Flexible absorbent article

• US 20070123834A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Joch, Rhonda, Zenker, David, McDowall, Debra
• Application Number:
  US11/287,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/367
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49011 the elastic means is located at the waist region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49014 the elastic means is located at the side panels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium A61F13/20 takes 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: A61F 13/5633 open type diaper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15292 Resistance, i.e. modulus or strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15325 Stress relaxation or compression recovery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15373 Calliper, i.e. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15487 Capillary properties, e.g. wicking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51322 being elastomeric or stretchable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51429 being elastomeric or stretchable sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530226 with polymeric fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5307 characterized by the quantity or ratio of superabsorbent material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53791 being resilient or elastic

Abstract

An absorbent article having an outercover, liner and absorbent core that are each stretchable or extensible. The article has a thickness of about 4 mm or less, and a bending stiffness of less than about 6 N-mm. The tension in the waist elastic, flap elastics and/or leg elastics may be modified to accommodate the addition of a more flexible absorbent core. The bending stiffness of the fasteners may be reduced to further accommodate the improved flexibility of the overall article.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising,

a stretchable outercover;

a stretchable bodyside liner;

a pair of leg elastics for forming a pair of cuffs, wherein the tension force in each of the pair of leg elastics at 50% extension is less than about 170 grams;

an absorbent core positioned between the outercover and the bodyside liner, the absorbent core being partially joined to the outercover, the absorbent core comprising at least 50% superabsorbent; and

wherein, the absorbent article has a total product thickness of less than 4 mm and a cylindrical compression of less than 600 grams.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the absorbent core is partially attached to the outercover along an attachment line.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the absorbent core has a capacity of at least 0.3 g/cm2.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein the absorbent core has a total capacity of at least 200 grams.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4 further comprising at least one flap adjacent to one of the pair of cuffs, the at least one flap having a tension force at 50% extension of less than about 35 to about 55 grams.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising a leg cut out with a convexity ratio of less than about 0.94.

7. The absorbent of claim 1 further comprising a fastener attached to a waist region of the absorbent article, wherein the fastener is a hook material having a stiffness in the machine direction of less than about 120 mg.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 further including a front waist elastic and a back waist elastic, wherein the tension force in the front waist elastic at 50% extension is greater than about 100 grams, and the and tension force in the back waist elastic at 50% extension is greater than about 180 grams.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the tension force in one of the pair of leg elastics at 50% extension is less than about 155 grams.

10. An absorbent article comprising,

a stretchable outercover and a stretchable bodyside liner;

an absorbent core positioned between the outercover and the bodyside liner, the absorbent core being partially joined to the outercover, the absorbent core comprising at least 50% superabsorbent; and

a flexible fastener attached to a waist region of the absorbent article and that selectively attaches directly to the outercover, wherein the fastener is a hook material having a stiffness of between about 10 and 120 mg;

wherein, the absorbent article has a total product thickness of less than 4 mm and a bending stiffness of less than about 6.2 N-mm.

11. The absorbent of claim 10 wherein the absorbent article has a bending stiffness of less than 5 N-mm.

12. The absorbent article of claim 10 further comprising a leg cut out with a convexity ratio of less than about 0.94.

13. The absorbent of claim 12 wherein the absorbent article has a thickness of less than 3 mm.

14. The absorbent article of claim 10 wherein the absorbent core has a total capacity of at least 200 grams.

15. The absorbent article of claim 10 further including a pair of leg elastics wherein the tension force in one of the pair of leg elastics at 50% extension is less than about 170 grams.

16. The absorbent article of claim 10 further comprising a front waist elastic and a back waist elastic, wherein the tension force in the front waist elastic at 50% extension is greater than about 100 grams, and the tension force in the back waist elastic at 50% extension is greater than about 180 grams.

17. The absorbent of claim 16 further comprising a leg cut out with a convexity ratio of less than about 0.94.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17 further including a pair of flaps adjacent to the leg elastics.

19. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the tension force in the front waist elastic at 50% extension is greater than about 135 grams, and the and tension force in the back waist elastic at 50% extension is greater than about 215 grams.

20. An absorbent article comprising,

an elastic outercover;

an extensible bodyside liner;

an absorbent core positioned between the outercover and the bodyside liner, the absorbent core being partially attached to the outercover, the absorbent core

comprising;

at least 50% superabsorbent, and

at least 3% meltblown polymer, and

having a capacity of at least 0.3 g/cm2, and

a total capacity of at least 200 grams, and

wherein, the absorbent article has a total product thickness of less than 4 mm and a cylindrical compression of less than 600 grams.