OPTIMIZED SOLUTIONS

专利摘要:
The present invention relates to an absorbent article, suitable for use as a belt diaper, with optimized dimensions of the belt, chassis and absorbent core of the absorbent article for a better fit around the waist of the wearer and better absorbency, and concerns a method of making the absorbent to manufacture the article.
公开号:BE1022684B1
申请号:E2014/5143
申请日:2014-12-22
公开日:2016-07-15
发明作者:Poorter Annick De
申请人:Ontex Bvba；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

optimized adhesives technical area
The invention belongs to the technical field of the absorbent hygiene products. In particular, the present invention relates to an absorbent article for absorbing bodily fluids and secretions, such as urine and faecal material. More specifically, the present invention relates to absorbent garments, such as the disposable incontinence, which are formed to collect and retain faecal material and to prevent leakage. background
The present invention relates to disposable absorbent underwear, and in particular adult incontinence belt diapers and similar items.
Older people use underwear in the form of diapers to be fastened around the wearer's torso by releasable adhesives, such as tape systems or loop and hook systems. A commonly used adhesive used for a smoother application of the diaper around the wearer's waist is the use of a belt. The belt is hereby typically first fitted around the wearer's waist, making it easier for the wearer or caregiver to attach the rest of the diaper to the strap. When such a belt is present, the diaper is often referred to as belt diaper. This type of underwear generally has the same type of construction and uses the same components even though these are dimensioned differently. However, the size of the underwear is not the only parameter that ensures a good fit and therefore good absorbency to the user. A good fit and absorbency are necessary to prevent leakage of physical secretions, especially during the night, when the wearer is sleeping and / or has difficulties going to the toilet.
Since the custom-made disposable underwear is commercially viable, an optimum number of types of underwear must be found, which is a compromise between ensuring that each person finds an appropriate size of the underwear, and minimizing the number of production lines to produce disposable products as cheaply as possible. Hereby, it seems necessary to identify which shapes and relative dimensions of the components of the absorbent articles are important parameters for ensuring a good fit for the majority of users, while limiting the number of production lines and production costs.
There remains a need in the prior art for better disposable absorbent articles, in particular belt diapers, that allow a good fit for a large number of people-to-be purchases in large quantities.
To this end, the invention aims to provide disposable absorbent articles, in particular belt diapers, which offer a good fit to as many users as possible, in particular during sleep or extended sitting. summary of the invention
The present invention provides a disposable absorbent article suitable for use as a belt diaper, according to claim 1.
The product of the present invention overcomes the difficulties of state-of-the-art products, since it provides an absorbent article with an optimum absorbency while guaranteeing an optimum fit to the wearer and reducing overall production costs. In another embodiment, the present invention provides articles that can be manufactured without loss of laminate material due to cutting. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention provides such articles that can be manufactured with a minimum of stitches. In one embodiment, the article comprises an absorbent core with a width-to-length ratio that has the optimum dimensions to absorb bodily fluids during emptying and reduces the leakage of these fluids. description of figures
Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention in an elongated and laid-down state facing the surface of the article contacting the wearer.
Figure 2 shows a perspective front view of the disposable absorbent article of Figs. 1, when worn. detailing of the invention
The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article suitable for wearing around the lower torso of wearer, particularly suitable for use as a belt diaper.
The recitation of numerical ranges by end points includes all numbers and fractions that are included within that range, as well as recited end points.
Unless otherwise specified, all terms used to disclose the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. By way of further guidance, term definitions are included to better appreciate the teachings of the present invention.
As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:
The term "% weight" (weight percent), throughout and throughout the specification, unless otherwise specified, refers to the relative weight of the respective component based on the overall weight of the formulation. "A," "an," and "an," as used herein, refers to both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As an example, a "compartment" refers to one or more than one compartments. "Approximately" as used herein refers to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporary duration, and the like, intended to include variations of +/- 20% or less, preferably +/- 10% or less , more preferably +/- 5% or less, even more preferably +/- 1% or less, and even more preferably +/- 0.1% or less of the specified value, in so far such variations have been designated to the disclosed invention to function. However, it must be understood that the value to which the "approximately" provision refers itself is also specifically disclosed. "Absorbent article" refers to devices that absorb and contain liquid, and more specifically, refers to devices placed against or in proximity to the wearer's body to absorb and contain the various secretions discharged from the body. The absorbent articles include, but are not limited to, diapers, adult incontinence diapers, training pants, diaper holders and liners, sanitary napkins, and the like, as well as surgical dressings and sponges.
The "absorbent agent" or "absorbent core" or "absorbent body" are used herein as synonyms, and refer to the absorbent structure placed between the topsheet and the backsheet of the absorbent article and at least in the crotch region of the absorbent article and capable of is to absorb and retain liquid body secretions. The size and the absorbent capacity of the absorbent should be compatible with the size of the intended support and the liquid charge imparted by the intended use of the absorbent article. Further, the size and the absorbent capacity of the absorbent can be varied to accommodate carriers that range from infants to adults. It can be made in a wide variety of shapes (for example, rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shape, I-shape, hourglass shape, etc.) and made from a wide variety of materials. Examples of commonly occurring absorbent materials are cellulose fluff pulp, fabric layers, highly absorbent polymers (so-called super-absorbent polymer particles), absorbent foam materials, absorbent non-woven materials or the like. It is common to combine cellulose fluff pulp with superabsorbent polymers in an absorbent material. "Acquisition and distribution layer", "ADL" or "surge management part" are used herein as synonyms, and refer to a bottom layer that is preferably a non-woven wick layer below the topsheet of an absorbent product, which speeds up transportation and distribution of liquids through the absorbent core. The surge management portion is typically less hydrophilic than the retention portion, and has the capacity to rapidly collect and retain fluid fluctuations, and to transport fluid from its initial entry point to other parts of the absorbent structure, in particular the retention portion. This configuration can help prevent the fluid from being pooled and collected on the portion of the absorbent piece positioned against the wearer's skin, thereby reducing the wearer's sense of moisture. Preferably, the surge management portion is placed between the topsheet and the retention portion.
The term "adhesive" as used herein is intended to refer to any suitable hot melt, water or solvent adhesive that can be applied to a surface of a film layer in the required pattern or network of adhesive areas around the film nonwoven to form a laminate of the present invention. Accordingly, the suitable adhesives include conventional hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, and reactive adhesives (i.e., polyurethane).
As used herein, the term "adhesive bonding" means a bonding process that forms a compound by using an adhesive. Such application of adhesive can be by various processes such as groove coating, spray coating and other surface applications. Furthermore, such adhesive can be applied within a product component and then exposed to pressure such that the contact of a second product component with the adhesive-containing product component forms an adhesive bond between the two components.
As used herein, an "air-formed web" refers to a material comprising cellulose fibers such as those from fluff pulp that were separated, such as by a hammer mill process, and then deposited on a porous surface without a substantial amount of binder fibers present. The air-formed materials used as the absorbent air-formed material.
As used herein, an "air laid web" is a fibrous structure formed primarily by a process involving deposition of air entrained fibers on a mat, typically with the presence of binder fibers, and typically followed by a densification and thermal bonding. In addition to traditional thermally bonded air-laid structures (those formed with non-sticky binder materials present and substantially thermally bonded), the scope of the term "air-laid" according to the present invention may also include coforms made by air-entrained dry, dispersed cellulose fibers can be combined with meltblown synthetic polymer fibers while the polymer fibers are still sticky. Furthermore, an air-shaped web to which later binder material is added can also be considered within the scope of the term "air laid" according to the present invention. Binder can be added to an air-formed web in liquid form (e.g., an aqueous solution or melt) by spray nozzles, directional injection or impregnation, vacuum draw, foam impregnation, and so on. Solid binder particles can also be added by mechanical or pneumatic means.
As used herein, the term "associated" includes configurations in which the topsheet is connected directly to the backsheet to attach the topsheet directly to the backsheet, and configurations in which the topsheet is attached to the backsheet by attaching the topsheet to intermediate members who are alternately attached attached to the backsheet. The topsheet and the backsheet can be directly bonded to each other by adhesives such as adhesives, sonic bonds, thermal bonds or any other adhesives known in the art. For example, a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, a sprayed pattern of adhesive or a series of separate lines, swirls or stains of structural adhesive can be used to adhere topsheet to backsheet. It should be readily appreciated that the adhesives described above can also be used to interconnect and assemble the various other component parts of the article described herein.
The terms "rear region" and "rear rear region" are used herein as synonyms and refer to the region of the absorbent article that is in contact with the wearer's back when the absorbent article is worn.
The term "backsheet" refers to a material that forms the outer cover of the absorbent article. The backsheet prevents separations included in the absorbent structure of wetting articles such as bed sheets and overclothes that contact the disposable absorbent article. The backsheet can be a centralized layer of material or can be a composite layer that is composed of multiple components assembled or laminated side-by-side. The backsheet can be the same or different in different parts of the absorbent article. At least in the area of the absorbent, the backsheet comprises a liquid-impermeable material in the form of a thin plastic film, e.g. a polyethylene or polypropylene film, a non-woven material with a liquid impermeable material, a hydrophobic non-woven material that is coated with a layer that resists liquid penetration, or a laminate of a plastic film and a non-woven material. The backsheet material can be air permeable to allow vapor to escape from the absorbent material, while liquids still preventing it from continuing. Examples of air-permeable backsheet materials are porous polymer films, non-woven laminates of spunbond and meltblown layers, and laminates of porous polymer films and non-woven materials.
The terms "abdominal area" and "anterior abdominal area" are used herein as synonyms and refer to the area of the absorbent article that is in contact with the wearer's abdomen when the absorbent article is worn.
A "belt diaper" is intended to include the lower portion of the wearer's trunk-like pair of absorbent pant diaper. For example, if the belt comprises of two belt portions extending from either side of the back waistband region of the diaper, the belt diaper can be attached to the wearer in the following manner: the two strap portions are first fastened around the wearer's waist while the front end of the diaper hangs down between the legs of the wearer. Once the belt portions are closed together, the wearer can reach between his or her legs to pull up the absorbent garment between the legs and attach the free end of the diaper to the belt portion. The adhesion of the two strap portions and the adhesion of the strap to the diaper are typically due to fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners, e.g. VELCRO®, or self-adhesive fasteners. However, it should be understood that other types of fasteners are possible, including but not limited to self-adhesive, press buttons and buttonholes, knots and cords. The belt diaper can also be made so that the belt is attached to the front part of the product and secured around the back of the wearer. In this case, the absorption product will hang down in the front and be secured to the strap in the back.
Several other configurations of a belt diaper are also possible and are known to a person skilled in the art. The adhesion of the belt portions to each other and / or the adhesion of the front end and / or back end of the diaper to the belt or to the belt portions typically result from the suturing means such as hook and loop fasteners, e.g. VELCRO®, or self-adhesive fasteners. However, it is to be understood that other types of suturing devices are possible, including, but not limited to, adhesive, press buttons, buttons and buttonholes, lumps, and cords.
The term "blend" means a blend of two or more polymers while the term "alloy" means a subclass of blends in which the components are immiscible but compatible.
As used herein, the "body-turned" or "body-side" surface means that surface of the article or component that is intended to be arranged or placed towards or next to the wearer's body during normal use, while "outer", "turned outside" "," garment-turned side "surface is opposite, and is intended to be arranged to be turned away from the wearer's body during normal use. Such outgoing surface can be arranged or turned to or placed next to the wearer undergarments when the absorbent article is worn. "Connected" refers to the joining, attachment, connection, attachment, or the like, of at least two elements. Two elements will be considered to be connected together when they are directly connected to each other or indirectly to each other, such as when each is directly stuck to intermediate elements.
The term "air permeable" term refers to films that have a water vapor transmission rate of at least 300 grams / m2 - 24 hours.
The "carded web" refers to webs made from stack of fibers that are controlled by a combing or carding unit, which opens the stack of fibers and directs them in the machine direction to form a predominantly machine direction-oriented fibrous non-woven web. The web is then bound by one or more of several known connection methods. Connecting non-woven webs can be achieved by a number of methods; powder binding, in which a powdered adhesive or binder is distributed through the web and then activated, usually by heating the web and the adhesive with hot air; pattern binding, in which heated calendar rolls or ultrasonic binding equipment is used to bind the fibers together, usually in a localized binding pattern, although the web can be bound over its entire surface if desired; air-binding, in which the air that is hot enough to soften at least one component of the web is passed through the web; chemically binding using, for example, latex adhesives deposited on the web by, for example, spraying; and consolidation by mechanical methods such as needle felting and water entanglement.
As used herein, the term "cellulose" is intended to include any material that has cellulose as an important constituent, and specifically comprises at least 50 percent weight of cellulose or a cellulose derivative. Thus, the term includes cotton, typical wood pulps, non-woody cellulose fibers, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, artificial silk, thermomechanical wood pulp, chemical wood pulp, dissolved chemical wood pulp, milkweed, or bacterial cellulose.
The "chassis" refers to a fundamental constituent of an absorbent article on which the rest of the structure of the article is built up or covered, e.g., in a diaper, the structural elements that give the diaper the shape of diapers or pants when configured for the such as a backsheet, a topsheet, or a combination of a topsheet and a backsheet. "Covorm" as used herein is intended to describe a mixture of meltblown fibers and cellulose fibers formed by the air formation of meltblown polymeric material while simultaneously forming air-suspended cellulose fibers in the stream of meltblown fibers. The coform material can also include other materials, such as super-absorbent particles. The meltblown fibers containing wooden fibers are collected on a forming surface, as provided by a perforated belt. The forming surface may comprise a gas-permeable material, such as spunbonded fabric material, which is placed on the forming surface. "Compression" refers to the process or result of printing by applying a force to an object, thereby increasing the density of the object. "Consist of", "consisting of" and "includes" and "consisting of" as used herein are synonymous with "include", "include", "include" or "contain", "contain", "contain" and include or open terms specifying the presence of what follows eg a component and do not exclude or prevent the presence of additional, non-recited components, properties, element, members, steps known in the prior art or disclosed therein.
The term "mainly consisting of" does not exclude the presence of additional materials that do not significantly affect the desired characteristics of a particular composition or product. Exemplary materials of this kind would include, without limitation, pigments, antioxidants, stabilizers, surfactants, waxes, current promoters, solvents, particulates, and materials added to improve workability of the composition.
A diaper may include "containment valves" or "barrier cuffs," used herein as synonyms. Inclusion valves are generally believed to be particularly suitable for the containment of faecal matter and to prevent the sidestream of liquid waste until the liquid waste can be absorbed by the absorbent article. Many constructions of containment valves are known. Such containment valves generally include a proximal edge intended to be attached to the absorbent article, and an opposite distal edge that is generally not connected to the absorbent article along at least a portion of its length. An elastic member is generally located adjacent the distal edge to help maintain the containment valve in a straight condition and in maintaining a sealing relationship between the distal edge of the containment valve and a wearer's body during use. The elastic member is generally located between two layers of material so that the elastic does not come into contact with the body of a wearer. The containment valves can be made from a wide variety of materials such as polypropylene, polyester, artificial silk, nylon, foam, plastic films, molded films, and elastic foam. A number of production techniques can be used to manufacture the containment valves. For example, the containment valves can be woven, non-woven, spunbond, carded, cast, blown or the like.
A diaper may include leg containment gaskets. Leg "containment packs" help prevent leakage of bodily secretions when the wearer exerts compressive forces on the absorbent article. In particular, the stiffness of the leg containment gaskets prevents twisting and bundling of the leg openings of the absorbent article which can lead to leaks. In addition, the elasticity and conformity of the leg containment gaskets ensure that the body-facing surface of the leg containment gaskets provides an adequate connection to the wearer's body. The physical properties of the leg containment gaskets, such as the thickness and stiffness, also function to place the topsheet and absorbent core away from the wearer's body when in use. As such, void volume is created between the wearer's body and the topsheet and an absorbent core of the absorbent article to help include body secretions. "Continuous" means that the structure described is a closed-loop structure. The continuous structure can be unitary, i.e., a one-piece structure, or can be made from individual elements suitably assembled to form a closed loop.
A "continuous waistband" is a belt of material that circles and fits the waist of a garment, such as a diaper or pants, and is generally placed along the wearer's waist. The waistband preferably leads to a connection against the waist so that the physical secretions do not leak from the areas between the waistband and the waist of the wearer. It can be an elastomeric, cloth-like, non-woven fibrous material, such as an elastomerically stretched laminated web or an elastomeric meltblown web. By correct selection of materials, the continuous waistband can be temporarily elastically prevented, such as by compression. Once temporarily elastic prevents, the elastic material from which the waistband is assembled can be activated, such as by heat treating, to regain a state of elasticity. "Conventional hot melt adhesive" means a formulation that generally comprises several components. These components typically include one or more polymers to provide cohesive strength (e.g., aliphatic polyolefins such as poly (ethylene-co-propylene) copolymer; vinyl acetate copolymers; styrene-butadiene or styrene isoprene block copolymers; etc.); a resin or analogous material (sometimes tackifier) to provide adhesive strength (e.g., hydrocarbons distilled from petroleum distillates; resins and / or resin esters; terpenes derived, for example, from wood or citrus, etc.); perhaps wax, plasticizers or other materials to alter viscosity (i.e., fluidity) (examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, polybutene, paraffin oil, ester oils, and the like); and / or other additives including, but not limited to, antioxidants or other stabilizers. A typical hot melt adhesive formulation may contain from about 15 to about 35 percent by weight cohesive strength polymer or polymers; from about 50 to about 65 percent by weight of resin or other tack promoter or tack promoters of more than zero to about 30 percent plasticizer or other viscosity modifier; and optionally less than about 1 weight percent stabilizer or other additive. It is to be understood that other adhesive formulations that include different weight percentages of these components are possible.
The term "density" or "concentration" when referring to the absorbent material, especially SAP, of a layer refers to the amount of the absorbent material divided by the surface of the layer over which the absorbent material is spread.
As used herein, the term "diaper" refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants over the lower torso. To apply the diaper around the wearer's waist, the diaper is typically first placed between the wearer's legs and then attached around the wearer's waist using fasteners, preferably in a resealable manner to remove the wearer's diaper after or during use.
The "interrupted bonding pattern" as used herein refers to a pattern of bonding regions, in particular bonding regions between layers, whereby the layers are not bonded at least in at least one region. An interrupted bonding pattern may be from a connected bonding region or from A discontinuous binding pattern may further comprise a connected binding area consisting of a plurality of openings where the layers are not connected, preferably according to a regular pattern, or may comprise individual detached binding areas, e.g. a point bound pattern comprising a majority of individual bonding points surrounded by unbound regions or a line-bound pattern comprising regions alternating with unbound regions, preferably according to a regular pattern. "Disposable absorbent garments" refers to, inter alia, the any type of absorbent article d can be worn as a garment.
The term "disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles that are generally not intended to be washed or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article (ie, they are intended to be discarded after single use and, preferably to be recycled, composted or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner.
As used herein, the term "elastic resistance" describes an elastic force that attempts to resist an applied tensile force causing a material provided therewith to tend to contract to an unstressed configuration in response to an stretching force.
As used herein, the terms "elastic", "elastomeric", "elasticity" or derivatives thereof are used to describe the capacity of various materials and articles provided with such to undergo reversible deformation under tension, e.g., being stretched or extended, in at least one direction when a force is applied to the material and to substantially return to their original dimensions when relaxed, ie, when the force is released, without tearing or breakage. Preferably, it refers to a material or composition that can be extended in at least one direction by at least 50% of its relaxed length, ie extended to at least 150% of its relaxed length, and which upon recovery of the applied tension will recover to at least 40% of its extension. Accordingly, upon release of the applied voltage at 50% elongation, the material or composite will contract to a relaxed length of no more than 130% of its original length. Examples of suitable elastomeric materials include polyether-polyamide block copolymers, polyurethane, synthetic linear ABA and AB block copolymers, chlorinated rubber / EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) blends, EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer) rubber, (ethylene-propylene monomer) rubbers, blends from EPDM / EPM / EVA, and the like.
The term "elastic" refers to a material, layer, or substrate that is not naturally elastic, but which is made elastic by, for example, suitably connecting an elastic material, a layer, or a substrate. "Extension" means the ratio of the extension of a material to the length of the material prior to the extension (expressed as a percentage), as represented by the following: "Extension" means the change in length of a material due to stretching (expressed in units of length).
As used herein, the term "extensible" means extendable in at least one direction, but not necessarily recyclable.
The term "fabric" is used to refer to all woven, knitted and non-woven fibrous webs. "Fasteners are typically applied to the back area of the diaper to provide a mechanism for holding the diaper on the wearer. Fasteners, such as tape tape fasteners, snaps, pins, straps, hooks, buckles," hook / mushroom "and loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO®-Type fasteners) and the like, can be employed and typically applied to the lateral, side ends of the back area of a diaper to provide a mechanism to hold the diaper over the wearer's waist in a conventional manner Tape tape fasteners can be of any kind known in the art, and are typically applied to the corners of the diaper.For example, self-adhesive fasteners, mechanical fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, pins or buckles can be used alone or in combination.For example, the fasteners can be self-adhesive fasteners are constructed to releasably adhere to a landing zone piece attached to the front area of the diaper to provide a resealable self-adhesive attachment system.
The term "finished" or "final", when used in relation to a product, means that the product was suitably manufactured for its intended purpose.
The term "flexible" refers to materials that are compliant and that will easily conform to the general shape and contours of the wearer's body.
As used herein, the term "article of clothing" means any type of clothing that can be worn. This includes diapers, training pants, incontinence products, surgical gowns, industrial work clothes and covers, underwear, pants, shirts, jackets and the like. The term "underwear" refers to a garment that is typically worn among other garments, and which is intended to make direct contact with the wearer's body.
The term "drawing" includes, but is not limited to, any type of design, image, sign, number, codes, words, patterns, or the like. For a product such as a baby diaper, drawing will generally include items associated with little boys and girls, such as multicolored trucks, planes, balls, dolls, bows, or the like.
Many of the well-known super-absorbent polymer particles exhibit gel blockage. "Gel blocking" occurs when superabsorbent polymer particles are wetted and the particles swell and thereby inhibit liquid transmission to other areas of the absorbent structure. The wetting of these other areas of the absorbent member therefore takes place through a very slow spreading process. In practical terms, this means that the absorption of liquids due to the absorbent structure is much slower than the speed at which the liquids are discharged, especially in miction situations. The leakage of the absorbent article can occur before the SAP particles in the absorbent member are even close to full saturation or before the liquid can disperse or wick past the "blocking" particles to the rest of the absorbent member. Gel blocking can be a particularly acute problem if the superabsorbent polymer particles do not have adequate gel strength and deform under stress as soon as the particles swell with absorbed liquid.
The term "high-absorption material" refers to materials that can absorb at least 10 times their own weight in liquid. The high absorbent material may comprise absorbent gelatinizing materials, such as super-absorbent polymers. Superabsorbent polymers are water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic materials capable of absorbing at least about 20 times their own weight of an aqueous solution containing 0.9% by weight of sodium chloride. The absorbent gelatinizing materials can be natural, synthetic and modified natural polymers and materials. In addition, the absorbent gelatinizing materials may be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compositions such as cross-linked polymers. The term "cross-linked" refers to any means to effectively transform normally water-soluble materials into water-insoluble but swellable. Such agents may include, for example, physical confusion, crystalline domains, covalent bonds, ionic complexes and associations, hydrophilic associations such as hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic associations or Van der Waals forces. Examples of synthetic absorbent gelatinizing polymers include the alkali metal and ammonium salts of poly (acrylic acid) and poly (methacrylic acid), poly (acrylamides), poly (vinyl ethers), maleic anhydride copolymers with vinyl ethers and alpha olefins, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone), poly (vinyl morpholinone), poly (vinyl alcohol), and mixtures and copolymers thereof. Further polymers suitable for use in the absorbent structure include natural and modified natural polymers, such as hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and natural gums such as alginates, xanthan gum, locust bean gum and of such. Mixtures of natural and wholly or partially synthetic absorbent polymers can also be used. Synthetic absorbent gelatinizing materials are typically xerogels that form hydrogels when wetted.
The term "hydrogel", however, has also been commonly used to refer to both wetted and non-wetted forms of the material. The high-absorption material can be in any of a wide variety of geometric shapes. As a general rule, it is preferred that the high absorption material is in the form of individual particles. However, the high-absorption material can also be in the form of fibers, flakes, bars, spheres, needles, spiral or semi-spiral, cube, rod-like, polyhedral, or the like. Conglomerates of particles of high absorption material can also be used. The high absorption material may be present in the absorbent core in an amount of about 5 to about 100 percent by weight and desirably from about 30 to about 100 percent by weight based on the total weight of the absorbent core. The distribution of the high-absorption material within the different portions of the absorbent core may vary depending on the intended end use of the absorbent core. The high-absorption material can be arranged in a generally separate layer within the mold of hydrophilic fibers. Alternatively, the absorbent core can comprise a laminate of fibrous web and high-absorption material or other suitable means for placing a high-absorption material in a maintain a localized area.
A "hook-and-loop fastener" refers to additional fasteners that have a "hook" portion and a "loop" portion and that are resealable. The term "hook" as used herein refers to any element suitable for engaging another element, the so-called "loop" portion. The term "hook" is not limited to "hooks" in their normal sense, but rather encompasses any form of engaging elements, either one-way or two-way. The term "loop" is also not limited to "loops" in their normal sense, but also encompasses any structure suitable for engaging with a "hook" fastener. Examples of "loop" materials are fibrous structures, such as non-woven materials. "Water entanglement process" refers to the production of non-woven webs. The process involves directing a series of water jets to a fibrous web that is supported by a moving porous belt. The jets of water go down through the mass of fibers and upon contact with the surface of the belt, the rays bounce back and break up: the energy that is released causes entanglement of the mass of fibers.
The term "hydrophilic" describes fibers or the surfaces of fibers that are wetted by the aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wetting the materials can, in turn, be expressed in terms of the contact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids and materials in question. The term "wettable" is intended to refer to a fiber that exhibits a liquid, such as water, synthetic urine, or an aqueous saline solution of 0.9 weight percent, in air contact angle of less than 90 °, while "hydrophobic" or "non-wettable" "describes fibers that have contact angles equal to or greater than 90 °.
As used herein, the term "impenetrable" generally refers to articles and / or elements that are not substantially permeated by aqueous liquid throughout their full thickness under a pressure of kPa 1.0 or less. Preferably, the impervious article or element is not permeated by aqueous liquid under pressures of 3.4 kPa or less. Preferably, the impervious article or element is not permeated by liquid under pressure of kPa 6.8 or less. An article or an element that is not impenetrable is permeable. "Integral" is used to refer to various portions of a single unitary element rather than separate structures bound to, or placed with, or placed close to each other. "Connecting", "connecting", "connected" or variations thereof, when used to describe the relationship between two or more elements, means that the elements can be connected in any suitable manner, such as heat sealing, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, by adhesives, stitching, or the like. Further, the elements can be directly connected, or can have one or more elements inserted between them, all of which are connected to each other.
The term "flat-laid state" is intended to refer to the article when it is flattened in a plane or substantially flattened in a plane, in its stretched, flat condition with all elastic contractions and gatherings removed. Preferably, and typically if the article comprises elastification means Unless specified otherwise, the measurements of widths or lengths of the article or components of the article refer to measurements in the flat-laid state. An example of a flat-laid article is given in Fig. 1. "Laminate" refers to elements that are secured together in a layered arrangement.
The use of the term "layer" may refer to, but is not limited to, any type of substrate, such as a woven web, non-woven web, films, laminates, composites, elastomeric materials, or the like. A layer can be liquid and air permeable, permeable to air but impenetrable to liquids, impenetrable to both air and liquid, or the like. When used in the singular, it can have the double meaning of a single element or a majority of elements.
The crotch portion of the absorbent article preferably comprises opposing longitudinal side portions comprising a pair of elastic, length-extendable "leg cuffs". The leg cuffs are generally adapted to fit around the legs of a wearer when in use and serve as a mechanical barrier to the sidestream of body exudates. The leg cuffs are made elastic by leg elastics. The diaper may further comprise a front waist elastic and a back waist elastic. Materials suitable for use in shaping leg elastics are known to those skilled in the art. Examples of such materials are bundles or ribbons of a polymeric, elastomeric material that are attached to the diaper at the leg cuff while in an elongated position, or which are attached to the diaper while the diaper is pleated, such that the elastic narrowing forces toward the diaper leg cuff. Examples of suitable elastomeric materials that can be used include polyether-polyamide block copolymers, polyurethane, synthetic linear ABA and AB block copolymers, chlorinated rubber / EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) blends, EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) rubber, EPM (ethylene- propylene monomer) rubbers, blends of EPDM / EPM / EVA, and the like. "Liquid" means a non-gaseous substance and / or a material that flows and can take the inner form of a container into which it is poured or placed. "Longitudinal" is a direction that runs parallel to the maximum linear dimension of the article.
The term "meltblown fibers" means fibers formed by extrusion of a molten thermoplastic material through a majority of fine, usually circular, mold capillaries as molten wires or filaments in a high-speed gas stream (e.g., air) whereby the filaments of molten thermoplastic material are driven apart. thereby reducing their diameter, which can go to microfiber diameter. In general, meltblown fiber average fiber diameter up to about 10 microns. After the fibers are formed, the melt blown fibers are carried by the high speed gas stream and deposited on a collection surface to form a web of randomly arranged melt blown fibers.
The term "non-elastic" refers to any material that does not fall within the definition of "elastic" above.
The term "non-woven fabric or web" means a fabric material that has a structure of individual fibers or threads that are inlaid, but not in a regular manner such as occurs with stitching or weaving processes. The non-woven fabrics or webs are formed from many processes for example, meltblown processes, spunbond processes, and bound carded web processes. "Pants body" refers to a garment that has a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, similar to shorts, swim apparel, or the like. The garment described may or may not have a manually tearable side seam.
In terms of "particle", "particles", "particulate", "particulates" and the like, it is understood that the material is generally in the form of separate units. The units may comprise granules, powder, regions, pulverized materials or the like, as well as combinations thereof. The particles can have any desired shape such as, for example, cubic, rod-like, polyhedral, spherical or semi-spherical, rounded or semi-rounded, angular, irregular, etc. Shapes that have a large largest dimension / smallest dimension ratio, such as needles, flakes and the fibers, are also contemplated herein for inclusion. The terms "particle" or "particle" may also include an agglomeration comprising more than one individual particle, particle or the like. In addition, a particle, particle or any desired agglomeration thereof can be composed of more than one type of material.
The term "polymer" generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, for example, block, graft-alternating copolymers, terpolymers, etc., and mixtures and modifications thereof. Furthermore, unless specifically limited otherwise, the term "polymer" will include all possible geometric configurations of the material. These configurations include, but are not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic and random symmetry.
By the term "prepackaged" as used herein, it is meant that one or more absorbent articles are packaged in a single unit before being stacked. "Pulp fluff" or "fluff pulp" refer to a material composed of cellulose fibers. The fibers can be either natural or synthetic, or a combination thereof. The material is typically lightweight and has absorbent properties. "Resealable" refers to the property of two elements suitable for releasable bonding, separation, and further releasable bonding without substantial permanent deformation or fracture.
The "retention portion" or "liquid absorption layer" are used herein as synonyms, and form part of the absorbent. This portion may consist of a mold of hydrophilic fibers, such as a web of cellulose fluff, mixed with particles of high absorption material. In special arrangements, the retention portion may consist of a mixture of superabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles and synthetic polymer meltblown fibers, or a mixture of superabsorbent particles with a fibrous coform material comprising a mixture of natural fibers and / or synthetic polymer fibers. The superabsorbent particles can be mixed substantially homogeneously with the hydrophilic fibers, or can be mixed non-uniformly. For example, the concentrations of superabsorbent particles in a non-step-wise gradient can be arranged through a substantial portion of the thickness of the absorbent structure, with lower concentrations to the body side of the absorbent structure and relatively higher concentrations to the outside of the absorbent structure. The superabsorbent particles can also be arranged in a generally separate layer within the mold of hydrophilic fibers. In addition, two or more different types of superabsorbent materials can be selectively placed at different locations within or along the fiber matrix.
As used herein, the term "fabric" or "fabric material" refers to woven materials, non-woven webs, polymeric films, polymeric linen-like materials, and polymeric foam layers.
The absorbent article may also contain side panels. The "side panels" may have any shape such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, circular, and trapezoidal shapes. They can be connected to the respective opposite sides of the rear area by a known method. The side panels can also be integrally formed with the rear area by projecting outwardly and connecting the respective topsheet and / or backsheet and / or absorbent medium into protrusions in the form of side panels. Preferably, the side panels are formed by laminating a layer of non-woven fabric, a layer of thermoplastic film and a layer of elastic material. The layer of elastic material could be sandwiched between the non-woven fabric layer and the thermoplastic film by self-adhesive layers. The layer of non-woven fabric could be made from natural fibers, synthetic fibers or a blend of natural fibers and synthetic fibers. The thermoplastic film layer could be made from polyethylene or polypropylene.
The term "spunbonded fibers" refers to fibers formed by extrusion of molten thermoplastic polymers as filaments or fibers from a majority of fairly fine, usually circular, capillaries of a spinneret, and then the extruded filaments quickly through an eductive or other known draw mechanism to impart molecular orientation and physical strength to the filaments. The average diameter of spunbond fibers is typically in the range of 15-60 µm or higher. The spinneret can either be a large spinneret that has several thousand holes per meter of width or are banks of smaller spinnerets, for example, containing only 40 holes.
The term "spunbond meltblown spunbond" (SMS) nonwoven fabric as used herein refers to a multilayer composite fabric that comprises a web of meltblown fibers sandwiched between and bonded to two spunbond layers. An SMS nonwoven fabric can be formed on the loop by successively depositing a first layer of spunbonded fibers, a layer of meltblown fibers, and a second layer of spunbonded fibers on a moving porous collection surface. The assembled layers can be bonded by allowing them to pass through a nip formed between two rollers that can be heated or unheated and smooth or formed. Alternately, individual spunbond and meltblown layers can be preformed and optionally individually bonded and collected such as by winding the fabrics on rolls. The individual layers can be assembled by lowering at later times and being bonded together to form an SMS non-woven fabric. Extra spunbond and / or meltblown layers can be incorporated into the SMS substance, for example spunbond-meltblown-meltblown-spunbond, etc. "Pile of fibers" refer to commercially available fibers having diameters ranging from less than about 0.001 mm to more then extend approximately 0.2 mm; they come in various different forms such as short fibers extending from about 10 to 50 mm in length and long fibers with a length higher than 50 mm, preferably up to 100 mm.
By "elongation", it is meant that the material has the capacity to extend beyond its original size in at least one dimension when subjected to a tensile force (i.e., tension) applied in the direction of that dimension, without breaking the material. An extension of for example 50% means that the material with a first length of 100 mm has reached a length of 150 mm. The strain can be one-way, two-way, or multi-direction. The specific stretching properties of a material can vary along any stretch vectors. The term may include elastic materials, as well as nonwovens that are inherently extensible, but not necessarily in an elastic manner. Such nonwovens can be made to behave in an elastic manner by sticking them on elastic films.
The use of the term "substrate" includes, but is not limited to, woven or non-woven webs, porous films, ink permeable films, paper, composite structures, or the like.
Super absorbent materials suitable for use in the present invention are known to those skilled in the art, and can be in any effective form such as particle form, fibers, and mixtures thereof. Generally stated, the "superabsorbent material" can be water-swellable, generally water-insoluble, hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbent material, capable of at least about 15, suitably about 30, and perhaps about 60 times or more its weight can absorb in physiological salt (eg salt with 0.9% by weight NaCl). The superabsorbent material can be biodegradable or bipolar. The hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbent material may be formed from organic hydrogel-forming polymeric material, which may include natural material such as agar, pectin, and guar gum; modified natural materials such as carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; and synthetic hydrogel-forming polymers. Synthetic hydrogel-forming polymers, for example, alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers of ethylene maleic anhydride, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl morpholinone, polymers and copolymers of vinyl sulfonic acid, polyacrylates, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl pyridine, and the like. Other suitable hydrogel-forming polymers include hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, and blends of the isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers and blends thereof. The hydrogel-forming polymers can be slightly cross-linked to render the material substantially water-insoluble. Cross-linking can, for example, be done by radiation or covalent, ionic, Van der Waals, or hydrogen bonds. The superabsorbent material may suitably be included in a named storage or retention portion of the absorbent system, and may optionally be employed in other components or portions of the absorbent article. The superabsorbent material can be included in the absorbent layer or other liquid storage layer of the absorbent article of the present invention in an amount of up to about 60% by weight. Typically, the superabsorbent material, when present, will be provided in an amount of about 5% to about 40% by weight based on the total weight of the absorbent layer. "Super absorbent polymer particles" or "SAPs" refer to water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic materials capable of absorbing, in the most favorable conditions, at least about 10 times their weight, or at least about 15 times their weight, or at least about 25 times their weight in an aqueous solution containing sodium chloride of 0.9% by weight. In absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence diapers, etc., the particle size typically ranges between 100 to 800 µm, preferably between 300 to 600 µm, more preferably between 400 to 500 µm.
The term "target region" refers to an area of an absorbent core where it is particularly desirable for the majority of fluid fiction, such as urine, menururation, or bowel movement, to contact initially. In particular, for an absorbent core with one or more fluid targeting points in use, the region of the target target area refers to the area of the absorbent core that extends over a distance equal to 15% of the total length of the composite of each target point. in both directions. "Tension" includes a one-axis force that attempts to cause the expansion of a body or the balance force within that body to resist that expansion.
As used herein, the term "thermoplastic" is intended to describe a material that softens when exposed to heat and that substantially returns to its original condition when cooled to room temperature.
The term "topsheet" refers to a liquid permeable fabric material that forms the inner cover of the absorbent article and which, in use, is placed in direct contact with the wearer's skin. The topsheet is typically used to help isolate the wearer's skin from liquids held in the absorbent structure. The topsheet can be made of a non-woven material, meltblown, water-entangled, wet-laid etc. Suitable non-woven materials can be made of artificial fibers such as polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, viscose, artificial silk etc. or natural fibers such as wood pulp or cotton fibers, or from a blend of natural and artificial fibers. The topsheet material can further be composed of two fibers, which can be bonded together in a binding pattern. Examples of topsheet materials are porous foams, perforated plastic films, laminates of non-woven materials and perforated plastic films, etc. The materials suitable as topsheet materials should be soft and non-irritating to the skin and easy to penetrate through body fluid, e.g. urine or menstrual fluid. The topsheet may further be different in different parts of the absorbent article. The top sheet fabrics can be composed of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material can optionally be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilic.
As used herein, the terms "transversal" or "lateral" refer to a loop, axis, or direction that is within the plane of the absorbent article and is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. "Ultrasonic welding" refers to a technology that joins two materials together by melting them with heat produced from ultrasonic oscillation and then laminating them together such that the molten material flow and the gap fills between the two unaffected portions of the two materials, respectively. When cooling and forming, the two materials are connected together.
As used herein, the term "water-swellable, water-soluble" is intended to refer to a material that, when exposed to an excess of water, swells to its equilibrium volume but does not dissolve in the solution. As such, a water-swellable, water-insoluble material generally retains its original identity or physical structure, but in a highly expanded state, during the absorption of the water, thus, it must have sufficient physical integrity to withstand current and fusion with neighboring particles.
By the term "packaging material" as used herein, it is meant that a flexible material, preferably a sheet material whose thickness is smaller, is preferably much smaller than its width or length, such as a sheet, a film or a film. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the above-mentioned packaging material can be rolled up.
Due to the high concentrations of superabsorbent particles, or other high-absorption material, in the retention portion, there may be an increased difficulty with regard to containing high-absorption particles within the retention portion and the movement or migration of superabsorbent materials on limit the body side of the diaper. To improve the inclusion of the high-absorption material, the absorbent structure may include an improved inner package, such as a "cover sheet", placed immediately adjacent and around the retention portion. The cover sheet is preferably a layer of absorbent material that covers the major body-side and exterior surfaces of the retention portion, and preferably substantially encloses all peripheral edges of the retention portion to form a substantially full envelope around it. Alternatively, the cover sheet may provide an absorbent cover that covers major body-side and exterior surfaces of the retention portion, and essentially encloses only the lateral side edges of the retention portion.
Accordingly, both the linear and the inwardly bent portions of the lateral side edges of the cover sheet would be closed around the retention portion.
In such an arrangement, however, the end edges of the cover sheet cannot be completely closed around the end edges of the retention portion at the belt regions of the article. The cover sheet may comprise a multi-element cover layer that has a separate body-side cover layer and a separate outer cover layer, each extending beyond all or a few peripheral edges of the retention portion. Such a configuration of the cover sheet may, for example, facilitate the formation of substantially a complete seal and closure around the peripheral edges of the retention portion. The body side and outside layers of the cover sheet may be composed of substantially the same material, or may be composed of different materials. For example, the outer layer of the cover sheet may be composed of a relatively lower basis weight material that has a relatively high porosity, such as a wet strong cellulose fabric composed of softwood pulp. The body side layer of the cover sheet may comprise one of the cover sheet materials described previously (for example, may be composed of a meltblown web of meltblown polypropylene fibers or of a layer of porous cellulose fabric composed of a mixture of hardwood / softwood fibers) which has a relatively low porosity . The low porous body side layer can better prevent the migration of superabsorbent particles onto the wearer's skin, and the highly porous, lower outer layer can help reduce costs.
An absorbent article refers to aids that absorb and contain fluid, and more specifically, it refers to aids placed against or in proximity to the wearer's body to absorb and contain the various secretions that are released from the body. The absorbent articles include, but are not limited to, diapers, adult incontinence diapers, training pants, diaper holders and liners, sanitary napkins, and the like, as well as surgical dressings and sponges.
Preferably, an absorbent article comprises a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the aforementioned longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis is hereby conventionally chosen in the front-to-back direction of the article when reference is made to the article being carried, and the transversal axis is conventionally selected in the left-to-right direction of the article when reference is made to the item being worn. The disposable absorbent articles may comprise a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet connected to the topsheet, and an absorbent core that is placed and held between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet is effectively permeable to the liquids intended to be held or stored by the absorbent article, and the backsheet may or may not be substantially impermeable or otherwise effectively impermeable to the intended liquids. The absorbent article may include other components, such as liquid-absorbing layers, acquisition and distribution layers, liquid winding layers, liquid recording layers, transfer layers, barrier layers, packaging layers, cover sheets and the like, as well as combinations thereof.
The absorbent article may include other components, such as liquid-absorbing layers, acquisition and distribution layers, liquid winding layers, liquid recording layers, transfer layers, barrier layers, packaging layers, cover sheets and the like, as well as combinations thereof.
A garment means any type of clothing that can be worn. This includes diapers, training pants, incontinence products, surgical gowns, industrial workwear and covers, underwear, pants, shirts, jackets and the like. A diaper refers to an absorbent article that is generally worn by infants over the lower torso. To apply the diaper around the wearer's waist, the diaper is typically first placed between the wearer's legs and around the wearer's waist using the fasteners, preferably in a resealable manner to remove the diaper from the wearer or to remove during use then attached.
An absorbent article, such as a belt diaper, preferably includes from a front region, also called a "front section", "front belt region", "front section" or similar, a rear region, also called "rear region", "rear section", "rear belt region" "," rear portion "or similar, and an intermediate crotch region or" crotch region "interconnecting the front and back regions. When used herein, the reference to a "front" portion refers to that portion of the diaper that is generally located on the front of an infant when in use. The reference to the "back" or "back" portion refers to the portion of the diaper that is generally located at the back of the infant when in use, and reference to the "crotch" portion refers to that portion that is generally is established between the legs of an infant when in use. The crotch region is an area where the repeated fluid fluctuation typically occurs.
A diaper refers to an absorbent article that is generally worn by incontinent persons over the lower torso.
A strap can be attached to the diaper to provide a mechanism to hold the diaper on the wearer, i.e., to use as the adhesive. The strap can either be one continuous strap attached to the diaper at the front and / or back area or can be two or more separate strap portions, each attached to a respective side of the front and / or back area of the diaper, which combined strap of the diaper diaper forms. When a belt is present, the diaper is often referred to as a belt diaper.
One is intended to include the lower portion of the wearer's trunk-like pair of absorbent pants diaper. For example, if the belt comprises of two belt portions extending from either side of the back waistband region of the diaper, the belt diaper can be attached to the wearer in the following manner: the two strap portions are first fastened around the wearer's waist while the front end of the diaper hangs down between the legs of the wearer. Once the belt portions are closed together, the wearer can reach between his or her legs to pull up the absorbent garment between the legs and attach the free end of the diaper to the belt portion. The belt diaper can also be made so that the belt is attached to the front part of the product and secured around the back of the wearer. In this case, the absorption product will hang down in the front and be secured to the strap in the back. The adhesion of the two strap portions and the adhesion of the strap to the diaper are typically due to fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners, e.g. VELCRO®, or self-adhesive fasteners. However, it should be understood that other types of fasteners are possible, including but not limited to self-adhesive, press buttons and buttonholes, knots and cords.
Preferably, a belt diaper comprises an outer surface, an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, and a periphery defined by the outer edges of the diaper, said outer edges include side edges that extend substantially along a longitudinal direction and the transverse sides of define the diaper, and a front end edge and a rear end edge which extend substantially along the transverse direction and longitudinally define the opposite sides of the diaper.
The inner surface of the belt diaper preferably comprises that portion of the diaper that is placed next to the wearer's body during use, ie the inner surface is generally formed by at least a portion of the topsheet and other components connected to the topsheet . The outer surface preferably comprises from that portion of the belt diaper that is placed away from the wearer's body, i.e. the outer surface is generally formed by at least a portion of the backsheet and other components connected to the backsheet. The front area extends from the front end edge of the periphery to a lateral center line or transverse axis of the diaper. The rear area extends from the rear end edge of the periphery to a lateral center line or a transverse axis of the diaper. The crotch area connects the rear area with the front area along the transversal axis.
Preferably, a belt diaper comprises a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent that is arranged between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent could be made of any suitable material known to the person skilled in the art. The topsheet is generally located at or close to the body side surface of the article, while the backsheet is generally located at or close to the clothing side surface of the article. Optionally, the topsheet may be provided on or close to the body side surface of the article and at least partially on or close to the clothing side surface of the article, e.g. by wrapping the topsheet around the absorbent and / or the backsheet. Optionally, the article may comprise one or more separate layers that are additional to the backsheet and are inserted between the backsheet and the absorbent. The topsheet and backsheet are connected or otherwise associated in an operable way. Preferably, the topsheet and the backsheet are adhered to each other at or close to the edges and / or edges of the absorbent article. The absorbent preferably comprises absorbent material that is optionally attached to or in one or more cover sheets or packaging sheets. The examples of commonly occurring absorbent materials are cellulose fluff pulp, tissue layers, highly absorbent polymers (so-called super-absorbent polymer particles), absorbent foam materials, absorbent non-woven materials or the like and any combination thereof. It is common to combine cellulose fluff pulp with superabsorbent polymers in an absorbent material.
Preferably, an absorbent article such as a belt diaper that refers to a basic constituent of the absorbent article on which the rest of the structure of the article is built up or covered, e.g., in a diaper, the structural elements that shape the diaper diaper or pants when formed for wearing, such as a backsheet, a topsheet, or a combination of a topsheet and a backsheet, preferably the chassis comprises a laminate comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent between the topsheet and the backsheet.
Preferably, a belt diaper includes containment valves or barrier cuffs. The containment valves are generally thought to be particularly suitable for the containment of faecal matter and to prevent the lateral flow of liquid waste until the liquid waste can be absorbed by the absorbent article. Many constructions of containment valves are known. Such containment valves generally include a proximal edge intended to be attached to the absorbent article, preferably at or close to the side edges and / or the front and / or rear edge of the diaper, and an opposite distal edge that extends over the is generally not attached to the absorbent article along at least a portion of its length.
An elastic member is generally located adjacent the distal edge to aid in maintaining the inclusion valve in a straight state and in maintaining a sealing relationship between the distal edge of the inclusion valve and a wearer's body during use. The elastic member is generally located between two layers of material so that the elastic does not come into contact with the body of a wearer. The containment valves can be made from a wide variety of materials such as polypropylene, polyester, artificial silk, nylon, foam, plastic films, molded films, and elastic foam. A number of production techniques can be used to manufacture the containment valves. For example, the containment valves can be woven, non-woven, spunbond, carded, cast, blown, or the like.
Preferably, a belt diaper comprises leg containment gaskets. The leg containment packs help prevent leakage of bodily secretions when the wearer exerts compressive forces on the absorbent article. In particular, the stiffness of the leg containment packings prevents twisting and bundling of the leg openings of the absorbent article which can lead to leaks. In addition, the elasticity and formability of the leg containment gaskets ensure that the body-turned surface of the leg containment gaskets provides an adequate seal against the wearer's body. The physical properties of the leg containment gaskets, such as the thickness and stiffness, also function to place the topsheet, the outer cover and the absorbent core away from the wearer's body when in use. As such, the void volume is created between the wearer's body and the topsheet and absorbent core of the absorbent article to help contain the body secretions.
Preferably, a belt includes diaper from a pair of elastic, length-extendable leg cuffs that can be at least partially attached to the opposite longitudinal side portions of the crotch portion located close to the side edges of the diaper. The leg cuffs are generally adapted to fit around a wearer's legs when in use and serve as a mechanical barrier to the lateral flow of body exudates. The leg cuffs are preferably elastic due to leg elastics. Preferably, a diaper from a front waist elastic in the front region and / or from a rear waist elastic in the rear region mentioned above and / or rear waist elastic in the front region and allowing it to be elastically extended in at least the transversal direction. The materials suitable for use in bone formation and / or waist elastics are known to those skilled in the art. Examples of such materials are the bundles or ribbons of a polymer, elastomeric material that is hung on the diaper, e.g. to the leg cuff while in a stretched position, or attached to the diaper while the diaper is being folded, such that the elastic narrowing forces are imparted to the leg cuff or the front and / or back waist elastic.
Examples of suitable elastomeric materials that can be used include polyether-polyamide block copolymers, polyurethane, synthetic linear ABA and AB block copolymers, chlorinated rubber / EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) blends, EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer) rubbers, EPM (ethylene propylene monomer rubbers, blends of EPDM / EPM / EVA, and the like.
The belt diaper can also contain side panels. The side panels may have any shape such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, circular, and trapezoidal shapes. They can join the respective opposite side portions of the rear area, by a known method, such as heat sealing or self-adhesive bonding. The side panels can also be integrally formed with the rear area and / or front area by projecting and joining the respective topsheet and / or backsheet and / or absorbent into outward protrusions having the shape of the side panels. Preferably, the side panels are formed by laminating a layer of non-woven fabric, a layer of thermoplastic film and a layer of elastic material. The layer of elastic material could be sandwiched between the non-woven fabric layer and the thermoplastic film by self-adhesive layers. The layer of non-woven fabric could be made from natural fibers, synthetic fibers or a blend of natural fibers and synthetic fibers. The thermoplastic film layer could be made from polyethylene or polypropylene. In a belt diaper, the belt or belt portions are preferably adhered to the side panels in the front and / or rear areas of the diaper.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides an absorbent article suitable for use as a belt diaper, comprising a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable top sheet, and an absorbent core inserted between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent core together form a chassis of the absorbent article. The topsheet, backsheet and absorbent could be made of any suitable material as known by the person skilled in the art. The topsheet is generally located on or near the body-side surface of the article, while the backsheet is generally located on or near the garment-side surface of the article. Optionally, the article may comprise one or more separate layers that are additional to the backsheet and are inserted between the backsheet and the absorbent core. The topsheet and the backsheet are linked together or otherwise associated in an operable way.
The absorbent article comprises a front area, a rear area, and a mid-crotch area interconnecting the front area and the rear area, thereby forming a longitudinal axis going from the front area across the crotch area to the rear area is the longitudinal axis. to the rear of the article when reference is made to the supported article, and the transversal axis is conventionally selected in the left-to-right direction of the article when reference is made to the supported article. When used herein, the reference to a "front region" refers to that portion of the diaper that is generally located on the front of a wearer when in use. The reference to the "back region" refers to the portion of the diaper that overlies the is generally located at the rear of the wearer when in use, and reference to the "crotch area" refers to that portion that is generally located between the legs of a wearer when in use. The crotch area is an area where repeated fluid oscillation typically occurs .
The absorbent article may also include other components such as fluid-absorbent layers, acquisition and distribution layers, fluid-wick layers, fluid-recording layers, transfer layers, barrier layers, packaging layers, cover sheets, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. The disposable absorbent articles and the components thereof can work to provide a body-turned surface and a garment-turned surface.
The chassis comprises a periphery defined by the outer edges of the chassis, the aforementioned outer edges include side edges extending substantially along the longitudinal axis and defining transverse sides of the chassis, and a leading edge and a trailing edge extending mainly along the transverse axis and determine the longitudinal sides of the chassis.
The absorbent article comprises a strap that is attached to the rear area of the absorbent article. This belt includes two transversely opposite belt portions extending beyond the side edges of the chassis along the transverse axis, each belt portion having a distal edge positioned away from the side edge of the chassis from which each belt portion extends, and a higher edge and a lower edge that extending substantially along the transverse axis and defining the longitudinal sides of the belt portion. Preferably, at least one of the two belt portions comprises at least one first adhesive. Specifically, the portion of each belt portion extending beyond the side edges of the chassis in a flat-laid state includes a length-to-width ratio determined by the ratio between the maximum length of the belt portion measured along the longitudinal axis between the higher edge and the lower edge of the belt portion and the maximum width measured along the transversal axis between the side edge of the chassis from which each belt portion extends and the distal edge of the belt portion, a value between 0.10 and 0.40, more preferably between 0.15 and 0.35, the most preferably between 0.20 and 0.30. In a preferred embodiment, the length-to-width ratio of the portion of each belt portion that extends beyond the side edges of the chassis in a flat-laid state includes a value of around 0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, 0.18, 0.19, 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, 0.24, 0.25, 0.26, 0.27, 0.28, 0.29, 0.30, 0.31, 0.32, 0.33, 0.34, 0.35, 0.36, 0.37, 0.38 or 0.40.
The length-to-width ratio may be different or the same for the two transversely opposite belt portions, i.e. the length-to-width ratio of one belt portion may be greater (or smaller) or equal in value compared to the other belt portion. This will allow to optimize the shape of each belt portion and adapt it to the user of the absorbent article. However, preferably, the two transversely opposite belt portions will comprise substantial relationship.
The term "flat-laid state" is intended to refer to the article when it is flattened in a plane or substantially flattened in a plane, in its stretched, flat condition with all elastic contractions and gatherings removed. Preferably, and typically when the article comprises elastic means, the article can be stretched elastically to the above-laid flat-laid state. Unless otherwise specified, measurements of widths or lengths of the article or components of the article refer to measurements in the planar region laid state. An example of an article in the flat-laid state is given in Fig. 1.
In a preferred embodiment, the maximum width measured along the transverse axis between the side edge of the chassis from which each belt portion extends and the distal edge of the belt portion comprises a value of around 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, 30 cm, 31 cm, 32 cm, 33 cm, 34 cm, 35 cm, 36 cm, 37 cm, 38 cm, 39 cm, 40 cm, 41 cm, 42 cm, 43 cm, 44 cm or 45 cm, while the maximum length of the belt portion measured along the longitudinal axis between the upper edge and the lower edge of the belt portion preferably comprises a value of around 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm , 9 cm, 10 cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm, 14 cm or 15 cm.
An absorbent article having a belt, which comprises belt portions whose portion of the belt portion extending beyond the side edges of the chassis in a flat-laid state has a length to width ratio extending along the values provided in the present invention, has an optimized fit to provide it around the waist of the intended wearer, preferably adults, thereby improving the overall wearing comfort of the absorbent article and reducing the chance of leakage of bodily secretions or urine along the waist opening of the absorbent article.
The belt portions may comprise any type of material known to a person skilled in the art, such as, for example, a non-woven carded material, meltblown, water-entangled, wet-laid, etc. Suitable non-woven materials may be made of artificial fibers, such as polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, viscose, artificial silk, etc. or natural fibers such as wood pulp or cotton fibers, or from a blend of natural and artificial fibers. The material of the belt portion can further be composed of two fibers, which are stuck together in a bonding pattern. The belt portion may also include various of similar types of materials attached together in a layered arrangement. In at least the part of the belt portion that is in contact with the wearer during use, the materials suitable as a belt portion should be soft and non-irritating to the skin.
The at least one first adhesive on at least one of the belt portions is preferably used to secure the two belt portions to each other, thereby stretching the belt of the belt diaper around the wearer's waist. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one first adhesive is placed on only one of the two belt portions and is designed to engage on the other belt portion of the absorbent article. In a preferred embodiment, the front area of the absorbent article comprises at least one second adhesive. This at least one second adhesive preferably aids in providing the front area of the absorbent article to the belt of the absorbent article to body-retain the belt diaper on the desired pants. Preferably, the first and second attachment means comprise hook-and-loop attachment means.
In a preferred embodiment, the belt portions are folded inwards prior to use, i.e., are folded to the body surface of the absorbent article, whereby the belt portions are folded along at least two fold lines extending along the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the folded belt portions are attached to the body surface of the absorbent article, which belt portions are easily detached from the body surface by a user prior to use applying a belt around his waist. This folding and fastening of the belt portions to the body surface of the absorbent article allows for a smoother package of the absorbent article and prevents the belt portions from being damaged or contaminated prior to use.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the strap of the absorbent article comprises a single centralized piece that is attached to the rear area of the absorbent article and which extends beyond the side edges of the chassis to provide the two strap portions. The belt can be attached to the back area of the diaper by various methods known in the prior art, such as for example gluing or using ultrasonic welding. Alternatively, the belt can be formed of the same layer as the back area or the strap portions are attached to the back of the diaper in a reversible manner, e.g. via a hook and loop type fastener, e.g. VELCRO®, or self-adhesive attachment.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the belt of the absorbent article comprises two separate belt halves, each belt half comprising one of the belt portions. Preferably, each belt portion is hereby attached to the rear region of the absorbent article close to the transversely opposite side edges of the chassis, whereby one belt portion is located close to each side edge. The belt portions can be attached to the rear areas using similar methods as described above. Preferably, each belt portion herein has a proximal edge attached to the rear region of the absorbent article, which proximal edge is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis. Preferably, a length-to-width ratio of each belt portion in a flat-laid state, determined by the ratio between the maximum length of the belt portion measured along the longitudinal axis between the upper edge and the lower edge of the belt portion and the maximum width of the belt portion measured along the transversal axis between the proximal edge and the distal edge, a value between 0.05 and 0.35, more preferably between 0.15 and 0.25. In a preferred embodiment, the length-to-width ratio of each belt portion in a flat-laid state comprises a value of around 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, 0.18, 0.19, 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, 0.24 or 0.25. This length-to-width ratio again provides the absorbent article with an optimized fit to provide it around the waist of the intended wearer.
In a preferred embodiment, the maximum width of the belt portion measured along the transverse axis between the proximal edge and the distal edge comprises a value of around 35 cm, 36 cm, 37 cm, 38 cm, 39 cm, 40 cm, 41 cm, 42 cm, 43 cm, 44 cm, 45 cm, 46 cm, 47 cm, 48 cm, 49 cm, 50 cm, 51 cm, 52 cm, 53 cm, 54 cm or 55 cm, while the maximum length of the belt section measured along the longitudinal axis between the upper edge and the lower edge of the belt portion preferably comprises a value of around 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, 9 cm, 10 cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm, 14 cm or 15 cm.
In a preferred embodiment, the chassis of the absorbent article comprises in a flat-laid a width-to-length ratio, determined by the ratio between the minimum width measured along the transverse axis between the bilateral edges of the chassis and the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis, a value between 0.10 and 0.50, more preferably between 0.20 and 0.40 In a preferred embodiment, the chassis of the absorbent article in a laid flat state comprises a width-to-length ratio of around 0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, 0.18, 0.19, 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, 0.24, 0.25, 0.26, 0.27, 0.28, 0.29, 0.30, 0.31, 0.32, 0.33, 0.34, 0.35, 0.36, 0.37, 0.38, 0.39, 0.40, 0.41, 0.42, 0.43, 0.44, 0.45, 0.46, 0.47, 0.48, 0.49 or 0.50.
In a preferred embodiment, the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis comprises a value of around 60 cm, 61 cm, 62 cm, 63 cm, 64 cm, 65 cm, 66 cm, 67 cm, 68 cm, 69 cm, 70 cm, 71 cm, 72 cm, 73 cm, 74 cm, 75 cm, 76 cm, 77 cm, 78 cm, 79 cm, 80 cm, 81 cm, 82 cm, 83 cm, 84 cm , 85 cm, 86 cm, 87 cm, 88 cm, 89 cm, 90 cm, 91 cm, 92 cm, 93 cm, 94 cm, 95 cm, 96 cm, 97 cm, 98 cm, 99 cm or 100 cm, while the minimum width measured along the transversal axis between the bilateral edges of the chassis preferably comprises a value of around 20 cm, 21 cm, 22 cm, 23 cm, 24 cm, 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm , 30 cm, 31 cm, 32 cm, 33 cm, 34 cm, 35 cm, 36 cm, 37 cm, 38 cm, 39 cm or 40 cm.
These width-to-length ratio values of the chassis further improve the fit of the absorbent article around the waist of the intended wearer, preferably adults, thereby reducing the chance of leakage of bodily secretions or urine along the leg openings or waist opening of the absorbent article.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the width of the chassis varies, the distance between the two side edges of the chassis measured along the transversal axis, along the longitudinal axis. The maximum width of the chassis is hereby placed in the front area and the rear area of the absorbent article, and a minimum cross-width determined by the minimum width of the chassis measured in the crotch area of the absorbent article is smaller than the maximum width of the chassis. This results in a chassis with a substantial dog bone or hourglass configuration along the longitudinal axis, thereby forming two front panels at the front area and two rear panels at the rear area of the absorbent article. Preferably, the two belt portions extend from the two rear panels along the transverse axis. Preferably, the front or rear area comprises width to length ratio determined by the ratio between the maximum width measured along the transverse axis between the two side edges of the chassis in the front or rear area of the absorbent article and the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axle between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis, a value between 0.30 and 0.70, more preferably between 0.40 and 0.60. In a preferred embodiment, the chassis of the absorbent article in a flat-laid state comprises a front or rear area width to length ratio of around 0.30, 0.31, 0.32, 0.33, 0.34, 0.35, 0.36, 0.37, 0.38, 0.39, 0.40, 0.41, 0.42, 0.43, 0.44, 0.45, 0.46, 0.47, 0.48, 0.49, 0.50, 0.51, 0.52, 0.53, 0.54, 0.55, 0.56, 0.57, 0.58, 0.59, 0.60, 0.61, 0.62, 0.63, 0.64, 0.65, 0.66, 0.67, 0.68, 0.69 or 0.70.
The advantage of having a chassis with a general dog bone or hourglass configuration is that no additional side panels need to be provided to the absorbent article, since they are automatically shaped by the shape of the chassis.
In a preferred embodiment, the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis comprises a value of around 60 cm, 61 cm, 62 cm, 63 cm, 64 cm, 65 cm, 66 cm, 67 cm, 68 cm, 69 cm, 70 cm, 71 cm, 72 cm, 73 cm, 74 cm, 75 cm, 76 cm, 77 cm, 78 cm, 79 cm, 80 cm, 81 cm, 82 cm, 83 cm, 84 cm , 85 cm, 86 cm, 87 cm, 88 cm, 89 cm, 90 cm, 91 cm, 92 cm, 93 cm, 94 cm, 95 cm, 96 cm, 97 cm, 98 cm, 99 cm or 100 cm, while the maximum width measured along the transverse axis between the two side edges of the chassis in the front or rear region of the absorbent article preferably a value of around 30 cm, 31 cm, 32 cm, 33 cm, 34 cm, 35 cm, 36 cm, 37 cm, 38 cm, 39 cm, 40 cm, 41 cm, 42 cm, 43 cm, 44 cm, 45 cm, 46 cm, 47 cm, 48 cm, 49 cm or 50 cm.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the width of the chassis, being the distance between the two side edges of the chassis measured along the transverse axis, remains substantially the same along the longitudinal axis, resulting in a chassis with a substantially rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis. The advantage of having a chassis with a substantially rectangular configuration is that, when producing the diaper, the chassis consisting of the topsheet, backsheet and absorbent inserted between the topsheet and the backsheet, easily in the desired rectangular shape without any loss of material can be cut which would be the case if the chassis with general dog bone or hourglass configuration is optionally, the front panels can be connected to the front area of the absorbent article and / or the rear panels can be connected to the rear area of the absorbent article when chassis has a substantially rectangular configuration.
In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent core comprises a width-to-length ratio, determined by the ratio between the width of the absorbent core in the transverse direction measured at the center of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction, and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction, have a value between 0.05 and 0.40, more preferably between 0.10 and 0.30. An absorbent core with this width-to-length ratio has the optimum dimensions to absorb bodily fluids during mictations and to reduce leakage of these fluids. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent core comprises a width to length ratio of around 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, 0.18, 0.19, 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, 0.24, 0.25, 0.26, 0.27, 0.28, 0.29, 0.30, 0.31, 0.32, 0.33, 0.34, 0.35, 0.36, 0.37, 0.38, 0.39 or 0.40.
The absorbent core can comprise any possible shape, as long as the width-to-length ratio of the absorbent core has a value between 0.05 and 0.40. In one embodiment, the absorbent core includes a general rectangular configuration. In another embodiment, the absorbent core comprises a general rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the absorbent core comprises a general dog bone configuration along the longitudinal axis. A typical control of a dog bone or hourglass configuration consists of two "lobes" formed at the front area and the rear area of the absorbent article, interconnected with a narrow portion represented by the crotch area or at least a portion of the crotch area. The shape of the edges of these "lobes" can be any shape, such as rounded edges, straight edges, twisted edges, etc. It should be noted that the "lobes" of the dog bone or hourglass configuration of the front area and the front area rear area does not necessarily have to show the same size. A larger "lob" can, for example, be placed in the rear area of the absorbent article. This is often used for absorbent articles, and especially sanitary napkins, to be used during the night when the wearer is often lying on his back, resulting in a greater flow of bodily excretions to the rear area of the absorbent article. Providing a larger "lob" in the rear area helps prevent unwanted leakage during such a scenario.
In a preferred embodiment, the width of the absorbent core in the transversal direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction comprises a value of around 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, 9 cm , 10 cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm, 14 cm, 15 cm, 16 cm, 17 cm, 18 cm, 19 cm, 20 cm, 21 cm, 22 cm, 23 cm, 24 cm or 25 cm, while the maximum length of the absorbent core in the longitudinal direction comprises a value of around 45 cm, 46 cm, 47 cm, 48 cm, 49 cm, 50 cm, 51 cm, 52 cm, 53 cm, 54 cm, 55 cm, 56 cm, 57 cm, 58 cm, 59 cm, 60 cm, 61 cm, 62 cm, 63 cm, 64 cm, 65 cm, 66 cm, 67 cm, 68 cm, 69 cm or 70 cm.
In a preferred embodiment, the back region and / or the front region are at least partially elastic or include an elastic member to improve the fit of the rear region and / or front region of the absorbent article around the wearer's waist. A part of the front and / or rear area can, for example, be elastic by inserting an elastic material between the topsheet and the backsheet, making that part elastic.
The absorbent article may further comprise additional components known to a person skilled in the art, such as containment valves, leg cuffs, and / or containment gaskets. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent article includes containment valves and leg cuffs.
In a final aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an absorbent article suitable for use as a belt diaper as described above.
In the following, the invention and the further embodiments are described with respect to the figures.
FIG. 1 illustrates an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention, here representing a disposable belt diaper (1).
As illustrated in FIG. 1, diaper (1) defines a front region (5), a rear region (7), and a crotch region (6) that extends between and front and rear regions (5) and (7). Front area (5) includes the portion of diaper (1), when worn, is placed on the front of the wearer, while rear area (7) includes the portion of diaper (1), when worn, is placed on the wearer's back. The crotch region (6) of diaper (1) includes the portion of diaper (1), when worn, is placed between the wearer's legs and covers the wearer's lower torso. The diaper includes a longitudinal axis (L) conventionally selected in the front-to-rear direction of the article when reference is made to the worn article and extends from front region (5) through crotch region (6) to the rear region (7). The diaper further comprises a transverse axis (T) that is perpendicular to the aforementioned longitudinal axis.
Diaper (1) includes an absorbent chassis (8) formed to contain and absorb any body secretions discharged from the wearer. Chassis (8) is defined by two side edges (8A) along the longitudinal axis (L) and one front (8B) and rear edge (8C) at the front (5) and rear area (7) of diaper (1), which outer periphery (8 AC) of the chassis. Absorbent chassis (8) includes a backsheet (3), a topsheet (2) connected to the backsheet in a superimposed relationship, and an absorbent core (4) located between topsheet (2) and backsheet (3) . Topsheet (2) and backsheet (3) can be adhered directly to each other around the outer periphery of the chassis (8 A-C) by any means known to those skilled in the art such as self-adhesive joints or ultrasonic joints. For example, a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a shaped layer of adhesive, a sprayed or meltblown pattern of adhesive, or a series of lines, swirls or stains of adhesive can be used to adhere topsheet (2) to backsheet (3). It should be noted that both topsheet (2) and backsheet (3) do not have to fully extend to the outer periphery of the chassis (8 A-C). For example, the backsheet can extend to the outer periphery of chassis (8) while topsheet (2) can be attached to the backsheet inboard of the outer periphery of chassis (8), or more to the longitudinal axis of the diaper (1) (not shown)
Absorbent chassis (8) is generally compliant and able to absorb and retain body secretions. The size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent chassis (8) should be compatible with the size of the intended wearer and the fluid loading provided by the intended use of diaper (1).
Topsheet (2) and backsheet (3) are generally hung together to form a bag in which the absorbent core (4) is located to provide the absorbent chassis (8). Topsheet (2), backsheet (3) and absorbent core (4) can be assembled in a variety of known diaper configurations.
The chassis (8) according to this embodiment has a general dog bone or hourglass configuration, whereby the width of the chassis (8), being the distance between the two side edges (8A) of chassis (8) measured along the transversal axis (T), the longitudinal axis (L) varies. The maximum width (Y8, max) of the chassis (8) is placed in front area (5) and rear area (7) of the absorbent article, and a minimum cross width (Y8, min) determined by the minimum width of chassis (8) measured in crotch area (6) of the absorbent article, is smaller than the maximum width (Y8, max) of chassis (8), thereby forming two front panels (15) at the front area (5) and two rear panels (16) at the rear area (7) of the absorbent article. From the rear panels (16), two belt sections (9A) and (9B) extend from the side edges of the chassis (8A), one belt section extending from each rear panel (16). The two front panels (15) typically provide "grip" points and assist in placing the front area (16) of diaper (1) around the wearer's front waist.
The width-to-length ratio of chassis (8), determined by the ratio between the minimum width (Y8, min) measured along 8A) and the maximum length (X8) measured along the longitudinal axis (L) between the front edge (8B) and 8C) of chassis (8), according to this particular embodiment, has a value of around 0.33.
The front or rear area width to length ratio of chassis (8), determined by the ratio between the maximum width (Y8, max) measured along 8A) in the front (5) or rear area (7) of diaper (1) and the maximum length (X8) measured along the longitudinal axis (L) between the front edge (8B) and 8C) of the chassis (8), according to this particular embodiment, comprises a value of around 0.45.
The belt (9) of diaper (1), according to this embodiment, comprises two separate belt halves, each belt half comprising one of the two belt sections (9A) and (9B). The belt portions (9A) and (9B) are hereby attached to the rear area (7) of the diaper (1) close to the transversely opposite side edges (8A) of the chassis (8). In this embodiment, they are attached to the back panels (16) of diaper (1). The belt portions (9A) and (9B) can be fixed by, for example, gluing or ultrasonic welding. Alternatively, the belt portions may be fixed in a reversible manner, for example, via a hook and loop type fastener, e.g. VELCRO®, or self-adhesive fasteners (not shown). Each belt portion (9A) / (9B) has a distal edge (9A-D) / (9B-D) positioned away from the side edge (8A) of) / (9B) extending, a higher edge (9A-U) / (9B-U) and a lower edge (9A-L) / (9B-L) extending mainly along the transverse axis (T) and defining longitudinal sides of the belt portion, and a proximal edge (9A-P) / ( 9B-P) attached to the rear region (7) of the absorbent article, which proximal edge is substantially oriented along the longitudinal axis (L).
The length-to-width ratio of each belt portion (9A) / (9B) in a flat-laid state, determined by the ratio between the maximum length (X9A)) of the belt portion measured along the longitudinal axis (L) between the higher edge (9A-U) and the lower edge (9A-L) / (9B-L) of the belt section and the maximum width (Y9A, max) / (Y9B, max) of the belt section measured along the transversal axis (T) between the proximal edge (9A-P) and distal edge (9A-D) / (9B-D), according to this embodiment, have a value of around between 0.20, while the portion of each belt portion that extends beyond the side edges (8A) of the chassis (8) in a flat-laid state extends a length-to-width ratio, determined by the ratio between the maximum length (X9A)) of the belt portion (9A) / (9B) along the longitudinal axis (L) between the higher edge (9A-U) of the belt section and the maximum width (Y9A) / (Y9B) along the transverse axis (T) between the side edge (8A) of the chassis (8), each of which is belt section (9A) / (9B) ch extends and the distal edge (9A-D) / (9B-D) of the belt portion, according to this embodiment, a value of around between 0.26
According to this embodiment, the value of the length-to-width ratio of the entire belt portion is the same for both belt portions, as well as the value of the length-to-width ratio of the portion of each belt portion that extends beyond the side edges of the chassis expands. However, it should be noted that the length-to-width ratios, both the length-to-width ratio of the entire belt portion and the length-to-width ratio of the portion of each belt portion that extends beyond the side edges of the chassis can be different for each of the two belt sections.
The two belt portions (9A) and (9B) are intended to connect together with a first adhesive (10), which is present on one of the two belt portions, in this case the belt portion (9B). The adhesive means (10) may be of a hook and loop type material, e.g. VELCRO®, or from a self-adhesive fixing agent. However, it should be understood that other types of fasteners are possible, including, but not limited to, adhesive, snap fasteners and buttonholes, buttons, and cords. Preferably, the first adhesive means (10) of belt portion (9B) can hang on any part of the other belt portion (9A), allowing the user of the belt diaper (1) to wrap around the optimum fit of belt (9) to find his waist, thereby improving the wearing comfort of the diaper. Two second suturing means (11) and (12) are provided in front area (5) which are capable of being joined outside the belt portions (9A) and (9B), ie the side of the belt portions turned away from the wearer during use, in order to strap diaper to the desired pants-like shape.
Absorbent core (4) according to this embodiment comprises a dog bone or hourglass configuration along the longitudinal axis (L), essentially following the periphery (8 A-C) of chassis (8). The width-to-length ratio of absorbent core (4), which is determined by the ratio between the width (Y4, min) of absorbent core (4) in the transverse direction (T) substantially in the middle of the maximum length (X4 ) of absorbent core (4) measured in the longitudinal direction (L), and the maximum length (X4) of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction, according to this particular embodiment, comprises a value of around 0.23.
Diaper (1) may further comprise other elements such as leg cuffs (12) and / or containment valves. It should be recognized that the individual components of diaper (1) may be optional depending on the intended use of diaper (1).
Disposable belt diaper (1) may further include elastics (13) and (14) at the front (8B) and rear edge (8C) of diaper (1) to further prevent leakage of body secretions and to support the chassis (8).
Belt diaper (1) in Figure 1 is represented in its flat-laid state. However, in its pre-use state, ie prior to use of the belt diaper (1), the belt portions (9A) and (9B) are preferably folded inwardly, ie folded toward the body surface of diaper (1), whereby the belt portions are folded according to at least two fold lines (19) extending along the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the folded belt portions are attached to the body surface of the absorbent article, which belt portions are easily detached from the body surface by a user prior to use to allow this folding and attachment of the belt portions to the body surface of the absorbent article of the absorbent article and prevent the belt portions from being damaged or contaminated prior to use.
FIG. 2 provides a perspective view over front area (5) of a belt diaper (1) corresponding to belt diaper (1) of FIG. 1, wherein the two belt portions (9A) and (9B) are first attached to each other, thereby forming a waist opening (18) to adjust the waist of the wearer, after which the front area has become attached to the belt using the second attachment means (11) and (12) on the front area (5), thereby extending two leg openings (17) close to the crotch area (6) through which the legs of the wearer can be placed. Also visible are topsheet (2) and backsheet (3) of the absorbent article, as well as the absorbent core (4, indicated by the dotted line), forming the chassis (8) of diaper (1) together.

权利要求:
Claims (12)
[1]
conclusions
A disposable absorbent article, suitable for use as a belt diaper, comprising a liquid impervious backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent core together forming a chassis of forming the absorbent article, the absorbent article comprises a front region, a rear region and an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front region and the rear region, a longitudinal axis extending from the front region across the crotch region to the rear region, and a transverse axis generally perpendicular is on the longitudinal axis, wherein the chassis comprises a periphery defined by the outer edges of the chassis, the aforementioned outer edges comprising side edges extending substantially along the longitudinal axis and defining transversely opposite edges of the chassis, and a leading edge and a trailing edge who head extending along the transverse axis and defining longitudinally opposite edges of the chassis, and wherein the absorbent article comprises a strap attached to the rear region of the absorbent article, which strap comprises two transversely opposite strap portions extending beyond the side edges of the chassis along the transverse axis, each belt portion has a distal edge away from the side edge of the chassis, each belt portion of which extends, positioned, and a higher edge and a lower edge extending substantially along the transversal axis and those longitudinally opposite edges of the belt portion wherein at least one of the two belt portions comprises at least one first fastener, wherein the portion of each belt portion that extends beyond the side edges of the chassis in a flat-laid state comprises a length-to-width ratio determined by the ratio between the maximum length of the beltged area measured along the longitudinal axis between the higher edge and the lower edge of the belt portion and the maximum width measured along the transversal axis between the side edge of the chassis from which each belt portion extends and the distal edge of the belt portion, comprising a value between 0.10 and 0.40, more preferably between 0.20 and 0.30, characterized in that the rear region and / or front region of the absorbent article is made at least partially elastic or comprises an elastic part.
[2]
An absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the front region of the absorbent article comprises at least one second fastener.
[3]
Absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the strap of the absorbent article comprises one single piece attached to the rear area of the absorbent article and which piece extends beyond the side edges of the chassis around the two strap portions to provide.
[4]
Absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the belt of the absorbent article comprises two separate belt halves, each belt half comprising one of the aforementioned belt portions, each belt portion being attached to the rear area of the absorbent article close to the transversely opposite side edges of the chassis, one belt portion near each side edge, each belt portion has a proximal edge fixed to the rear region of the absorbent article, which proximal edge is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis, with a length-to-width ratio of each belt portion in a flat-laid state, determined by the ratio between the maximum length of the belt portion measured along the longitudinal axis between the higher edge and the lower edge of the belt portion and the maximum width of the belt portion measured along the transversal axis between the proximal edge and the distal edge, a value comprised between 0.05 and 0.35, more preferably between 0.15 and 0.25.
[5]
Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the chassis of the absorbent article comprises in a flat-laid state a width-to-length ratio determined by the ratio between the minimum width measured along the transverse axis between the two side edges of the chassis and the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis, between 0.10 and 0.50, more preferably between 0.20 and 0.40.
[6]
Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-5, characterized in that the absorbent article comprises an absorbent core with a width-to-length ratio, determined by the ratio between the width of the absorbent core measured in the transversal direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction, between 0.05 and 0.40, more preferably between 0.10 and 0.30.
[7]
Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that the width of the chassis, being the distance between the two side edges of the chassis measured along the transversal axis, varies along the longitudinal axis, wherein the maximum width of the chassis is positioned in the front and rear areas of the absorbent article, and a minimum cross-width determined by the minimum width of the chassis measured in the crotch area of the absorbent article is smaller than the maximum width of the chassis, resulting in a chassis with a substantially dog bone or hourglass configuration along the longitudinal axis, thereby forming two front side panels at the front area and two rear side panels at the rear area of the absorbent article, preferably whose rear side panels extend the two belt portions, the front or rear area width -to-length ratio, determined by the ratio between the maximum width measured between the two lateral edges of the chassis in the front or rear region of the absorbent article and the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis, a value between 0.30 and 0.70, more preferably between 0.40 and 0.60.
[8]
Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that the width of the chassis, being the distance between the two side edges of the chassis measured along the transversal axis, remains substantially the same along the longitudinal axis , resulting in a chassis with a substantially rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis.
[9]
Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-8, characterized in that the absorbent core comprises a general dog bone configuration along the longitudinal axis or a general rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis.
[10]
Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the absorbent article further comprises containment flaps and / or leg cuffs along the side edges of the chassis.
[11]
Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-10, characterized in that the first and second fastening means comprise hook-and-loop fastening means.
[12]
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-11, characterized in that the method comprises a step of at least partially elasticizing the rear region and / or the front region of the absorbent article, or that the method comprises a step of including an elastic member in the rear region and / or the front region.

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同族专利:

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公开号 | 公开日

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BE1022684A1|2016-07-15|

引用文献:

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公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题

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WO1997033547A1|1996-03-13|1997-09-18|SCA Mölnlycke AB|A waist belt for absorbent articles and a method for its manufacture|

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US20010041879A1|2001-03-01|2001-11-15|First Quality Enterprises, Inc.|Absorbent articles having improved fastening system|

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US20030018316A1|2001-07-17|2003-01-23|Sca Hygiene Products Ab|Absorbent article|

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WO2007149017A1|2006-06-21|2007-12-27|Sca Hygiene Products Ab|Belted absorbent garment|

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WO2009082290A1|2007-12-21|2009-07-02|Sca Hygiene Products Ab|Absorbent garment provided with side panels or belt members|

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法律状态:
2018-10-18| FG| Patent granted|Effective date: 20160715 |

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2018-10-18| MM| Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee|Effective date: 20171231 |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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EP14185278.0|2014-09-18|

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EP14185278|2014-09-18|

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