Patent Application
20130289512
Disposable garments, such as disposable absorbent pant-like garments, are in widespread use in society. For example, disposable incontinence underwear, disposable enuresis underwear, disposable toilet training pants, and disposable pull-on diapers are common. In one common embodiment of such garments, a front region and a back region are interconnected by a crotch region, and the front region and the back region are further connected to each other along a pair of side seams, such that the garment assumes a pull-on style form having a waist opening and two leg openings. In addition to the ability to provide protection against leakage, it is desirable for such products to provide both comfort and discretion to the wearer.
Unfortunately, the seams of such products, such as the side seams described above, have not delivered acceptable levels of softness and discretion. The inventors have found that by making the side seam as narrow as possible, the degree of discretion offered by the garment is maximized. Furthermore, the inventors have determined that by making the side seam as soft and flexible as possible, the degree of comfort offered to the wearer is maximized
Strohbeen et al. recognized the desirability of providing an exterior seam or seal on a disposable garment that is narrow and therefore discreet in U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,681, assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. For example, Strohbeen et al. teaches the desirability of a side seam having a width of between 1/16″ and 3/16″ inches, and preferably having a width of ⅛″. However, Strohbeen offers no teaching on how to construct a narrow side seam so as to be soft and flexible. Furthermore, after extensive testing of commercially available disposable garments having bonded side seams, the present inventors have been unsuccessful in finding garments whose side seams are both sufficiently narrow and sufficiently soft/flexible.
Accordingly, what is needed is a disposable garment having seams that are both narrow/discreet, as well as soft/flexible.
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a disposable garment having a fin seam, wherein the fin seam has a Height no greater than 6 millimeters and a Rigidity no greater than 0.6 gram-force/%-compression as measured by the Test Method.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a disposable, pant-like garment having a waist opening, first and second leg openings, a first side fin seam extending substantially from the waist opening to the first leg opening, and a second side fin seam extending substantially from the waist opening to the second leg opening. Each side fin seam has a Height no greater than 6 millimeters and a Rigidity no greater than 0.6 gram-force/%-compression as measured by the Test Method.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a disposable, pant-like, absorbent garment defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, a front region, a back region, and a crotch region, the garment having a front center panel and a back center panel, the front region including first and second elastomeric front side panels extending transversely from the front center panel, the back region including first and second elastomeric back side panels extending transversely from the back center panel. The first elastomeric front side panel is bonded to the first elastomeric back side panel along an outwardly extending first side fin seam, and the second elastomeric front side panel is bonded to the second elastomeric back side panel along an outwardly extending second side fin seam. Each side panel comprises an elastomeric film laminate. Each side fin seam has a Height no greater than 6 millimeters and a Rigidity no greater than 0.6 gram-force/%-compression as measured by the Test Method. The garment can include an absorbent composite.
Within the context of this specification, each term or phrase below will include the following meaning or meanings. Additional terms are defined elsewhere in the specification.
“Bonded” refers to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered to be bonded together when they are bonded directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directly bonded to intermediate elements.
“Disposable” refers to articles which are designed to be discarded after a limited use rather than being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse.
“Elastic,” “elasticized” and “elasticity” mean that property of a material or composite by virtue of which it tends to recover its original size and shape after removal of a force causing a deformation.
“Elastomeric” refers to a material or composite which can be elongated by at least 50 percent of its relaxed length and which will recover, upon release of the applied force, at least 20 percent of its elongation. It is generally preferred that the elastomeric material or composite be capable of being elongated by at least 100 percent, more preferably by at least 200 percent, of its relaxed length and recover, upon release of an applied force, at least 50 percent of its elongation.
“Integral” is used to refer to various portions of a single unitary element rather than separate structures bonded to or placed with or placed near one another.
“Layer” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.
“Longitudinal” and “transverse” have their customary meaning, as indicated by the longitudinal and transverse axes depicted in the Figures. The longitudinal axis lies in the plane of the article and is generally parallel to a vertical plane that bisects a standing wearer into left and right body halves when the article is worn. The transverse axis lies in the plane of the article generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
These terms may be defined with additional language in the remaining portions of the specification.
Reference to the Figures shall be made in describing various aspects and embodiments of the invention. It should be noted that the embodiments depicted in the Figures and described herein are merely representative examples of the garments of the invention. The various embodiments of the present invention can take the form of, for example, adult incontinence pants, open or pull-on disposable diapers, disposable swim pants, disposable training pants, disposable enuresis garments, surgical gowns, disposable clothing, menstrual panties, and the like.
In particular embodiments, referring to
In one example, the garment is a disposable, pant-like, absorbent garment 20 that defines a longitudinal direction 12 and a transverse direction 14, a front region 21, a back region 23, and a crotch region 25. The front region 21 includes first and second front side panels 32, 33 extending transversely from a front center panel 34, and the back region 23 includes first and second back side panels 35, 36 extending transversely from a back center panel 37. In particular embodiments, the first front side panel 32 is bonded to the first back side panel 35 along a first side fin seam 30, and the second front side panel 33 is bonded to the second back side panel 36 along a second side fin seam 31. The fin seams 30, 31 can comprise a bond formed via ultrasonic, heat, or pressure energy, or can be formed via other suitable means.
The front side panels 32, 33, the back side panels 35, 36, or preferably both the front side panels and the back side panels are elastomeric. In particular embodiments, each side panel comprises an elastomeric film 44, and in particular embodiments each side panel comprises an elastomeric film throughout each side fin seam 30, 31. Preferably, each side panel 32, 33, 35, 36 comprises an elastomeric film laminate. In particular embodiments, the front center panel 34, the back center panel 37, or both the front and back center panels 34, 37 comprise an elastomeric film, and preferably comprise an elastomeric film laminate.
Examples of elastomeric film laminates suitable for use in the side panels and the center panels are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,244 issued Sep. 28, 2010 to Siqueira et al. and assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., the entirely of which is hereby incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent herewith. In one example, the elastomeric film laminate employed in the side panels is elastomeric film 44 sandwiched between two nonwoven layers 45, 45 (
In particular embodiments, the front center panel 34, the first front side panel 32, and the second front side panel 33 together integrally form a unitary front body panel 38, representatively illustrated in
In particular embodiments, the garment 20 includes an absorbent composite 29. In particular embodiments, the absorbent composite comprises a liquid-permeable body-facing liner 84 configured to contact a wearer's skin, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 85 that faces away from the wearer's skin, and a fluid-absorbing core 87 sandwiched between the liner 84 and the backsheet 85. In one embodiment of the garment 20, the absorbent composite 29 does not extend to the waist opening, as representatively illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. In another embodiment of the garment 20, the absorbent composite 29 extends to the waist opening, as representatively illustrated in
In particular embodiments, one or more fin seams extend outward from the garment. “Extend outward” or “outwardly extending” as used herein means to protrude generally in a direction away from the wearer of the garment. For example, referring to
Each fin seam in the garment 20 has a height no greater than 6.0 millimeters, still more particularly no greater than 5.5 millimeters, and still more particularly no greater than 5.3 millimeters as measured by the Test Method described below. Additionally, each fin seam in the garment 20 has a rigidity no greater than 0.6, more particularly no greater than 0.5, still more particularly no greater than 0.4, still more particularly no greater than 0.3, and still more particularly no greater than 0.22 grams-force per %-compression, as measured by the Test Method described below.
The purpose of the following Test Method is to measure both the height and the rigidity of fin seams used in conjunction with the present invention. In summary, a probe attached to a load cell dynamically presses down on a fin seam, and both height and rigidity (resistance to compression) data is collected.
Equipment
1. Compression tester 50—Texture Analyzer, model TA.XT Plus, manufactured by Texture Technologies Corp., 18 Fairview Road, Scarsdale, N.Y. (
2. Data acquisition software—Exponent Stable Micro System Version 5,1,1,0., available from Texture Technologies Corp.
3. Cylinder platen 52, six (6) millimeters in diameter (part number P/6: 6 millimeter DIA CYLINDER STAINLESS, available from Texture Technologies Corp.), affixed to the load cell.
4. Two (2) kilogram calibration weight, available from Texture Technologies Corp.
5. Sample Mounting Plate 54—smooth aluminum or stainless steel plate, approximately 15 centimeters by 7.5 centimeters and 0.8 millimeters thick.
6. Lower Mounting Fixture 56. The Lower Mounting Fixture 56 utilized had a top pedestal section 58 approximately 25 centimeters long and 6 centimeters wide, having a top surface 60 held approximately 10 centimeters above the base 51 of the compression tester 50 by a support post 62. Two retaining clamps 64, 64 (such as horizontal hold-down toggle locking clamps, part no. 206-SS from DE-STA-CO, modified to include rectangular jaws 64a, 64a), are mounted to the top surface 60 of the pedestal section 58 such that their position is adjustable from one side of the compression tester to the other (such as via a Left-Right Screw Motion UniSlides Series A25 Model #2509C-S2.5-LR linear slide 69 from Velmex, Inc., Bloomfield, N.Y.). The inner edges 65, 65 of the clamp jaws 64a, 64a are spaced five (5) centimeters from each other when the clamps are in the closed position 68 (
7. Masking tape—25 millimeters wide, model no. 234 from the 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., or comparable equivalent (i.e., suitable for performing the function described below).
8. Hook- or mushroom-style mechanical fasteners 71 (
Table 1 lists the settings that are employed in the Test Method. The data acquisition rate is set to 25 points per second. The load cell capacity is five (5) kilograms.
Test Procedure
1. Warm up the compression tester 50, and calibrate and verify the load cell force output according to the manufacturer's manual.
2. Position the cylinder platen 52 at the upper test arm and position the lower mounting fixture 56 as shown in
3. Clamp the mounting plate 54 within the clamps 64, 64 as shown in
4. Set up the test program in the “T.A. Settings” in accordance with the settings set forth in Table 1.
5. Isolate the fin seam portion of the garment by cutting along lines that run parallel to and that are spaced approximately four (4) centimeters from the fin seam.
6. Position the sample 70 atop the plate so that the fin seam extends along a longitudinal centerline 55 of the plate 54. If the sample 70 is elastomeric, stretch the sample slightly (i.e., up to approximately 15-20% elongation) to make the sample slightly taut. Secure the side portions 72, 72 of the sample 70 to the upward-facing surface of the mounting plate 54 using adhesive-backed mechanical fastener strips 71, 71 (such that the adhesive adheres the mechanical fastener strips to the plate 54 and such that the mechanical engaging elements engage the nonwoven sample 70), or other suitable securing means.
7. Clamp the mounting plate 54 along with the sample 70 to the lower mounting fixture 56 using the clamps 64, 64.
8. Once clamped to the lower mounting fixture, if the fin seam is not substantially vertical (such as if the fin seam is curled over to one side) in the region of the fin seam having close proximity to the path of the cylinder platen, position a first piece of masking tape 66a and a second piece of masking tape 66b such that each extends from one side portion 72 to the opposite side portion 72, each piece of masking tape thereby passing over respective portions of the fin seam 30. The inner edge 67 of the first piece of masking tape is spaced 5 centimeters from the inner edge 67 of the second piece of masking tape (
9. Adjust the position of the sample 70 and sample mounting plate 54 so that the fin seam 30 is directly under the center (+/−2 mm) of the central axis of the cylinder platen 52, and, if masking tape is used to urge the seam upright, so that the central axis of the cylinder platen is equidistant from the inner edges 67, 67 of the first and second pieces of masking tape 66a, 66b (in the direction extending from the front to the back of the compression tester 50) (
10. Activate the downward movement of the platen.
11. The height of each sample is the vertical displacement of the platen (using the zero point determined in step 3 above) when the compression force reaches 0.5 grams.
12. The platen continues to advance down to compress the fin seam. The vertical displacement of the platen (using the zero point determined in step 3 above) at the point where the compression force reaches 2.5 grams is recorded. When the compressive force reaches ten (10) grams, the probe stops and retracts to its starting position.
13. After the cylinder platen has completed its downward and return cycle, the force (grams) and distance (millimeters) data is recorded in the computer and exported to a readable format such as a Windows Excel spreadsheet according to the software operation manual.
14. The rigidity of each sample is the average slope of the compression curve (force versus %-compression) from the point at which the compression force registers 0.5 grams to the point at which the compression force registers 2.5 grams. The equation used to calculate rigidity is given by:
Rigidity=2 grams/[Height(0.5 grams)−Height(at 2.5 grams))/Height(0.5 grams)*100%]
15. Test a total of at least sixteen (16) fin seam samples in accordance with steps 5-14 above. For pant-like garments that have left and right fin side seams, this requires a minimum of eight (8) garments. As used herein, “Height” means the average of the height measured on a minimum of sixteen (16) randomly selected fin seam samples. As used herein, “Rigidity” means the average of the rigidity measured on a minimum of sixteen (16) randomly selected fin seam samples.
The height and rigidity of the fin side seams of a variety of disposable absorbent garments available for purchase in the United States were examined.
Description of Products Examined
MOONY PANTS Diaper Pant (Japan; available in U.S. via internet only)
Both Code R and Code S were created by using an elastomeric film laminate material disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,244 issued Sep. 28, 2010 to Siqueira et al. and assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. to construct the side panels and the center panel of the garment. A front panel web and a back panel web of the material were each stretched to 100% elongation at a tension load of approximately 158 Newtons/meter. While held at that elongation, side seam bonds approximately four (4) millimeters wide were made using an ultrasonic horn and anvil (comprising three columns of dots in the example of
Tables 2 and 3 present the data collected for each product. In each table, the first column lists the product code; the second column lists the number of specimens tested for each product code; the third column lists statistical groupings at the 95% confidence level; and the fourth column present the average value of the parameter in question (i.e., rigidity or height).
As shown by the data in Tables 2 and 3, only the inventors' experimental codes included fin side seams that were both relatively short (e.g., no taller than 6 mm) and relatively soft (e.g., a rigidity no greater than 0.6 grams-force/%-compression). As discussed earlier, it is the combination of these two features in a garment fin seam that can help deliver optimum discretion, comfort, and softness. Due in part to the material, manufacturing, and product integrity challenges associated with creating such garments, prior commercial products have been unable to achieve the combined characteristics of particular embodiments of the present invention.
