Absorbent Articles with Improved Odor Control

• US 20100292661A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Lan, Megan, Georger, William Anthony, Fell, David Arthur, Do, Bao Trong, Arehart, Kelly Davis, Martin, Stephanie Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 9,012,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/359
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15658 Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium A61F13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/8405 Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15943 by air-laid technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530489 being randomly mixed in with other material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530671 being mixed with mineral or inert material, e.g. "introfying particles"
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8408 with odour control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8426 with metallic salts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8435 with plant derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8447 in using different incompatible substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8461 having petroleum derivative
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/46 Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/10 containing or releasing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/216 with other specific functional groups, e.g. aldehydes, ketones, phenols, quaternary phosphonium groups
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/014 containing sorbent material, e.g. activated carbon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1084 of continuous or running length bonded web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2525 Coating or impregnation functions biologically [e.g., insect repellent, antiseptic, insecticide, bactericide, etc.]

Abstract

A technique for incorporating odor control agent particles into an absorbent article is provided. More specifically, the odor control particles are “homogenously” distributed (e.g., in a substantially uniform manner) within an airformed fiber matrix of an absorbent core of an absorbent article. An absorbent core containing such a homogeneously distributed odor control particles may possess a greater surface area for contacting malodorous compounds, thereby increasing the likelihood of odor reduction.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having odor control properties, the article comprising an absorbent core that includes an airformed web, the airformed web containing a matrix of fluff pulp fibers in which odor control particles are homogeneously distributed.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the odor control particles are inorganic oxide particles.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the inorganic oxide particles contain silica, alumina, or both.

4. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the inorganic oxide particles are modified with a transition metal.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the odor control particles contain a quinone compound.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the odor control particles contain an odor control agent applied to carrier particles.

7. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the carrier particles are inorganic oxide particles.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the odor control agent contains a quinone compound.

9. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the carrier particles are superabsorbent particles.

10. The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the odor control agent is coated onto the superabsorbent particles.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the odor control particles are present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. % of the airformed web.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the odor control particles are present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 wt. % of the airformed web.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core consists essentially of the airformed web.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the article is an incontinent article.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the article is a diaper.

16. A method for forming an absorbent web with odor control properties, the method comprising:

treating a fibrous sheet with a coating formulation that comprises odor control particles;

fiberizing the sheet to form a plurality of individual fibers;

entraining the fibers in a gaseous stream; and

thereafter, depositing the fibers onto a forming surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the odor control particles are inorganic oxide particles.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the inorganic oxide particles contain silica, alumina, or both.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the inorganic oxide particles are modified with a transition metal.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the odor control particles contain a quinone compound.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the odor control particles constitute from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. % of the coating formulation.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein a solvent constitutes from about 40 to about 99 wt. % of the coating formulation.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the odor control particles are homogeneously distributed within the web.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the odor control particles are present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 wt. % of the web.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the fibrous sheet is a fluff pulp sheet.

26. A method for forming an absorbent web with odor control properties, the method comprising:

treating a superabsorbent material with a coating formulation, the coating formulation comprising odor control particles;

fiberizing a fibrous sheet to form a plurality of individual fibers;

entraining the fibers in a gaseous stream;

intermixing the treated superabsorbent material with the entrained fibers; and

thereafter, depositing the fibers and the treated superabsorbent material onto a forming surface.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the odor control particles are inorganic oxide particles.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the inorganic oxide particles contain silica, alumina, or both.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the inorganic oxide particles are modified with a transition metal.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the odor control particles contain a quinone compound.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the odor control particles constitute from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. % of the coating formulation.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein a solvent constitutes from about 40 to about 99 wt. % of the coating formulation.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the odor control particles are homogeneously distributed within the web.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the odor control particles are present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 wt. % of the web.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the fibrous sheet is a fluff pulp sheet.