Absorbent article

• US 20050054998A1
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Poccia, John F. III, Beauford, Shanae D.
• Application Number:
  US10/656,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/367
• 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 13/51121 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/531 having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence
• 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: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2555/02 Diapers or napkins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/02 characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 13/00 Other non-woven fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to an absorbent article and a method for manufacturing the same. The absorbent article is made from an absorbent nonwoven fabric having a density from about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.05 g/cc. The absorbent nonwoven fabric has a first major surface and a second major surface. An apertured film is secured, e.g., by frictional engagement or with the use of an adhesive, to the first major surface of the nonwoven fabric. Optionally, a top layer may be secured to the second major surface of the nonwoven fabric. The absorbent article may be used as a wound covering or as a component of a variety of products such as adhesive bandages, disposable diapers and sanitary protection products.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a absorbent nonwoven fabric having a density from about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.05 g/cc, said nonwoven fabric having a first major surface and a second major surface; and

an apertured film secured to at least one major surface of the nonwoven fabric.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the fibers comprising the nonwoven fabric are selected from the group consisting of rayon, cotton, wood pulp, and combinations thereof.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the fibers comprising the nonwoven fabric are bicomponent fibers.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises a blend of from about 70% to about 95% by weight of synthetic non-absorbent fibers and from about 5% to about 30% by weight of absorbent fibers and has a basis weight ranging from about 30 gsm to about 150 gsm.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the apertured film comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of ethylene methyl acrylate, polyethylene, metallocene catalyzed polyethylene, polypropylene, and copolymers thereof, and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a wound contacting pad for an adhesive bandage.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein the open area of the apertured film ranges from about 5 percent to about 30 percent of the total area of the apertured film.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein the open area of the apertured film ranges from about 10 percent to about 25 percent of the total area of the apertured film.

9. The article of claim 1 further comprising a top layer secured to the second major surface of said nonwoven fabric.

10. The article of claim 9 wherein said top layer material is a microporous film.

11. The article of claim 10 wherein the article is a disposable diaper.

12. The article of claim 10 wherein the article is a sanitary protection pad.

13. The article of claim 10 wherein the article is an adhesive bandage.

14. A method of making an absorben article comprising:

placing an apertured film on a surface with one major surface thereof facing upwardly;

applying an adhesive to a first major surface of an absorbent nonwoven fabric having a density from about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.05 g/cc;

placing the adhesive-coated first major surface of the nonwoven fabric on the upwardly facing first major surface of the apertured film; and

allowing the adhesive to set.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the absorbent article is a diaper.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the absorbent article is a sanitary pad.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the absorbent article is an adhesive bandage.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the first major surface of said apertured film comprises protuberances.