Absorbent article with sensation member

Abstract

An absorbent article includes an outer cover having a longitudinal axis, a topsheet attached to the outer cover and having a body-facing surface, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the topsheet. The article may also include barrier leg cuffs. The article further includes a 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 illustrating the layers of the sensation member;

FIG. 4 a is an isometric view of the article shown in FIG. 3a illustrating a first exemplary attachment of the sensation member;

FIG. 4 b is an isometric view of the article shown in FIG. 3a illustrating a second exemplary attachment of the sensation member;

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 illustrating the layers of the sensation member;

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

FIG. 6 b is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 6a illustrating the layers of the sensation member;

FIG. 7 a is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an absorbent article;

FIG. 7 b is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an absorbent article;

FIG. 7 c is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an absorbent article;

FIG. 8 a is a schematic representation of a Force stand shown with a test sample in a first configuration;

FIG. 8 b is a schematic representation of a Force stand shown with a test sample in a second configuration;

FIG. 8 c is a schematic representation of a Force stand shown with a test sample in a third configuration;

FIG. 9 a is a schematic front view of the components of a plunger;

FIG. 9 b is a schematic side view of the components of the plunger shown in FIG. 9a;

FIG. 9 c is a schematic front view of a base support platform;

FIG. 9 d is a representation of an exemplary force/extension curve; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the absorbent core.

Claims

1. A refastenable absorbent article having a waist region and a crotch region, the article comprising: an outer cover, wherein said outer cover has a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 1000 g/m2/24 hr;a sensation member having a body-facing surface, wherein at least a portion of the body facing surface of said sensation member is capable of contacting the skin of a wearer and wherein said portion has a Stiffness of less than about 100 N/m; andan absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the sensation member.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said portion has a Stiffness of less than about 75 N/m.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said portion has an area of at least 10 cm2.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein said sensation member includes a waist portion wherein said waist portion is foreshortened at a Contraction Ratio at a 10 g load of less than about 0.2.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein said foreshortened waist portion is stretchable from a relaxed state to a fully elongated state and wherein the force required to elongate said foreshortened region of said sensation member from a relaxed state to 85% of its length in a fully elongated state is at least 0.4 N.

6. A refastenable absorbent article having a waist region and a crotch region, the article comprising: an outer cover, wherein said outer cover has a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 1000 g/m2/24 hr;a sensation member having a body-facing surface, wherein at least a portion of the body facing surface of said sensation member is capable of contacting the skin of a wearer and wherein said portion has a Skin Contact Time of at least 30 seconds; andan absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the sensation member.

7. The absorbent article of claim 6 wherein said portion has a Skin Contact Time of at least 60 seconds.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7 wherein said portion has an area of at least 10 cm2.

9. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein said sensation member includes a waist portion wherein said waist portion is foreshortened at a Contraction Ratio at a 10 g load of less than about 0.2.

10. The absorbent article of claim 9 wherein said foreshortened waist portion is stretchable from a relaxed state to a fully elongated state and wherein the force required to elongate said foreshortened region of said sensation member from a relaxed state to 85% of its length in a fully elongated state is at least 0.4 N.

11. A refastenable absorbent article having a waist region and a crotch region, the article comprising: an outer cover, wherein said outer cover has a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 1000 g/m2/24 hr;a sensation member having a body-facing surface, wherein at least a portion of the body facing surface of said sensation member is capable of contacting the skin of a wearer and wherein said portion has a Wet Peel Force of at least 30 grams force; andan absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the sensation member.

12. The absorbent article of claim 11 wherein said portion has a Wet Peel Force of at least 40 grams force.

13. The absorbent article of claim 12 wherein said portion has an area of at least 10 cm2.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13 wherein said sensation member includes a waist portion wherein said waist portion is foreshortened at a Contraction Ratio at a 10 g load of less than about 0.2.

15. The absorbent article of claim 14 wherein said foreshortened waist portion is stretchable from a relaxed state to a fully elongated state and wherein the force required to elongate said foreshortened region of said sensation member from a relaxed state to 85% of its length in a fully elongated state is at least 0.4 N.

16. An array of absorbent articles comprising: a first absorbent article comprising: an outer cover;a sensation member having a body-facing surface, wherein at least a portion of the body facing surface of said sensation member is capable of contacting the skin of a wearer and wherein said portion has a first property chosen for at least one of surface area, Contraction Ratio at a 10 g load, force required to elongate a foreshortened region of the sensation member from a relaxed state to 85% of its length in a fully elongated state, Stiffness, Skin Contact Time and Wet Peel Force; andan absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the sensation member; anda second absorbent article comprising: an outer cover;a sensation member having a body-facing surface, wherein at least a portion of the body facing surface of said sensation member is capable of contacting the skin of a wearer and wherein said portion has a second property chosen for at least one of surface area, Contraction Ratio at a 10 g load, force required to elongate a foreshortened region of the sensation member from a relaxed state to 85% of its length in a fully elongated state, Stiffness, Skin Contact Time and Wet Peel Force; andan absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the sensation member wherein said first property of said first absorbent article has a different value than said second property of said second absorbent article.

17. The array of absorbent articles of claim 16 wherein said first and second absorbent articles are gender specific.

18. The array of absorbent articles of claim 16 wherein said first and second absorbent articles have different sizes.

19. An absorbent article having a waist region and a crotch region, the article comprising: an outer cover, wherein said outer cover has a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 1000 g/m2/24 hr;first and second barrier leg cuffs, at least one of said first and second barrier leg cuffs having an upper edge;a sensation member having a suspended central region having at least a side edge; and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the sensation member,wherein the projected height of the side edge is between about 90% and about 300% the projected height of the upper edge of at least one of said first and second barrier leg cuff.

20. The absorbent article of claim 19 wherein said suspended central region has a body facing surface wherein at least a portion of the body facing surface is capable of contacting the skin of a wearer.

21. The absorbent article of claim 20 wherein said portion has a Stiffness of less than about 100 N/m.

22. The absorbent article of claim 22 wherein said portion has a Skin Contact Time of at least 30 seconds.

23. The absorbent article of claim 22 wherein said portion has a Wet Peel Force of at least 30 grams force.

24. An absorbent article having a waist region and a crotch region, the article comprising: an outer cover, wherein said outer cover has a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 3500 g/m2/24 hr;a sensation member having a body-facing surface, wherein at least a portion of the body facing surface of said sensation member is capable of contacting the skin of a wearer and wherein said portion has a Stiffness of less than about 100 N/m and wherein said portion of the body facing surface of the sensation member has a Skin Contact Time of at least 30 seconds; andan absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the sensation member.

25. The absorbent article of claim 24 wherein said portion has a Stiffness of less than about 75 N/m.

26. The absorbent article of claim 25 wherein said portion has an area of at least 10 cm2.

27. The absorbent article of claim 25 wherein said sensation member includes a waist portion wherein said waist portion is foreshortened at a Contraction Ratio at a 10 g load of less than about 0.2.

28. The absorbent article of claim 27 wherein said foreshortened waist portion is stretchable from a relaxed state to a fully elongated state and wherein the force required to elongate said foreshortened region of said sensation member from a relaxed state to 85% of its length in a fully elongated state is at least 0.4 N.

29. The absorbent article of claim 24 wherein said portion has a Wet Peel Force of at least 30 grams force.