded-carded bicomponent web. An example of a bicomponent staple fiber includes a polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fiber. In this particular bicomponent fiber, the polypropylene forms the core and the polyethylene forms the sheath of the fiber. Fibers having other orientations, such as multi-lobe, side-by-side, end-to-end may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be a spunbond substrate with a basis weight from about 10 or 12 to about 15 or 20 gsm. In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be a 12 gsm spunbond-meltblown-spunbond substrate having 10% meltblown content applied between the two spunbond layers.
Although the outer cover 26 and bodyside liner 28 can include elastomeric materials, it is contemplated that the outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28 can be composed of materials which are generally non-elastomeric. In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can be stretchable, and more suitably elastic. In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can be suitably stretchable and more suitably elastic in at least the lateral or circumferential direction of the absorbent article 10. In other aspects, the bodyside liner 28 can be stretchable, and more suitably elastic, in both the lateral and the longitudinal directions 32, 30, respectively.
Leg Elastics:
Leg elastic members 44, 46 (labeled in
Fastening System:
In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 can include a fastener system. The fastener system can include one or more back fasteners 56 and one or more front fasteners 58, with only one front fastener 58 being shown in
The fastener system can be configured to secure the absorbent article 10 about the waist of the wearer and maintain the absorbent article 10 in place during use in fastened configuration, an example of which is shown in
Waist Elastic Members:
In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 can have one or more waist elastic members, such as rear waist elastic member 42, which can be formed of any suitable elastic material. The rear waist elastic member 42 can be in a rear waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10. Suitable elastic materials for waist elastic members can include, but are not limited to, sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric polymers. The elastic materials can be stretched and bonded to a substrate, bonded to a gathered substrate, or bonded to a substrate and then elasticized or shrunk, for example, with the application of heat, such that elastic retractive forces are imparted to the substrate. It is to be understood, however, that the waist elastic member 42 can be omitted from the absorbent article 10 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
An absorbent article including a front waist region including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist edge, and a crotch region, the absorbent article further including a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis defining a horizontal plane when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration, the absorbent article comprising: an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, the outer cover including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface; and a pocket disposed in the front waist region, the pocket including a pocket longitudinal axis, a first side edge, a second side edge opposite from the first side edge, an upper lateral edge, a lower lateral edge, and a bottom surface, the pocket being closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at the first side edge, the second side edge, and the upper lateral edge, the pocket being open with respect to the bottom surface at the lower lateral edge such that when the absorbent article is in the stretched, laid flat configuration, a vertical gap is provided between the lower lateral edge and the bottom surface of the pocket at the pocket longitudinal axis, the vertical gap providing access to the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 1, wherein the pocket is formed from a material, the material being gathered prior to attaching the material to the absorbent assembly to provide the vertical gap.
An absorbent article including a front waist region including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist edge, and a crotch region, the absorbent article further including a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis defining a horizontal plane when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration, the absorbent article comprising: an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, the outer cover including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface; and a pocket disposed in the front waist region, the pocket including a pocket longitudinal axis, a first side edge, a second side edge opposite from the first side edge, an upper lateral edge, and a lower lateral edge, the pocket being closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at the first side edge, the second side edge, and the upper lateral edge, the pocket being open with respect to the outer cover at the lower lateral edge, wherein a portion of the outer cover forms a bottom surface of the pocket, the bottom surface of the pocket being elastic near the lower lateral edge of the pocket such that when the absorbent article changes from the stretched, laid flat configuration to a relaxed configuration, the bottom surface of the pocket elastically retracts to provide a separation between the lower lateral edge and the bottom surface of the pocket at the longitudinal axis of the pocket, the separation providing access to the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 3, wherein an elastic material is coupled to the portion of the outer cover forming the bottom surface of the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 4, wherein the outer cover includes an outer layer and an inner layer, and wherein the elastic material is disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer.
The absorbent article of embodiment 3, wherein when the absorbent article is in the stretched, laid flat configuration a vertical gap is present between the lower lateral edge of the pocket and the bottom surface of the pocket at the longitudinal axis of the pocket, the vertical gap providing access to the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 1, further comprising a fastening system, the fastening system including at least one back fastener in the rear waist region and at least one front fastener in the front waist region, the fastening system configured to provide a fastened configuration of the absorbent article when the fastening system is engaged and an unfastened configuration of the absorbent article when the fastening system is not engaged, wherein the vertical gap is provided when the absorbent article changes from the fastened configuration to the unfastened configuration after the fastening system is disengaged.
The absorbent article of embodiment 1 or embodiment 2, further comprising a fastening system, the fastening system including at least one back fastener in the rear waist region and at least one front fastener in the front waist region, the fastening system configured to provide a fastened configuration of the absorbent article when the fastening system is engaged and an unfastened configuration of the absorbent article when the fastening system is not engaged, wherein the vertical gap is present prior to the fastening system being engaged in a fastened configuration for a first time, and wherein the vertical gap increases when the absorbent article changes from the fastened configuration to the unfastened configuration after the fastening system is disengaged for a first time.
The absorbent article of embodiment 3, further comprising a fastening system, the fastening system including at least one back fastener in the rear waist region and at least one front fastener in the front waist region, the fastening system configured to provide a fastened configuration of the absorbent article when the fastening system is engaged and an unfastened configuration of the absorbent article when the fastening system is not engaged, wherein a vertical gap is provided between the lower lateral edge and the bottom surface of the pocket at the pocket longitudinal axis upon the absorbent article changing from the fastened configuration to the unfastened configuration after the fastening system is disengaged for a first time, the vertical gap providing access to the pocket when the absorbent article is in the stretched, laid flat configuration.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiments 7-9, wherein the pocket is formed from a material, the material being extensible and not elastic.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiments 7-10, wherein the pocket is formed from a material, the material being in a pleated configuration.
An absorbent article including a front waist region including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist edge, and a crotch region, the absorbent article further including a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis defining a horizontal plane when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration, the absorbent article comprising: an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, the outer cover including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface; and a pocket disposed in the front waist region and being formed from a material, the pocket including a first side edge, a second side edge opposite from the first side edge, an upper lateral edge, and a lower lateral edge, the pocket being closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at least at the first side edge and the second side edge, the pocket being open with respect to the absorbent assembly at the lower lateral edge, the pocket including a projection in a central region of the pocket near the lower lateral edge, the projection either being coupled to the material forming the pocket or being integral to the material forming the pocket, the projection providing access to the pocket.
An absorbent article including a front waist region including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist edge, and a crotch region, the absorbent article further including a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis defining a horizontal plane when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration, the absorbent article comprising: an absorbent assembly including a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent body disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, the outer cover including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface; and a pocket disposed in the front waist region, the pocket being formed from a material, the pocket including a first side edge, a second side edge opposite from the first side edge, an upper lateral edge, and a lower lateral edge, the pocket being closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at least at the first side edge and the second side edge, the pocket being open with respect to the absorbent assembly at the lower lateral edge, the pocket including a projection coupled to the material forming the pocket, the projection providing access to the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 12, wherein the projection is integral to the material forming the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 12 or embodiment 14, wherein the upper lateral edge includes a notch, the notch having a shape that nests with a shape of the projection.
The absorbent article of embodiment 12, wherein the projection is coupled to the material forming the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 13 or embodiment 16, wherein the projection extends from the upper lateral edge to at least the lower lateral edge of the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 13 or embodiment 17, wherein the projection includes a bonded portion attached to the material forming the pocket and a non-bonded portion not attached to the material forming the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 18, wherein the non-bonded portion is disposed between the upper lateral edge and the lower lateral edge of the pocket.
The absorbent article of embodiment 18, wherein at least a portion of the non-bonded portion is disposed between the lower lateral edge of the pocket and the lateral axis of the absorbent article.
The absorbent article of embodiment 13 or embodiment 18, wherein the projection includes a bottom edge, the projection configured such that the bottom edge is closer to the lateral axis than is the lower lateral edge of the pocket.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiment 12-18, wherein the projection includes a bottom edge, the bottom edge being substantially aligned with the lower lateral edge of the pocket.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiments 13-22, wherein the projection is disposed in a central region of the pocket.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiments 12-23, wherein the pocket is closed with respect to the absorbent assembly at the upper lateral edge.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiments 1 or 3-6, further comprising a fastening system, the fastening system including at least one back fastener in the rear waist region and at least one front fastener in the front waist region, wherein the pocket is formed from a material, the material forming the front fastener.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiments 2 or 12-24, wherein the material forming the pocket also forms a front fastener.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiments 1 or 3-9, wherein the pocket is formed from a material, the material forming a portion of the outer cover.
The absorbent article of any one of embodiments 2 or 10-26, wherein the material forming the pocket forms a portion of the outer cover.
All documents cited in the Detailed Description are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by references, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2014/063485 | 10/31/2014 | WO | 00 |
