Patent Application
20200323703
The present invention is related to absorbent articles. Specifically, the present invention is related to absorbent articles for personal care, which can be adjusted to different types of garments.
Among the different types of personal care products on the market, are those commonly used for the retention or capture of bodily fluids. Said products called absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, daily liners and incontinence absorbents differ in shape, size, manufacturing process and absorption capacity, and each of these fulfills a specific function depending on the type of garment in which it is used.
Absorbent articles have specific shapes for each type of garment, so the user should have different absorbent articles that fit each of them. According to the above, sometimes this is not practical for the user, given the variety of different absorbent articles that must be purchased.
Therefore, some ways of solving this problem have been disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,478A discloses an absorbent article which comprises an absorbent core, two wings with a wing absorbent core, a topsheet and a bottom sheet which contain the absorbent core and the absorbent wing core, and wherein the wings are flexible, allowing them to fold in such a way that they can be adjusted to different types of garments.
Said wings have a first and a second axis of flexibility, where said axes of flexibility allow the wings to fold to form a barrier against the flow of menstrual fluid. Additionally, the wings have adhesive fastening means located at the distal ends of the wings and in the central part of the absorbent core, the above in order to hold the absorbent article in an undergarment. However, U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,478A does not teach how the absorbent article fits at its ends to different types of garments.
On one hand, US 20030208177A1 discloses an absorbent article with a trapezoidal or triangular shape comprised of an absorbent core, a top sheet and a bottom sheet that contain the absorbent core and a pair of absorbent longitudinal ends on the periphery of the absorbent article. However, US 20030208177A1 does not disclose how to adapt the shape of a single absorbent article in order to fit in different types of underwear.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 8,105,302 B2 discloses an adjustable absorbent article comprised of different absorbent panels joined together which have the same thickness. Said panels are joined by seams, allowing the different panels that make up the absorbent article of U.S. Pat. No. 8,105,302 B2, to be folded in order to adjust to different types of underwear. However, the absorbent article disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,105,302 B2 is set up by means of specific geometric shapes, which does not allow it to adequately adapt to different types of garments.
Therefore, while the aforementioned documents disclose adjustable absorbent articles, the prior art cited does not teach how to adapt a single absorbent article to different types of underwear shapes without affecting the absorbent capacity of absorbent articles and without spillage.
The present invention corresponds to an adjustable absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a bottom sheet, an absorbent core located between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, the absorbent core having two longitudinal ends. Said absorbent core has an oblong shape, where one of the longitudinal ends has a triangular shape and an absorbent panel overlapped on the periphery of the triangular shaped longitudinal end of the absorbent core. This absorbent panel folds to fit different types of garments.
Said adjustable absorbent article also comprises an absorbent core with a section corresponding to an absorbent section. Said absorbent section is an extension of the absorbent core, which extends from the periphery of the triangular shaped longitudinal end towards the exterior of the absorbent article, wherein said absorbent section folds to fit different types of garments.
The present invention, and referring to
The topsheet (1) of the adjustable absorbent article is a permeable sheet that allows absorbing and retaining fluids that come into contact with said topsheet (1). The top sheet (1) also allows the skin of a user not to be irritated when in contact with it. Said topsheet (1) is made of a permeable material.
Additionally, the topsheet (1) optionally is composed of two or more layers of permeable material, which allows controlling permeability of the fluids that come into contact with said sheet due to the number of layers that can make up the topsheet (1).
Moreover, the bottom sheet (2) that is connected to the absorbent core (3), or in other words, the bottom sheet (2) that is located below the absorbent core (3), is fluid impervious and is in contact with user garments. Said bottom sheet (2) prevents fluids absorbed by the absorbent core (3) from contacting the surface of a garment with which the bottom sheet (2) is in contact with.
Preferably, the top sheet (1) and the bottom sheet (2) have the same geometric shape, allowing them to be joined by their contour by means of a binding material, heat or an adhesive material. In addition, the surface of the bottom sheet (2) that is in contact with a user garment optionally has an adhesive material on its surface that allows the adjustable absorbent article to be attached to the garment.
The waterproof material of the bottom sheet (2) is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC); chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC); polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides (PA) (for example, PA12, PA6, PA66); polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE); vinylidene polyfluoride (PVDF), fiber reinforcements (for example, glass, aramid, polyester), ethylene polytetrafluoride (PTFE); ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE); plastics (polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, vinyl resins), thermoplastic films, non-woven textiles, materials known to any skilled person in the art and combinations thereof.
For the better understanding of the present invention, a person, user, or end user is understood to be that person who uses a garment on which an absorbent article can be placed.
Moreover, and referring to
Additionally, the triangular shape of the longitudinal ends, instead of having a vertex, optionally has a shape selected from the group consisting of: squares, triangles, circles, rectangles, pentagons, trapezoids, ellipses, rhombs, trapezoids, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, decagon, and equivalent shapes known to a skilled person in the art and combinations thereof.
On the other hand, the absorbent core (3) is optionally formed by more than one layer or more than one material, which allows controlling the absorption of fluids that come into contact with the adjustable absorbent article due to the number of layers the absorbent core (3) can have or the combination of materials.
The absorbent core material (3) is selected from the group consisting of cellulosic fibers (preferably wood pulp, although cotton, linen (flax) and peat moss are acceptable), synthetic fibers, superabsorbent polymers (SAP) or superabsorbent fibers, as well as organic binders, or equivalent materials known to a skilled artisan and combinations thereof. The ratio of the aforementioned materials may change to achieve sufficient absorption, compressibility and processability.
Moreover and referring to
Preferably, the absorbent section (9) has a thickness less than the thickness of the absorbent core (3). One of the purposes of the above is to allow for the absorbent section (9) to be folded without generating discomfort for the user when the thickness of said absorbent section (9) is added to the thickness of the absorbent core (3). Another technical effect generated by the fact that the absorbent section (9) is less thick than the absorbent core (3) is allowing the absorbent section (9) to be completely folded into a garment, and ergonomically shaped for a user.
Referring to
In one embodiment of the invention, and referring to
Each of the absorbent sections (9) may be made of different materials, or different materials than the absorbent core (3), but preferably they are of the same material to warrant the same liquid absorption. In said embodiment of the invention, the second absorbent section is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis (10), and to the first absorbent section. Additionally, and in said embodiment of the invention, the adjustable absorbent article is also symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis (10), which allows it to fit symmetrically on different types of garments and does not create user discomfort.
Referring to
On the other hand, the absorbent section (9) can also be distal to the curvature of the rounded vertex (5), allowing the adjustable absorbent article to be adjusted when a garment has a width equal to or greater than the width of the absorbent article where it is positioned.
On the other hand, in another embodiment of the invention and referring to
In said embodiment of the invention, the absorbent core (3) located between the top sheet (1) and the bottom sheet (2), has an oblong shape with two longitudinal ends, where one of the longitudinal ends has a triangular shape. Said triangular-shaped longitudinal end allows the absorbent panel (4) to fold over one of the edges of said triangular shape. One of the technical effects of folding the absorbent panel (4) over one of said edges is that it can be folded on a garment. This allows the adjustable absorbent article to be attached to different types of garments such as thong garments, pantyhose garments, bikini bottoms, normal panties, high cut panties, boyshorts and body shapers. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the entire protruding absorbent panel (4) to be folded over the garments in order for the panel to be adequately fixed on the garment.
Moreover, and referring to
Optionally, the absorbent panel (4) has a thickness less than the thickness of the absorbent core (3). One of the purposes of the above is to allow the absorbent panel (4) to be folded without generating discomfort for the user when the thickness of said absorbent panel (4) is added to the thickness of the absorbent core (3). Another technical effect generated by the fact that the absorbent panel (4) is less thick than the absorbent core (3), is allowing the absorbent panel (4) to be completely folded into a garment, and ergonomically shaped for a user.
In one embodiment of the invention, and referring to
Each of the absorbent panels (4a and 4b) can be made of different materials, or they can be of the same material to warrant the same liquid absorption. Preferably the second absorbent panel (4b) is symmetrical to the first absorbent panel (4a) with respect to the longitudinal axis (10), and the adjustable absorbent article is also symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis (10), allowing it to be symmetrically adjusted to different types of garments.
Referring to
On the other hand, the absorbent panel (4) can also be distal to the curvature of the rounded vertex (5), which allows the adjustable absorbent article to be adjusted when a garment has a thickness less than the vertex of the triangular-shaped longitudinal end of the absorbent core (3).
On the other hand, and referring to
Additionally, and referring to
Further, the adjustable absorbent article has at least one wing (6), wherein said wing (6) is located on the periphery of the adjustable absorbent article. Preferably, the wing (6) is on the top sheet (1) or on the bottom sheet (2), and is made of the same material as the top sheet (1) or the bottom sheet (2). Optionally, the surface of the wing (6) that is in contact with a user garment, has an adhesive material that allows the adjustable absorbent article to be attached to said garment.
In one embodiment of the invention, and referring to
Moreover, the absorbent core (3) preferably has absorbent granules (12). Said absorbent granules (12) are a particulate material embedded in the absorbent core (3), which allow the adjustable absorbent article to absorb more fluid. Said absorbent granules (12) can also be located in the top sheet (1), the bottom sheet (2), the absorbent panel (4) or the wings (6). Said absorbent granules (12) allow increasing the absorption of fluid throughout the adjustable absorbent article, that allows spill reduction.
The absorbent granules (12) are selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, potassium polyacrylate, silica gel, hydrogel, inorganic or organic crosslinked hydrophilic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylene oxides, crosslinked starches, guar gum, xanthan gum, equivalent materials known to any skilled artisan or combinations thereof.
On the other hand, and preferably, the absorbent core (3), the top sheet (1), the bottom sheet (2), the absorbent panel (4) or the acquisition layer (7) have at least one marking (8). Said marking (8) are embossed and debossed areas that allow distributing fluids that come into contact with the adjustable absorbent article along its entire surface. In addition, said marking (8) also allows said fluids that come into contact with the adjustable absorbent article, to not extend beyond the periphery of the absorbent core (3). Referring to
The shape of the marking (8) is selected from the group consisting of curves, curved lines having several turns around a point, spirals, hyperbolic spirals, Archimedean spirals, logarithmic spirals, Fermat spirals, squares, triangles, circles, rectangles, pentagons, trapezoids, ellipses, rhombuses, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, decagons, and equivalent shapes known to a skilled artisan or combinations thereof.
On the other hand, any of the faces of the absorbent core (3), the top sheet (1), the bottom sheet (2), the absorbent panel (4) or the acquisition layer (7) optionally have an imprint (11) on its surface. Said imprint (11) preferably has a shape that gives a feeling of depth, wherein one of the technical effects of including said imprint (11) is to generate in the end user a perception of depth which allows the person using the adjustable absorbent article to feel more confident when wearing it.
The imprint (11) is selected from the group consisting of curves, curved lines having several turns around a point, spirals, hyperbolic spirals, Archimedean spirals, logarithmic spirals, Fermat spirals, squares, triangles, circles, rectangles, pentagons, trapezoids, ellipses, rhombuses, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, decagons, and equivalent forms known to a skilled artisans or combinations thereof.
Referring to
Moreover, the absorbent core (3) has an oblong shape with two longitudinal ends, wherein one of the longitudinal ends has a triangular shape and a rounded vertex. Additionally, said absorbent core (3) has two overlapping absorbent sections (9) on the periphery of the triangular-shaped longitudinal end of the absorbent core (3). Said adjustable absorbent article also has an imprint (11) located on the acquisition layer (7).
Referring to
Moreover, the absorbent core (3) has an oblong oval shape with two longitudinal ends, wherein one of the longitudinal ends has a triangular shape and a rounded vertex. Additionally, said absorbent core (3) has a marking (8) on its surface. Said adjustable absorbent article also has an imprint (11) located on the acquisition layer (7).
Referring to
Moreover, the absorbent core (3) has an oblong shape with two longitudinal ends, wherein one of the longitudinal ends has a triangular shape and a rounded vertex, wherein the absorbent panels (4a, 4b) are overlapped on the edges of the triangular-shaped end. Additionally, said absorbent core (3) has a marking (8) on its surface. Said adjustable absorbent article also has an imprint (11) located on the acquisition layer (7).
Referring to
Moreover, the adjustable absorbent article positioned on the pantie-style garment (15), has folds both on the wings (6) and on the absorbent panel (4), because the area width of the pantie-style garment (15), where the adjustable absorbent article is found, is less than the width of the wingless adjustable absorbent article (6). This allows the adjustable absorbent article to be fixed to the garment in 4 support points.
Finally, the adjustable absorbent article positioned on the thong-like garment (16) has folds on the wings (6), and the absorbent panel (4) folds completely. This is due to the fact that the width of the area of the thong-style garment (16), where the adjustable absorbent article is found, is equal in size to the triangular shape of the absorbent article.
It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, given any skilled artisan will find variations and possible modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention, which are only defined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC2019/0003528 | Apr 2019 | CO | national |
