Diaper design having zones of reduced stiffness and continuous breathability

• US 20050004543A1
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Associated Hygienic Products LLC (PT Sinar Mas Group)
• Original Assignee: Arquest Incorporated
• Inventors: Tharp, Meredith Gaye, Hart, Charles Augustus, Moody, John L., Glasscock, Glenn Ernest, Schroer, Charles Frederick Jr., Woodard, Jason Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,435,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/385.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/514 Backsheet, i.e. the impermeable cover or layer furthest from the skin A61F13/15211, A61F13/15252 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51474 characterised by its structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/515 characterised by the interconnection of the topsheet and the backsheet

Abstract

The present invention relates to an absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, comprising of a topsheet, barrier cuffs, an optional acquisition layer, an absorbent core, a barrier layer, and a backsheet. The diaper is arranged so as to create breathable zones of reduced stiffness surrounding the wearer'"'"'s thighs. That is, the layers of material forming the diaper are arranged so the area surrounding the wearer'"'"'s thighs includes only the backsheet, barrier cuffs and leg elastics. No liquid-impervious material is present within the breathable zones of reduced stiffness. Furthermore, these breathable zones of reduced stiffness preferably are formed so that only hydrophobic material is present. Thus, the present invention provides a better fitting, less irritating absorbent article by reducing the stiffness and increasing the breathability of the diaper in the area surrounding the wearer'"'"'s thighs, resulting in increase comfort and fit around the wearer'"'"'s thighs.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a longitudinal length, a lateral width, longitudinal end edges and lateral side edges, a front waist region, a rear waist region, an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front and rear waist regions, and a pair of leg openings on the lateral sides of the crotch region, the article further comprising:

a liquid-pervious backsheet;

a liquid-pervious topsheet;

a pair of liquid-pervious barrier cuffs bonded to the topsheet;

an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;

a liquid-impervious barrier layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet; and

leg elastic members located in at least a portion of the crotch region adjacent to the leg openings;

wherein the barrier layer is not present in the portion of the article where the leg elastic members are located, and the barrier layer does not wrap around the core.

2. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet is not present in the portion of the article where the leg elastic members are located.

3. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the barrier cuffs and the backsheet are formed of a hydrophobic material.

4. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

5. The disposable absorbent article of claim 4, further comprising a bonding point where the barrier cuffs are bonded to the topsheet, wherein the lateral edges of the absorbent core are located laterally inboard of the bonding points.

6. The disposable absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the absorbent core has a longitudinal length which is less than the longitudinal length of the absorbent article, and has longitudinal edges which do not extend to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

7. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

8. The disposable absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the barrier layer has a longitudinal length that extends to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

9. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

10. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the core, the barrier layer, and the topsheet all have lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

11. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the portion of the crotch region, where the leg elastics are located and where the barrier layer does not extend, form breathable regions of reduced stiffness.

12. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the leg elastics comprise a pair of generally straight elastic members, each generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article, the elastic members being laterally separated from each other by a leg elastic separation distance.

13. The disposable absorbent article of claim 12, wherein the absorbent core:

is generally rectangular;

has a lateral width which is less than the leg elastic separation distance; and

has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the elastic members.

14. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the absorbent core has a longitudinal length which is less than the longitudinal length of the absorbent article, and has longitudinal edges which do not extend to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

15. The disposable absorbent article of claim 12, wherein the barrier layer:

is generally rectangular;

has a lateral width which is less than the leg elastic separation distance; and

has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the elastic members.

16. The disposable absorbent article of claim 15, wherein the barrier layer has a longitudinal length that extends to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

17. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a longitudinal length, a lateral width, longitudinal end edges and lateral side edges, a front waist region, a rear waist region, and an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front and rear waist regions, the article further comprising:

a liquid-pervious hydrophobic backsheet;

a liquid-pervious hydrophilic topsheet;

a pair of liquid-pervious hydrophobic barrier cuffs bonded to the topsheet;

an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;

a liquid-impervious barrier layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet; and

leg elastic members located in at least a portion of the crotch region adjacent to the leg openings;

wherein the barrier layer is not present in the portion of the article where the leg elastic members are located.

18. The disposable absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the topsheet is not present in the portion of the article where the leg elastic members are located.

19. The disposable absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the absorbent core has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

20. The disposable absorbent article of claim 19, further comprising a bonding point where the barrier cuffs are bonded to the topsheet, wherein the lateral edges of the absorbent core are located laterally inboard of the bonding points.

21. The disposable absorbent article of claim 19, wherein the absorbent core has a longitudinal length which is less than the longitudinal length of the absorbent article, and has longitudinal edges which do not extend to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

22. The disposable absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the barrier layer has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

23. The disposable absorbent article of claim 22, wherein the barrier layer has a longitudinal length that extends to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

24. The disposable absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the topsheet has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

25. The disposable absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the core, the barrier layer, and the topsheet all have lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

26. The disposable absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the portion of the crotch region, where the leg elastics are located and where the barrier layer does not extend, form breathable regions of reduced stiffness.

27. The disposable absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the leg elastics comprise a pair of generally straight elastic members, each generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article, the elastic members being laterally separated from each other by a leg elastic separation distance.

28. The disposable absorbent article of claim 27, wherein the absorbent core:

is generally rectangular;

has a lateral width which is less than the leg elastic separation distance; and

has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the elastic members.

29. The disposable absorbent article of claim 28, wherein the absorbent core has a longitudinal length which is less than the longitudinal length of the absorbent article, and has longitudinal edges which do not extend to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

30. The disposable absorbent article of claim 27, wherein the barrier layer:

is generally rectangular;

has a lateral width which is less than the leg elastic separation distance; and

has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the elastic members.

31. The disposable absorbent article of claim 30, wherein the barrier layer has a longitudinal length that extends to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

32. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a longitudinal length, a lateral width, longitudinal end edges and lateral side edges, a front waist region, a rear waist region, and an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front and rear waist regions, the article further comprising:

a liquid-pervious hydrophobic backsheet;

a liquid-pervious hydrophilic topsheet;

a pair of liquid-pervious hydrophobic barrier cuffs bonded to the topsheet;

an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;

a liquid-impervious barrier layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet, the barrier layer having longitudinal edges and lateral edges; and

breathable zones of reduced stiffness located in the portions of the article beyond the edges of the barrier layer.

33. The disposable article of claim 32, wherein the breathable zones of reduced stiffness comprise portions of the absorbent article which do not encompass any liquid-impervious material.

34. The disposable article of claim 32, wherein the breathable zones of reduced stiffness comprise portions of the absorbent article which do not encompass any hydrophilic material.

35. The disposable article of claim 32, wherein the breathable zones of reduced stiffness comprise portions of the absorbent article which do not encompass any liquid-impervious or hydrophilic material.

36. The disposable absorbent article of claim 32, further comprising leg elastic members located in at least a portion of the crotch region.

37. The disposable absorbent article of claim 36, wherein the absorbent core has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

38. The disposable absorbent article of claim 37, further comprising a bonding point where the barrier cuffs are bonded to the topsheet, wherein the lateral edges of the absorbent core are located laterally inboard of the bonding points.

39. The disposable absorbent article of claim 37, wherein the absorbent core has a longitudinal length which is less than the longitudinal length of the absorbent article, and has longitudinal edges which do not extend to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

40. The disposable absorbent article of claim 36, wherein the barrier layer has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

41. The disposable absorbent article of claim 40, wherein the barrier layer has a longitudinal length that extends to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

42. The disposable absorbent article of claim 36, wherein the topsheet has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

43. The disposable absorbent article of claim 36, wherein the core, the barrier layer, and the topsheet all have lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the leg elastics.

44. The disposable absorbent article of claim 36, wherein the leg elastics comprise a pair of generally straight elastic members, each generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article, the elastic members being laterally separated from each other by a leg elastic separation distance.

45. The disposable absorbent article of claim 44, wherein the absorbent core:

is generally rectangular;

has a lateral width which is less than the leg elastic separation distance; and

has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the elastic members.

46. The disposable absorbent article of claim 45, wherein the absorbent core has a longitudinal length which is less than the longitudinal length of the absorbent article, and has longitudinal edges which do not extend to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.

47. The disposable absorbent article of claim 44, wherein the barrier layer:

is generally rectangular;

has a lateral width which is less than the leg elastic separation distance; and

has lateral edges which are located laterally inboard of the elastic members.

48. The disposable absorbent article of claim 47, wherein the barrier layer has a longitudinal length that extends to the absorbent article'"'"'s longitudinal end edges.