Absorbent article having an absorbent structure secured to a stretchable component of the article

• US 20050085784A1
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Olson, Christopher P., LeMinh, Lisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,160,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/387
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/539 characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers

Abstract

An absorbent article for personal wear has an outer cover, a bodyside liner adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer'"'"'s skin, and an absorbent structure disposed between the liner and the outer cover. The absorbent structure is secured to at least one of the liner and the outer cover within a securement zone. A central portion of the securement zone is disposed generally within a central region of the article and at least one outer portion of the securement zone is disposed longitudinally outward of the central portion thereof.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, opposite longitudinal end regions and a central region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the end regions, said absorbent article comprising:

an outer cover;

a bodyside liner adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer'"'"'s skin; and

an absorbent structure disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, the absorbent structure being secured to at least one of the liner and the outer cover within a securement zone, the securement zone comprising a central portion disposed generally within the central region of the article and having an average width as determined by a Securement Zone Measurement Method, and at least one outer portion disposed longitudinally outward of the central portion of the securement zone and having an average width as determined by the Securement Zone Measurement Method, said average width of the central portion of the securement zone being substantially greater than said average width of the at least one outer portion of said securement zone.

2. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the absorbent article has a length, the central portion of the securement zone having longitudinally opposite end boundaries defining an average length of said central portion as determined by said Securement Zone Measurement Method, said average length being in the range of about 5 percent to about 50 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

3. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 2 wherein the average length of the central portion of the securement zone is in the range of about 10 percent to about 30 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

4. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 3 wherein the average length of the central portion of the securement zone is in the range of about 10 percent to about 20 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

5. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the absorbent article has a length, the central portion of the securement zone having longitudinally opposite end boundaries, one of said end boundaries being spaced from a respective end of the absorbent article a distance in the range of about 20 percent to about 45 percent of the length of the absorbent article, the opposite end boundary of the central portion of the securement zone being longitudinally spaced from the respective opposite end of the absorbent article a distance in the range of about 20 percent to about 50 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

6. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the absorbent structure is secured to said at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner with adhesive.

7. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 6 wherein the adhesive is a meltblown adhesive.

8. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the securement zone comprises a pair of outer portions extending longitudinally outward of the central portion of said securement zone, one of said outer portions extending longitudinally toward one end of the absorbent article, the other outer portion extending longitudinally toward the opposite end of the absorbent article.

9. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the absorbent structure has laterally opposite side edges, the securement zone having laterally opposite side boundaries, the side boundaries of the securement zone at the central portion thereof being disposed laterally within at least about one inch (2.54 centimeters) of the respective side edges of the absorbent structure at the central portion of the securement zone, the side boundaries of the securement zone at said at least one outer portion thereof being spaced laterally inward of the respective side edges of the absorbent structure at the said least one outer portion of the securement zone a distance greater than about one inch (2.54 centimeters).

10. An absorbent structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said average width of the central portion of the securement zone is at least about 20 percent of the width of the absorbent structure at said central portion of the securement zone, said average width of said at least one outer portion of the securement zone being less than about 20 percent of the width of the absorbent structure at said at least one outer portion.

11. An absorbent structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein said average width of the central portion of the securement zone is in the range of about 20 percent to about 80 percent of the width of the absorbent structure at said central portion of the securement zone.

12. An absorbent structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein said average width of the central portion of the securement zone is in the range of about 20 percent to about 60 percent of the width of the absorbent structure at said central portion of the securement zone.

13. An absorbent structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the absorbent structure is secured to both the outer cover and the bodyside liner within the securement zone.

14. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner is stretchable.

15. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner is elastic.

16. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 14 wherein the absorbent structure is substantially non-stretchable.

17. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the securement zone extends continuously generally from within one end region of said article through the central region to within the opposite end region of said article.

18. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the absorbent article has longitudinally opposite ends, the central portion of the securement zone being disposed nearer to one end of the article than to said opposite end of said article.

19. An absorbent article for personal wear, the absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a first end region, a second end region and a center region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the first and second end regions, said absorbent article comprising:

an outer cover;

a bodyside liner adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer'"'"'s skin; and

an absorbent structure disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover and having longitudinally opposite ends and laterally opposite side edges, the absorbent structure extending generally from within the first end region of the article through the center region to within the second end region of said article and being secured to at least one of the liner and the outer cover within a securement zone having laterally opposite side boundaries, the securement zone comprising at least in part a central portion wherein the side boundaries of the securement zone are disposed laterally within at least about one inch (2.54 centimeters) of the respective side edges of the absorbent structure, the side boundaries of any portion of the securement zone disposed longitudinally outward of said central portion being spaced laterally inward of the respective side edges of the absorbent structure a distance greater than about one inch (2.54 centimeters).

20. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein the absorbent article has a length, the central portion of the securement zone having longitudinally opposite ends defining an average length of said central portion as determined by a Securement Zone Measurement Method, said average length being in the range of about 5 percent to about 50 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

21. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 20 wherein said average length of the central portion of the securement zone is in the range of about 10 percent to about 30 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

22. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 21 wherein said average length of the central portion of the securement zone is in the range of about 10 percent to about 20 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

23. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein the absorbent article has a length, the central portion of the securement zone having longitudinal end boundaries, one of said longitudinal end boundaries being longitudinally spaced from the first end of the absorbent article a distance in the range of about 20 percent to about 45 percent of the length of the absorbent article, the opposite end boundary of the central portion of the securement zone being longitudinally spaced from the second end of the absorbent article a distance in the range of about 20 percent to about 50 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

24. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein the absorbent structure is secured to said at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner with adhesive.

25. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 24 wherein the adhesive is a meltblown adhesive.

26. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein the securement zone comprises at least one outer portion extending longitudinally outward of the central portion.

27. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein the central portion of the securement has an average width as determined by a Securement Zone Measurement Method that is at least about 20 percent of a width of the absorbent structure at said central portion of the securement zone, any portion of the securement zone disposed longitudinally outward of said central portion having an average width as determined by said Securement Zone Measurement Method that is less than about 20 percent of the width of the absorbent structure at said longitudinally outward portion.

28. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein the absorbent structure is secured to both the outer cover and the liner within the securement zone.

29. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner is stretchable.

30. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 29 wherein said at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner is elastic.

31. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 29 wherein the absorbent structure is substantially non-stretchable.

32. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein the securement zone extends continuously generally from within the first end region of said article through the center region to within the second end region of said article.

33. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein said article is configured for wear about the wearer'"'"'s waist, said article having a front end region defining said first end region, a back end region defining said second end region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back end regions to define said center region.

34. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 19 wherein the absorbent article has longitudinally opposite ends, the central portion of the securement zone being disposed nearer to one end of the article than to said opposite end of said article.

35. An absorbent article for personal wear, the absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a first end region, a second end region and a center region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the end regions, said absorbent article comprising:

an outer cover;

a bodyside liner adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer'"'"'s skin; and

an absorbent structure disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover and having longitudinally opposite ends and laterally opposite side edges, the absorbent structure extending generally from within the first end region of the article through the center region to within the second end region of said article and being secured to at least one of the liner and the outer cover within a securement zone, the securement zone comprising at least in part a central portion having an average width as determined by a Securement Zone Measurement Method that is at least about 20 percent of a width of the absorbent structure at said central portion, any portion of the securement zone disposed longitudinally outward of the central portion thereof having an average width as determined by said Securement Zone Measurement Method of less than about 20 percent of the width of the absorbent structure at said longitudinally outward portion of the securement zone.

36. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein the absorbent article has a length, the central portion of the securement zone having longitudinally opposite ends defining an average length of said central portion as determined by a Securement Zone Measurement Method, said average length being in the range of about 5 percent to about 50 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

37. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 36 wherein said average length of the central portion of the securement zone is in the range of about 10 percent to about 30 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

38. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 37 wherein said average length of the central portion of the securement zone is in the range of about 10 percent to about 20 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

39. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein the absorbent article has a length, the central portion of the securement zone having longitudinal end boundaries, one of said longitudinal end boundaries being longitudinally spaced from the first end of the absorbent article a distance in the range of about 20 percent to about 45 percent of the length of the absorbent article, the opposite end boundary of the central portion of the securement zone being longitudinally spaced from the second end of the absorbent article a distance in the range of about 20 percent to about 50 percent of the length of the absorbent article.

40. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein the absorbent structure is secured to said at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner with adhesive.

41. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 40 wherein the adhesive is a meltblown adhesive.

42. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein the securement zone comprises at least one outer portion extending longitudinally outward of the central portion.

43. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein said average width of the central portion of the securement zone in the range of about 20 percent to about 80 percent of the width of the absorbent structure at said central portion of the securement zone.

44. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 43 wherein said average width of the central portion of the securement zone in the range of about 20 percent to about 60 percent of the width of the absorbent structure at said central portion of the securement zone.

45. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein the absorbent structure is secured to both the outer cover and the liner within the securement zone.

46. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner is stretchable.

47. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 46 wherein said at least one of the outer cover and the bodyside liner is elastic.

48. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 46 wherein the absorbent structure is substantially non-stretchable.

49. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein the securement zone extends continuously generally from within the first end region of said article through the center region to within the second end region of said article.

50. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein said article is configured for wear about the wearer'"'"'s waist, said article having a front end region defining said first end region, a back end region defining said second end region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back end regions to define said center region.

51. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 35 wherein the absorbent article has longitudinally opposite ends, the central portion of the securement zone being disposed nearer to one end of the article than to said opposite end of said article.

52. An absorbent article for personal wear, the absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a first end region, a second end region and a center region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the end regions, said absorbent article comprising:

an outer cover;

a bodyside liner adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer'"'"'s skin; and

an absorbent structure disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover and having longitudinally opposite ends and laterally opposite side edges, the absorbent structure extending generally from within the first end region of the article through the center region to the second end region of said article and being secured to at least one of the liner and the outer cover within a securement zone, at least a portion of the securement zone having laterally opposite side boundaries and longitudinally opposite end boundaries, the side boundaries of said at least a portion of the securement zone being within at least about one inch of the respective side edges of the absorbent structure, one end boundary of said at least a portion of the the securement zone being longitudinally spaced from the first end of the absorbent article a distance in the range of about 20 percent to about 45 percent of a length of the absorbent article, the opposite end boundary of said at least a portion of the absorbent article being longitudinally spaced from the second end of the absorbent article a distance in the range of about 20 percent to about 50 percent of the length of the absorbent article.