US5300358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Degradable absorbant structures
Assignee: Ecological Chemical Products
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Filing: 1992-11-24
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Granted: 1994-04-05
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Expires: 2012-11-24
Abstract
Abstract Compostible and flushable absorbent structures for sanitary uses for the absorption of body fluids comprising an absorbent degradable fibrous core and a backsheet that is cold-water soluble but water impermeable.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn R. Evers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:15
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B7/00; B32B7/02; A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61L; A61L15/00; A61L15/16; A61L15/22; A61L15/24; A61L15/42; A61L15/62; A61F13/15203; A61F13/15211; A61F13/15252; A61F13/51; A61F13/514; A61F13/51474; A61F13/51478; A61F2013/15235; A61F2013/1526; A61F2013/51059; A61F2013/51066; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51409; A61F2013/51433; A61F2013/51441; A61F2013/51443; A61F2013/51445; A61F2013/5145; A61F2013/51452; A61F2013/51454; A61F13/53; A61F2013/530131; A61F2013/530226; A61F2013/530233; A61F2013/530343; A61F2013/53035; A61F2013/530481; A61F13/539; A61F2013/5395; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31544; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/674; Y10T442/676
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A structure absorbent to aqueous fluids comprising a non-rigid core and a backsheet, said core comprising an absorbent, degradable fibrous material; and said backsheet comprising sheet material that is cold-water soluble, which backsheet has a external discontinuous repellent surface; said surface comprising a hydrophobic material that; (i) is substantially discontinuous on the surface of the backsheet, said material covering at least about 80% of the total backsheet surface area that will be contacted by said fluids; and (ii) has a critical surface tension less than about 54 dynes/cm and sufficiently lower than the surface tension of said fluids to give an advancing contact angle between the surface layer and said fluid of at least 70°, thereby preventing said fluid from physically contacting the backsheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A structure absorbent to aqueous fluids comprising a non-rigid core and a backsheet, said core comprising an absorbent, degradable fibrous material; and said backsheet comprising sheet material that is cold-water soluble, which backsheet has a external discontinuous repellent surface; said surface comprising a hydrophobic material that; (i) is substantially discontinuous on the surface of the backsheet, said material covering at least about 80% of the total backsheet surface area that will be contacted by said fluids; and (ii) has a critical surface tension less than about 54 dynes/cm and sufficiently lower than the surface tension of said fluids to give an advancing contact angle between the surface layer and said fluid of at least 70°, thereby preventing said fluid from physically contacting the backsheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The structure of claim 1 comprising a porous degradable topsheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said topsheet comprises polyhydroxyacid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said core fiberous material is selected from the group consisting of cellulosic, polyhydroxyacid materials and blends thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the fibrous material of said core is bonded together at least on the side opposite the backsheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said core also contains a non-toxic super-absorbent material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein said core comprises fibrillated PHA.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein said core comprises fluffed cellulosic fibrous material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 6 wherein said super-absorbent material comprises 10 to 50% be weight the core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 6 wherein said core has at least 70% void space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said core is segmented into discrete units of a size for flushability.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said core is adhered to said backsheet by an adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said backsheet also comprises materials selected from the group consisting of fillers and fibrous materials.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said topsheet also comprises materials selected from the group consisting of fillers and fibrous materials.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said backsheet comprises cold-water soluble polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said discontinuous repellent surface comprises a perfluoroalkyl compound.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said backsheet comprises two layers of film with water absorbent paper between the two layers, said paper being non-contactable by fluid during usage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 17 wherein said paper is a dispersible carboxymethylcellulose/cellulose paper.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 17 wherein said paper can be rendered directly contactable at least in part by fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said core contains a wetting agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinent garments and pantyliners.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 1 comprising means to disrupt said repellent surface thereby rendering exposed uncoated backsheet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of degrading a structure of claim 1 comprising exposing said structure to an aqueous medium containing surfactant in an amount sufficient to decrease said advancing angle to less than 70°.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-04 | 1997-10-04 | 1998-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-04 | 2001-10-04 | 2002-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-04 | 2005-10-04 | 2006-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |