Patent Application
20090240228
The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, protective underwear, adult diapers, and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to absorbent articles having a tensioner and elastic member configuration for improved fit.
Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, training pants, protective underwear, adult diapers, and the like are known for their major function of absorbing and containing body exudates. Such articles are thus intended to prevent the soiling, wetting, or other contamination of clothing or other articles, such as bedding, that come in contact with the wearer. In the case of disposable training pants, they typically include a chassis with a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The chassis is configured for fitting the training pant about the wearer's waist, thereby allowing the training pant to be pulled up or down like traditional underwear.
While many developments have been made in the art of absorbent articles, there remains a need for further improvements in terms of at least one of improved fit, comfort, producibility, and visual appearance.
In one aspect, the invention provides an absorbent article that includes a chassis having a front section, a rear section, and a crotch section extending between the front section and the rear section. The front section is connected to the rear section to define a waist opening, leg openings, and a belly region positioned between the waist opening and the leg openings. The absorbent article also includes an absorbent core coupled to the crotch section of the chassis. An adjustable tensioner is coupled to the chassis and positioned for snugging the chassis against a wearer of the absorbent article. The tensioner is configured to be adjusted by the wearer from a first tension to a second, selected tension in which the first tension is less than the second, selected tension.
In another aspect of the invention, the invention further provides an absorbent article including a chassis having a front section, a rear section, and a crotch section extending between the front section and the rear section. The front section is connected to the rear section to define a waist opening, leg openings, and a belly region positioned between the waist opening and the leg openings. The absorbent article also includes an absorbent core coupled to the crotch section of the chassis. At least one elastic member is coupled to each of the waist opening and the belly region, the elastic members being spaced apart from each other and being stretchable independent of one another. The elastic member coupled to the belly region has at least two elastic portions, in which the tension in one of the elastic portions differs from the tension in another one of the elastic portions.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides an absorbent article including a chassis having a front section, a rear section, and a crotch section extending between the front section and the rear section. The front section is connected to the rear section to define a waist opening, leg openings, a belly region positioned between the waist opening and the leg openings, and a rise extending from the leg openings to the waist opening. The absorbent article also includes an absorbent core coupled to the crotch section of the chassis. A tensioner is coupled to the chassis and is positioned for snugging the chassis against a wearer of the absorbent article. The absorbent article further includes means for reducing the rise of the chassis on the wearer defined in the belly region of the chassis at a location between the waist opening and the tensioner.
According to yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of manufacturing an absorbent article. The method includes attaching an absorbent core to a chassis having a contiguous front, rear, and crotch sections, the crotch section extending between the front section and the rear section. A tensioner is attached to the chassis such that the tensioner is adjustable by the wearer from a first tension to a second, selected tension, in which the first tension is less than the second, selected tension.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of manufacturing an absorbent article including the step of attaching an absorbent core to a crotch section of a chassis at least one elastic member is coupled to each of a waist opening and a belly region of the chassis and the elastic members are spaced from each other such that the elastic members are stretchable independent of one another. The elastic member coupled to the belly region are configured the to have at least two elastic portions such that the tension in one of the elastic portions differs from the tension in another one of the elastic portions.
In yet another embodiment, the invention includes a method of using an absorbent article. The method includes the step of positioning the absorbent article on a wearer. At least one adjustable tensioner of the absorbent article is adjusted, thereby snugging the fit of the absorbent article on the wearer from a first tension to a second, selected tension in which the first tension is less than the second, selected tension.
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, with like elements having the same reference numerals. This emphasizes that according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not drawn to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures:
The invention will next be described with reference to the figures. Such figures are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting and are included herewith to facilitate the explanation of exemplary features of embodiments of the present invention. The figures are not to scale, and are not intended to serve as engineering drawings.
Referring generally to the drawings (
According to another embodiment, the invention provides an absorbent article 500 comprising a chassis having a front section 510, a rear section 520, and a crotch section 530 extending between the front section 510 and the rear section 520. The front section 510 is connected to the rear section 520 to define a waist opening 2, leg openings 4, and a belly region 522 positioned between the waist opening 2 and the leg openings 4 of the chassis. The absorbent article 500 also includes an absorbent core 560 coupled to the crotch section 530 of the chassis. At least one elastic member 525a, 525b is coupled to each of the waist opening 2 and the belly region 522 of the chassis. The elastic members 525a, 525b are spaced apart from each other and stretchable independent of one another. The elastic member 525b coupled to the belly region 522 has at least two elastic portions 9a, 9b, wherein the tension in one of the elastic portions 9a, 9b differs from the tension in another one of the elastic portions 9a, 9b.
Referring now to the drawings in detail,
As further illustrated in
In order to enable liquid to quickly and efficiently pass through the topsheet and into the absorbent core 160 for trapping therein, the topsheet is preferably liquid permeable. In particular, the topsheet may be selected from a variety of textile-like films and fabrics. Suitable fabrics include non-woven materials that are pervious to liquid, soft and pliable. Preferred non-woven materials include spun-bonded polypropylene, spunbonded polyethylene, and thermally bonded webs of staple fibers, preferably polypropylene shape or sheath/core bi-component fibers having a core of polyester or polypropylene and a sheath of polyethylene.
Absorbent core 160 may be made of any suitable absorbent material, as well as combinations of different types of absorbent materials. For example, the absorbent core 160 may be formed of a mixture of pulp fluff and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) wrapped in a liquid permeable tissue wrap (not shown). Examples of SAP include polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylates, various grafted starches, and the like. A desired super absorbent material is a cross-linked polysodium acrylate, which can be purchased from BASF Corporation of Portsmouth, Va., under the trademark ASAP® 2260. The super absorbent materials can be in various geometric forms, such as various shaped particles, fibers, foams, and layers. The fluff and SAP are present, for example, in a ratio such as about 11 grams of SAP to 16 grams of fluff for a size 4 diaper, and have a core density, for example, in a range such as about 0.14 to 0.22 grams per cubic centimeter. The amount of each absorbent material and SAP/fluff ratio depends on factors including the size of the article, e.g., “Small”, “Medium”, “Large” or “Extra Large.”
Absorbent core 160 may be of any shape and may be a single, integral absorbent structure, or can comprise a plurality of individual separate absorbent structures and/or absorbent materials that are operably assembled together. It may also include an air-laid non-woven web that contains super-absorbent particles and/or super-absorbent fibers, polymeric binder and cellulose pulp fibers.
As seen with respect to the embodiment of the absorbent article 100 shown in
As will be described in detail below, tensioner 20 can have different lengths and sizes to accommodate the waist opening 2, leg openings 4, and/or belly region 122 of the absorbent article 100. For example, an absorbent article 100 having a size of “Small” may include a tensioner 20 having a length that accommodates adult waist sizes of 28-32 inches. It is contemplated that other lengths may also be used to accommodate the circumference of the waist opening 2 and leg openings 4 of absorbent articles 100 for children and infants. Tensioner 20 may be fabricated from any suitable material including, but not limited to nylon, polyester, cotton, or other natural or synthetic material safe for use with contact to human skin. It is contemplated that other materials for tensioner 20 may also be used.
Referring now to
According to an embodiment, absorbent article 100 includes an elastic portion 135 coupled to the chassis. Elastic portion 135 is stretchable in at least a direction of the waist opening 2 so belly region 122 or waist portion 124 may be expanded to accommodate the belly/waist of the wearer. Thus, elastic portion 135 and tensioner 20 are adjustable to improve the fit of absorbent article 100 on the wearer. As will be described in further detail below, elastic portion 135 may include elastic strands (not shown) that provide the stretchability of the belly region 122 or waist portion 122.
Referring now to
Absorbent article 200 includes an elastic member 225 or elastic band coupled to a upper portion of the belly region 222, such as around the waist opening 2. Elastic member 225 may be stretchable along the waist opening 2 and has a tension greater than elastic portion 235. Thus, elastic member 225 may support a portion of absorbent article 200 on a wearer. In the embodiment illustrated in
According to another embodiment, leg portions of the absorbent article 100 adjacent leg openings 4 may include elastic portions 235 and/or elastic members 225. In this configuration, elastic portions 222 and/or members 225 positioned around the circumference of leg openings 4 provide additional support to secure absorbent article 200 so that it does not droop or sag on a wearer.
Referring now to
As described above, absorbent article 300 includes an elastic portion 335 and member 325 coupled to waist portion 322. Elastic portion 335 and member 325 assist stretching the circumference of waist opening 2 to accommodate a wearer. Belly region 322 may be folded over itself to further adjust the fit of absorbent article 300. Alternatively, side portion 323 may be extended to cover a larger leg area by pulling tensioner 40. Thus, side portions 323 of the absorbent article 300 may be adjustable for better comfort to a wearer. As will be described in detail below, tensioners 40 may enclosed in sheaths that are coupled to the belly region 322 and/or side portion 323 of the absorbent article 300.
Referring now to
According an exemplary embodiment, the tensioners 40 can be secured to the absorbent article 300 using a nonwoven or other suitable material formed into a single or double chamber sheath 50 adhered to the absorbent article 300, thus facilitating shortening of the absorbent article 300 height. In another exemplary embodiment, tensioner 40 may be removed from the sheath 50 or the ends 41a, 41b can be left in place when absorbent article 300 is worn (e.g., so that the side portion 323 is not cinched). For example, in an embodiment where the tensioner is removed, elastic portion 325 or member 325 of the absorbent article 300 may be used to hold the absorbent articled 300 against the skin of the wearer. In an embodiment, in which the ends 41a, 41b of the tensioner are tied in place, however, the weight of the absorbent article 300 may be supported by the tension applied by the tensioner 40. As shown in
Referring now to
According to another exemplary embodiment, elastic portions 525a, 525b may both have a high tension to provide better fit. For example, an adult sized absorbent article 500 having a larger mass than a child sized training pant may have higher tension elastic members 525a, 525b to support the weight of the larger sized article. Elastic member 525a may be positioned above the waist, such as the belly area, and elastic member 525b may be positioned on the waist, thereby providing better fit and comfort for a wearer. According to an exemplary embodiment, elastic members 525a, 525 may have at least two elastic portions 9a, 9b that have different tensions to provide the tension to the belly region 522 or waist portion 524 of the absorbent articled.
In another embodiment, absorbent article 500 may be folded over along the belly region 522 or waist portion 524 to reduce the rise of the absorbent article 500 to a more comfortable height and minimize the possibility of absorbent article 500 from slipping. For example, elastic member 525a may be folded above or below elastic member 525b to decrease the height of the absorbent article 500.
As will be described in further detail below, in an exemplary embodiment, elastic portion 525a, 525b includes lycra or other stretchable elastic strands of various weight and thicknesses (e.g., decitex) to provide different tensions and/or regions of the absorbent article 500 with different or similar compression. For example, elastic tensions may range from 200 to 380% elongation. In another embodiment, the area directly above elastic portion 525b which may be positioned at the waist may include perforations to facilitate tearing, trimming, or separation of a portion of the absorbent article 500.
Referring now to
It is contemplated that any number of elastic regions may be provided on the absorbent articled 500 to alternative between regions of high or low tension. For example, as shown in
Referring now to
Referring to the embodiment of absorbent article 800 illustrated in
Alternatively, and according to another embodiment, the upper portion of the belly region 822 may be folded over so that elastic member 825 is below tensioner 20 to minimize the rise of the chassis. Advantages of an absorbent article 800 having perforations 829 and/or a fold line includes increased comfort and improved fit for a wearer.
Although the present invention has been particularly described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications, and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
