1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to absorbent articles, and more particularly to an absorbent article having an elastic laminate structure, that is smooth, low cost and easily manufactured, for improving fit, aesthetics and leakage resistance.
2. Background of the Related Art
Absorbent articles such as, for example, disposable diapers, adult incontinent pads, sanitary napkins, pantiliners, incontinent garments and the like are generally worn, in cooperation with garments and disposed against a body surface by infants or adult incontinent individuals. The absorbent article is employed to collect and absorb body fluid discharge, such as, for example, blood, menses, urine, aqueous body fluids, mucus, cellular debris and other forms of body discharge. For example, the absorbent article may be disposed between the legs of an individual adjacent a crotch area. The absorbent article is positioned with a garment and drawn into engagement with a body surface of the crotch area to collect body discharge.
As is known, absorbent articles typically include a fluid permeable coverstock for engaging the body surface, a fluid impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core supported therebetween. The backsheet serves as a moisture barrier to prevent fluid leakage to the garment. The absorbent core usually includes a liquid retention material that faces the body surface. The absorbent core can include, for example, loosely formed cellulosic fibers, such as, for example, wood pulp, rayon, or cotton for acquiring and storing body discharge. The absorbent core may also include tissue wrapping or wadding, and or super absorbent polymer.
Some absorbent article designs typically incorporate elastic elements in the waist, stomach, and leg areas for improving the fit, aesthetics and leakage resistance. The waist and stomach elastic elements increase the flexibility of the absorbent article, allowing the same article to accommodate a greater range of body sizes. In addition, they make the article more form-fitting for the wearer. Leg gather elastic elements and standing leg gathers have also been employed to help reduce leakage from the article when the absorbent cores cannot absorb body exudates fast enough.
Typically, these elastic elements include elastic strands to provide the absorbent article with retractive forces and a desired range of extension. Attachment of the elastic strands to the absorbent article can, however, create undesirable corrugations in the surface of the absorbent article. These disadvantageous corrugations may have a high amplitude and low frequency such that protuberances are formed giving the absorbent article a “bumpy” feel.
In an attempt to overcome these disadvantages, elastic films have been employed. Elastic films, however, may suffer from various drawbacks such as high cost, lower retractive forces and lower range of extension.
It would therefore be desirable to overcome the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art by providing an absorbent article, including an elastic laminate having an elastic film and elastic strands. Such an elastic laminate is configured to provide higher retractive forces and a wider range of extension. Desirably the elastic laminate is joined with the absorbent article to provide a substantially smooth surface laminate and comfort. It is contemplated that the elastic laminate is low cost and facilitates easy and efficient manufacture of the absorbent article.
Accordingly, an absorbent article, including an elastic laminate having an elastic film and elastic strands is disclosed. The elastic laminate is configured to provide higher retractive forces and a wider range of extension, and is joined with the absorbent article to provide a substantially smooth surface laminate and comfort. The elastic laminate is low cost and facilities easy and efficient manufacture of the absorbent article. Objects and advantages of the present disclosure are set forth in part herein and in part will be obvious therefrom, or may be learned by practice of the present disclosure that is realized and attained by the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims for the devices and methods of the present disclosure consisting of its constituent parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations, steps and improvements herein shown and described.
In one particular embodiment, an elasticized panel laminate includes a first nonwoven layer and a second nonwoven layer. An elastomeric film is positioned between the first and second nonwoven layers. The panel further includes a plurality of elastic strands positioned between the first and the second nonwoven layers. The elastic film layer- may include a plurality of spaced apart film strips. The elastic strands can be positioned directly on the film strips, or in the spaces adjacent the strips.
In an alternative embodiment, the elasticized panel laminate may include a plurality of elastic film layers. A first elastic film layer is positioned adjacent the first nonwoven layer, and a second elastic film layer is positioned adjacent the second nonwoven layer. The layer of elastic strands is positioned between the first and the second elastic film layers.
In another alternative embodiment, the elasticized panel laminate may include a plurality of elastic strand layers. A first elastic strand layer is adjacent the first nonwoven layer. A second elastic strand layer is positioned adjacent the second nonwoven layer. The elastic film layer is positioned between the first and the second elastic strand layers.
The objects and features of the present disclosure are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present disclosure, as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objectives and advantages may be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The exemplary embodiments of the absorbent article and methods of use disclosed are discussed in terms of fluid absorbent articles, and more particularly, in terms of an absorbent article including an elastic laminate structure that is smooth, low cost and easily manufactured for improving fit, aesthetics and leakage resistance. The presently disclosed absorbent article is contemplated to be employed with, for example, training pants, adult incontinent products, disposable diapers, and other incontinent articles.
In the discussion that follows, the term “body-facing surface” refers to a portion of a structure that is oriented towards a body surface, and the “garment-facing surface” refers to a portion of the structure that is oriented towards a garment and is typically opposing the body-facing surface and may be referred to as such. As used herein, the term “body surface” refers to a portion of an individual's body that the absorbent article is disposed with for collecting and absorbing fluid discharge from the individual. As used herein, the term “absorbent article,” “absorbent garment” or “garment” refers to garments that absorb and contain body waste, and more specifically, refers to garments that are placed against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain the various body discharges and wastes.
A non-exhaustive list of examples of absorbent articles includes training pants, diapers, diaper covers, disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products and adult incontinence products. The term absorbent articles includes all variations of absorbent garments, including disposable absorbent garments that are intended to be discarded or partially discarded after a single use and unitary disposable absorbent garments that have essentially a single structure. As used herein, the term “training pants” refers to an absorbent article generally worn by children about the lower torso. The absorbent article may be disposable or partially discarded after a single use. The absorbent article can be a unitary structure or include replaceable inserts or interchangeable parts.
Absorbent articles and diapers may have a number of different constructions. In each of these constructions it is generally the case that an absorbent core is disposed between a liquid pervious, body-facing topsheet and a liquid impervious, exterior facing backsheet. In some cases, one or both of the topsheet and backsheet may be shaped to form a pant-like article, such as a training pant. In other cases, the topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core may be formed as a discrete assembly that is placed on a main chassis layer and the chassis layer is shaped to form a pant-like absorbent article. The absorbent article may be provided to the consumer in the fully assembled pant-like shape or may be partially pant-like and require the consumer to take the final steps necessary to form the final pant-like shape. Training pants are typically fully formed and applied by pulling the absorbent article over a child's legs. For a diaper application, an open article is provided and wrapped about a child's waist, such as by manually fastening one or more fasteners or fastener tabs.
The following discussion includes a description of the absorbent article in accordance with the present disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in the accompanying Figures.
Turning now to the Figures, wherein like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the several views. Referring to
The leg gather 38 is formed by the contracting force of elastic regions 40 incorporated therein. Other elastic regions 42 are provided for improved fitting of the main body 30 to a waist portion of a wearer. The main body 30 comprises a backsheet 44 formed of liquid impermeable material, a topsheet 46 formed of liquid permeable material, preferably hydrophilic material, and an absorbent core 48 interposed therebetween. According to the present disclosure, the elastic regions 40, 42, lateral side portions 52, waist portions 54 and body sections 56 each include an elastic laminate panel 10 as described below. Each portion may include one or a plurality of elastic laminate panels 10 according to requirements of a particular application.
With reference to
The panel 10 is formed by positioning a layer of tensioned elastic strands 18 between the elongated elastic film 16 and either of the nonwoven layers 12, 14, and joining the layers 12, 14, 16, 18 together. Then the tension in the elastic strands 18 and film 16 is released thereby permitting them to contract and draw the outer layers 12, 14 into corrugations (pleats) of a desired thickness (amplitude) and frequency. When the corrugations are drawn apart, the panel 10 has resilient elastic properties. The elasticized panel 10 may be formed into the elastic regions 40, 42 or any portion of the training pant 50 using any suitable method, such as adhesive bonding or ultrasonic bonding, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.
The elastic strands 18 can be of suitable elastic material, such as, for example, natural rubber, butyl rubber or other synthetic rubber, urethane, or elastomeric materials such as spandex, which is marketed under various names, including LYCRA(® (DuPont), GLOSPAN™ (Globe) and SYSTEM 7000™ (Fulflex). The elastic film layer 16 can be, for example, a urethane based elastic or stretch film, such as EXTRAFLEX® available from Tredegar Film Products of Richmond, Va. The elastic film layer 16 may also be formed from other types of elastic films, multidirectional elastic aggregate such as elastic webbing, netting, scrim elastic, or foam. The present invention is not limited to any particular elastic material or to any particular shape, size or number of elastics. The non-woven layers 12, 14 may be a conventional spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) material sold under the trade designation polypropylene non-woven by Avgol of Holon, Israel. The SMS material may be of any suitable weight, for example, 13.5 grams per square meter (gsm), and any suitable thickness, for example, 0.6 mil. Other suitable nonwovens of similar weights or thicknesses may be carded, spunbond, or spunlaced materials manufactured by, for example, Polymer Group, Inc. (PGI) of Mooresville, N.C., BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. of Simpsonville, S.C. and Freudenberg Nonwovens of Durham, N.C.
The layers 12, 14, 16, 18 may be bonded using joining methods known in the art, such as, for example, pressure bonds, thermal bonds, ultrasonic bonds, adhesives, other attachment means, or combinations of different bonding methods. In the illustrative embodiment of the elasticized panel 10, as shown in
The film layer 16 can be attached to either of the nonwoven layers 12, 14 using adhesive. The adhesive can be applied, for example, as a solid coat to either the film or nonwoven. Alternately, the adhesive can be applied in either a channeled or uniform pattern. Suitable adhesives include HL-1258 by H. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minn., Findley 2031 and H2587-01 by Ato Findley Inc. of Wauwatosa, Wis., DISPOMELT® 34-5665 by National Starch Co. of Bridgewater, N.J., DISPOMELT® 34-578A by National Starch Co. of Bridgewater, N.J., and HL 1486UZP, which is available from H. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minn. Alternately, the film layer 16 can be joined to the nonwoven 12, 14 using ultrasonic bonding applied in either a channeled or uniform pattern.
The strands 18 can be attached to the either the film layer 16, the nonwoven layers 12, 14 or both using adhesive, ultrasonic, thermal, or pressure bonding, or the like. Such attachment of the strands 18 can be performed in either a continuous or intermittent manner. In this connection, it is noted that increasing the binding of the tensioned elastic strands 18 to the nonwoven or film can cause the strands 18 to become less elastic. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides for applying less glue/adhesive on the strands 18 in order to increase the elasticity of the formed panel 10. In addition, the strands 18 may be partially or wholly placed within channels (not shown) that have no glue so to form, for example, grooves, shapes, or undulations that enhance functionality of the panel 10.
It is envisioned that the elasticized panel 10 may include additional layers of strands 18, elastic films 16, nonwovens 12, 14, or other materials arranged in various configurations suitable for a variety of different applications. For example, while the elasticized panel 10 of
The elasticized panel 10 can include a plurality of elastic film layers 16. In an illustrative embodiment shown in
In an alternate embodiment of the elasticized panel 10, the elastic film layer can comprise a plurality of strips. In one example, as shown in
The elastic strands and elastic films, described above, can be differentiated using an identifying aspect ratio corresponding to a particular film or web versus a particular strand, fiber, filament, rope or yarn. In an alternate embodiment, the aspect ratio is determined based on the ratio of the longer dimension to the shorter dimension. For example, as shown in
As described above, an economical elastic film layer 16 is combined with a number of elastic strands 18 to form an elasticized panel 10 having smooth outer surfaces 12, 14 (i.e., low amplitude, high frequency corrugations), and also having desired retractive forces and range of extension. The film-to-nonwoven bonding across the wide surfaces of the elastic film 16 provides the resulting smoothness of the elasticized panel 10. The elastic strands 18 supplement the retractive forces of the elastic film 16, and provide the higher retractive forces and wider range of extension of the elasticized panel 10. The elasticized panel 10 is low-cost and easy to manufacture.
In an alternate embodiment, various components of elasticized panel 10 may elongated relative to other components upon assembly of panel 10. The percentage of elongation of a particular component is defined as the degree of difference of an elongated length of an elastomeric component versus a relaxed, non-elongated length of the same component. This can be expressed by the equation: % Elongation=(elongated length−relaxed length)/(relaxed length)×100. Thus, a component such as elastic strands 18 may have a percentage of elongation that is not equal to the percentage of elongation of elastic film 16. For example, elastic strands 18 can have a percentage of elongation that is greater than a percentage of elongation of elastic film 16 when the components of panel 10 are laminated together. It is contemplated that elastic strands 18 may have a percentage of elongation that is less than a percentage of elongation elastic film 16, or alternatively, the percentages of elongation for the components of elasticized panel 10 may be equivalent.
In an alternate embodiment, elastic film layer(s) 16 and elastic strands 18 include alternative visual indicia to indicate alternate attachment positions of closure mechanisms for adjusting the fit of the article to a desired degree. It is contemplated that the visual indicia may include alternative coloring, designs, etc. For example, elastic film layer 16 may be colored blue and elastic strands 18 may be colored pink. It is envisioned that layer 16 and strands 18 may have various combinations of visually contrasting colors. It is further envisioned that layer 16 and strands 18 may be colored across a range of shading.
The claims are intended to cover all of the foregoing classes of absorbent articles, without limitation, whether disposable, unitary or otherwise. These classifications are used interchangeably throughout the specification, but are not intended to limit the claimed invention. The invention will be understood to encompass, without limitation, all classes of absorbent articles, including those described above.
The invention of the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.