Patent EP0443627A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0443627A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Absorbent structure
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
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Filing: 1991-02-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-02-25
Abstract
Abstract An absorbent structure and garment comprises a superabsorbent material having a free-swell rate of less than about 60 seconds and a five-miute AUL of at least 15 g/g. The superabsorbent material is contained by containment means, such as a fibrous matrix, such that the superabsorbent material is present in said absorbent structure in an amount of from about 60 to about 100 weight percent based on the total weight of the containment means and superabsorbent material. The containment means may contain a high concentration of a superabsorbent material and define a dry volume less than about 180 cubic centimeters. The absorbent garment has a saturated retention capacity of at least about two times the dry volue, and wherein the containment means and superabsorbent material account for at least about 60 volume percent of said saturated retention capacity. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley Roy Kellenberger
- 👤 Wen-Huey Shih-Schroeder
- 👤 Anthony John Wisneski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/53; A61F13/531; A61F13/532; A61F13/5323; A61F13/15203; A61F13/51; A61F13/511; A61F2013/15284; A61F2013/15365; A61F2013/15373; A61F2013/15382; A61F13/45; A61F2013/4512; A61F2013/4568; A61F2013/4581; A61F2013/51059; A61F2013/51066; A61F2013/530131; A61F2013/530226; A61F2013/530299; A61F2013/530481; A61F2013/53051; A61F2013/530547; A61F2013/530562; A61F2013/530569; A61F2013/530671; A61F2013/5307; A61F2013/530708
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An absorbent structure, said absorbent structure comprising: means for containing a superabsorbent material; and superabsorbent material contained by said containment means, said superabsorbent material having a free-swell rate of less than about 60 seconds and a five-minute AUL of at least about 15 g/g, said superabsorbent being present in said containment means in an amount of from about 60 to about 100 weight percent, based on a total weight of said containment means and said superabsorbent material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
The absorbent structure according to claim 1, wherein said containment means comprises a fibrous matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The absorbent structure according to claim 2, wherein said fibrous matrix is formed from a hydrophilic polymeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The absorbent structure according to claim 3, wherein said fibrous matrix comprises less than about 10 weight percent of cellulosic fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The absorbent structure according to one of the preceding claim, wherein said containment means comprises two layers of material, at least one layer being water-pervious, and wherein said superabsorbent material is located between said two layers of material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The absorbent structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the superabsorbent material has a free-swell rate of less than about 40 seconds, preferably less than about 30 seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The absorbent structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said superabsorbent material has a five-minute AUL of at least about 18 g/g, preferably of at least about 21 g/g.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The absorbent structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said superabsorbent material comprises generally non-friable particles of agglomerated fines of a water-swellable, substantially water-insoluble polyacrylic acid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The absorbent structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said absorbent structure has an average thickness of less than about 6.4 mm (0.25 inches), preferably 5.1 mm (0.20 inches).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The absorbent structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said absorbent structure has a fluid uptake value of less than about 30 seconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The absorbent structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said superabsorbent materials is present in said containment means in an amount of from about 70 to about 100 weight percent based on total weight of said containment means and said superabsorbent material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The absorbent structure of one of the preceding claims, in which said absorbent structure is superposed on an outer cover of a garment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An absorbent garment comprising an absorbent structure according to one of the preceding claims.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The garment of claim 13, comprising an outer cover, the absorbent structure being superposed on said outer cover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The absorbent garment according to claims 13 or 14, wherein the ratio of the surface area of the absorbent structure to the surface area of the absorbent garment is within the range of from about 3 : 10 to about 8 : 10.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising a body-side liner, said absorbent structure being located between said body-side liner and said outer cover.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
126 words
An absorbent garment, especially according to one of claims 13 to 16, said absorbent garment comprising: means for containing a superabsorbent material; and superabsorbent material contained by said means, said superabsorbent material being present in said containment means in an amount of from 60 to 100 weight percent based on the total weight of the containment means and said superabsorbent material, said containment means and superabsorbent material defining a dry volume of less than about 180 cubic centimeters, said absorbent garment having a saturated retention capacity of at least about 2 times the dry volume of said containment means and superabsorbent material with the containment means and superabsorbent material accounting for at least about 60 volume percent of said saturated retention capacity of said absorbent garment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The absorbent garment according to claim 17, wherein said containment means comprises a fibrous matrix, which preferably is formed from a hydrophilic polymeric material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The absorbent garment according to claim 18, wherein said fibrous matrix comprises less than about 10 weight percent cellulosic fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein said containment means comprises two layers of material, at least one layer being water-pervious, and wherein said superabsorbent material is located between said two layers of material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The absorbent garment according to claim 20, wherein said two layers form a compartment in which the superabsorbent material is contained.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 21, wherein said superabsorbent material comprises generally non-friable particles of agglomerated fines of a water-swellable, substantially water-insoluble polyacrylic acid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 22, wherein said absorbent garment has an average thicknes of less than about 6.4 mm (0.25 inches), preferably less than about 5.1 mm (0.20 inches).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 23, wherein said absorbent garment has a fluid uptake value of less than about 30 seconds, preferably less than about 20 seconds.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 24, wherein said superabsorbent material is present in said containment means in an amount of from 70 to 100 weight percent based on total weight of said containment means and said superabsorbent material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 25, further comprising a body-side liner and an outer cover, said containment means being located between said body-side liner and said outer cover.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 26, wherein the dry volume of the containment means and superabsorbent material is less than about 150 cubic centimeters, preferably less than about 120 cubic centimeters, and most preferably less than about 100 cubic centimeters.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 27, wherein the absorbent garment has a saturated retention capacity of at least about 3 times, preferably at least about 5 times the dry volume of the containment means and superabsorbent material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
The absorbent garment according to one of claims 17 to 28, wherein the containment means and superabsorbent material accounts for at least about 75 volume percent, preferably at least about 85 volume percent of the saturated retention capacity of said absorbent garment.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
A thin, disposable diaper, said diaper comprising: a body-side liner; an outer cover superposed in facing relation with said liner; and an absorbent structure, according to one of claims 1 to 12, located between said liner and outer cover.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
133 words
A thin disposable diaper especially according to claim 30, said diaper comprising: a body-side liner an outer cover superposed in facing realtion with said liner, and an absorbent structure located between said liner and outer cover, said absorbent structure comprising : means for containing a superabsorbent material; and superabsorbent material contained by said containment means, said superabsorbent material having a free-swell rate of less than about 60 seconds and a five-minute AUL of at least about 15 g/g, said superabsorbent being present in said containemnt means in an amount of from 60 to 100 weight percent, based on a total weight of said containment means and said superabsorbent material; said absorbent garment having an average thickness of less than about 6.4 mm (0.25 inches), preferably of less than about 5.1 mm (0.20 inches).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The disposable diaper according to claim 30 or 31, wherein said diaper consists essentially of said body-side liner, said outer cover, and said absorbent structure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The disposable diaper according to one of claims 30 to 32, wherein said outer cover is water-pervious.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
The diaper according to one of claims 30 to 33, wherein said superabsorbent material is present in said containment means in an amount of from 70 to 100 weight percent based on total weight of said containment means and said superabsorbent material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
116 words
A thin disposable diaper, especially according to one of claims 30 to 34, said diaper consisting essentially of: a body-side liner; an outer cover superposed in facing relation with said liner; means for containing a superabsorbent material said means being located between said liner and outer cover; and superabsorbent material contained by said containment means, said superabsorbent material being present in said containment means in an amount of from 60 to 100 weight percent based on a total weight of the containment means and superabsorbent material, said containment means and superabsorbent material having an average thickness of less than 5.1 mm (0.20 inches), said diaper having a saturated retention capacity of at least about 300 grams.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The diaper according to claim 35, wherein said containment means and superabsorbent material has an average thickness of less than about 4.8 mm (0.18 inches).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The diaper according to claim 35 or 36, wherein said containment means and superabsorbent material defines a dry volume of less than about 180 cubic centimeters.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The diaper according to one of claims 35 to 37, in which said superabsorbent material has a free-swell rate of less than about 40 seconds, preferably less than about 30 seconds.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The diaper according to one of claims 35 to 38, wherein said superabsorbent material has a five-minute AUL of at least 18 g/g, preferably at least about 21 g/g.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The diaper according to one of claims 35 to 39, wherein said superabsorbent material comprises generally non-friable particles of agglomerated fines of a water-swellable, substantially water-insoluble polyacrylic acid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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