Comfortable diaper

• US 20070156108A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Lindner, Torsten, Becker, Uwe, Ehrnsperger, Bruno, Busam, Ludwig
• Granted Patent: US 7,851,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/534 having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence; homogeneous cores with tissue wrapping A61F13/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/535 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes A61F13/5323, A61F13/537 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: A61F 2013/530481 having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials

Abstract

An absorbent article, preferably a disposable absorbent article such as a diaper, is disclosed that provides an improved immobilization of absorbent polymer material when the article is fully or partially urine loaded. This absorbent core is useful for providing an absorbent article of increased wearing comfort. Specifically disclosed is an absorbent core useful for an absorbent article comprising a substrate layer and absorbent material, the absorbent material comprising an absorbent polymer material, the absorbent material optionally comprising absorbent fibrous material, the absorbent fibrous material not representing more than 20% of the weight of absorbent polymer material, wherein the absorbent material is immobilized when wet such that the absorbent core achieves a wet immobilization of more than 50%, preferably of more than 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% according to the Wet Immobilization Test described herein.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core located between said topsheet and said backsheet,

wherein said absorbent core comprises;

a. a first layer comprising;

i. a first substrate material having a first surface and a second surface,

ii. a first absorbent polymer material layer having a first surface and a second surface, and

iii. a first thermoplastic composition;

wherein at least portions of said second surface of said first absorbent polymer material layer are in contact with at least portions of said first surface of said first substrate material;

wherein at least portions of said first thermoplastic composition are in contact with at least portions of said first surface of said first absorbent polymer material layer; and

b. a second layer comprising;

i. a second substrate material having a first surface and a second surface,

ii. a second absorbent polymer material layer having a first surface and a second surface, and

iii. a second thermoplastic composition;

wherein at least portions of said second surface of said second absorbent polymer material layer are in contact with at least portions of said first surface of said second substrate material;

wherein at least portions of said second thermoplastic composition are in contact with at least portions of said first surface of said second absorbent polymer material layer;

wherein said first layer and said second layer are combined together such that said first thermoplastic composition and said second thermoplastic composition are in direct contact with each other.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent polymer material of said first absorbent polymer material layer and said second absorbent polymer material layer has a Saline Flow Conductivity of at least about 20×

10<sup>−

7</sup> (cm³×

sec)/gram.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent polymer material of said first absorbent polymer material layer and said second absorbent polymer material layer has a Saline Flow Conductivity of at least about 40×

10<sup>−

7</sup> (cm³×

sec)/gram.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said absorbent core has less than about 10% of cellulose fibrous material as compared to the weight of the absorbent polymer material of said first absorbent polymer material layer and said second absorbent polymer material layer.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent polymer material of said first absorbent polymer material layer and said second absorbent polymer material layer is immobilized when wet such that said absorbent core achieves a wet immobilization of more than about 50% according to the Wet Immobilization Test.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the average basis weight of the absorber polymer material of said first absorbent polymer material layer and said second absorbent polymer material layer is at least about 100 g/m².

7. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said first absorbent polymer material layer and said second absorbent polymer material layer are each discontinuous layers.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein said discontinuous layers comprise openings having a diameter of less than about 10 mm.

9. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein said discontinuous layers comprise openings having a diameter of less than about 3 mm.

10. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein said discontinuous layers comprise openings having a diameter of less than about 2 mm.

11. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein said first thermoplastic composition and said second thermoplastic composition each provide cavities to hold the absorbent polymer material of said first absorbent polymer material layer and said second absorbent polymer material layer, respectively.

12. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein said discontinuous layers are arranged such that said cavities comprising said absorbent polymer material of said first absorbent polymer material layer of said first layer are offset from said cavities comprising said absorbent polymer material of said second absorbent polymer material layer of said second layer.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said first thermoplastic composition and said second thermoplastic composition are a fibrous hot melt adhesive.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said first thermoplastic composition and said second thermoplastic composition comprise an adhesive having a storage modulus G′

measured at 20°

C. of at least about 30,000 Pa.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said first thermoplastic composition and said second thermoplastic composition comprise an adhesive having a storage modulus G′

measured at 20°

C. of less than about 300,000 Pa.

16. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said first thermoplastic composition and said second thermoplastic composition comprise an adhesive having a storage modulus G′

measured at 60°

C. of at least about 18,000 Pa.

17. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said first thermoplastic composition and said second thermoplastic composition comprise an adhesive having a storage modulus G′

measured at 60°

C. of less than about 300,000 Pa.

18. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said absorbent article is a diaper further comprising a re-closable fastening system joined to said chassis for securing said diaper to a wearer.

19. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said absorbent article is a pant-type diaper further comprising at least two side panels joined to said chassis and to each other to form a pant.

20. An absorbent core comprising:

a. a first layer comprising;

i. a first substrate material having a first surface and a second surface,

ii. a first absorbent polymer material layer having a first surface and a second surface, and

iii. a first thermoplastic composition;

wherein at least portions of said second surface of said first absorbent polymer material layer are in contact with at least portions of said first surface of said first substrate material;

wherein at least portions of said first thermoplastic composition are in contact with at least portions of said first surface of said first absorbent polymer material layer; and

b. a second layer comprising;

i. a second substrate material having a first surface and a second surface,

ii. a second absorbent polymer material layer having a first surface and a second surface, and

iii. a second thermoplastic composition;

wherein at least portions of said second surface of said second absorbent polymer material layer are in contact with at least portions of said first surface of said second substrate material;

wherein at least portions of said second thermoplastic composition are in contact with at least portions of said first surface of said second absorbent polymer material layer;

wherein said first layer and said second layer are combined together such that said first thermoplastic composition and said second thermoplastic composition are in direct contact with each other.