EP0422504A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hygienic absorbent article
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1990-10-04
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2010-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A distinctive absorbent garment article (10) generally delimits a front waistband section (12), a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects the front and rear waistband sections. The article comprises a substantially fluid-impermeable backsheet layer (20), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (70), positioned in facing relation with the backsheet layer, and an absorbent body (40) located between the backsheet layer and topsheet layer. The absorbent body includes a distinctive humidity transfer region which is advantageously configured to exhibit relatively low moisture retention. A vapor permeable panel (70) is connected to the backsheet layer at one or more waistband sections of the article, and is arranged in an overlying registry with the humidity transfer region of the absorbent body (10).
Inventors
- 👤 James Arthur Davis
- 👤 Karen Marie Arnold
- 👤 Mary Beth Eckhardt
- 👤 Rebecca Jean Kuepper
- 👤 Pamela Jean Mayberry
- 👤 Michael Todd Morman
- 👤 Thomas Walter Odorzynski
- 👤 Maryann Zunker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/51; A61F13/514; A61F13/51401; A61F13/51405; A61F13/15203; A61F13/511; A61F13/51456; A61F13/51458; A61F13/51462; A61F13/51474; A61F13/51478; A61F13/51484; A61F13/53; A61F13/534; A61F13/535; A61F13/84; A61F13/45; A61F13/49; A61F13/49007; A61F13/49009; A61F13/537; A61F13/4902; A61F2013/49031; A61F2013/49068; A61F2013/49074; A61F2013/49076; A61F2013/49077; A61F2013/51409; A61F2013/51411; A61F2013/51421; A61F2013/51423; A61F2013/51441; A61F2013/51443; A61F2013/530131; A61F2013/530343; A61F2013/53035; A61F2013/530379; A61F2013/53043; A61F2013/530481; A61F2013/530583; A61F2013/530591; A61F2013/530613; A61F2013/530627; A61F2013/5307; A61F2013/53445; A61F2013/8488; A61F2013/8491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An absorbent article (10), which generally delimits a front waistand section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections, the article comprising: a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer (20); a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) position in facing relation with said backsheet layer (20); an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20) and topsheet layer (30), said absorbent body (40) having a humidity transfer zone (44) which exhibits relatively low moisture retention; and a vapor permeable panel (70) which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer(20) in at least one waistband section of said article, said vapor permeable panel (70) arranged in an overlying registry with at least a portion of said humidity transfer zone(44).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An absorbent article (10), which generally delimits a front waistand section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections, the article comprising: a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer (20); a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) position in facing relation with said backsheet layer (20); an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20) and topsheet layer (30), said absorbent body (40) having a humidity transfer zone (44) which exhibits relatively low moisture retention; and a vapor permeable panel (70) which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer(20) in at least one waistband section of said article, said vapor permeable panel (70) arranged in an overlying registry with at least a portion of said humidity transfer zone(44).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) is composed of a material having a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) value of at least about 2000 gm/sq.m/24 hr. preferably of at least about 4000 gm/sq.m/24 hr. and most preferably of at least about 5000 gm/sq.m/ 24 hr.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 1 or 2, further comprising one or more separation layers (50,52,54) located between said topsheet layer (30) and said absorbent body (40).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 3, wherein said separation layers (50,52,54) and said topsheet layer (30) have a total combined bulk thickness (at 0.207 kPa) of at least about 0.078 cm preferably of within the range of about 0.1 - 0.6 cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
216 words
An absorbent article (10) especially according to one of the preceding claims comprising: a front waistband section (12), a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16), which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections; a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer (20); a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer (20); an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20) and topsheet layer (30), said absorbent body (40) having a humidity transfer zone (44) which exhibits relatively low moisture retention; one or more separation layers (50, 52, 54) located between said topsheet layer (30) and said absorbent body (40), said separation layers (50, 52, 54) providing for effective fluid transfer between said topsheet layer (30) and said absorbent body (40) and forming spacing bans composed of substantially hydrophobic material and having a total bulk thickness within a range of about 0.07 - 0.51 cm (at 0.207 kPa); and a vapor permeable panel (70) which is connected to said backsheet layer (20) in at least one waistband section of said article, said vapor permeable panel arranged in an overlying registry with at least a portion of said humidity transfer region (44) and said vapor permeable panel (70) extending over an area within the range of about 5-400 sq. cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) is formed in a front waistband section and/or a rear waistband section of said backsheet layer (20).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of preceding claims wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) comprises a calendered, meltblown, nonwoven fibrous web.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims wherein said humidity transfer region (44) comprises a mass of relatively hydrophobic fibers, preferably a mass of polyester fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said humidity transfer region (44) has a Moisture Retention Index of not more than about 40 gm, preferably not more than about 30 gm and most preferably of not more than about 20 gm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said humidity transfer region (44) has a Wicking Index of not more than about 0.2 gm preferably not more than about 0.1 gm and most preferably not more than about 0.05 gm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said humidity transfer region (44) comprises a composite, preferably a multi-layer composite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said humidity transfer region (44) comprises a fibrous web having a density within the range of 0.001 - 0.05 kg/cm³ and a basis weight within the range of 5 - 300 g/m².
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) is constructed of a material which provides a Test Relative Humidity (TRH) value of not more than about 80%, preferably of not more than about 75%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, further comprising spacing means (50, 52, 54) located between said topsheet layer (30), and said absorbent body (40), said spacing means providing for effective fluid transfer between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, said spacing means composed of substantially hydrophobic material, and said spacing means and topsheet layer having a total bulk thickness of at least about 0.078 cm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 14, wherein said spacing means comprises one or more separation layers (50, 52, 54) composed of fibrous material having a combined bulk thickness of at least about 0.04 cm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the claims 3 to 15, wherein one or more of said separation layers (50, 52, 54) is composed of a knit fabric.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) extends over a vapor permeability area totaling at least about cm².
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) material extends along about 10 - 40% of the length of said absorbent body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said absorbent body (40) includes a humidity transfer portion (44) which has a composite basis weight of not more than about 550 g/m² located in adjacent facing relation with said vapor permeable panel (70).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein said humidity transfer region (44) of the absorbent body (40) has a density of not more than about 0.1 g/cm³.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the preceding claims wherein the humidity transfer region (44) located in operable registration with said vapor permeable panel (70) and has an average basis weight within the range of about 5 - 300 g/m² and/or an average density within the range of 0.001 - 0.05 gm cm³ and/or a bulk thickness of at least about 0.51 cm (about 0.02 inches).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
189 words
An absorbent article (10) which generally delimits a front waistband section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects sid front and rear waistband sections, the article comprising: a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer (20); a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer; an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20) and topsheet layer (40); one or more liquid permeable separation layers (50, 52, 54) located between said topsheet layer (30) and said absorbent body (40) said separation layers (50, 52, 54) allowing fluid transfer between said topsheet layer (30) and said absorbent body (40), said separation layers (50, 52, 54) composed of substantially hydrophobic material, and said separation layers and top sheet layer having a total bulk thickness of at least about 0.078 cm (at 0.207 kPa); and a vapor permeable panel (70) which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer (20) at at least one waistband section of said article, said vapor permeable panel (70) arranged in an overlying registry with at least a portion of said absorbent body (40).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
189 words
An absorbent article (10) which generally delimits a front waistband section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects sid front and rear waistband sections, the article comprising: a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer (20); a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer; an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20) and topsheet layer (40); one or more liquid permeable separation layers (50, 52, 54) located between said topsheet layer (30) and said absorbent body (40) said separation layers (50, 52, 54) allowing fluid transfer between said topsheet layer (30) and said absorbent body (40), said separation layers (50, 52, 54) composed of substantially hydrophobic material, and said separation layers and top sheet layer having a total bulk thickness of at least about 0.078 cm (at 0.207 kPa); and a vapor permeable panel (70) which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer (20) at at least one waistband section of said article, said vapor permeable panel (70) arranged in an overlying registry with at least a portion of said absorbent body (40).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 22, wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) is composed of a material having a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) value of at least about 2000 g/sq. m/24 hr., more preferably of at least about 4000/gm/sq.m/24 hr, and most preferably at least 5000 gm/sq.m/24 hr.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
An absorbent article as recited in claims 22 or 23, wherein said separation layers (50, 52, 54) have a total combined bulk thickness of at least about 0.04 cm (at 0.207 kPa).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 24, wherein said separation layers (50, 52, 54) and said topsheet layer have a total combined bulk thickness of at least about 0.078 cm (at 0.207 kPa) or preferably within the range of about 0.1 - 0.6 cm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of the claims 22 to 25 wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) extends over a vapor permeability area totaling at least about 5 cm².
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 26, wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) is formed in a front waistband section (12) and /or a rear waistband section (14) of said backsheet layer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 27 wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) is composed of a calendered, meltblown, nonwoven fibrous web.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 28 wherein said separation layers (50, 52, 54) comprise 1 - layers of nonwoven fibrous web material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 29 wherein said separation layers (50, 52, 54) are layers of spunbond fibrous web material composed of polyolefin fibers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 30, wherein each of said spunbond fibrous webs have a total basis weight of at least about 34 gsm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 30 wherein one or more of said spunbond fibrous web layers is composed of polypropylene fibers and has a basis weight within the range of about 55 - 170 gsm and a bulk density of about 0.03 - 0.5 g /cc (at 0.207 kPa).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 32, wherein said polypropylene fibers have a denier within the range of about 1.5 - 6d.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
44 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 33 wherein said absorbent body (40) has a plurality of apertures (43) through the thickness thereof and wherein at least a portion of said apertures are in operable registration with permeable panel (70).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
64 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 34 wherein said absorbent body (40) has a humidity transfer region (44) which is in operable registration with said vapor permeable panel (70), said humidity transfer region (44) having a density within the range of about 0.001 - 0.05 g/cc and a basis weight within the range of about 5 - 300 gsm.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 35 wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) is constructed of a material which provides a Test Relative Humidity (TRH) value of not more than about 80%, preferably not more than about 75%.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 36 wherein said separation layers (52, 54, 56) are limited to a front two-thirds section of said absorbent article (10).
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 36 wherein said separation layers (50, 52, 54) are limited to a middle 35 - 60% section of said absorbent article.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 22 to 38 wherein said article comprises a plurality of individual separation layers (50, 52, 54) two or more of which are connected together at selected spaced locations (46).
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 39 wherein said separation layers (50, 52, 54) are connected together at discrete locations arranged in a selected pattern.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
154 words
An absorbent article (10) comprising: a front waistband section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections; a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer (20), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer, an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20), and topsheet layer (30), spacing means (50, 52, 54) located between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body (40) said spacing means providing for effective fluid transfer between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, and said spacing means composed of substantially hydrophobic material and having a total bulk thickness of at least about 0.04 cm, and vapor permeable panel (70) which is connected to extend from said backsheet layer (30) at a waistband section of said article and is arranged in an overlying registry with at least a portion of said absorbent body (40).
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
154 words
An absorbent article (10) comprising: a front waistband section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections; a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer (20), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer, an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20), and topsheet layer (30), spacing means (50, 52, 54) located between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body (40) said spacing means providing for effective fluid transfer between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, and said spacing means composed of substantially hydrophobic material and having a total bulk thickness of at least about 0.04 cm, and vapor permeable panel (70) which is connected to extend from said backsheet layer (30) at a waistband section of said article and is arranged in an overlying registry with at least a portion of said absorbent body (40).
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
49 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 41 wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) is composed of a material which has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of at least about 2000 gm/sq.m/24 hr, and/or extends over an area within the range of about 5 - 400 sq. cm.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
42 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 41 or 42 wherein said vapor permeable panel (70) material extends along about 10 - 40% of the length of said absorbent body beginning from a front waistband, terminal edge of said absorbent body (40).
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
58 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 41 to 43 wherein said absorbent body (40) has a humidity transfer portion (44) which is located in adjacent facing relation with said vapor permeable panel (70) and has a basis weight of not more than about 550 gsm and/or a density of not more than about 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
151 words
An absorbent article (10) comprising: a front waistband section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections; a substantially fluid impermeable backsheet layer (20), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing adjacent relation with said backsheet layer, a vapor permeable panel (70) connected to said backsheet layer (20) in at least one waistband section (12, 14) of said article, said vapor permeable panel (70) composed of a material which is substantially liquid impermeable and has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of at least about 2000 gm/sq.m/24 hr and which extends over a panel area of at least about 22 sq. cm., and an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet slayer (20) and topsheet layer (30) and arranged with a portion of said absorbent body (40) in an underlying facing registry with said vapor permeable panel (70).
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
151 words
An absorbent article (10) comprising: a front waistband section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections; a substantially fluid impermeable backsheet layer (20), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing adjacent relation with said backsheet layer, a vapor permeable panel (70) connected to said backsheet layer (20) in at least one waistband section (12, 14) of said article, said vapor permeable panel (70) composed of a material which is substantially liquid impermeable and has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of at least about 2000 gm/sq.m/24 hr and which extends over a panel area of at least about 22 sq. cm., and an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet slayer (20) and topsheet layer (30) and arranged with a portion of said absorbent body (40) in an underlying facing registry with said vapor permeable panel (70).
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 45, wherein said vapor permeable panel extends over an area of at least about 45 sq. cm.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
49 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 45 or 46 wherein said absorbent body (40) includes a humidity transfer region (44) which region is located in operable registration with said vapor permeable panel (70) and has an average basis weight within the range of about 5 - 300 gsm.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
31 words
An absorbent article as recited in one of claims 45 to 47, wherein said humidity transfer region (44) has an average density within the range of about 0.001 - 0.05 gm/cc.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
170 words
An absorbent article (10) comprising: a front waistband section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections; a substantially fluid impermeable backsheet layer (20), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing adjacent relation with said backsheet layer, a vapor permeable panel (70) which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer (20) in at least one waistband section (12, 11) of said article, said vapor permeable panel (70) composed of material having a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 2000 gm/sq.m/24 hr. and extending over an area of at least about 22 sq. cm; and an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20) and topsheet layer (30) and having a humidity transfer region (44) located in operable facing registration with said vapor permeable panel, said humidity transfer region having one or more apertures (43) formed therethrough to provide for a Frazier air porosity value of at least about 15.25 m³/min/m².
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
170 words
An absorbent article (10) comprising: a front waistband section (12) a rear waistband section (14) and an intermediate section (16) which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections; a substantially fluid impermeable backsheet layer (20), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (30) positioned in facing adjacent relation with said backsheet layer, a vapor permeable panel (70) which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer (20) in at least one waistband section (12, 11) of said article, said vapor permeable panel (70) composed of material having a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 2000 gm/sq.m/24 hr. and extending over an area of at least about 22 sq. cm; and an absorbent body (40) located between said backsheet layer (20) and topsheet layer (30) and having a humidity transfer region (44) located in operable facing registration with said vapor permeable panel, said humidity transfer region having one or more apertures (43) formed therethrough to provide for a Frazier air porosity value of at least about 15.25 m³/min/m².
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
An aborbent article as recited in claim 49 wherein said apertured, humidity transfer region (44) provides for a Frazier air porosity value within the range of about 15.25 - 30 m³/min/m².
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
31 words
An absorbent article as recited in claim 49 or 50 wherein said apertures (43) are substantially circular and have an average diameter within the range of about 0.5 - 2.0 cm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.