Absorbent articles with channels and/or pockets

• US 10,639,215 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Roe, Donald Carroll, Kreuzer, Carsten Heinrich, Wciorka, Maja, Hayden, Russell Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Philips, Bradley H
• Application Number:
  US15/238,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20160354260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49001 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49007 Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/495 with faecal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium A61F13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/532 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/533 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/535 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes A61F13/5323, A61F13/537 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/536 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/537 characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer A61F13/538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530481 having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53051 being only in particular parts or specially arranged
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530868 characterized by the liquid distribution or transport means other than wicking layer A61F13/537 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to an absorbent article having a front waist edge, a rear waist edge longitudinally opposing the front waist edge, a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front waist edge to a midpoint of the rear waist edge, a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent core having superabsorbent polymers and a channel network substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers. The channel network having a perimeter channel, a first longitudinal channel inboard of the perimeter channel, a second longitudinal channel inboard of the perimeter channel, and one or more connecting lateral channels. The one or more connecting lateral channels connect one of the first longitudinal channel to the second longitudinal channel or the perimeter channel to the perimeter channel.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a front waist edge defining an edge of a front waist region;

a rear waist edge longitudinally opposing the front waist edge, the rear waist edge defining an edge of a rear waist region;

a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the rear waist region;

a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front waist edge to a midpoint of the rear waist edge and a lateral axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a liquid permeable topsheet;

a liquid impermeable backsheet; and

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet and comprising superabsorbent polymers, wherein the absorbent core comprises a channel network substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers wherein the channel network comprises a perimeter channel, a first longitudinal channel inboard of the perimeter channel, a second longitudinal channel inboard of the perimeter channel, and a plurality of connecting lateral channels wherein the plurality of connecting lateral channels connect one of the first longitudinal channel to the second longitudinal channel or the perimeter channel to the perimeter channel; and

wherein the plurality of connecting lateral connecting channels, the first longitudinal channel, and the longitudinal second channel frame one or more lateral struts within the absorbent core and wherein the one or more lateral struts each comprise a lateral length within 20 mm to 50 mm and a longitudinal width of between 5 mm and 25 mm, wherein the plurality of lateral connecting channels is disposed in the crotch region, and wherein the one or more connecting lateral channels comprise a length of 20 mm to 50 mm.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises less than 15 connecting lateral channels distributed equally along the length of the absorbent core.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal channel and the second longitudinal channel comprise a longitudinal length of between 50 mm to 200 mm.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein one of the first longitudinal channel or the second longitudinal channel comprises an arcuate portion facing the longitudinal axis, wherein an angle between a tangent line of the arcuate portion and the longitudinal axis is greater than or equal to 20 degrees.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lateral connecting channels are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the lateral connecting channels have a longitudinal width of between 2.5 mm and 15 mm.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the lateral connecting channels have a longitudinal width of between 3 mm and 10 mm.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the lateral connecting channels have a longitudinal width of between 4 mm and 7 mm.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the lateral connecting channels have a longitudinal width of about 5 mm.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the lateral struts have a longitudinal width of between 10 mm and 20 mm.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the lateral struts have a longitudinal width of about 15 mm.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the perimeter channel, the first longitudinal channel and the second longitudinal channel frame one or more longitudinal struts and wherein the longitudinal struts have a maximum lateral width of between 3 mm and 15 mm.

13. The absorbent article of claim 12, wherein the longitudinal struts have a maximum lateral width of between 6 and 12 mm.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal struts have a maximum lateral width of about 9 mm.