Color masking component for use with feminine sanitary pad and the like

• US 20030114818A1
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kasei Life & Living Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kasei Life & Living Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Drotleff, Elizabeth, Ivancic, William A., Barnes, Russell H., Benecke, Herman P., Vijayendran, Bhima, Schelhorn, Jean E.
• Application Number:
  US10/211,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114818A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/505 with separable parts, e.g. combination of disposable and reusable parts, A61F13/20, A61F13/49003 take precedence; supporting or fastening means A61F13/56; belts or the like A61F13/64
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5116 being formed of multiple layers A61F13/5123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51305 having areas of different permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51394 creating a visual effect, e.g. having a printed or coloured topsheet, printed or coloured sub-layer but being visible from the topsheet, other than embossing for purposes of bonding, wicking, acquisition, leakage-prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15243 printed or coloured, e.g. to match skin
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 7/0005 Floor covering on textile basis comprising a fibrous substrate being coated with at least one layer of a polymer on the top surface

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to products for absorbing bodily fluids, such as feminine sanitary pads, tampons, wound dressings, bandages, and the like. The absorbent personal article of the invention includes a color masking layer with fluid impermeable areas disposed on a fluid permeable support fabric in spaced relationship. The article may include an absorbent core, a topsheet, a backsheet, and a spreading layer in addition to or in combination with the color masking layer. The L values of the color masking layer and support fabric are preferably in the relationship of: $\frac{\mathrm{Lsystem}-\mathrm{Lcloth}}{\mathrm{Lsystem}}>0.1$

for black and dark colors, where Lsystem is less than or equal to 35.

For all colors, the L values of the color masking layer and support fabric are in the relationship of: $\frac{\mathrm{Lsystem}-\mathrm{Lcloth}}{\mathrm{Lsystem}}>0.2$

Lsystem where Lsystem>35.

The absorbent article may include an array of fluid impermeable surfaces that cover up to 95% of a support fabric disposed atop the absorbent core of the article.

Claims

1. An absorbent personal article for bodily fluids comprising a color masking layer including fluid impermeable areas disposed on a fluid permeable support fabric in spaced relationship.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the color masking layer is positioned as an outer surface of said article for exposed a bodily fluid.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the fluid impermeable areas are of a different color than the support fabric.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the L values of the color masking layer and support fabric are in the relationship of

5. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the L values of the color masking layer and support fabric are in the relationship of

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the color masking layer is not substantially stained as seen by the naked eye after bodily fluid has been deposited thereon.

7. The absorbent article of claim 6 where the naked eye views said absorbent article at a distance of approximately 1 foot or greater.

8. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein the fluid impermeable areas include reflective surfaces comprising at least one of the group consisting of:

optical interference films, holographic films, Moire'"'"' patterns, foils, highly reflective layers, and fluorescent materials pigments and dyes, or colors of the visible spectrum.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein portions of said personal article underlying the color masking layer are not visible through the support fabric.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the L values of the material of the fluid impermeable areas are greater than the L value of the support fabric.

11. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein the L values of the material of the fluid impermeable areas exceed the L value of the support fabric by more than 20%.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said fluid impermeable areas are perforated.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the fluid impermeable areas include a plurality of colors.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the fluid impermeable areas are arranged in patterns of colors.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the fluid impermeable areas are arranged in spaced relationship to form patterns.

16. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the fluid impermeable areas are arranged in patterns according to the physical dimensions of said areas.

17. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the outermost surfaces of at least a portion of the fluid impermeable areas include a hydrophobic material.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein the hydrophobic material comprises at least one material from the group consisting of:

polyolefins, polymeric fluorocarbons, polymeric fluorosilicones, silicones, polyvinyl halides and nylons or mixtures thereof.

19. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the fluid impermeable areas are further substantially coated with a hydrophobic substance.

20. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the side portions of fluid impermeable portions extend upward from the support cloth.

21. The absorbent article of claim 20 wherein the fluid impermeable areas extend upward from the support cloth to form a shape optimized to promote the flow of a bodily fluid in contact therewith.

22. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of said fluid impermeable areas in the plane of the support fabric is greater than at least 0.1 mm.

23. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said fluid impermeable areas cover up to 95% of said support fabric.

24. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said fluid impermeable areas cover up to 80% of said support fabric.

25. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said fluid impermeable areas cover up to 50% of said support fabric

26. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said fluid impermeable areas comprise generally circular discs having a diameter in the range from 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm as measured in the plane of the support fabric.

27. The absorbent article of claim 26 wherein the spacing between at least half of said fluid impermeable areas is in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm as measured in the plane of the support fabric.

28. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said fluid permeable support fabric is substantially coated with a hydrophilic coating.

29. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein:

portions of the personal article underlying the color masking layer are not visible through the support fabric, and

the color masking layer is not substantially stained as seen by the naked eye after bodily fluid has been deposited thereon.

30. The absorbent article of claim 1 comprising a plurality of color masking layers, each of said color masking layers including a plurality of fluid impermeable areas disposed on a fluid permeable support fabric in spaced relationship.

31. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein portions of the article underlying the plurality of color masking layers are not visible through the support fabric.

32. The absorbent article of claim 1, comprising at least one article from the group consisting of:

feminine sanitary napkin, tampon, pantyliner, sweat pad, wound dressings and bandages.

33. The absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising an apertured topsheet overlaying said color masking layer.

34. The absorbent article of claim 33 wherein the topsheet has an L value of less than 115.

35. The absorbent article of claim 33 wherein the topsheet has an L value greater than 60.

36. The absorbent article of claim 33 wherein the color masking layer is of a different color than the topsheet.

37. The absorbent article of claim 33 wherein the top sheet has a pattern thereon, such that the color masking layer is not substantially stained as seen by the naked eye after bodily fluid has been deposited on the article.

73. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said color masking layer is removable from the remainder of said article.

74. An absorbent article as recited in claim 33 wherein at least one of said topsheet and said color masking layer are removable from the remainder of said article.

75. An absorbent article as recited in claim 33 wherein the apertured topsheet and the color masking layer having regularly spaced hydrophobic areas generate a Moire'"'"' pattern.

38. An absorbent article having a color masking layer comprising a plurality of areas comprised of fluid impermeable material separated by fluid permeable spaces, wherein said fluid impermeable material has a luminosity greater than that of said fluid permeable spaces.

39. The absorbent article of claims 38 wherein the L value of said color masking layer and the L value of said fluid permeable spaces are in the relationship of:

40. The absorbent article of claim 38 wherein the L values of the color masking layer and support fabric are in the relationship of:

41. The absorbent article of claim 38 wherein said fluid impermeable material comprises less than 95% of the surface of the color masking layer, and said areas are interconnected to adjacent ones of said areas.

42. The absorbent article of claim 41 wherein said fluid impermeable material comprises less than 80% of the surface of the color masking layer.

43. The absorbent article of claim 38 wherein a majority of said fluid impermeable areas are colored areas.

44. An absorbent article for bodily fluids comprising an apertured topsheet having an L value greater than 60 and a color masking fabric layer underlying the topsheet.

45. The absorbent article of claim 44 wherein the L value of the topsheet and underlying fabric layer are in the relationship of:

46. The absorbent article of claim 44 wherein the L values of the color masking layer and support fabric are in the relationship of:

47. The absorbent article of claim 44 wherein at least one of the top sheet and has a pattern printed thereon, such that the color masking layer is not substantially stained as seen by the naked eye after bodily fluid has been deposited thereon.

48. An absorbent article for bodily fluids comprising a color masking layer including:

first masking material comprising a plurality of opaque areas disposed on a transparent, apertured support; and

a second masking material comprising a color masking fabric layer underlying the support layer.

49. The absorbent article of claim 48 wherein the opaque areas comprise at least 50% of the area of the transparent support and the second masking material includes a plurality of fluid impermeable areas in spaced relationship.

72. The article of claim 48 wherein said first masking material is substantially translucent.

50. A method for enhancing color masking properties of an absorbent article having a color masking layer including fluid impermeable areas disposed on a fluid permeable support material in spaced relationship, comprising applying a hydrophilic surfactant to the surface of the color masking layer.

59. The personal article of claim 50, wherein said personal article comprises a feminine sanitary pad.

60. The personal article of claim 50, wherein said personal article comprises a bandage.

61. The personal article of claim 50, wherein said personal article comprises a tampon.

71. The personal article of claim 59 wherein said body fluid indicator comprises a region of color change, said region of color change adapted to change color in the presence of bodily fluid.

51. An absorbent personal article comprising a pad structure, wherein said pad structure is adapted to absorb bodily fluids and wherein said pad structure is further adapted to result in reduced visual perception of bodily fluids that have been absorbed and retained within said pad structure of said article.

52. The personal article of claim 51, wherein said pad structure comprises two or more layers.

53. The personal article of claim 52, wherein said pad structure comprises an absorbent core layer and a color masking layer.

54. The personal article of claim 53, wherein said pad structure comprises a color masking layer, said color masking layer comprising a non-white hydrophobic topsheet layer, said topsheet layer being disposed on said absorbent core layer.

55. The personal article of claim 52, wherein said pad structure comprises:

a hydrophobic topsheet layer;

a color masking layer comprising a non-white hydrophobic underlayer disposed beneath said topsheet layer; and

an absorbent core layer disposed beneath said non-white underlayer.

56. The personal article of claim 55, wherein said pad structure further comprises a spreading layer disposed between said non-white underlayer and said absorbent core layer.

57. The personal article of claim 53, wherein said pad structure comprises:

a hydrophobic topsheet layer;

a color masking layer comprising a non-white spreading layer disposed beneath said topsheet layer; and

an absorbent core layer disposed beneath said non-white spreading layer.

58. The personal article of claim 57, wherein said topsheet layer is non-white.

62. The personal article of claim 53 wherein the difference in color value (Δ

e) between an unstained region of said color masking layer and a region of color masking layer stained with bodily fluid is less than 60.

63. The personal article of claim 62 wherein the difference in color value (Δ

e) between an unstained region of said color masking layer and a region of color masking layer stained with bodily fluid is less than 20.

64. The personal article of claim 53 wherein said color masking layer comprises patterned arrangements of surfaces disposed on at lest one of a supporting fabric layer and a spreading layer disposed above said absorbent core layer, said surfaces being hydrophobic so as to shed bodily fluid upon contact.

65. The personal article of claim 64, wherein said hydrophobic surfaces are substantially circular disks, said disks having a diameter from about 0.2 mm to about 2.0 mm.

66. The personal article of claim 65, wherein said hydrophobic disks occupy less than 95% of the surface area of the color masking layer.

67. The personal article of claim 64 wherein said hydrophobic surfaces comprise irregularly shaped surfaces having a longest dimension of less than about 5.0 mm and a shortest dimension of greater than about 0.1 mm.

68. The personal article of claim 64 wherein said supporting fabric layer comprises said absorptive component layer.

69. The personal article of claim 64 wherein said hydrophobic surfaces comprise a deposited and cured hydrophobic polymer.

70. The personal article of claim 69 wherein said hydrophobic surfaces are spaced apart at a distance of between about 0.2 mm and about 2.0 mm.