ABSORBENT ARTICLE

• US 20090326494A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KAO Corporation
• Original Assignee: KAO Corporation
• Inventors: Uchida, Kensaku, Ishiguro, Hideyuki, Kamishioiri, Nobuyuki, Kubota, Ikuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,080,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/56 Wetness-indicators or colourants

Abstract

A wetness indicator composition contains (a) 0.1% to 5% by weight of a pH indicator that is substantially colorless at pH 7 and develops a color in an acidic environment, (b) 20% to 90% by weight of a surfactant, (c) 5% to 55% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol, (d) 0% to 70% by weight of a polymer having a carboxyl group, and (e) 0.1% to 5% by weight of an acidic substance other than components (b) and (d). In an absorbent article including a topsheet 2, a backsheet 3, and an absorbent member 4 interposed between the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 and having applied thereon a hot-melt composition that changes color on contact with a body fluid, the wetness indicator composition is used as the hot melt composition.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent member between the topsheet and the backsheet and having applied thereon a hot-melt composition that changes color on contact with a body fluid,

the hot melt composition comprising (a) 0.1% to 5% by weight of a pH indicator that is substantially colorless at pH 7 and develops a color in an acidic environment, (b) 20% to 90% by weight of a surfactant, (c) 5% to 55% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol, (d) 0% to 70% by weight of a polymer having a carboxyl group, and (e) 0.1% to 5% by weight of an acidic substance other than components (b) and (d).

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the hot melt composition undergoes color change on being wetted with a body fluid and then returns to its original color before the color change on being dried.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the hot melt composition changes its color within 1 minute from the contact with a body fluid.

4. A package of an absorbent article comprising the absorbent article according claim 1 packaged in a packaging material having a titanium content of less than 8% by weight.