Absorbent article for absorbing body fluids

• US 20030163108A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: OʼConnor, Amanda Lee, Krueger, Chad, Wegner, Wendy Jean, Kolasinski, Stephen Alan, Tears, Denise Crites, Mayer, Russell Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 6,921,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/385.03
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15804 Plant, e.g. involving several steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4757 the means being located outside the perimeter of the absorbent core A61F13/4752 takes precedence
• 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 13/511 Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/539 characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/565 pants type diaper

Abstract

An absorbent article is disclosed having a liquid permeable bodyside cover, a liquid permeable garment side liner and an absorbent core enclosed by the cover and the liner. The absorbent article also has a pair of fringes formed by joining the cover to the liner. The pair of fringes extend laterally outward from the absorbent core and are capable of being biased upward to form a pair of upstanding side walls when placed in an undergarment. The pair of upstanding side walls form a pair of reservoirs located adjacent to the absorbent core. The pair of reservoirs are capable of retaining body fluid that has run off of the cover until the body fluid can be absorbed by the absorbent core.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a) a liquid permeable bodyside cover;

b) a liquid permeable garment side liner;

c) an absorbent core enclosed by said cover and said liner; and

d) a pair of fringes formed by joining said cover to said liner which extend laterally outward from said absorbent article, said pair of fringes capable of being biased upward to form a pair of upstanding side walls when placed in an undergarment, said pair of upstanding side walls forming a pair of reservoirs located adjacent to said absorbent core, said pair of reservoirs being capable of retaining body fluid that has run off of said bodyside cover until said body fluid can be absorbed by said absorbent core.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said liquid permeable bodyside cover has a predetermined liquid permeability and said liquid permeable garment side liner has a liquid permeability equal to said liquid permeability of said bodyside cover.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said bodyside cover and said garment side liner are formed from the same material.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein said bodyside cover is spunbond.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein said spunbond has a basis weight of from about 0.3 osy to about 1.0 osy.

6. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein said garment side liner is spunbond.

7. The absorbent article of claim 6 wherein said spunbond has a basis weight of from about 0.3 osy to about 1.0 osy.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising an impediment layer positioned between said absorbent core and said garment side liner, said impediment layer capable of slowing the downward movement of body fluid from said absorbent core to said garment side liner.

9. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein said impediment layer is formed from an adhesive.

10. An absorbent article comprising:

a) a liquid permeable bodyside cover having a predetermined liquid permeability;

b) a liquid permeable garment side liner having an exterior surface with an attachment means secured thereto, said attachment means designed to be adhered to a primary absorbent undergarment, and said liner having a liquid permeability equal to said liquid permeability of said bodyside cover;

c) an absorbent core enclosed by said cover and said liner; and

d) a pair of fringes formed by joining said cover to said liner which extend laterally outward from said absorbent article, said pair of fringes capable of being biased upward to form a pair of upstanding side walls when placed in an undergarment, said pair of upstanding side walls forming a pair of reservoirs located adjacent to said absorbent core, said pair of reservoirs being capable of retaining body fluid that has run off of said bodyside cover until said body fluid can be absorbed by said absorbent core.

11. The absorbent article of claim 10 further comprising an impediment layer positioned between said absorbent core and said garment side liner, said impediment layer capable of slowing the downward movement of body fluid from said absorbent core to said garment side liner.

12. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said absorbent core has an outer periphery and said pair of fringes extends partially along said outer periphery.

13. The absorbent article of claim 12 wherein said absorbent core has a predetermined height and each of said pair of fringes has a width dimension that is greater than the height of said absorbent core.

14. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said pair of upstanding side walls are free of elastics.

15. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein each of said pair of fringes has a width dimension that ranges from about 5 mm to about 25 mm.

16. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said absorbent article is secured to said undergarment by a hook fastener.

17. An absorbent article comprising:

a) a liquid permeable bodyside cover having a predetermined liquid permeability;

b) a liquid permeable garment side liner having an exterior surface with a garment adhesive secured thereto, said garment adhesive designed to be adhered to a primary absorbent undergarment, and said liner having a liquid permeability equal to said liquid permeability of said bodyside cover;

c) an absorbent core enclosed by said cover and said liner to form an absorbent pad having a crotch portion; and

d) a pair of fringes formed by joining said cover to said liner which extend laterally outward from said absorbent core, said pair of fringes capable of being biased upward at least in said crotch portion to form a pair of upstanding side walls when placed in an undergarment, said pair of upstanding side walls forming a pair of reservoirs located adjacent to said absorbent core, said pair of reservoirs being capable of retaining body fluid that has run off of said bodyside cover until said body fluid can be absorbed by said absorbent core.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17 further comprising an impediment layer positioned between said absorbent core and said garment side liner, said impediment layer capable of slowing the downward movement of body fluid from said absorbent core to said garment side liner.

19. The absorbent article of claim 18 wherein said impediment layer is formed from an adhesive.

20. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said liner has an exterior surface and a portion of said exterior surface has a non-skid surface that contacts said undergarment.

21. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said absorbent article has a crotch width dimension that is less than about 150 mm.

22. The absorbent article of claim 21 wherein said absorbent article has a crotch width dimension that is less than about 110 mm.

23. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said absorbent core includes at least two absorbent layers.