Absorbent material

Claim 2

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding liquid; a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 12 seconds and a liquid residual value of not more than about one gram per gram of said surge management means, and wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles.

Claim 3

An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said surge management means is constructed to further provide a temporary loading value of at least about 3 g per gram of said surge management means over at least three uptake and desorption cycles.

Claim 4

An absorbent article as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein said surge management means has a basis weight of within the range of about 90-3000 g/m².

Claim 5

An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide an uptake time of not more than about 10 sec., preferably 8 sec.

Claim 6

An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a temporary loading value of at least about 6 g, preferably 9 g of said surge management means.

Claim 7

An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a residual value of not more than about 0.75 g, preferably 0.5 g per gram of said surge management means.

Claim 8

An article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said surge management means provides a wettable fiber-surface-­area value of greater than zero and less than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 9

An absorbent article as recited in claim 7 wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a wettable fiber-­surface-area value (per 100 g of said surge management means) which is not more than about 54 m².

Claim 10

An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a wettable-surface-area-times-density value of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m²/100 cm³, preferably about 5 m²/100 cm³.

Claim 11

An article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a total fiber-surface-area value which is within the range of about 5-­90 m²/100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 12

An article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a nonwettable-surface-area-times-density value which is not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³, preferably about 0.71 m²/100 cm³.

Claim 13

An article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a wettable fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 3-­54 m² per 100 g of the surge management means.

Claim 14

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m², an uptake time of not more than about 10 seconds and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.75 g per gram of said surge management means, and wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said liquid uptake time and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles.

Claim 15

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m², an uptake time of not more than about 10 seconds and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.75 g per gram of said surge management means, and wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said liquid uptake time and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles.

Claim 16

An absorbent article as recited in claim 13, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a temporary loading value of at least about 3 g preferably 6 g per gram of said surge management means.

Claim 17

An absorbent article as recited in claim 13 or 14, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a temporary loading value of at least about 6 g, preferably 9 g per gram of said surge management means, and/or a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.5 g per gram of said surge management means.

Claim 18

An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 13 to 15, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide an uptake time of not more than about 8 sec.

Claim 19

An article as recited in one of claims 13 to 16 wherein said surge management means provides a wettable fiber-surface-area value of greater than zero and less than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 20

An absorbent article as recited in claim 17, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a wettable fiber-surface-area value (per 100 g of said surge management means) which is not more than about 54 m².

Claim 21

An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 13 to 18, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a wettable-surface-area-times-density value of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m²/100 cm³ preferably not more than about 4 m²/100 cm³.

Claim 22

An article as recited in one of claims 13 to 19, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a nonwettable-­surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm ³, preferably not more than 0.71 m²/100 cm ³.

Claim 23

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m², an uptake time of not more than about 8 seconds and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.5 g per gram of said surge management means, and wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles.

Claim 24

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m², an uptake time of not more than about 8 seconds and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.5 g per gram of said surge management means, and wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles.

Claim 25

An absorbent article as recited in claim 21, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a temporary loading value of at least about 3 g, preferably 6 g and most preferably 9 g per gram of said surge management means.

Claim 26

An article as recited in claim 21 or 22, wherein said surge management means provides a wettable fiber-surface-area value of greater than zero and less than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 27

An absorbent article as recited in claim 23, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a wettable fiber-surface-area value (per 100 g of said surge management means) which is not more than about 54 m².

Claim 28

An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 21 to 24, wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a wettable-surface-area-times-density value (per 100 cm³ of said surge management means) of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m² preferably not more than about 4 m².

Claim 29

An article as recited in one of claims 21 to 25 wherein said surge management means is constructed to provide a nonwettable-­surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³, preferably 0.71 m²/100 cm³ of surge management means.

Claim 30

An absorbent article comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 12 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 3 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about one g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-surface-­area value of not more than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 5-90 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 31

An absorbent article comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 12 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 3 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about one g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-surface-­area value of not more than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 5-90 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 32

An absorbent article as recited in claim 27, wherein said surge management means has a wettable fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 3-54 m²/100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value greater than zero and not more than about 5 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-­times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³, preferably 0.71 m²/100 cm³, of said surge management means, and a total fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 5-54 m²/100 g, preferably 12-54 m²/100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 33

An absorbent article comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 10 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 6 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.75 g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-surface-­area value within the range of about 3-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-­density value of greater than zero and not more than about 5 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 5-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 34

An absorbent article comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 10 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 6 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.75 g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-surface-­area value within the range of about 3-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-­density value of greater than zero and not more than about 5 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 5-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 35

An absorbant article as recited in claim 29, wherein said surge management means has a wettable fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 3-54 m²/100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value greater than zero and not more than about 4 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-­times-density value of not more than about 0.71 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 12-54 m²/100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 36

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², preferably about 100 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 8 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 9 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.5 g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-­surface-area value within the range of about 3-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-­times-density value of greater than zero and not more than about 4 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-­density value of not more than about 0.71 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 12-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 37

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², preferably about 100 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 8 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 9 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.5 g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-­surface-area value within the range of about 3-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-­times-density value of greater than zero and not more than about 4 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-­density value of not more than about 0.71 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 12-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 38

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 12 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 3 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about one gram per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-surface-­area value of not more than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times density value of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 5-90 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 39

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 12 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 3 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about one gram per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-surface-­area value of not more than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times density value of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 5-90 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 40

An absorbent article as recited in claim 32, wherein said surge management means has a wettable fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 3-54 m²/100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value greater than zero and not more than about 5 m²/100 cm³, preferably 4 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³, preferably 0.71 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 5-54 m²/100 g, preferably 12-­54 m²/100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 41

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 10 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 6 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.75 g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-surface-­area value within the range of about 3-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-­density value of greater than zero and not more than about 5 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 5-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 42

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m², an uptake time value of not more than about 10 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 6 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.75 g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles, and said surge management means further having a wettable fiber-surface-­area value within the range of about 3-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-­density value of greater than zero and not more than about 5 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 5-54 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 43

An absorbent article as recited in claim 34, wherein said surge management means has a wettable fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 3-54 m²/100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value greater than zero and not more than about 4 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-­times-density value of not more than about 0.71 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 12-54 m²/100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 44

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², a wettable fiber-surface-area value of not more than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-­surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 5-90 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 45

An absorbent article, comprising: retention means for holding a liquid, a fibrous surge management means located in liquid communication with said retention means for receiving said liquid and releasing said liquid to said retention means, said surge management means having a basis weight of at least about 60 g/m², a wettable fiber-surface-area value of not more than about 70 m² per 100 g of said surge management means, a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of greater than zero and not more than about 7 m²/100 cm³, a nonwettable-fiber-­surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and a total fiber surface area value within the range of about 5-90 m² per 100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 46

An absorbent article as recited in claim 36 wherein said surge management means has an uptake time value of not more than about 10 seconds, preferably 8 seconds, a temporary loading value of at least about 6 g, preferably 9 g per gram of said surge management means, and a liquid residual value of not more than about 0.75 g, preferably 0.5 g per gram of said surge management means, wherein said surge management means is constructed and arranged to provide said uptake time value, said temporary loading value and said liquid residual value over at least three uptake and desorption cycles.

Claim 47

An absorbent article as recited in claim 36 or 37, wherein said surge management means has a wettable fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 3-54 m²/100 g of said surge management means, and/or a wettable-fiber-surface-area-times-­density value greater than zero and not more than about 5 m²/100 cm³, preferably 4 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and/or a nonwettable-fiber-surface-area-times-density value of not more than about 1.1 m²/100 cm³, preferably 0.71 m²/100 cm³ of said surge management means, and/or a total fiber-surface-area value within the range of about 5, preferably 12 to 54 m²/100 g of said surge management means.

Claim 48

An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 36 to 38 wherein said surge management means has a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m².