Thin and dry diaper

• US 20040167486A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Ehrnsperger, Bruno Johannes, Lindner, Torsten, Busam, Ludwig, Divo, Michael, Becker, Uwe Jurgen, Engel, Roland
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/367
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15658 Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15699 Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/536 having discontinuous areas of compression
• 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 2013/530547 positioned in a separate layer or layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5395 with thermoplastic agent, i.e. softened by heat
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/024 Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly

Abstract

An absorbent article, preferably a disposable absorbent article such as a diaper, is disclosed having an absorbent core which imparts increased wearing comfort to the article and makes it thin and dry. The absorbent core useful for an absorbent article comprises a substrate layer, a discontinuous layer of absorbent material, and a layer of thermoplastic material. A second surface of the discontinuous layer of absorbent material is in at least partial contact with a first surface of the substrate layer. Portions of a second surface of the layer of thermoplastic material are in direct contact with the first surface of the substrate layer and portions of said second surface of the layer of thermoplastic material are in direct contact with a first surface of the discontinuous layer of absorbent material. A process for providing a storage layer for an absorbent core useful in an absorbent article is further disclosed.

Claims

1. An absorbent core useful for an absorbent article comprising a substrate layer, said substrate layer comprising a first surface and a second surface, said absorbent core further comprising a discontinuous layer of absorbent material, said absorbent material comprising an absorbent polymer material, said absorbent material optionally comprising an absorbent fibrous material and said absorbent fibrous material not representing more than about 20 weight percent of the total weight of the absorbent polymer material, said discontinuous layer of absorbent material comprising a first surface and a second surface, said absorbent core further comprising a layer of thermoplastic material, said layer of thermoplastic material comprising a first surface and a second surface wherein said second surface of said discontinuous layer of absorbent material is in at least partial contact with said first surface of said substrate layer and wherein portions of said second surface of said layer of thermoplastic material are in direct contact with said first surface of said substrate layer and portions of said second surface of the said layer of thermoplastic material are in direct contact with said first surface of said discontinuous layer of absorbent material.

2. An absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic material is a hot melt adhesive.

3. An absorbent core according to claim 2, wherein said thermoplastic material is fibrourised.

4. An absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein said layer of thermoplastic material comprises a net-like structure.

5. An absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein said absorbent polymer material comprises an absorbent polymer particle.

6. An absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein said absorbent polymer material is present throughout the area of said absorbent core in a basis weight of at least about 100 g/m².

7. An absorbent core according to claim 1, comprising at least two substrate layers.

8. An absorbent core according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said substrate layers comprises a permanently hydrophilic non-woven having a surface tension of at least about 55 mN/m when being wetted with saline solution and having a liquid strike through time of less than about 5 s for a fifth gush of liquid.

9. An absorbent core according to claim 1, comprising at least one substrate layer and at least one cover layer.

10. An absorbent core according to claims 9, wherein at least one of said substrate layers or at least one of said cover layers comprises a permanently hydrophilic non-woven having a surface tension of at least about 55 mN/m when being wetted with saline solution and having a liquid strike through time of less than about 5 s for a fifth gush of liquid.

11. A process for providing a storage layer for an absorbent core useful in an absorbent article, said process comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate material comprising a first surface and a second surface;

depositing absorbent material onto said first surface of said substrate material in a pattern, the pattern comprising at least one zone which is substantially free of absorbent material, and the pattern comprising at least one zone comprising absorbent material;

depositing a thermoplastic material onto said first surface of said substrate material and said absorbent material, such that portions of said thermoplastic material are in direct contact with said first surface of said substrate and portions of said thermoplastic material are in direct contact with said absorbent material.

12. A process according to claim 11, wherein said absorbent material comprises at least about 80 weight percent of absorbent polymer material.

13. A process according to claim 11, wherein said zones substantially free of absorbent material are connected.

14. A process according to claim 11, wherein said zones comprising absorbent material are connected.

15. A process for providing an absorbent core, said process comprising a step of joining one or more storage layers made in accordance with claim 11 to provide an absorbent core comprising several storage layers.

16. A process according to claim 15, wherein a first and a second storage layer are joined, such that the first surface of the substrate material of the first storage layer faces the first surface of the substrate layer of the second storage layer.

17. A storage layer for an absorbent core useful in an absorbent article obtainable by a process according to claim 11.