Absorbent article with sensation member

Abstract

An absorbent article having a waist region and a crotch region. The article including a backsheet, an absorbent core, and a sensation member. The absorbent core is disposed between the backsheet and the sensation member. The sensation member forms a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article. The sensation member has a wicking factor of greater than about 20 mm at about one minute, an absorptive capacity of greater than about 0.01 g/cm2, and a capillary pressure of greater than about 50 mm of water.

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. 1A is a plan view showing an absorbent article with a section of a topsheet removed to expose an underlying absorbent core and highlighting a sensation member.

FIG. 1B is an isometric view showing the absorbent article of FIG. 1A partially fastened.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing wetness density versus time in a sensation member.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views showing other embodiments of the sensation member of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a cross section showing the absorbent article of FIG. 1A through line 4-4.

FIG. 5A is an isometric view showing the article shown in FIG. 3A illustrating a first exemplary attachment of the sensation member.

FIG. 5B is an isometric view showing the article shown in FIG. 3A illustrating a second exemplary attachment of the sensation member.

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

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing the article of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 7A is a plan view showing an absorbent article having a sensation member according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 6A.

FIGS. 8A-8C are cross-sectional views of another embodiment of an absorbent article.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of a disposable absorbent article constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view with a partial cut-away showing another embodiment of a disposable absorbent article constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the absorbent core.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing exemplary curves for pore volume versus average pore radius.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing exemplary curves for pressure versus saturation.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a waist region and a crotch region, the article comprising: a backsheet;an absorbent core disposed in a face-to-face orientation with the backsheet; anda sensation member forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article, wherein the sensation member has a wicking factor of greater than about 20 mm at about one minute, an absorptive capacity of greater than about 0.01 g/cm2, and a capillary pressure of greater than about 50 mm of water.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has an absorptive capacity of greater than about 0.08 g/cm2.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a capillary pressure of less than about 500 mm of water.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a wicking factor of between about 20 mm at about one minute and about 100 mm at about one minute, an absorptive capacity of between about 0.01 g/cm2 about 0.14 g/cm2, and a capillary pressure of greater than about 100 mm of water.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a topsheet joined to at least a portion of the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the sensation member is disposed superjacent to the topsheet.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a WD of greater than 1.2 mg/cm2 at about 60 seconds.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a first WD at about 60 second and a second WD at about 10 minutes, wherein the second WI is less than 80% of the first WD.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a WD of between about 1.2 mg/cm2 to about 5 mg/cm2 at about 60 seconds.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a WD of less than about 3 mg/cm2 at about 60 minutes.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a WD of between about 0.5 mg/cm2 to about 3 mg/cm2 at about 60 minutes.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a WD of less than about 4.7 mg/cm2 at about 10 minutes.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a WD of between about 0.5 mg/cm2 to about 4.7 mg/cm2 at about 10 minutes.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member has a first WD at about 30 seconds and a second WD at about 60 seconds, wherein the second WD is less than 80% of the first WD.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a topsheet joined to at least a portion of the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and wherein the sensation member comprises a portion of the topsheet.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a topsheet joined to at least a portion of the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the topsheet comprises a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface, and wherein the sensation member is disposed adjacent to the body-facing surface of the topsheet.

16. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a topsheet joined to at least a portion of the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the topsheet comprises a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface, and wherein the sensation member is disposed adjacent to the garment-facing surface.

17. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sensation member comprises a treatment consisting of the following: hydrophobic coating, hydrophilic coating, mechanical treatment, zone coating, chemical treatment, and combinations thereof.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the sensation member comprises a treatment which is integral with the sensation member.

19. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the sensation member comprises a separate layer which includes the treatment.

20. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the sensation member comprises treatment zones which extend in a direction generally parallel to a lateral axis of the sensation member.

21. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the sensation member comprises treatment zones which extend in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sensation member.

22. The absorbent article of claim 20, wherein at least one of the treatment zones is mechanically treated.

23. The absorbent article of claim 21, wherein at least one of the treatment zones is mechanically treated.

24. A disposable diaper for wearing about the lower torso of a wearer, the disposable diaper having a first waist region disposed adjacent to a first waist edge, a second waist region disposed adjacent to a second waist edge, and a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and the second waist region; and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the disposable diaper further comprising: a topsheet;a backsheet joined to at least a portion of the topsheet;an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;a first side panel extending outward from the first longitudinal edge in the first waist region and a second side panel extending outward from the second longitudinal edge in the first waist region, wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are adaptable to engage the second waist region thereby forming a waist opening and a pair of leg openings; anda sensation member disposed adjacent to the topsheet, wherein the sensation member has a wicking factor of greater than about 20 mm at about one minute, an absorptive capacity of greater than about 0.01 g/cm2, and a capillary pressure of greater than about 50 mm of water.

25. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has an absorptive capacity of greater than about 0.08 g/cm2.

26. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a capillary pressure of less than about 500 mm of water.

27. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a wicking factor of between about 20 mm at about one minute and about 100 mm at about one minute, an absorptive capacity of between about 0.01 g/cm2 about 0.14 g/cm2, and a capillary pressure of greater than about 100 mm of water.

28. The absorbent article of claim 24, further comprising a topsheet joined to at least a portion of the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the sensation member is disposed superjacent to the topsheet.

29. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a WD of greater than 1.2 mg/cm2 at about 60 seconds.

30. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a first WD at about 60 seconds and a second WD at about 10 minutes, wherein the second WD is less than 80% of the first WD.

31. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a WD of between about 1.2 mg/cm2 to about 5 mg/cm2 at about 60 seconds.

32. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a WD of less than about 3 mg/cm2 at about 60 minutes.

33. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a WD of between about 0.5 mg/cm2 to about 3 mg/cm2 at about 60 minutes.

34. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a WD of less than about 4.7 mg/cm2 at about 10 minutes.

35. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a WD of between about 0.5 mg/cm2 to about 4.7 mg/cm2 at about 10 minutes.

36. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the sensation member has a first WD at about 30 seconds and a second WD at about 60 seconds, wherein the second WD is less than 80% of the first WD.