Twisted, Compressed Substrates as Wetness Indicators in Absorbent Articles

• US 20090299312A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Heo, Jin, Kim, Jaeho, MacDonald, John Gavin
• Application Number:
  US12/129,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20090299312A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15707 Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/2082 Apparatus or processes of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm

Abstract

Absorbent articles including a twisted, compressed substrate are generally described. The twisted, compressed substrate of the present invention is configured to expand toward the skin of the wearer (i.e., in the z-direction of the absorbent article perpendicular to the plane of the absorbent article) upon contact with a liquid. However, the expansion of the twisted, compressed substrate is substantially limited to the z-direction. Also, upon contact with a liquid, the twisted, compressed substrate unwinds to penetrate through the absorbent core of the absorbent article to reduce any pressure put on the absorbent core during expansion.

Claims

1. An absorbent article configured to alert a wearer of an insult of the absorbent article, the absorbent article comprising:

a liquid-permeable layer;

a liquid-impermeable layer;

an absorbent core positioned between the liquid-permeable layer and the liquid-impermeable layer; and

a twisted, compressed substrate positioned between the liquid-permeable layer and the liquid-impermeable layer, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate defines a x-direction, a y-direction, and a z-direction, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is configured to expand in the z-direction upon contact with a liquid to form an expanded substrate without substantially expanding in either the x-direction or the y-direction, and wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is configured to unwind upon contact with a liquid.

2. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate unwinds at least about 360°

upon contact with a liquid.

3. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate unwinds at least about 720°

upon contact with a liquid.

4. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate unwinds about 1080°

to about 1800°

upon contact with a liquid.

5. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is configured to at least double in size in the z-direction upon contact with a liquid.

6. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is configured to at least triple in size in the z-direction upon contact with a liquid.

7. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is configured to expand from about 5 times to about 10 times of its size in the z-direction upon contact with a liquid.

8. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is configured to expand only up to about 110% of its original size in both the x-direction and the y-direction.

9. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is configured to expand only from about 100.5% to about 105% of its original size in both the x-direction and the y-direction.

10. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the compression molded web comprises a nonwoven web of pulp staple fibers.

11. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the compression molded web comprises fibers formed from a synthetic polymer.

12. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate has a cylindrical shape.

13. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is positioned between the absorbent core and the liquid-permeable layer.

14. An absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein the twisted, compressed substrate is positioned between the absorbent core and the liquid-impermeable layer.

15. A method of making a twisted, compressed substrate, the method comprising:

twisting a web material into a twisted, cylindrical tube;

positioning the twisted, cylindrical tube into an elongated barrel;

subjecting the twisted, cylindrical tube to a compression force in a direction of the elongation of the barrel, wherein the compression force is provided by moving a pressing rod through the elongated barrel.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein the step of twisting a web material into the twisted, cylindrical tube comprises:

wetting the web material;

rolling the web material into a cylindrical tube;

twisting the web material into the twisted, cylindrical tube;

thereafter, drying the twisted, cylindrical tube.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein the twisted, cylindrical tube is twisted such that one end of the twisted, cylindrical tube rotates at least about 360°

relative to an opposite end of the twisted, cylindrical tube.

18. A method as in claim 15, wherein the twisted, cylindrical tube is twisted such that one end of the twisted, cylindrical tube rotates at least about 720°

relative to an opposite end of the twisted, cylindrical tube.

19. A method as in claim 15, wherein the twisted, cylindrical tube is twisted such that one end of the twisted, cylindrical tube rotates from about 1080°

to about 1800°

relative to an opposite end of the twisted, cylindrical tube.

20. A method as in claim 15 further comprising

positioning the twisted, compressed substrate between a liquid-permeable layer and a liquid impermeable layer of an absorbent article.