Patent Application
20200085633
The present invention relates to pant-type absorbent articles having an elastic belt having zones of particular stiffness profiles.
Infants and other incontinent individuals wear absorbent articles such as diapers to receive and contain urine and other body exudates. Pull-on absorbent articles, or pant-type absorbent articles, are those which are donned by inserting the wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the article up into position about the lower torso. Pant-type absorbent articles have become popular for use on children who are able to walk and often who are toilet training, as well as for younger children who become more active in movement such that application of taped-type absorbent articles tends to be more difficult, and also for younger babies requiring a soft fit around the waist opening and leg openings.
Pant-type articles may take various structures wherein the circumference of the waist opening and vicinity thereof is made elastic enough to facilitate the wearer or the caregiver to expand the article and insert the wearer's legs into the leg openings for wearing the article. The region of the waist circumference and vicinity thereof is often referred to as the elastic belt. One type of structure for the pant-type article is the belt-type pant having a central chassis to cover the crotch region of the wearer and a separate elastic belt defining the waist opening and leg opening, such as described in PCT Publication WO 2006/17718A. Another type of structure for the pant-type article is the uni-body pant configured such that the outer cover of the article completely covers the entirety of the garment-facing surface of the article, wherein the portion configured to stretch about the torso is considered the elastic belt region.
Whatever the structure of the pant-type article may be, these articles are typically so configured to accommodate size and configuration ranges by providing the elastic belt region very stretchable and comfortable to wear, yet with reliable fit such that sufficient protection against sagging and leakage may be provided. Further, the elastic belt region may be provided elastic by many elastic strands running in the transverse direction of the article. For those wearers having a proportionally big front waist/belly compared to the back waist, which includes a majority of young children under 36 months old, the front elastic belt region has a tendency to sag or fold during wear, due to the pressure from the front waist. Such sagging or folding provides a negative impression of fit and protection, and may also be uncomfortable for the wearer. However, simply providing this region with higher tensile stress would cause further discomfort for the wearer.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an absorbent article providing improved fit properties of the front elastic region, and more specifically, to prevent sagging and folding of the front elastic region. There is also a need for providing such an absorbent article economically.
The present invention is directed to an absorbent article continuous in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction comprising a front elastic belt region, a back elastic belt region, a crotch region, a waist opening and two leg openings; the article further comprising a center chassis comprising an absorbent core which extends longitudinally from the front elastic belt region to the back elastic belt region;
the front elastic belt region having a front absorbent core stiffness edge wherein the distance from the distal edge to the front absorbent core stiffness edge defines a length L2, wherein L2 is not greater than about 77 mm, wherein the front elastic belt region is divided into 3 zones extending in the transverse direction and defined by its location from the distal edge wherein; 0-50% of L2 is a Zone 1, 50-100% of L2 is a Zone 2, and the remainder of the front elastic belt region is a Zone 3;
wherein Zone 1 has a Vertical Stiffness Z1, Zone 2 has a Vertical Stiffness of Z2, and Zone 3 has a Vertical Stiffness of Z3 according to the measurements herein, and having a relationship of Z1≤Z2≤Z3;
wherein the article having a Stretch Circumference Force and a Full Circumference according to the measurements herein, wherein the ratio of Stretch Circumference Force to Full Circumference is less than about 0.01 (N/mm).
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and which like designations are used to designate substantially identical elements, and in which:
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meaning specified thereafter:
“Absorbent article” refers to articles of wear which may be in the form of pants, taped diapers, incontinent briefs, feminine hygiene garments, and the like. The “absorbent article” may be so configured to also absorb and contain various exudates such as urine, feces, and menses discharged from the body. The “absorbent article” may serve as an outer cover adaptable to be joined with a separable disposable absorbent insert for providing absorbent and containment function, such as those disclosed in PCT publication WO 2011/087503A.
“Pant” refers to disposable absorbent articles having a pre-formed waist and leg openings. A pant may be donned by inserting a wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the pant into position about the wearer's lower torso. Pants are also commonly referred to as “closed diapers”, “prefastened diapers”, “pull-on diapers”, “training pants” and “diaper-pants”. “Longitudinal” refers to a direction running substantially perpendicular from a waist edge to an opposing waist edge of the article and generally parallel to the maximum linear dimension of the article.
“Transverse” refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. “Proximal” and “distal” refer respectively to the position closer or farther relative to the longitudinal center of the article.
“Body-facing” and “garment-facing” refer respectively to the relative location of an element or a surface of an element or group of elements. “Body-facing” implies the element or surface is nearer to the wearer during wear than some other element or surface. “Garment-facing” implies the element or surface is more remote from the wearer during wear than some other element or surface (i.e., element or surface is proximate to the wearer's garments that may be worn over the disposable absorbent article).
“Disposed” refers to an element being located in a particular place or position. “Joined” refers to configurations whereby an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element and to configurations whereby an element is indirectly secured to another element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element.
“Film” refers to a sheet-like material wherein the length and width of the material far exceed the thickness of the material. Typically, films have a thickness of about 0.5 mm or less. “Water-permeable” and “water-impermeable” refer to the penetrability of materials in the context of the intended usage of disposable absorbent articles. Specifically, the term “water-permeable” refers to a layer or a layered structure having pores, openings, and/or interconnected void spaces that permit liquid water, urine, or synthetic urine to pass through its thickness in the absence of a forcing pressure. Conversely, the term “water-impermeable” refers to a layer or a layered structure through the thickness of which liquid water, urine, or synthetic urine cannot pass in the absence of a forcing pressure (aside from natural forces such as gravity). A layer or a layered structure that is water-impermeable according to this definition may be permeable to water vapor, i.e., may be “vapor-permeable”.
“Extendibility” and “extensible” mean that the width or length of the component in a relaxed state can be extended or increased.
“Elasticated” and “elasticized” mean that a component comprises at least a portion made of elastic material.
“Elongatable material”, “extensible material”, or “stretchable material” are used interchangeably and refer to a material that, upon application of a biasing force, can stretch to an elongated length of at least about 110% of its relaxed, original length (i.e. can stretch to 10 percent more than its original length), without rupture or breakage, and upon release of the applied force, shows little recovery, less than about 20% of its elongation without complete rupture or breakage as measured by EDANA method 20.2-89. In the event such an elongatable material recovers at least 40% of its elongation upon release of the applied force, the elongatable material will be considered to be “elastic” or “elastomeric.” For example, an elastic material that has an initial length of 100 mm can extend at least to 150 mm, and upon removal of the force retracts to a length of at least 130 mm (i.e., exhibiting a 40% recovery). In the event the material recovers less than 40% of its elongation upon release of the applied force, the elongatable material will be considered to be “substantially non-elastic” or “substantially non-elastomeric”. For example, an elongatable material that has an initial length of 100 mm can extend at least to 150 mm, and upon removal of the force retracts to a length of at least 145 mm (i.e., exhibiting a 10% recovery).
“Artwork” refers to a visual presentation to the naked eye, which is provided by printing or otherwise, and having a color. Printing includes various methods and apparatus well known to those skilled in the art such as lithographic, screen printing, flexographic, and gravure ink jet printing techniques.
“Color” or “Colored” as referred to herein includes any primary color except color white, i.e., black, red, blue, violet, orange, yellow, green, and indigo as well as any declination thereof or mixture thereof. The color white is defined as those colors having a L* value of at least 94, an a* value equal to 0±2, and a b* value equal to 0±2 according to the CIE L* a* b* color system.
The absorbent article 20 may be a belt-type pant comprising a central chassis 38 to cover the crotch region of the wearer, a front belt 84 and a back belt 86 (hereinafter may be referred to as “front and back belts”), the front and back belts 84, 86 forming a discrete ring-like elastic belt 40 (hereinafter may be referred to as “waist belt”) extending transversely defining the waist opening. For the belt-type pant, the discrete ring-like elastic belt 40 may also be referred to as the elastic belt region 40. For the belt-type pant, the front and back belts 84, 86 and the central chassis 38 jointly define the leg openings. The absorbent article 20 may be a uni-body type pant wherein the central chassis 38 is continuous with the front and back belt 84, 86, wherein the leg openings are continuously formed. For the uni-body pant, the belt portion existing between the side seams are considered the elastic belt region 40, wherein the elastic belt region 40 is considered to terminate by an imaginary line running in the transverse direction between the proximal edges of the side seams. The remainder of the article except the elastic belt region 40 is considered the crotch region 30.
The central chassis 38 may comprise a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core 62 disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and further an outer cover layer 42 for covering the garment-facing side of the backsheet. The topsheet may be a water permeable substrate. The backsheet may be a water impermeable film. The outer cover layer 42 may be a nonwoven sheet. The central chassis 38 may contain an absorbent core 62 for absorbing and containing body exudates disposed on the central chassis 38, and an absorbent material non-existing region 61 surrounding the periphery of the absorbent core 62. The absorbent material non-existing region 61 may be made of the topsheet and/or the backsheet and/or the outer cover layer 42 and/or other parts configuring the central chassis 38. In the embodiment shown in
The absorbent core 62 may include an absorbent layer and an acquisition layer. The absorbent layer is the region wherein absorbent materials having a high retention capacity, such as superabsorbent polymers, are present. The absorbent layer may be substantially cellulose free. Superabsorbent polymers of the absorbent layer may be disposed between first and second layers of material immobilized by a fibrous layer of thermoplastic adhesive material. The first and second layers of materials may be nonwoven fibrous webs including synthetic fibers, such as mono-constituent fibers of PE, PET and PP, multiconstituent fibers such as side by side, core/sheath or island in the sea type fibers. Such synthetic fibers may be formed via a spunbonding process or a meltblowing process. The acquisition layer facilitates the acquisition and the distribution of body exudates and may be placed between the topsheet and the absorbent layer. The acquisition layer may include cellulosic fibers.
Referring to
The absorbent layers may be disposed in plurality in the absorbent core 62. Some portions of the absorbent layers may be configured to have substantially no absorbent material to form a channel or a plurality of channels. Channels may be useful for allowing the absorbent core to bend upon swelling with fluids, such that the absorbent article conforms to the wearer's body after swelling and prevent sagging of the article. The channels may also be formed in the acquisition layer, and may be configured to at least partly match the channels of the absorbent layer in the thickness direction.
The elastic belt region 40 of the article of the present invention acts to dynamically create fitment forces and to distribute the forces dynamically generated during wear. The front and back elastic belt regions 84, 86 may be joined with each other only at the side edges 89 at the seams 32 to form a wearable article having a waist opening and two leg openings. Each leg opening may be provided with elasticity around the perimeter of the leg opening. The elasticity around the leg opening may be provided by the combination of elasticity from the front elastic belt region 84, the back elastic belt region 86, and any from the central chassis 38.
The transverse width of the backsheet and the outer cover layer 42 may be the same, or may be varied (not shown). For example, the backsheet may have a shorter transverse width compared to that of the outer cover layer 42. By such configuration, the longitudinal side edges 48 of the crotch region 30, which make part of the leg openings, may have better breathability. Further, such configuration may provide cost saving.
Still referring to
Referring to
The aforementioned Zones 1, 2, and 3 may be imparted Vertical Stiffness by a number of measures including, but not limited thereof, 1) the number of layers of materials, 2) the stiffness of the materials, 3) the force provided by the disposed elastic bodies 96, and 4) method of bonding the materials, for example, by adhesive. In that Zone 3 comprises the absorbent core, this zone has the most number of layers of materials, as well as stiffness imparted by the absorbent core. Thus, Z3 may easily be much greater than Z1 and Z2. Meanwhile, in that Zone 2 is in the vicinity of the edge of the absorbent core 62, there may be desire to avoid having continuous elastic bodies 96 in this zone. Thus, even when the number of layers of material of Zone 2 may be more than that of Zone 1, Z2 may be smaller than Z1 due to lack of force of the elastic bodies 96. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that when Z2 is lower than both Z1 and Z3, the pressure coming from the protruded front waist of the wearer corresponding to Zone 2 may force Zone 2 to fold, and even lead to sagging of the entire front waist elastic region 84. It is further believed that, when Z2 is lower than both Z1 and Z3, the greater the gradient between Z2 compared to Z1 and Z3, the greater the tendency of folding and sagging. On the other hand, there is interest to control the stiffness of Zone 2 from becoming too high that it may cause unnecessary discomfort to the wearer. Thus, the Vertical Stiffness of Zones 1, 2, and 3 may be adjusted to effect a relationship of Z1≤Z2≤Z3. Z3, and hence all of Z1-Z3, may be less than 65 gf.
Further, in order to control the tightness perception or softness perception of the article, the following force parameters may be used as guidance. The article of the present invention may have a suitable Stretch Circumference Force (N) according to the Whole Article Force Measurement below. What is meant by Stretch Circumference Force is the loading force at a certain stretch level which is believed to simulate initial stretch experience felt by the user when inserting hands and stretch opening the article. The level of stretch which is believed to be felt by the user when stretch opening the article is represented by the 70% Stretch Circumference (mm) also according to the Whole Article Force Measurement herein. The article of the present invention has a Stretch Circumference Force of no greater than about 7N, or no greater than about 6.5N, or no greater than about 6N. By having such Stretch Circumference Force, the elastic belt can be easily opened and applied. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the lower the Stretch Circumference Force, the elastic belt region may be stretched with less force, thus less tight and softer the perception of the elastic belt region by the user.
The article of the present invention may have a Full Circumference (mm) according to the Whole Article Force Measurement below. The Full Circumference means to measure the maximum circumference to which the article may be stretch opened. The maximum circumference at 19.6N is defined as the Full Circumference (mm). In the present invention, the ratio of Stretch Circumference Force to Full Circumference is less than about 0.01 (N/mm). Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the smaller the ratio, the softer fit may be provided for the same material used for forming the transverse dimension of the elastic belt region.
The article of the present invention may have a suitable Fit Circumference Force (N) according to the Whole Article Force Measurement below. What is meant by Fit Circumference Force is the unloading force at a certain stretch level which is believed to simulate the force felt by the wearer while wearing the article. The level of stretch which is believed to be felt by the wearer while wearing the article is also represented by the 70% Stretch Circumference (mm). The article of the present invention has a Fit Circumference Force of no less than about 2N. By having such Fit Circumference Force, the elastic belt provides good fit to prevent sagging and leakage. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that by having a relatively low Stretch Circumference Force of no greater than about 7N in combination with a minimum Fit Circumference Force of no less than about 2N, an elastic belt region having ease of application and a secure yet soft fit may be provided. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that by providing the aforementioned Stretch Circumference Force and Fit Circumference Force, the pant-type article of the present invention provides an overall satisfactory tactile sense to the user upon touching, applying, and wearing the article.
Referring to
Some elastics may be disposed to impart higher tensile stress in certain regions. A plurality of elastics may collectively be disposed to impart a relatively higher or lower tensile stress compared to other regions. Such collective elastics are also referred to herein as zones. The zones of the front elastic belt region 84 are defined above as Zones 1, 2, and 3. The zones of the back elastic belt region 86 may also extend in the transverse direction and defined by its location from the distal edge 88 to the proximal edge 90 relative to the percentage of the seam length LS, as such:
Zones of higher tensile stress may be disposed with an array of 2-4 elastic strands having an interval within the array of between 2-4 mm. The tensile stress of Zone 3 may be higher than any of Zones 1 and 2. The tensile stress of the back tummy zone 105B may be higher than the tensile stress of any other zone. The array may be disposed on the back tummy zone 105B. The array may be disposed on Zone 3.
This test method is used to measure Vertical Stiffness which is the stiffness peak force (go required to compress the front elastic belt region 84 of an absorbent article along the longitudinal axis LX in a vertical direction of the article. A finished article is used with its seams at least partially left attached. Force is measured using an Electronic Tensile Tester with a computer interface such as the MTS Criterion C42 running TestWorks 4 Software (available from MTS SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD) or equivalent instrument. A load cell is selected so that force results for the samples tested will be between 10 and 90% of capacity of the load cell used. The instrument is calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. All testing is performed in a room maintained at 23±2° C. and 50±5% relative humidity. Samples are pre-conditioned in a room maintained at 23±2° C. and 50±5% relative humidity, for at least 2 hours prior to testing. Samples are used as immediately taken out from a package with no treatment.
Referring to
Five samples are analyzed and the average Vertical Stiffness values Z1, Z2, and Z3 are calculated and reported to the nearest 0.1 gf, respectively.
Force of a pant-type article is measured using an Electronic Tensile Tester with a computer interface such as the MTS Criterion C42 running TestWorks 4 Software (available from MTS SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD) or equivalent instrument. A load cell is selected so that force results for the samples tested will be between 10 and 90% of capacity of the load cell used. The instrument is calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. All testing is performed in a room maintained at 23±2° C. and 50±5% relative humidity.
The tensile tester is fitted with hanger-type sample holding fixtures 300 as shown in
Gauge Circumference=2×(H+D+πD/2)
where H is the vertical gap between the horizontal bar sections 302, and D is the outer diameter of the bar.
The instrument is set up to go through the following steps:
A sample article 20 is inserted onto the upper horizontal bar section 302 so that the bar passes through the waist opening and one leg opening of the article. The crosshead is raised until the specimen hangs above the lower bar and does not touch lower bar 302. The load cell is tared and the crosshead is lowered to enable the lower bar 302 to be inserted through the waist opening and other leg opening without stretching the article. The article is adjusted so that the longitudinal centerline LX of the article is in a horizontal plane halfway between the upper and lower bars 302. The center of the side portion in contact with the bar 302 is situated on the same vertical axis as the instrument load cell. The crosshead is raised slowly while the article is held in place by hand as necessary until the force is between 0.05 and 0.1N, while taking care not to add any unnecessary force. The gauge circumference at this point is the Initial Gauge Circumference. The test is initiated and the crosshead moves up at 254 mm/min until a force of 19.6N is attained, then the crosshead immediately returns to the Initial Gauge Circumference at the same speed. The maximum circumference at 19.6N during the extension segment of the test is recorded.
The maximum circumference at 19.6N is defined as the Full Circumference (mm). The Full Circumference multiplied by 0.7 is defined as the 70% Stretch Circumference (mm). The Stretch Circumference Force is defined as the force at the 70% Stretch Circumference during the load (extension) segment of the test. The Fit Circumference Force is defined as the force at 70% Stretch Circumference during the unload (contraction) segment of the test.
Five samples are analyzed and their average Initial Gauge Circumference, average Full Circumference, average Stretch Circumference Force and average Fit Circumference Force are calculated and reported to the nearest 1 mm or 0.01 N, respectively.
The Zone Tensile Stress Measurement herein is for articles wherein the front belt and the back belt form a ring-like elastic belt, and all of the elastic bodies sandwiched between the inner sheet and the outer sheet run in the transverse direction substantially parallel to each other. The tensile stress (N/m) is calculated by tensile force (N) divided by the longitudinal length (m) of the specimen. Force may be measured using an Electronic Tensile Tester with a computer interface such as the MTS Criterion C42 running TestWorks 4 Software (available from MTS SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD) or equivalent instrument. A load cell is chosen so that force results for the samples tested will be between 10 and 90% of capacity of the load cell. The instrument is calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. All testing is performed in a room maintained at 23±2° C. and 50±5% relative humidity. The instrument is equipped with single line contact grips at least as wide as the test specimen.
To obtain test specimens, the sample article is opened at both side seams in a manner such that the front and back belts are peeled away from each other without removing the side seam area, and the front and rear elastic belts are removed from the central chassis 38 by separating the bonding between the waist belt and central chassis. Cold spray may be used, paying attention not to make wrinkles in the belt sections. Care is taken not to spray on any belt elastic body 96. The obtained front and back belts 84, 86 are severed into zones Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, 102B, 105B, and 108B as defined above with care not to cut any elastic body 96. Samples are pre-conditioned at 23±2 C.° and 50±5% relative humidity for two hours prior to testing. Measure the longitudinal length of each specimen by a generic metal ruler to the nearest 1 mm. By longitudinal length, what is meant is the dimensions Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, 102B, 105B, and 108B in
The instrument is set up to go through the following steps. Initial Gauge Length is calculated from the Initial Gauge Circumference which is determined during the Whole Article Force Test using separate identical articles, as described above. The Initial Gauge Length is defined as 50% of the Initial Gauge Circumference. The Final Gauge Length is calculated from the Full Circumference which is determined during the Whole Article Force Test, as described above.
One end of the specimen is clamped into the upper clamp using the side seam area and the load is tared. The other end of the specimen is clamped into the lower clamp also using the side seam area, such that only the side seam areas are behind the contact line of the grip. The test is started and the specimen is extended to the Final Gauge Length at a crosshead speed of 254 mm/min, then immediately returned to the Initial Gauge Length at the same speed. The specimen is extended in the article transverse direction during the test. The unload force at 70% of the Final Gauge Length during the unload segments of the test is recorded.
Five articles are analyzed and the unload forces are recorded for each of the front and back zones 1 Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, 102B, 105B, and 108B. The average tensile force (N) is calculated to the nearest 0.01 N for each zone including the front and back specimens for that zone. The tensile stress for each zone is calculated by the average tensile force (N) divided by the average longitudinal length (m) and reported to the nearest 0.1 N/m.
Examples 1 and A-C having the structure of a pant type absorbent article obtained as such are subject to measurements as described above.
Example 1: Size 4 (L-size) belt-type pant article having the configuration of
Example A: Size 4 (L-size) belt-type pant article having the configuration of
Example B: Size 4 (L-size) belt-type pant article sold by the tradename of “Mammy Poko Fashion Girl Pants” with Lot No. 20161104 purchased in China market in 2017.
Example C: Size 4 (L-size) belt-type pant article sold by the tradename of “Goon Premium” with Lot No. 20161217 purchased in China market in 2017.
The stiffness of articles per zone were measured according to the Vertical Stiffness Measurement and Whole Article Force Measurement methods herein with results found in Table 2 below. All examples had a Fit Circumference Force of at least 2N.
The article of Example 1 of the present invention provides overall good fit, good fit around the waist of the product, prevents sagging and folding on the front waist, and provides the perception that the front waist is well covered.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.” Further, every numerical range given throughout this specification includes every narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numerical range.
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
This application is a continuation, under 35 USC 120, of PCT Application No. PCT/CN2017/094631, filed on Jul. 27, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2017/094631 | Jul 2017 | US |
| Child | 16689402 | US |
