Disposable Absorbent Article With Absorbent Particulate Polymer Material Distributed For Improved Isolation Of Body Exudates

• US 20090270825A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Kreuzer, Carsten Heinrich, Schoenborn, Udo Friedel, Wciorka, Maja
• Granted Patent: US 9,044,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/367
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/495 with faecal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/496 in the form of pants or briefs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/536 having discontinuous areas of compression
• 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 2013/5307 characterized by the quantity or ratio of superabsorbent material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53908 with adhesive

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article is provided having an absorbent core located in a chassis and including absorbent particulate polymer material defining at least one cavity for improved isolation of fecal matter or other body exudates. The absorbent core may be substantially cellulose free. Methods for making such an absorbent core and corresponding disposable absorbent article are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:

a chassis including a top sheet and a back sheet; and

an absorbent core located between the top sheet and the back sheet and comprising absorbent particulate polymer material,

wherein the absorbent core is substantially cellulose free and comprises at least one cavity having a perimeter partially defined by the absorbent particulate polymer material.

2. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity has a void volume from about 2 ml in a dry state to about 70 ml in a saturated state.

3. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent particulate polymer material present in the absorbent core has a basis weight that varies across the absorbent core in a direction substantially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis, in a direction substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis, or in both directions.

4. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity is substantially free of absorbent particulate polymer material.

5. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a central longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the at least one cavity comprises (i) a first channel elongated in a direction substantially parallel to and located about the central longitudinal axis, and (ii) a second channel elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

6. The disposable absorbent article of claim 5, wherein the first and second channels of the cavity together form a T-shape.

7. The disposable absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the first channel has a width from about 5% to about 60% of a width of the absorbent core and a length from about 2% to about 50% of a length of the absorbent core.

8. The disposable absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the second channel has a width from about 25% to about 90% of a width of the absorbent core and a length from about 2% to about 40% of a length of the absorbent core.

9. The disposable absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the first channel of the cavity has a width between about 10 mm and about 40 mm, and a length between about 10 mm and about 130 mm.

10. The disposable absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the second channel of the cavity has a width between about 30 mm and about 110 mm, and a length between about 10 mm and about 100 mm.

11. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises a core cover and a dusting layer adhered to one another about a periphery of the absorbent core to form an envelope about the absorbent particulate polymer materials to hold the absorbent particulate polymer material within the absorbent core.

12. The disposable absorbent article of claim 11, wherein the core cover and the dusting layer are adhered to one another about an area defining a bottom of the at least one cavity.

13. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising an acquisition system located between the absorbent core and the top sheet.

14. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the acquisition system comprises an upper acquisition layer, which faces the top sheet, and a lower acquisition layer, which faces the absorbent core and which does not cover the at least one cavity.

15. The disposable absorbent article of claim 14, wherein the upper acquisition layer does not completely cover the at least one cavity.

16. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the perimeter of the at least one cavity is further defined by interior edges of an aperture in the acquisition system.

17. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the top sheet is an elasticized top sheet having at least one opening, at least a portion of which opening is substantially aligned with the at least one cavity in the absorbent core.

18. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the disposable absorbent article is a diaper or a pant.

19. The disposable absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the at least one cavity is located in the absorbent core along the central longitudinal axis of the diaper or pant at a position which, when the diaper or pant is worn by a wearer, will be in alignment with a predetermined region about the anus of the wearer.