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EP0222585A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

An absorbent article having liquid impervious shelves

Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1986-11-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-11-04
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention provides a disposable absorbent article such as an incontinent pad that is both comfortable and suitable for absorbing and containing large volumes of body liquids rapidly without leakage, especially a subsequent gush of liquid. Such an absorbent article comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, a layered expandable absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, at least two resilient shaping members, an acquisition channel, a liquid acquisition zone and at least two liquid impervious shelves. The present invention also relates to an absorbent article provided with an expandable over wrap having an expansion means for allowing the overwrap to expand when the absorbent core swells when wetted. The liquid impervious shelves comprise a multiplicity of shelf layers formed from a portion of the backsheet being folded. The liquid impervious shelves channel the flow of liquids toward the lower layers of the absorbent core and encourage use of the bottom and sides of the layers, thereby providing more efficient use of hydrogel materials. An anti-bunching bead may be placed on each liquid impervious shelf between the shelf layers to provide stability to the absorbent article.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dawn I. Houghton
  • 👤 Nicholas A. Ahr

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 23:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/44; A61F5/4401; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/53; A61F13/534; A61F13/51; A61F2013/51059; A61F2013/51061; A61F13/514; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51409; A61F13/51474; A61F2013/51486; A61F2013/51492; A61F2013/530802; A61F2013/53445

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 120 words
An absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; and a layered absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, characterised in that said absorbent core comprises (i) a base layer positioned adjacent said backsheet and (ii) at least two side margin layers disposed one in each side of the absorbent article in spaced relation to each other adjacent said topsheet; and at least two liquid impervious shelves disposed one in each side of the absorbent article in spaced relation to each other between said base layer and said side margin layers, the maximum transverse width of each of said shelves being five-twelfths of the total transverse width of the absorbent article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 120 words
An absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; and a layered absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, characterised in that said absorbent core comprises (i) a base layer positioned adjacent said backsheet and (ii) at least two side margin layers disposed one in each side of the absorbent article in spaced relation to each other adjacent said topsheet; and at least two liquid impervious shelves disposed one in each side of the absorbent article in spaced relation to each other between said base layer and said side margin layers, the maximum transverse width of each of said shelves being five-twelfths of the total transverse width of the absorbent article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
An absorbent article according to Claim 1 wherein the maximum transverse width of each of said liquid impervious shelves is one-fourth preferably one eighth of the total transverse width of the absorbent article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 59 words
An absorbent article according to either one of Claims 1 & 2 wherein said liquid impervious shelves are each formed from a portion of said backsheet arranged in a multiplicity of shelf layers, said shelf layers being formed by longitudinally extending folds in said backsheet, said shelves having at least a first shelf layer and a second shelf layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
An absorbent article according to Claim 3 wherein said backsheet extends around at least the bottom and sides of the absorbent article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
An absorbent article according to any one of Claims 1-4 additionally comprising a first liquid distribution layer disposed between said side margin layers and said topsheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
An absorbent article according to Claim 5 additionally comprising a second liquid distribution layer disposed between said base layer and said shelves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 216 words
An absorbent article according to any one of Claims 1-6 wherein said layered absorbent core comprises a unified web arranged in a multiplicity of core layers, said core layers being formed by longitudinally extending folds in said web, the folds alternating in a zig-zag sequence in each side of the absorbent article, said core layers being (i) a base layer positioned adjacent said backsheet, (ii) at least two first support layers disposed. one on each side of the absorbent article in a spaced relation to each other, (iii) at least two first side margin layers disposed one on each side of the absorbent article in a spaced relation to each other, (iv) at least two second support layers disposed one on each side of the absorbent article in a spaced relation to each other, and (v) at least two second side margin layers disposed one on each side of the absorbent article in a spaced relation to each other; at least two first liquid impervious shelves being disposed one on each side of the absorbent article between said first support layers and said first side margin layers, and at least two second liquid impervious shelves being disposed one on each side of the absorbent article between said second support layers and said second side margin layers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 50 words
An absorbent article according to Claim 7 when dependent on Claims 5 & 6 wherein said first liquid distribution layer is disposed between said first side margin layers and said topsheet; and said second liquid distribution layer is disposed between said second side margin layers and said first support layers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
An absorbent article according to Claim 8 wherein said topsheet extends around the entire absorbent article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
An absorbent article according to any one of Claims 5-9 additionally comprising at least two moisture insensitive, resilient shaping members disposed between said first liquid distribution layer and said topsheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
An absorbent article according to any one of Claims 3-10 additionally comprising an anti-bunching bead disposed on each side of the absorbent article between each of said first shelf layers and said second shelf layers of said second shelves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 39 words
An absorbent article according to any one of Claims 3-11 additionally comprising an anti-bunching bead disposed on each side of the absorbent article between each of said first shelf layers and said second shelf layers of said first shelves.

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