EP0223487B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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An absorbent article having moisture insensitive, resilient shaping members
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing: 1986-11-04
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Granted: 1992-01-15
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Expires: 2006-11-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a disposable absorbent article such as an incontinent pad (20) 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 (22), a liquid impervious backsheet (24), a layered expandable absorbent core (26) positioned between the topsheet (22) and the backsheet (24), at least two resilient shaping members (28), an acquisition channel (30), a liquid acquisition zone (50) and at least two liquid impervious shelves (58, 60). The present invention also relates to an absorbent article provided with an expandable overwrap (21) having an expansion means for allowing the overwrap to expand when the absorbent core (26) swells when wetted. The resilient shaping members (28) of the present invention provide an improved absorbent article design having raised side edges and an acquisition channel (30). The resilient shaping members (28) are a compressible, conformable, resilient, and moisture insensitive batt of fibers so that the resilient shaping members (28) will retain their shape even when wetted.
Inventors
- 👤 Dawn I. Houghton
- 👤 Nicholas A. Ahr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/44; A61F5/4401; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/53; A61F13/534; A61F13/51; A61F13/514; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51409; A61F13/51474; A61F2013/51486; A61F2013/51492; A61F2013/530481; A61F2013/530802; A61F2013/53445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An absorbent article (20) having a longitudinal axis (70) and a transverse width and comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet (22); a liquid impervious backsheet (24) associated with said topsheet, said topsheet (22) and said backsheet (24) comprising an overwrap (21,21') enclosing said absorbent core (26); at least two shaping members (28) disposed along each longitudinal side of the absorbent article in a transversely spaced relation to each other an acquisition channel (30) positioned between said topsheet (22) and said absorbent core (26) and longitudinally bounded by at least said shaping members (28); and a liquid acquisition zone (50) comprising at least said shaping members (28) and said acquisition channel (30) characterised in that said shaping members are formed of a resilient material, the resiliency of said material being relatively unaffected by the presence of moisture; and in that said liquid acquisition zone (50) has a volume of at least 30cm³.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
An absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein each of said resilient shaping members is formed from a resilient material that will recover at least 80% of its original volume after it is compressed to 20% of its original volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An absorbent article according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein each of said resilient spacing members (28) is a batt of compressible, comformable, resilient fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An absorbent article according to claim 3 wherein the surfaces of said batt of fibers are hydrophilic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An absorbent article according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein each of said resilient shaping members(28) is a synthetic foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1-5 wherein each of said resilient shaping members (28) has a height of at least 0.5 cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1-6 wherein each of said resilient shaping members (28) has a height of at least 1.0 cm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1-7 wherein the transverse width of said acquisition channel (30) is at least one-sixth of the total transverse width of the absorbent article (20).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An absorbent article according to claim 8 wherein the transverse width of said acquisition channel (30) is at least one-half of the total transverse width of the absorbent article (20)
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1-9 wherein said absorbent core (26) contains a hydrogel material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
An absorbent article (20) according to any one of the previous claims wherein the absorbent core (26) comprises (i) a base layer (36) positioned adjacent said backsheet (24), (ii) at least two first side margin layers (40) disposed one in each side of the absorbent article in spaced relation to each other between said base layer (36) and said resilient shaping members (28), and (iii) a first central channel (46) positioned between said base layer (36) and said resilient shaping members (28) and longitudinally bounded by at least said side margin layers (40); a first liquid distribution layer (52) being disposed between said side margin layers (40) and said resilient shaping members (28); and said liquid acquisition zone (50) comprising at least said first liquid distribution layer (52), said first central channel (46), said acquisition channel (30) and said resilient shaping members (28).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An absorbent article according to claim 11 additionally comprising a second liquid distribution layer (54) disposed between said base layer (36) and said first side margin layers (40), said liquid acquisition zone (50) additionally comprising said second liquid distribution layer (54).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
An absorbent article according to claim 12 wherein said absorbent core (26) additionally comprises at least two second margin layers (44) disposed one in each side of the absorbent article in spaced relation to each other between said base layer (36) and said second liquid distribution layer (54), and a second central channel (48) positioned between said base layer (36) and said second liquid distribution layer (54) and longitudinally bounded by at least said second side margin layers (44), said liquid acquisition zone (50) additionally comprising said second central channel (48).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
An absorbent article according to claim 13 additionally comprising a third liquid distribution layer (55) disposed between said base layer (36) and said second side margin layers (44), said liquid acquisition zone (50) additionally comprising said third liquid distribution layer (55).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
An absorbent article according to any one of claims 11-14 wherein said liquid pervious topsheet (22) extends completely around said article (20) so as to form said overwrap (21'), said article being formed with liquid impervious shelves (58,60,62,64) disposed on the external surfaces of said side margin layers (40,44) and associated support layers (38,42), expansion means (72,74) being disposed between said overwrap (21') and those portions (64) of said liquid impervious shelves facing towards said topsheet (22), said expansion means permitting expansion of said overwrap (21') as said absorbent core (26) expands on wetting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein the expansion means comprises a releasable adhesive tack (74).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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