Absorbent articles with lotions

Abstract

This application relates to absorbent articles, to be worn by a user, comprising a backsheet and in addition a topsheet, and/or barrier cuffs, and/or leg cuffs, comprising on one or more surfaces thereof that are in contact with the skin of the user, a coating composition or partial coating with a particulate material dispersed in a carrier component. More particularly, said coating composition is a lotion composition that is transferable to the wearer's skin by normal contact and wearer motion and/or body heat. Preferred articles herein have at least such a topsheet and preferred are infant (baby) diapers, including training pants, and adult incontinence devices, sanitary napkins, panty-liners and the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an apertured panty liner 11 comprising a topsheet 12 containing apertures 13, a liquid impervious backsheet 14 bonded to the topsheet 12 along a sealing line 16, and an absorbent core 15. The topsheet 12 also contains a skin care composition 17 disposed on its top surface, wherein the skin care composition 17 is distributed onto the topsheet 12 such that it remains on the top surface and not within the apertures 13 for effective transfer of the skin care composition 17 onto the skin of a wearer.

FIG. 2 shows an interlabial product containing a skin care composition of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the interlabial product shown in FIG. 3, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2. The interlabial product 20 as shown in FIGS. 2-3 has a body-contacting side 20A and a garment surface 20B. The interlabial product comprises a pad-like main body portion 22 and an optional placement and removal tab 52 which is joined to the underside 20B of the main body portion 22 to provide the overall interlabial product with a “T”-shaped cross-sectional configuration. As shown in FIGS. 2-3 the main body portion 22 comprises a topsheet 42, a liquid impervious backsheet 38 joined to the topsheet 42 along a seam 60, and an absorbent core 44. The skin care composition 50 is disposed on the topsheet 42. The interlabial product 20 is also suitable for use as a hemorrhoid patch.

FIG. 4 shows a sanitary napkin 70 having a body-contacting surface 70A comprising a topsheet 72, a liquid impervious backsheet 73 joined to the topsheet 72, an absorbent core 74, and a fluid acquisition layer 75 to promote fluid transport to the absorbent core 74. The sanitary napkin 70 may also be provided with additional features commonly found in napkins, including “wings” or “flaps” such as wings 76. The topsheet 72 portion of the sanitary napkin 70 has a skin care composition 80 disposed onto the topsheet.

Claims

1. An absorbent article, to be worn by a user, comprising a backsheet and a topsheet and/or leg cuffs and/or barrier cuffs, said topsheet, leg cuffs and/or barrier cuffs having a first surface, comprising a (partial) coating containing particulate material, obtained by applying a fluid or semi-fluid composition that comprises a fluid or semi-fluid carrier component and therein dispersed a particulate material.

2. An absorbent article as in claim 1 whereby said surface or surfaces is/are in use in contact with the skin of the user.

3. An absorbent article as in claim 1, whereby said particulate material is insoluble in water and insoluble in ethanol.

4. An absorbent article according to claim 1, whereby said particulate material prior to application to the topsheet or cuffs has a mean particle size from 20 to 1000 microns.

5. An absorbent article according to claim 1, whereby said composition is a skin care lotion composition that is semi-solid or solid at 20° C.

6. An absorbent article according to claim 5, whereby said lotion composition comprises 10% to 95% by weight of an emollient that has a plastic or fluid consistency at 20° C.

7. An absorbent article as in claim 6, whereby said lotion composition comprises 5% to about 90% by weight of an agent capable of immobilizing said emollient on said first surface, said immobilizing agent having a melting point of at least about 40° C.

8. An absorbent article as in claim 7, whereby said immobilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C14-C22 fatty alcohols, C12-C22 fatty acids, C12-C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates, and mixtures thereof.

9. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said particulate material is present in said composition at a level of 0.1 to 10%.

10. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said particulate material comprises particles of a, preferably single, organic material, preferably selected from the group consisting of polyolefin powders, polymethyl methacrylate microspheres, lactone cross polymer microspheres, nylon particles polymethylsilsesquioxane particles, cellulose particles.

11. An absorbent article according to claim 10, wherein said particulate material is selected from the group consisting of polyolefin powders, including polyethylene powder, polymethylsilsesquioxane particles and mixtures thereof.

12. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said particulate material comprises particles of, preferably a single, inorganic material.

13. An absorbent article according to claim 1, whereby said coating composition comprises from 0.1 to about 50% of a hydrophilic surfactant, said hydrophilic surfactant having an HLB value of from about 4 to about 20.

14. An absorbent article according to claim 1, which is an infant or adult diaper, sanitary napkin or panty-liner, comprising at least said topsheet with said (partial) coating.

15. An absorbent article as in claim 14, whereby said topsheet comprises regions with said coating and regions without said coating.

16. Use in an absorbent article, for collection of feces and or menses and to be worn by a user, of a coating composition applied on a first surface of a topsheet, barrier cuff and/or leg cuff of said article, said first surface(s) being in contact with the skin of the user, said composition comprising a particulate material dispersed in a carrier component, to facilitate the removal of feces or menses from the skin of the user after use.

17. Use in an absorbent article, for collection of feces and or menses and to be worn by a user, of a coating composition applied on a first surface of a topsheet, barrier cuff and/or leg cuff of said article, said first surface(s) being in contact with the skin of the user, said composition comprising a particulate material dispersed in a carrier component, to reduce the deposition of feces or menses on the skin of the user.

18. Process for making an absorbent article of claim 1, comprising the steps of: a) dispersing a particulate material in a fluid carrier component to obtain a fluid composition comprising particulate material;b) applying this composition to the outer surface of a topsheet, barrier cuff and/or leg cuff or part thereof, form a coating or partial coating comprising particulate material.