Absorbent article with impregnated sensation material for toilet training

Abstract

An absorbent article includes a backsheet having a longitudinal axis, a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The article may also include barrier leg cuffs. The article further includes a sensation member, which sensation member may be defined in part by the topsheet or may be separate from the topsheet. The sensation member may be a wetness sensation member, a temperature sensation member, a tactile agent, or a combination thereof. Visible and/or tactile indicia may be associated with the sensation member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawing figures, like reference numerals identify like elements, which may or may not be identical in the several exemplary embodiments that are depicted. Some of the figures may have been simplified by the omission of selected elements for the purpose of more clearly showing other elements. Such omissions of elements in some figures are not necessarily indicative of the presence or absence of particular elements in any of the exemplary embodiments, except as may be explicitly delineated in the corresponding written description. None of the drawings are necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article with a section of a topsheet removed to expose an underlying absorbent core;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary absorbent article shown in its relaxed, contracted state, i.e., with the contraction induced by elastic members;

FIG. 3 a is a plan view of an absorbent article having a sensation member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 b is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4 a is a surface electron microscopic image of a cross-section of an exemplary topsheet;

FIG. 4 b is an image similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4a but with the fibers of the topsheet coated with a sensation material;

FIG. 4 c is an image similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4b but with the fibers of the topsheet coated with a sensation material and with interstices between fibers filled with a sensation material;

FIG. 4 d is an image similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4c but with the topsheet substantially impregnated;

FIG. 5 a is a plan view of an absorbent article having a sensation member according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 b is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 5a;

FIG. 6 a is a plan view of an absorbent article having a sensation member according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 b is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 6a.

FIGS. 7 a-7c are cross-sectional views of another embodiment of an absorbent article.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the absorbent core.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising: a backsheet having a longitudinal axis;a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface and first and second sides;an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet;first and second spaced barrier leg cuffs attached to the topsheet parallel to the longitudinal axis;said topsheet first side being attached to the first barrier leg cuff and said topsheet second side being attached to the second barrier leg cuff such that said body-facing surface of said topsheet is spaced a distance upwardly from said absorbent core; anda sensation member comprising said topsheet at least partially impregnated with a sensation agent.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said sensation agent is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic agent, a hydrophobic agent, a temperature change agent, a tactile agent, and combinations thereof.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said hydrophobic agent is disposed proximal the barrier leg cuffs.

4. The absorbent article of claim 2 further comprising an auxiliary sensation member disposed beneath said topsheet, said auxiliary sensation member comprising the hydrophobic agent.

5. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein said hydrophobic agent is at least partially impregnated in said auxiliary layer.

6. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein said hydrophobic agent comprises a coating of said auxiliary layer.

7. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said temperature change agents include endothermic salts.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said topsheet is impregnated with at least two sensation agents.

9. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein said sensation agents are disposed at discrete zones of the topsheet, said zones being laterally or longitudinally spaced from each other.

10. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said sensation agents is in vertical alignment.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said sensation member has a first Moisture Density of at least about 2 mg/cm2 at 60 seconds after said urination event and a second Moisture Density at 10 minutes after said urination event of less than about 80% of said first Moisture Density.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said topsheet is comprised of fibers some of which are at least partially coated with said sensation agent.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said topsheet is comprised of a fibrous matrix having interstitial void spaces in which said sensation agent is at least partially contained.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the article is a diaper, pant or refastenable pant.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said sensation agent is substantially impregnated in the topsheet.

16. The absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising indicia indicating the presence of said sensation agent, said indicia being visible or tactile.

17. An absorbent article comprising: a backsheet having a longitudinal axis;a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface and an opposite surface facing the backsheet;an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet;a sensation member comprising a sensation agent at least partially impregnated in a region of the topsheet on one of the body-facing surface and the opposite surface, the region of the topsheet being spaced a distance upwardly from said absorbent core.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said sensation member has a first Moisture Density of at least about 2 mg/cm2 at 60 seconds after said urination event and a second Moisture Density at 10 minutes after said urination event of less than about 80% of said first Moisture Density.

19. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said sensation material is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic agent, a hydrophobic agent, a temperature change agent, a tactile agent, and combinations thereof.

20. The absorbent article of claim 19 wherein said temperature change agent comprises endothermic salts.

21. The absorbent article of claim 19 further comprising an auxiliary sensation member disposed beneath said topsheet, said auxiliary sensation member comprising said hydrophobic agent.

22. The absorbent article of claim 21 wherein said hydrophobic agent is at least partially impregnated in said auxiliary layer.

23. The absorbent article of claim 22 wherein said hydrophobic agent is a coating of said auxiliary layer.

24. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said sensation agents are disposed at discrete zones of the topsheet, said zones being laterally or longitudinally spaced from each other at said region of said topsheet.

25. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of said sensation materials is in vertical alignment.

26. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said topsheet is comprised of fibers some of which are coated with said sensation agent.

27. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said topsheet is comprised of a fibrous matrix having interstitial void spaces in which said sensation agent is disposed.

28. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein the article is a diaper, pant or refastenable pant.

29. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said sensation agent is substantially impregnated in said region of the said topsheet.

30. The absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising indicia indicating the presence of said sensation agent, said indicia being visible or tactile.

31. An absorbent article comprising: a backsheet;a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface and an opposite surface facing the backsheet;an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet;a sensation member overlaying a portion of said body-facing surface of said topsheet, said sensation member having a sensation agent at least partially impregnated therein, said sensation member being spaced upwardly from said topsheet.

32. The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein said sensation agent is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic agent, a hydrophobic agent, a temperature change agent, a tactile agent, and combinations thereof.

33. The absorbent article of claim 30 further comprising an auxiliary sensation member disposed beneath said topsheet, said auxiliary sensation member comprising said hydrophobic agent.

34. The absorbent article of claim 33 wherein said hydrophobic agent is at least partially impregnated in said auxiliary sensation member.

35. The absorbent article of claim 34 wherein said hydrophobic agent is coated onto said auxiliary sensation member.

36. The absorbent article of claim 32, wherein said sensation member comprises at least two sensation agents.

37. The absorbent article of claim 36 wherein said sensation agents are disposed at discrete zones of said sensation member, said zones being laterally or longitudinally spaced from each other.

38. The absorbent article of claim 36 wherein at least a portion of said sensation agents are in vertical alignment.

39. The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein said sensation member has a first Moisture Density of at least about 2 mg/cm2 at 60 seconds after said urination event and a second Moisture Density at 10 minutes after said urination event of less than about 80% of said first Moisture Density.

40. The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein said topsheet is comprised of fibers some of which are coated with said sensation material.

41. The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein said topsheet is comprised of a fibrous matrix having interstitial void spaces in which said sensation material is contained.

42. The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein the article is a diaper, pant or refastenable pant.

43. The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein said sensation material is substantially impregnated in said region of said sensation member.

44. The absorbent article of claim 31 further comprising indicia indicating the presence of said sensation material, said indicia being visible or tactile.